Note from Shooter...and an Urp in My Throat.

[LesBolstad]

"University of St. Thomas football games will return to WCCO-AM 830 this season, with Dave Lee and Eric Nelson calling the action."

Regardless of wins and losses for Gopher football, we can all be thankful we don't have to listen to these buffoons on 'CCO.

 

[supadupafly]

"University of St. Thomas football games will return to WCCO-AM 830 this season, with Dave Lee and Eric Nelson calling the action."

Regardless of wins and losses for Gopher football, we can all be thankful we don't have to listen to these buffoons on 'CCO.

WCCO. a shell of what it used to be. they are pimping st. thomas and the timberwolves. man, are those two hot properties (sarcasm alert).

p.s. and if some idiot rube comes on this thread and tries to start telling me that the timberwolves and st. thomas on the freaking radio are hot properties. well, first get your stupid head examined. second, i have a bridge in brooklyn that i want to sell you.

p.p.s. and terrestrial radio on its own is a dinosaur. will probably be extinct itself in the next 15-20 years. as younger people DO NOT listen to terrestrial radio in any significant number. they just don't and won't suddenly start. so pairing a dinosaur like terrestrial radio WCCO with a couple of not-hot properties like st. thomas and NBA basketball (i mean who really listens to the NBA on the radio in just about any town) does little for me.

 

[RodentRampage]

St. Thomas certainly comes out ahead in this, they now have a state-wide radio audience. No disrespect to UST, but much of the state didn't pay a lot of attention to St. Thomas, if they payed attention to small college sports, it was the college in their own area.

 

[Schnauzer]

As an MIAC alum, the St. Thomas on 'CCO thing bugs me. That school as become a bad fit for the conference in many ways and this is just another reason. I do still listen to WCCO for a half hour each morning to catch the news when I wake up and shower. Not looking forward to hearing Dave Lee talk about St. Thomas like it is a bigger deal than... St. Thomas.

At this point enough people have likely bolted from WCCO that I'm sure all the ratings that are left are from AM radios that only get one station in fish cleaning shacks, hunting blinds, or tucked above refridgerators throughout MN. Perhaps it doesn't matter what they put on the air: St. Thomas football, middle school arm wrestling, etc.

 

[supadupafly]

saw an article by david brauer the other day that AM radio ratings are way down overall. KFAN (since making the move to FM) was one of the few stations with sports properties to maintain and/or gain ratings. obviously from a U of M athletics perspective that is a good thing to read.

ESPN 1500 was down big. in part because the twins suck. but of particular note was that their NOON slot with pat reusse on the air was one of the biggest losers overall in terms of ratings drops. ha! ha! ha! ha! suck it fatty patty. just retire already. how that man maintains a job in this town is beyond me.

 

[exiledinduluth]

As an MIAC alum, the St. Thomas on 'CCO thing bugs me. That school as become a bad fit for the conference in many ways and this is just another reason. I do still listen to WCCO for a half hour each morning to catch the news when I wake up and shower. Not looking forward to hearing Dave Lee talk about St. Thomas like it is a bigger deal than... St. Thomas.

At this point enough people have likely bolted from WCCO that I'm sure all the ratings that are left are from AM radios that only get one station in fish cleaning shacks, hunting blinds, or tucked above refridgerators throughout MN. Perhaps it doesn't matter what they put on the air: St. Thomas football, middle school arm wrestling, etc.

Agree.....the school size wise is bigger than its competitors.....really could consider going to a higher level of athletics like D2 or even D1-Championship. The school has grown enough that it needs to move on athletically from the MIAC D3

 

[GopherRock]

The Timberwolves have the potential to be at least lukewarm listening material if Ricky Rubio comes back from his blown ACL and the Wolves make a run at the playoffs. I still think the Wild makes for better radio ratings, but at least there's potential for the Wolves.

But St. Thomas? Ummm, no.

I'm as big of a defender of the Good Neighbor as there is, but now that they're pimping St Thomas, WCCO is only good for severe weather and school announcements. And they've been severely slipping on the latter.

 

[MNGoldenGophers1]

WCCO. a shell of what is used to be. they are pimping st. thomas and the timberwolves. man, are those two hot properties (sarcasm alert).

p.s. and if some idiot rube comes on this thread and tries to start telling me that the timberwolves and st. thomas on the freaking radio are hot properties. well, first get your stupid head examined. second, i have a bridge in brooklyn that i want to sell you.

+1

 

[THE SCOUT!]

D3 schools = no schollys for athletic ability, student body does not matter.

 

[station19]

WCCO. a shell of what is used to be. they are pimping st. thomas and the timberwolves. man, are those two hot properties (sarcasm alert).

p.s. and if some idiot rube comes on this thread and tries to start telling me that the timberwolves and st. thomas on the freaking radio are hot properties. well, first get your stupid head examined. second, i have a bridge in brooklyn that i want to sell you.

saw an article by david brauer the other day that AM radio ratings are way down overall. KFAN (since making the move to FM) was one of the few stations with sports properties to maintain and/or gain ratings. obviously from a U of M athletics perspective that is a good thing to read.

ESPN 1500 was down big. in part because the twins suck. but of particular note was that their NOON slot with pat reusse on the air was one of the biggest losers overall in terms of ratings drops. ha! ha! ha! ha! suck it fatty patty. just retire already. how that man maintains a job in this town is beyond me.

Why are you so angry? Are you that miserable?

 

[dpodoll68]

Agree.....the school size wise is bigger than its competitors.....really could consider going to a higher level of athletics like D2 or even D1-Championship. The school has grown enough that it needs to move on athletically from the MIAC D3

This is exactly what I said a little while back. Rosemountian then attacked me and told me that I had no idea what I was talking about, without elaborating whatsoever, of course.

 

[50PoundHead]

As an MIAC alum, the St. Thomas on 'CCO thing bugs me. That school as become a bad fit for the conference in many ways and this is just another reason. I do still listen to WCCO for a half hour each morning to catch the news when I wake up and shower. Not looking forward to hearing Dave Lee talk about St. Thomas like it is a bigger deal than... St. Thomas.

At this point enough people have likely bolted from WCCO that I'm sure all the ratings that are left are from AM radios that only get one station in fish cleaning shacks, hunting blinds, or tucked above refridgerators throughout MN. Perhaps it doesn't matter what they put on the air: St. Thomas football, middle school arm wrestling, etc.

Agree 100%. Nothing against St. Thomas. Good school and all. They've become very aggressive across a lot of fronts and, for some reason, they've been more successful at it than the other MIAC schools. The next few years will be interesting, especially if Caruso stays. They seem to be poised to seize the mantle from St. John's in football.

I'm so old, I remember when UMD was in the MIAC. Hard to believe they didn't dominate the conference during that era.

PS--I try not to "hate" at my age, but Eric Nelson has to be the worst sportscaster around. I don't have many nightmares, but when I do, I'm usually having a flashback to the Larry Fitzgerald Sr./Eric Nelson show that was on KFAN when it first launched. Larry Sr. improved as time went on. Nelson didn't (and subsequently hasn't).

 

[RodentRampage]

Why Saint Thomas? Saint John's is probably the most well-known MIAC school. Or Minnesota State? A contract with WCCO would be a big boost if they ever moved to D-I. Nothing against St. Thomas, but are people all over the state interested in their games on the radio?

 

[dpodoll68]

Why Saint Thomas?

$$$

Also, a school in the metro by default has a far better chance of gaining traction (though still infinitesimal) than a school in Mankato or the St. Cloud area.

 

[50PoundHead]

Why Saint Thomas? Saint John's is probably the most well-known MIAC school. Or Minnesota State? A contract with WCCO would be a big boost if they ever moved to D-I. Nothing against St. Thomas, but are people all over the state interested in their games on the radio?

St. Thomas is marketing the sh*t out of themselves. WCCO is filling dead air on Saturday afternoons as it is. As someone posted earlier, AM radio (especially in the metro area) is becoming a vast radio wasteland. I can't remember which local station used to have an "MIAC Game of the Week," but that died due to lack of interest. My guess is St. Thomas put together a package that was interesting enough for WCCO to stay at the table. Maybe all the rectories, nunneries, and monasteries will be hard-wired to receive the games and attendance will be mandatory (no cheering if you've taken the vow of silence though).

 

[Schnauzer]

Why Saint Thomas? Saint John's is probably the most well-known MIAC school. Or Minnesota State? A contract with WCCO would be a big boost if they ever moved to D-I. Nothing against St. Thomas, but are people all over the state interested in their games on the radio?

St. John's is the best known football program. No doubt. And you are correct in the sense this 'CCO thing is for St. Thomas football. However, in terms of the "best known MIAC school" that can take on many colors. St. Thomas is perhaps starting to eclipse St. Johns in football (St. Johns has been "down" by their standards for a few years now while St. Thomas has grown their football profile to match the success they already enjoy in other sports). Meanwhile, in terms of athletic programs from top to bottom, St. Thomas and you could argue Gustavus have been more successful than St. Johns for a while now, for 10-15 years or more. Plus, academics always play a bigger role in DIII and especially in the MIAC so it is tough to ignore St. Olaf and others.

St. Thomas has always been an overall power in the MIAC. In the last 5 years they have really begun to pull away from Gustavus in the 'all sports' success. They are crossing from "a power" to "the power" in the conference. Certain UST programs have gone into "sleepy" periods (especially football) over the years but the big enrollment, location, etc. have always been a factor. In recent years they have hit on coaching, and have invested a lot in athletic facilities.

 

[FireDaveLee]

I thought about having to change my handle name since he was rightly kicked to the curb after the switch to KFAN.....

I don't know if I care now.....I guess my hatred is more towards St. Thomas Academy hockey trophychasing & not trying to take down Benilde, Hill-Murray, Edina, Dul East, Tonka & EP.

Anyway, seems like an appropriate place for a lousy play-by-play guy & for him to pimp Country Hearth bread.

 

[tjgopher]

Why Saint Thomas?

Because St. Thomas is paying WCCO a lot of money to broadcast the games. Usually, radio stations like WCCO or broadcast companies like Learfield pay teams/universities for the rights to broadcast the games. In this case, St. Thomas pays WCCO to broadcast the games. And, it is a sizable chunk of change. St. Thomas has deep pockets and is using the football radio broadcast as a marketing mechanism and writing it off as a marketing/recruiting expense.

 

[KoolAid]

I've been dying to get another D-I basketball program in the state - might as well be these guys

 

[GophersInIowa]

Agree.....the school size wise is bigger than its competitors.....really could consider going to a higher level of athletics like D2 or even D1-Championship. The school has grown enough that it needs to move on athletically from the MIAC D3

Look at the Wisconsin schools. Some have been that big for a long time.

 

[dpodoll68]

Look at the Wisconsin schools. Some have been that big for a long time.

As someone already said, size is mostly irrelevant when it comes to athletics. Money (and wise use of that money, specifically) is king. La Crosse and Eau Claire, for example, are DIII schools that are approximately the same size at St. Thomas. La Crosse and Eau Claire have endowments of ~$41 MM and ~$29 MM, respectively. St. Thomas? ~$557 million dollars. I have a lot of respect for Whitewater because they don't have enormous financial resources (endowment of ~$17 MM?).

 

[Schnauzer]

Look at the Wisconsin schools. Some have been that big for a long time.

Yes, and the WIAC is to the national DIII scene just as St. Thomas is to the MIAC scene. Similar situation on a different scale. It is my understanding that Wisconsin made this decision to be the big fish in the pond a long time ago, and as a result do not have public DII schools within the border. This is in contrast to the DIII landscape elsewhere in the US (in most cases, if not all).

 

[Schnauzer]

As someone already said, size is mostly irrelevant when it comes to athletics. Money (and wise use of that money, specifically) is king. La Crosse and Eau Claire, for example, are DIII schools that are approximately the same size at St. Thomas. La Crosse and Eau Claire have endowments of ~$41 MM and ~$29 MM, respectively. St. Thomas? ~$557 million dollars. I have a lot of respect for Whitewater because they don't have enormous financial resources (endowment of ~$17 MM?).

This is true. However, there are additional athletic variables that indirectly relate to enrollment (if not directly). For example, it is a lot easier to get a prospective recruit on shaky financial or academic turf into Whitewater than it is St. Olaf. There are MANY reasons why St. Thomas tends to be a bigger athletic power compared to Macalester. ONE of those reasons is it is a bit easier to get many athletes into St. Thomas compared to Mac. Harvard's endowment is pretty big, but they won't be competing with LSU on the athletic field. Carleton has a massive endowment but it is very difficult for them to compete with Whitewater, St. Thomas, etc. Endowments aside, St. Thomas just has become a different type of institution compared to many DIII, and especially MIAC schools.

 

[Lakeville Goldy]

Because St. Thomas is paying WCCO a lot of money to broadcast the games. Usually, radio stations like WCCO or broadcast companies like Learfield pay teams/universities for the rights to broadcast the games. In this case, St. Thomas pays WCCO to broadcast the games. And, it is a sizable chunk of change. St. Thomas has deep pockets and is using the football radio broadcast as a marketing mechanism and writing it off as a marketing/recruiting expense.

I've never understood why the University couldn't figure out that investing money in athletics is investing in marketing. When some folks were in an uproar about the Athletic Department being in the red and receiving money from the general fund, I just never understood why they didn't just acknowledge that and legitimize it. I know they have a fairly substantial budget for marketing. At some point, you have to look at the numbers and say, where is this money better spent? On ads in magazines and TV that are mostly ignored, or on a product on the field that people will get behind?

 

[short ornery norwegian]

There's no doubt that St. Thomas is in a very good position vis-a-vis the rest of the MIAC schools because of money and facilities. Other schools like Bethel have had some solid teams, and St. Johns has the tradition - but you wonder what happens when Gags finally leaves the scene. I would hate to see the conference fall into a situation where St. Thomas wins everything (except Wrestling- go Auggies!). The question is - can any of the other teams in the conference afford to get into an arms race with St. Thomas?

As far as the games on 'CCO, I listened to about 10 minutes of 1 game last year, and couldn't stand it anymore. Dave Lee is still Dave Lee, and Eric Nelson is a (***bleep****). Seriously, of all the media yahoos in the Twin Cities, I detest Nelson the most. His open contempt for the Gopher program, and his drooling adoration of the Vikings and the NFL make me want to go upside his head with a brick. (preferrably from the old brickhouse, if any still exist.)

 

[dpodoll68]

Harvard's endowment is pretty big, but they won't be competing with LSU on the athletic field.

Harvard could be Stanford (or better) in football if they wanted to. They just don't want to.

 

[MaxyJR1]

It is all about $$$. St. Thomas pays WCCO to air their games. The other schools get free exposure by St. Thomas doing this. Great for MIAC and it's schools. The MIAC is the #1 D3 grossing football conference in the country.

I do believe that St. Thomas has a great opportunity to try and go D1-AA in football and D1 in other sports.

 

[jovs]

St. John's is the best known football program. No doubt. And you are correct in the sense this 'CCO thing is for St. Thomas football. However, in terms of the "best known MIAC school" that can take on many colors. St. Thomas is perhaps starting to eclipse St. Johns in football (St. Johns has been "down" by their standards for a few years now while St. Thomas has grown their football profile to match the success they already enjoy in other sports). Meanwhile, in terms of athletic programs from top to bottom, St. Thomas and you could argue Gustavus have been more successful than St. Johns for a while now, for 10-15 years or more. Plus, academics always play a bigger role in DIII and especially in the MIAC so it is tough to ignore St. Olaf and others.

St. Thomas has always been an overall power in the MIAC. In the last 5 years they have really begun to pull away from Gustavus in the 'all sports' success. They are crossing from "a power" to "the power" in the conference. Certain UST programs have gone into "sleepy" periods (especially football) over the years but the big enrollment, location, etc. have always been a factor. In recent years they have hit on coaching, and have invested a lot in athletic facilities.

St Thomas has probably aligned the grants and financial aid they provide athletes to be closer to what St Johns does, who knows they might have more available to give, it does make a difference and it does happen even though there are no scholerships.

 

[Schnauzer]

The question is - can any of the other teams in the conference afford to get into an arms race with St. Thomas?

I would say the answer to that is not only YES, but St. Thomas just caught up with Gustavus in the facility wars after trailing since at least 1985 in that area.

 

[TrapperDoo]

St. John's has entered the facilities race. They won't say how much it is going to cost but they have an extensive plan (and the phone number of every single alum). Still, success has more to do with coaching than anything, I believe. I have seen it many times, first hand with Gags. So many times the Johnnies appear to be physically outmatched and they still manage to pull out the win because of great coaching/preparation. I truly believe that the Tommies are doing well because Caruso is an excellent coach as well, and nothing else. I got a feeling that we also have a great coach in Kill. Surely, at D1 facilities count more for attracting athletes, but Kills philosophy is the same as these other guys - be prepared and do the simple things exceedingly well. JK doesn't use these exact words but this is clearly his message. Wins will beget more wins and the recruits will follow. Go Gophers!