Classic Suburban ousts St. Thomas

[almostashappy]

The South Suburban is a conference for large, co-ed, non-military, sectarian public schools South of the River. STA only meets the geographic requirement.

Aren't all of the suburban conferences mostly made up of co-ed, non-military sectarian public schools? At least the South Suburban has the geography thing going for it.

I'm quite certain that the SSC will be very, very unhappy if STA is forced on them...and for good reason. Set aside any cultural differences, and focus on the fact that it would give the conference an odd-number of schools...at least for the boys sports.

Wonder what the STA football coach would think if this happened....their conference schedule would shift overnight to all 6A opponents (or almost-all, if they played Apple Valley).

[hockeydad]

Keep in mind how the South Suburban came to be.... when the MSHSL placed Minnetonka, Wayzata and Hopkins in the Lake Conference, nine school schools left the Lake and formed the SSC.

The best, long-term solution would be a Catholic School Conference.
CDH, STA and Vis, TG, BSM, AHA, HM, DeLaSalle and Holy Family. Since DLS doesn't have hockey, let Lourdes in for that sport only.

[394 West]

Keep in mind how the South Suburban came to be.... when the MSHSL placed Minnetonka, Wayzata and Hopkins in the Lake Conference, nine school schools left the Lake and formed the SSC.

The best, long-term solution would be a Catholic School Conference.
CDH, STA and Vis, TG, BSM, AHA, HM, DeLaSalle and Holy Family. Since DLS doesn't have hockey, let Lourdes in for that sport only.

BSM is already independent. So now you have an even number without asking Lourdes to drive for hours every week.

[thestickler07]

I'm quite certain that the SSC will be very, very unhappy if STA is forced on them...and for good reason. Set aside any cultural differences, and focus on the fact that it would give the conference an odd-number of schools...at least for the boys sports.

Wonder what the STA football coach would think if this happened....their conference schedule would shift overnight to all 6A opponents (or almost-all, if they played Apple Valley).

Derp.

What cultural reasons? Minnesota is one of the most homogeneous states in the country. This isn't like puting CDH in the middle of the SPCC ethnically. I know you don't mean religion because that would be the stupidest thing ever said. And socioeconomics with more affluent suburbs are probably a lot more comparable with a school like St. Thomas considering a decent amount of their student body comes from the SSC area.

Odd number of teams being a big reason? Womp Womp.

I would wager STAA wants the SSC, but a Park for STAA swap with the SEC would make sense for both parties.

[hockeydad]

Keep in mind how the South Suburban came to be.... when the MSHSL placed Minnetonka, Wayzata and Hopkins in the Lake Conference, nine school schools left the Lake and formed the SSC.

The best, long-term solution would be a Catholic School Conference.
CDH, STA and Vis, TG, BSM, AHA, HM, DeLaSalle and Holy Family. Since DLS doesn't have hockey, let Lourdes in for that sport only.

BSM is already independent. So now you have an even number without asking Lourdes to drive for hours every week.

I'm looking at all sports, not just hockey. BSM is independent in hockey because the rest of the North Suburban is not at their level of competition. That would not be the case in this conference. Currently you have TG, BSM, AHA and probably STA all looking for new conference homes in 2014.

[394 West]

Keep in mind how the South Suburban came to be.... when the MSHSL placed Minnetonka, Wayzata and Hopkins in the Lake Conference, nine school schools left the Lake and formed the SSC.

The best, long-term solution would be a Catholic School Conference.
CDH, STA and Vis, TG, BSM, AHA, HM, DeLaSalle and Holy Family. Since DLS doesn't have hockey, let Lourdes in for that sport only.

BSM is already independent. So now you have an even number without asking Lourdes to drive for hours every week.

I'm looking at all sports, not just hockey. BSM is independent in hockey because the rest of the North Suburban is not at their level of competition. That would not be the case in this conference. Currently you have TG, BSM, AHA and probably STA all looking for new conference homes in 2014.

Got it I did not realize they are looking for other sports. I think hockey would stay independent even if they change conferences.

[Nuts&Bolts]

Veldman = joke. Look at the changing demographics in SSP and kids on reduced lunch. Where do they end up going to school (and playing hockey)? Try HM who remains in the conference. Top SSP girl likely open enrolling to Cretin for her freshman year. Maybe the stockyards are booming again.

Best bet for STAA is going independent in hockey like BSM and Duluth East. It should be easy for STAA to get a home and home with each of these schools. Add a game with SSM, Lourdes, maybe Duluth Marshall and make a call to your friends up north in Hermantown. I'd guess the boys from the north would welcome a non state tourney final game against the Cadets.

[almostashappy]

What cultural reasons? Minnesota is one of the most homogeneous states in the country. This isn't like puting CDH in the middle of the SPCC ethnically. I know you don't mean religion because that would be the stupidest thing ever said. And socioeconomics with more affluent suburbs are probably a lot more comparable with a school like St. Thomas considering a decent amount of their student body comes from the SSC area.

Odd number of teams being a big reason? Womp Womp.

I would wager STAA wants the SSC, but a Park for STAA swap with the SEC would make sense for both parties.

We've already got a Private School bashing thread. No need to start another one.

[old goalie85]

I talked to the AD from FL today. He told me he would have no problem w/STA moving into the SEC.

[thestickler07]

What cultural reasons? Minnesota is one of the most homogeneous states in the country. This isn't like puting CDH in the middle of the SPCC ethnically. I know you don't mean religion because that would be the stupidest thing ever said. And socioeconomics with more affluent suburbs are probably a lot more comparable with a school like St. Thomas considering a decent amount of their student body comes from the SSC area.

Odd number of teams being a big reason? Womp Womp.

I would wager STAA wants the SSC, but a Park for STAA swap with the SEC would make sense for both parties.

We've already got a Private School bashing thread. No need to start another one.

Yea so keep your jokes posts in that one.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

I

I would wager STAA wants the SSC, but a Park for STAA swap with the SEC would make sense for both parties.

Hey, I really like the idea of conferences being able to trade members.

I'm surprised it hasn't come up in this thread that there was recently some chatter about MSHSL going to section scheduling for football. Football is the source of half of the problems for conferences.

Also, I think the MSHSL has some restrictions on schools opting out of conference play for some sports, can't recall exactly how. It may help to allow conferences to swap one member with another conference just for football purposes, no other sports.

[old goalie85]

Park wants out. STA needs a new home. Should be a no-brainer. I would think Hill would be interested in joining the SEC as well. Would make for a nice fit for the hill girls program as well. Hill has a great Baseball/Hockey and up-and coming Football program.

[thestickler07]

Park would be the biggest school in the CSC by something like 50 kids over Tartan, so not an outlier.

Section scheduling would solve a lot of problems with the constant conference realignment, but there are probably too many classes in too many sports to work here. It would be problematic outstate as well in a lot of sports.

My preference for STAA would be 1. SCC, 2. SEC, 3. Catholic School League

[almostashappy]

Yea so keep your jokes posts in that one.

(sigh)

When people talk about how one company has a very different "corporate culture" than another, would you insist that this would only apply if there was a difference in the ethnic or socioeconomic composition of the employees? Or would you allow for the possibility that both companies could draw employees from the same region, and have the same demographics, but would still be very different places to work?


There is a distinct difference in the "educational culture" between STA an any of the SSC schools. Doesn't mean that one is better than the other, but to deny these differences is just plain silly.

[thestickler07]

When people talk about how one company has a very different "corporate culture" than another, would you insist that this would only apply if there was a difference in the ethnic or socioeconomic composition of the employees? Or would you allow for the possibility that both companies could draw employees from the same region, and have the same demographics, but would still be very different places to work?

There is a distinct difference in the "educational culture" between STA an any of the SSC schools. Doesn't mean that one is better than the other, but to deny these differences is just plain silly.

Its a good thing these kids won't be going to class with each other then. Its a move for athletic conferences stop trying to obfuscate the issue with this educational culture garbage.

STAA needs a new home for its sports, it will likely be in the SEC or SCC. Neither will take them willingly so its going to come down to where the MSHSL decides to put them.

The SEC already has its token non public (Cretin) so I would guess the MSHSL would decide to spread the privates out and put STAA in the SCC.

[HappyHockeyFan]

As an avid Eagan Wildcat fan I would love to see STA come to the SSC, another couple of great rivalry games to watch every season. We could use a tougher schedule anyway, epecially after losing EP.

[thestickler07]

May 19th.

ADs of DLS, CDH, AHA, BSM, STAA, HM, HF and TG will be meeting to discuss the possibility of an all Catholic school league.

Boom.

[old goalie85]

Great hockey,football, and pretty good Baseball conference.

[MNHockeyFan]

Article in the Star Tribune:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/205629921.html

[Pioneerprideguy]

Disappointed to read Lechner's response. He would rather stay and benefit from his advantages then be in a conference with similiar programs and have to be forced to compete. From an alumni perspective, this is sad.

[BodyShots]

"Dave Stead, high school league executive director, said he had not heard of the idea of a Catholic school conference until Wednesday."

Is this guy a frickin house plant? How could he have not heard of this idea in the past.

Hello.... McFly.... Is anybody in there!

[stpaul]

Disappointed to read Lechner's response. He would rather stay and benefit from his advantages then be in a conference with similiar programs and have to be forced to compete. From an alumni perspective, this is sad.

Disagree. The CSC is a good fit competetively for HM for all sports except hockey. They do not dominate in other sports. In 12 years in the CSC they have 2 conference co-championships in football, 1 championship in basketball and 3 in baseball. Only volleyball has been dominant in girls sports. They have some great rivalries in girls sports (for example - with North in softball, Tartan & Simley in basketball). HM with about 620 in grades 9-12 is considerably smaller than CDH, BSM, STA & TG. They do not have the numbers for football that those schools have. If they stay in the CSC without STA they certainly should go independent for hockey. The girls team too.

Transportation costs and time may be a bigger issue. BSM, AHA & HF are on the opposite end of the metro. That will make for long bus rides on school nights for kids who are expected to do homework too. There are lots of frosh, B squad, girls & minor sports that Bill Lechner has to consider too. The CSC is pretty compact geographically. North, Tartan & Mahtomedi are each just a few miles away. SSP, STA, Sibley & Simley are short hops on 694/494.

[thestickler07]

Disappointed to read Lechner's response. He would rather stay and benefit from his advantages then be in a conference with similiar programs and have to be forced to compete. From an alumni perspective, this is sad.

Kind of surprised me when I read it.

If the roles are reversed and you guys are voted out of the CSC I don't see how we couldn't think we would be next.

I'd definitely be in favor of the catholic league, it would be in the discussion as the 2nd best overall league with the SSC/SEC behind the Lake obviously.

In hockey alone it would be the most competitive conference in the state year after year assuredly. DLS doesn't play hockey so you could play a true round robin which would be a murder's row of scheduling with home/aways vs BSM, HM, TG, STAA etc.

I know a lot of the public supporters are cheering this possibility and honestly all I can do is smh at the notion that they would be in favor of it. I have no doubts that this will make things worse in terms of competitive parity. With opportunities to play this kind of schedule quality inside the MSHSL framework there are plenty of kids that would make the jump no question.

You would be playing against the best of the best for the entire conference season, who would have been the weakest team in the league last year? A 13-12-1 AHA team? Then who? 16-9-1 CDH or 18-8 HF squads? If those are your cellar dweller's records then .

I said it awhile ago, but public school supporters you got to be careful what you wish for. The law of unintended consequences might come back to bite some of you big time.

[hockey8543]

Disappointed to read Lechner's response. He would rather stay and benefit from his advantages then be in a conference with similiar programs and have to be forced to compete. From an alumni perspective, this is sad.

Disagree. The CSC is a good fit competetively for HM for all sports except hockey. They do not dominate in other sports. In 12 years in the CSC they have 2 conference co-championships in football, 1 championship in basketball and 3 in baseball. Only volleyball has been dominant in girls sports. They have some great rivalries in girls sports (for example - with North in softball, Tartan & Simley in basketball). HM with about 620 in grades 9-12 is considerably smaller than CDH, BSM, STA & TG. They do not have the numbers for football that those schools have. If they stay in the CSC without STA they certainly should go independent for hockey. The girls team too.

Transportation costs and time may be a bigger issue. BSM, AHA & HF are on the opposite end of the metro. That will make for long bus rides on school nights for kids who are expected to do homework too. There are lots of frosh, B squad, girls & minor sports that Bill Lechner has to consider too. The CSC is pretty compact geographically. North, Tartan & Mahtomedi are each just a few miles away. SSP, STA, Sibley & Simley are short hops on 694/494.

Back in the 1980's there was all private school conference someone above mentioned they would be in favor of a catholic conference. I don't remember all of the teams BSM, Grace, St. Bernards, St. Agnes, St. Croix Luthern, Breck, Holy Angels, , Blake not sure of, Brady. I don't think it would have to be a all catholic school conference maybe all private conference. Back in the 80' I don't think any private schools made it to the state tournament in hockey.

[almostashappy]

Transportation costs and time may be a bigger issue. BSM, AHA & HF are on the opposite end of the metro. That will make for long bus rides on school nights for kids who are expected to do homework too. There are lots of frosh, B squad, girls & minor sports that Bill Lechner has to consider too. The CSC is pretty compact geographically. North, Tartan & Mahtomedi are each just a few miles away. SSP, STA, Sibley & Simley are short hops on 694/494.

Google Directions says it's a 52 minute, 44 mile trip between Hill-Murray and Holy Family. I don't think you're going to get any sympathy from anyone outside of the Metro Area...for a lot of Minnesota kids, that's a normal twice a day bus ride to and from school.