CRETIN WILL BE OUT OF THE SUBURBAN EAST CONFERENCE IN 09-10

[wbmd]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

[quickgym guy]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

Why is everyone so hyped about conferences? they mean nothing on going to state...

[wbmd]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

Why is everyone so hyped about conferences? they mean nothing on going to state...

Competition wise, conferences matter. Tougher conferences help prepare the teams for sectionals.

[hockeydad]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

Why is everyone so hyped about conferences? they mean nothing on going to state...

Competition wise, conferences matter. Tougher conferences help prepare the teams for sectionals.

WBMD - Not doubting you, but what's your source?

Seems weird, cuz yesterday's Strib said the Suburban East and Lake Conferences attended the meeting on conference realignment as observers, saying they were content with the current makeup of their conferences.

[wbmd]

WBMD - Not doubting you, but what's your source?

Seems weird, cuz yesterday's Strib said the Suburban East and Lake Conferences attended the meeting on conference realignment as observers, saying they were content with the current makeup of their conferences.

S.E.C. parents and athletes. Again, it is official.

[Westsidefan]

Hmmm. Doesn't sound like parents and athletes constitute an "official" source. I would think with all that the MSHSL went through to get Cretin into a conference, the conference would be unlikely to be able to kick them back out unless it were part of a larger reorganization of conferences and Cretin wanted to go voluntarily. Who else is going to ask Cretin to be in their conference? No one did before and the MSHSL made the decision. Wouldn't it do the same thing again?

The problem with not being in a conference (can you even do that in Minnesota?) or being in a small conference like the current Classic Lake is trying to find games to schedule. Particularly if you are a powerhouse in one or more sports, finding teams to play is a challenge. That's why Classic Lake football teams ended up playing teams from Michigan and Missouri.

[HShockeywatcher]

If this is true, it will definitely help their football schedule; they slaughter all their opponents which helps them in no way aside from padding stats. As far as other sports go, this would not be a good thing. Did any of your "official" sources tell you why they're doing this?

[Sparlimb]

I wonder with the big realignment on the western side of the cities (classic lake going away), if there may not be some major Twin Cities re-alignments. Maybe the St. Paul City Conference will take Hill-Murray and Cretin back. Okay not. I wouldn't mind Cretin in the Classic Suburban, but they are better in the SEC as they compete rather well in most sports with those larger schools. You know, they could make a rather decent private conference with Totino Grace, Cretin-Derham Hall, Hill-Murray, Blake, Breck, Holy Angels, and Benilde-St. Margaret's. But I'm pretty sure that won't happen.

[stpaul]

I'm skeptical about this one. East Ridge will make the SEC a 10 team conference. An even number of schools is desirable for scheduling purposes. I don't know about the MSHSL rules about conference placement, but I question whether the SEC could even kick out CDH this soon it they wanted to. The only way it makes any sense is if CDH is headed to the Lake Conference voluntarilly as a part of it's reallignment. I doubt it. CDH has been a good fit in the SEC. They have not dominated in any sport.

[karl(east)]

Some interesting perspectives on conferences.

Duluth East has, of course, been out of the LSC for nearly 10 years now, after voluntarily leaving due to lack of serious competition (they have also left the conference for basketball).

Some people have claimed this has damaged the hockey program; I seriously doubt this and point to the rise of Marshall, the Grand Rapids rennaisance a few years a back, and the intensification of the Cloquet rivalry as far more significant reasons for East's inability to match its dominance in the 90s this decade.

So in the end, I think it worked out well for the Greyhounds; they still play the major teams in the region that they should to prepare for sections, and instead of beating up on Proctor or Ashland they get to prepare themselves for later competition by inviting some of the best teams in the state up to Duluth, and doing plenty of traveling on their own. It also makes for very exciting hockey as a spectator. In my experience, there's no real reason to look at conference independence as a bad thing.

[sportsguy29]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

Nobody has said anything about this yet...

[Sparlimb]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

Nobody has said anything about this yet...

With much respect to WBMD, who has been around long enough to be believed, nothing is final until the MSHSL says so. Conferences can say no thanks to teams only to have it overturned. They are the final arbiter and may still have something to say on the matter.

[wbmd]

With much respect to WBMD, who has been around long enough to be believed, nothing is final until the MSHSL says so. Conferences can say no thanks to teams only to have it overturned. They are the final arbiter and may still have something to say on the matter.

Thanks. And you are correct that the MSHSL has the final say.

I am still waiting for more information from my sources.

[sportsguy29]

With much respect to WBMD, who has been around long enough to be believed, nothing is final until the MSHSL says so. Conferences can say no thanks to teams only to have it overturned. They are the final arbiter and may still have something to say on the matter.

Thanks. And you are correct that the MSHSL has the final say.

I am still waiting for more information from my sources.

Nope, I'm one of the first to defend many of wbmd's comments as well, I just haven't heard even a PEEP about this until here on this board today. As a SEC guy myself, I love the idea!!

[HShockeywatcher]

"CDH has been a good fit in the SEC. They have not dominated in any sport." -stpaul

Really? Their first year in the conference the football team got 2nd and since then, the last 3 seasons, they have gone 8-0 during the regular season, getting a conference title each year. This past year they were conference champs in both basketball and baseball. Although not dominant, even in a down year last year they got 4th in hockey, 3rd the year before, and 1st in their first year in the conference. Looking at their short history in the conference hockey is the only one of the main four sports they haven't dominated in conference play, and although not dominant, they are competitive.

"In my experience, there's no real reason to look at conference independence as a bad thing." -karl(east)

You're right. Aside from a scheduling nightmare, which asks the question of "why do it?". The only reason that would make sense is for football purposes. Aside from that they are in a good hockey conference with enough flexibility for other opponents, and although at the top in baseball and basketball, they get conference losses. Just like it would be silly for AHA to leave the Missota simply because of hockey, it would be silly for CDH to leave the SEC simply because of football.

[Sparlimb]

"CDH has been a good fit in the SEC. They have not dominated in any sport." -stpaul

Really? Their first year in the conference the football team got 2nd and since then, the last 3 seasons, they have gone 8-0 during the regular season, getting a conference title each year. This past year they were conference champs in both basketball and baseball. Although not dominant, even in a down year last year they got 4th in hockey, 3rd the year before, and 1st in their first year in the conference. Looking at their short history in the conference hockey is the only one of the main four sports they haven't dominated in conference play, and although not dominant, they are competitive.

"In my experience, there's no real reason to look at conference independence as a bad thing." -karl(east)

You're right. Aside from a scheduling nightmare, which asks the question of "why do it?". The only reason that would make sense is for football purposes. Aside from that they are in a good hockey conference with enough flexibility for other opponents, and although at the top in baseball and basketball, they get conference losses. Just like it would be silly for AHA to leave the Missota simply because of hockey, it would be silly for CDH to leave the SEC simply because of football.

Let's not just look at the past few years but historic teams. Stillwater has won state in football, Woodbury has won state in football, White Bear has had success in football as has Mounds View. There is no other conference on the east side that has the historic success or size of schools to stay competitive with Cretin. You could shove them in with the North Suburban Schools as Blaine, Anoka, Elk River have all had very good teams, but they don't fit as well with those schools. Clearly the SEC has had several state hockey tournament worthy teams the last 5 years. Woodbury has gone, WBL has gone numerous times, Hastings and Roseville in the past 10 years. It still appears to me the right place for Cretin...

[sportsguy29]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

STILL, nobody's saying where this RUMOR started. Was there some meeting with the MSHSL that I'm missing, or what. This is seeming more and more like a farce by the hour...with no disrespect intended.

[youngblood08]

Ironic that with that Football program ........NO STADIUM. Hockey has Free rein at St Paul Highland. Maybe spend some of that money on thier own faciluties.

[komada77]

Does it really matter what conference Cretin is in for most sports? They are hands down the most talented football team in the state virutally every year. They are clearly the top baseball program in the state, having won 17 state championships. If you count the old Catholic hockey tourney, they have won more state championships than any other school (12). What I'm trying to say is even if they moved to the Lake or the Classic Lake, CDH would probably be the best athletic program in the conference.

On a different note, any idea what will happen to CDH? They will destroy every team in the St. Paul City, their old conference. The Northwest Suburban can't handle Cretin either, with the exception of Blaine in football. In every sport but hockey, it would be a complete beatdown in favor of the Raiders every game in the Classic Suburban. The Lake could give them some competition, but is all west-side teams and is already way too big. The SEC seems to be the obvious best fit.

[komada77]

Have some new info: Cretin Derham Hall will be a part of the SEC in 2009-2010 and in the future beyond that. I repeat: there is not any sort of plan that will remove CDH from the Suburban East Conference at any time in the near future. If you must know my source, it is the athletic director at Woodbury, a fellow member of the SEC.

[wbmd]

Have some new info: Cretin Derham Hall will be a part of the SEC in 2009-2010 and in the future beyond that. I repeat: there is not any sort of plan that will remove CDH from the Suburban East Conference at any time in the near future. If you must know my source, it is the athletic director at Woodbury, a fellow member of the SEC.

I was always skeptical of what I heard, however, it was an S.E.C. coach that was telling his team members that Cretin was out of the conference.

Sorry for any confusion.

Nice that they will remain in the S.E.C. It makes the conference even more competitive.

[BodyShots]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

Next time, try using BOLD and CAPITAL letters when announcing your scoops! I heard from a friend, who heard from a friend, that HM won last night. It's official, unless they find out later that HM used an illegal player!

[Pioneerprideguy]

This is official. With the edition of East Ridge next season, Cretin will not be in the Suburban East Conference starting with the '09-10 season.

This is not a rumor. It is official!

This is official...Elvis is Alive!!
This is not a rumor. It is official!!

[wbmd]

This is official...Elvis is Alive!!
This is not a rumor. It is official!!

Elvis Costello is alive.