And yes they are our friends. They can point the way when special interests or self-serving groups get in the way. Did UMM lose its way? I suppose the new guy is going to try to get the needed background. Wow! To see a headline proclaiming a "nosedive" in enrollment! Well, something is off.
We can count on UMM sports as a constant. Come rain or shine, the Cougars will entertain us. And yes I'd like to see UMM sports somehow elevated to playing in the Northern Sun Conference again. More prestige and legitimacy. Well-informed people tell me it can't happen. So I'm just stuck here dreaming.
So maybe I'm dreaming of the day when the bleachers can be pulled out on both sides of the P.E. Center. That's what it was made for. One thing is for sure: the UMM facilities would befit the Northern Sun Conference just fine.
I can probably rule out my dream of an inflatable cover for Big Cat Field. But just dream about that: softball games under perfect conditions starting right after basketball is over! It is fun to dream. The rapidly-fading St. Cloud State has the model inflatable cover. It would have to be considered a major asset there.
St. Cloud State does not even have a football program anymore. Isn't that mind-blowing? You'd think SCSU could at least field a team in the UMAC. A bunch of buildings are set to be torn down there. I believe they are waiting for state money to do that. Too bad the state has lost so much through "fraud." But with all the rampant fraud (apparently), isn't it interesting how Minnesota still has the reputation of being such a prosperous and happy state?
Would we trade with Alabama or Mississippi? And yet we have a governor who the president calls a "retard."
It is hard to monitor how UMM is really doing with student numbers. I'm aching to know how the second semester is going to stack up. It may be nearly impossible to find out. Graduation in the spring will provide a decent barometer. Remember all the years when we could count on a top-flight band and choir to perform featured numbers at graduation? A lot of us took it for granted.
I also took for granted a nice graduation program to be handed to me: something to be kept as a souvenir. Then the day came when I was told "use your smartphone." Well, I have lagged behind and I don't have one.
I will keep an eye on the Cougar basketball calendar to consider attending some more home games. UMM has very obscure opponents these days. I almost hate to research the background of some of those schools online. "Strange" might describe. "Martin Luther College" of the Wisconsin Synod of the Lutheran Church: the synod that believes the Pope to be the antichrist.
In the non-conference schedule, Oak Hills Christian, considered the most anti-gay college in the U.S. Mark Fohl told me at the time UMM joined the UMAC that "if we just stick to sports, we'll be fine." In other words, ignore some of the odd details of some of our opponents.
Kind of an "island of misfit toys."
Things were different in our Northern Sun Conference days.
One thing I greatly admire now: a code of conduct for UMM fans. We could have used that in a previous era. UMM students used to consider themselves so superior. Had a lot to do with "academics." I hate that word. I think the UMM students of today are totally classy and honorable.
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| Gianna Klarenbeek |
Now let's look at basketball: the UMM women impressed with a win by five points last Wednesday. The success was over Martin Luther at New Ulm. Overtime ended with the Cougars on top 80-75. The game was the conference opener. It was entertaining to watch as the lead changed hands often.
The Cougars are still well below .500 overall. We'll see if that situation improves. The Knights of Martin Luther are a .500 team.
Gianna Klarenbeek who comes to UMM from Iowa really impressed offensively: 26 points. It was bombs away from three-point range as she got in the zone for six makes. Claire Stark put in 14 points and Maddy Grove 12.
Iowa magic
Klarenbeek's hometown is Inwood, Iowa, and she went to school at West Lyon. Iowa of course has been spectacular in the development of women's basketball. This year's U of Iowa team is good but will probably not have a waltz in the post-season. The Hawkeyes had to come from quite far behind to defeat Indiana yesterday (Sunday). I was able to watch the game live on my laptop.
The U of M Gophers will have a shot at beating Iowa most definitely. Go Gophers and go "coach Dawn." I mostly try to avoid the coach's last name which I find is hard to handle. Go coach Dawn! Hopefully the Gophers can make the NCAAs this season. Last year they looked like a cinch for getting in but then faded just enough down the closing stretch to have the door closed on them.
Oh, the Gophers had a highly impressive win yesterday by getting past #23 USC! Always a plum for the U to defeat those Trojans in any sport! Way to go, coach Dawn! Keep up the mo, Gophers!
Heading of the morning on YouTube: "Baby boomers are ready to die - they don't want any part of this fake AI world."
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - b willy73@yahoo.com
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