Benster and D Pick Your Games----Who Replaces Chryst Edition?

Well, I was planning to share my thoughts about the disaster last week at Camp Randall, but Wisconsin actually fired Paul Chryst. I get why the wider college football community is surprised, but the issues were there if you looked beyond the surface. While I still maintain that Chryst will be fondly remembered for his success with the Badgers, this was a change that probably needed to be made for the sake of the program.

Surprisingly reasonable take! I agree, the rot had set in.

This edition of our favorite football feature is going early on because D is going to be on assignment this weekend. I hope that he has fun.

I'll take pictures and stuff like that. 

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYPPPEEEE! and ready to pick some games. And at the end, I will share a list of people who I think the Badgers should take a look at besides Jim Leonhard, who will have an extended job interview. Watch me work.

Beloved Wisconsin Badgers (-10) vs. Northwestern Wildcats So last week went horribly wrong in so many ways. Quite honestly, the coaching situation will get more coverage than what happens on the field. The good news is that the Badgers have had some time to get used to the new reality and have nothing to lose the rest of the year. The bad news is that this game is at Ryan Field. The Badgers not only normally struggle against the Purple Nerds, but Ryan Field is a stadium where the Badgers stumble at for reasons unknown to man. Leonhard will be approaching this as a job interview, and while this won't be easy, this is a game that the Badgers can win. Badgers 24, Purple Nerds 13.

History proves the Badgers struggle at Ryan Field even when they have a good team. The 2022 Badgers are, based on available evidence, not a good team. However, the Wildcats are channeling the late 70s era when Northwestern was dismal every year. That won't continue forever, but it will continue this week. Badgers get a bounce from having a new coach, so... Badgers 27, Wildcats 14.

Knox College Prairie Fire, Baby! (NL) vs. Beloit College Bucs So this is Beloit's homecoming weekend, and Strong Stadium will packed with alums like the Old Dude hoping that the Bucs can get it going. Both teams are 0-3 in conference play, but Knox has been at the very least semi competitive. Beloit is trying to get better, but it's going to take some time. I'll be honest, I'm a Knox alum, and won't pick against the Fire. We might be a soccer school, but we should win this one. Knox 28, Beloit 14.

You're right, your Knox squad should win. Beloit hasn't won a game in a few years. They are showing signs of improvement, but getting beat soundly instead of destroyed may not be sufficient progress to beat a middling opponent. Just because of loyalty, I say... Beloit 24, Knox 21.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+7.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings The Vikings did end up winning, and despite what the folks in New Orleans will tell you it wasn't because of the zebras. It is Kirktober, which is good news for both the Vikings and my fantasy team. Da Bearz are a mess. Justin Fields was supposed to be the savior who would return the Bears to 1985. To nobody's surprise, that hasn't happened. Fields looks bad, and Gino is already looking for another savior quarterback in next year's draft. The Vikings should roll this one to keep pace in the NFC North. But a word of warning, the Vikings have had two straight narrow escapes, and that is living dangerously. This game is like a trapdoor in a Scooby Doo episode if they are not careful. Da Bearz Still Suck 31, Vikings 28.

Here's a look at the Vikings studying the Bears playbook:

Kevin O'Connell should really consider an ascot

The Bears aren't completely terrible; they have won twice this season. But what is happening to Justin Fields is franchise malpractice. They are giving him no support and it's evident that no one in the organization has any trust in him. Perhaps that is justified; I'm not in the coaching meetings. But the Bears are never going to move forward until they figure out offensive football, as opposed to being offensive generally. Vikings should cruise. Vikings 27, Bears 10.

New York Football Giants (+8) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers, in London For the first time since 1994 against the Falcons, the Packers will be playing a true home game away from Lambeau Field in the regular season. To all the European Packers fans, you have one very important job. Give us as much home field advantage as possible. The Giants have gotten better, but are banged up in the passing game. Considering the defense struggled against the Patriots on the ground last week, Saquon could be a problem. The Packers didn't play well last week, and Aaron in particular needs to step it up after two subpar games. I think the Packers are due for a comfortable win, and should get it. Packers 42, Giants 24.

As readers of this feature may know, I am a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, the club whose home stadium will host this game. It's going to be odd to see the Packers in this venue, but it's a newish stadium designed specifically for football, so it should be comfortable. The Giants are somehow 3-1, but no one takes them seriously. I suggest the Packers do, because while they are 3-1 they haven't shown they are a top echelon team at any point this season. Packers 31, Giants 20.

And now, time for my list of who I want to see the Badgers hire. And Jim Leonhard is excluded because he will get every chance to get the interim tag removed down the road. This list is in no particular order.

Lance Leipold: Hot name, has done a great job at Kansas. Has Wisconsin roots thanks to his time at Whitewater.

Chris Petersen: Proven winner with Boise State and Washington, and would bring connections to the West Coast that would help once the LA schools join the conference.

Chris Klieman: Great job at NDSU, and has done a great job at K State replacing a popular coach in Bill Synder.

Dan Mullen: Quarterback guru who has developed Tebow, Kyle Trask, and Dak among others. Won at both Florida and Mississippi State. Would bring connections in the South and a new philosophy on offense.

Luke Fickell: Broke the glass ceiling with the Bearcats, and knows the conference thanks to his time with the Buckeyes. 

Dave Aranda: Was a great defensive coordinator in Madison, and would bring ties in the state of Texas for recruiting.

Matt Rhule: Had success rebuilding Temple and Baylor, and is likely on the hot seat with the Panthers. Better coach in college as well.

Eric Bieniemy: Bold hire who would bring an NFL style offense to Madison. Everyone talks about him as a hot candidate, why not see what he can do in college? Plus, he could sell his NFL experience to elite high school quarterback recruits.

Jake Dickert: We saw what he is doing in Pullman first hand. Wisconsin native and could be our version of Fleck.

Bronco Mendenhall: Used to dealing with recruiting on strict standards based on his time at UVA and BYU. 

Todd Monken: Besides being a Knox alum, he has done a great job with the Georgia offense and I'm surprised his name hasn't come up more.

Shawn Clark: Doing a great job at App State and would be a dark horse candidate to watch.

That's my list. 

My only suggestion is to avoid these guys:

We disagree with your picks, Benster

Good advice, old dude! Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.

Thursday night talkers

As I write this, Donald Trump is speaking at the Target Center in Minneapolis, and Dick Cheney is speaking at Eaton Chapel at my alma mater, Beloit College. I'm not particularly fond of either of these gentlemen, but their respective enemies are the sort of people who should never have power, either.

Lately I've been listening to a country singer named Sturgill Simpson. Here's a blistering performance of his on, of all places, Saturday Night Live:

You can tell he's country by his proto-Waylon Jennings (about a half-octave higher) voice, but this arrangement gives you a Sprinsteenian raveup and a little Blues Brothers, too. And the lyrics are pure pox on everyone's house:

Well nobody’s looking up to care about a drone
All too busy looking down at our phone
Ego’s begging for food like a dog from a feed
Refreshing obsessively until our eyes start to bleed
They serve up distractions and we eat them with fries
Until the bombs fall out of our fucking skies

But he's not done:

Turn off the TV
Turn off the news
There's nothing to see here
They’re serving the blues
Bullshit on my TV
Bullshit on my radio
Hollywood telling me how to be me
The bullshit’s got to go

Alas, it ain't going anywhere.

Benster and D Pick Your Games------St. Boni Edition

Old dude, we are going to be on assignment tomorrow afternoon, watching the most important college football game of the year.

What, you're bringing a portable television?

No, Geritol Fan. We're going to scenic St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, to watch your beloved Beloit Bucs play Clown College.

Clown College?

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant Crown College.

I heard about them:

Do you want to crown their asses?

No, I wanna row the boat. So we'll start there. Watch me work!

Georgia Southern Eagles (+16.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat I think it's safe to say that the Gophers are lucky to be 2-0. They barely got by the Jackrabbits, and someone they pulled a Houdini act in Fresno. But give them their due, they won. Now, Georgia Southern comes calling. This game is a trap game and, quite honestly, one they should lose. Eagles 35, Gophers 14.

Thurston, you've been eating the brandied peaches without the peaches again, haven't you? Georgia Southern is the weakest opponent the Gophers have yet seen and the game is at home. I think the Gophers do much better than you think. Gophers 35, Eagles 14.

Beloit College Buccaneers (NL) vs. Crown College Storm This is going to be an interesting game. Both teams lost their opener, and neither were very good. Old dude's beloved Bucs have been, well, let's have Charles Barkley describe their performance:

But here's the thing. Crown College is also turrible. They were thrashed by perpetual MIAC footwipe St. Olaf last week, so they aren't exactly covering themselves in glory. In fact, I heard the MIAC wants to add Crown to replace St. Thomas, because that way everyone else gets a free W. Beloit 21, Crown 0.

Gee, I hope so. The Bucs have been a dumpster fire for a long time now and it's actually disheartening. Crown is a very small Christian school, with an enrollment of about 500. They may have to suit up some coeds to field a team. If my Bucs get beat tomorrow, they ought to fold it up and close Strong Stadium for good. Beloit 17, Crown 14.

Iowa Wesleyan Tigers (NL) vs. Knox College Prairie Fire Meanwhile, let's consider my alma mater, the beloved Prairie Fire. They are playing Iowa Wesleyan, which is also a very small college in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. It's usually not very pleasant in Mount Pleasant, especially on the football field. The Fire misfired last week against Eureka, but I have to believe that we can win at the storied Knosher Bowl. Alabama is too scared to come to the Knosher Bowl, by the way. Knox 10, Iowa Wesleyan 6.

You know what's a good thing for both Knox and Beloit? They still have Grinnell in the league. Knox should beat Iowa Wesleyan, though. Knox 24, Iowa Wesleyan 13.

Minnesota Vikings (+2.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers So, let's get to some real football. Vikings fans were very happy last Sunday. Packers fans were happy a few days before that. Who will be happy this weekend? Well, this game could go either way. The Vikings will be better on offense than the Bears, who seem to share a playbook with Crown College. The Packers defense will provide more resistance than the Falcons defense, which seems to share a playbook with Iowa Wesleyan. I'm a delusional homer (you may have noticed) and that allows me to pick the Packers every time. This game won't be easy, but it is winnable. Packers 28, Vikings 24.

Hmm. I still need to see Aaron Rodgers be healthy. Until I do, the only thing that is healthy is my skepticism. I think the Vikings are the most talented team in the division overall, but the Packers are catching up. Have they closed the gap? Vikings 24, Packers 23.

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (-2.5) vs. Denver Broncos So, da Bearz looked pretty poor against our glorious Packers last week. Were the Packers that good? Or is Mitchell Trubisky a steaming pile? All I know is Sid Luckman is not walking through that door. The Broncos also looked putrid last week against the dumpster fire Raiders, so that's good news for Bears fans. However, the game is in Denver, where the Broncos are a tough out. Weird things happen at that elevation. Bears 0, Broncos 0.

The Broncos are looking at quarterbacks again:

I bet he could throw that steak over the damned mountains. The Bears need this game. I think they get it. Bears 17, Broncos 10.

If that game ends in a scoreless tie, I am definitely buying Powerball next week. Ben out!

Something else to watch

My alma mater, Beloit College, is a lefty place. They do have a Young Americans for Freedom chapter on campus and the YAF is bringing in some really heavy hitters to campus this upcoming semester:

Here comes Dick

Given the reaction on campus that Erik Prince received last year, this should be fun. And I suspect the world, or at least the academic world, will be watching.

Safety School, Baby!

My alma mater gets a nod from the Style Section of the Washington Post, but not of the sort it would want:

But I’m still at a loss about what to do with a situation like Kyle Kashuv’s. And not in some what-is-the-meaning-of-redemption way. But practically speaking: Unless we seal them all in a cave, people who do bad (but not illegal) things are going to continue to be part of our society. What do we think that should look like? What is your personal vision?

The miscreant in question is Kyle Kashuv, a top student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who had the credentials to get into Harvard, but was drummed out because SJWs don't like 2nd Amendment types (Kashuv spoke in favor of the 2nd Amendment, unlike his classmate David Hogg, who is sailing into Harvard with less stellar credentials but a more correct worldview). The SJW spelunking teams dug up some nasty texts he wrote two years ago, where he apparently used the "n" word and maybe said some other uncharitable things that 16-year-old dudes say as they marinate in testosterone. Harvard doesn't want him now, so what to do with him? Post Style Writer/Moral Arbiter Monica Hesse has some suggestions (emphasis in original):

University of Florida? I saw someone suggest that as a possible destination for Kashuv. The argument went that Kashuv shouldn’t be rewarded with the prestige of the Ivy League, but maybe could go off to some less illustrious institution, where he could then continue to work on himself.

I actually saw a fair number of suggestions like this: Not Harvard. Somewhere else. Somewhere less good. The solution seemed reasonable, but it had a tinge of classism, an element of passing the buck. If you don’t believe that Harvard students should have to attend classes with someone who has used racist terminology within the past two years, then why would you subject University of Florida students to that? Or students from Beloit or Colorado State? Would those universities even admit him, or would they follow Harvard’s lead?

Beloit! My alma mater! The quintessential safety school! Beloit, the self-proclaimed "Yale of the Midwest," known up and down the Acela Corridor as a place to park your kid if he's not smart enough to get into Harvard, or was too busy doing bong hits at Pomfret to crack the code at Princeton. But should my fair school be the place where people who are Not Our Kind, Dear have to serve their penance? For her part, Monica Hesse went to Bryn Mawr, a place where one can sniff the glory of the Ivy League from the Philadelphia Main Line. Her school is a member in good standing of the all-female Seven Sisters, so a brute like Kashuv can't even try to go there. Besides which, elite liberal arts schools on the eastern seaboard are right out, including the other proper places in Bryn Mawr's neighborhood; I suspect Haverford would provide no haven and Swarthmore would swat him away, too, so he'll need to go someplace in District 10, where they keep the livestock. Thus, the Beloit dilemma.

Maybe I'm being churlish about this; perhaps Beloiters should be grateful that Hesse doesn't really want to subject my alma mater with an irredeemable type like Kashuv. After all, the Yale of the Midwest needs to maintain its own smelly orthodoxies and a guy who actually likes guns might scare the other matriculants. Hesse is concerned, though -- something has to be done, you see:

What does it look like to make amends? How do we decide what’s redeemable, for example, and then how does a person actually become redeemed? What kind of roles does our society allow for them, and when?

When I read Baker’s essay, I didn’t know what to do with the bad men. I didn’t know where they should go, or what the right societal reentry would be. I didn’t want to talk about the bad men at all, but eventually we’ll need to.

The Baker in question is Katie Baker, whose essay concerns what to do with men who run afoul of #MeToo. No one has suggested Kashuv has a sexual issue, other than obviously being too in love with guns so he must be compensating for something, I guess.

Ultimately, we're back to the same cultural turf where we encountered the Covington Catholic kids, who were bad by definition, even though those doing the defining, including Hesse's employer, were wrong. Nicholas Sandmann is suing Monica Hesse's employer. Kyle Kashuv won't be, most likely. But I have two questions -- first, why on earth would Kyle Kashuv want "societal reentry" in the world Monica Hesse inhabits? And second, who made Hesse and her ilk the arbiters of such things?

Tommies get the boot

So the University of St. Thomas is getting the boot from the MIAC, and the decision is getting national attention. Even Sports Illustrated has weighed in:

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) is showing one of its most successful founding members the door.

The 13-school Division III league has decided to kick out the University of St. Thomas, one of its founding members, due to concerns about “athletic competitive parity.”

In short, St. Thomas is just too good at sports for the rest of the MIAC, and if the Tommies had stayed, the teams they had been pummeling were considering leaving, threatening the future of the conference.

Most people have been concentrating on the exploits of the Tommies on the gridiron, where they've been less than gentle in their treatment of their foes, as SI notes:

St. Thomas has an enrollment about twice the size of the next largest school in the MIAC and is one of just two league members with at least 100 players on the football team, according to Pat Borzi of MinnPost. Add in the fact that in 2017 the Tommies’ conference results included an 84–0 rout of Hamline and a 97–0 thrashing of St. Olaf, and it starts to make sense why other schools wanted them gone.

I couldn't find footage of the St. Olaf game, but it was something like this:

So football is a source of contention, but the larger issue is the overall level of dominance:

St. Thomas only started dominating football after current coach Glenn Caruso arrived in 2008, but the school has begun to dominate most other sports, too. Since the 2013–14 school year, St. Thomas has 72 MIAC titles across all sports; the next closest league member has 16. 

We've seen this before -- my beloved alma mater, Beloit College, got the boot from the Midwest Conference in 1951. Tom Oates from the Wisconsin State Journal tells the story:

Starting with the 1945-46 season, [Coach Dolph] Stanley built a program that would compile a 242-58 record in 12 years, finish as high as third in what became the NAIA tournament and become so dominant it was expelled from the Midwest Conference following its sixth consecutive title in 1951.

There were no divisions in NCAA basketball at the time, but Stanley's teams beat many schools that are now household name4s in Division I, including DePaul and Loyola from Chicago, Indiana State (coached by John Wooden), Houston, Brigham Young, Washington State, Arizona and Florida State.

"He tried to schedule as many (big-time) teams as he could," said Johnny Orr, who also graduated from Beloit in 1949, coached at Michigan and Iowa State and now lives near Naples, Fla. "We travelled everywhere, man. We'd play anybody and we'd beat most of 'em."

About that last Midwest Conference game -- Beloit edged Cornell (Iowa) 131-43 in the title game. Beloit then went on to NIT, which was then a prestigious tournament, losing to Seton Hall. In his day, Stanley was merciless:

Stanley, who died in 1990, used his pressing, fastbreaking style to fill Beloit's new field house and confuse opponents.

"I remember once we were really killing the other team and there was a timeout and the coach came up the floor and he had tears in his eyes," said [former UW-Madison coach John] Erickson, who lives near Kansas City. "He said to Dolph, ‘You've got to let us get the ball to halfcourt. I've never seen this before. I don't know what you call it, but we can't get the ball up to midcourt.' And Dolph said, ‘Well, you're going to have to learn to do that I guess.' "

The Bucs of that era featured Erickson, who coached the Badgers in the 1960s, along with Johnny Orr, who coached at Michigan and Iowa State for many years, and Ron Bontemps, the star player on the 1952 U.S. Olympic team. It wasn't sustainable; Stanley eventually left and went on to Drake and the Bucs eventually were welcomed back into the Midwest Conference, where these days they are often a footwipe.

The Tommies don't have superstars, but they often get guys like Jacques Parra, who was a Division 1 player who transferred to St. Thomas and was the quarterback who led the gentle 97-0 win over the unfortunate Oles.

I'm torn about this. The Tommies are dominant in just about every sport in the MIAC, which makes it tough for the other schools to take. It’s not just about football. I understand the argument, but it’s common in all competitive activities for the dominant program to move up a level in competition. Have the Tommies have reached that point? I think so.

Benster and D Pick Your Games -- 10 Years of Rank Stupidity and HYYYYYYYYPPPE! Edition

And then one day you find that, ten years have got behind you. That's Pink Floyd, Geritol Fan!

I'm mostly pink myself, but just a little blotchy.

That's okay. We've been at this for 10 years, old dude! When we began, I was not even a teenager. Now I am a college graduate. Hard to believe.

I know. I can't believe you got through college, either.

Hey now! I do the comedy around here.

Well, maybe you should start, then.

I'm keeping track, old dude. I'm counting up the eye-rolling picks and takes so hot the Surgeon General is informed! Laying it down. Bringing the HYYYYYYYYPPPPPE!

We'd missed that.

I know. So has our adoring public. So watch me work!

Fresno State Bulldogs (+1.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Elite Rowers of the Boat. It's Year Two of the P.J. Fleck Carnival Barking Brother Love's Salvation Show. Can I get a witness?

Sure, why wouldn't Gopher Nation be a bit skeptical? We've seen this show before:

Get that chili hot, boys! Okay, maybe the Elite Boat Rower isn't Basement Brew yet, but he's getting there. The Gophers did look good against Lakeland Dental Academy New Mexico State, but Fresno State is a the type of school you should never schedule as a non-conference opponent. They come to play and they are usually competitive. The Gophers are still young and this game has trap written all over it. Bulldogs 31, Sinking Boat 17.

We got a warning about this game fifty years ago now:

Some kind of innocence is
Measured out in years
You don't know what it's like
To listen to your fears

You can talk to me, P.J. Fresno State 27, Minnesota 23.

New Mexico Lobos (+35) vs. Beloved Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers should have no issues with this game. New Mexico is not very good, even though they have former Domer Bob Davie as their head coach. It might as well be Gerry Faust in this case. Wisconsin 70, New Mexico 0.

Those poor Lobos:

They might recall the wheat fields of Saint Paul, but Camp Randall will be a killing field. Badgers roll. Wisconsin 34, New Mexico 3.

Knox College Prairie Fire, Baby! (NL) vs. Beloit College Buccaneers. This is the college football game you've all been waiting for. It's my beloved Prairie Fire against Old Dude's beloved Bucs! Historically, the two worst teams in the Midwest Conference battling it out for slightly less ineptitude! You already know who I'm going to pick, so we'll skip to the good part. Knox 21, Beloit 17.

Hard times for my beloved Bucs these days. They were 1-9 on merit last season and got their butts kicked last week by the 43rd best Concordia College team out there. It's grim at Strong Stadium. But you'd like to think they'd get their act together just this once. This is dumb, but... Beloit 41, Knox 34.

San Francisco 49ers (+6.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings. Vikings fans are very interested to see the debut of this guy:

You like that? I'm not sure. I do see the wisdom in getting Cousins, but the danger is that Cousins has not won a playoff game. Can he do better with a much better team around him? You'd like to think so, but he still hasn't done it. I think the 49ers are a year away from being a real contender; last year Jimmy Garappolo had a nice run against some really bad opponents. The Vikings are a much tougher out. I like the Vikings in this one, but next week's opponent will be another matter. Vikings 20, 49ers 16.

There's a lot on the line in this one, because expectations for the locals are off the charts right now. I really worry about that offensive line. Cousins is not known for being a scrambler or an improviser, so it will be something to watch. I don't think the 49ers will get to Cousins, but other opponents down the line are more capable. A season-long thing to watch. Vikings 28, 49ers 17.

Bear Down Chicago da Bearz (+7.5) vs. Glorious Green Bay Packers. How fitting is it that the Packers begin their 100th season playing their most ancient rival, da Bearz! So, the big news out of Chicago is that da Bearz added this:

Blow your horn!

Khalil Mack is a truck, all right. The key for the Packers has got to be holding up to give Aaron time to throw. I would not be surprised to see the Packers go high tempo early; it's worth remembering that Mack, for all his talent, held out all preseason, so you wonder if he's in football shape and how well he knows the playbook. He'll be a huge problem later on at Soldier Field, but we'll worry about that when we get there. I expect da Bearz will keep it close, but the Packers will make enough plays to win. Packers 28, da Bearz Still Suck 14.

Everyone is talking about how much of a problem Mr. Mack will be to Aaron Rodgers. I think the guy who has to be worried is Kirk Cousins, but I digress. My youthful colleague is correct; the Packers will try to run the Bears ragged in this game and make it an up-tempo game. I think they succeed. I also don't see the Bears having an answer for Jimmy Graham. Packers 31, Bears 21.

I'm glad to be back, baby! Enjoy your football this weekend and try to lay off the guacamole. Ben out!

Everything leaves, even the Mindset List

So Beloit College's annual excuse to proclaim its existence, The Mindset List, arrived today. With it came some news:

“All good things must come to a conclusion,” notes the Mindset List’s creator Ron Nief, Public affairs director emeritus at Beloit College. This will be the last year that the Mindset List will be associated with Beloit College, but it will continue in the future at themindsetlist.com or at a new institutional home. “We have enjoyed our 20 plus years of association with Beloit College, where the List began,” said Ron Nief.

As a proud alumnus of Beloit College, I'm sad to see it leave, but at the same time the Mindset List has been played out for a while now. And, as usual, it's been a hodgepodge of nostalgia and questionable assertions. For example, this pair of observations, numbers 3 and 4:

3. They have always been able to refer to Wikipedia.
4. They have grown up afraid that a shooting could happen at their school, too

Have kids really worried that much about school shootings? They've prepared for them, but it's never really been a fear at most places. Or try this pair, numbers 32 and 33:

32. Robert Downey Jr. has always been the sober Iron Man.
33. Exotic animals have always been providing emotional support to passengers on planes.

That second observation is simply not true. You never heard of support animals until a few years ago, although laws were on the books that theoretically supported their existence as far back as the 1970s.  No one was trying to bring a Shetland pony on a plane until quite recently. The first rules about support animals in college dormitories were promulgated in 2013, which you can look up in, well, Wikipedia.

Beloit has hosted other entities in the past that have left, including the Beloit Poetry Journal, a small but highly influential little magazine that moved to Maine over 30 years ago. The Mindset List has been a publicity bonanza for ol' alma mater, but apparently that's over. It will also mean that the List itself will be on a future list, around 2033 or thereabouts.