Quote from: ThunderHead on September 20, 2011, 04:29:31 PM
Regarding the talk of non-conference strength of schedule.

I agree that in general the MIAA is viewed as a weak conference, and I think most people here agree with that perception, fair or not.

The way to change that perception is for teams to have long runs in the playoffs OR do well with tough non-conference schedules. While I think Albion has stepped up to the plate, I think schools like Trine have not. (Olivet plays a tough non-conference this year, but at this point, their affirming the weak league theory)

The sad thing is, Coach Land and other HC's in the league have at various points over the years been quoted as saying how it's important to change the perception of the MIAA to a league that's looked on with respect. Yet if you look at the scheduling, it seems very few are actually willing to change the perception through scheduling.

Until that changes, and schools that are in the top half of the MIAA look to chip away at the Wheaton's, Franklin's, Mt. Union's, and UWW's of the world, I'm afraid the MIAA will stay right where it is.

Just my thoughts on that.

ThunderHead,

Trine just finished up a 6 year contract with Franklin.  During the 2004-2009 seasons, Franklin went 46-18. I cant speak for the current teams on the schedule and how long they will be playing each other, but you don't have to go very far back to see when they "stepped up to the plate" against some of the better teams in the region.

In my opinion, the way to gain respect as a conference is not by playing a tough non conference schedule, it is by winning in the playoffs.  No one is going to give our conference respect for knocking off a CCIW or WIAC team the first week of the season when only 2 schools care about the result.  You get respect when you win on the biggest stage on a consistent basis when the d3nation is watching.  I think the MIAA got more respect when their representative gave UWW their closest game of the season last year in the national quarterfinals.

I don't know if you were quoting Coach Land, or any other MIAA coach, but I can quote Coach Land in saying that it doesn't matter who you play, all that matters is that you be ready to play whoever, whenever, wherever, and when you win - they will not forget they day they crossed your path.  "SPOT THE BALL"

For anyone wondering about the UM v ND game, it was an absolutely incredible experience.  I have never seen the big house that loud, excited, and packed that full (114,800). Even before the game, the atmosphere was electric. The ending of the game speaks for itself.  You don't need me to tell you it was an exciting finish.  Exciting doesn't even do that ending justice, it was almost indescribable how everything went down.  The big house was rocking for almost 30 minutes after the game before it started to clear out.  Needless to say, I left my voice in Ann Arbor and its going to be a quiet day at work.

As for the Trine game, I am glad to see the passing game look much sharper than game 1.  Hopefully the running game can regain form for game 3.  Congrats to Hope, i know all those Dutch fans out there are glad to have that monkey off their backs.  Looks like the MIAA is going to be a dogfight this year, and I, for one, am looking forward to it. 

Roll Call:

Tonight: The NFL season begins!
 
Saturday: Listen to the Trine game on my way to a Wedding in the afternoon, then skipping the reception to head out to Ann Arbor for Michigan v ND under the lights!

Sunday: Planting myself in front of the TV to watch the Lions.  Restore the Roar!

Here is a link to a Trine season preview from WANE TV in Ft. Wayne

http://www.wane.com/dpp/sports/college/wane-football-trine-season-preview-august31

And thanks to my wife for sending that my way, and in general for putting up with my football addiction 

Let It Rain (and Uncle Rico)

It takes a serious commitment to be a football parent.  My parents also made all of the road trips in my 4 years playing for Trine (3 of them as Tri-State).  By my count, it was 41 games plus all the JV games for the first couple years. I remember some of those JV games my freshman year where there might have been less than 300 people at the games - all of them dedicated parents.

I understand how football withdrawls will wreck havoc on you this fall... this will be my third season without suiting up and i still get chills thinking tomorrow is game day.  I know tomorrow will be a surreal experience for your son.  Its weird not strapping on those pads after playing every fall for a decade.

My complements to you, and to all those dedicated parents and fans out there that will make those trips every year.  Here's to a season of safe travels and good football!

All of us here are fans of the great sport that is football, for everything it stands for and how it brings the best out of people, in competition, teamwork and respect.  Many of us here are fans and followers of college and professional football alike, and the Detroit Lions community lost a wonderful writer and contributor today as Lions beat writer Tom "Killer" Kowalski passed away this morning.

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2011/08/tom_kowalski_detroit_lions_die.html

All the poor reviews from Trine's scrimmage is exactly what I was afraid might happen.

But instead of focusing on how bad it was, I want to look at how the poor performance might end up being a positive for the 2011 Trine team.  This year's team is not the 2010 team, 2009 team, or the 2008 team.  Those teams had veteran leadership and a deep sense of humility. Especially the first two conference championship teams, they were part of some bad teams and went through the process of building a poor program into a championship program.  Those players went through the fire and came out leaders.  The seniors on this team have only lost one regular season game in their careers.  They haven't gone through much adversity.  This is truly their first bump in the road, and I am very curious how they will respond.  I don't want to be too harsh on the apparent lack of leadership, fire and desire because it sounds like some of the emotional leaders were on the sideline - namely Blackport and Mario Brown. 

Even though the players weren't around for the rebuilding process, the coaching staff was.  I know firsthand that Trine's coaching staff is full of excellent motivators.  This poor showing at the scrimmage should give them all the ammunition they need to get this team where they need to be mentally and physically in order to be ready to compete for the title in the, what sounds like, a much more competitive MIAA.

For this Trine team, who is filled with a lot of young, inexperienced, but very talented players, maybe a little humility is just what they need.

I haven't stopped by in a few day, and looks like I missed some great discussion.  But I have to agree with BOYA in the fact that there are different perfect schools for everyone. 

Personally, I feel I made the right decision by choosing a DIII school where I could be involved in several aspects of the college experience.  My experience at Trine included 4 years of football, as well as being very involved in a fraternity, participating in SAAC, ASCE, Civil Engineering Honor Society, and Student Life.  That depth of involvement is something i don't think I could have achieved in a large DI school. 


... but I also didn't have anything close to a DI athletic scholarship to persuade me otherwise

Congratulations to Trine head coach Matt Land who was named the 2010 North Region Coach of the Year. This is his second COTY award in the last three seasons.

Additional congratulations to the other MIAA All-Region athletes.

First Team

Clinton Orr, RB, Albion
Tyler Terry, T, Trine
Chris Greenwood, CB, Albion


Second Team

Eric Watt, QB, Trine
Shane Jeisel, T, Albion
Aaron Selking, S, Trine


Third Team

Tom Wyman, TE, Trine
Christian Verly, DT, Trine
Tony Galamo, DE, Alma

Quote from: USee on December 01, 2010, 01:19:18 PM
emma17- I am happy to match credentials. I have seen Evan Jones play over the past 2 years. He is the CCIW offensive player of the year this year and made a strong case for it last year. In the game against NCC you saw, he threw for 287 yds and a TD while being sacked 8 times and hit probably 15 more. For his career he threw for over 6,500 yds and 59 TD's while completing 64% of his passes.

I agree with you that Franklin's offense this year is better than Carthage's (despite CC win over FC). Ray has a significantly better supporting cast than Jones particularly in the offensive line. Put Jones in FC's offense and you will see similar numbers. Put Ray in Carthage's offense and he may not finish the year. I am comfortable saying Jones, as a 3 yr starter,  is as good as Ray individually.

USee,

If you are going to throw out some stats to compare players, you, I and everyone else knows that stats can be very misleading.  Stats are based so much on style of play, playing time, supporting cast, ect...  To me, the truest way to determine the best is wins and losses.  Then again, all the other factors and players go to wins and losses more than an individual and his stats.

But as long as we are using the stats as a comparison, I will throw Watt's (Trine) stat line up against anyones. And my credentials on this aren't seeing a for game or two, or even a whole season.  It is as a former teammate who saw him every day for two seasons.

7200+ yards passing, 74 TD, 25 INT, 61% completion
1300+ yards rushing, 17 TD
3 year record as starter 31-4 (29-1 regular season record)
2 time MIAA Offensive POTY

Just comparing stats - better than Ray, better than Jones.  In reality, who is the best?  who knows?  I guess thats why there will forever be arguments about sport!

Pat beat me to it, I was sound asleep at 1:30 this morning.  But a giant congratulations to Eric Watt for being named a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy.  He has definitley earned this honor with his performance this year.

I had the pleasure of playing with him for two years and knew from the start that he was going to be a phenomenal quarterback, when in his first game of significant playing time, he came in at halftime against Defiance in 2007 and lead a second half comeback including a game winning drive in the final two minutes.  I know some other posters on here (including one who had a huge 4th down reception on that drive) remember that game well, and had similar thoughts about our quarterback.

I don't want to get in between this Pat Coleman vs Trine argument, but all I have to say is that if Trine can give UWW a close game, win or lose, it will be a major victory for the program. There are only a handful of teams in the country that can hang with the top level programs and if Trine can put themselves in that category, I would say a job well done by this team and coaching staff.

I wish both teams the best of luck on Saturday (well, just a little more luck for Trine) and I hope the Trine players enjoy playing in front of a crowd that will be twice as big as anything they have ever played in front of before. And like Diezel said... if you play someone close for 3 1/2 quarters, anything can happen! Go Thunder!

Like my other Trine constituents, I am very happy and proud of the players and coaching staff and wish them the best of luck this Saturday. I think they have the mental stand point, as a team, to not get discouraged about going on the road.  They can keep playing with a chip on their shoulder.  Look to see a focused and determined team in Greencastle this weekend.

Looking forward to the game, here is how they match up (at least stat wise)

                          Trine (national rank, actual) DePauw (national rank, actual)
Rushing Offense  11, 268.1                             200, 99.7
Passing Offense   39, 247.3                             18, 286.5
Total Offense       2, 515.4                               60, 386.2
Scoring Offense   2, 47.8                                 72, 29.3
Rushing Defense  32, 103.1                             77, 129.1
Passing Defense   42, 164.0                             106, 186.3
Total Defense       31, 267.1                             72, 315.4
Scoring Defense   6, 10.7                                 89, 21.8

Trine is also ranked in the top 25 in 4 additional statistical categories (of the ones here http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?year=2010&org=30037)  including 1st in turnover margin and 2nd in passing efficiency.

DePauw is ranked 17th in sacks allowed, and not ranked an higher than 44th in any other category.

Just looking at the numbers, the key to this game may be:  Can DePauw stop the Trine rushing attack and get their offense on the field long enough to put up enough points to out score Trine?  I would look for Trine to try to grind it out and play keep away.  They can be very effective, and are at their best when the offense uses the run to set up their passing game.

One last thing:  A big congrats to Trine safety Aaron Selking.  He had a huge game with 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.  The 3 interceptions ties a school record, and I couldn't verify it, but I am going out on a limb and saying the 6 turnovers is a school record.  If someone else can find it, I am curious if that is any kind of conference record.

Quote from: formerd3db on November 14, 2010, 07:46:15 PM

Quote from: adidas28 on November 14, 2010, 07:20:10 PM
Former3 - I belive the Trine/Albion game attendance was probably close to 5000 also. I'm sure the rain holding off helped tremendously. Albion fan attendance was great. Hopefully the weather is decent next Saturday also. 12000 at DePauw/Wabash game is huge!   

Oops!  I did not mean to overlook that either.  In fact, that is one of the games I was referring to when I mentioned the nearly 5,000.  I just forgot to type in "Trine/Albion" and I guess it is just because I am "too close" to it i.e. it being our own MIAA!  Anyway, I'm sure that was a fantastic site to see the new stadium packed at Trine, especially since it was for the league title as well as an undefeated season for Trine.  Good luck to your team this Saturday.  I really think it will be a good game and, of course, I'm rooting for Trine in representing our MIAA.

The official attendance for the Trine-Albion game was 4,853.  Trine has topped 5,000 twice this year with 5,187 opening night vs. Manchester and 5,524 for homecoming vs. LaGrange

A few thoughts about the hot topic in all of DIII football today. And I know it's a little long, but there is some good stuff in here - I promise 

Trine falls victim to the dreaded weak SOS and gets a 6 seed, even though i think it is a good draw.  I happened to stumble across the DePauw - Wabash on TV Saturday (I was shocked to find it, and if i knew they were going to be the next opponent, I would have paid more attention  )  DePauw didn't look good at all, and Wabash laid out the perfect game plan to beat the Tigers.  All Trine needs to do is watch the film and take notes.

Even though this is probably the best Trine team they have had over this three year run, they have a terrible strength of schedule.  If you take out all of the MIAA in-conference games (which, of course, will result in .500 win percentage) the MIAA as a whole had a .285 winning percentage, and taking out Trine's 4-0, the rest of the conference was a combined 4-20 for a .167 winning percentage.  No matter how good Trine has looked, the football gurus will fall back on those numbers.

However, Trine is one of three teams in the whole country that are in the top ten in both scoring offense and scoring defense* (2nd and 7th respectively). The other two teams are Franklin (1st and 8th) and UW-Whitewater (6th and 4th).  And that is impressive, no matter who you have played.  *(as of week 9 stats - NCAA hasn't updated to week 10 yet)

Compared to the last two playoff appearances, they are missing that statement game to boost their season.  In 2008, they had a sos of .455 with wins over 9-1 Franklin and 8-2 Adrian earning them a 2 seed.  In 2009, they had a sos of .422 with a loss to 7-3 Franklin and a win over 6-4 Adrian earning them a 5 seed.  This year they have a sos of .408 with a win over 5-5 Adrian and 5-5 Albion.

With all that being said, I think they are better than a 6 seed.  I think the strength of schedule debate for the entire bracket lead to some head-scratchers.  But I also think Trine got a gift going to a very beatable team.  Watching the Wabash D, it reminded me a lot of the way the Trine D plays.  Should be a very very interesting game.