FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Grutte Dirk]

Why is the Hope/Calvin game not being played at Grand Valley?
Lubbers stadium seats 36,000, is conveniently located, and is not being used tomorrow.

Why would Calvin give up a home game?

[NW Hope Fan]

Nice to get a home game next week. Good luck Dutchmen!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Nice to get a home game next week. Good luck Dutchmen!

True - but what a tough quadrant Hope is in!  There are a total of 11 teams that are 10-0 in this bracket, and 5 - yes FIVE of them are in Hope's quadrant (so ahlf of the 10 teams in the quadrant)!  Each of the the other 3 quadrants have 2 undefeated teams.

To put it another way, this quadrant has:

Per NPI ranking - 8 of the top 25 - teams ranked 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 21, 22, 25 

Per the D3FB Top 25 - 7 of the top 25 - teams ranked 1, 2, 10, 15, 16, 22, 23

[SpartanHouse4]

Nice to get a home game next week. Good luck Dutchmen!

True - but what a tough quadrant Hope is in!  There are a total of 11 teams that are 10-0 in this bracket, and 5 - yes FIVE of them are in Hope's quadrant (so ahlf of the 10 teams in the quadrant)!  Each of the the other 3 quadrants have 2 undefeated teams.

To put it another way, this quadrant has:

Per NPI ranking - 8 of the top 25 - teams ranked 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 21, 22, 25 

Per the D3FB Top 25 - 7 of the top 25 - teams ranked 1, 2, 10, 15, 16, 22, 23

I really don't like the new algorithm for this years seeding. That being said, I think Hope and Aurora are happy with the first round matchup. Both teams have a shot to win and avoided the Michigan and Wisconsin leagues as well as North Central. On top of that, both teams are very familiar with eachother.

Bonkers to me that Lake Forest is ahead of both these team. AU's only loss was to North Central which was NC's most competitive game of the year. Also don't get how AU's doesn't get a home game. They'd be better off scheduling bottom feeders.

Happy for this matchup and think it will be an outstanding game that comes down to the closing seconds.

[DBQ1965]

Not a Hope alum ... just a fan of the D3 team closest too me.  Sitting in a wind chill of 16 with snow flying around, Hope eased my anxiety about how the game could go by playing the with same consistency it has all season.  In many ways, they created their own breaks thanks to a solid defense and when Aurora made a move in the second half to close the margin, Hope never faltered, shutting down a good team.  Is it enough to make me want to drive to Naperville next Saturday?  Depends on the weather.

[Capn34]

Question for Hope fans.  Hope has a no play sports on Sunday policy and I heard they are really strict on it.  The NCAA Championship game is in a Sunday, will hope waive that rule if their made it to the game?  I have heard they have always said they wouldn't.  Would be a wierd situation if happened.

[pointlem]

Question for Hope fans.  Hope has a no play sports on Sunday policy and I heard they are really strict on it.  The NCAA Championship game is in a Sunday, will hope waive that rule if their made it to the game?  I have heard they have always said they wouldn't.  Would be a wierd situation if happened.

In the D3 universe, there's a whole set of schools to which Capn34's good question is applicable. Ditto Yeshiva for a BB game on Saturday.

The NCAA volleyball championship committee faced that when Hope and Emory were slated to play for the championship on Sunday--and moved the match to Monday for Hope. This year there's the complication of an ESPN schedule.

Although I don't know your answer Capn34, with #1 and dominant North Central on the horizon next Saturday, it's likely moot.

[Pat Coleman]

Complication of an ESPN schedule and a venue that is not a campus venue.

[pointlem]

Complication of an ESPN schedule and a venue that is not a campus venue.

Good point, Pat. I wonder if the NCAA committee has a plan in place, should either of the semi-final winners be unavailable for a Sunday championship game.

[Pat Coleman]

Complication of an ESPN schedule and a venue that is not a campus venue.

Good point, Pat. I wonder if the NCAA committee has a plan in place, should either of the semi-final winners be unavailable for a Sunday championship game.

It's not an unusual situation for D-III and while the football committee hasn't dealt with it in the past, they have plenty of resources to call on.

I also don't think it will be an issue in this championship, if I'm being honest.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Congrats to two Hope Flying Dutchmen on AFCA All-America awards:

LB Cole Luhmann - 1st Team All-American
OL Dylan Clem - 2nd Team All-American

https://www.afca.com/currys-montie-quinn-and-bethels-matt-jung-headline-the-2024-afca-division-iii-coaches-all-america-teams/

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Sad to see Hope's season end, but what a run by a really good team and a great bunch of guys.  Ran into a great North Central team, with an extremely high powered offense, yet Hope held them scoreless on back to back drives to open the game, meaning a scoreless first Q (both firsts for this season for this NC team).  Hope's O also showed they could move the ball on NC, but in the end were simply out gunned.  Hold your heads high boys - you've got a lot to proud of!!!

[USee]

Hope was very impressive. I loved their front 7 on defense and the QB is a playmaker. It's great to see the high level they have played this year.