FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Uncle Rico]

Their football program attracted our attention, but ultimately my son went somewhere else because they did not offer the major he was interested in.  If they had that curriculum and a good reputation with that curriculum, he might have gone there.  Certainly a strong football program will draw a look, all things being equal.  They also get some kids overlooked by the D1 and D2 schools for whatever reason, who still want to make football their primary goal in life and plan to get visibility / recognition by going to a national contender.   I do not know how many NFL'ers played for Mount Union.

We met two kids from Florida during our campus visit this past winter.  The temp was literally about 5 degrees out side, not factoring the wind chill, and the snow was blowing.  They had never seen snow before.   They were wearing their winter coats zipped up even in the classrooms, they thought it was so cold!  Pretty funny!  

[matblake]

For you Albion and Hope fans, here is the link to the Wheaton Season Preview.
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/index.asp?path=football

[D306]

matblake


Very nice preseason detail and website for Wheaton.

After seeing Wheaton play last year, I was impressed.
The DE  mentioned was outstanding and the difference maker in the game I saw, dominate player.

I think Wheaton will have another very good year. Very tough game for Hope and Albion even with Wheaton on the road at Albion.

Great to see Wheaton on the schedule for Albion and Hope, can not be the best without playing the best. Good prep game to get ready for the MIAA conference games

[matblake]

D306, thanks for the props on my alma mater.  I like the non-conference games vs. the MIAA schools.  I'll be at the Albion game, which will probably be my only Wheaton game of the year since I live in Detroit.  The Hope game got too close at the end for my liking last year, and Albion got overwhelmed at Wheaton's first night home game under the new lights.  Good luck to all the MIAA schools, as long as they are not playing CCIW schools! 

[sac]

Great to see Wheaton on the schedule for Albion and Hope, can not be the best without playing the best. Good prep game to get ready for the MIAA conference games

Hope's played Wheaton for 7 straight season's now, and have them on the schedule through 2009.   They add Carthage in 08 and 09 as well, though I have no knowledge of their stature in the CCIW.

I've always thought Hope played a pretty tough non-conference schedule, sometimes too tough.  Frequently playing teams that made the tournament the previous year.

http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/fb/chrono.html

Although, I'm not even much of a Hope football fan  (passive at best) but it does seem very strange to see no DePauw on the Hope schedule.  The first time since 1975 by the way.

Hope occasionally snuck Wabash onto the schedule as well...........no word as to whether they gave Hope the Monon Bell when they beat both.

[ACRULZ]

ACRULZ:    Sometimes the coaches might be better than others...just like anthing in life, but it seldom comes down to coaches.  Yeah you can out coach a guy or two, but in the end it is the arrows, not the Indian shooting them...

We are going to have to agree to disagree on this point.  Talent is a very important thing however the coaches have to put the players in a situation to excel...If it rarely comes down to coaches lets just have the players line up and draw plays in the dirt.  Having your team prepared and ready to play is something that the vast majority of players could not do without the coaches.

[D306]

matblake

Are you a Detroiter that made a mistake and went to Wheaton instead of a MIAA school, or a transplanted Chicago Area guy whom is stuck in the D for work? LOL
I also will be at the Wheaton VS Albion game, hoping for better results than last year. You are right Wheaton came out "fired up"  with the first home game under the lights, and jumped on the Brits before they knew what hit them. After settling down it was to late for a comeback. By the way great atmosphere on Campus that night.

Rico/SAC

I am glad to see the teams play home and home, and run a string together with each other. Builds a rivalary and interest.
I think a tough non-conference schedule is a good thing, in most cases, as long as it is not all on the road or VS. 3 superior teams. Teams need a win and tough games to get better.

[miaafbfan]

I see Alma has St. Johns on their schedule for the first game of 2008.  Talk about a tough non-conference game.

[matblake]

matblake
Are you a Detroiter that made a mistake and went to Wheaton instead of a MIAA school, or a transplanted Chicago Area guy whom is stuck in the D for work?

Transplant, but I kind of like Detroit.  Definitely different than Chicago, but really nice people here too.

[matblake]

I see Alma has St. Johns on their schedule for the first game of 2008.  Talk about a tough non-conference game.

If you want to be the best, you have to compare yourself to some of them.  I think it is a good measuring stick for where the Scots want to be.

[miaafbfan]

Agreed.  As discussed here before, part of the solution to improving the MIAA and getting that first playoff win is scheduling some tough non-conference games. 

[D306]

matblake

I have been to most of the eastern and midwest cities (majors).
Metro Detroit while it gets a negative Rap in the media, is actually a great place to live.
I am sure for some the weather can be a drag at times, but I enjoy the change in seasons. Only thing I do not like is the week of -15 or -20 degrees we seem to get every year. That is stupid cold, hurts to even walk the dog for any amount of time.

I visit Chicagoland often and think it is very vibraint and has more to offer than Detroit. Though it does come with a price money and time in traffic are a heavy cost of living.

I have no interest in California, Oregon been there seen the "friuts and nuts" that roam the overcrowded streets. Way to Liberal of a lifestyle and politics for me.
Oregon, outstate would be nice, but then if I wanted that I would live "up north" in Michigan.

Well here's to hoping the MIAA gets a playoff caliper team in the next couple of years. I am not sure anyone is there anytime soon, have not seen a dominate team in the last couple of years since I have followed the MIAA close.

[HOF]

Good to see Rugenstein on the Second Team All-MIAA.  Good to see Hope finally represented, for a while it was Taz Wallace.  Just kidding, Adrian fans.

Media Day in the MIAA is set for Aug. 2 according to www.miaa.org.  So we should start seeing more of the preseason write ups popping up.  I think MIAA rule is that preseason info has to be online that day for the media to access it. 

This new ESPN football show has me getting jacked up!

Camp is getting closer.

Any more coaching changes, players not reporting to camp, good rumors, etc.??

[WLCALUM83]

WLC's pre-season football report is now up on that school's athletic website:

[Uncle Rico]

It looks like the indoor stadium is a no-go after all, but the field and facilities are still going to be updated....

http://www.tristate.edu/news/TSU-News-newathletics.cfm

Somewhat of a bummer, but I like football played outside anyway.