FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

My brother and I had a good laugh over Hope's drive chart, neither one of us could believe the score untill we saw it.

29, 44, 84, 28, 33, 53, 43, 29, 41

only 1 drive over 53 yards, and had to go less than half the filed 7 times.  Yikes!

5 Alma turnovers.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Thats a great way to lose ballgames right there.

[ACRULZ]

Well what a day.  I made it to Adrian last night.  The old lady gave me a free pass and I left my house about 5 and made it just in time.

A couple of things...

First the atmosphere.  The other schools in the MIAA better look out.  I've never been to the campus of Adrian for quite sometime.  I thought I rolled up to an ACC tailgate.  We had bands playing, RVs, coolers, girls, coolers, grills, coolers, TVs, did I say coolers.  Anyways...unreal...great atmosphere for a DIII.  I understand it was homecoming, but wow!  Nice job to the new president.   Sometimes I feel in the MIAA everyone frowns on that type of fun, but what an exciting thing.  This is college.  So my hats off to the president at AC.

The game.   These two teams are equal and if they played each other 10 times, they eached win five.  Olivet and Adrian have some great defensive players.  Offensively, I'd give the edge to Adrian, but they really rely on the air game.  Olivet held AC to -1 rushing, but when a team doesn't try to run it much, that doesn't mean much to me.  If I read that in a boxscore, I'd be wow, if I wasn't at the game, but since I was...it doesn't impress me too much.  Without going into the game too much, I thought both coaches are probably thinking I wish I would've done that.  Several greedy calls.

Great game to watch...right down to the last minute...nice call ACRULZ.

Great crowd...I'd say 4,000 jammed tight.  I sat on the visitor side hill.  I almost got buzzed off the three coed's sitting right next to me. haa.

After watching these two, they're right in the mix, but Hope is still the team to beat...60 points!  Wow!

Yes the atmosphere was great!  Even after a loss there were people still hanging around consoling the team and yes...still tailgating.  HOF, I agree with your take on both teams.  However, on the last drive when Olivet scored the TD and XPT to go ahead, I know, I'm a bit biased, both of the two pass interference calls were suspect.  Both of them on 4th down as well, I don't think the refs should control a game like that.  But MIAA officials are the worse also (unless you're Hope)!!!  But all-in-all a great game to watch and great efforts by both teams.  I would agree that Hope is the team to beat and I think that Adrian wins out and represents the MIAA in the playoffs!  Good luck to all this week!  Go Dawgs!!!

[bulldogalum]

Sounds like I miss quite a show this weekend down in scenic Lenawee County.  Not many games over the last couple of years have been able to match the games between Adrian and Olivet.  Unfortunately, yet again, the Bulldogs came out on the wrong end of the whole affair.  Congrats to the Comets for surviving the festive homecoming atmosphere and a game against a team that I still think will have a lot to say about the outcome of the MIAA championship race this season. 

Things do not get easier for Adrian this week, however, as a revitalized Tri State team will be sure to provide an adequate adversary down in Angola.  I'd like to believe that Lyall's legions can bounce back and get well on their way into what could be another huge matchup with the Flying Dutchmen, but each week is a challenge, and this is the first week the Bulldogs will have to respond to the emotional letdown of a loss.

[D306]

Alum

Adrian needs to put a bad loss behind them.
You have to win the games you are supposed to win, that means this weekend.
Adrian has a good record going in, must be mentally tough and not lose the season over a defensive breakdown in the last drive to allow OC last minute win.

I would say the Offense needs to put the points up early to alleviate the pressure and get the team to lighten-up and move on.

There is a lot of season left, OC can fall in the coming weeks. Adrian needs to take care of their business and the rest will play out.

I look forward to coming to Adrain to see the new stadium have not seen a game there, after seeing the construction along the way.

[formerd3db]

ACRULZ:

We've (Hope) had our share of "botched, questionable, and just outright wrong" calls in recent years, including this one.  While the MIAA refs work hard and are human just like all of the others officials across the country, I will say that their performance in MIAA games for all MIAA teams the past 3-4 years or so have been less than stellar.  Many have had this discussion several times in the past year or so.  Fortunately, it has only cost some of the teams a game or two as far as deciding outcomes (and that's not "sour grapes" at all, but rather the truth).  I agree, one never likes to see the outcome of a game decided on an officials's call.  Anyone in favor of the Instant Reply? (like used experimentally for the DIII championship game and the other NCAA fb bowl and/or championship games??).

[DEACONBLUE]

Also made it to the Adrian game...

Totally agree, Adrian's stadium is insane!!  It's football Disneyland.  Not only is it visually beautiful, but functionally perfect.  Everyone was commenting that the architech was a genius and knew football.  I loved the sharp elevation of the stands, that put one atop of the action.  The end zone pavillion- a perfect touch, not to mention the artistry in landscaping design.  Now add the warm evening and atmosphere HOF & ACRULZ so acurately described - it was a Mackinac Island mid-summer night's dream.  Almost wish we were playing in Adrian this weekend.   

[sac]

Did I just see Adrian and Mackinac Island being compared in the same sentence?

...or was that the weather?, which I agree has been stunning. 



Any odds on the wooden shoes finding a new home this weekend?

[miaafbfan]

Picks for Saturday, October 13:

Adrian at Tri-State:  Adrian The Thunder keep this one close.
Albion at Olivet:  Olivet  Another close game.
Hope at Kalamazoo:  Hope  The Wooden Shoes stay put convincingly.
Wisconsin Lutheran at Alma:  Alma  The Scots roll.

[D306]

Week 3 of League play things starting to shape up.
Hope looks to be strong and the favorite, somebody needs to pull the upset or Hope takes the crown by a game or 2 as everyone else I believe will have at least 1 loss.

Adrian VS Tri-State Adrians Defense to tough for Tri-State to get the getting over injuries on Tri-State offense to score consistently.

Albion VS Olivet game of the weekend. 2nd big game in a row for Olivet.
I am leaning Albion can Olivet stay focused and perform at a high level to keep Albion off the score board. Olivets offense struggled and hurt itself ( with the help of stout Adrian D) last week to put points on the board.

Hope VS Kazoo. Hope has too much for Kazoo. Depth on the Dline will be sorely tested by the strong running game of Hope

WLC VS Alma  Alma too much offense foir WLC to handle especially after the long trip over.


U of M over Purdue if Mich  has any pass defense this is the game they need to show they have adjusted. I am thinking they pull the win.


MSU VS IU Man MSU is pulling the usual act, I thought they would be mentally tougher with new Coach D. I think they are but I am not sure. I will take MSU since it is at home.

Upset Special Lions do not have any running game and blow a big lead as they can not run down the clock VS the BY week.
Seriously can they get any runnning game at all, or is Kitna going to just keep taking a beating as every team just floods the backfield with no fear of a Lions running game.

[formerd3db]

My picks for this weekend:

Adrian @ Tri-State: Adrian Adrian will be on a mission after losing that close one last weekend.  Sorry TSU fans, even though your team is markedly improved this year and this game is at your home field, I think Adrian will come out on top.

Albion @ Olivet:  Olivet Olivet is starting to get in the groove.  However, Albion is still a good team and very capable of an upset; thus, if Olivet is not careful, Albion could spoil this home game for the "Big O".  Yet, I'll go with Olivet since it is at their own stadium.

Hope @ Kalamazoo:  Hope  Agree with the others that Hope is too much for Kazoo and that the Wooden Shoes remain in Holland.
Besides, none of you wouldn't expect me to pick against my alma mater, now would you?? (I couldn't do it anyway!)

Wisc Luth @ Alma: Alma  Like Adrian, Alma will be intent on making a statement and big win after that stinging loss to Hope last weekend.  That, in addition to it being at home in Balhke Statdium and with Alma just being a better team (sorry Wis Luth friends), Alma should win big.

BTW, miaafbfan, sorry about copying your color highlights - it looked good .

I HOPE that the weather is good this weekend.  Yet after that rare but fantastic stint of last weekend and this rainy, cold front now descending, I fear that usual October fall cold weather may be here to stay.  But, the games go on regardless as we all know.  As always, safe travels to all of you this weekend as you go to the games and best of luck to all the teams.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Picks for the week:

Adrian @ Tri State: Adrian wins on a rebound from last week.  Adrians defense is to much for a young team like TSU to handle, that is part of the growing pains to build a program.  The offense should get back on track this week, regardless of a commitment to a running game or not, Adrian needs to establish one, it will help to put games away and make a good offense more balanced with more threats.

Albion @ Olivet:  Olivet beats Albion.  Olivet has some very solid defensive players and some very good schemes which were able to frustrate the Adrian offense and negate the running game.  As good as Josh Silvernail is, the Albion attack has always been keyed on the run.

Hope @ Kalamazoo: Hope.  Hope has way to much for kalamazoo to handle.  Kalamazoo will gain some yards and could pose a threat the Hopes secondary with its passing game, however to do so their offensive line will need to keep pressure off Tallman.  Look for Hope to run the ball all over Kzoo this weekend.

WLC @ Alma: Alma rebounds from their blowout loss to Hope last weekend.  Some very talented youth will get a chance to shine and build some confidence for Alma this week.  WLC is in for a long rough season the way I see it.

Its nice to see some fall weather return to Michigan.  Last saturday was a great fall day ruined by over 80 degree weather one of those days that we will never get back.  Im all for this 50-60 degree weather, thats football, not the heat we have seen.

[DEACONBLUE]

"Saturday in the Parks"

(safest pick) HOPE over K-ZOO:  The Hornet defense sustained many injuries that they could not afford last weekend.  Meeting Hope is like putting salt on a wound.  The Hornets do not lack guts, but tell me when it's over...I can't look.

(safe pick) ALMA over WLC:  Scot-gun offense at home will be firing magnums (lots of points).  WLC will be able to score, but hard to keep up when time of possession is low.

("extremely difficult to admit" pick)  ADRIAN over TRI-STATE: I've heard TSU will be missing their top two RB's Brill & Hickock which could prove costly if the Dawg defense is as strong as they look on stat sheets.  Thunder defense is strong, but needs the offense to relieve them.  Watt is a good QB, but will require rushing production to keep the pressure off.  Do not believe Adrian defense is as powerful as Franklin was, but they appear to be the strongest we've faced since. (this is just the pragmatist talking, not the Thunder fan inside who knows a football isn't round and has been known to bounce in unexpected directions...Go Thunder prove me wrong!)

(tough-"game of the week" pick) ALBION edges OLIVET:  Short trip for the Brits, so home field not a big factor.  Hard to compare these two teams yet.  Believe that both teams will produce multiple scores - the difference maker will be Coach Rundle.       

[sac]

Here's a couple tidbits from the world famous Holland Sentinel

HOPE's COACHING STABILITY
http://hollandsentinel.com/stories/101107/localsports_20071011057.shtml


FOOTBALL MILESTONE
http://hollandsentinel.com/stories/101107/localsports_20071011051.shtml

[HOF]

My picks....

side note...while doing some research on the pics for this week I look at all the MIAA schools websites....anyways...Adrian appears to be headed to DI with their new CSTV website.  Nice touch.  Check it out.

On to the pics....

Adrian over TSU:  Adrian has had the Thunders number in the last couple years.  This year is no different.  AC 42, TSU 7.

Hope over Kzoo:  Hope just keeps running and running and running and running.  If Adrian posted some running numbers on Kzoo....watch out for the Dutch...I'm looking for Booko to have 200 and 4 TDs.  Hope 48, Kzoo 7.

Albion over Olivet:  I like Albion.  They're young, but Rundle gets the boys back on the bus.  Olivet has the Adrian hangover.  Albion 28, Olivet 17.

Wisc. Lutherand over Alma:  What did I just say.  WLC has had some success if I remember right over the Scots.  No D in this one.  WLC 38, Alma 35.