FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[wlcalum]

My congrats to Albion also. A win in the post season is what the MIAA needs.

What a game played in Adrian... This was one of the toughest hitting games I have ever watched. Congrats to the kicker who with a minute left in the game kicks a FG for the school record in a season. Congrats also to the Adrian coaching staff who ran across the field to remove some gangsta wannabees from behind our bench.. very poor showing from a fan prospective.. Words of wisdom to Taz (TO) Wallace. I have admired your "stats from afar... I now see the reson your stats are so good is because of your dline. May you one day grow up and not let your flapping mouth overload your pea size brain. There is no room for the amount of showboating you present in a game. I am embarrased to admit I ONCE admired your stats.
To #19 - even though Seiler wears #57 he is a dlineman. You learned today you cannot come across the field to block him. I could have swore after Seiler hit you every joint in your body was dislocated!  Way to get back up. I would have called for an ambulance.  Some truely awesome hits in the middle of the field... each teams got in their licks. My ears are still ringing from the popping of the pads.

Next question... who are your picks for first team MIAA? It is too late/early for me to post my guesses. Will work on that later today.

Congrats to all teams for a hard fought MIAA season.

[bulldogalum]

Looks like Albion's going to have a rough game on their hands.  The trip to Wabash won't be an easy one, but I think it's safe to say that Albion is playing the best football in the league right now.  Here's hoping they can come away with a much needed playoff win for the MIAA.

[formerd3db]

bulldogalum:
Agree with you.


BTW, where is ADAWG?   We haven't heard from you, friend.  Now that the season is over, you can post again.

Also, any of you other MIAA (i.e. non-Albion fans) fans planning on going down to C'ville for the game to support our MIAA representative?

[seventiesraider]

 As an old OAC dog who misses matching up with you guys, good luck against Wabash this week. They are good team and a fine representative from a conference that I have little or no respect for. So best of luck luck against the representative from the Non Competetive Athletic Conference. Remember, Wabash had to beat out KENYON to get this bid. lol
All seriousness aside, I would like to see some new and different matchups in this year's platoff

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

formerd3db:

Its great to be back, the season long absence is a tough one for me to endure, but I was busy with coaching and carrying the title of video coordinator as well.  It was a good season all across the MIAA with some very competetive play from everyone all the way to WLC, one of the best 1-9 teams around.  LOts of talent, lots of stats lots of playmakers, it seems even with Albion winning the title that there is more parity in the league than in the past.  Just hoping that at this point with Albion and their strong play as of late that hopefully they can get a win in the first round at the least and maybe make some more noise than that.  As for some things that bothered me over the season, I still dont see eye to eye on the arguments for a tougher non league schedule.  It will do us no good whatsoever I understand taht it looks better on the schedule but as far as stopping the eventual "slide" of Adrian College I dont see that as a fix.  When you look at the schedules in the League this year no one had a more difficult run than us, going from Albion to Alma at Home, Olivet at home and then Hope on the road.  No one else took on the top 4 in order as we did.  Hope was an asskicking no doubt about that, we showed up and expected to win and found out what happens when you dont come to play.  As for Alma, they were a great defense against us, but it is hard to win a game minus your starting qb.  The slide as has been refered to was a 5-2 finish, if we have come from my freshman year of beating a WLC team 13-12 to now being dissapointed at 8-2 I will take it.  Injuries are what hurt everyone, look at Alma dropping to K, and by the same token it is my belief not that it carries much weight that the non league schedule of tough teams puts you in a beat up state of affairs going into the league and that is not needed in the MIAA.  That was my big sticking point im glad to be able to post again, albeit I will be on a much more self restricted shorter leash.  Not that I ever stepped on toes before, but im not gonna try to start now.  Congrats to all the teams in the league this year and good luck to the Brits in the playoffs, get a win, make some noise and make the MIAA proud.

[albinomascot19]

On to Crawfordsville, where it will be the hardest test yet for the Britons.  It was an exciting Conference schedule, now the Britons have to go to continue to play their stellar offense and defense.  Wabash comes in the game 10-0, and Albion 7-3.  The all time series is 17-17-1.  Last game at Wabash, Albion won 26-0 in 1996 under the late great Coach Pete Schmidt.  This is the new look Britons.  Definitely they need to come out strong right from the start.  We need this team to make some noise.  I will be in Indiana on Saturday.  We will see how everything turns out.   If anyone needs a ride to the game, I can help out anyone who wants to go, but doesn't have transportation.  The season was exciting, lets now focus on the Playoffs.   

[BashDad]

formerd3db:

Thanks for your congrats to Wabash in the Bell Game, a super tough game, but--The Bell is back home!  I was really pleased to see that Hope was able to handle Alma to end on the high note! 

Will be neat to see an MIAA team in the first round of the playoffs in Crawfordsville. Other than K-College, I haven't seen a team from the MIAA play since travelling across state from Terre Haute to see the Bulldogs play in Defiance in the early 70's after I left Adrian.   As you say, Albion seems to be playing well, their stats look good and balanced.  The L'il Giants will be ready, Albion better bring their best game (I expect they will).  Should be a good one.  I hope you are able to make it down for the game, it would be great to meet you in person.  If so, I will be tail-gateing by the tracks behind Hollett  from about 10:30 (3+ hour drive for me from Evansville and Evansville is on Central Time!), and will be in the stands (front of pressbox) watching teams warm-up after about 11:15.  If you do come,  look me up, it would be great to meet you.  Just look for the oldest guy around with a Hemingway beard--that's me.   

 

[smedindy]

It will be good to see Albion again. I made a couple of trips up there back when we had a good series going on - good fans and good football. Hope you bring some people down with you all.

[albinomascot19]

Yeah I know I will definitely be there.  Look for a guy with his face painted (purple).  I am also indian, and not hard to spot lol.....anyway, I am trying to see if any of my buddies want to come with me.  I know its only 8 dollars a ticket.  I called Wabash College Bookstore, and they told me they already sent out the tickets to our college, but have not heard one word of them yet, or where to get them.  I know you can buy them from Wabash online.....and pick them up in person, but order them online by going to www.wabash.edu/bookstore   Anyway, yeah I will be there.....you know if it is me......painted face, albion college shirt......and I am 22...and a 5th year senior at albion college.....and hey how about this free pizza on me.....or something lol.....anyway it should be an interesting game, we'll see how things pan out.....just want to see a great game!  I will see you all there!

TJ

[formerd3db]

ADAWG:
Good to have you "back".  I think you are  right about the parity issues.  I tend to disagree a bit regading the non-league aspects, though.  Injuires are part of the game anytime, whether non-conf or conf.  When I played "way back when", playing up against DII schools was a plus I believe.  Yes, it is taking a risk regarding a physical beating and it takes a few years to elevate to that next level as far as recruiting for that level of play.  However, overall, with regards to all enclusive talent level on one's team, improvement can occur and the attitudes do as well.  While I like the parity in the MIAA (to some extent i.e. of course, I'd rather see Hope beating up on everyone !), I truly believe that the MIAA needs to beef up the non-conf schedules in order to be competitive in the playoffs against the regional teams.  I love the MIAA, but it has taken a slide perhaps from the late '70's - 80's, early '90's on a national basis, except not forgetting Albion's national championship in '94.  Just MO, though.  Keep in touch.

Bashdad:
Good to hear from you.  Agree with your commentary.  I am seriously thinking about making the trip down.  I'll keep you posted.  My college roommate's son plays for Albion, so that is an enticement, along with the possibility of getting my brother to come along as well.  Do I need to purchase tickets in advance, or will it be okay to wait until game time?

albionmascot:
If I make it down, will try to look you up too.  Good luck and have a safe trip.

[wabashcpa]

I would think you should be OK getting tickets at the gate.  I hope to see the home stands filled, but I expect there will be plenty of room on the visitor side (Albion, feel free to prove me wrong!).

[albinomascot19]

Well......I heard they already sent tickets to our college but havent heard anything......so I will have it probably get them online and pick them up in person.  All I know is I need a ticket.  8 dollars for adults, 4 dollars for students.

Lets all remember Mt. Union is in the bracket as well, but we'll see how Saturday shakes up

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

formerd3db:

Not that i totally disagree with you on the fact of non league play, i would like to see us play some more competitve schools which are nationally known but on the same level as MIAA. However as far as recruiting for that level of play (i.e. vs. OAC etc) the fact that we as Division III schools in michigan are recruiting against the best DII conference in the country hampers our efforts.  THis is an overall talent issue, league wide as most teams are on the same level as Adrian as shown in games and show the same drop off from first team to second team.  The fact is that in the OAC aside from teams like Mount Union Fielding over 200 players on their team they are able to get DII talent because of the fact that they have only three DII's in state.  It is commendable to play some of the UW schools, as well as OAC's and NCAC, but the fact on top of that also is that we operate on a different playing level.  The MIAA chooses to give us only 9 scheduled off season practices and does not allow us the use of a football.  The other conferences we are playing allow for 15 practices with a football, this puts us at a huge disadvantage as far as competitve issues are concerened.  What we spend time on in the first days of camps is what they already have done in the spring.  I think that factor is a large one as well, if we as a conference want to be competitive nation wide and make some noise, the powers that be need to allow us equal footing with the competetion.  Looking at teams from the past I would agree with you, the league did have a stronger national footing in years past as well as playing more teams outrside the regioun, but i think as a whole teams are having a hard tiem fielding games against anything but the top tier teams. Hope being a prime example witha v ery ambitious schedule and with Albion doing the same.  I think with the changes coming at Adrian that the same changes will come, but all in due time.  Let us remember, patience is  a virtue....on top of the fact that im now jsut rambling but the practice issue is a large one hindering efforts and the GLIAC is not helping in the pursuit of national dominance.

[formerd3db]

ADAWG:
You make some very valid points.  I unintentionally overlooked some of those other factors such as the practice issues and yes, the DII recruiting factor.  Those latter two I agree with you have some definitie bearing on this.  Moreover, another significant factor is the ever increasing cost of tuition.  While MIAA schools are less expensive than most of the Ohio and Indiana DIII's, the cost of small liberal arts education is getting much more difficult for many families to afford.  This obviously will limit many good players from enrolling.  Economics is huge (and certainly, Adrian - and Albion surprisingly - is feeling that very much now it is my understanding, unfortunately.  I was shocked to see Adrian's enrollment dipped below 1000 this year.  I don't believe that has happened for many years, although I could be wrong.

Still, strong programs attract huge numbers of players Hope >140 the past several years and same for Albion.  Yet, the Mount Union and some of the other Ohio schools situation is different as you mention due to the DII aspect; although that is changing to with more DII schools developing in Ohio and the mid-west in recent years.  Anyway, the bottom line is that the MIAA needs to continue to strive for these improvements as you mention.  But some of that is limited by the rules of the league as you correctly point out.  Thanks for your opinion; always respected.

wabashcpa:
Thanks for the follow-up. 

[bulldogalum]

Very tempting to make the trip down to Crawfordsville this weekend, and there are all sorts of reasons to go.  Unfortunately, it looks as though I'll be very busy, and I probably won't be able to afford the 11-hour roundtrip drive.  We'll see.