FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[OC_SID]

Sad news as it was just learned over on the OAC board that former Baldwin-Wallace head coach Bob Packard, passed away Saturday of an apparent heart attack at age 64.  For those who might not know his DIII history, he only recently retired as head coach there in 2001, having coached previously there under Lee Tressel, current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel's dad.  A shock for sure; my thoughts and prayers to his family and the BW community.

As a B-W grad, I was deeply saddened to hear the news about Coach Packard. As a SID student asssistant, he was one of my favorite coaches to work with. Not only was he a great coach, but he was also a great person. Before every home game, he was very gracious and knew that I was there to do my job: to check starters, get his signature in a program for the giveaway and find out if he wanted offensive or defensive starters announced at the start of the game.

If you have time, go to http://www.bw.edu/athletics/fb/packard/, and check out the highlight video from his recognition dinner. With the help of several other people, putting together that video was one of my last assignments at B-W before I moved here to Michigan.

My prayers are with Coach Packard's wife, two children and two grandchildren.

[formerd3db]

now sac, the CI&S is less than 1 mile from the exit on Main Street at the US 31 overpass, which is then about 1/2 mile from DeVos at the most! I've made it there in about 2 minutes going the speed limit (with my wife giving me that "Dutch look" - yes, she is Dutch ! - to make sure I don't have "your" lead foot!), of course, if the traffic is not too heavy.

[formerd3db]

OC_SID:

Thanks for sharing that with us here.  You were indeed blessed to be able to know Coach Packard and have the kind of experiences you did.  Many of us know exactly what you are talking about as we've experienced the same with our coaches and administrators in college.  While our prayers are obviously with the Packard family as you mention, as I mentioned, mine are also with people like you who knew him as well.  Thanks again.

[DEACONBLUE]

D3DB, SAC, LetItRain:  Thanks for the abudance of travel information, I'm armed and ready now.

SAC: I'm still laughing over your description of the waterfront!  While boating on the Great Lakes I've stopped at many ports, but somehow missed Holland.  Many ports (especially on the sunset coast) have been reworked for the tourist economy, and yet others still maintain their traditional industrial economy.  Somehow I pictured the Holland waterfront being the former, imagine my suprise (suitcases in hand) if I wouldn't have asked you guys!   

On to Football:  Now that the dust has settled from last weekend, some of those season intangibles have materialized.  Here's one man's attempt to put some pieces together.

Hope's victory over Adrian on the road (24-14) answered some big questions:  1) Hope can score effectively on a MIAA's elite defense.  The Dawgs did bring down their scoring average, but 24 points is an offensive victory.  2)  Both offenses posted 300's in yardage, Hope a balanced pass/run and Adrian heavily favoring the pass.  The balance of Hope's offense is a key to their success, yet their pass defense (as noted by others on the board) is their soft spot.  Had Adrian a more effective run game (as noted also on the board) this relatively close game could have gone the other way.  Significance:  Hope should run the table in the MIAA.  TSU and Olivet have comparable defenses to Adrian, yet both would have to find a way to score over 24 points to keep in the game.  This could be difficult especially when both teams have not found great success passing which is Hope's only vulnerability.

Olivet's victory over Tri-State (21-14), was like TSU's victory over Adrian, it was a defensive battle with interceptions declaring the winner.  It was the lowest yardage total of the weekend with each team near 250.  The difference was Olivet's 222 yrds rushing to 77 for TSU, and TSU's 156 yrds passing to Olivet's 53.  Significance: Olivet, Tri-State, and Adrian, all three with the top MIAA defenses and more unbalanced offenses, are technically equal teams...any given Saturday.  To upset Hope, the Olivet and TSU offenses will need the help of defensive TDs and short fields to keep up with Hope's point production.

Alma's victory over Albion on the road (30-22) was very revealing.  Both offenses as expected putting up 300 balanced yards.  The difference could be the Alma defense, that appears to be getting stronger.  Significance:  Alma's offense undeniably elite in the MIAA next to Hope, if their defense has improved...they could be hier to the throne.  Albion on the other hand could be vulnerable to a possible upset on the Hornet's home field this week.

WLC victory over K-Zoo (28-26) was the greatest offensive explosion of the weekend with each team producing 400 yards offense.  Where WLC balanced their pass/run attack, the Hornet's passed for 391 yards and only 4 yrds rushing.  Significance:  Both defenses are suspect, especially WLC pass defense.  WLC offense does benefit from a more balanced attack, and this could have been the difference between these closely matched teams.

Power Poll RANK: Hope-Alma-Olivet-TSU-Adrian-Albion-WLC-KZOO   

[D306]

Fiirst off.

Holland great area, tons to do.
Make a weekend out of it.
Downtown, couple of the tourist sites, head up to Grand Haven 30 minutes north. Great Beachs and nice boardwalk.
Son almost was playing for them, looking at the run recently at least from a football stand-up would have been a good choice LOL.

On to the games

Tri-State proves what belief in yourself can do, good coaching great energy.
Nice to see team becoming a force. Great for the league.

Alma young, improving defense active offense. Still question those incrediably wide "spreads" on offensive line.

Albion is a disappointment, this year. Young defense can not get off the field to many big plays allowed. When DB's and Safety are among leading tacklers something is amiss.
Offense can not sustain drives, hit a couple big passes, and some tough running, but line play is not there.

Hope and Olivet will be the game. battle of styles.
Offense vs. defense.

Olivet has the best D in league, fast aggressive and a lot of athletes.
Hope has the best Offense, great line and 2 quality RB's.

Weather will be a factor, if it is raining and windy this negates Olivet passing which is Hopes defensive weakness.

Both teams need to stay focused on 1 game at a time get to this game undefeated.

[formerd3db]

Those of you who have seen TSU and Olivet play are obviously more informed and "in tune" with what can be expected from them in the upcoming games against Hope.  Although most of you have predicted that Hope will run the table now (again like last year), I can tell you that indeed Hope cannot take either team lightly.  I believe that each team will be a tough challenge for Hope despite it being at our home stadium confines and crowd support, and I am not just saying this to downplay the atmosphere.  Not wanting to look past TSU, but assuming Hope gets by them this weekend, and having witnessed many an Olivet/Hope game in past years, I suspect (expect) as tough-hitting "slug fest" and fast-paced game, with "back & forth" scoring as in previous years (although perhaps and realistically, not as high scoring as previous).

For sure, as has been pointed out on this board by some of you, the weather will most likely play somewhat of a factor depending on the severity of that.  Nonetheless, I still expect a tough, even perhaps nail-biting game and will be very surprised if it ends up being some type of "blowout".  But...again, not to jump ahead as a very important game for us remains for this Saturday.

D306:
BTW, Alma has been using those wide spreads since Leister instituted the "open" offense back in his first year early '90's.  Yet, Hope (dating back to even my day) used to utilize the same very wide spreads.  It can have a tendency to "throw the defense off" their confidence and plan somewhat in just its objective appearance, at least until the defense can get used to it and make adjustments.  On the other hand, wide spreads mean wide holes and unless LB's and OL's are quick enough (and not spread out too far) it can be challenging.

[hope1]

i can not wait till saturday to watch a good football game hope vs tri state 

[formerd3db]

hope1:
Just remember to bring your rainsuit and umbrella, although I hope you don't need them.

[hope1]

i know  they are calling for a 40 %  chance of rain saturday i got my packed in the car alderly to go at  1.00

[miaafbfan]

Saturday, October 27 Picks:

Wisconsin Lutheran at Adrian:  Adrian  The Bulldogs Bounce back.
Albion at Kalamazoo:  Albion  The young Brits have to get a break at some point this season.  Angell Field seems a good place for it.
Tri-State at Hope:  Hope  Hope stays the team to beat this week.  Will they run the table?
Olivet at Alma:  Alma  If this were at the Cutler, I'd pick Olivet, but the Comets winning at Bahlke Field?  Wet and windy weather might help them do just that.  This should be an interesting game featuring two very different styles.

I hope everyone stays dry this weekend.  Good luck to all teams. 

[dc_has_been]

What kind of surface does Alma play on these days?  Nothing was better then playing on the parking lot they called astroturf.

[D306]

D3DB


RE: Defensing Alma's wide splits.

I concur the wide splits do make for an interesting challenge.
I think it comes down to "assignment" football for the DLine and the LB's.
Have to resist the temptation to shoot the gaps thinking you will make a big play in the backfield. DL and LB's most hold their gao assignment and let the play come to them. It requires discipline and good one on one tackling.

This weekends guess:

WLC at Adrian. AC solid defense at home is the best recipe for a win.

Albion at Kazoo. High scoring affair, rain in forecast hurts the Kazoo reliance on the passing game. I will take Albion. See how this young team maturees and stays focused after what is considered a bad season so far.

Tri-State at Hope. Tri-State is improving but on the road VS Hope is not a game I see them pulling. Hope suffers no let down on the quest for a MIAA repeat crown.

Olivet at Alma Toughest game of the week to call.
I like the Alma home field advantage it will make the game tight, I think turnovers and the Tough Olivet defense wins the day.
Olivet is on a mission, really see the unity and drive when you watch this team play. Offense does not blow anyone away methodical and consistent. Defense is a weapon along with an excellent punter whom really is a offensive weapon in the field position game.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Picks

WLC @ Adrian: Adrian in a close one.  Defense will play as they have all year, offense is banged up and that could cause problems for a unit that has been struggling.

Albion @ Kzoo: Albion gets in the win column.  As good as the Kzoo offense has played at times, Albion will stop the attack and the offense will put up enough points to get the win.

Tri State @ Hope: Hope. Tri State is young and improving, their time will come but right now they are still going to have to take some lumps that come with that growth.

Olivet @ Alma: Olivet.  Almas offense can cause teams problems but Olivet has the speed and athleticism on defense to counter that spread.  Olivet will run the ball on Alma and set the show down for the MIAA championship.

[formerd3db]

dc_has_been:
Alma has one of the new synthetic playing surfaces; AstroPlay, which is made by the same company of the orginial AtroTurf.  Alma has had this surface now for almost not quite 10 years, although has had a synthetic playing surface at Balhke Stadium since 1985 - they had the old Omni Turf.  Alma was the 4th school in the country to use AstroPlay (University of Seattle and Detroit Country Day H.S. had it just before Alma purchased and installed it).  Of course there are others now, such as Field Turf which a majority of colleges, universities use, however, AstroPlay is the same.

D306:
Agree with you about the wide splits.

My picks for this Saturday:

WLC @ Adrian: Adrian  Agree that Adrian bounces back, and it is at their home field.  WLC improved, but Adrian better.

Albion @ Kazoo:  Albion  Albion just too much for Kazoo

Tri-State @ Hope:  Hope  Have to go with the "hot" team and my alma mater, of course!

Olivet @ Alma:  Alma  This is a tough one.  I agree with Miaafan, if this was at Olivet, I would go with them.  However, since it is a home for Alma, I think that gives them the edge.  That being said, Olivet is difficult to figure out sometimes.  Remember not too long ago when they went 8-2 as I recall, they were supposed to lose to Albion in the last game of the season but ended up pounding them, taking away the championship from them.  However, that game was at Olivet!

I think our nice weather is done for the season on "game days", however, I hope I am wrong.  Take care and safe drives to everyone this Friday and/or Saturday in traveling to the games.

[formerd3db]

Rome, Rome, where art thou?  We miss your astute commentary on the "Big O" i.e. Olivet.