FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[OC_SID]

Progress on the new Trine football field at last!! 

http://www.tristate.edu/tsustadium/

We also received confirmation this week that the mascot will remain "Thunder" at Trine.  Let's hope this is permanent.

Trine spring scrimmage is Saturday, 4/26.  Bring it on!

Only 3 1/2 more months until the start of the season.

It's gotta to be exciting for Tri-State fans when you view the web camera today. They are starting to lay down the turf! I know that it was exciting around Olivet on the first day that the turf was being put down.

[formerd3db]

Yes, it is exciting to see the new turf being laid down at Trine.  I was wondering however - 1) are they replacing the home stands and a new press box? (I hope so) and 2) is the football building (with locker rooms, etc.) that is to be at the adjacent end of the field already under construction?  Can't tell from the current angle of the live webcam.

One other question:  what type of scrimmage did Trine have?  I assume perhaps a 7 on 7 passing (with linemen standing in place?? ) since no contact is allowed.  Just curious.

[Uncle Rico]

I think the eventual plan is to build new home stands, and the old home stands will be the visitor stands.  I do not think the football building is going to be done this year, they have a number of facility upgrades in the works and I think the football building will be next year.  It will be located at that far corner.

Scrimage went well.  Basically 7 0n 7.  Passing looked very good, but hard to tell how that will translate when the pads come on and the real games start.

[OC_SID]

Looks like Thunder is going to be in white letters in both end zones.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Saw in the AA News tonite that the Chelsea qb (who had a scholarship offer from Stanford and a preferred walk-on offer from UM) will be going to Albion.  Unfortunately, the paper is already out at the street for recycling, and I can't recall anything else (even the name), but he sounds like he might be the real deal at the d3 level.

[HOF]

http://www.mlive.com/highschool/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1210084812112720.xml&coll=2

Good news Mr. Ypsi.  He is coming off a blown out knee...hence to drop off...but none the less a great pic up for the MIAA.  With Albion hurting at the QB spot, this could mean early PT. 

With him being by Adrian, I mean 12 miles away, you got to wonder why he didn't pick Adrian with all the new things going on.

Isn't Adrian over in Italy now???

[formerd3db]

Mr. Ypsi and HOF:

That is interesting news, which brings to mind two points, one of which has been discussed "in general" in the past: 1) another example of a student-athlete who could play at a higher level i.e. DI but chooses to go DIII; and 2) why the "drop-off"?  I know of a couple of at least one example of a player who had DI scholarship offers in fb, had a "blown-out" knee (and a severe head injury i.e. two unrelated injuries) in his Sr. h.s. season in fb, and despite those injuries, the university still gave him the "full-ride" for fb and he went on to play and become a 3 year starter.  So I am curious as to why this kid "was dropped" by Stanford and U of M and/or why he didn't still want to pursue either of those?  Just curious. 

Signed,
Chester S. Brewer (Oops! Sorry, McLeode!)

[formerd3db]

Addendum:

Sorry, I didn't notice the newspaper article link that was posted before I made my post.  Still, while Krauss made his own decision, it still doesn't answer if Stanford was still interested in him or not.  Anyway, I don't think anyone can argue that he didn't make a good decision; not taking anything away from his opportunity to have gone DI.  Everyone has to make their own decision/choice as he did and as he said, that is not easy.  Indeed, a big plus for Albion.  They always seem to get good QB's!

[Mr. Ypsi]

I couldn't tell (and don't know) whether the offer from Stanford was still on the table, but the 'preferred walk-on' offer from UM came AFTER the injury.  I suspect he may have realized that he was likely to buried on the depth chart at a premier d1 school (and don't know if he got an offer from Central).  I suspect that all MIAA schools except Albion (and Calvin! ) may regret his 'cold feet' (or realism).

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Mr. Ypsi, formerd3db and HOF:

Stanford was off the table once his knee was injured.  From what I have heard GVSU came at him with some small money towards the end in an attempt to steal him away from Albion, but to no avail.  Adrian is right in the back yard for him but rumor has it that for some reason (no indication why) he soured on the school as a choice and Albion took the front runner position and ran with it doing a great job to hold off the GVSU push at the end. 

HOF:

Adrian left for Italy on the 5th, taking a very large number of players with them overseas, actually having to take two flights this time which is far removed from the 30 or so people that went when I was a sophmore at Adrian.  Every year they take the chance to go overseas the numbers grow and if the past is any indication Adrian should have a strong year, the last two times they took the trip they finished 7-3 and 8-2 the following seasons.  The extra practice no doubt helps, especially being able to have the players who are making the trip practice in pads, its a great opportunity for the team to see how some freshman who might not have gotten the most attention during the regular season practices look on the hoof.

Uncle Rico:

Good to hear that progress is moving ahead at Trine (weird) Universities new stadium.  The process is exciting, i remember when it was going on at Adrian and you can really gauge how they are moving in watching the field being laid, cut outs being put in etc.  Do the new home stands include a new press box for coaching staffs?  The current set up that TSU has is abysmal, angles are to low and they have a terrible window selection in terms of being able to see the field as well as no room for camera crews or more than one or two coaches.  It doesnt help that every time fans in the front row stand up they obscure your vision as well as hear you swear if and when that may have happened.

[formerd3db]

Mr. Ypsi:
I believe you might be right!

ADAWG:
Still seems strange that Stanford would pull the offer.  The player I was talking about was at a skilled position also and he had a very serious injury.  Came back fine and was a tremendous DI player.

Also, I can't remember, however, isn't there an NCAA rule that limits how many times a school can go overseas within a certain year-span period?  If that is "in play" (pardon the pun  ), since Adrian is going this year and went recently during your playing tenure, I would think this would have to be the last trip for awhile at least.

As far as the Trine Press Box, I would have to agree with you.  It was similar to that of Olivet's before that one was replaced with the new spaceous one, although I would say that Trine's is still better than Kazoo's antiquated one as well as Albion's.  The latter's really needs to be replaced, expanded and a covered "third story" for filming the games in bad weather would be a big plus.  Right now, I would have to say that, obviously, Adrian, Hope and Alma have the best Press Boxes in their stadiums.

[formerd3db]

I should include Olivet's in there also, although admittedly, I have not been inside that new one yet.

[Mr. Ypsi]

ADAWG,

I'm certainly not privy to Krauss's thought processes, but a discussion on another board concluded that the ideal school is one close enough to home that one can visit (and drop off laundry!) when needed, but far enough away that the 'rents won't drop in unexpectedly!  Adrian may never have had a chance!

[D306]

Nice to see the board hopping with comments the last couple of days.

RE: Krauss I hear/Read he liked the Gerstacker program for business and the real opportunity to Graduate in 4 years instead of "redshirt" then see what comes in the following years, and become a 5 year student. He is a smart Student Athlete 4.03 GPA per article.  Rumor is also may or may not be ready to play with Knee conditions in 08.
Glad to see another very good Academic Student Athlete come to Albion

Couple other Albion players ( no gurantees until they step on the filed in D3)

Adam Shireman RB from MCC 1st team all state. Keeps the line of MCC qulity players coming to Albion with Evans 07 starting QB also from MCC

Devinne Pettaway deceased Martin Luther King DB whom has choosen Albion over a couple DII offers and Jackson State down south. Sad to see a 17 year old die of a Asthma attack in Gym class in HS 2nd student this spring to die of "Natural Causes" from the State Champion MLK football team. What a devastating feel that must be to the school.

Lost a quality player to Northwood, the Schooly was very small from Northwood, never understand those choices. As we discussed here before I guess the "I played DII" outways the what I fee is better education, and better total schooly when you look at the Academic support you can get with high level grades and acheivements from DIII schools.

I think now that the impressive science wing addition, and the tear down of the old hall are completed. Albion will have capital funds to upgrade the DOW Center and the Football feilds.

[formerd3db]

Mr. Ypsi:
I know what you mean.  Another option to solve that is choosing a school close enough but far away for the reasons you mention, but also bringing your laundry with you on "away game" trips, having your parents take it home and send it back UPS on Tuesday!  Always worked great during the season!