FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[dc_has_been]

Did Hope try to compile the hardest nonconference schedule possible? 

[sac]

Did Hope try to compile the hardest nonconference schedule possible? 

I actually thought this years was softer next to last years

UW-River Falls 54, Hope 24
Central, Iowa 36, Hope 17
Wheaton 42, Hope 7

I could be wrong but I thought in 2006 all 3 non-conf teams were in the D3 tournament the year before.  DePauw, Wheaton and Central, Ia.

[hope1]

what a nice night for some hope football and maybe there 1st win for the year tonight at  7.00

[Uncle Rico]

Trine 30   Franklin 27

Awesome game...back and forth the entire time.

Go Thunder!

[LetItRain]

I will say it again no undefeated teams in league play, wide open as to who wins league.

There is one MIAA team undefeated going into league play.   

http://www.trine.edu/trineathletics/football/archives.cfm

[Mr. Ypsi]

A majority of d3 conferences have formal 'pick 'ems' contests (Pick-Ems, under 'General Football') - how are we ever gonna be a 'power' conference without a pickems contest?!

Therefore, with the onset of conference play, I've started one.  Since it is brand new, I've kept the rules as simple as possible.  I hope (and for all you other fans, that's a lower-case h on hope! ) you'll come play!

Just make sure you whup this CCIW guy (though 38+ year Michigan resident) or you may be hearing about it!

[miaafbfan]

Great win for Trine yesterday.  The conference hasn't had a quality win like that yet this season.  Adrian was as expected.  I did think that either Kalamazoo or Alma had a shot as well.  The Scot defense actually did what it needed to in the last 13 minutes of the 4th quarter, stopping River Falls on a couple of drives and handing the offense decent field position.  Tough loss in front of a great homecoming crowd at Bahlke Field.

Now conference play begins, and our friend Mr. Ypsi has been so kind as to get a real pick 'em contest going.  Thanks!  Let's get some discussion going.

[D306]

Quote from: D306 on September 26, 2008, 07:08:16 am

I will say it again no undefeated teams in league play, wide open as to who wins league.




There is one MIAA team undefeated going into league play.   

letitrain

I will say great win for Trine solid team to beat.

I will stick by the no undefeated teams in the MIAA play.
I hope Trine continues to play well, have not seen them play yet this year.

League play is a whole different thing than non conference play.

[LetItRain]

D306 - I couldn't agree more.  I hope that the Trine boys stay focused on what really counts - league play.  It may be great to beat a nationally ranked team, but that's not what's going to put a championship ring on their fingers.  And we're starting out with a team that is going to be chomping at the bit for a win this weekend - Hope. 

I believe I misunderstood your original comment.  I thought you meant no one would be undefeated going into league play - not coming out of league play.  I'll have to wait and post again after Trine defeats Adrian on 11/8.   

Good luck to all teams this season.  Let's pray for everyone to play at the top of their game and for no major injuries.  Should make for an exciting MIAA season overall.

[formerd3db]

I've always been a believer in the philosophy that by playing upper tier teams in non-conference will make your own team better, not only for the immediate season, but also for the successive years regarding participating in the playoffs.  One can argue that might not hold true since the make-up of the team's players changes over that time.  On the other hand, the reverse can be said as playing lesser talented non-conference teams, as some of the schools have done in the past, doesn't help you either in both one's own league or the playoffs. 

All that being said, I'm beginning to question my first theory after all these years.  My Hope, for example, just doesn't seem able to "turn the corner" in that regard - this makes 4 consecutive years of an 0-for something start against very good non-conference teams.  I am not quite sure about the reasons why, yet obviously there could be several explanations for that and/or a combination of those.  I would think, however, that by "staying the course" and continuing to play upper tier competition, that eventually it will work i.e. at least in changing the over-all "attitude" in approaching that type of competition.  By that, I mean to compare the example of Northwestern in the Big Ten, that I have used for several years.  Formerly, the laughingstock of that league, and while they will obviously never be a powerhouse, still they have a good program, even in their "down" years of recent and are very competitive.  Question remains, will that eventually work for Hope and the other MIAA schools??

Congrats to Trine on a fine start.  Now it will, indeed, get interesting with the opening of league play.  I have to agree with the rest of you - chances of any MIAA team going undefeated in league play, IMO, are "slim and none".

On another topic (and quickly), I think the wonderful fall weather will now be leaving us most likely, although I hope not.  Get out your team jackets, parkas and gloves (and umbrellas perhaps).

[Mr. Ypsi]

former,

In the previous three 0-fer non-con seasons, Hope has proceded to go 18-3 in conference!  I'd say the tough schedule works pretty darn well!

[formerd3db]

Mr. Ypsi:

Indeed, that is true and really great in that it secures the league title and automatic bid - we always love that!   Yet, at least for this year, while I don't want to admit it (and will still be heavily rooting that we do win the title), I am less confident that it will be repeated in the same fashion.   The league race will be much tougher this year I believe and, as always, it will be interesting to see how that plays out in the next 2-3 week OR down to the last week as had occurred on many occasions.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Mr. Ypsi:

Indeed, that is true and really great in that it secures the league title and automatic bid - we always love that!   Yet, at least for this year, while I don't want to admit it (and will still be heavily rooting that we do win the title), I am less confident that it will be repeated in the same fashion.   The league race will be much tougher this year I believe and, as always, it will be interesting to see how that plays out in the next 2-3 week OR down to the last week as had occurred on many occasions.

Don't JUST be 'interest[ed] to see how that plays out', come join us on the MIAA pickems [General Football/Pick-Ems] contest I set up!  There's only 3 of us so far, but this is opening week (so no one is behind) and I hope to be kept busy tabulating results.

[old 40]

Picks for this week, week 1 in the NAC race;

M.Baptist  at CUW- CUW. Ouch this will hurt. 46-0

WLC at CUC- CUC 28-24 in a close offensive game.

Rockford at Lakeland- Rockford has the "O" and QB, Should be low scoring but Rockford prevails 14-12.

BU at AU. AU begins their run in a big way. 38-3. AU out to revenge last years lost at BU. BU is not firing on all cylinders this year.

Good Luck to everyone's teams and safe travels.

[old 40]

I apologize to the MIAA board. I made a mistake on my NAC picks and clicked on the wrong conference. Good Luck to your teams this week. Your conference did a number on our conference in th non-conference schedule. Good Luck.