FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[TrineDad]

A really solid win for the Thunder this afternoon....35 to 14!   Actually it could have been 42 to 14 but Trine elected to take a couple of knees at the end of the game (are those of you who accused the Thunder of running up the Bluffton score listening?)  instead of getting another score.  I've not seen any stats but the Thunder pretty much owned the second half after the first half resulted in a 14-14 tie.  For those around the nation who had doubted Trine I'd say the doubts were answered.  This is a team playing with confidence and is a team to be reckoned with.

[BOYA87]

I just read the recap of the Trine game that D3 had posted and WOW!!  Here's a little clip of it

"Hence would finish the day with four receptions for 104 yards.  He also ran 10 times for 107 yards to lead Trine (3-0)

Watt, a 2010 Gagliardi Trophy candidate, connected on 11-of-17 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 89 yards on 14 carries.  The Thunder pounded out 515 yards of total offense, including 313 yards rushing. UWRF (0-3) tallied 270 yards of offense,  104 passing."

1st of all, props on the new website...it looks great!

2nd, I am 1000 times suprised about how this Trine teams identity is taking shape this year.  With all of this talent at the specialty positions returning with tons of experience (Watt, Curtis, Wyman, Hence) I would have thought we would be burning up the skies!  But look at these rushing yards!  This team is just as tough and gritty as ever willing to plow through defenses and win games the old fashion way.  But dont you dare for a second try to take that run game away because you know Watts experience in the backfield and his smart and athletic recievers are going to make you pay the 2nd you commit to taking away the run. This offense is so balanced that I think its scary.  Perhaps this is all yards pilled up on poor opponents who it would be unfair and inconsiderate to air a full out air born attack on them, but still this run game is looking pretty good.

3rd, I am not one to look at individual stats and think to much into them because football is the ultimate team sport, but look at the numbers that Hence put up.  104 yds on 4 catches (26 yds per catch!!!!!)  10 rushes for 107 yds (almost 11 yds per carry!!!!!!)  This kid is a joy to watch run around the field and the Trine O line is allowing him some great opportunities to spread his young wings!

[seventiesraider]

Formerd3db-After reviewing todays Heidelberg games, Alma may actually be quite bad

[miaafbfan]

Formerd3db-After reviewing todays Heidelberg games, Alma may actually be quite bad

My thoughts (fears) exactly. 

Alma trailed Rockford, a team they blew out last year on the road, 10-3 at the end of the 3rd quarter.  11 penalties for a total of 111 yards is just inexcusable.  I know some folks on the board have been questioning Hope's current situation (how responsible is the coach for lack of non-conference wins, etc.).  Many of the same questions can be raised regarding Alma.  It seems we have seen the tale of a sub-par defense and inconsistent Scot-gun offense mixed in with an embarrassing number of penalties repeated over the last couple of years.  The last three seasons Alma has gone 5-5, and it looks like it will be a miracle if they can accomplish that this year.  Where is the program going?  My hope is this is the end of the slide and coach Cole can get things back on the right track.  I have the same hope for a number of other MIAA programs, as things look pretty shaky right now around the league.  Our bright spot is Trine.  Another nice win today!

[Mr. Ypsi]

miaafbfan,

I feel your pain.   I know nothing about Ky. Wesleyan (except that they used to be one helluva basketball team), but another 5-5 would indeed be a miracle.  I don't really see any winnable games in the MIAA except Kazoo and Olivet, and they may not even be favored in those.  I'd think 2-8 is realistic (beating either Kazoo or Olivet, but not both).  The MIAA desperately needs a rebound by Hope and a rise by the lower teams.  Let's not become the MWC or NathCon!

[hope1]

yes it sounds like trine is really good this year  hopefully hope gets there 1st win this week at  home it would be nice to see them get some wins going

[sflzman]

Formerd3db-After reviewing todays Heidelberg games, Alma may actually be quite bad

There's no doubt that Alma is on a down year. We had a d2 transfer, and a Jr. QB playing during camp, the Jr. quit when he was named 2nd QB. The transfer was ruled academically ineligable the day before the first game. The scots started a true freshman for the first time in 8 years. He has not completely grasped the offense yet...not to mention losing 4 of the top 5 WRs from last year.

On d the secondary had a HUGE turn-over. Almas DBs are young and inexperienced - aside from Scotty Cole who has played amazing through 3.

The scots threw some new things at Rockford which seemed to be very affective, including a Wild Cat with Andrew Schaar. And for the first time I had ever seen, the Scots had a fullback, in big Ed Mason. The 250 lb LB.

The scots need to be able to run the ball more affectively this season with the FR QB. Althogh, i dont see that happening....unless - just throwing this out there - Andrew Schaar converted into a full-time RB....

[miaafbfan]

Mr. Ypsi and sflzman,

Thanks for your insights.  That is a good sign that Alma might be trying some new ideas when the status quo isn't working.  As for their record at the end of this year, 2-8 certainly would be disappointing, but not unlikely.  Alma last finished under .500 in 1996 (4-5).  I don't know anything about Kentucky Wesleyan, other than that they are DII.  I'll have to do some digging before I post my pick-ems. 

[Raider 68]

I thought that Adrian would perform better this past weekend, and at this point IMHO, I do not see anyone in the MIAA to challenge Trine this year!

[Uncle Rico]

It will be interesting if Trine moves up in the rankings.

Trine wins at UW River Falls  35-14.

UWRF loses at #11 Ohio Northern  35-21.  If you look at the score and the location, it looks like Trine played them better than Ohio Northern.

UWRF loses at #4 St Thomas 27-3.  Would the score have been closer if it were at UWRF?  Maybe? 

Guess we are just fortunate that Trine was able to play UWRF as well as they did, compared to the #4 and #11 teams.

[formerd3db]

Indeed, it looks like Trine is on track to steamroll to the MIAA title this year, and...probably will.  However, having been around the MIAA for a long time, I would just metion that several times in past years when that has appeared to be the case for some other teams, it is not a "given".  The MIAA has been a very unpredictable league when it comes down to the league games, including when Albion was on their roll for that decade in the '90's.  At times, when it came down toward the end, sometimes someone either gets upset or, at the very least, just gets by with a win, when in all liklihood, they should have blasted the other team.

I am not suggesting at all that Trine will take their situation for granted and get over-confident.  Not having seen them play yet and obviously only going on what has been posted here on our board, my own opinion at this time is that, again, they'll probably roll on to the title - at least for now, nothing would suggest otherwise.  Yet, I also think that they might just end up having a tough time with one of the MIAA teams upcoming in the league race.  You never know, but certainly that remains to be seen.

[sflzman]

Mr. Ypsi and sflzman,

Thanks for your insights.  That is a good sign that Alma might be trying some new ideas when the status quo isn't working.  As for their record at the end of this year, 2-8 certainly would be disappointing, but not unlikely.  Alma last finished under .500 in 1996 (4-5).  I don't know anything about Kentucky Wesleyan, other than that they are DII.  I'll have to do some digging before I post my pick-ems. 

About KWC -

Heard they have enough talent to share. Supposedly very good D2 talent, with a Ju-Co coaching staff. So they should be too much to handle. But you can read into that however you would like.

[formerd3db]

Mr. Ypsi and sflzman,

Thanks for your insights.  That is a good sign that Alma might be trying some new ideas when the status quo isn't working.  As for their record at the end of this year, 2-8 certainly would be disappointing, but not unlikely.  Alma last finished under .500 in 1996 (4-5).  I don't know anything about Kentucky Wesleyan, other than that they are DII.  I'll have to do some digging before I post my pick-ems.  

About KWC -

Heard they have enough talent to share. Supposedly very good D2 talent, with a Ju-Co coaching staff. So they should be too much to handle. But you can read into that however you would like.

Actually, KWC in the past has been a non-scholarship DII program (in the same "vein" as the current non-scholarship programs that are in the FCS i.e. the former DI-AA non-scholarship programs).  While not having great teams in the past, they haven't been horrible either from what I recall.  Admittedly, however, I have not checked their website recently and as such, I am not sure if they have changed their program to a scholarship type or have remained a non-scholarship program.  If they are the former,  then Alma might possibly have a tough time this year.  Yet as you say, perhaps any of us "could read into that" since we really don't know much about KWC.  Thus, it obviously will be interesting to see what happens in the game.  

[sac]

KWC hasn't had a winning season in the past 4 and I stopped at 2006 when they went 0-11.

09---2-9
08---4-7
07---3-8
06---0-11

They are 2-1 thus far, with their only loss to Indianapolis.  UI recently took D2 #1 Grand Valley State to the wire.

KWC's website:   http://www.kwcpanthers.com/index.aspx?path=football&

They seem to have a ton of Freshmen.

[sflzman]

KWC Also has a 350 lb. nose tackle. Alma's offensive line averages 258.4 lbs in size.