FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[section7]

PASS EFFICIENCY         Team   Eff.
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Eric Watt........... TRIN SR   246.7
2. Sam Landry.......... KZOO FR   135.4
3. Mike McGee.......... ADRI SR   120.5
4. Nick Jones.......... KZOO JR   110.8
5. Ross Richard........ ALMA FR   109.4
6. Spencer Krauss...... ALBI SO    99.1
7. Chris Feys.......... HOPE SR    83.4
8. C J. Gregory........ OLIV JR    62.8

Pretty sad, that according to the head coach, "He is our best qb and how he rolls, we roll."  Based on this stat we can shoot for 7th place!  Nice picture about our future qb situation also.

[formerd3db]

section7:

Are you not a Hope fan, or a disgruntled Hope fan, or someone who's son isn't getting (or didn't) get some P.T. at Hope?   You are pretty negative in your posts towards Hope. Just curious.

[formerd3db]

Uncle Rico:

Good points.  I agree that the Trine/Adrian game is a key one this weekend.  Actually, so is the Hope/Alma one in a sense.  Depending on how either of the latter two come out with the "W" and depending on the calibur of how they playin the game, at least IMO, it will give an indication as to if they have a chance against Trine.  By that I mean if either one plays good and starts to get into sync, by the time the Trine game comes around for them, that could be a good sign.  Assuming of course, they keep focus for one game at a time, which I think most of these teams do.  It appears that way so far.

[section7]

section7:

Are you not a Hope fan, or a disgruntled Hope fan, or someone who's son isn't getting (or didn't) get some P.T. at Hope?   You are pretty negative in your posts towards Hope. Just curious.

Thank you for your question formerd3db.  I am a Hope fan, but best word I can use to describe my feelings towards the current state of football program is MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT.  To use your wording from many of your posts......speechless (almost).  Not disgruntled and no son who didn't play, sorry.  I am just stating the facts as the history since 2002 has shown it.  Also, I am perplexed how we got here, continue to stay here and no real changes.  I have been watching Hope football since the days or Mark Spencer, Greg Heeres, Greg Bekius, Thurland Cole, etc., so I have seen more than just the last 10 years.

I am quite comfortable in my belief that if the men's bball, men's soccer, men's baseball, women's bball or women vball, too name a few, had the track record of the last 10 years that the football program has had, something would be different.

I hear you when you say the kids are not listening or doing what they are coached.  But, not to offend u, but that screams a problem within the coaching ranks.

To be fair, I did post a nice feel-good, positive story on a Hope player last week, that was reported in the Holland Sentinel.  I think Coach Kreps was awesome in that setting.

However, if disgruntled is your word, I am fine with that.  Because I have a hard time believing our football program is elite or where it should be, based purely on the facts and results on the field.  If the program continues this trend, the ability to influence and help will disappear.

My thoughts only, sorry, if you don't agree.

Here is to a MUCH NEEDED win against Alma (although I have my doubts )

[Raider 68]

Uncle Rico:

Good points.  I agree that the Trine/Adrian game is a key one this weekend.  Actually, so is the Hope/Alma one in a sense.  Depending on how either of the latter two come out with the "W" and depending on the calibur of how they playin the game, at least IMO, it will give an indication as to if they have a chance against Trine.  By that I mean if either one plays good and starts to get into sync, by the time the Trine game comes around for them, that could be a good sign.  Assuming of course, they keep focus for one game at a time, which I think most of these teams do.  It appears that way so far.

For those interested in "Stats", take a look at the Trine stats for D3 National Team Ranking stats under NCAA, it is amazing!

Here is the link http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/mainpage.jsp

[formerd3db]

section7:

You are welcome and thanks in return for your reply/opinion.  I meant no disrespect to you - you are entitled to your opinion and I share some of that, although we do disagree on some aspects, and that is okay.  Also, indeed, you did post that nice article on the Hope player that was in the Holland newspaper and I posted on here that you did (I gave you +k for that! ).

Actually, (for what is is worth, if anything - probably not /!) I have you beat as far as longevity at Hope and the MIAA!   I've also coached in the MIAA.  As far as the coaching, I would disagree with you in that a coach should not have to repeatedly show, relate, instruct, plead, etc., etc, with a player(s) for doing some particular technique or aspect.  Failure to comply is simply the players fault absolutely, no other explanation.  One might argue then that it is the coach's fault for not replacing said player with someone else in attempt to "get the job done", but...when you don't have the players to do that, you can't fault the coach there either.  Again, as I said previous a while back, my intent is not to denigrate the players, because they are doing the best they can, they are, after all, just young men and, unfortunately, sometimes things just do not play out the way one desires (just ask the Northwestern players of a couple of decades ago - they were not terrible players, they obviously had talent to be at the Big Ten level; they just weren't as good as others at their level).  The bottom line is that win or lose, these young men will learn something from this experience that will for sure help them in the more important aspects of later life.

Obviously, you, myself and others have our opinions on this topc and we've expressed them well, so I'll refrain from posting further comment on this.   Hopefully, we'll have some bright spots in Hope's season as yet! Anyway, thanks for your continued participation here on the board.   

[Diezel1]

It's pretty quiet on here for being the first week of conference games.  Is it because most teams have had a disappointing non-conference schedule or is everyone just busy? 

[Raider 68]

It's pretty quiet on here for being the first week of conference games.  Is it because most teams have had a disappointing non-conference schedule or is everyone just busy? 

IMHO, it is the former. The potential challengers to Trine have not shown much and Trine seems to be the only big story in the MIAA thus far!

[badgerwarhawk]

[
Thank you for your question formerd3db.  I am a Hope fan, but best word I can use to describe my feelings towards the current state of football program is MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT. 

Actually those are two words. 
With Hope losing to Wisconsin Lutheran I can completely understand your frustration.  WL is simply not a good team.

[D306]

Well it has been a while since I posted as I am no longer LOCAL to the MIAA, Michigan.

I hate to be the guy whom drops a BOMB on the teams after not posting much this year. Michigan resident last 50 years, attended 12 MIAA games last year.

The real question is Trine that much better or the rest of the MIAA teams that BAD?

I think a little of both, website is Trine dominated and why not, they are winning improving the program and gaining the MIAA a little repsect, after several dark years.

Albion and Hope have long time Coaching staffs, did they suddenly become poor coachs. and recruiters? How have these 2 teams in particular become so weak?

Albion had a chance last year, had some very good talent, injuries and complete lack of depth really hurt them last year. Had a very good defense last year when their 3 best players were healthy. Thin still at a couple key postions this year, HOW WHY is my question. Great Academic School, why is there no depth? Several very good players in skill positions, OL/DL play and LB remain question marks.

Hope with a great school, long time staff, team continues to under perform / or have no talent which is it?
Best Campus and city to live in of the MIAA, beachs, GR close, nice neighborhood.

Adrian coaching  changes, infighting within program have them in limbo presently, should have made wholeale changes last year, nothing against current staff but make a change if you going to make a change in the manor it was handled last year.

Kalamazoo is gaining repsect, numerous changes, I like the effort to focus on High GPA players from proven programs. Parochial kids and high end academic schools, these guys are used to the work load while maintaining academic level they require. let's face it kazoo has higher academic standards/reputation not a football reputation. A lot of the athletes are there for the education first, not football.

Alma solid coaching staff too many local players, will ride the wave of talent with this recruiting profile.

Olivet, another coaching and player profile change, get a coach give them some time, and select a player profile you want move from there, always will be thought of as a lower tier education in comparison to the others in conference.

These thoughts and comments are a quick summary of current and recent HS seniors, MIAA players, that I and my wife have taught, or coached.

Couple BIG games this weekend, should be a good clue as to the current year.

[sflzman]

Well the way I read into it, Trine has become a very good program in a very short amount of time - not starting rumors....but there is a lot of money floating around in that school - and have become instant-contenders for the league championship each year. And a threat to go past the first round of the NCAA tourney.

Alma has missed there "go-to-guy" at WR the past few years, after losing Joe Cline, the key man in Josh Brehm's Gagliardi-winning season. Something a lot of people may not realize, is that last season's seniors are the first graduating class from Alma not to win a championship since the seniors is 1995.

Adrian has not finished worse than 4th since 2005.

Albion should be decent, and in my opinion, Trine's biggest competition for the league championship.

Kalamazoo could be looking at a down year.

Olivet has only gone downhill since there league championship in 2007.

Hope....well Im still trying to figure out the Dutchmen.

[sac]

Someone must have posted this somewhere else, but I ran across it tonight

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Video-Your-daring-Division-III-interception-of?urn=ncaaf-273482

[Pat Coleman]

Someone must have posted this somewhere else, but I ran across it tonight

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Video-Your-daring-Division-III-interception-of?urn=ncaaf-273482

It first surfaced as part of our Play of the Week, in fact.

[formerd3db]

D306 and sflzman:
Good points/analysis. 

D306, good to have you back posting.  I recall you mentioned you were moving from the area/region (state) due to some personal family aspects.  I hope you are doing well and that things are okay.  Your contributions here are missed, so if you have the time on occasion, don't be a stranger here on this board, even if you feel you aren't as "close or knowledable" of the teams due to the "long distance".  Heck, some of us here (myself included) are close to the teams, and as sflzman astutely says, even we can't figure them out!   I will be the first to admit that (i.e. I joint sflzman in that regard) Anyway, take care.

[Uncle Rico]

Well the way I read into it, Trine has become a very good program in a very short amount of time - not starting rumors....but there is a lot of money floating around in that school - and have become instant-contenders for the league championship each year. And a threat to go past the first round of the NCAA tourney.

That's what happens when an alumnus named Trine generously makes an eight figure donation, you hire an energetic coaching staff the players and parents relate to, you upgrade all the facilities with the $ noted above, and you offer a respected university curriculum.