FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

Something I just wanted to pass along-- for the first time in the history of WLC's football program, the Warriors finish above .500, going 6-4 on the year. 

WLCALUM83:
Congratulations on WLC's winning season.  That is great! Except for beating us (Hope)

[Mr. Ypsi]

Something I just wanted to pass along-- for the first time in the history of WLC's football program, the Warriors finish above .500, going 6-4 on the year. 

WLCALUM83:
Congratulations on WLC's winning season.  That is great! Except for beating us (Hope)

Now former, play fair!  If they had NOT beaten Hope, they would NOT have had a winning season!

[adidas28]

Former3 - I belive the Trine/Albion game attendance was probably close to 5000 also. I'm sure the rain holding off helped tremendously. Albion fan attendance was great. Hopefully the weather is decent next Saturday also. 12000 at DePauw/Wabash game is huge!   

[formerd3db]

Something I just wanted to pass along-- for the first time in the history of WLC's football program, the Warriors finish above .500, going 6-4 on the year. 

WLCALUM83:
Congratulations on WLC's winning season.  That is great! Except for beating us (Hope)

Now former, play fair!  If they had NOT beaten Hope, they would NOT have had a winning season!

Yes, that is true, Mr. Ypsi!  I guess I inadvertently overlooked that!

[formerd3db]

Former3 - I belive the Trine/Albion game attendance was probably close to 5000 also. I'm sure the rain holding off helped tremendously. Albion fan attendance was great. Hopefully the weather is decent next Saturday also. 12000 at DePauw/Wabash game is huge!  

Oops!  I did not mean to overlook that either.  In fact, that is one of the games I was referring to when I mentioned the nearly 5,000.  I just forgot to type in "Trine/Albion" and I guess it is just because I am "too close" to it i.e. it being our own MIAA!  Anyway, I'm sure that was a fantastic site to see the new stadium packed at Trine, especially since it was for the league title as well as an undefeated season for Trine.  Good luck to your team this Saturday.  I really think it will be a good game and, of course, I'm rooting for Trine in representing our MIAA.

[Pat Coleman]

Where did I say that Manchester was high end?    I think you are reading too much in to my post.

Point was that I don't think Manchester was viewed as a cellar dweller. Never claimed they were a strong opponent, but not a "terrible" one either.

Yes, I "cherry picked" the most recent season for Lagrange, being 9-2.  Didn't make me "feel better," but probably did make me feel more accurate to look at a teams more recent performance than what they did 3-4 years ago.

My whole point was that I don't think the schedulers thought the SOS was going to be as bad as it turned out to be based on past history.  

What I said was, if the high end of Manchester, the ceiling, the best you could expect, was .500 in the HCAC, you're not getting much. Instead Trine got the low end of Manchester.

Uncle Rico is right Pat, you were ripping on Trine, your signature says let's discuss in a positive way but that's not really what you mean is it? You are back tracking after Rico called you on it. I say spot the ball, Trine will play anybody, anywhere. Trine doesn't need your approval for their schedule. They have come a long ways in a very short time and if this staff stays in place they will keep the ball rolling.

Go Thunder!!

Pat also is stuck on Franklin being an 8 seed even so far as putting them the eighth in the west.  Somehow an 8-2 Wabash team gets a better road then Franklin.  BTW Franklin actually attempts to schedule decent non conference opponents.  Carthage this year, Trine the last 3-4 years, Wabash twice in the last 4 seasons, 1AA FCS teams, etc.  If you are not from the OAC, WIAC, or CCIW you dont get much love.  We shall see at 3:30

GRIZ: They were a 7 in my last projection, not an 8. St. Norbert was the 8 in that mock bracket.

[BoredatWork56]

A few thoughts about the hot topic in all of DIII football today. And I know it's a little long, but there is some good stuff in here - I promise 

Trine falls victim to the dreaded weak SOS and gets a 6 seed, even though i think it is a good draw.  I happened to stumble across the DePauw - Wabash on TV Saturday (I was shocked to find it, and if i knew they were going to be the next opponent, I would have paid more attention  )  DePauw didn't look good at all, and Wabash laid out the perfect game plan to beat the Tigers.  All Trine needs to do is watch the film and take notes.

Even though this is probably the best Trine team they have had over this three year run, they have a terrible strength of schedule.  If you take out all of the MIAA in-conference games (which, of course, will result in .500 win percentage) the MIAA as a whole had a .285 winning percentage, and taking out Trine's 4-0, the rest of the conference was a combined 4-20 for a .167 winning percentage.  No matter how good Trine has looked, the football gurus will fall back on those numbers.

However, Trine is one of three teams in the whole country that are in the top ten in both scoring offense and scoring defense* (2nd and 7th respectively). The other two teams are Franklin (1st and 8th) and UW-Whitewater (6th and 4th).  And that is impressive, no matter who you have played.  *(as of week 9 stats - NCAA hasn't updated to week 10 yet)

Compared to the last two playoff appearances, they are missing that statement game to boost their season.  In 2008, they had a sos of .455 with wins over 9-1 Franklin and 8-2 Adrian earning them a 2 seed.  In 2009, they had a sos of .422 with a loss to 7-3 Franklin and a win over 6-4 Adrian earning them a 5 seed.  This year they have a sos of .408 with a win over 5-5 Adrian and 5-5 Albion.

With all that being said, I think they are better than a 6 seed.  I think the strength of schedule debate for the entire bracket lead to some head-scratchers.  But I also think Trine got a gift going to a very beatable team.  Watching the Wabash D, it reminded me a lot of the way the Trine D plays.  Should be a very very interesting game.

[BoredatWork56]

Former3 - I belive the Trine/Albion game attendance was probably close to 5000 also. I'm sure the rain holding off helped tremendously. Albion fan attendance was great. Hopefully the weather is decent next Saturday also. 12000 at DePauw/Wabash game is huge!   

Oops!  I did not mean to overlook that either.  In fact, that is one of the games I was referring to when I mentioned the nearly 5,000.  I just forgot to type in "Trine/Albion" and I guess it is just because I am "too close" to it i.e. it being our own MIAA!  Anyway, I'm sure that was a fantastic site to see the new stadium packed at Trine, especially since it was for the league title as well as an undefeated season for Trine.  Good luck to your team this Saturday.  I really think it will be a good game and, of course, I'm rooting for Trine in representing our MIAA.

The official attendance for the Trine-Albion game was 4,853.  Trine has topped 5,000 twice this year with 5,187 opening night vs. Manchester and 5,524 for homecoming vs. LaGrange

[BoredatWork56]

One last thing:  A big congrats to Trine safety Aaron Selking.  He had a huge game with 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.  The 3 interceptions ties a school record, and I couldn't verify it, but I am going out on a limb and saying the 6 turnovers is a school record.  If someone else can find it, I am curious if that is any kind of conference record.

[section7]

Good Morning all -

Attended a very entertaining and well played Zeeland East vs East Grand Rapids football game on Saturday.

Many players who I would expect over the coming years will be playing at the college level.

The most interested thing of note, however, had to do with the EGR sidelines.

I sat on the EGR side of the stadium and talked and heard from "several" supporters who are very concerned that Peter Stuursma will not be wearing the blue and gold next year, but the blue and orange.

Let's "HOPE" they are right!

[Uncle Rico]

One last thing:  A big congrats to Trine safety Aaron Selking.  He had a huge game with 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.  The 3 interceptions ties a school record, and I couldn't verify it, but I am going out on a limb and saying the 6 turnovers is a school record.  If someone else can find it, I am curious if that is any kind of conference record.

Both Eric Watt and Aaron Selking were named MIAA Players of the Week....

[BOYA87]

I've had to do a lot of catching up on my reading of all the topics/discussions/arguments going on the boards for the last couple days!  Now all is said and done though and theres nothing left to do but play football!  Yes I think that Trine deserved a home game with its recent history of success, number of returning startes, AND another 10-0 season but I can guarantee you that this Trine team is going into this game with a chip on their shoulder and ready more than ever to show the nation that it can go toe to toe with any team!  I cant wait for Saturday

But througout all of the arguments about SOS and how "horrible" the MIAA lets not forget that all of these athletes are out here working hard, playing hard, and studying hard!  I hope that nothing that as been said has hurt or degraded any of these student athletes that have put in so much of their lives to a sport they love!  Lets not forget that this is DIII football and I know for a fact that the student athletes in these MIAA programs are first and foremost great people.  I was a part of an 0-10 and a 10-0 team an to be honest...it was still football!  I loved it either way!  So congratulations to all of the MIAA student athletes on another great season of playing the sport that you love!  Your efforts and commitment are appreciated by your families, school, alumni, and the DIII community!

[wally_wabash]

A little outsider info...DePauw is certainly NOT as awful as they looked in sparkling high definition on Saturday.  What happened Saturday was the product of DPU probably not quite being ready mentally for this installment of the Monon Bell Classic and an ultra-determined Wabash team that wasn't going to let their season end on a sour note.  DPU had trouble getting going, Wabash scored early and increased the pressure...and the whole thing snowballed out of control for DPU. 

They have a senior-laden team that will probably be playing with a little more urgency this Saturday if they can shake off the epic beating they just took.  But it is possible...DPU has twice beaten a playoff-bound Wabash team in that game and Wabash twice bounced back to win their first round game. 

This quadrant of the bracket is exceptionally brutal.  If Trine was to be placed in this quadrant (and we knew that they would) and if Trine was to, quite frankly, get jammed out of a home game (they did), there probably isn't a better draw for them than to get a trip to DPU.  There aren't many road favorites in the playoffs, but I think Trine probably ought to be one of them.  Good luck down in Greendingle this weekend, fellas. 

[formerd3db]

BOYA and wally:

Class statements and quotes both of you.  +k for both (although I gave you one earllier wally on another board post, so I'll have to wait the required 24 hour time period )  I agree with you both - as I mentioned earlier, certainly DePauw will be no pushover, especially at home.  However, as you both stated, both teams have intense reasons for being with high adrenalin and motivation for winning and proving a point.  I think it will be a close game - unless someone gets lucky and makes a blowout early like the Monon Bell two days ago as wally mentioned.   

[DBQ1965]

Good Morning all -

Attended a very entertaining and well played Zeeland East vs East Grand Rapids football game on Saturday.

Many players who I would expect over the coming years will be playing at the college level.

The most interested thing of note, however, had to do with the EGR sidelines.

I sat on the EGR side of the stadium and talked and heard from "several" supporters who are very concerned that Peter Stuursma will not be wearing the blue and gold next year, but the blue and orange.

Let's "HOPE" they are right!

I have wondered if he would make the move back to his alma mater.  They certainly could use him.