FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sep. 10    Illinois Wesleyan Univeristy    Alma, MI    

While it is WAY to far off to make any promises, my camper and I may just try to make that game!  Any suggestions on the best place to camp?  (I'd definitely want electricity, but water and sewer hook-ups are entirely optional.)

[sflzman]

FormerD3DB: Yes the original plans did call for a center hung scoreboard, but what had leaked out is that the builders flat out messed up and cut off the ceiling too short - audio systems were also missing in the original building.

The volleyball team not only draws more than our basketball teams, but there are no longer bleachers in Cappaert, it has been converted into a full all-sport practice gym...

There are the WBB National Champions and Regional Champions banners that are for some reason still hanging in Cappaert...it absolutely bewilders me to why...

The lobby and meeting area outside is decorated nicely and there are some sport Past-to-present banners that have enough opacity so you can see the one behind, like there are pictures from 2009 and then behind a black and white pic from 1950ish...

The arena needs all-sport banners above the long sides of the horseshoe design that have conference championships, and miaa school banners in the far end of the horseshoe that feature all 9 teams...

There is also a nice trophy case in the lobby that had the national championship, runner up, and all the final four trophies in it along with a  (itd be a memorial if he had passed - cant think of the name though) for Art Smith (who the arena is named after, and a Josh Brehm (feature maybe should be the word) to go along with a signed helmet and the school's copy of the gagliardi award.

Mr Ypsi: There is a nice There is a nice campground just a few miles SW of town that is near a family swimming area that is a big summer attraction. It has many nice ammenities (aand even a 9 hole mini golf course).

It's linked here: http://www.leisurelakefamilycampground.com/

[sflzman]

Heidelberg game will be tough, and that is a team that is much faster and more athletic than we are.

IWU will be very tough. I'll leave it at that.

Rockford will be an easy win.

Hanover is almost a for-sure no game.

I'm going to have to do some digging and see if I can get some info into that last game...

[Mr. Ypsi]

Mr Ypsi: There is a nice There is a nice campground just a few miles SW of town that is near a family swimming area that is a big summer attraction. It has many nice ammenities (aand even a 9 hole mini golf course).

It's linked here: http://www.leisurelakefamilycampground.com/

Thanks!  Their picture gallery shows NO trees (not a TOTAL deal-breaker, but shade is usually nice in early September!).   From my Michigan atlas I found Just In Time campground east of Ithaca - their pictures seem much more appealing.  Do you know anything about that campground?

[formerd3db]

sflzman:

Thanks for the follow-up info.  For sure, Alma needs to put those banners up as you mention.  BTW, where is the Hall of Fame, the other sports history display cases and the Harburn Tradition of Excellence Scholar-Athlete Awards displayed?  Did they leave all those in the same locations or move them?

Mr. Ypsi:

I normally would be going with the team our opener @ your IWU, however, I know already that I have to work that weekend and can't get it switched.  So if there was a chance  you were going to go, I would have tried to meet you there.  If that changes for me, I'll let you know - plenty of time, I guess.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Mr. Ypsi:

I normally would be going with the team our opener @ your IWU, however, I know already that I have to work that weekend and can't get it switched.  So if there was a chance  you were going to go, I would have tried to meet you there.  If that changes for me, I'll let you know - plenty of time, I guess.

Neither Hope nor IWU has yet posted their schedule, so I was not even aware of the game, but I have attended exactly one-half of one game in Bloomington since 1969, so the odds of me being there are nil!   (The one-half was this fall for my 40th reunion.  As IWU already led NPU 28-0 at the half, I went off to see the women's soccer game.  We decisively won that one too - good day! )

While it is way to early for any promises, I am exploring the possibility of attending the IWU @ Alma game on September 10.

[formerd3db]

Totally understand, Mr. Ypsi.

BTW, here is Hope's 2011 schedule:

Sept 3 Hope @ Illinois Wesleyan  1 PM ET
Sept 10 Wisconsin Lutheran @ Hope 1 PM CT
Sept 17 Millikin @ Hope 1 PM
Sept 24 Hope @ Lakeland, WI 1 PM
Oct 1 Hope @ Alma 1 PM
Oct 8 Kalamazoo @ Hope 1 PM
Oct 15 Albion @ Hope (HOMECOMING) 2 PM
Oct 22 Hope @ Trine 1 PM
Oct 29  bye
Nov 5 Adrian @ Hope 1 PM
Nov 12 Hope @ Olivet 1 PM

[Raider 68]

Totally understand, Mr. Ypsi.

BTW, here is Hope's 2011 schedule:

Sept 3 Hope @ Illinois Wesleyan  1 PM ET
Sept 10 Wisconsin Lutheran @ Hope 1 PM CT
Sept 17 Millikin @ Hope 1 PM
Sept 24 Hope @ Lakeland, WI 1 PM
Oct 1 Hope @ Alma 1 PM
Oct 8 Kalamazoo @ Hope 1 PM
Oct 15 Albion @ Hope (HOMECOMING) 2 PM
Oct 22 Hope @ Trine 1 PM
Oct 29  bye
Nov 5 Adrian @ Hope 1 PM
Nov 12 Hope @ Olivet 1 PM

formerd3db,

Hope has some early non-conference challenges. IWU away and Millikin at home!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Millikin is not nearly the challenge they used to be.  For several decades the CCIW had a big four - little four (with Millikin, IWU, Wheaton and Augie in the top group).  NCC has obviously smashed that all to bits, while Millikin has recently battled Elmhurst for 6th or 7th (their unofficial motto is 'thank God for North Park!' ).

Don't get me wrong - that will still be a challenge for Hope.  Millikin can still be feisty!  In 2009, they gave IWU their only loss of the season right up to the destruction by UWW in the second round of the playoffs.  (NCC and Wheaton were, at full strength, almost certainly better than IWU that year, but we had the great good fortune of meeting them each when they were decimated by injuries.)  That Millikin game still sticks in my craw - the Titans completely dominated the game statistically (2 to 1 and 3 to 1 margins in yards, first downs, TOP, etc.), but somehow lost 19-13.

[Raider 68]

Millikin is not nearly the challenge they used to be.  For several decades the CCIW had a big four - little four (with Millikin, IWU, Wheaton and Augie in the top group).  NCC has obviously smashed that all to bits, while Millikin has recently battled Elmhurst for 6th or 7th (their unofficial motto is 'thank God for North Park!' ).

Don't get me wrong - that will still be a challenge for Hope.  Millikin can still be feisty!  In 2009, they gave IWU their only loss of the season right up to the destruction by UWW in the second round of the playoffs.  (NCC and Wheaton were, at full strength, almost certainly better than IWU that year, but we had the great good fortune of meeting them each when they were decimated by injuries.)  That Millikin game still sticks in my craw - the Titans completely dominated the game statistically (2 to 1 and 3 to 1 margins in yards, first downs, TOP, etc.), but somehow lost 19-13.

Mr Ypsi,

Adrian plays Augustana this fall. With a new coach what do you expect from them and how do they rank in the CCIW?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Millikin is not nearly the challenge they used to be.  For several decades the CCIW had a big four - little four (with Millikin, IWU, Wheaton and Augie in the top group).  NCC has obviously smashed that all to bits, while Millikin has recently battled Elmhurst for 6th or 7th (their unofficial motto is 'thank God for North Park!' ).

Don't get me wrong - that will still be a challenge for Hope.  Millikin can still be feisty!  In 2009, they gave IWU their only loss of the season right up to the destruction by UWW in the second round of the playoffs.  (NCC and Wheaton were, at full strength, almost certainly better than IWU that year, but we had the great good fortune of meeting them each when they were decimated by injuries.)  That Millikin game still sticks in my craw - the Titans completely dominated the game statistically (2 to 1 and 3 to 1 margins in yards, first downs, TOP, etc.), but somehow lost 19-13.

Mr Ypsi,

Adrian plays Augustana this fall. With a new coach what do you expect from them and how do they rank in the CCIW?

Sorry, I can't really help you much on that one (except that I'd expect Augie to win fairly easily).  There are several regular Augie posters on the CCIW board who might be more help.

[sflzman]

Talked to Mr Leister today...

The Hanover will not take place, and currently there is only 9 games on the schedule...

Hanover did not want to play us and backed out of the home-and-home contract before last season

[formerd3db]

sflzman:

Did Coach/AD Liester give any reason why Hanover backed out of the scheduled series?  If he didn't, I certainly understand as those aspects sometimes are best left confidential between the administrative parties; nonetheless, I was just curious.  Seems to me, that although Hanover is located at the southern end of Indiana, still, that is not an exessive long-distance trip. 

Anyway, hopefully, Alma will be able to replace them with another opponent.  Keep us posted and, of course, we'll keep periodically checking the Alma athletic website for that. Thanks for the update.

[cave2bens]

Seems to me, that although Hanover is located at the southern end of Indiana, still, that is not an exessive long-distance trip. 

Not sure, d3db, but recollection was about 7hrs between Madison, IN and Mt. Pleasant (story attached to that bit of trivia for another time and place  ) - 8 (or 8.5 if not for "sloppy Toms") with a fowl, obligatory stop at Turkeyville, enroute. 

[sflzman]

sflzman:

Did Coach/AD Liester give any reason why Hanover backed out of the scheduled series?  If he didn't, I certainly understand as those aspects sometimes are best left confidential between the administrative parties; nonetheless, I was just curious.  Seems to me, that although Hanover is located at the southern end of Indiana, still, that is not an exessive long-distance trip. 

Anyway, hopefully, Alma will be able to replace them with another opponent.  Keep us posted and, of course, we'll keep periodically checking the Alma athletic website for that. Thanks for the update.

He didn't tell me a reason other than flat-out they didn't want to play us...

Hanover to Alma is only 6.5 hours

We go to River Falls in 11.5,
Or IWU in 6.5

Either way, he says they're looking right now, in region, i.e. minnesota wisconsin illinois indiana ohio (maybe kentucky, iowa) and now with most schedules being full you have to look at d2 too, like our trip to kentucky last year.