FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ThunderHead]

Raider - so you're kind of a transplant MIAA guy too uh? LOL, it's all good. I am a B1G fan through and through, and do pull for both the Spartans and the Buckeyes. But I love the Badgers too. I think the B1G is always a lot of fun to follow every year, top to bottom, anyone can beat anyone. The addition of Nebraska will only make things more fun, and if I'm not at a Trine game, I'm heading to a B1G game.

Adidias28 and Diezel1, it's great to see you guys posting. I agree with your posts and maybe Hope is better this year then I give them credit for. I know that the coaching change at Olivet really seemed to throw the program into disarray but maybe this year they improve as some of that staff's recruits come in. Then again, maybe not. 0-10 isn't out of the question based on last season, no signs of life with that offense.

As far as knocking Trine off the top, I think that game at Albion at the end of the season will be a big deal. If both teams come in to that game injury free I think it could be a dog fight, with first place maybe on the line, or at least a tie for first place. Even though it's at Albion, I give the edge to Trine, like you say, to be the best you have to beat the best, regardless I imagine that dates circled over in Albion.

I don't see the LaGrange game as being all that scary, it's my understanding that the trip will be a two day deal, with the team leaving on Thursday as opposed to Friday, and LaGrange didn't impress at all last season when they were here. Now obviously they could play much better at home, but I still think Trine wins be a few scores.

Go Trine!!!

[formerd3db]

You guys are all very kind - thanks Raider68, ThundeHead, Mr. Ypsi, and Pat.  As Pat mentioned, at times I don't get the opportunity to post for periods, however, I'm never that far away.  I try to keep updated on our board (and sometimes the others).  I was out-of-town on a business requirement last week, so I see that I've missed some great discussions (believe it or not, I usually don't take my laptop with me nor sometimes either have access to or take the time to get to one when I'm away - by choice I guess just for that reason i.e to get away from that other "day job stuff", although I do then, miss out on these boards.   Anywway, as most of you know, Pat has created this network (over 11-12 years ago at least - I am not sure and Pat can clarify that for us), which has been a great service (and a fun one) for all of us.  Frankly, I am not quite sure how he has the time to do it, although I guess he is like the rest of us juggling our shared interest in this along with family and business responsibilities and other hobbies, etc., etc.  Just look how huge and expanded his organization is now after these years - and the Stagg Bowl "experience"...just simply amazing.  Anyway, I've been a member since 2000 as I recall, however, there have been many other posters who have been around here much longer than I and shared some great discussions (just ask Ralph Turner, Mr. Ypsi and seventiesraider to name a few ). Some of you know my background and connection to the MIAA (I played at Hope "many moons ago" and my brother at Alma - and I have other "history" with those two schools and their great coaches and other staff and administrators and also with the league (and my U of Michigan allegiance and why ) - of which I won't go into and/or bore anyone with).  I will say, however, that one of the great aspects of Pat's site here is the opportunity to share among all of us our love for DIII football and its importance to life beyond the playing field.  It is, IMO, a very important and worthwhile endeavor and one that also allows us to "get away from the responsibilities of our "day jobs" or life's daily grind as I've mentioned.  In addition, I've had the great priviledge of getting to know many of you via these boards and even though some of us have never met in person (yet ), it is like being friends for many years.  Like Mr. Ypsi, I been able to meet some of our fellow posters over the years at some games and that is always an enjoyable experience - and great to be able to finally put faces with posting nicknames! So for what it is worth, thanks Pat for making this possible.

Another great aspect is that, as you all know, we have posters from different boards here (as do some of us contribute at times to other boards), which, again, demonstrates our shared love of DIII and associated interests - including the academic parameters of the various schools.  As far as our MIAA board, we are woefully behind most of the other boards and we'll never catch up.  However, it is so great to see this renewed interest and increased activity in our board.  Just look at all the other names of our regular posters here such as sflzman, sac, D306, OC-_SID_ BOYA87, Diezel and Adidas are always around (Uncle Rico and LIT - hopefully will continue to frequent our board). And., of course, all the others who have shared here and made this a fun venue to participate in - those who have a tangential connection to our league (by that I mean being graduates, former players, former professors - Mr. Ypsi - from other colleges or having current sons playing at an MIAA school) as many of you have shared, and our other friends and former players from other boards such as cave2, SaintsFAN, Johnny Red, DC alum , dc has been, etc. to name a few. Others who have left us for some time (Rome, miaafan, DAWG, bullgogfan, Stinger even WLC alum and WLC83 - where are you guys? )  I don't want to leave anyone out, yet all of the above are those I can immediately think of at the moment - so my apologies if I've left anyone out

And, of course, we have new people who join - Dutchman56 - a belated welcome to our board! Great to have another Hope alum join us other Hope guys!  Nonetheless, it is a great commeraderi.  So thanks guys for that and sharing here.  And thanks again to Pat for making this even possible.

With all that being said, I have some other comments I'd like to share and as this post is long already (as I have a tendency to do as most of you know ), I will post those on a  subsequent one.

[formerd3db]

Regarding early MIAA football predictions, I guess I have to go with Adidas28.  I think he has it about right and considerations as to why (at least for now! ).  I do, however, think that Hope will be much better than we were last year (and for that matter, the previous 2 years prior to then ) and, as some have mentioned, will be a spoiler.  Also, as Diezel mentioned, the MIAA is usually very crazy when it gets down to determining the league title even in many years to the very last week of the season.  

BTW, Adidas28, like your posting name (best brand out there - for now - I'm biased since Hope uses Adidas gear! ).  Also, I think I probably mentioned this to you before, however, if I didn't, glad you are a member of our "Helmet Club", founded by our very knowledgable and astute businessman and friend Raider68!

[formerd3db]

sflzman:

Thanks for the news about Alma's vollyball coach.  Somewhat surprising, although, on the other hand I guess not as having the opportunity to "move on" to acquire further education is always a good thing.  Still, I'm sure it was, in some aspects, a ifficult decision for her, and especially with the success her program has had at Alma.  Anyway, I wish her all the best in her new chapter.  The added bonus is that she will be able to continue coaching as well.  Keep us posted.

Also, thanks for your great contributions to our MIAA and keeping us updated regarding Alma (and other associated aspects).

[sflzman]

b]No defense last year.[/b]

Returning 8/11 starters.....

[sflzman]

sflzman:

Thanks for the news about Alma's vollyball coach.  Somewhat surprising, although, on the other hand I guess not as having the opportunity to "move on" to acquire further education is always a good thing.  Still, I'm sure it was, in some aspects, a ifficult decision for her, and especially with the success her program has had at Alma.  Anyway, I wish her all the best in her new chapter.  The added bonus is that she will be able to continue coaching as well.  Keep us posted.

Also, thanks for your great contributions to our MIAA and keeping us updated regarding Alma (and other associated aspects).

The other thing I was told about this is that her schooling will be completely payed for, and she gets to be an assistant coach - if you're her there's no way you could turn an offer like that down....

[ThunderHead]

Well FormerD3er, I'm very glad you're back and posting.

And now it's on us, the "around 100" time frame . (the countdown to fall camp)

And thus begins the "slow" period of summer, the lazy days full of BBQ, predictions, and off season workouts. I'll do my best to keep this board hoping over the summer, I hope you all will join in.

Go Trine!!!

[formerd3db]

Thank you ThunderHead. Indeed, hopefully some time for everyone to relax a little and enjoy the summer.  For sure, about mid-July, we'll all be feeling that adrenalin and anticipation for the start of pre-season camps.

Also, sflzman...absolutely agree with you - if that is the deal she was offered, it is a "no brainer".   BTW, I also where Alma named its new basketball coach.  As noted in the press release, he started coaching at Alma (I remember that, although had forgotten that he had played at Calvin).  Hopefully, he can get the Alma BB fortunes going.  Goffnet did a comendable job as interim this year - obviously, he is a very good coach as we all know from his Alma women's head coaching job and the DIII National Championship year they had back in 1992.

Have a great weekend everyone. 

[sac]

A few pages back there were a couple comments about Michigan and Michigan State recruiting within Michigan.

Here's  two part series from my favorite Michigan blogger about the in-state fights from Michigan's side of things.

Part 1
http://mgoblog.com/content/brief-history-instate-recruiting-late-carr-era

Part 2
http://mgoblog.com/content/brief-history-instate-recruiting-rodriguez-and-now#comments

I'll let the readers draw their own conclusions, but  I think the evidence within suggests exactly how I've felt about the so called in-state dominance of one particular school.

[ThunderHead]

Really SAC?

I mean, I can find articles that counter those points written from an MSU perspective. You're going to have to do better then throwing up reviews by people with Blue goggles on.

Again - I don't care about the "stars" these writers give out. I'm more interested in how the recruits translate on the field. EI = MSU 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPS. scUM = not so much. It's pretty clear to me who's winning the battles. 3-0

Go Trine!!!

I did find a pic for you thought 

[sac]

I think the point was more that UM and MSU aren't exactly going directly head-to-head for players, and when they have Michigan has won those battles more frequently.   Even in the one year MSU definitively had the upper hand in this State they were even head-to-head.  THAT is contradictory to the "MSU is dominating in-state recruiting theories".

Both schools have done a very good job outside the state, but both have lost a lot of good football players from Michigan who chose to go elsewhere.   Ingrahm, Barksdale, Ronald Johnson----Bama, LSU and USC, all 3 drafted in the NFL.

The difference between the programs seems to be the players that have come from out-of-state.

3-0 has much more to do with complete and utter defensive coaching incompetence from one of these schools than any big difference in talent.

[ThunderHead]

I think the point was more that UM and MSU aren't exactly going directly head-to-head for players, and when they have Michigan has won those battles more frequently.   Even in the one year MSU definitively had the upper hand in this State they were even head-to-head.  THAT is contradictory to the "MSU is dominating in-state recruiting theories".

Both schools have done a very good job outside the state, but both have lost a lot of good football players from Michigan who chose to go elsewhere.   Ingrahm, Barksdale, Ronald Johnson----Bama, LSU and USC, all 3 drafted in the NFL.

The difference between the programs seems to be the players that have come from out-of-state.

3-0 has much more to do with complete and utter defensive coaching incompetence from one of these schools than any big difference in talent.

Really SAC - this is a disappointing opinion. I don't think that I saw anyone aside from Robinson that would have started on the MSU offense this season. And even then, Robinson would have to be a back or used in the slot.

scUM wasn't close talent wise to MSU on the offensive side of the ball, player for player, MSU was better at almost ALL 22 spots, plus special teams.

Go Trine !!!!

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[adidas28]

Regarding early MIAA football predictions, I guess I have to go with Adidas28.  I think he has it about right and considerations as to why (at least for now! ).  I do, however, think that Hope will be much better than we were last year (and for that matter, the previous 2 years prior to then ) and, as some have mentioned, will be a spoiler.  Also, as Diezel mentioned, the MIAA is usually very crazy when it gets down to determining the league title even in many years to the very last week of the season.  

BTW, Adidas28, like your posting name (best brand out there - for now - I'm biased since Hope uses Adidas gear! ).  Also, I think I probably mentioned this to you before, however, if I didn't, glad you are a member of our "Helmet Club", founded by our very knowledgable and astute businessman and friend Raider68!

Sorry formerd3db, I have to admit I am a Nike guy. My name came from Tri-State (seems so weird to say that now) wearing Adidas my sons freshman year, and him wearing the #28. The Michigan switch to Adidas gear has helped also as I am not only Thunder Blue, but also Maize and Blue - sorry Thunderhead.

[sflzman]

Thank you ThunderHead. Indeed, hopefully some time for everyone to relax a little and enjoy the summer.  For sure, about mid-July, we'll all be feeling that adrenalin and anticipation for the start of pre-season camps.

Also, sflzman...absolutely agree with you - if that is the deal she was offered, it is a "no brainer".   BTW, I also where Alma named its new basketball coach.  As noted in the press release, he started coaching at Alma (I remember that, although had forgotten that he had played at Calvin).  Hopefully, he can get the Alma BB fortunes going.  Goffnet did a comendable job as interim this year - obviously, he is a very good coach as we all know from his Alma women's head coaching job and the DIII National Championship year they had back in 1992.

Have a great weekend everyone. 

"Coach G" was and is a great coach. He will stay along next season as an assistant. Although he is a great coach, and still has the passion to coach, he no longer has the desire to recruit and spend the hours.

[sflzman]

Also, this is a very strict rumor:

I had heard this past weekend that Coach Jim Cole is starting to wind down in his coaching years, and has not been real motivated to do a lot this past year....the word is he may be down to his last year as a coach....

But again, this is a rumor....