FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[OC_SID]

They're starting to lay the turf at Albion: http://albion.edu/sports/facility-upgrades-webcam

[TUAngola]

Hi everyone.  First time poster here.  Stumbled across the D3 boards last fall and have been reading posts off and on throughout Trine's season and playoff run and figured it was time to register an account here.  I am an Angola resident for 8 years and have been going to Trine's home games, when I can, for about 3 or 4 years now.  All you fans of the other MIAA teams are going to think "geez...just what we need, another Trine guy...ugh".    I love college football, watch Big 10 games, and am a long suffering IU fan.  Still waiting for IU to get their program turned around and hope Coach Wilson is the man to do it. 

Enjoyed the season last year, loved the effort put in by the guys, and you can tell Coach Land is very well respected by his players.  Of course Eric Watt just had a phenomenal year.  Such a great kid both on and off the football field.  The new stadium is a huge plus!  Before it just seemed like a high school field, and now with the new stadium it was definitely an upgrade that needed to be made to take the program to the next level.  I love the fact that Trine has added a music program to their curriculum and has a marching band.   Just adds that much more to the game day experience.

I feel that going forward into this season that Trine will be fine offensively.  Obviously replacing Watt will be key.  Even though Hargraves did a good job backing up Watt last season, I am looking foward to the new faces coming in.  Should be a lot of competion in fall camp for the QB position.  The skill positons will be solid.  Does anyone know if Mario Brown is returning?  He was lost for the year to a preseason injury last year and was a key receiver from the year before.  Hatch returns at receiver and Biller and Ayers return as the running backs.  Wyman at tight end was a big target for Watt so hope we have a good replacement there.  The O-Line loses a couple starters but the backups received a lot of playing time last season and should slide right in.

Now defensively I beleive is where we have a lot of question marks, especially at D-line.  We lost 4 seniors in that D-line rotation who were all solid last year.  How do you other Trine posters feel about the depth there?  This is a big conern.  Linebackers will be ok, we lose Vance and Killingbeck but there was a lot of depth developed there last year.  Our best D-back is gone from last year in safety Aaron Selking.  Outside of Watt he was easily our most valuable player.  Pound for pound I've never seen a tougher player and he could really lay the wood for a 170lb guy!  Plus he was a terrific punt return guy too.  Replacing our PK will be huge.  Howard had a fine career and always had deep kickoffs.  I remember a game from last year where Howard was out for a half because he had an exam and the backup was really awful!  Hope we have some freshmen who can compete for that position.

Well that's my preseason synapsys of TU football.  Love reading posts from you guys who have inside information to the program.  Go Trine!

[cave2bens]

Welcome aboard, and nice to have someone who understands island parties at Clear Lake and Bledsoe's Beach (maybe not from the '60s  )!

signed,

former Bryan native 

[Raider 68]

Welcome TUAngola,

Hope you enjoy the posters and making a contribution! +k

[emma17]

Boya- I am a UWW guy/alum but a D III fan. I've seen quite a few teams over the years and like most people, I take a liking to some more than others. For me Trine is an easy team to like and pull for- heck, even their uniforms are cool.  I'll support Trine until a rematch w the Warhawks or North Central (close to home).

Welcome TuAngola

[sac]

looks like they're almost half done with laying the turf at Albion.....

http://albion.edu/sports/facility-upgrades-webcam

[BOYA87]

Welcome TUAngola! 

Yes Mario Brown will be back next year.  I've seen him getting after it in the weightroom so far this summer and hes putting in some hard work already.  Dont forget Cody Nash-Kniffen also back at receiver and De Vonte Hence back at the slot/running back position.

[TUAngola]

Thanks for the warm welcome fellow posters.  Now if i can only figure out how you guys get your avatars I will be all set...sorta.

cave2bens...I grew up on a farm a couple miles south of Clear Lake, so yes I know the Island.  Used to ride my bike to the public beach when I was a kid.  It was a great place to swim after those long hay baling days.  But unfortunately erosion has left little beach over the years.  I know some improvements are being made to the beach which is much needed.  The view from the top of the public beach hill looking down across the lake is awesome and a great place to watch sunsets.  And yes I am old enough to have played at Bledsoe's Beach back in its heyday.

BOYA87...yes I mistook JaVonte Hence's name when I said "Hatch" in my prior post.  He is a great weapon on offense, can pick up yards on the ground and receiving.  Good to hear Brown will be back.  Just think if he would have played last year...there definitely would not have been enough footballs to go around to everyone! So will Nash-Kniffen be our deep threat now that Curtis has graduated or will Brown fill that role?  There were other receivers who gained game experience too as most of TU's starters were on the bench by the end of the 3Q in most of their games last year. 

[emma17]

Do you feel Pence will get/take a shot at one of the next levels?  I thought he was a heck of a player and it seems he has the speed.

[sflzman]

Thanks for the warm welcome fellow posters.  Now if i can only figure out how you guys get your avatars I will be all set...sorta.

I'm sure you'd like a Trine helmet. Click PROFILE on the top of the page, then FORUM PROFILE INFORMATION then you can paste this link in and save:

http://www.alma.edu/repository/athletics/live_stats/TrineFootball.GIF

or a logo: http://www.alma.edu/repository/athletics/live_stats/TrineThunder.GIF

[TUAngola]

I'm sure you'd like a Trine helmet. Click PROFILE on the top of the page, then FORUM PROFILE INFORMATION then you can paste this link in and save:

Thanks sflzman for the link...that was mighty kind of you.  Now I have my "T" on!

[BOYA87]

I think Hence is a great athlete with all the skill in the world.  Could have been a circumstance of not having the size to get the big DI looks coming out of HS.  Hence is going into his JR year though and we gotta remember these kids are here for an education.  I cant imagine he would want to leave to try and find bigger (but maybe not better) opportunities.

[TUAngola]

I haven't heard, did Eric Watt receive any interest at all at playing football beyond college?  I thought he had a terrific skill set and physical attributes to maybe get a look somewhere.  Or did he accept a job offer or maybe go back to school to get a masters or advanced degree?  Those that may know I would be curious to find out what he is doing these days. 

[ThunderHead]

I don't know what Eric did, I heard through the non-Trine grapevine that he wasn't spectacular at combine workouts and was really light weight wise.

Either way the kids a winner, I hope he does well where ever he goes.

Go Trine!!!

ps - welcome to the board TUAngola

[emma17]

Boya- if you were replying to me I was asking about Curtis Pence (I believe that is his name)- is he trying out at any of the next levels?