FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Raider 68]

How would you rate the MIAA's best stadiums? What schools have made the most improvements and which schools need to?

[formerd3db]

Thank you Raider68:

One aspect I did forget to mention, and just to complete the historical perspective in regards to helmet logos, is that for one year (1977), Hope wore a large round circle helmet decal with that characature WWI Flying Dutchman football player grasping the football and wearing wooden shoes.  I hated that logo!   I think I posted this 3-4 years ago on here (or perhaps even longer before that), however, that year the players were allowed by Head Coach Ray Smith to have a contest to design/choose a new helmet logo to wear.  The 3 "finalist designs" were: the one that I mentioned above; the other two were "variations" of U of Michigan's "wing" - one with a pair of Dutch wooden shoes placed on the front so that the pointed portion of the shoe was in the position of looking like the wing i.e. kind of like the NFL Philadelphia Eagels or the Rice Owl's wing; the other was placing Hope's anchor i.e. a rather large one on the helmet from front to back (and on the top) so that the hooks of the anchor simulated the Michigan wings. .   I think either of the last two would have been a "hoot" to wear, at least for that year and certainly much better than the animated Flying Dutchman - at least it would have been a real conversation piece around the league.  

Going back to your stadium question Raider68.  I can't decide which ones I like best as they all have some great features as I mentioned.  In my post on those, I ranked them the best I could for my own picks, however, as you see, I had a couple of "ties" in the rankings.  I'll be interested to hear what some of the others say and how they rank the MIAA stadiums. 

[Uncle Rico]

From bottom to top...I will not rate Trines because I cannot do it without bias, having been seated on the home side and being able to take advantage of some of the comforts that afforded.

K-Zoo  This is the old one, I am sure the new will rank right up higher.  The visitor stands were scary.  I did like how some of the parking and tailgating was around the end zone.  I remember during one game a car behind the goal posts was hit at least twice by extra points.

Olivet  Seemed like it had no personality.  The visitor stands and field were nice, however.

Albion  I have not seen the new turf.  Just something about the setting that I liked.

Alma  A little more picturesque the way it sits in the campus

Adrian and Hope Tied...I like the bowl type setting.  I like how fans could sit around the field on the grass.  I do think Adrians reserved seating concept in the middle was a bad idea.  I remember one game in which the middle section had quite a few empty seats while both sides around the reserved section where jam packed. 

[sflzman]

R.I.P. Joe Paterno. He passed away this morning from complications of lung cancer treatments 

[formerd3db]

Uncle Rico:
Nice assessment of the stadiums.

sflzman:
Yes, I just saw that also.  A shame.  Obviously, he was worse off than most likely was publically acknowledged the past 3 months since he was diagnosed with the disease.  Although it is a sad chapter on how his career ended this fall, it also sadly appears that he would not have been around for next season anyway due to this disease.  It will be interesting to see how the new board of trustees, president, etc., etc., at Penn State handle their public response to his passing, considering how they handled his dismissal and, for that matter, the entire sad and controversial process there.

BTW, I saw that former Albion College football great Ron Vanderlinden is being retained there as linebacker's coach by Penn State's new head coach.  IMO, that is good - Vanderlinden is a good man and a good coach.

[sflzman]

From bottom to top...I will not rate Trines because I cannot do it without bias, having been seated on the home side and being able to take advantage of some of the comforts that afforded.

K-Zoo  This is the old one, I am sure the new will rank right up higher.  The visitor stands were scary.  I did like how some of the parking and tailgating was around the end zone.  I remember during one game a car behind the goal posts was hit at least twice by extra points.

Olivet  Seemed like it had no personality.  The visitor stands and field were nice, however.

Albion  I have not seen the new turf.  Just something about the setting that I liked.

Alma  A little more picturesque the way it sits in the campus

Adrian and Hope Tied...I like the bowl type setting.  I like how fans could sit around the field on the grass.  I do think Adrians reserved seating concept in the middle was a bad idea.  I remember one game in which the middle section had quite a few empty seats while both sides around the reserved section where jam packed.

I agree with most parts, I haven't been to Hope or Trine though so I can't really judge this one that well...

[NCF]

Uncle Rico:
Nice assessment of the stadiums.

sflzman:
Yes, I just saw that also.  A shame.  Obviously, he was worse off than most likely was publically acknowledged the past 3 months since he was diagnosed with the disease.  Although it is a sad chapter on how his career ended this fall, it also sadly appears that he would not have been around for next season anyway due to this disease.  It will be interesting to see how the new board of trustees, president, etc., etc., at Penn State handle their public response to his passing, considering how they handled his dismissal and, for that matter, the entire sad and controversial process there.

BTW, I saw that former Albion College football great Ron Vanderlinden is being retained there as linebacker's coach by Penn State's new head coach.  IMO, that is good - Vanderlinden is a good man and a good coach.

Hopefully Penn State will publicly do right by the man. Unfortunately, IMHO I think his legacy will forever be tarnished.   On another note,formerd3db, it is too bad that NC will not be playing an MIAA school next season. We hit the West Region for the non-conf part of the schedule.

[Raider 68]

From bottom to top...I will not rate Trines because I cannot do it without bias, having been seated on the home side and being able to take advantage of some of the comforts that afforded.

K-Zoo  This is the old one, I am sure the new will rank right up higher.  The visitor stands were scary.  I did like how some of the parking and tailgating was around the end zone.  I remember during one game a car behind the goal posts was hit at least twice by extra points.

Olivet  Seemed like it had no personality.  The visitor stands and field were nice, however.

Albion  I have not seen the new turf.  Just something about the setting that I liked.

Alma  A little more picturesque the way it sits in the campus

Adrian and Hope Tied...I like the bowl type setting.  I like how fans could sit around the field on the grass.  I do think Adrians reserved seating concept in the middle was a bad idea.  I remember one game in which the middle section had quite a few empty seats while both sides around the reserved section where jam packed. 

Uncle Rico,

Good post. I remember K-zoo's stadium, you needed to make sure your insurance policy was current before you went to a game!

[DBQ1965]

sflzman:
Yes, I just saw that also.  A shame.  Obviously, he was worse off than most likely was publically acknowledged the past 3 months since he was diagnosed with the disease.  Although it is a sad chapter on how his career ended this fall, it also sadly appears that he would not have been around for next season anyway due to this disease.  It will be interesting to see how the new board of trustees, president, etc., etc., at Penn State handle their public response to his passing, considering how they handled his dismissal and, for that matter, the entire sad and controversial process there.

On another note,formerd3db, it is too bad that NC will not be playing an MIAA school next season. We hit the West Region for the non-conf part of the schedule.

One ... after spending 38 years in ministry and tending to any number of terminallly ill parishioners, I can't help but think that Joe Pa's less than enviable ending at PSU might have contributed to his rapid demise.  We don't know how serious his case of lung cancer was, but I have seen a surprising number of folk battle through overwhelming odds to continue on longer than anyone expected.  Perhaps Joe Pa's firing ... given all the circumstances ... simply took the fight out of him.

Secondly ... congrats to the Cardinals on getting Redlands to venture away from the security of the west coast.  That might be worth a drive into Naperville just to see that game.

[NCF]

sflzman:
Yes, I just saw that also.  A shame.  Obviously, he was worse off than most likely was publically acknowledged the past 3 months since he was diagnosed with the disease.  Although it is a sad chapter on how his career ended this fall, it also sadly appears that he would not have been around for next season anyway due to this disease.  It will be interesting to see how the new board of trustees, president, etc., etc., at Penn State handle their public response to his passing, considering how they handled his dismissal and, for that matter, the entire sad and controversial process there.

On another note,formerd3db, it is too bad that NC will not be playing an MIAA school next season. We hit the West Region for the non-conf part of the schedule.

One ... after spending 38 years in ministry and tending to any number of terminallly ill parishioners, I can't help but think that Joe Pa's less than enviable ending at PSU might have contributed to his rapid demise.  We don't know how serious his case of lung cancer was, but I have seen a surprising number of folk battle through overwhelming odds to continue on longer than anyone expected.  Perhaps Joe Pa's firing ... given all the circumstances ... simply took the fight out of him.

Secondly ... congrats to the Cardinals on getting Redlands to venture away from the security of the west coast.  That might be worth a drive into Naperville just to see that game.

I would agree with you on how quickly Joe Paterno went, but Penn State was his life and it is sad that what should have been a glorious send off to end the way it did. I would imagine that not being at State College was just too much for him to handle.   Secondly, hope you make it out to the Redlands game-should be a good one.

[ACMIAAD3]

I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Psconda this past weekend, what a great conversation. I think we are going to see good things at Alma with him at the helm. He definitely has a plan and I for one can not wait to see how it pans out. (staying positive). He is very knowledgeable and I have it on good authority by a former player of his, who I coach with, that he is a hardnosed coach who will get the most out of his players. Good Luck Coach and let the fun begin.

[AlmaFan27]

I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Psconda this past weekend, what a great conversation. I think we are going to see good things at Alma with him at the helm. He definitely has a plan and I for one can not wait to see how it pans out. (staying positive). He is very knowledgeable and I have it on good authority by a former player of his, who I coach with, that he is a hardnosed coach who will get the most out of his players. Good Luck Coach and let the fun begin.

Any hints on what he might be thinking for an offensive coordinator or any other existing staff changes?

[ACMIAAD3]

Nothing official yet but i believe that everyone listed as assistants on the Alma Football page is coming back in some form or other...What I was told is he is going to hire the best Coordinator out there and go from there. I guess we will have to wait and see but I loved his passion and desire to win.

[Uncle Rico]

I heard that on the way to Alma, Coach Psconda rescued a family from a burning building, helped a little old lady cross the street, and single-handedly rebuilt the leaky roof on the orphanage!   

I hope that everyone takes that comment as the joke it was meant to be!   

It sounds like exciting times for Alma.  A good coach coming in to the MIAA and the fan base excited for the future.  What more could you ask for?  Congrats to the Alma faithful.  I remember when Coach Land came to Trine, it really revitalized the spirit and it looks like the same can happen at Alma. 

I think K-Zoo got a positive bump a couple of years back with their new coach, and with the new facilities will be even more of a draw.

Hope getting a field make-over.

Don't overlook Olivet.  Although they don't have the number of posters on this forum like some of the other schools, and thus we don't hear as much, Pifer is bringing a good track record and I know his assistants Moose and Gator are good ones.

All this good stuff happening in the MIAA.  How are all these schools going to compete for the talent that is available?  How are the students going to make a decision with so much to choose from?   

All that said, my feeling is that Trine will be the team to beat with their QB having another year under his belt!  Go Thunder!   

[sflzman]

Nothing official yet but i believe that everyone listed as assistants on the Alma Football page is coming back in some form or other...What I was told is he is going to hire the best Coordinator out there and go from there. I guess we will have to wait and see but I loved his passion and desire to win.

I believe I posted this earlier, this is what my sources tell me: everyone who is under contract already will stay, and he will get to hire his own offensive coordinator and one or two assistants.