FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[NCF]

Good weekend to be a Michigander!

Tigers go 2-0 in Gotham; the way the starters are pitching (era of 0.9375 in seven games!), I doubt this series makes it back to Yankee Stadium. (Even Valverde can't muck that up, can he?)

Lions pull it out in OT despite SIXTEEN penalties.

My grown-up team (MIchigan) eviscerates my childhood team (Illinois).

EMU puts a helluva scare in Toledo, and finds a running back.

And MSU loses.  (Actually, I wanted them to win; this takes some luster off Michigan's win next week!)

(And, on a personal note, IWU wins by essentially the same score as Michigan - Carthage got a meaningless TD with 15 seconds left to make it 'only' 45-7, instead of 45-0.)

You got that broom ready?

[sflzman]

Since it's kind of quiet here I guess I'll throw out that Alma's high school soccer team (who is coming off of a regional finals appearance last year) won last night in district semi's in PK's....the significance is that they had a freshman score with 21.8 seconds left in regulation to tie it and force overtime!!!  That's an incredible way to keep your season alive!

[Raider 68]

formerd3db,

Good win for Hope today!

[sac]

105.  Adrian
110.  Albion
113.  Trine
163.  Kalamazoo
177.  Hope
220.  Alma
237.  Olivet

This week's massey

103.  Adrian
106.  Albion
113.  Trine
157.  Hope
172.  Kalamazoo
215.  Alma
233.  Olivet


Hope and Kzoo flip this week after Hope's big win.  Otherwise nothing that should surprise anyone....or make them overly excited.

Saturday, October 27
Albion at Olivet, 1 p.m.
Trine at Hope, 1 p.m.|
Kalamazoo at Adrian, 6 p.m.

Albion and Adrian with games they should win before their big showdown next weekend.  Trine's path to a potential share of the MIAA runs into Hope this weekend, get by that one and they should cruise to wins over Alma and Olivet and finish 5-1.

Probability of victory.
Albion 100%
Trine 68%
Adrian 90%

[formerd3db]

Wow, it sure has been quite here on our board (although I have contributed to that as well )  Although obviously "off topic", I just thought I'd mention this, if I may, so please bear with me.  I think the Detroit Tigers are in trouble.  I realize it is only the first game of the World Series, however, they are getting smashed by San Francisco 6-1 with the game in the 7th inning.  Verlander apparently got "blasted".  I've heard comments by many people who have said that they viewed San Francisco's hitting as being generally poor.  However, I tended to think otherwise in view of what they did to St. Louis in those last 3 games of the NLCS and it appears they have continued where they left off just a couple of nights ago.  While the series has just started, nonetheless, after tonight's game, I am not very confident at all for Detroit's chances in winning the title.  If they lose the World Series again, it will obviously be disappointing.

P.S. Raider68, sorry for this delayed reply.  Yes, it was a good win for Hope last Saturday, although obviously disappointing for Kazoo as they have slid downhill after a good start.  Hope has won 3 in a row, however, the last two games will be tough ones - our last home game against Trine, then our "bye" weekend and then the final game against Albion on Nov 10th.  As far as your Mount, I tend to think they are "in the driver's seat" right now as far as The Stagg Bowl, although obviously there is a long way to go as yet.

[sac]

Wow, it sure has been quite here on our board (although I have contributed to that as well )  Although obviously "off topic", I just thought I'd mention this, if I may, so please bear with me.  I think the Detroit Tigers are in trouble.  I realize it is only the first game of the World Series, however, they are getting smashed by San Francisco 6-1 with the game in the 7th inning.  Verlander apparently got "blasted".  I've heard comments by many people who have said that they viewed San Francisco's hitting as being generally poor.  However, I tended to think otherwise in view of what they did to St. Louis in those last 3 games of the NLCS and it appears they have continued where they left off just a couple of nights ago.  While the series has just started, nonetheless, after tonight's game, I am not very confident at all for Detroit's chances in winning the title.  If they lose the World Series again, it will obviously be disappointing.

P.S. Raider68, sorry for this delayed reply.  Yes, it was a good win for Hope last Saturday, although obviously disappointing for Kazoo as they have slid downhill after a good start.  Hope has won 3 in a row, however, the last two games will be tough ones - our last home game against Trine, then our "bye" weekend and then the final game against Albion on Nov 10th.  As far as your Mount, I tend to think they are "in the driver's seat" right now as far as The Stagg Bowl, although obviously there is a long way to go as yet.

Two of Sandoval's home run's are long outs in Comerica, maybe even the third.  The Giants could do no wrong and got every break to be had until Peralta's home run.  It happens in baseball sometimes.

There's a reason they play 7 games.

Now if you want to argue the Tigers are in trouble because they continue to swing anemic bats and their bullpen is mush, then you might have something.

Get 1 in SF, then get back to the pitchers paradise of Comerica and lets see what happens.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Now that this board is no longer being used for football , Thursday's WS game was extremely discouraging.  Bumgarner was totally in the toilet (weak for the last two months; pathetic in the postseason) and the Tigers made him look like Cy Young.  The Tigers get yet another (except for Verlander Wednesday) sterling starter performance by Fister, and totally waste it.  TWO freakin' hits??!!  Heck, his name begins BUM - shouldn't that tell you something??

I'm discouraged, but NOT feeling HOPEless - time for some home-field magic (maybe we can have some 'pop-up' third bases and 'tilted' third-base lines)!  Let's go back to SF with THEM having to win two more in a row - they have to run out of magic sometime?!!

[DBQ1965]

Now that this board is no longer being used for football , Thursday's WS game was extremely discouraging.  Bumgarner was totally in the toilet (weak for the last two months; pathetic in the postseason) and the Tigers made him look like Cy Young.  The Tigers get yet another (except for Verlander Wednesday) sterling starter performance by Fister, and totally waste it.  TWO freakin' hits??!!  Heck, his name begins BUM - shouldn't that tell you something??

I'm discouraged, but NOT feeling HOPEless - time for some home-field magic (maybe we can have some 'pop-up' third bases and 'tilted' third-base lines)!  Let's go back to SF with THEM having to win two more in a row - they have to run out of magic sometime?!!

Mr. Ypsi ... I grew up 90 miles from SF and have been a Giants fan ever since 1958 when they moved west.  Having suffered through some disappointing World Series with them ... I of course have a different perspective on these first two games than Tigers fans do ... and am quite happy with the results thus far.  I saw the Giants-Tigers series in inter-league play in 2011 and the Giants took two out of three at Comerica Park.  I can see the Tigers winning one at home again with the Giants going back to SF with the World Series Trophy after Game 5.  I also know it could go seven games with the Tigers coming out on top.   

Your "tilted third-base line" comment aside ... I think the first two games turned on the third-base bounce in the opener and in last night's game with Fielder having been sent home when he should have been held up at third (great tag by Posey) ... that's a long way for that big guy to run.  At any rate ... I look foward to more exciting baseball in the next few days.

Getting back to football ... are you going to be at the Hope - Trine game tomorrow?  I plan on it.

[sac]

Your "tilted third-base line" comment aside ... I think the first two games turned on the third-base bounce in the opener and in last night's game with Fielder having been sent home when he should have been held up at third (great tag by Posey) ... that's a long way for that big guy to run.  At any rate ... I look foward to more exciting baseball in the next few days.

I saw no problem sending Fielder,  Scutero's throw had to be absolutely perfect, 6 inches to the right or up and Posey can't make that tag.  He was out by 2 inches.

[NCF]

Now that this board is no longer being used for football , Thursday's WS game was extremely discouraging.  Bumgarner was totally in the toilet (weak for the last two months; pathetic in the postseason) and the Tigers made him look like Cy Young.  The Tigers get yet another (except for Verlander Wednesday) sterling starter performance by Fister, and totally waste it.  TWO freakin' hits??!!  Heck, his name begins BUM - shouldn't that tell you something??

I'm discouraged, but NOT feeling HOPEless - time for some home-field magic (maybe we can have some 'pop-up' third bases and 'tilted' third-base lines)!  Let's go back to SF with THEM having to win two more in a row - they have to run out of magic sometime?!!

Maybe, but I think if they win one in Detroit it's going to be tough for the Tigers to come back.  Former, good luck to your Hope team tomorrow and sorry Mr. Y, I can't wish the same to your Titans , my IWU alum brother, however, might cheer once or twice for the wrong team., but he better not be sitting close to me if he does that:)

[Mr. Ypsi]

Your "tilted third-base line" comment aside ... I think the first two games turned on the third-base bounce in the opener and in last night's game with Fielder having been sent home when he should have been held up at third (great tag by Posey) ... that's a long way for that big guy to run.  At any rate ... I look foward to more exciting baseball in the next few days.

I saw no problem sending Fielder,  Scutero's throw had to be absolutely perfect, 6 inches to the right or up and Posey can't make that tag.  He was out by 2 inches.

Or a few inches to the left and they're picking up pieces of Posey!   I have mixed feelings about Lamont's call.  I really like aggressive baseball, but, in retrospect, I'd sure like a chance to see what happens with men on second and third and nobody out!  (It would also have been different if someone taught Prince how to slide - his lead leg was over the plate before the tag, but up in the air. )

Note to DBQ and ncf - no problem with the opposing loyalties; I'd hardly expect you to be rooting for the Tigers and Titans!

[sac]

Albion 21 Olivet 15   yikes!
Trine 45 Hope 28

[formerd3db]

sac (and all):

Yes, "yikes" regarding the Albion game.  I'm not sure what is going on with Albion.  They barely beat Kalamazoo and now Olivet.  With Hope smashing Kalamazoo last weekend and then the rather depressing loss against Trine yesterday, I don't know what to make about the Albion/Hope game in two weeks, other than to say we never play well down there at Albion. 

Speaking of the Hope game yesterday (and perhaps DBQ1965 might add his perspective for us), as I mentioned, it was a very disappointing loss, perhaps the most disappointing of the year.  Hope and Trine traded scores quite freely throughout the first half.  Trine taking a very bold chance with an onsides kick to start the game and with 6-7 minutes into the game and the score already 7-3, I knew it was going to be a potential scoring fest. However, Hope fell apart in the second half.  I think the momentum changer was obviously the horrible wrong call by the officials of the TD that was scored by our QB on the 1 yard line.  While I give Trine credit for a great goal line stand, Hope actually had scored twice i.e. on those last two plays.  He was clearly in the endzone without question -absolutely- and it was simply a very poor performance by the officiating crew. 

Now before anyone accuses me of saying that the officials cost Hope the game, I will make it perfectly clear that I am not saying that.  It was just a momentum changer and Hope did not execute thereafter like they should have.  Again, mistakes are costly as we all know and the Trine 93 yard TD on the fly pass on a 3rd and 4 in their own redzone is inexcusable - DB's simply cannot have a receiver run right by you.  After those plays, Hope's enthusiasm faded away and you could see that they were just going through the motions.

One last comment about the officiating - not a very good crew.  For veteran officials, they did a very poor job.  The Head Referree even at one time wasn't even blowing his whistle to stop plays but rather running to the pile and screaming..."it's over, it's over, it's over"- what's with that?  Some of them were, shall I say combative to staff on the sidelines as well and for no legit reason.  But...I'll stop as this is not "sour grapes", but rather simply an observation.  I thought the officiating had improved a bit last year and the first part of this year after very poor officiating for 4 years prior to that, however, I have now changed my mind.  Officiating is a tough, tough job, however, those who choose to do it need to know the rules and be consistent.  Enough said.

Also, for the Trine fans here, Trine is a much better team than many people have been saying.  Obviously, I have not seen them play earlier this season, however, even though they alternated scores with Hope yesterday in the first half, they steadily eventually manhandled Hope.  They are very fast and their line is huge.  Their #77 was bigger than any of our own linemen alone and #71 was even bigger than #77!  Those guys are DI size linemen and very good.  Anyway, I think that Trine will only continue to improve for next year and will be back as among the main contenders for the MIAA title.

Had Hope won yesterday's game, assuming Albion might beat Adrian next week, that would have meant the championship would be on the line at the Hope/Albion game Nov. 10th - a somewhat strange thought until yesterday evening.  However, it was not to be.  Hope has to regroup now and play for a final win for the seniors, although as I said, now.   

Finally, I will only say...

1) The Detroit Tigers are done.  Very disappointing performance in the World Series and it is sad to see them lose a second World Series in 6 years.

2) Michigan needs a new offensive coordinator/offensive staff.  Their play calling is horrid - simply horrid - for a second game in a row.

3) Michigan State, while a great win for them yesterday, was very, very lucky to win that game.  They have a great defense, however, the offense is mediocre still and while it was a great old fashioned Big Ten "smash mouth" game, Wisconsin blew the win for themselves.

4) Oklahoma also blew their chance at beating Notre Dame.  I still don't think ND is as good as some people say/think they are, but...they said that about Michigan last year and who can argue with an undefeated record so far?  Neat to see Florida lose yesterday and...how about that Northwestern?  7-2 (and they really should be at least 8-1).  "Go 'U Northwestern, march right down that field..." 

Later friends, I'm off to church!  Everyone have a blessed and great day.

[Raider 68]

formerd3db,

Thanks for your comments on the Raiders! Although Trine has a good team, from what I saw of the stats and big plays, Hope kind of gave the game away. If the title is between Adrian, Albion or Trine, how strong are they as a playoff contenders?

Agree, the Tigers are done, Michigan will have a tough time in Columbus, Glad to see the Spartans beat the Badgers! And ND is overrated, IMHO!

[formerd3db]

Raider68:
You are welcome!  As far as whoever wins our AQ for the MIAA, I believe they will have a tough time in trying to win that first playoff game.  All that said, I think it will be kind of interesting to see how all the playoff games in each region go this year.  I could be wrong, however, there seems to be slightly more parity overall this year, although certainly, we know that there are a handful of teams that are still in that upper tier for making it to the final four and eventually the Stagg Bowl, obviously Mount included.  One other minor thought comes to mind in that regard for example...although Wesley is again right up in that category, are they capable of getting past "blowing the big game" when it comes down to getting to the final four and/or semifinals?  I am not sure.