FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[DBQ1965]

Saban had a great line in an interview I saw on ESPN this morning.  When asked what he does with the champtionship memorabilia and rings he has garnered ... Saban said he spreads them out on his coffee table for recruits to see.

[sac]

Shouldn't be too much of a surprise

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/sports_hope/x1665859583/Hope-College-Stadium-will-be-named-for-longtime-coach-Ray-Smith

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Shouldn't be too much of a surprise

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/sports_hope/x1665859583/Hope-College-Stadium-will-be-named-for-longtime-coach-Ray-Smith

Not a surprise, but absolutely the right thing to do!!  Love this excerpt from the announcement email sent by Tom Renner:

Smith was a football All-American at UCLA, playing at both fullback and defensive back. He was captain and most valuable player of the Bruins his senior year.

"While at UCLA he was once asked by legendary coach John Wooden to be a member of the basketball team," said Bultman. "When Ray responded that he wasn't as talented as the other members of the basketball team, coach Wooden responded by saying, 'I want you on the team because of your leadership and character.' Though Ray declined the opportunity, his friendship with Wooden and his wife Nell continued thru their lifetimes."

[formerd3db]

Shouldn't be too much of a surprise

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/sports_hope/x1665859583/Hope-College-Stadium-will-be-named-for-longtime-coach-Ray-Smith

Not a surprise, but absolutely the right thing to do!!  Love this excerpt from the announcement email sent by Tom Renner:

Smith was a football All-American at UCLA, playing at both fullback and defensive back. He was captain and most valuable player of the Bruins his senior year.

"While at UCLA he was once asked by legendary coach John Wooden to be a member of the basketball team," said Bultman. "When Ray responded that he wasn't as talented as the other members of the basketball team, coach Wooden responded by saying, 'I want you on the team because of your leadership and character.' Though Ray declined the opportunity, his friendship with Wooden and his wife Nell continued thru their lifetimes."

Shouldn't be too much of a surprise

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/sports_hope/x1665859583/Hope-College-Stadium-will-be-named-for-longtime-coach-Ray-Smith

Agree entirely with you both - without question, the appropriate decision (naming of Hope's newly acquired and renovated football stadium after the Smith's) and more than well-deserved by both Coach and Sue Smith.  Also, a very classy tribute by Coach/President Bultman to his long-time friends Smith and Sue.  Tom Renner's quote (Hope's SID for those who don't know) also is a neat one as you mentioned FDF.

I remember back in my playing days at Hope, one Friday night at the weekly team meal before the next day's game, we players had secretly contacted UCLA and they kindly sent films of Smith's games there.  We showed them after the meal and it was a great highlight and Coach Smith was so surprised.  However, (and this has been mentioned here before back in 2009 when he retired), he is one of the most humble persons you will ever meet.  While he is proud of his UCLA career, he'll never bring it up, but only talk with you about it if you ask.  Anyway, I am very happy for he and his wife - a well deserved tribute.  Thank you Hope College and thank you Coach and Mrs. Smith.

[Raider 68]

In the MIAA for 2013, which teams have the most returning starters and how will that translate
to the conference leader?

[sflzman]

Forgot to post this the other day:

http://goalmascots.com/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/20130121qsjrjp

I think this guy is a solid fit for the team.  He's run happy though so the continued transition from pass heavy to run heavy should be interesting.

Also.  Adrian (sources tell me) has set their goal to bring in 60 kids from Florida this year.  Once the camps and everything start this summer they will have 4 coaches down there for 11 weeks straight.   

[sac]

6-2, 350 lb running back.........


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxrTIU7VbyM&feature=player_embedded

[Mr. Ypsi]

6-2, 350 lb running back.........


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxrTIU7VbyM&feature=player_embedded

The Fridge, part two.

[RFMichigan]

Forgot to post this the other day:
Also.  Adrian (sources tell me) has set their goal to bring in 60 kids from Florida this year.  Once the camps and everything start this summer they will have 4 coaches down there for 11 weeks straight.   

Didn't Adrian have over 200 guys on their roster last year? (Listed in their 2012 yearbook they had 65+ non-freshmen and 140+ "newcomers".)
I realize that there will always be a lot of turnover at DIII schools, but 60 kids from Florida alone? Why don't they just open a branch school down there (a la Northwood) or field two separate teamas?  Just kidding. Sort of.

And what did they do, buy a house for their coaches down there over the summer?   

[sflzman]

Forgot to post this the other day:
Also.  Adrian (sources tell me) has set their goal to bring in 60 kids from Florida this year.  Once the camps and everything start this summer they will have 4 coaches down there for 11 weeks straight.   

Didn't Adrian have over 200 guys on their roster last year? (Listed in their 2012 yearbook they had 65+ non-freshmen and 140+ "newcomers".)
I realize that there will always be a lot of turnover at DIII schools, but 60 kids from Florida alone? Why don't they just open a branch school down there (a la Northwood) or field two separate teamas?  Just kidding. Sort of.

And what did they do, buy a house for their coaches down there over the summer?

Well think of it this way. The president signs off on all expenses with the knowledge that getting lets say 10 guys gives them their money back. Now you add 50 more and that's your trips for the next 5 years as well.

[sflzman]

And that's obviously just an example. I think a lot fewer than 10 guys gives you your money back but you understand what I'm saying.

[RFMichigan]

And that's obviously just an example. I think a lot fewer than 10 guys gives you your money back but you understand what I'm saying.

Absolutely. (I should have put the  in my post.) It's the financial reality of many DIII schools for athletics to bring paying bodies in the door. I'm just amazed at the numbers on their roster. I wonder what the biggest football roster in the nation was last year? (That would be the roster at the end of camp/beginning of the games.)

[formerd3db]

RFMichigan and sflzman:

First, that is a good question re: largest roster in DIII last year.  Without looking a the exact posted rosters, I would think it had to have been either Mount Union or Adrian.  I recall a few years ago (actually about 13 as it was either in 1998 or 1999, the latter I believe) when Adrian had 177 on the roster.  Of course, not all of these players are actually on the "permanent" Varsity team as there is a junior varsity team, and even though they can all dress for home games, doesn't guarantee they'll see varisty playing time as we all already know.  Essentially, that is almost (although not quite) like it was back in the early 1970's when most schools at all levels (i.e. before the 1973 creation of Divisions III and II), schools had freshman teams as freshman were not eligible for varsity play, having only 3 years for that.  However, if schools today at the DIII level are going to carry well over 100 on their entire rosters, they almost have to have a junior varsity program.

Nonetheless, as several of our colleagues have discussed in the past here and on the other boards, it is extremely difficult, in some aspects, to manage all that - what do you do with the 10th and/or 11th string player?  Of course, the junior varsity programs allow the opportunity for some of the freshman (or in some cases other underclassmen) to "step up" and win a spot on the traveling varsity roster with a stellar performance in a JV game.  However, as well all know, usually by the end of that first year, a great number of players will drop out becoming disappointed with their chances and/or opportunities to advance.

Second, in the mid-2000's, Olivet made regular recruiting trips to Florida and had as many as 10 players (or slightly more) on their roster from that state (around the Miami area).  Still, that is a challenging situation for players to go from that state to a northern, colder state and particularly a small college to play football, yet since there is a lack of DIII schools in Florida at least at that time, it provided the opportunity.  With more of the southern small colleges now having added programs, I don't think you will see as much of that trend.  Not sure why Adrian feels they need to do it.   

[RFMichigan]

RFMichigan and sflzman:

First, that is a good question re: largest roster in DIII last year.  Without looking a the exact posted rosters, I would think it had to have been either Mount Union or Adrian.  I recall a few years ago (actually about 13 as it was either in 1998 or 1999, the latter I believe) when Adrian had 177 on the roster.  Of course, not all of these players are actually on the "permanent" Varsity team as there is a junior varsity team, and even though they can all dress for home games, doesn't guarantee they'll see varisty playing time as we all already know.  Essentially, that is almost (although not quite) like it was back in the early 1970's when most schools at all levels (i.e. before the 1973 creation of Divisions III and II), schools had freshman teams as freshman were not eligible for varsity play, having only 3 years for that.  However, if schools today at the DIII level are going to carry well over 100 on their entire rosters, they almost have to have a junior varsity program.

Nonetheless, as several of our colleagues have discussed in the past here and on the other boards, it is extremely difficult, in some aspects, to manage all that - what do you do with the 10th and/or 11th string player?  Of course, the junior varsity programs allow the opportunity for some of the freshman (or in some cases other underclassmen) to "step up" and win a spot on the traveling varsity roster with a stellar performance in a JV game.  However, as well all know, usually by the end of that first year, a great number of players will drop out becoming disappointed with their chances and/or opportunities to advance.

Second, in the mid-2000's, Olivet made regular recruiting trips to Florida and had as many as 10 players (or slightly more) on their roster from that state (around the Miami area).  Still, that is a challenging situation for players to go from that state to a northern, colder state and particularly a small college to play football, yet since there is a lack of DIII schools in Florida at least at that time, it provided the opportunity.  With more of the southern small colleges now having added programs, I don't think you will see as much of that trend.  Not sure why Adrian feels they need to do it.   

When Pries came in to CUC he had connections in Florida having coached there in high school earlier in his career. He immediately had a fairly good number (10-12, maybe a few more) of Floridians on the CUC roster which paid immediate dividends in the speed category. I remember asking him if snow was the biggest culture shock to the southern kids, and he said no, as soon as they had the first decent snow they took everybody out sledding and the kids seemed to enjoy it. (Not sure where they went sledding as the near-western suburbs of Chicago are as flat as a pancake.) The issue was the COLD, and for many, it was just being a long way from home.

I just think that must be some diminishing returns when you have so many on a roster; it almost seems a disservice to have that many, but you never know who is going to emerge to be a "player".

[Mr. Ypsi]

Perhaps a Mount Union poster will will chime in, but IIRC the Raiders regularly have a roster of 200+.  Importantly, they have more than one JV team and a freshman team, so everyone can get some game experience at one level or another.  (LK has a no-cut policy, though, as you note, many players will cut themselves once they see the handwriting on the wall.)