FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[TUAngola]

Nice day for the MIAA yesterday.  We ran the table...well except for Finlandia.  Caught a little of the Albion-Franklin game on video.  Albion is going to be a load in the league this year.  Their offense is very skilled.  QB Thomas will be all conference and probably POY if he leads Albion to league title.  I knew they'd be much improved from last year.  Olivet and Adrian with impressive offensive displays too yesterday, Hope's D was lights out against Definace.  Kalamazoo and Alma have gotten off to good starts as well.  Will be interesting to see how it all plays out this year one league competition starts. 

Trine with a 21 pt win over Bluffton yesterday, but we stunk it up on offense.  Part of that is because Bluffton's D line completely dominated our O line.  That was very disappointing, especially coming off such a dominating performance last week against Manchester.  Give credit to Bluffton though, their defense is a lot better than Manchester's in the HCAC.  We could not block Zickafoose at all.  All of Carswell's yards were pretty much out of improvisation on plays that weren't blocked very well.  Passing game is a work in progress, or if this is as good as it gets, then we're in trouble.  Offensive play calling by the coaching staff is way too predictable, need to mix it up more.  On the other side of the ball the defense was OUTSTANDING again.  If it wasn't for broken coverage on a Bluffton pass right before halftime, it would have been an almost perfect defensive game.  Bluffton's slot guy went uncovered on that play for a 70 yd TD, there wasn't anyone within 10-15 yds of him.

Trine with a big test on the road at Lakeland next week.  Then a week off before heading up to Holland for the conference opener against Hope.  We aren't a Top25 team IMHO.  Not sure if we need to go with one QB for continuity or not, jury is still out if rotating is going to work.   

[waxx]

Adrian started a new quarterback yesterday in freshman Jack Wurzer. He went 17-20 for 309 yards and a school record 6 TDs on no INTs. Not a bad debut. He got a lot of help from WR McGaw who caught 13 for 256 yards and 5 TDs. I know it's only one game, but if he continues to play well, it might help us feel a little better about life without Stewart after this season. Another good road test as they travel to Aurora next week. Have a good week everyone!

[formerd3db]

Nice day for the MIAA yesterday.  We ran the table...well except for Finlandia.  Caught a little of the Albion-Franklin game on video.  Albion is going to be a load in the league this year.  Their offense is very skilled.  QB Thomas will be all conference and probably POY if he leads Albion to league title.  I knew they'd be much improved from last year.  Olivet and Adrian with impressive offensive displays too yesterday, Hope's D was lights out against Definace.  Kalamazoo and Alma have gotten off to good starts as well.  Will be interesting to see how it all plays out this year one league competition starts. 

Trine with a 21 pt win over Bluffton yesterday, but we stunk it up on offense.  Part of that is because Bluffton's D line completely dominated our O line.  That was very disappointing, especially coming off such a dominating performance last week against Manchester.  Give credit to Bluffton though, their defense is a lot better than Manchester's in the HCAC.  We could not block Zickafoose at all.  All of Carswell's yards were pretty much out of improvisation on plays that weren't blocked very well.  Passing game is a work in progress, or if this is as good as it gets, then we're in trouble.  Offensive play calling by the coaching staff is way too predictable, need to mix it up more.  On the other side of the ball the defense was OUTSTANDING again.  If it wasn't for broken coverage on a Bluffton pass right before halftime, it would have been an almost perfect defensive game.  Bluffton's slot guy went uncovered on that play for a 70 yd TD, there wasn't anyone within 10-15 yds of him.

Trine with a big test on the road at Lakeland next week.  Then a week off before heading up to Holland for the conference opener against Hope.  We aren't a Top25 team IMHO.  Not sure if we need to go with one QB for continuity or not, jury is still out if rotating is going to work.   

These early non-conference games are just that, too early to really assess how our MIAA teams will actually be.  Both Albion and Hope's victories against Defiance are a "non-measure", IMO, because Defiance is not a good team, although as I have previously mentioned, I believe Albion will be markedly improved this year and in contention for the title.  However, Franklin is in a slightly down year according to some of their followers.  Likewise, difficult to gauge how Olivet is as Chicago-Concordia is not that good and Olivet (barely) lost their first game to a team that is in a rebuilding mode somewhat as compared to recent years.  I was surprised they lost that first game. Alma gets blasted by an improved B-W team, but wins, yet not "big" against Manchester. 

Regarding your Trine, I think it unlikely they will have a difficult time at Lakeland this weekend even though it is an away game as the latter team is supposed to be in a rebuilding year according to some on their board as I recall.  Thus, I do not believe it will be much of a test for Trine.  Finlandia...well, what can we say?  It is as expected, but I'm rooting for them to keep at it!  Good start for Kazoo-they are probably on par with Oberlin, but I would have expected them to beat Greenville.  We'll see how they continue to respond.

A question...why the QB change at Adrian, if you or anybody knows?  Granted, the Freshman's numbers for the game were fantastic, however, the numbers for the Junior who started the season opener were not that shabby really.  Just curious.  Adrian will be good this year, however, again, difficult to assess after their first two games as Buffalo State is not a great team this year either it would appear.

Just my random general thoughts after reading yours.  

BTW, great win for Eastern Michigan against Purdue.  Granted the latter is not a good team and in a rebuilding year, but, the W is a W and a good one for Creighton and his team.  Hopefully, they won't pull the same stunt as last year and lose the next 6 games, however, as I recall, they lost all of those by very few points and probably should have won at least 4 of those at the minimum and possibly more.  Perhaps Mr. Ypsi will weigh in on this for us if he graces us with his posting pen as he does on occasion.

[waxx]

formerd3db: I am not sure the reason for the change at QB. I did not hear them mention an injury during the webcast and I am not close to the team so it's a mystery to me. My guess would be they just liked what they saw in practice from Wurzer enough that they had to give him a shot, but again, pure speculation.

[sac]

If the box scores are correct and they appear to be, Finlandia has used just 14 and 16 players in its first two games.

Yikes

[Pat Coleman]

If the box scores are correct and they appear to be, Finlandia has used just 14 and 16 players in its first two games.

Yikes

I see 35 listed on the participation report for the opener:
http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2018/boxscores/20180901_nar0.xml?view=participation

[sac]

Ok now I see Finlandia's site lists the participation section in the box score differently, I only counted "participants":    https://fulions.com/boxscore.aspx?id=2488&path=fball


They've used 35 and 34, which is still yikes.

[Pat Coleman]

Participation reports are pretty hit-or-miss in Division III, but I would be surprised if they used more than 40 or so. They only have 49 on the roster.

[sac]

https://twitter.com/AlmaScots/status/1039261743300714496

[formerd3db]

Participation reports are pretty hit-or-miss in Division III, but I would be surprised if they used more than 40 or so. They only have 49 on the roster.

Hey Pat:

I understand what you mean.  As you mention, some Division III schools use i.e. post those, others apparently do not.  I have noticed that Finlandia has used them the past years, which, IMO, is a good thing as it is informational and interesting, for example, if one desires to see who played and who did not. 

BTW, again, my apologies for missing you at our Hope game in Week 1.  I hope you had a good time and enjoyed your visit to our place.
Not a bad crowd turnout for an opener, right?

[formerd3db]

https://twitter.com/AlmaScots/status/1039261743300714496

sac:

Thanks for posting the link.  Crouch was always a "company guy!"  The Kilt fits right in with all that.  I also see where it appears he has changed Alma's helmets back to the Denny Stoltz/Phil Brooks era of the late 1960s/early 1970s-white with the two maroon strips.  Wow, what a change from the longtime maroon helmets in the couple of decades after that, to the recent few years of the maroon top/transition to white and the block "A" with the official school tartan.

[TUAngola]

Conference play begins Saturday:

Finlandia at Olivet
Adrian at Kalamazoo
Albion at Alma
Trine at Hope

I'll be making the trip to Holland this weekend.  Not my first trip to Hope as I've been to a couple basketball games there, but my first for football.  An important game right off the bat for each school.  I've watched the Thunder beat Manchester and Bluffton, but hard to gauge where we are at against middle of the pack HCAC teams.  Convincing win at Lakeland, but from what I've heard they are in rebuilding mode from the playoff team of last year.  I'm sure Hope will be fired up to exact some revenge on the bad loss in Angola last year.  I don't look for it to be a high scoring game, both defenses have played well so far, and the forecast calls for some precipitation.  Has any other posters seen both Trine and Hope this year?  What are your thoughts, keys to the game? Gametime is 5pm, is there a reason Hope plays late afternoon games?  Do high schools use the field on Saturdays?  Where is the football stadium parking located?

Other matchups may be one sided, but, we'll see if Kalamazoo is the real deal or not against Adrian.   

[DBQ1965]

Conference play begins Saturday:

Finlandia at Olivet
Adrian at Kalamazoo
Albion at Alma
Trine at Hope

I'll be making the trip to Holland this weekend.  Not my first trip to Hope as I've been to a couple basketball games there, but my first for football.  An important game right off the bat for each school.  I've watched the Thunder beat Manchester and Bluffton, but hard to gauge where we are at against middle of the pack HCAC teams.  Convincing win at Lakeland, but from what I've heard they are in rebuilding mode from the playoff team of last year.  I'm sure Hope will be fired up to exact some revenge on the bad loss in Angola last year.  I don't look for it to be a high scoring game, both defenses have played well so far, and the forecast calls for some precipitation.  Has any other posters seen both Trine and Hope this year?  What are your thoughts, keys to the game? Gametime is 5pm, is there a reason Hope plays late afternoon games?  Do high schools use the field on Saturdays?  Where is the football stadium parking located?

Other matchups may be one sided, but, we'll see if Kalamazoo is the real deal or not against Adrian.   

Hey TUAngola .. I hope to be at the game also ... sitting on the Trine side. Usually I am in the top row wearing my SPARTANS University of Dubuque hat.  I  saw Hope's opener against Milikin. Hope played a great first half but the didn't seem able to handle Milikin's second half defensive adjustments ... and fumbles hurt them ... while the Milikin QB had success both running and passing.  Their next two games were lopsided victories so it will be interesting to see how Hope does against Trine's usually tough defense. There is limited parking next to the stadium, almost all spaces going to Hope early arrivals and tail-gaters.   Street parking isn't bad and I usually come up with a space within a block or two of the stadium when I arrive early.  There is ample parking a couple of blocks away at the Devos Fieldhouse ... enter off 11th street.  Perhaps former3db has some better recommendations.  Maybe we'll see each other Saturday.  Safe travels.

[sac]

Conference play begins Saturday:

Finlandia at Olivet
Adrian at Kalamazoo
Albion at Alma
Trine at Hope

I'll be making the trip to Holland this weekend.  Not my first trip to Hope as I've been to a couple basketball games there, but my first for football.  An important game right off the bat for each school.  I've watched the Thunder beat Manchester and Bluffton, but hard to gauge where we are at against middle of the pack HCAC teams.  Convincing win at Lakeland, but from what I've heard they are in rebuilding mode from the playoff team of last year.  I'm sure Hope will be fired up to exact some revenge on the bad loss in Angola last year.  I don't look for it to be a high scoring game, both defenses have played well so far, and the forecast calls for some precipitation.  Has any other posters seen both Trine and Hope this year?  What are your thoughts, keys to the game? Gametime is 5pm, is there a reason Hope plays late afternoon games?  Do high schools use the field on Saturdays? Where is the football stadium parking located?

Other matchups may be one sided, but, we'll see if Kalamazoo is the real deal or not against Adrian.   

I don't think there's any great rhyme or reason for Hope's 5pm kickoffs.   I think they've had some issues with soccer or volleyball being played at the same time so perhaps they try to keep times separated better these days.   There is a women's soccer game at noon but in a few weeks their next 5pm kickoff is on a free and clear weekend when both soccer programs and volleyball are away so I don't know.

Holland High does play at the stadium but on Friday nights, and Friday night this week they are away.


Twilight football is great anyway, so enjoy.

[TUAngola]

Conference play begins Saturday:

Finlandia at Olivet
Adrian at Kalamazoo
Albion at Alma
Trine at Hope

I'll be making the trip to Holland this weekend.  Not my first trip to Hope as I've been to a couple basketball games there, but my first for football.  An important game right off the bat for each school.  I've watched the Thunder beat Manchester and Bluffton, but hard to gauge where we are at against middle of the pack HCAC teams.  Convincing win at Lakeland, but from what I've heard they are in rebuilding mode from the playoff team of last year.  I'm sure Hope will be fired up to exact some revenge on the bad loss in Angola last year.  I don't look for it to be a high scoring game, both defenses have played well so far, and the forecast calls for some precipitation.  Has any other posters seen both Trine and Hope this year?  What are your thoughts, keys to the game? Gametime is 5pm, is there a reason Hope plays late afternoon games?  Do high schools use the field on Saturdays?  Where is the football stadium parking located?

Other matchups may be one sided, but, we'll see if Kalamazoo is the real deal or not against Adrian.   

Hey TUAngola .. I hope to be at the game also ... sitting on the Trine side. Usually I am in the top row wearing my SPARTANS University of Dubuque hat.  I  saw Hope's opener against Milikin. Hope played a great first half but the didn't seem able to handle Milikin's second half defensive adjustments ... and fumbles hurt them ... while the Milikin QB had success both running and passing.  Their next two games were lopsided victories so it will be interesting to see how Hope does against Trine's usually tough defense. There is limited parking next to the stadium, almost all spaces going to Hope early arrivals and tail-gaters.   Street parking isn't bad and I usually come up with a space within a block or two of the stadium when I arrive early.  There is ample parking a couple of blocks away at the Devos Fieldhouse ... enter off 11th street.  Perhaps former3db has some better recommendations.  Maybe we'll see each other Saturday.  Safe travels.

Thanks for the parking info DBQ1965.  I don't mind a walk so not too concerned about getting a parking spot next to the stadium.  Maybe the precipitation will stay away until late evening.  AccuWeather says 13% during the day and 55% overnight.  High of 62.  Good football temps.  I'll see if I can find you and say hi. 

Disappointed in the lack of football chatter here.  There are more posts on the MIAA basketball board in the offseason then there is on the football board in season.  Don't get me wrong, I love hoops too, probably more than football, but not sure where all the MIAA football fans are at.  Maybe if Calvin fielded a team....