FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Captain_Joe08]

That should be a good game. Aurora did lose to Hope in the opener but they are quite a bit better from that game.

[miaafbfan]

Aurora/Alma should be a good game.  After Alma/MSJ, I switched over and caught the end of the Aurora/UW-Whitewater game yesterday.  Aurora looked impressive.  As stated, Aurora did lose to Hope, but we probably can't take too much from that, as it was many weeks ago.

[Middle of the Mitten]

21-21 at the half...Alma held MSJ  under a hundred total yards and scoreless the rest of the game. 41-21 victory.
Alma lost another TD when the backup QB lost a fumble in the end zone or it would have been worse for the
boys from Cincinnati. Alma's defense was fantastic ...MSJ's offense was a machine in the first half running and
passing the ball for close to 300 yards...Great adjustments by the coaching staff and Alma really wore down
their opponent over the last 30 minutes...Great win the the Scots...Should be a dandy vs. Aurora this Saturday.

[Middle of the Mitten]

In addition, the Alma College offense was a machine in the second half.
The two running backs combined for close to 200 yards...and then the
passing game kicked in for an impressive balanced attack...446 total yards..
The Scots would not be denied...

[Captain_Joe08]

Aurora 48
Alma 26

Final

Aurora controlled this one from start to finish.

[monsoon]

Great season from Alma.

[HOPEful]

Great season from Alma.

Absolutely! Even more so when you consider they were pre-season picked to finish 6th in the MIAA by the coaches!

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Any thoughts on Calvin starting football?

Expect them to eventually have a heavyweight presence in the conference?

[Ralph Turner]

Hi.
Catching up at the end of the season.
I expect Calvin has as strong or stronger alumni base and resources as UMHB. UMHB went 3-7 in its 1st year, 1998.
They went 9-1, with a close loss to semi-finalist HSU in 2000.
They earned a Pool C bid in 2001, losing to Trinity in Round 1.
UMHB made it to the Stagg in 2004.

They did not build the CRUthedral for more than 15 years.

[HOPEful]

Hi.
Catching up at the end of the season.
I expect Calvin has as strong or stronger alumni base and resources as UMHB. UMHB went 3-7 in its 1st year, 1998.
They went 9-1, with a close loss to semi-finalist HSU in 2000.
They earned a Pool C bid in 2001, losing to Trinity in Round 1.
UMHB made it to the Stagg in 2004.

They did not build the CRUthedral for more than 15 years.

I think one huge difference too is location. Recruiting grounds don't get much richer than being just about exactly half-way between Dallas and San Antonio. Michigan isn't devoid of football talent, but it is an uphill battle recruiting against perennial top 25 D2 teams like Ferris State and Grand Vally State, not to mention the rest of the GLIAC. Between the Big10, MAC, and GLIAC, there are 13 schools in Michigan that can offer some form of athletic scholarships to football players. That's over 800 recruits, most of whom aren't even remotely interested in thinking about a pricy private D3 school if they're even being talked to by D1 or D2 programs. To many, the idea of being a preferred walk-on at some of these D2s schools is more alluring than starting four years at a D3 program.

There's no reason to believe that Calvin won't be able to find some level of success in building a football program. But to think a school that's spent the last 20 years struggling with admissions numbers in general will suddenly rise to a regional football recruiting powerhouse is somewhat an illusion of grandeur.

[sac]

There are actually 18 scholarship level football schools in Michigan when you add in the 5 NAIA programs.

[HOPEful]

There are actually 18 scholarship level football schools in Michigan when you add in the 5 NAIA programs.

There I go again not realizing the NAIA has football

[Ralph Turner]

But, Calvin is a lot like Wheaton. There are football-playing kids of Calvin alums all over the country who would love to suit up for the Knights.

[HOPEful]

But, Calvin is a lot like Wheaton. There are football-playing kids of Calvin alums all over the country who would love to suit up for the Knights.

I don't disagree with you. But I also think Calvin will need to do a lot more than rely on solely the football playing sons of their alumni to build a respectable program.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

But, Calvin is a lot like Wheaton. There are football-playing kids of Calvin alums all over the country who would love to suit up for the Knights.

I don't disagree with you. But I also think Calvin will need to do a lot more than rely on solely the football playing sons of their alumni to build a respectable program.

And don't forget, none of those Calvin alums were college football players.  I'm not saying only a football player can have a son with football talent, but it is genetically more likely.