FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Uncle Rico:

Half time under the score board should work, Ill look for the distinguished gentleman with a Trine hat and graying goatee!

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Congrats to the Trine Thunder, great game today and great job in coming up with the big plays when they were needed.  I expected to see a strong showing from both teams and I did not leave today without seeing just that.  Clearly I am disappointed with the result of the game but I can honestly say that was one of the better MIAA games I have witnessed with both teams making plays.  Adrian made a great decision when they replaced McGee with his backup Justin Hemm who came in and did a great job providing a spark to the Adrian offense and getting the ball moving, making a lot of plays with his feet and extending plays.  Trine came out firing and looked very good on both sides of the ball is well their offense is tough and I am confident they will make a good showing come the playoffs.  Both teams came out on both sides of the ball today but in the end it comes down to it being a game of inches and with 6 inches more the pass by Adrian on 4th and 6 may well have been complete and then who knows what happens.  I feel that both teams should be proud of their efforts today, while Adrian came out on the losing end, their coaching staff did what was needed to put the team in a position to win and the team never quit during the length of the game.  Trine did the same coming out playing for a title and fully realizing what was at stake, it was a pleasure to watch such a well executed football game by both teams

Play of the gamefor Trine from my point of view, the 30+ yard QB scramble for a TD by Trine was a great play by the QB and if Im not mistaken was the winning score for the game the QB is an athlete who presents some problems.  The tipped pass on 4th and 6 could also be chosen as well.

Play of the game for Adrian would have to be the interception by Austin Fritz a defensive end on a bubble screen which he ran back 57 yards to give the offense prime field position which they finished on.  I could also nominate any number of plays where Hemm scrambled to keep plays alive and keep Adrian going.

Again congrats to Trine and good luck next weekend, hopefully with a win in the final game Trine can get a solid seeing and bring home the MIAA's first playoff win since Albion in '94.

[Uncle Rico]

I was there for a brief time by the scoreboard but did not see you.  If you were looking for someone distinguised that might have thrown you off!

The seating arrangements were all screwed up because they had to move the visitor bleachers to prep for the new football complex.  It would have been nice if they had waited until after this game, but sitting with some Adrian fans was not as much of an unpleasant experience as I expected.    Actually I did not see any problems with the mix, everyone seemed to get along fine.

It was an exciting game.  You could feel the momentum shifts throughout the contest.  I cannot count how many times the Adrian QB slipped out of some potential sacks, and how Adrian kept converting on 3rd downs, even 3rd and longs.  As ADAWG mentioned, there were a lot of big plays made at key moments.  Gut wrenching.  

Good luck to Adrian next week!

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Uncle rico: 

I looked for you on my way back from the bathrooms at the half, but apparently it wasnt meant to be.

The stands issue was dissapointing to see that the only bleachers for Adrian fans were stuck down in the endzone.  I must admit I was disgusted to have to pay $5 for a ticket when there were no stands to sit in and while I understand they need to pour footers for the new construction, I think it is poor planning on their part to take the stands down with 2 games left in the year.  I made up for the charging of $5 by simply ignoring the posted signs and standing on the sideline though, so I guess I cant complain that much.

[formerd3db]

Congratulations to the Trine players, coaching staff, and all of you Trine fans/alumns/supporters for winning the MIAA title and AQ.  We'll be rooting for you in the playoffs.

A tough and disappointing loss for Hope yesterday, although a much needed boost for Alma.  Congratulations to Alma's players and their coaching staff for a nice win (also construction proceeding well with the facilitiy additions and new basketball/vollyball area at Alma).  Nice crowd yesterday and beautiful weather; in all everyone was treated to a really good, close action MIAA game, a very nice day for experiencing college football.  BTW, thoughts and prayers are with the injured players from yesterday.  Although I know Hope's players, coaching staff and our fans/parents/alumns are disappointed, and especially this is not the way any of us would have liked the 100th Season Celebration to go, I and everyone encourgage them to "press on" for the final game next week and go out on a positive note that will send the seniors with just that i.e. a positive memory for their next phase in life.  A win as such would also be good confidence in beginning of planning and looking toward next year.  "Press on"...GO HOPE.

Anyone from Albion or Kazoo care to share with us your perspectives on that game yesterday?  With one more week to go in the regular season, it may be too much to ask for just one more great weather day for the games as we had yesterday

[sac]

Trine's back-to-back outright MIAA Championships are the first since Albion in 1995 and 1996, at the end of their great run of 8 consecutive MIAA Championships.




Hope finishes with Kalamazoo and their annual battle for these beauties.....


Hope's won 13 in a row and the last 4 haven't been close.........comparing results, I think you have to make Hope at least a 10 point favorite.


Hope's 3 conference losses are by a combined total of 6 points.

[Raider 68]

Congratulations to the Trine players, coaching staff, and all of you Trine fans/alumns/supporters for winning the MIAA title and AQ.  We'll be rooting for you in the playoffs.

A tough and disappointing loss for Hope yesterday, although a much needed boost for Alma.  Congratulations to Alma's players and their coaching staff for a nice win (also construction proceeding well with the facilitiy additions and new basketball/vollyball area at Alma).  Nice crowd yesterday and beautiful weather; in all everyone was treated to a really good, close action MIAA game, a very nice day for experiencing college football.  BTW, thoughts and prayers are with the injured players from yesterday.  Although I know Hope's players, coaching staff and our fans/parents/alumns are disappointed, and especially this is not the way any of us would have liked the 100th Season Celebration to go, I and everyone encourgage them to "press on" for the final game next week and go out on a positive note that will send the seniors with just that i.e. a positive memory for their next phase in life.  A win as such would also be good confidence in beginning of planning and looking toward next year.  "Press on"...GO HOPE.

Anyone from Albion or Kazoo care to share with us your perspectives on that game yesterday?  With one more week to go in the regular season, it may be too much to ask for just one more great weather day for the games as we had yesterday

Former3db,

Your were right, Trine wins the MIAA tow years running. Congrats to them.
Let's see if they can win a few in the playoffs!

[D306]

Congrats to Trine

Good season, solid play on both sides of the ball.
Strong running team, good depth and aggressive coaching,
Bring home a playoff win for the MIAA.

D3DB

You ask for a Albion VS Kazoo game summary.

Great weather, nice crowd at Kazoo.
MIAA Championship Soccer game being played up the hill in the Stadiums area.
Albion brought home a hard fought Womens MIAA Championship in a shootout after several OT's 

Albion and Kazoo played a hard hitting football game.
Albions run game was very strong, and controlled the clock strking on a couple long runs in the first quarter and controlled the first half.
To start the second half Kazoo scored on long ball control passing attack. Kazoo ran a quick pass / timing pass attack.
Albions defense generated good pressure with a mix of 4-3 and 3-5 front and a few well timed blitzes that lead to interceptions.
Albions run game and solid punting game controlled the clock adding points and keeping Kazoo starting deep in thier own zone, inside the 10 a couple times.

I have not reviewed the game stats but I would guess Kazoo threw 75-80% of the offensive plays. Kazoo ran 1 series with the Wildcat alignment no QB in the backfield. This was a change and the only real attempt to run in the game.

Albion controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, leading to a soild win.

Nice crowd, Senior day recognition of the Seniors thier Academic and Athletic accomplishments.
I always like the Tents and Charis set up right along the endzone great family atmosphere. The neighborhood around the stadium and campus is always impresive large wooded streets unique homes.

[BOYA87]

Congrats to both Trine AND Adrian on another great game!  This game was not decided until the final minutes and it was really exciting to watch!  A special thanks to "The Big Man" for some awesome weather as well this Saturday!

Trines offense looked great in the first half and had a ton of momentum going.   Their defense was also playing very strong while the starting QB #13 was in the game, but when #8 came in at QB you could really feel the momentum shift.  Adrain began driving the ball much more efficiently.  The QB added a lot to the run game and was much more ellusive against the Trine pass rush.  And then, right before the half #97 made the play of the game picking off Eric Watts bubble pass and taking it all the way to about the 10 yrd line, setting up the go ahead score.  That really took the wind out of Trines sails going into halftime!

The 2nd half was a battle through and through.  Nothing was coming easy to any team.  Really the only big play that I can remember is Eric Watts big run for a TD early in the 3rd quarter.  After that the offenses were held pretty much in check the whole half.  The final Adrian drive was an impressive one and I'd be lying if I didnt say I was nervous.  But Trines DE Chris Eichman made a huge play when he had to to put the game one ice and gave Trine the win!

[formerd3db]

Raider:
So were the Trine guys!  Adrian did have a chance though.  They just couldn't quite finish, like the story has been all year for Hope. 

D306:
Thanks for the synopsis of the Albion/Kazoo game.  Glad to hear that there was a nice crowd at Kazoo - that is good for them.  Also, I agree with you that the tailgates behind the endzone at Angell is great and the campus and surrounding old historic homes is a really neat "old college football atmosphere".  I always enjoy the trip there.  In that regard, too bad our game against Kazoo is at Holland this week!

BOYA87:
Thanks also for the further details on the Trine/Adrian game.  You guys kind of have a "breather" this weekend in a non-conference game, although obviously, the Trine players will not be taking that one lightly.  They need to keep up the enthusiasm, intensity to help further get them prepared for the playoff weekend.   Good luck this weekend.

[Diezel1]

So if Trine wins this weekend, what seed will they get for the tournament?

[BoredatWork56]

If everyone wins out, this is how I see the North Regional seedings:

1. Wisc. Whitewater
2. Wittenberg
3. Mount St. Joe
4. Illinois Wesleyan
5. Case Western Reserve
6. Trine
7. Wabash
8. Concordia (Ill.)

Then again, I never saw Trine getting a #2 seed last year.  Any thoughts?

[LetItRain]

Isn't Whitewater in the West?  Or, are you saying they will move them?

[BoredatWork56]

Let it Rain -

Yes, Whitewater is in the west.  But from everything I have read (mostly from d3football) Mount Union will move from  #1 in the North to #1 in the East, Whitewater from #2 in the West to #1 in the North.  This would leave St. Johns as #1 in the West and Wesley #1 in the South. 

This would put the four teams widely regarded as the teams worthy of #1 seeds in different brackets.  A similar situation happened ast year when Mount Union moved from the North to the East regional

[LetItRain]

Interesting.  I knew about moving Mt. Union out East like they did last year but hadn't seen the speculation about moving Whitewater to the North.  Thanks for taking the time to explain it.