FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[badgerwarhawk]

Conference games are usually run by conference rules. For non-conference games, traveling parties are sometimes agreed to in the contract.

My condolences for your loss, Pat. 

[Raider 68]

Pat, thoughts and prayers with you and your family.

[dumezrules]

BOYA87 and section7:

Thanks for your kind comments and I also respect your own opinions.  I have been around Hope's program for a long time and I will share this with you.  I realize what you both are saying and, in most instances, that is true.  However, when the coaching staff instructs players repeatedly about some specific action they are supposed to do and that player/those players continually fail to perform that specific action, that is not on the coaching staff.  It is absolutely true that coaches don't play the games, and that, as you say, it is their responsibility to instill enthusiasm, perseverence and the will to win.  Hope's coaches are have been trying to do that, while at the same time not be too overly harsh on players - the latter can be just as detrimental.  The bottom line is that, unfortunately, our players have simply not made the plays or perform their duties to do what it takes to win, especially some of the more verteran players.  Certainly, there have been some bright spots and I truely believe Hope is improved somewhat from last year.  However, the players have not played up to their potential and that is not the coaches fault.  The have done everything they can to insight being upbeat, postive, enthusiastic.  But, again, you can't force players to have the will to win and or play.  Also, four blocked kicks right up the middle in two games - somethings wrong and it isn't the coaches for that one.  Perhaps Coach Kreps and his staff need to make some changes in the lineup, although I know there are people who have doubts that would even be helpful at this time.  Again, my point was players have to make the tough plays to win close games and they just haven't done it.  Coach Kreps even went out of his routine this past game to make some "gutsy" calls, when some of us weren't quite so sure.  Luckly, a couple of those plays turned out, yet unfortunately, the others did not when we needed it the most.

I'm not intending to be disrespectful or down on the players.  I'm just simply stating the truth of the situation as it now stands.  As I said, I hope this changes or it will be a long season.  On the other hand, if we had won those two close games, then people would be singing a different tune I'm sure, yet there would still be some areas of concern.  But that is a natural occurance for any team regardless.  Just MHO  Anyway, obviously takiing one week at a time is the only thing that can be done.  This is a new week.

Hope players have not played up to their potential for years...eventually that has to come back to coaching....

[dumezrules]

Random Thoughts (something must change):

Have the Flying Dutchmen taken on the look of the Detroit Lions?

18 game losing streak in non-MIAA games dating back to 2004 season.

Dean Kreps, career non-MIAA record, 10-38, .208 winning percentage, 3-23 (.115) since 2002 season.

Unacceptable?

I have updated my post from this time last year, 10-40, .200 winning percentage, 3-25 (.107) since 2002 season.
I know that I will get ripped repeatedly for this post, but them the facts!
Formerd3db, I love your posts and respect your insight, but I must disagree with your assessment of players vs coaches, many players have changed since 2002, many losses have not and coaches have not.

You will also notice that the head coach repeatedly calls our players in the media for mistakes....not a good way to motivate

[Raider 68]

Random Thoughts (something must change):

Have the Flying Dutchmen taken on the look of the Detroit Lions?

18 game losing streak in non-MIAA games dating back to 2004 season.

Dean Kreps, career non-MIAA record, 10-38, .208 winning percentage, 3-23 (.115) since 2002 season.

Unacceptable?

I have updated my post from this time last year, 10-40, .200 winning percentage, 3-25 (.107) since 2002 season.
I know that I will get ripped repeatedly for this post, but them the facts!
Formerd3db, I love your posts and respect your insight, but I must disagree with your assessment of players vs coaches, many players have changed since 2002, many losses have not and coaches have not.

You will also notice that the head coach repeatedly calls our players in the media for mistakes....not a good way to motivate

Then is time for the Hope Administrators to start cleaning house with the coaches. The question is why have they not done so already? Maybe Formerd3db has some inside information on this!

[usee]

I am watching this weeks Trine/UWO game closely. I was very impressed with Trine when Wheaton played them in Angola in 2008 playoffs and subsequently they have been able to reload and have fairly handily won the MIAA. Last years playoff success was not surprising and now playing a tough game against a solid WIAC team on the road will be a great indicator of where their program has come. I personally think Trine is poised to take the next step in D3 to be a consistent playoff team and top 15 program each year. We will soon see.

[badgerwarhawk]

Good luck with that.  I think you mean you'll be watching the Trine/UW-RF game closely.  Trine plays UW-River Falls and Oshkosh has a bye. 

[formerd3db]

Random Thoughts (something must change):

Have the Flying Dutchmen taken on the look of the Detroit Lions?

18 game losing streak in non-MIAA games dating back to 2004 season.

Dean Kreps, career non-MIAA record, 10-38, .208 winning percentage, 3-23 (.115) since 2002 season.

Unacceptable?

I have updated my post from this time last year, 10-40, .200 winning percentage, 3-25 (.107) since 2002 season.
I know that I will get ripped repeatedly for this post, but them the facts!
Formerd3db, I love your posts and respect your insight, but I must disagree with your assessment of players vs coaches, many players have changed since 2002, many losses have not and coaches have not.

You will also notice that the head coach repeatedly calls our players in the media for mistakes....not a good way to motivate

dumezrules:

Cite a (or some) SPECIFIC documentation (examples) of this please.  I have never seen Coach Kreps or the other staff members be vindictive about that at all.  I would hope that coaches "tell it like it is" in the media, rather than attempting to "sugar coat" the situation.  Neither is he or the staff the kind of people who make excuses for themselves (i.e. like trying to save their jobs if you are implying or hinting? at such).  As we all know, coaches don't play the games.  When players, including their replacements, make the same repeated mistakes time and time again, that is NOT the fault of coaching - if you believe otherwise, that is simply misguided  If the talent is not there, no coaching job is going to salvage that, regardless of how motivational or great, it's not going to happen.  I don't want to get into a "p******" match here as far the discussion is concerned; rather I'm just relating the truth of the situation.  

While no one likes losing, as you well know, there are much more important life aspects than the W-L column involved in coaching/teaching these young men in many atributes, especially at this level and the current staff is exemplary of those standards.  Anyway, I think we all know where all of us stand on this topic now that we've expressed our opinions on such. Again, I respect yours as well as the others here.  I will try to refrain from further comment on this.  I guess we'll obviously just have to see how this all plays out in the future.  

[usee]

Bhawk-

Thanks for the correction. I was thinking river falls and typed oshkosh. You knew what I meant to think I said though

[LetItRain]

ROAD TRIP!!  13 hours to River Falls, WI...

Good luck to all of the MIAA teams this weekend.  Everyone travel safely.

GO THUNDER!!

[formerd3db]

Pat and entire D3.com staff:

Wow, fantastic new website design!  Congratulations!  It looks very nice and easy to navigate around in.  Thanks so much.  You have come a long way since 1999. 

Best to you all,
formerd3db

[sflzman]

I am watching this weeks Trine/UWO game closely. I was very impressed with Trine when Wheaton played them in Angola in 2008 playoffs and subsequently they have been able to reload and have fairly handily won the MIAA. Last years playoff success was not surprising and now playing a tough game against a solid WIAC team on the road will be a great indicator of where their program has come. I personally think Trine is poised to take the next step in D3 to be a consistent playoff team and top 15 program each year. We will soon see.

Solid WIAC team? UWRF is very beatable. Alma should have taken them down last year, but a 100+ yard INT TD and a couple other tourovers in UWRF territory cost them big time.

[Raider 68]

If Trine wins at UW-RF, they will IMHO be not only the MIAA conference winner, but will have the opportunity to go farther in the playoffs this year.

That said, each game going forward means that anything is possible, but I like their chances!

[sac]

Our Canadian friends recently had their own version of "Leon Lett"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ogI_K-JmCc&feature=player_embedded

[usee]

Trine 28 River Falls 14 with about 10 min to go in the 4th.