FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Raider 68]

Wow, indeed, Mr Ypsi! Thanks for the summary final scores from today's MIAA games.  It looks like Trine and Albion will be playing for the MIAA title in two weeks, assuming Trine beats Kazoo next week.  The chances of that not happening for a championship showdown are less likey and also since Albion has their "bye" weekend next week.  Once again, as we've all said and seen in the past many times, the MIAA title is coming down to the last week of the season.

Formerd3db,

Surprized that Albion soundly beat Adrian, and more surprized how K-zoo was beaten as well by Alma. On any given Saturday, you just don not know.

Some close games in the TOP 10 today as well!

[formerd3db]

Raider68:

You are so right.  Very surprising and again, I guess just another example of the parity in the MIAA (except for Trine, of course).  Albion has steadily improved each week and doing what it takes to win.  I'm surprised Kazoo has taken a skid the past 3 weeks after beatiing Albion and a good showing against Hope. 

I posted a comment about your Mount's today's game and the playoffs over on the OAC board.  I'll be interested to hear your take on this so far at this point.

[sflzman]

All finals:

Alma 35, Kazoo 10 (WOW! )

Albion 38, Adrian 21.

Trine 51, Olivet 14 (despite what it shows on 'scoreboard'!)

I know everyone says WOW, but - this may just be my Alma bias - I've thought that Alma could compete with Kzoo from the day the season started, and continued to believe so after Leister was ruled ineligable....

It continued to back my thoughts up in the game against Albion....Albion was my pick to finish 2nd in the conference, and Alma really could have beaten them if not for 1 big run by Orr, and another big reception by Orr...that's 2 Albion TDs right there, and take away those it's a 17-13 Alma win...even taking away 1 it's till only a 3 point loss....

The Scots are proving that even without a QB that they can get the ball into Schaar's hands....he had a career-high 187 receiving yards today, 2 40+ yard receptions that were flat-out AMAZING catches, 1 that could easily be a SportsCenter top 10.....

The only thing you can say is the lack of a QB is hurting Alma. This game could easily have been 52-10 or even more had the QBs not horribly underthrown a wide open Barak Henderson who was streaking towards the endzone, or missed wide open slot receivers streaking down the middle....

[sac]

How do I put this......Kzoo always seems to be a little more emotionally into the Albion/Hope games.  It never surprises me when they play those two tough and then get beaten soundly by teams you think they might play well against.  Thats just been Kzoo football for about the past decade.

[Mr. Ypsi]

How do I put this......Kzoo always seems to be a little more emotionally into the Albion/Hope games.  It never surprises me when they play those two tough and then get beaten soundly by teams you think they might play well against.  Thats just been Kzoo football for about the past decade.

Thanks for the tip.  Could you remind me NEXT year when pickems is underway!

(I haven't reviewed for sure, but I think I've lost more points on Kazoo than any other team. )

[formerd3db]

sac:
Sure seems that way re: Kazoo.  Also, what happened to your/our U of Mich last night?  Doesn't look good.  Rich Rod in trouble?

sflzman:
I like the Alma helmet logo - looks good!  Although Alma's tradional block "A" that you had was good, I like the helmet logo better.

Two more weeks left in the MIAA season.  Looking back, it has gone fast, although during the process, not so fast, especially when you lose.  Regardless, as we've all discussed of recent, the showdown is now Trine/Albion.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Gotta be frustrating for the UM offense to know they need 40-50 points every game to have any realistic chance of winning.

My speculation would be RichRod needs 2 more wins to have a decent chance of another year.  (And, regardless of record, all bets are off if the NCAA comes down hard.  UM was once proud of the cleanest overall program in the NCAA.  Basketball put a huge dent in that; football would be fatal to the image.)

[seventiesraider]

One of my former students posted on Facebook last night, "Muskingum has a better defense than Michigan".

[Mr. Ypsi]

One of my former students posted on Facebook last night, "Muskingum has a better defense than Michigan".

Alas, it is possible.

[sac]

sac:
Sure seems that way re: Kazoo.  Also, what happened to your/our U of Mich last night?  Doesn't look good.  Rich Rod in trouble?

PSU watched the UMASS film and copied the game plan virtually verbatim.  

Michigan's defense is simply too young and inexperienced (and poorly coached in certain areas) to compete at the Big 10 level.

Their starting 11 consisted of

LB Kenny Demens, Soph making his 2nd career start after hardly playing all year and taking the place of 5th year Sr Obi Ezeh who was recruited as a FB but played LB and was simply god awful at this position.
LB Craig Roh, soph--a DE playing LB due to injury to starter, he's a good DE, not so good LB

HYB Cam Gordan--Soph, first game at this position, has played FS all year, and was recruited as a WR
CB James Rogers, 5th year Sr who has bounced between Def and Off for 4 years, never seeing the field until this year due to injury to starter Woolfolk
CB J.T. Floyd, Soph--actually not terrible, but not good either
SS Jordan Kovacs--Soph, former walk-on.  Sadly the teams best tackler and undersized for the Big 10  is on scholarship because they have literally no one else
FS  Ray Vinopal, True Freshmen making first career start, infact this was the 2nd time I think he's played all year.  WAY undersized for Big 10 play.

others that played were two other true Freshmen CB's who needed to redshirt, but have to play because they have no one else.  Another RS Freshmen, and then another RS Freshmen who was recruited as a QB, but is playing one of the hybrid positions....and still another true Freshmen who's missed part of the year because of injury.  All together I think 8 Freshmen played, and played alot.


... and best player DT Mike Martin was hurt going into the game, and hurt the other ankle on the first series and didn't return, thus reducing Michigan's front 3 (argh) to a bunch of guys who have been career backups and not very good ones.


The defense is horrendous and everyone knows it.  AD Dave Brandon seems like a sensible guy and doesn't strike me as someone who makes rash decisions.  I'm pretty sure he knows how dire Michigan's defensive depth chart is and how ridiculously young it is.  That doesn't mean there won't be changes, because there should be  (I'm looking at you Tony Gibson).  But a change at the top would be another multi-year rebuilding, and we can start calling ourselves Notre Dame.

Mgoblog.com did a series titled The Decimated Defense which should be required reading for every Michigan fan, followed by lots and lots of ...



Seriously I recommend it for anyone who can't stand watching them, it will answer just about every question about why they are where they are on that side of the ball.

Illinois should pound this team like they have the last 2 years.  If they don't its because of Ron Zook.

Wisconsin will pound this team like last year

and Ohio State.....oh God, oh God, oh God be merciful.

Purdue is the one and only legit shot at the all important win #6, win that and its some kind, any kind of bowl game and the much needed extra practice in December.  Lose all 4 and seriously all bets are off for retaining Rich, because the snobby people might just get their way and push him out.  That would make me sad.

..Oh and Purdue has beaten Michigan 2 years in a row.

Thats where Michigan football is right now and its just sad.

[sflzman]

sac:
Sure seems that way re: Kazoo.  Also, what happened to your/our U of Mich last night?  Doesn't look good.  Rich Rod in trouble?

sflzman:
I like the Alma helmet logo - looks good!  Although Alma's tradional block "A" that you had was good, I like the helmet logo better.

Two more weeks left in the MIAA season.  Looking back, it has gone fast, although during the process, not so fast, especially when you lose.  Regardless, as we've all discussed of recent, the showdown is now Trine/Albion.

I like the helmet too...the only problem is that i need it spun around, the "A" is traditionally worn on the right side, but not the left....

[formerd3db]

sflzman:
Well, you are right about the "A" being currently worn on the right side of the helmet in recent years.  However, there were several years where it was worn on both sides of the helmet.  Anyway, looks good.  Also, if Alma wins this weekend, you'll have to change your quote underneath the helmet!

[formerd3db]

sac:

Agree with almost all of your points re: Michigan.  Unfortunately, their secondary is worse this year than it has ever been (and in recent years, it hasn't been very good).  The only aspect I would disagree slightly with you is regarding the "size" of some of the defensive backs.  They are not really undersized to play in the Big Ten - recall that a couple of years ago, Wisconsin had that former walk-on db who was small, yet was one of the leading db's his last 2-3 years.  The difference is that these Michigan guys just aren't as good as he was.  While size usually is a big determinator in the Big Ten, it isn't always IMO - it just depends on the particular player's talents and there have been many examples regarding that over the years (I won't bore you or others with some of those).

At any rate, I agree with Mr. Ypsi regarding the offense.  Although Robinson is a talented athlete, Michigan can't rely on a "one man" offense.  They have no running game and the Michigan offensive line play is not what it usually has been in the past.  I agree with you - I think Michigan is in trouble for the rest of the season , even though Purdue got blasted this weekend.  As for Rodriguez, sorry, however, I'm not in your corner regarding him.  I won't be sad if/when he is let go (and that goes beyond the W-L reccord -  "What goes around, comes around". )

Anyway, we can now get back to DIII and the MIAA topics!

[Raider 68]

sac:
Sure seems that way re: Kazoo.  Also, what happened to your/our U of Mich last night?  Doesn't look good.  Rich Rod in trouble?

sflzman:
I like the Alma helmet logo - looks good!  Although Alma's tradional block "A" that you had was good, I like the helmet logo better.

Two more weeks left in the MIAA season.  Looking back, it has gone fast, although during the process, not so fast, especially when you lose.  Regardless, as we've all discussed of recent, the showdown is now Trine/Albion.

I like the helmet too...the only problem is that i need it spun around, the "A" is traditionally worn on the right side, but not the left....

Nice Helmet!

[formerd3db]

We like your helmet, too, Raider68!   Perhaps we'll have a society around these boards called..."The Helmet Club"!