FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Mr. Ypsi]

Correction on previous post.  UWRF is non-region, so the Trine OWP is 8-17.  (Ironic that, because they are WIAC, 0-8 UWRF seemed, at the time, to be Trine's most impressive non-con game! )  [And, of course, 8-25 (or the corrected 8-17) is only the non-con OWP, not the total OWP (which IS still pulled down by MIAA opponents).

I think Trine has advanced to the neighborhood that (say) Franklin and Wabash would be much more appropriate than Anderson and Bluffton.  I realize that it take 'two to tango', so if Trine has already tried to upgrade and been rebuffed, my apologies.

[sflzman]

No surprise on today's finals....

Alma 35, Olivet 21
Trine 59, Kalamazoo 17
Adrian 33, Hope 7

[formerd3db]

No surprise on today's finals....

Alma 35, Olivet 21
Trine 59, Kalamazoo 17
Adrian 33, Hope 7

Indeed, there were not.  I just got back from the Hope/Adrian game.  Hope played terrible again.  First half was not too bad, only 14-7 at halftime.  However, Hope was in the redzone with about 2 minutes left right before the half and couldn't score.  They didn't show up in the second half; two many mistakes, lackadaisical play.  Adrian didn't really have to make any adjustments - they just played their game.  Huge running plays and long pass plays for TD's; although Adrian had two blocked PATs.  A beautiful day for football this late in the season (sunny but cold when the sun went under the clouds) and a nice day for Senior Day for the senior players and their parents (they also acknowledged the senior cheerleaders, band members, dance team, etc., which  I thought was a nice touch).  ADrian has a very nice and sizable marcing band which is great.

Nice stadium with single permanent seating as most of you know.  One aspect I like is the top tier of the main press  box is enclosed for the film crews filming the game.  It would be nice if the rest of the MIAA stadiums had that (hint, hint to Kazoo when they build their new press box, renovate Angell Field ).  Only disappointing aspect is that the attendance was not that great - of the five main sections, only 3 filled and the main reserved seating was so sparse you could "hear a pin drop".  However, that is not surprising (i.e. the attendance) from what we've heard from Adrian posters here in the past.

It shoiuld be a tight game with Adrian at Alma next week up at Alma as slfzman has mentioned.  As far as Hope, they had better "shape up fast" or they might end up having a problem with Olivet in the season final at home for Parent's Day next Saturday.  Of course, it is now for the MIAA title next week between Trine and Albion.  Although I think Trine will win, despite Albion having lost to Kazoo and Trine blasting Kazoo today, that doesn't mean anything in a title game.  It will be interesting to see that outcome.

BTW, what a barnburner at U of Michigan today.  67-65 is like a basketball score.  Luckiy for Rich Rod because if they had lost that game, I think his job would be in more peril than it is.  Anyway, I will be interested to hear the rest of your takes on the other MIAA games today.

[Mr. Ypsi]

RichRod may have dodged the bullet today, but Glen Robinson is toast.  If Rodriguez didn't already plan to change the DC, I'd suspect that might be a condition of his continued employment!

BTW, MIAA Pickems results and the final slate are now up.

[sflzman]

No surprise on today's finals....

Alma 35, Olivet 21
Trine 59, Kalamazoo 17
Adrian 33, Hope 7

Indeed, there were not.  I just got back from the Hope/Adrian game.  Hope played terrible again.  First half was not too bad, only 14-7 at halftime.  However, Hope was in the redzone with about 2 minutes left right before the half and couldn't score.  They didn't show up in the second half; two many mistakes, lackadaisical play.  Adrian didn't really have to make any adjustments - they just played their game.  Huge running plays and long pass plays for TD's; although Adrian had two blocked PATs.  A beautiful day for football this late in the season (sunny but cold when the sun went under the clouds) and a nice day for Senior Day for the senior players and their parents (they also acknowledged the senior cheerleaders, band members, dance team, etc., which  I thought was a nice touch).  ADrian has a very nice and sizable marcing band which is great.

Nice stadium with single permanent seating as most of you know.  One aspect I like is the top tier of the main press  box is enclosed for the film crews filming the game.  It would be niced if the rest of the MIAA stadiums had that (hint, hint to Kazoo when they build their new press box, renovate Angell Field ).  Oonly disappointing aspect is that the attendance was not that great - of the five main sections, only 3 filled and the main reserved seating was so sparse you could "hear a pin drop".  However, that is not surprising (i.e. the attendance) from what we've heard from Adrian posters here in the past.

It shoiuld be a tight game with Adrian at Alma next week up at Alma as slfzman has mentioned.  As far as Hope, they had better "shape up fast" or they might end up having a problem with Olivet in the season final at home for Parent's Day next Saturday.  Of course, it is now for the MIAA title next week between Trine and Albion.  Although I think Trine will win, despite Albion having lost to Kazoo and Trine blasting Kazoo today, that doesn't mean anything in a title game.  It will be interesting to see that outcome.

BTW, what a barnburner at U of Michigan today.  67-65 is like a basketball score.  Luckiy for Rich Rod because if they had lost that game, I think his job would be in more peril than it is.  Anyway, I will be interested to hear the rest of your takes on the other MIAA games today.

It is too bad Rich Rod got a win...I wanted him to lose so he could go to my Gophers!!!

[adidas28]

Correction on previous post.  UWRF is non-region, so the Trine OWP is 8-17.  (Ironic that, because they are WIAC, 0-8 UWRF seemed, at the time, to be Trine's most impressive non-con game! )  [And, of course, 8-25 (or the corrected 8-17) is only the non-con OWP, not the total OWP (which IS still pulled down by MIAA opponents).

I think Trine has advanced to the neighborhood that (say) Franklin and Wabash would be much more appropriate than Anderson and Bluffton.  I realize that it take 'two to tango', so if Trine has already tried to upgrade and been rebuffed, my apologies.

Aren't non-conference games scheduled three or four years in advance? It wasn't too long ago that Trine was the Olivet of the conference and were 0-10.  Six years ago I believe. The following year they were 2-8 in the current coaching staff's first year. Since then they have been 6-4, 10-1, 11-1, and the current  9-0.   I am guessing that the weak non-conference games we are discussing now may not have seemed like blowouts when they were scheduled.   

Also, Trines rececent non-conference schedule has included Franklin, Defiance, Wisconsin Lutheran, Kentucky Christian (NAIA), and this year they added LaGrange College from Georgia (also NAIA). So it's not as if they continue to play the same bad teams. It looks like they are trying to find a good mix.

My early prediction for next Saturday: Trine 42 - Albion 17.

Go Thunder!

[Mr. Ypsi]

adidas, in d3 I'm pretty sure just 1-2 years in advance is much more common than 3-4, but point taken.  You never know for sure what a team will be like when you actually play them.  (But some are pretty predictably bad [e.g., Bluffton], others pretty predictably good [e.g., Wabash].)  (BTW, Wisc Lu was MIAA for a spell - did Trine ever play them as a non-con?)

Scheduling UWRF may well have been an attempt to 'upgrade' which went lamentably bad.  Still, there are programs that would be predictably an upgrade over the Andersons of the world.   (Of course, it is also possible that Trine may now be in that 'sticky-wicket' place: a very tough team from a weak conference that no one wants to play; a win gets too little credit and a loss is entirely too possible.)

[formerd3db]

adidas:

Mr. Ypsi is correct.  Most DIII contracts are for at least a two year series (sometimes 3-4).  For example; Hope had those with Wheaton for about 4 years, also used to have Wabash and DePauw.  This year, having played IWU, next year will be the 4th and last in that series, to be then replaced by North Park for 3-4 years; having played Millikin this year also, they are scheduled to play them through 2013. 

Also, as you mention, no one really knows how good (or bad) teams will be in the future when these games are scheduled.  What may have been a powerhouse team before a series is scheduled, might end up being an average or below average team by the time those years actually take place.  In addition, we've discussed this here many times in the past, but some people (like myself) believe that trying to play upper tier teams in one's non-conference schedule can't help but improve the program over a period of time, at least as far as knowing what to expect and what it takes to advance to "that next level" and the playoffs.  For some teams, that seems to work, however, for Hope, while that helped many years ago, unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case in recent years.  One reason for that is the recruiting challenges in regards to the DII schools as we've also recently discussed here.

Regardless, I think with Trine's success the past 3 years after they were at the bottom tier, they will have a good chance of progressing further in the playoffs this year, if they win the league against Albion next week (which I think they will) and also because there seems to be even more parity in DIII this year than ever in the past few years.  Speaking of Trine, I have one other comment regarding the AQ, howeve, since this post is already long, I will post that in the next right after this one.

[formerd3db]

I noticed on the main page of D3fb.com in the summary review article tonight of those colleges that clinched their league's AQ today, that they had listed Trine as doing so today also.  I think that is incorrect because Trine is 5-0 in the league and Albion is 4-1; thus as we've discussed, if Albion upsets Trine next Saturday in the final game, then Albion would clinch by virtue of beating Trine.  

[formerd3db]

adidas:

BTW, nice Trine helmet logo on your profile!  You are now an official member of our "helmet club" here on this MIAA board !  Welcome! (You can credit Raider68 - he started it all here even though he is from the OAC board; he is a member of this board too!!)

[LetItRain]

I noticed on the main page of D3fb.com in the summary review article tonight of those colleges that clinched their league's AQ today, that they had listed Trine as doing so today also.  I think that is incorrect because Trine is 5-0 in the league and Albion is 4-1; thus as we've discussed, if Albion upsets Trine next Saturday in the final game, then Albion would clinch by virtue of beating Trine.  

Former - you are right.  Trine has clinched a share of the MIAA title but they have to beat Albion to advance to the playoffs.  I believe the deciding factor for the playoff berth is the head to head competion and if both Albion and Trine end up 5 - 1 in the MIAA then Albion gets the nod since they beat Trine.  At least that's what our boys believe so they know it is IMPERATIVE that they beat Albion next weekend.

Saturday, 11/13 will also be Senior Day at Trine.  It was senior day at Kazoo yesterday and they announced 8 seniors.  Before the start of the season Trine had 28 seniors on the roster (I think we've lost one or two since then).  I'm pretty sure this has been discussed before but what is the senior count for the other MIAA schools?  

As many of you know, my son is a senior at Trine this year.  I'm still stunned that the 4 years have gone by so fast.  Unbelievable.

[formerd3db]

LetItRain:

Thanks for the follow-up.  I (and most of us here) thought that was the case.  Most likely, the writer of the artcle meant that Trine had clinched a share like you mentioned.

I know what you mean about the time going by so fast.  As parents (and even for those of us who were former players), it doesn't "hit you until" that last week as you have mentioned.  So, for what it's worth and although I know you and yours (and your son) will being doing this already, I wish you all a wonderful week and enjoyable time as you savor the memories of his last four years and, of course, this Saturday's game and hopefully clinching of the playoff berth.  I'm sure your son will make the most of and savor his last practices this week.  Although all of us hated practice at times  , I never enjoyed them so much as I did that last week of my own collegiate career.  I gave it more than 110% (not that I didn't all those years before ).  So all the best to your son and you and yours as well.

Regarding your question, Hope has 18 seniors listed on the roster this year.  I don't think we've lost anyone.  So it will be a special day for them also this Saturday in the last home game/last game of the year for them.  Although, at Hope, they call it "Parent's Day" to honor not only the players, but the parents of the senior players as well.  I'd have to look at the other game programs of the other MIAA schools to count the # of seniors on those rosters, but perhaps some of our colleagues on this board from those schools will help us out.

Take care.

formerd3db

[D306]

Let it Rain

The college experience goes by too fast.

Enjoy it, have to say 3 of the proudest/saddest days in my life.
When my College Football Days ended and when my kids football days were over.
I was certainly more reflective when my son's graduated.

Next week is a big game. I think it is a home game for Trine.
Like they need any help.  
Have to go against my team and say Trine wins.

[formerd3db]

Nice reflections D306.  I can relate the same.

BTW, "Oh ye of little faith"!  Although the odds are against it, you should pick your Albion in an upset!  As much as I realize when Hope is probably not going to win in some particular games at times, for some reason I can't quite bring myself to pick against them, even though I am delusional in those situations!

Now, having said that, and in relation to what I've posted here earlier in the week, the way we (Hope) have been playing of recent, you/I could probably "flip a coin" to pick the winner of this upcoming Saturday's Hope/Olivet game.  I think it could go either way, but, again, I have to go with my alma mater.  I am picking them since it is Parent's Day at home and there might be an emotional high for that (although, unfortunately, our players haven't been quite able to reach such heights in the last two weeks ).  We'll see what happens.  I am hoping that the weather might remain wonderful like it has this weekend (or even just decent), however, I have a fear that it could be one of those very cold, grey/cloudy, windy or rain drizzling type days (or even perhaps a mild flurry of snow) like it usually is for the last regular season game in Novemeber over the years.  

[Raider 68]

Nice reflections D306.  I can relate the same.

BTW, "Oh ye of little faith"!   Although the odds are against it, you should pick your Albion in an upset!  As much as I realize when Hope is probably not going to win in some particular games at times, for some reason I can't quite bring myself to pick against them, even though I am delusional in those situations!

Now, having said that, and in relation to what I've posted here earlier in the week, the way we (Hope) have been playing of recent, you/I could probably "flip a coin" to pick the winner of this upcoming Saturday's Hope/Olivet game.  I think it could go either way, but, again, I have to go with my alma mater.  I am picking them since it is Parent's Day at home and there might be an emotional high for that (although, unfortunately, our players haven't been quite able to reach such heights in the last two weeks ).  We'll see what happens.  I am hoping that the weather might remain wonderful like it has this weekend (or even just decent), however, I have a fear that it could be one of those very cold, grey/cloudy, windy or rain drizzling type days (or even perhaps a mild flurry of snow) like it usually is for the last regular season game in Novemeber over the years.   

Formerd3db,

Sound like your attendance to the Hope /Adrian was enough to change the outcome. Trine is the real deal for the MIAA, so let's see where they are slotted for the playoffs. It was cold in Ohio at the Mount Union/ B-W game, but a good crowd of 6,500 + fans. The cooler weather provides the atmosphere to any fall game, as long as it is not raining.

The "Helmet Club" is growing, kind of neat!