FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think the schedulers for Trine could have anticipated how the non conference opponents would fair this year, based on last years performance.  Bluffton did not have a good track record, but Lagrange was 9-2 last year.  Manchester had played .500 ball last year, so they weren't necessarily a cellar dweller. 

River Falls only had a 3-7 record last year, but played in a very strong conference and may have faired better with an MIAA schedule.   The benefit of playing them is the experience of playing a long distance road game (likely in a playoff situation) against a team in a tough conference who would not have any respect for Trine, based on the caliber of the other teams River Falls played. 

I think the Trine coaches might have anticipated a tougher non conference schedule this year than how it worked out.

HUGE game against Albion, who played some very good teams tight.  I think Albion is a bit under-rated and I expect this to be a close one.

.500 in the HCAC is like playing another MIAA team. If that's the high end, then honestly, that's not a challenge.

If it makes you feel better to cherry-pick one year of LaGrange football history, that's fine, but here's their preseason rank every year of their existence, according to Kickoff:

214, 227, 217, 67, 166

[Uncle Rico]

Where did I say that Manchester was high end?    I think you are reading too much in to my post.

Point was that I don't think Manchester was viewed as a cellar dweller. Never claimed they were a strong opponent, but not a "terrible" one either.

Yes, I "cherry picked" the most recent season for Lagrange, being 9-2.  Didn't make me "feel better," but probably did make me feel more accurate to look at a teams more recent performance than what they did 3-4 years ago.

My whole point was that I don't think the schedulers thought the SOS was going to be as bad as it turned out to be based on past history.  

[Pat Coleman]

Where did I say that Manchester was high end?    I think you are reading too much in to my post.

Point was that I don't think Manchester was viewed as a cellar dweller. Never claimed they were a strong opponent, but not a "terrible" one either.

Yes, I "cherry picked" the most recent season for Lagrange, being 9-2.  Didn't make me "feel better," but probably did make me feel more accurate to look at a teams more recent performance than what they did 3-4 years ago.

My whole point was that I don't think the schedulers thought the SOS was going to be as bad as it turned out to be based on past history.  

What I said was, if the high end of Manchester, the ceiling, the best you could expect, was .500 in the HCAC, you're not getting much. Instead Trine got the low end of Manchester.

[sflzman]

Ouch! Bad loss here in Alma, 24-13 to Adrian...

[adidas28]

Where did I say that Manchester was high end?    I think you are reading too much in to my post.

Point was that I don't think Manchester was viewed as a cellar dweller. Never claimed they were a strong opponent, but not a "terrible" one either.

Yes, I "cherry picked" the most recent season for Lagrange, being 9-2.  Didn't make me "feel better," but probably did make me feel more accurate to look at a teams more recent performance than what they did 3-4 years ago.

My whole point was that I don't think the schedulers thought the SOS was going to be as bad as it turned out to be based on past history.  

What I said was, if the high end of Manchester, the ceiling, the best you could expect, was .500 in the HCAC, you're not getting much. Instead Trine got the low end of Manchester.

Uncle Rico is right Pat, you were ripping on Trine, your signature says let's discuss in a positive way but that's not really what you mean is it? You are back tracking after Rico called you on it. I say spot the ball, Trine will play anybody, anywhere. Trine doesn't need your approval for their schedule. They have come a long ways in a very short time and if this staff stays in place they will keep the ball rolling.

Go Thunder!!

[adidas28]

Ouch! Bad loss here in Alma, 24-13 to Adrian...
[/quote

And you want to rip on Trine's schedule. Don't forget to watch the selection show tomorrow.

[TrineDad]

The Thunder have suited up and played whoever took the field against them each week this season.  Sometimes it's as impressive when a team executes well against an opponent they expect to dominate as it is when they stay tough through a close game.  What's that you say, Iowa or Utah? Say what you will about Trine's opponents but the Thunder have shown up and played hard each week.  They deserve their undefeated season, they deserve to host a playoff game or two but sometimes you don't get everything you deserve...so be it.....Bring them on....whether we play in Angola or Naperville or Springfield I don't give a flying ****.   On to Salem!

[Pat Coleman]

Uncle Rico is right Pat, you were ripping on Trine, your signature says let's discuss in a positive way but that's not really what you mean is it? You are back tracking after Rico called you on it. I say spot the ball, Trine will play anybody, anywhere. Trine doesn't need your approval for their schedule.

Go Thunder!!

Not sure that makes sense -- I could have discussed Trine's schedule in much less professional tones.

If Trine will play anybody anywhere, next time don't drive five hours past UW-Whitewater to get to UW-River Falls. I am sure UW-Whitewater would like to play D-III schools rather than having to play two NAIA schools next year.

Indeed, they do not need my approval. But isn't it interesting that the NCAA doesn't approve either? They're behind two one-loss teams in the last regional rankings.

[sflzman]

On to Salem!

Don't be afraid to jump the gun a little....

According to the d3football.com daily dose projected bracket, first you have to be ready to go "On to Naperville" as the projected bracket has Trine going to #5 North Central

[LetItRain]

First, congratulations to the Trine Thunder football team.  Regardless of SOS they went 10 - 0 which is an accomplishment no matter what.  The players have worked hard and I'm sure the coaches have worked even harder.  This program has gone from 0 - 10 the year before Coach Land arrived (2005) to 10 - 0 (2008), 9 - 1 (2009), and 10 - 0 (2010).  They just won their third undefeated MIAA Championship.  The seniors on this team have never (repeat NEVER) lost a regular season home game in their careers at Trine.  Regardless of how the world feels about the MIAA these are great accomplishments in anyone's book and these players/coaches should be congratulated by all.  They have earned it.

Going forward, we don't know who we'll be playing or where next Saturday but we will be ready to play.  This team will work hard to prove they deserve to be in the playoffs and they deserve their current ranking.  I, for one, will be there cheering them on regardless of what happens. 

GO THUNDER!!

[adidas28]

Uncle Rico is right Pat, you were ripping on Trine, your signature says let's discuss in a positive way but that's not really what you mean is it? You are back tracking after Rico called you on it. I say spot the ball, Trine will play anybody, anywhere. Trine doesn't need your approval for their schedule.

Go Thunder!!

Not sure that makes sense -- I could have discussed Trine's schedule in much less professional tones.

If Trine will play anybody anywhere, next time don't drive five hours past UW-Whitewater to get to UW-River Falls. I am sure UW-Whitewater would like to play D-III schools rather than having to play two NAIA schools next year.

Indeed, they do not need my approval. But isn't it interesting that the NCAA doesn't approve either? They're behind two one-loss teams in the last regional rankings.

Let's discuss (sports) in a positive way, sometimes kidding each other with no disrespect.     - As long as everyone agrees with you right?

[Pat Coleman]

No -- I'm pretty sure if you look at more than two or three of my thousands of posts you'll see plenty of people disagree with me. There's not a problem with that. I'm just pointing out the facts and the NCAA seems to agree with my assessment on this one.

[Raider 68]

No surprize in Trine's win, but a projected tough first playoff game is unfortunate, like to see them go farther! Close game at Hope, glad they got it done, Formerd3db. How was the weather in Michigan, great in Ohio!

[adidas28]

No -- I'm pretty sure if you look at more than two or three of my thousands of posts you'll see plenty of people disagree with me. There's not a problem with that. I'm just pointing out the facts and the NCAA seems to agree with my assessment on this one.

I'm pretty sure that in Rico's post he was saying that when the games were actually scheduled it probably didn't seem like such a week schedule, and you knocked him for "cherry picking" - that's all I'm saying, everyone was pretty much in agreement that the SOS is weak, my problem is your comment to Rico not the obvious point on the SOS, I don't see anywhere in the previous posts where anyone said they had a tough schedule.

[Pat Coleman]

I don't see anywhere in the previous posts where anyone said they had a tough schedule.

Nor did I say anyone said they did.

Rico was hanging Trine's hat on two games: LaGrange has had one good season in its history -- who knows when the game was scheduled but that's all they've ever had. Manchester was 5-5 two years in a row and I'm saying that 5-5 for an HCAC team is still not good, so even at Manchester's peak, that's not a test for a team that wants to be in the Top 10, have a Gagliardi finalist and win a couple playoff games.

Rico immediately got something different in his head: "Where did I say that Manchester was high end?"

And now you are pouncing on that. But you are still misunderstanding what I actually said. Hopefully this third explanation covers it.