FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

BTW wally; I agree with your post over on your own board about Wabash not getting in the playoffs this year.  It is too bad, because I think Wabash would have had a good chance at advancing.  That loss at WashU really hurt.  As you said, it still was a very good season for Wabash.  Yet, as much as it was disappointing they didn't get in the NCAA playoffs this year, it still doesn't compare to the disappointment and sting when they were not given a bid back in 1982 when they were 10-0 only because Baldwin-Wallace and Augustana were ahead of them in the same region that year.  If any team deserved a bid, it was that one.  That was really tough, although the"rules of the game" were much different back then as opposed to the current selection critieria.  On the other hand, there still is some questionable decision making involved to some extent even today as has been discussed - it always isn't that "cut and dry"  

[BOYA87]

Wally,

If there is one thing that scares me it is playing a team after a tough loss let alone an embarrasing loss which in all regards sounds like what the Wabash/Depauw game was!  I wouldnt go putting Trine in the 2nd round just quite yet!  However knowing this senior group very well and getting to watch this team play, I feel like they have such a dynamic group of athletes at so many different positions that it is going to be hard for any team to key on one thing that this Trine team does.  I would not want to be a defensive coordinator going up against Trine. 

Obviously their run game looks great because of their dominating wins throughout the season which have caused them to run the ball simply to keep from running up scores, but their aeriel attack is scary.  Watt is a triple threat.  He can and will beat you with his arm, his feet, and his mind.  He has developed a ton since his freshman year and is fully intigrated and comfortable in this offense.  And with the seniors on the defense at such key positions like DE, LB and FS...this defense is going to be in the right positions at the right time to make plays! 

I am always confident in my Thunder so I expect them to be favored even with the road game.  This is a team that has shown for the last 3 years that it can win no matter where they play.  Saturday cant come soon enough for this fan!!

[RuleBritannia]

Congratulations to Trine on winning their 3rd consecutive MIAA championship in convincing fashion. It was cool to see the league race come down to the final week of the season, especially with my rooting interest involved. Sadly, the game did not live up to it's possible billing, however, the atmosphere was outstanding. Trine has a gorgeous facility down their which is both nice looking, and the space feels enclosed with the fans close to the action. Great to see a marching band too, as I think (no partiality to me actually being in a marching band, of course  ) that a marching band really enhances the atmosphere. It was good to see so many Albion fans making the trip as well.

Anyways, hats off to Trine, you guys are excellent, and best of luck representing our conference in the playoffs.

[formerd3db]

RuleBrit:
Good comments. Also,, I couldn't agree with you more about a marching band.  It is so great to see that Albion, Alma, Trine and Adrian have marching bands.  On the other hand, it is sad that Olivet dropped their marching band program several years ago.  The "Big O" Marching band was always a delight to see and they do have a good music program at Olivet.  

In that same train of thought, many of us at Hope have wished our school would have a marching band for football also.  For years, Hope would invite area high school bands to play at home football games, which was a neat experience for the high school students,  yet also provided a treat for fans attending the game.  However, this year (after at least 4 decades I believe) that program was dropped - I guess in today's era, there are so many other opportunities for h.s. bands to participate in other events that doing so at a place like Hope is no big deal anymore.  Still, Hope not having a marching band is disappointing.  Hope has a very good music school as well.  We used to have a "Hope Pep Band" play at the football games, which was, at least something, and the next best thing to having a "real marching" band. However, alas, that "went by the wayside" a few years ago as well.  At least back in my playing days, it was always a motivation as a player to hear our fight song played by them.  I remember as a player, many times on a Thursday early afternoon about 3 hours before practice, I would be watching game film in our old (now torn down gym) film room up in the balconey - yes, I'm giving away my age here and always got fired up and goose bumps hearing the Hope Pep Band marching in the street outside playing our fight song.  It got me really motivated for practice and in thinking about the historicall tradition of Hope football in the old days/beginning.  That also carried over the next day for the Friday "walk through" practice and team dinner as I couldn't wait until Saturday game time- seriously.  

Anyway, I think Trine and Adrian has "got it right" by adding the marching band program for football in joiniing your own Albion and Alma, the latter two which have been the stalwarts in that category for the MIAA.  Again, I wish Hope would join in (it would be so much nicer to hear a "real" marching band play our fight song instead of that more docile version of the fight song recording by the indoor concert band played over the loudspeakers at home games - no offense to those students in the Hope concert band who kindly gave of their time and talents do record that for their school and alumni .

[Uncle Rico]

Congratulations to Trine on winning their 3rd consecutive MIAA championship in convincing fashion. It was cool to see the league race come down to the final week of the season, especially with my rooting interest involved. Sadly, the game did not live up to it's possible billing, however, the atmosphere was outstanding. Trine has a gorgeous facility down their which is both nice looking, and the space feels enclosed with the fans close to the action. Great to see a marching band too, as I think (no partiality to me actually being in a marching band, of course  ) that a marching band really enhances the atmosphere. It was good to see so many Albion fans making the trip as well.

Anyways, hats off to Trine, you guys are excellent, and best of luck representing our conference in the playoffs.

I was very impressed by the size of the Albion contingent, and the noise they made.  They packed the visitors stands more than any other team I have seen at Trine.   

[Pat Coleman]

Hey, folks -- our friends at d3photography.com (not part of the network, but a partner) is hosting D3football.com's bracket challenge this season. Go sign up and fill out a bracket at:
http://www.d3photography.com/pickem/

As usual no prizes, which protects student-athletes and coaches from NCAA issues.

This season, one sign-up gets you access to all bracket challenges -- no more signing back up for D3hoops.com brackets in the spring.

[Raider 68]

Trine will handle DePauw, not by the same Wabash score. Their reward will be the opportunity to play UWW at the Perk! Wow!

[MasterJedi]

As per what voice posted, Adrian has brocken its agreement with UWW and fled from playing them again next year.

EDIT: Voice is a link if you can't see it that well.

[bleedpurple]

As per what voice posted, Adrian has brocken its agreement with UWW and fled from playing them again next year.

EDIT: Voice is a link if you can't see it that well.

If they don't have the class to honor a coach who put in 36 years of hard work for them, why would anyone think they would honor a contract?

[Uncle Rico]

Trine will handle DePauw, not by the same Wabash score. Their reward will be the opportunity to play UWW at the Perk! Wow!

Did Whitewater already beat Franklin?       Whitewater fans may believe they can look past Franklin until Mt Union, but Trine should take it one at a time.  It will be a great game in Greencastle.    

[Raider 68]

Trine will handle DePauw, not by the same Wabash score. Their reward will be the opportunity to play UWW at the Perk! Wow!

Did Whitewater already beat Franklin?        Whitewater fans may believe they can look past Franklin until Mt Union, but Trine should take it one at a time.  It will be a great game in Greencastle.   

Uncle Rico,

Not sure how a team gets ready to play mentally when they lose (DePauw)
badly, then have to face a tougher team in Trine. Maybe the Home field will help them, but I think HSCoach's spread of DePauw at +7.5 is realistic.

It will be very difficult for Franklin at UWW, IMHO!

[wally_wabash]

Trine will handle DePauw, not by the same Wabash score. Their reward will be the opportunity to play UWW at the Perk! Wow!

Which is a tremendous opportunity for Trine should they get to the second weekend.  Any team in the field that doesn't want to get their shot to knock off the best probably shouldn't be in the tournament. 

This is a point I've made a handful of times over the years...UMU and UWW have a hard time getting games in September because there is very little upside for anybody to play that game.  If you play that game against those teams and lose, you've crippled your chance to get invited to the tournament if you slip in league play.  If you win, you get to be the lead story on d3football.com for a week, but that's about it.  You don't get walnut and bronze unless you beat them in the tournament.  So, if you're going to catch lightning in a bottle and get over on either of those teams, why waste it in September?  It makes more sense to me to take your shot in the tournament. 

[Raider 68]

Trine will handle DePauw, not by the same Wabash score. Their reward will be the opportunity to play UWW at the Perk! Wow!

Which is a tremendous opportunity for Trine should they get to the second weekend.  Any team in the field that doesn't want to get their shot to knock off the best probably shouldn't be in the tournament. 

This is a point I've made a handful of times over the years...UMU and UWW have a hard time getting games in September because there is very little upside for anybody to play that game.  If you play that game against those teams and lose, you've crippled your chance to get invited to the tournament if you slip in league play.  If you win, you get to be the lead story on d3football.com for a week, but that's about it.  You don't get walnut and bronze unless you beat them in the tournament.  So, if you're going to catch lightning in a bottle and get over on either of those teams, why waste it in September?  It makes more sense to me to take your shot in the tournament. 

Wally,

Good points +k!

[badgerwarhawk]

Trine will handle DePauw, not by the same Wabash score. Their reward will be the opportunity to play UWW at the Perk! Wow!

Did Whitewater already beat Franklin?        Whitewater fans may believe they can look past Franklin until Mt Union, but Trine should take it one at a time.  It will be a great game in Greencastle.   

To my knowledge no WHITEWATER fans will playing in Saturday's game with Franklin.   As for the team and coaching staff Coach Leipold's comment  "If we don't beat Franklin, the seeding is a moot issue" pretty well sums up their focus.  Make no mistake we didn't get where we are by overlooking opponents. 

[LetItRain]

The 2010 All-Conference Teams have been announced.  Congratulations to all of the players that have been recognized!

http://www.miaa.org/fb/