FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[John 316]

Congratulations goes out to the one the only Eric Watt this years winner of the Gagliardi Trophy. You did a great job on and off the field and represented Trine University all the way. The Trine Thunder Football Family is so proud that you were our QB for the last four years......Be Proud.....Be Loud.......THUNDER!!

[Raider 68]

Congrats to Eric Watt and the Trine University. Everyone from the MIAA should be very proud of this young man. I am thankful I had the privilege to vote for him!

[bleedpurple]

Congratulations to Eric Watt! He is a great player and is obviously a great young man as well.  Yet another feather in Trine's cap. Congrats! 

[BOYA87]

What an awesome honor to be bestowed upon Eric Watt, Trine University, and the MIAA!  representing truely what it takes to be a DIII athlete!

[footballfan413]

A big congrats to Eric Watt, our newest Gagliardi Trophy winner.  He impressed A LOT of Warhawk fans with an awesome performance against us and is, clearly, a step above most off the field as well! 

[Joe Wally]

Congratulations to Eric Watt & Trine!

[02 Warhawk]

Good job to Eric...he deserves it.

I'm glad we don't have to face him again 

[sac]

Let me join in the congrats for Eric and Trine.  Great accomplishment.

[formerd3db]

Hey sac:

Did you by chance go to the "Big Chill" U of M/MSU hockey game at The Big House last weekend?  My son-in-law, who played hockey for Hope College and now coaches for his former high school hockey team got the chance to go down there during the week as his team played a regular season high school game there the Tues before (Adrian College also played one of their games there as well - heck, since U of M went to all that trouble to put in the ice rink, they might as well have take full advantage of it for use as they did in making it available for other teams to use before the "Big Chill" game).  Anyway, my s-i-la said it was a fantastic experience and the photos are awesome, but...it was so very cold!  However, after freezing his tail off at their game , he decided not to go back down to the "Big Chill" game so he gave his tickets to a relative!  I was just curious as to if you went down.

[sac]

Hey sac:

Did you by chance go to the "Big Chill" U of M/MSU hockey game at The Big House last weekend?  My son-in-law, who played hockey for Hope College and now coaches for his former high school hockey team got the chance to go down there during the week as his team played a regular season high school game there the Tues before (Adrian College also played one of their games there as well - heck, since U of M went to all that trouble to put in the ice rink, they might as well have take full advantage of it for use as they did in making it available for other teams to use before the "Big Chill" game).  Anyway, my s-i-la said it was a fantastic experience and the photos are awesome, but...it was so very cold!  However, after freezing his tail off at their game , he decided not to go back down to the "Big Chill" game so he gave his tickets to a relative!  I was just curious as to if you went down.

I did not, but would have liked to in hindsight.  I determined last spring that since the Univ couldn't guarantee me my football seats, or good weather or no snow for parking cars for 110,000 people (they dodged a huge bullet there) that I would be happy to watch it at home.

As it turned out I was invited to a dinner at Hope honoring Glen VanWieren, a really good and interesting time.    So I recorded it, but have yet to finish.

I was at the game at the 'Cold War' game at Michigan State in 2001, pretty cool experience.  I had way better seats there than I could have had a Michigan, first row, upper deck.  As I remember Michigan played football at MSU that year and it was colder for the football game in late September than it was for the hockey game in December.

[formerd3db]

sac:

Thanks for the follow-up.  I totally understand.  Yeah, I also remember the weather situation for that "Cold War" game at MSU back in 2001 as you mention (difficult to believe it has been that long before they tried this venue again).

Anyway, sounds like the dinner for GVW was great - similar to the one we went to for Ray Smith when he retired.  Have a good time if you are going to the Hope BB games tonight or tomorrow at the annual tournament.  I see where they are leaving for Florida early this week.  Speaking of basketball, I saw where Alma played Western Michigan last week in a regular season game (not an exhibition) and got killed.  While that is a great experience for them (i.e not the "killed part" but rather simply getting the chance to play the DI one guys  ), Alma's basketball teams are not very good and, IMO, it would have been better for one of Hope's or Calvin's best teams to do that (although, of course, neither of them are in that category this year it appears - but that's the way it goes).  I recall that Wheaton almost upset Northwestern about 4 years ago or so; Adrian played U of D many years ago in 1977 when the latter went to the NCAA's under Vitale (Adrian was tied with them 50-50 at halftime, but got blown out in the second half as I recall) and Albion played Eastern Michigan about 3-4 years ago.  All of those games were regular season games and not exhibitions, like some of the other small schools have been playing against the DI teams.

Personally, I have no problem with a DIII team playing a game against the DI's (or ?DII's) in the ealry season - even if you lose, it still is a neat experience.  And besides, you never know - just sometime, perhaps an upset might occurr.  Of course, in baseball, you can get away with playing the "big boys" easier - as it is a much different game in that regard.  Olivet beat Toledo in baseball in 2009; I remeber when Alma split with Iowa State and Georgia Tech many years ago when my brother was playing.  Of course, those latter teams were throwing their 6th and 7th pictures while Alma was using their #1 and #2 "Aces"!   But...I digress....   not much else to do on the eve of The Stagg Bowl, since I can't make it there or to the Hope BB game tonight!

[79jaybird]

formerd3db-  I wish I was there suited up in the net. In Elmhurst we have the YMCA which is a recreational adult hockey league outside battling the elements. Very cold, but priceless fun.    I saw the highlights on TV. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

sac:

Thanks for the follow-up.  I totally understand.  Yeah, I also remember the weather situation for that "Cold War" game at MSU back in 2001 as you mention (difficult to believe it has been that long before they tried this venue again).

Anyway, sounds like the dinner for GVW was great - similar to the one we went to for Ray Smith when he retired.  Have a good time if you are going to the Hope BB games tonight or tomorrow at the annual tournament.  I see where they are leaving for Florida early this week.  Speaking of basketball, I saw where Alma played Western Michigan last week in a regular season game (not an exhibition) and got killed.  While that is a great experience for them (i.e not the "killed part" but rather simply getting the chance to play the DI one guys  ), Alma's basketball teams are not very good and, IMO, it would have been better for one of Hope's or Calvin's best teams to do that (although, of course, neither of them are in that category this year it appears - but that's the way it goes).  I recall that Wheaton almost upset Northwestern about 4 years ago or so; Adrian played U of D many years ago in 1977 when the latter went to the NCAA's under Vitale (Adrian was tied with them 50-50 at halftime, but got blown out in the second half as I recall) and Albion played Eastern Michigan about 3-4 years ago.  All of those games were regular season games and not exhibitions, like some of the other small schools have been playing against the DI teams.

Personally, I have no problem with a DIII team playing a game against the DI's (or ?DII's) in the ealry season - even if you lose, it still is a neat experience.  And besides, you never know - just sometime, perhaps an upset might occurr.  Of course, in baseball, you can get away with playing the "big boys" easier - as it is a much different game in that regard.  Olivet beat Toledo in baseball in 2009; I remeber when Alma split with Iowa State and Georgia Tech many years ago when my brother was playing.  Of course, those latter teams were throwing their 6th and 7th pictures while Alma was using their #1 and #2 "Aces"!   But...I digress....   not much else to do on the eve of The Stagg Bowl, since I can't make it there or to the Hope BB game tonight!

Iowa State and Georgia Tech just had cardboard cutouts on the mound, and Alma could still only get a split?!

[formerd3db]

formerd3db-  I wish I was there suited up in the net. In Elmhurst we have the YMCA which is a recreational adult hockey league outside battling the elements. Very cold, but priceless fun.    I saw the highlights on TV. 

There is something special about playing hockey outside like used to be done almost all the time many years ago for youth hockey (exceptions being the NHL, minor league and college hockey).  So that is fun, but yes, indeed, can be very cold.  I assume, however, that you prefer playing at the indoor arenas for your league!  

Went to see my s-i-l (former Hope College goalie like you ) coaching at the high school hockey game last evening.  Very lively crowd and good game for high school hockey.  But it was even cold indoors too.  BTW, they have a fantastic locker room for both the coaches and players, which matches with (and in some instances) is even better than some DI programs - essentially like the pros.  The head coach played at Michigan State, the with the Pittsburgh Penguins system for several years; he got many people and companies to donate $ - they have 7 differnet jerseys to wear for various commemorations (Cancer Support Night, Environmental Green Night, Military Night,, etc. plus they even have "home and away" helmets; plus moiunted photos of every plyaer he's had who went on to play collegiate and/or pro hockey.  Really something and most of the other high schools are salivating over this as they wish they could be so fortunate to have the same.  Sorry I got carried away rambling about this here on the football site, but, I guess I'm just a proud f-i-l!

[formerd3db]

Mr. Ypsi:

Yeah, I guess it was because the Alma guys were a "little" in the ozone due to the Red Devil chaw they had back then when it was legal before the NCAA banned such miscreant habits!   But, at least they did get the split instead of being creamed in both games of the doubleheaders.  Besides, they played in front of several thousand people in minor league stadiums!  Fantastic experience.