FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Raider 68]

Fall of 2011 will tell the tale for U of M under a new coaching staff. An 8-4 record and a Bowl game would be a good first year, but do not look for a victory over Ohio State for yet awhile. Not the same level of talent yet!
IMHO!

Now who will be a top MIAA team this fall other than Trine?

[formerd3db]

Pat:

I agree with you also on that.  BTW, sorry to hear about your friend who was on Minnesota's staff until last month.  I hope he lands a good job somewhere else - keep us posted.  It is always (at least IMO) good to see and follow the careers in where many of these assistants go.

[formerd3db]

sac:

I agree with you also re: Brandon most likely not "telling us the entire" story - but...that is his perogative.  At the same time, doesn't mean we have to like it!

[sflzman]

Raider 68: Who will be a top team this fall other than Trine...

If by top team you mean will finish 2nd...

In my opinion you have to say Albion as the oblivous with the way you know their offense can be.

I'd also have to say Adrian will make a run for that spot because, though they never wow you, they're usually a solid team...

I'd also say Alma is close with Jarrett Leister coming back as a RS So. but unless there is big production from young WRs the offense will not be top-level. On a side note the 7 starters return on D

Other than those 3 I don't see who else has a remote chance of contending with Trine...

[Raider 68]

Raider 68: Who will be a top team this fall other than Trine...

If by top team you mean will finish 2nd...

In my opinion you have to say Albion as the oblivous with the way you know their offense can be.

I'd also have to say Adrian will make a run for that spot because, though they never wow you, they're usually a solid team...

I'd also say Alma is close with Jarrett Leister coming back as a RS So. but unless there is big production from young WRs the offense will not be top-level. On a side note the 7 starters return on D

Other than those 3 I don't see who else has a remote chance of contending with Trine...

sflzman,

Thanks, I was thinking the same thing, but between Albion, Alma and Adrian, I am not sure which of those has the most experienced players returning! +k  

[sflzman]

Alma returns week 10 starters at:
QB, 2/4 WR, 5/5 OL, 1/4 DL, 3/3 LB, 4/4 DB
16/22 Total

Adrian returns week 10 starters at:
2/2 RB, 2/2 WR, 3/5 OL, 3/4 DL, 2/4 LB (2/2 OLB), 3/3 DB
15/22 Total

Albion returns week 6 starters at:
QB, 2/2 RB, WR, SE, TE, 2/5 OL, 1/4 DL, 3/3 LB, 4/4 DB
16/22 Total

[Raider 68]

Alma returns week 10 starters at:
QB, 2/4 WR, 5/5 OL, 1/4 DL, 3/3 LB, 4/4 DB
16/22 Total

Adrian returns week 10 starters at:
2/2 RB, 2/2 WR, 3/5 OL, 3/4 DL, 2/4 LB (2/2 OLB), 3/3 DB
15/22 Total

Albion returns week 6 starters at:
QB, 2/2 RB, WR, SE, TE, 2/5 OL, 1/4 DL, 3/3 LB, 4/4 DB
16/22 Total

Thanks Sflzman,

The 2011 non-conference schedule for Adrian is out there with a game against Augustana. Could be a good indicator. I did not find Alma or Albion!

[formerd3db]

Raider68 and sflzman:

I agree with your assessments i.e. Albion, Adrian and Alma as being the front-runners to challenge Trine this fall in 2011 for the title and...in that order.  While Alma will be right up there IMO as they are very explosive, they still can be inconsistent from week to week i.e. erratic.  Some people have attritubted that to the type of offense they've run for years (the "run and shoot" or wide-open spread as you all know), although that is always the case with that type of offensive scheme.  BTW, as an aside i.e. "side bar" here - recall that they, in reality, were the first to use that when Leister installed it before any of the more major universities started doing it, including in the Big Ten.

Anyway, I rate Adrian behind Albion because while the latter was coming on strong in the second half and did play Trine very tough, they just didn't seem to have that "knock out punch" to put them over the top, IMO (even though they smashed us i.e. Hope at their place).  Albion, after a slow start last fall and despite some people saying they weren't quite that good, I still believe will be the front challenger.  I could be wrong, of course, as we all know how unpredictable the MIAA race is once the league games start coming into play.

I do look forward, though, to a (hopefully ) improved year for the MIAA overall. 

P.S. BTW, sflzma, how is the new Alma basketball arena?  It looks fantastic on the photos on the website (although they only have a few).

[sflzman]

Yes I would say the same order and I agree with the lack of - can we call it starpower? - that Adrian has, though they are solid and consistant. Alma's non-con schedule is as follows:

Sep. 3    Heidelberg University    Tiffin, OH
Sep. 10    Illinois Wesleyan Univeristy    Alma, MI    
Sep. 17    Rockford College    Rockford, IL
Sep. 24    Hanover College    Alma, MI This game probably will not be played, who we are playing is a question that i don't think anyone at Alma can answer. Hanover backed out of the game this year (why we played d-2 KWC), which would mean we probably are not playing them this year either...

The new basketball arena is great, and the video board is better than anything Hope or Calvin can  show off...The arena also has a low-ceiling design which allows the building to get loud - really loud - very quickly...

There was an Alma vs. Ithaca high school game over winter break in the arena that brought in over 1500 people...the building was completely fired up and at times was so loud you found yourself shouting to the person next to you...

[sflzman]

But on the flip-side, to be fair I should point out the things that aren't as good in the arena as well...

There is no center hung scoreboard.
There is no live video/instant replay on the video board.
The walls inside the arena are bare (needs banners and all that jazz)
The arena averages more attendance for volleyball than for basketball so it is never as loud as it could be

[Raider 68]

Yes I would say the same order and I agree with the lack of - can we call it starpower? - that Adrian has, though they are solid and consistant. Alma's non-con schedule is as follows:

Sep. 3    Heidelberg University    Tiffin, OH
Sep. 10    Illinois Wesleyan Univeristy    Alma, MI    
Sep. 17    Rockford College    Rockford, IL
Sep. 24    Hanover College    Alma, MI This game probably will not be played, who we are playing is a question that i don't think anyone at Alma can answer. Hanover backed out of the game this year (why we played d-2 KWC), which would mean we probably are not playing them this year either...

The new basketball arena is great, and the video board is better than anything Hope or Calvin can  show off...The arena also has a low-ceiling design which allows the building to get loud - really loud - very quickly...

There was an Alma vs. Ithaca high school game over winter break in the arena that brought in over 1500 people...the building was completely fired up and at times was so loud you found yourself shouting to the person next to you...

Heidelberg will be a competitive game for Alma. Under Coach Hallet (Mount Union), he has over the past 3 years taken Heidelberg form a lower tier OAC team to the middle of the conference! Heidelberg is a high scoring team, so we will see!

[formerd3db]

But on the flip-side, to be fair I should point out the things that aren't as good in the arena as well...

There is no center hung scoreboard.
There is no live video/instant replay on the video board.
The walls inside the arena are bare (needs banners and all that jazz)
The arena averages more attendance for volleyball than for basketball so it is never as loud as it could be

That's too bad.  Indeed, they should have put instant replay on the video board; secondly, I thought the original plans called for a suspended center hung scoreboard like Hope's; third, I thought that volleyball was going to remain being played in the Capphart Gynasium, although, on second thought, it does make sense for the volleyball team to be afforded the same privileges of playing in the new arena as the basketball teams.


Finally, for sure, Alma needs to get some banners and large photos up around the arena (similar to Michigan State Football Stadium or their hockey arena - i.e. some large photos (historic and of players also) would be a nice touch there instead of the routine "title" i.e. and championship banners that most places hang.  Although, unfuortunately for Alma College, they don't have many of those in basketball or volleyball   (although the volleyball team has done better in some recent years) (I did not intend that as a negative or mean spirited comment, but rather just trying to state the reality).

[formerd3db]

Heidelberg will be a tougher game for Alma, as will Illinois Wesleyan: IWU will beat Alma.  I see wins at Rockford and possibly Hanover, but the latter school may be a tough game for them as well -if it is played.  Do you think Alma will then schedule a "cream puff" in place of Hanover if that game is not played?   I guess it depends on who has an open schedule for a game them (or...will they start earlier or schedule a game in their presently scheduled "bye" weekend?).

[Raider 68]

But on the flip-side, to be fair I should point out the things that aren't as good in the arena as well...

There is no center hung scoreboard.
There is no live video/instant replay on the video board.
The walls inside the arena are bare (needs banners and all that jazz)
The arena averages more attendance for volleyball than for basketball so it is never as loud as it could be

That's too bad.  Indeed, they should have put instant replay on the video board; secondly, I thought the original plans called for a suspended center hung scoreboard like Hope's; third, I thought that volleyball was going to remain being played in the Capphart Gynasium, although, on second thought, it does make sense for the volleyball team to be afforded the same privileges of playing in the new arena as the basketball teams.


Finally, for sure, Alma needs to get some banners and large photos up around the arena (similar to Michigan State Football Stadium or their hockey arena - i.e. some large photos (historic and of players also) would be a nice touch there instead of the routine "title" i.e. and championship banners that most places hang.  Although, unfuortunately for Alma College, they don't have many of those in basketball or volleyball   (although the volleyball team has done better in some recent years) (I did not intend that as a negative or mean spirited comment, but rather just trying to state the reality).

formerd3db,

If a school (Alma) does not have the historical sports awards banners, then I would start be using banners to celebrate the school's attributes, then slowing replace them with the awards they do receive. Use the school's colors and mottos' in inspire success versus an empty facility!, IMHO

[formerd3db]

Raider68:

That is a very good idea.  I hadn't even given it a thought.  Perhaps in that venue, as you mention, they could bring back some of the early historic althletic logos, tradtional slogans, as well.  Good suggestion, +k for you!

How about it sflzman?  Can you start a campaign to get them to do it??