FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[ThunderHead]

Despite the driving distances for a long time Tri-State was a bottom feeder in the MIAA as a football program.

The facilities have come about because of the winning, and yet the change in direction from the leadership at the university has played an equally large roll. I think recruits in the midwest are just now becoming aware of Trine, as most kids on the current team have told me they never heard of Trine prior to their recruitment.

A few more years of success might change that.

Go Trine

[Pat Coleman]

I've always found that style of message board to be messy and a pain to deal with. The NEW icon next to the topic name helps people get to the spot where new messages start and that helps mitigate the fact that it is indeed one long string.

[Ralph Turner]

I still think it has a lot to do with facilities and atmosphere, at least for football. Kids always want to play where the lights are bright, the crowds are big, and the football is top notch.

While I think that private education is outrageously high, I understand - to an extent, why that is. And yet I would still value an OSU, MSU, PSU, or Wisconsin degree with as much consideration as one from any MIAA school. So I kinda think some people who act like $$$ = prestige, just kinda have their head in the sand sometimes.

Go Trine!

ps - on an unrelated topic, is there any reason that this message board operates as one big string of responses? I've never seen a board formated this way. Most have areas for "new topics" and such, within an area, ei MIAA. Just a question.

Welcome to the boards, Thunderhead.

Most of the posters have gotten used to this format very quickly.  You will find that you have comments on just a few boards each day.  You will taken to the oldest un-viewed post by the software on the various boards, and you can read from there.

From an archival perspective, it is easier (IMHO) to deal with than a message board such as D2football.com. (That message board seems incoherent, chaotic and out-of-control.)

[matblake]

I think recruits in the midwest are just now becoming aware of Trine, as most kids on the current team have told me they never heard of Trine prior to their recruitment. 

I think this is standard for a lot of colleges/universities across all divisions and the NAIA.  There are a multitude of schools to choose from and most don't get the automatic exposure of the big "power" conferences of Division I Football/Basketball.  I would say even the perennial top teams of Division III (UW-Whitewater, Mt. Union, Wesley, St. John's, Linfield, Mary Hardin Baylor) would have players on the team that had never heard of the school prior to recruitment.  I'm just not sure that winning at the Division III level draws more attention to a school like it does for the teams in the FBS.  There are just too many choices.  It's the academics and the programs and facilities that open a potential student's eyes once they are recruited or hear about the school.   

[Joe Wally]

I think recruits in the midwest are just now becoming aware of Trine, as most kids on the current team have told me they never heard of Trine prior to their recruitment. 

I think this is standard for a lot of colleges/universities across all divisions and the NAIA.  There are a multitude of schools to choose from and most don't get the automatic exposure of the big "power" conferences of Division I Football/Basketball.  I would say even the perennial top teams of Division III (UW-Whitewater, Mt. Union, Wesley, St. John's, Linfield, Mary Hardin Baylor) would have players on the team that had never heard of the school prior to recruitment.  I'm just not sure that winning at the Division III level draws more attention to a school like it does for the teams in the FBS.  There are just too many choices.  It's the academics and the programs and facilities that open a potential student's eyes once they are recruited or hear about the school.   

That situation might be improving slightly with ESPN's broadcasting of the Stagg bowl - why they don't televise more DIII games is beyond me - but overall I suspect you are right.

[sac]

I had never heard of Tri-State until we played a golf tournament there in college.......and I grew up about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Angola.......and had an uncle who apparently went there.


I think one of the best things Trine did from an image perspective was change their name........realizing it took a big donation to do so.  Joining an NCAA conference didn't hurt, nor did spending money to improve facilities across the board.   Trine also seems to offer a few areas of study that their peers don't necessarily offer.

  Tri-State just never sounded like a great place to go to college

[LetItRain]

Our son graduated from high school in 2007.  He chose to go to Trine (then Tri-State) because they offered an engineering degree (unlike the other MIAA schools that were recruiting him) and because he liked Coach Matt Land, Coach Jake Kinsey, and Coach Dan Musielewisc (Moose).  Having just come off a 2 - 8 season we had no reason to believe that Trine was going to get any better in football, but we DID believe it because of these three coaches.  You could feel it on campus.  Trine football was on the verge of something special and we absolutely knew it.

The administration at Trine hired Coach Matt Land on a leap of faith and they could not have made a better choice.  The success of the program under Coach Land's guidance has lead to the the facilities improvement (although some plans were already in the works when they hired him).  Trine also had the foresight to switch from NAIA to NCAA and join the MIAA a few years before my son arrived on campus.  All fantastic moves.

Of course the program has gained in popularity because of the success of the last 3 years, but we are some of the true believers that put our faith in Trine and Coach Land before it was popular to do so and we've never regretted it. 

I'm not sure I have a specific point here other than Trine is relatively new to the MIAA and new to the NCAA.  Again - the administration at Trine made some very good decisions a few years ago and it's paying off in a big way now. 

Signed,
A true Trine believer and huge Thunder football fan!

GO THUNDER!!

[Raider 68]

Our son graduated from high school in 2007.  He chose to go to Trine (then Tri-State) because they offered an engineering degree (unlike the other MIAA schools that were recruiting him) and because he liked Coach Matt Land, Coach Jake Kinsey, and Coach Dan Musielewisc (Moose).  Having just come off a 2 - 8 season we had no reason to believe that Trine was going to get any better in football, but we DID believe it because of these three coaches.  You could feel it on campus.  Trine football was on the verge of something special and we absolutely knew it.

The administration at Trine hired Coach Matt Land on a leap of faith and they could not have made a better choice.  The success of the program under Coach Land's guidance has lead to the the facilities improvement (although some plans were already in the works when they hired him).  Trine also had the foresight to switch from NAIA to NCAA and join the MIAA a few years before my son arrived on campus.  All fantastic moves.

Of course the program has gained in popularity because of the success of the last 3 years, but we are some of the true believers that put our faith in Trine and Coach Land before it was popular to do so and we've never regretted it. 

I'm not sure I have a specific point here other than Trine is relatively new to the MIAA and new to the NCAA.  Again - the administration at Trine made some very good decisions a few years ago and it's paying off in a big way now. 

Signed,
A true Trine believer and huge Thunder football fan!

GO THUNDER!!

Trine is doing all the right things to be a successful program. From the name change to facilities. great coaches and the formula for winning. I takes all of those factors and  the top recruits will come. Mount Union knows a thing or two about that as well!

[ThunderHead]

LetItRain - great post.

I agree Coach Land is really the progressive step forward Trine had been looking for with football. And joining the NCAA was a great jump from the NAIA.

It's my opinion that Coach Land is the best coach in the MIAA, and he has a very gifted staff.

Go TRINE!

[Green Dragoon]

Thunder Head how would you feel about this kid starting as a QB for Trine?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysx1m_UL-Js

His name is Anthony Yoder and he committed to Trine on the 26th.  Over his two years starting he threw for over 4,000 yards with 48 TD's and over 1,000 rush yards with 22 TD's.  He also started three years as a CB.  And btw he also finished 3rd place at state as a Jr in the 300 hurdles.

[Raider 68]

Thunder Head how would you feel about this kid starting as a QB for Trine?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysx1m_UL-Js

His name is Anthony Yoder and he committed to Trine on the 26th.  Over his two years starting he threw for over 4,000 yards with 48 TD's and over 1,000 rush yards with 22 TD's.  He also started three years as a CB.  And btw he also finished 3rd place at state as a Jr in the 300 hurdles.

Green Dragoon,

Welcome the boards, good info on another Trine recruit! +k

[Green Dragoon]

Green Dragoon,

Welcome the boards, good info on another Trine recruit! +k
[/quote]

Thank you good sir!

[ThunderHead]

Hey Mr. Yoder looks really good. He's got a super quick release.

I just had lunch with a business associate who's kid plays at Trine. He told me Trine also got a kid named Casey Blackport coming in to, a transfer from Michigan State. He's 6'4'' and I guess close to 200. Looks really good as I guess he's met a few of the guys at a recent visit. Should be a good battle for the QB spot.

Found this from googling him, this I think is from his senior year. That high school facility looks HUGE. He was 18-5 as a starter in the OK Red conference, one of the largest in the state of Michigan according to the Detroit Free Press.

It also says in he was one of the top intermediate huddlers in his conference his jr and senior season. Went to MSU where he ran the scout team offense against the 1st team defense during his red-shirt year of 2009. Looks like he has four years of eligibility left.

I wonder if he came way of Ken Mannie, the MSU strength coach. I think coach simrell hired Coach Mannie while he was at Toledo. And with Coach Simrell being the QB coach and Trine graduating Eric, I wonder if he put out some "feelers".

Here is some film that was online under his google videos. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASLxyziuLxg

and

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/AMP-State-College-Elite-11-highlights-30952;_ylt=AhHVMRdQb25Za.xhkzXXEkIh7qB4

^^^ really impressive to me.

Should be fun to watch. I'm even more excited about this season!!!! Go TRINE!

This picture was attached to his google link. Looks like a strong kid, would look better with the "T"

[Uncle Rico]

For whatever it is worth, I have heard that QB Hargraves has looked very good this spring.  Although I am sure he will be pushed by the new kids, he has a couple of years experience in the system.  I also believe Biller has been running under the radar with all the attention on Watt.  Biller is an all league RB and can more than handle additional responsibility.  It will be a very interesting season.

[ThunderHead]

I agree Biller is poised to have a great season, but nothing sets up the run like the pass, and vice versa.

This all said, while I do like Ryan, I don't see his experience in the system as that big of an advantage. Anytime a kids been in a D1 system (like Blackport) or started many season at the varsity level (like Yoder) I think they are more then capable of picking up a system, and doing so quickly.

I wouldn't be foolish enough to say Ryan doesn't have a leg up, I'm just thinking the competition might be as difficult as it's ever been at Trine for the QB position.

This is all a real credit to Coach Land and his staff.

Go Trine!!