FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

Here and There :

sac: Thanks for the statistics regarding some of the rivalries, as I was too lazy to check that out from the book at the time of my last post and before yours .  As would be expected, Olivet/Albion and Kazoo/Albion have the highest total of games, since those schools had well established programs and playing in the early 1890's, even though Olivet and Albion were playing before then.  Again, the difference in the #1 and #2 slots regarding total # of games for those two rivalries is that Olivet had a least a couple of extended discontinuances of their football program for some years.  Anyway, great stat work as usual and thanks again.

sflzman:  Yes, congrats on 100 +k!

Raider68:  Good luck to your Mount Union Raiders tomorrow in the semi-final game.  I suspect that you will need to dress significantly warmer than you and I did when we sat in the stands at last week's game on your campus.  Also, it has been great to read the various postings and banter this week among the Mount faithful and the Wesley crowd.   I expect the game to be either a very close or like the Wabash game was last week.  Unless Wesley steps up and breaks out of their "implosion mode" like they've done in past years in the latter round playoff games, I think Mount will earn a return trip to the Stagg Bowl.  Anyway, again dress warm for the game tomorrow and I hope you enjoy the day.  Wish I could make the trip down again, but one "blast trip" in a week is about all I can handle!  

[Raider 68]

Here and There :

sac: Thanks for the statistics regarding some of the rivalries, as I was too lazy to check that out from the book at the time of my last post and before yours .  As would be expected, Olivet/Albion and Kazoo/Albion have the highest total of games, since those schools had well established programs and playing in the early 1890's, even though Olivet and Albion were playing before then.  Again, the difference in the #1 and #2 slots regarding total # of games for those two rivalries is that Olivet had a least a couple of extended discontinuances of their football program for some years.  Anyway, great stat work as usual and thanks again.

sflzman:  Yes, congrats on 100 +k!

Raider68:  Good luck to your Mount Union Raiders tomorrow in the semi-final game.  I suspect that you will need to dress significantly warmer than you and I did when we sat in the stands at last week's game on your campus.  Also, it has been great to read the various postings and banter this week among the Mount faithful and the Wesley crowd.   I expect the game to be either a very close or like the Wabash game was last week.  Unless Wesley steps up and breaks out of their "implosion mode" like they've done in past years in the latter round playoff games, I think Mount will earn a return trip to the Stagg Bowl.  Anyway, again dress warm for the game tomorrow and I hope you enjoy the day.  Wish I could make the trip down again, but one "blast trip" in a week is about all I can handle!  

formerd3db,

Thanks for that and I plan to dress somewhat warmer. With just about everthing in storage, we have a limited wardrobe. The game will be good one, and I look for the Raiders to put a good game plan together.
Maybe you can watch on ESPN3.

[formerd3db]

Raider68:
You are welcome and also I forgot about you mentioning your winter clothing in temporary storage due to your recent move!  You just might have to invest in a new Mount Union coat for the game - better get over early to campus to the bookstore before the game!  I will have to check to see if we get ESPN3 - I know I have the other two channels, but believe it or not, I'm not sure if we have the other one!  Duh....   Take care and drive safe.

P.S. Check your PMs - I just sent you one also.

[formerd3db]

Wow, can you believe it?  Our own Wayne State (MI) of the GLIAC winning today in the semi-final playoff game and will be competing for the NCAA Div. II National Championship next week!  What a huge turnaround for that school's program, which was almost dropped back in 1982-1983 by its then mis-guided president. Their head coach and his staff, with support from the administration, has really done a good job in building that program, improving it; their stadium facilities have been wonderfully upgraded/improved and a good following as well as good recruiting.  Overall, wouldn't that be something if they won the title next week?  I'm sure it will be tough though, especially if Pittsburg State from KS, a perennial upper tier DII team and a school that has won the DII national title several years back, wins the other DII semi-final game tonight.  Anyway, very exciting (and surprising that Grand Valley State was not in the mix this year ).

[rome]

The three finalists for the Olivet college head job are Jake Moreland (tight ends at Western Michigan), Dan Pifer (offensive coordinator / special teams coordinator at Trine) and Tyler Haines (offensive coordinator at Adrian College).

[sac]

I was curious.......I count 8 D1 transfers on Wayne State's roster.  The most interesting to me, James Jackson from just down the road in Grand Ledge.  He was a former Buckeye and enrolled early but things didn't pan out for him.  Early enrollees are often on the fast track to playing but not always.

http://wsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4680&path=football

Seems he's had mixed bag of success for the Tartans.  I don't think he's played in the playoffs.

[formerd3db]

rome:
Where have you been all season?  You should have been posting - you were missed on our board.  Anyway, I saw that release also, however, I am very surprised that the college would announce finalists like that.  We know that the big schools via the media usually report all the rumors, although sometimes they allow the media to report naming of those "in the running", however, this is surprising to me at this level.  Not sure how fair that is to the candidates.  Just my opinion.

sac:
I saw that too.  WSU's coach has done a great job, although I've heard rumors that he is the leading candidate for the DI Akron job.  If he leaves, that would be a big blow to Wayne State.  BTW, a former Hope player is one of their assistant coaches (actually, his second stint).  I'll be rooting for them next week in the DII national title game.

[fbgab]

They must be ultra-confident one of the three will take the job, and are not using this opportunity to gain exp. 

[skunks_sidekick]

Wow, can you believe it?  Our own Wayne State (MI) of the GLIAC winning today in the semi-final playoff game and will be competing for the NCAA Div. II National Championship next week!  What a huge turnaround for that school's program, which was almost dropped back in 1982-1983 by its then mis-guided president. Their head coach and his staff, with support from the administration, has really done a good job in building that program, improving it; their stadium facilities have been wonderfully upgraded/improved and a good following as well as good recruiting.  Overall, wouldn't that be something if they won the title next week?  I'm sure it will be tough though, especially if Pittsburg State from KS, a perennial upper tier DII team and a school that has won the DII national title several years back, wins the other DII semi-final game tonight.  Anyway, very exciting (and surprising that Grand Valley State was not in the mix this year ).

Read that the Wayne State coach has been mentioned for the Akron (and maybe even Toledo) job?  I think I might have read it here in the Canton Rep.  He sounds like a great coach, that has turned a program around.  I know Akron could sure use a guy like that!

[formerd3db]

fbgab:
I agree with you.  I doubt hightly that any of these 3 will turn the job down if offered.  Regardless, I still think that releasing the names like that (with full bios no less) was not the way to do it.

skunks:
I agree with you also.  If he got offered the Toledo job, he would not have far to move, although certainly Akron is not that horribly farther to move.  Regardless, as I said, if he is offered and accepts either of those jobs, I believe he will take most of the staff with him - several of those guys played at the DI level and IMO, just based on their bios, would be the type of coaches who desire to move on to the next level.  If they do go, it will be a blow to Wayne State's program, IMO, because even though Winters has built that program up and will leave it in very good shape, it will still be a challenge for a new coach to come in and go on from there.  Not that it is impossible to do that, but I think the momentum "buster" of just having a change will be challenging to say the least.  We'll see what happens.  Yet, as you mention, who ever gets him (if it is, in fact, Toledo or Akron) will be getting a very good coach and good man.

[Stinger]

fbgab:
I agree with you.  I doubt hightly that any of these 3 will turn the job down if offered.  Regardless, I still think that releasing the names like that (with full bios no less) was not the way to do it.

skunks:
I agree with you also.  If he got offered the Toledo job, he would not have far to move, although certainly Akron is not that horribly farther to move.  Regardless, as I said, if he is offered and accepts either of those jobs, I believe he will take most of the staff with him - several of those guys played at the DI level and IMO, just based on their bios, would be the type of coaches who desire to move on to the next level.  If they do go, it will be a blow to Wayne State's program, IMO, because even though Winters has built that program up and will leave it in very good shape, it will still be a challenge for a new coach to come in and go on from there.  Not that it is impossible to do that, but I think the momentum "buster" of just having a change will be challenging to say the least.  We'll see what happens.  Yet, as you mention, who ever gets him (if it is, in fact, Toledo or Akron) will be getting a very good coach and good man.

I read this morning that Wayne State redshirts all of their first-year's.  Very interesting way of doing things.

[formerd3db]

stinger:
That, indeed, is surprising.  I don't believe that the other GLIAC schools redshirt all of their first year players.

[skunks_sidekick]

With Campbell becoming the "permanent" HC at Toledo, I wonder if this amps up Akron's efforts to land Winters?

[formerd3db]

skunks:

I think it would, especially if Wayne State wins the DII National Championship this weekend.  On the other hand, even if they lost, I would hope that Akron would still consider him (if he is that seriously interested in leaving Wayne State).  Even with a loss in the last game of a season, some coaches have still been selected for the new position at some other programs.  We'll see what goes after the DII final this weekend.  Keep us posted on anything you hear.  Thanks.

[Flying Dutchman56]

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/feature/x1761817199/Hope-College-Holland-and-Holland-Public-Schools-plan-stadium-co-ownership-improvements

Great news for Hope Football and another example of the great relationship that the City of Holland and Hope College share!