FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Raider 68]

Former:

I agree with you completely and 100%. You can't have issues like that on a team that's going to win. I also know a few players who got benched in the middle of games for not following the very strict rule that you can't throw helmets.

IMO, I think this must have team had some mental toughness and discipline issues. Either that, or there was locker room issues, because they just fell apart towards the end of the season. You go from losing a tough OT game at Heidelberg, to almost beating a really good IWU squad, to losing by 1 to a pretty good Washington and Lee team, there was a trouncing of Rockford in there as well, but I just don't know how they could be so bad in conference play after such a promising non-con schedule....

Anyways, hopefully Poscodna can turn things around and bring a new attitude to the Scots football program....

sflzman,

Can the new HC make that much of an impact in one year? And, are the expectations a bit too high or not?

[sflzman]

Former:

I agree with you completely and 100%. You can't have issues like that on a team that's going to win. I also know a few players who got benched in the middle of games for not following the very strict rule that you can't throw helmets.

IMO, I think this must have team had some mental toughness and discipline issues. Either that, or there was locker room issues, because they just fell apart towards the end of the season. You go from losing a tough OT game at Heidelberg, to almost beating a really good IWU squad, to losing by 1 to a pretty good Washington and Lee team, there was a trouncing of Rockford in there as well, but I just don't know how they could be so bad in conference play after such a promising non-con schedule....

Anyways, hopefully Poscodna can turn things around and bring a new attitude to the Scots football program....

sflzman,

Can the new HC make that much of an impact in one year? And, are the expectations a bit too high or not?

I don't know. Hopefully, but we lose so much and I have no idea what recruiting will look like...

Losing Sabatella, Galarno, Bovee, Cole, Halas, and Thelen on defense will be tough. And then on offense the two top weapons in the passing game will be gone as well....

[wisd3fan2]

While it is only January, the 2012 MIAA conference title is up for grabs for the fall, IMHO! Not sure which team really as the inside track and which team may the abillity to make a playoff statement?

The new ratings are out and again they show the MIAA as gaining ground Nationally. Albion is rated on top and is climbing in the National D3 ratings. Adrian and Hope are also moving up. Alma is next and it is thought that with their coaching changes good things will happen there. They will have a stronger recruiting class this year. Kalamazoo stayed where they were in the ratings but are however bringing in some strong recruits this year. Next is Trine which from 2010 til now has fallen more than any team in D3. Going from as high as 8 in D3 (2010) to out of the top 100 and still falling. It seems that their problems are with the offensive coaching staff and with their OC going to HC at Olivet the ratings are showing these two teams will be the bottom dwellers.
As a whole the MIAA should be more competitive Nationally. Watch for Albion, Adrian, Hope, but do not count out Alma.

[Raider 68]

While it is only January, the 2012 MIAA conference title is up for grabs for the fall, IMHO! Not sure which team really as the inside track and which team may the abillity to make a playoff statement?

The new ratings are out and again they show the MIAA as gaining ground Nationally. Albion is rated on top and is climbing in the National D3 ratings. Adrian and Hope are also moving up. Alma is next and it is thought that with their coaching changes good things will happen there. They will have a stronger recruiting class this year. Kalamazoo stayed where they were in the ratings but are however bringing in some strong recruits this year. Next is Trine which from 2010 til now has fallen more than any team in D3. Going from as high as 8 in D3 (2010) to out of the top 100 and still falling. It seems that their problems are with the offensive coaching staff and with their OC going to HC at Olivet the ratings are showing these two teams will be the bottom dwellers.
As a whole the MIAA should be more competitive Nationally. Watch for Albion, Adrian, Hope, but do not count out Alma.

wisd3fan2,

Is there a link on the ratings?

[sflzman]

While it is only January, the 2012 MIAA conference title is up for grabs for the fall, IMHO! Not sure which team really as the inside track and which team may the abillity to make a playoff statement?

The new ratings are out and again they show the MIAA as gaining ground Nationally. Albion is rated on top and is climbing in the National D3 ratings. Adrian and Hope are also moving up. Alma is next and it is thought that with their coaching changes good things will happen there. They will have a stronger recruiting class this year. Kalamazoo stayed where they were in the ratings but are however bringing in some strong recruits this year. Next is Trine which from 2010 til now has fallen more than any team in D3. Going from as high as 8 in D3 (2010) to out of the top 100 and still falling. It seems that their problems are with the offensive coaching staff and with their OC going to HC at Olivet the ratings are showing these two teams will be the bottom dwellers.
As a whole the MIAA should be more competitive Nationally. Watch for Albion, Adrian, Hope, but do not count out Alma.

There's a "crap-ton" (yeah, gotta love a Gratiot county education  ) of recruits coming on campus this week. Coach has kids coming in non stop this whole week....looks to be some hectic times for Scot football these next couple of weeks.

[adidas28]

While it is only January, the 2012 MIAA conference title is up for grabs for the fall, IMHO! Not sure which team really as the inside track and which team may the abillity to make a playoff statement?

The new ratings are out and again they show the MIAA as gaining ground Nationally. Albion is rated on top and is climbing in the National D3 ratings. Adrian and Hope are also moving up. Alma is next and it is thought that with their coaching changes good things will happen there. They will have a stronger recruiting class this year. Kalamazoo stayed where they were in the ratings but are however bringing in some strong recruits this year. Next is Trine which from 2010 til now has fallen more than any team in D3. Going from as high as 8 in D3 (2010) to out of the top 100 and still falling. It seems that their problems are with the offensive coaching staff and with their OC going to HC at Olivet the ratings are showing these two teams will be the bottom dwellers.
As a whole the MIAA should be more competitive Nationally. Watch for Albion, Adrian, Hope, but do not count out Alma.

Trine will not be a bottom dweller in the MIAA next year. They will be improved, and in my opinion the OC leaving will help the offense as changes will be made and tendencies will be erased. Regardless if they use a similar system or make a change the new guy calling the plays will put his spin on the old system or his mark on the team with a new system. Haven't heard much on recruiting yet, but then again we usually don't until fall camp starts.

[Raider 68]

While it is only January, the 2012 MIAA conference title is up for grabs for the fall, IMHO! Not sure which team really as the inside track and which team may the abillity to make a playoff statement?

The new ratings are out and again they show the MIAA as gaining ground Nationally. Albion is rated on top and is climbing in the National D3 ratings. Adrian and Hope are also moving up. Alma is next and it is thought that with their coaching changes good things will happen there. They will have a stronger recruiting class this year. Kalamazoo stayed where they were in the ratings but are however bringing in some strong recruits this year. Next is Trine which from 2010 til now has fallen more than any team in D3. Going from as high as 8 in D3 (2010) to out of the top 100 and still falling. It seems that their problems are with the offensive coaching staff and with their OC going to HC at Olivet the ratings are showing these two teams will be the bottom dwellers.
As a whole the MIAA should be more competitive Nationally. Watch for Albion, Adrian, Hope, but do not count out Alma.

Trine will not be a bottom dweller in the MIAA next year. They will be improved, and in my opinion the OC leaving will help the offense as changes will be made and tendencies will be erased. Regardless if they use a similar system or make a change the new guy calling the plays will put his spin on the old system or his mark on the team with a new system. Haven't heard much on recruiting yet, but then again we usually don't until fall camp starts.

adidas28,

Thanks, hope all is well!

[AlmaFan27]

While it is only January, the 2012 MIAA conference title is up for grabs for the fall, IMHO! Not sure which team really as the inside track and which team may the abillity to make a playoff statement?

The new ratings are out and again they show the MIAA as gaining ground Nationally. Albion is rated on top and is climbing in the National D3 ratings. Adrian and Hope are also moving up. Alma is next and it is thought that with their coaching changes good things will happen there. They will have a stronger recruiting class this year. Kalamazoo stayed where they were in the ratings but are however bringing in some strong recruits this year. Next is Trine which from 2010 til now has fallen more than any team in D3. Going from as high as 8 in D3 (2010) to out of the top 100 and still falling. It seems that their problems are with the offensive coaching staff and with their OC going to HC at Olivet the ratings are showing these two teams will be the bottom dwellers.
As a whole the MIAA should be more competitive Nationally. Watch for Albion, Adrian, Hope, but do not count out Alma.

There's a "crap-ton" (yeah, gotta love a Gratiot county education  ) of recruits coming on campus this week. Coach has kids coming in non stop this whole week....looks to be some hectic times for Scot football these next couple of weeks.

I like to hear this information.   

[formerd3db]

adidas28:

So, are we then to assume that you and your other Trine colleagues who were not so enthralled with the former OC at Trine (and, as such, as much as you and the others have indicated) are saying that Olivet will not do as well either because of his now being there and the system he runs?  Just curious.

[formerd3db]

Raider68:
Check your PMs.

[sflzman]

While it is only January, the 2012 MIAA conference title is up for grabs for the fall, IMHO! Not sure which team really as the inside track and which team may the abillity to make a playoff statement?

The new ratings are out and again they show the MIAA as gaining ground Nationally. Albion is rated on top and is climbing in the National D3 ratings. Adrian and Hope are also moving up. Alma is next and it is thought that with their coaching changes good things will happen there. They will have a stronger recruiting class this year. Kalamazoo stayed where they were in the ratings but are however bringing in some strong recruits this year. Next is Trine which from 2010 til now has fallen more than any team in D3. Going from as high as 8 in D3 (2010) to out of the top 100 and still falling. It seems that their problems are with the offensive coaching staff and with their OC going to HC at Olivet the ratings are showing these two teams will be the bottom dwellers.
As a whole the MIAA should be more competitive Nationally. Watch for Albion, Adrian, Hope, but do not count out Alma.

There's a "crap-ton" (yeah, gotta love a Gratiot county education  ) of recruits coming on campus this week. Coach has kids coming in non stop this whole week....looks to be some hectic times for Scot football these next couple of weeks.

I like to hear this information.   

Saw coach in his office this morning (still have yet to meet him) and there was truly a line of recruits coming through. Tour, meeting with Lewis, and some other assistant coaches, then meeting with the Head Coach. It was cool to see these guys coming through like that.

Good sign IMO

[adidas28]

adidas28:

So, are we then to assume that you and your other Trine colleagues who were not so enthralled with the former OC at Trine (and, as such, as much as you and the others have indicated) are saying that Olivet will not do as well either because of his now being there and the system he runs?  Just curious.

No, that's not at all what I was saying at all. I never had an issue with any of the coaches at Trine. I'm glad both of my sons were able to play for them.  I defended every one of them. Pifer will do fine once he gets his kind of kids in their to run the system. What I was saying was the other coaches had 5 years of film on Trine and the offense and therfore probably were able to find some tendencies that helped them on defense. New system or not the new OC will likely have different tendencies.

[formerd3db]

adidas28:

So, are we then to assume that you and your other Trine colleagues who were not so enthralled with the former OC at Trine (and, as such, as much as you and the others have indicated) are saying that Olivet will not do as well either because of his now being there and the system he runs?  Just curious.

No, that's not at all what I was saying at all. I never had an issue with any of the coaches at Trine. I'm glad both of my sons were able to play for them.  I defended every one of them. Pifer will do fine once he gets his kind of kids in their to run the system. What I was saying was the other coaches had 5 years of film on Trine and the offense and therfore probably were able to find some tendencies that helped them on defense. New system or not the new OC will likely have different tendencies.

Glad you clarified that, thank you.  Because that is not how it came across via some of the others who posted here during the season, although perhaps I misinterpreted that and, if I did, my apologies.  I wasn't saying that you did, rather I was just "asking the question".   At the same time, (and just for the sake of discussion since it is the "off-season" ) using your philosophy, I suspect that we could make the same arguements in regards to some of the other teams in the league when they have had some "down years" (such as Albion, Hope and Alma) who have run the same offensive systems year after year after year.  That may be part of it, yet on the other hand, I also believe it comes down to the personnel that one has each year.  By that I mean, if you have a rather talented group of players above and beyond what you might have had in some stretches before, then, of course, you are going to most likely be more successful even if you run the same system. Of course, that works well when you have some very successful years such as Trine recently has as "everyone then wants to go to your school" i.e. recruiting is good.  Yet, as many of us have discussed here on this board several times in the past 2-3 years, the number of scholarship schools/opportunities that are in our region for DII and NAIA (even though Trine left the scholarship program model) have hurt recruiting much for many of the MIAA schools. 

However, getting back to the question of offensive systems, as you allude to, one can also become "stale" over time and, without question, some changes i.e. tweaks need to be made from time to time in a season or two (for example like throwing in some "trick" plays and/or just simply taking a chance in a series once in awhile).  As you and I and everyone also well know, player attitudes play a big part of that depending on the year.

Anyway, as everyone here has said; even though our MIAA race seems to be interesting and have a great race every year, I sense that will be even more so this year.  It will be interesting to see how all the teams respond, especially those with new coaches and or coordinators at the helm. 

[formerd3db]

sflzman:

With that many guys parading through as you describe, did you happen to see if they (the coaches) were using one of those "cattle prods" from that huge cattle farm just north of the Alma city limits along U-23?!!!   Just kidding!   I just had to throw that one in there after seeing that recent commercial where the guys pokes the other with the cattle prod - I think it is an insurance commercial, but I'm not sure just off the top of my head.  

[Mr. Ypsi]

sflzman:

With that many guys parading through as you describe, did you happen to see if they (the coaches) were using one of those "cattle prods" from that huge cattle farm just north of the Alma city limits along U-23?!!!   Just kidding!   I just had to throw that one in there after seeing that recent commercial where the guys pokes the other with the cattle prod - I think it is an insurance commercial, but I'm not sure just off the top of my head.

More importantly, were the recruits so big that the coaches would be tempted to use cattle prods!

After viewing what you almost did to my Titans (a pool C team), I am still in disbelief how your season turned out.