FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

wised3fan2:
We're all doing good here (as far as I know!).  Although I realize you were posting, in part, in talking to our Alma colleagues here, it is good to have you post again here, as you have periodically - thanks for dropping by on our board.  Also, I guess I had forgot that Oshkosh almost beat Whitewater this past fall.  Oshkosh may, indeed, be a power to be reckoned with this year.

Mr. Ypsi:
Good history post.  Also, any chance we can get together for another visit this fall when your IWU comes to our place at Hope?  Let's try to work something out - it was fun last year up at Ithaca before the Alma game.  I hope you are doing well. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

wised3fan2:
We're all doing good here (as far as I know!).  Although I realize you were posting, in part, in talking to our Alma colleagues here, it is good to have you post again here, as you have periodically - thanks for dropping by on our board.  Also, I guess I had forgot that Oshkosh almost beat Whitewater this past fall.  Oshkosh may, indeed, be a power to be reckoned with this year.

Mr. Ypsi:
Good history post.  Also, any chance we can get together for another visit this fall when your IWU comes to our place at Hope?  Let's try to work something out - it was fun last year up at Ithaca before the Alma game.  I hope you are doing well.

Way too far in the future to promise anything, but I would say it is likely.  Any time IWU ventures up to Michigan (fball or bball) I try to be there.  (After all, I always leave happy with a win! )

[sac]

According to SI.com, a very highly rated recruit has narrowed his choices to Michigan or Stanford, and commented that his choice of school had to have 'football tradition' and a good bio-engineering department (which sounds pretty promising from a student-athlete perspective!).  When a comment questioned the football tradition of Stanford, another poster defended them, saying Michigan-Stanford was the very first Rose Bowl game in 1902.

This tickled my funny bone as not a wise defense.  That game was so one sided that Stanford quit (down 49-0) in the third quarter, and the Rose Bowl dropped football (substituting chariot races, ostrich races, etc.) until 1916!

The recruit in question chose Stanford.  Seriously, how do you go wrong with those options?

[Mr. Ypsi]

According to SI.com, a very highly rated recruit has narrowed his choices to Michigan or Stanford, and commented that his choice of school had to have 'football tradition' and a good bio-engineering department (which sounds pretty promising from a student-athlete perspective!).  When a comment questioned the football tradition of Stanford, another poster defended them, saying Michigan-Stanford was the very first Rose Bowl game in 1902.

This tickled my funny bone as not a wise defense.  That game was so one sided that Stanford quit (down 49-0) in the third quarter, and the Rose Bowl dropped football (substituting chariot races, ostrich races, etc.) until 1916!

The recruit in question chose Stanford.  Seriously, how do you go wrong with those options?

Musta been the 1902 Rose Bowl - he wanted revenge!

[wisd3fan2]

Former, Thanks for the post. I'm not sure how strong Oshkosh will be for I don't know who they loose to graduation. I have heard that Whitewater will field yet another very strong team.
I think it says a lot for the Alma program to seek out strong teams to play in the pre season. This should go a long way to prepare them for conference.
I would also like to give your Hope College a big Congrats on their great Baskeball Team. They are very impressive and I wish them all the luck in their remainder of the season!!!!

[Raider 68]

Former, Thanks for the post. I'm not sure how strong Oshkosh will be for I don't know who they loose to graduation. I have heard that Whitewater will field yet another very strong team.
I think it says a lot for the Alma program to seek out strong teams to play in the pre season. This should go a long way to prepare them for conference.
I would also like to give your Hope College a big Congrats on their great Baskeball Team. They are very impressive and I wish them all the luck in their remainder of the season!!!!

wisd3fan2,

UW-Osh returns their top notch QB Wara, but not sure how many return. UWW will be good again, but the question is who can fill in for Coppage and they also lose a good QB in Blanchard!

[wisd3fan2]

Thanks Raider,
Good to hear Wara returns, I think UW-Osh will be trying to fill some very large shoes in All-Conference WR Fox however. As far as UW-WW I think they will find a replacement for Blanchard, but how in the world do you replace Coppage? With their huge depth they always seem to come up with who they need. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

"but how in the world do you replace Coppage?"  I'm sure the same question was raised when Beaver graduated!

By now UWW has certainly reached the plateau formerly held only by the Mount, where, no matter who graduates (or how many), the wise person just assumes they will somehow reload, not rebuild!

[formerd3db]

wised3fan2:
You are welcome and also thanks for the kind comments.  Hope looks like they are cruising right along and, barring an implosion or slightl late season slip, I think they'll make the DIII tournament once again.  However, the problem is, as you well know, is getting beyond those first round games.  As much as I love my alma mater and Hope is again a good team this year, IMO, they are not one of the better teams they've had in the last, say decade and a half that they've had before.  Hope played DI Western Michigan this year and got smashed and Western is not that good this year.  Had Hope played them with one of their better teams in past years (such as one of those teams that went far into the DIII tournament and/or their runner-up years in those national title years), I think they may have beaten Western.  Of course, I realize that is all speculation and conjecture, since it is difficult, if not impossible to realistically compare teams like that from various years.  Also, like in football, I've always said that Hope (and some of the MIAA teams) just do not play tougher non-conference competition in the early pre-season and IMO and some other people as well, that hurts them in the national tourney.  Of course, playing Western Michigan this year could perhaps be construed as within that philosophy, but again, it takes time i.e. some years of consistently playing tougher competition to start moving in the direction I'm talking about.  Also, again, the recruiting aspects with regards to DII hurts teams in our league - as some of us have discussed here in regards to football as well. Anyway, I do hope that Hope goes farther in the tournatment this year.  One other good aspect is that we again continue to lead NCAA Div III in home game attendance, so that is neat IMO.  As far as the remainder of the season, indeed, we'll just have to see what happens.

Mr. Ypsi:
Indeed, it is way too early perhaps for fall planning regarding the IWU/Hope football game, but anyway, let's keep it on the table.   When it gets closer, we'll see if that can work out in both our schedules.

[70_dc_alum]

I will preface this by acknowledging that I am a bit biased, as I have a 'vested interest' there.  But, Alma competed very well against the teams on their non-conference schedule last year.  All the non-league teams they lost to went on to have very respectable seasons.

I'm excited to see what the new change in coaching will bring.  They do lose some defensive players that brought a lot of stability and leadership.   Some new players are going to need to step up.  I think they have some kids that will play well.  I expect to see a much improved offense with the guys they have returning.

I'm with you that I want this team to be good, but honestly I don't think it's going to happen. This, IMO, will be a "rebuilding" and a "transition" year.

The Scots lose so much from the team last year.

Defensively, they are losing 71% of tackles, 84% of sacks, 60% of interceptions,

Offensively the Scots lose 56% of their receiving yards, and half of their recieving yards. Plus, there were many throws from Leister that were only completions because Barak Henderson can straight up go get the ball.

While I'm hoping for the best, I see a 3-7 season, maybe 4-6 if they can play well...

The style of D Pscodna runs can make up for a lot of that inexperience.  It will be a stunt 4-3, lots of blitzes coming from all over the place with dline constantly twisting and moving. For younger teams that may lack the skills the scheme can make them better since they are moving around, key will be brains.  Got to play your role or you will get gashed.  Once they figure that out they will get nasty and they will get after it and bring pressure.  Offense will be a culture shock for alma alums, it all starts up front and get used to the term PTR cause you will now pound the rock!

[Raider 68]

"but how in the world do you replace Coppage?"  I'm sure the same question was raised when Beaver graduated!

By now UWW has certainly reached the plateau formerly held only by the Mount, where, no matter who graduates (or how many), the wise person just assumes they will somehow reload, not rebuild!

Mr. Ypsi,

Agree that UWW has reached that plateau, but the Raiders are still there too!

[Raider 68]

Any early indicators for Trine this fall?

[wisd3fan2]

Raider, per current ratings this is where Trine sits,

They will come in underdogs to;
Taylor by 1
Elmhurst by 9
Alma by 3
Albion by 7
Adrian by 8
Hope by 2

Favored to;
Manchester by 18
Concordia WI by 13
Kalamazoo by 5
Olivet by 27            Home and Away has been figured in.
                            A 4 and 6 finish would be a great showing for Trine

In 2011 with  their best recruiting class ever they chose to retool. This was a year to rebuild. Fatal mistake by Coaching staff.

[Raider 68]

Raider, per current ratings this is where Trine sits,

They will come in underdogs to;
Taylor by 1
Elmhurst by 9
Alma by 3
Albion by 7
Adrian by 8
Hope by 2

Favored to;
Manchester by 18
Concordia WI by 13
Kalamazoo by 5
Olivet by 27            Home and Away has been figured in.
                            A 4 and 6 finish would be a great showing for Trine

In 2011 with  their best recruiting class ever they chose to retool. This was a year to rebuild. Fatal mistake by Coaching staff.

wisd3fan2,

Thanks for the analysis, but I am surprized that Trine could only be a 500 team this fall, Wow!

[formerd3db]

Raider, per current ratings this is where Trine sits,

They will come in underdogs to;
Taylor by 1
Elmhurst by 9
Alma by 3
Albion by 7
Adrian by 8
Hope by 2

Favored to;
Manchester by 18
Concordia WI by 13
Kalamazoo by 5
Olivet by 27            Home and Away has been figured in.
                            A 4 and 6 finish would be a great showing for Trine

In 2011 with  their best recruiting class ever they chose to retool. This was a year to rebuild. Fatal mistake by Coaching staff.

wisd3fan2,

Thanks for the analysis, but I am surprized that Trine could only be a 500 team this fall, Wow!

wised3fan2:

I'm not disputing the ratings you put forth as not being legit (from whatever source), however, my own personal "gut feeling" is that I don't quite agree with those predictions in totality regarding Trine (for what it's worth i.e. my opinion )