FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Massey Ratings of the MIAA   http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cf&yr=2012&sub=11620

102.  Albion
151.  Adrian
168.  Hope
171.  Trine
177.  Kalamazoo
206.  Alma
238.  Olivet

Out of 240 rated.  Grim, pretty grim.  Ordinarily I'd use the BCS version which takes out margin of victory, but that actually rates Hope as the best in the MIAA......which, yeah I know.  Maybe a week or two too early for that.

Massey has the MIAA #31 as a conference which out of 35 is, ummm, terrible.

[sac]

This weeks schedule

Saturday, September 22
Central, Iowa at Albion, 1 p.m.
Wis.-Oshkosh at Alma, 1 p.m.
Illinois Wesleyan at Hope, 1 p.m.
North Park, Ill. at Olivet, 1 p.m.
Taylor, Ind. at Trine, 1 p.m.
Kalamazoo at Centre, Ky., 1:30 p.m.

Unfortunately I see a couple more than a couple potential beatdowns

Massey also does chances of victory

Albion 40%
Alma 0%
Hope 11%
Olivet 3%
Trine 0%
Kalamazoo 1%

Yeesh!!

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'd agree that the MIAA has little chance in 5 of the 6 games, but IF Albion's #1 qb Spencer Krauss returns at full strength, I'd actually make them a slight favorite.  (Their freshmen back-up qbs seem clearly not ready for prime time - no idea as to their potential.)  Does anyone know the status of Krauss?

[formerd3db]

sac:

I obviously HOPE you and/or the poll you cite is wrong, although I think it will be at least 1/2 right.   Most likely, however, those predictions will end up occuring, yet at the same time, with the inclement weather being predicted for tomorrow, possibly the rain and colder temps might have some bearing on the outcomes, even on the synthetic turfs.  We'll check back tomorrow in the early evening to tally up the results!

[Uncle Rico]

Trine wins 28-13 over Taylor.  Go Thunder!

[sflzman]

Holy crap.  4 first downs.  13 rushing yards.  Ouch.

Impressive wins by Trine and Albion today.

Kalamazoo kept it closer then I thought.

Hope made an attempt to make it look good towards the end.

Olivet...well that was almost as bad as the one I attended 

[RuleBritannia]

Impressive win by Trine, got the offense going. Nothing like winning the game you were given a "0%" chance to win.

Was at the Albion game today, a few observations. Albion starting QB Spencer Krauss was out of uniform and wearing a sling on his arm, I think he's out for the season. However, it's amazing what a week of practice can do for you. True freshmen QB Dominic Bona had a fine day throwing the ball, showing good fairly strong arm strength with impressive accuracy and decent mobility. While a Krauss return would certainly help the Brits, I'm not convinced their ship is sunk with Bona, especially with some of the complimentary pieces he has.

That said, while Central is a decent team, I was concerned with the inability of Albion's veteran offensive line to consistently run block, and Albion's defense is definitely vulnerable on the perimeter. This would have been a much closer game, but Central lost their starting QB in the third quarter, and various backups combined to throw 2 4th quarter INTs that ended any chances for Central.

After 4 preseason games, I think the only thing we know, is that we know nothing. Albion, Adrian, and Trine each with at least one impressive showings, and Hope, we know, has an offense. With Albion down their starting QB, I'll make Adrian the favorite going forward, but I think any of these teams could get hot and win the league.

The league may be down nationally, but the trophy still looks the same. Good luck to all teams, it should be a fun ride.

[sac]

Albion 35, Central, Iowa 16
Wis.-Oshkosh 70, Alma 9
Illinois Wesleyan 23, Hope 13
North Park, Ill. 46, Olivet 21
Trine 28, Taylor, Ind. 13
Centre, Ky. 35, Kalamazoo 23

No one got smoked who wasn't supposed to, I guess that's something.

I'm not sure what Trine's win says.  Massey gave Trine 0% chance of winning but then massey has never been good at rating NAIA programs in any sport, perhaps that was just an error to begin with and Trine had a better shot than stated.  Consider they(Taylor) hammered Anderson 46-0.....but then Anderson is 0-3 and been outscored 123-17, so yeah not much to go on.  A win is better than a loss and the MIAA has just one more non-conference game to go, currently 11-16

Next week
Trine @ Kalamazoo
Alma @ Olivet
Hope @ Adrian

[formerd3db]

sac:

I guess you, RuleBrit and sflzman have pretty much covered (now) yesterday's MIAA games.  I'll only add...suffice to say Hope just did not play very good -offense was a non-entity in the first half.  I personally think that all the MIAA teams still have a long way to go before being able to compete on the national level in the playoffs, unfortunately.  I was also disappointed in today's attendance at Hope (below 2000), although I suppose both the weather and Hope's losing streak had something to do with that, even though the sun came out and the 2nd half was great fall football weather.

The only other comments I'll add before retiring for the night (uh, I mean this AM ) is that one of your favorite phrases listed below in your profile probably will not be true for this year i.e. Michigan getting 10 wins.  Like Hope today, their offense simply did not play well, and while the defense had some great stops at times, they did have some costly breakdowns.  Also, I think it is safe to say that any hope/slim chance that Denard Robinson had for the Heisman went down the drain today with his rather horrid performance.  Notre Dame is vastly improved and a good team, however, they are "not there yet" either.

[Raider 68]

It was a tough weekend for the MIAA, but many thought it would go that way. Good wins
for Albion and Trine in games that could have gone the other way. Now we'll see who is the strongest as the conference starts!

[Gregory Sager]

After 4 preseason games, I think the only thing we know, is that we know nothing.

We also know that they're not preseason games. They're regular season games that count.

[DBQ1965]

After 4 preseason games, I think the only thing we know, is that we know nothing.

We also know that they're not preseason games. They're regular season games that count.

Thank you Sager.  I hate seeing non-conference games referred to as "pre-season."

[Cousin Eddie]

Ypsi,
To respond to your question on Albion's QB Krause, as RuleBrit mentioned he is likely done for the season.  What was heard is that he suffered a separated shoulder....grade 3 was term tossed around.  Tough way for a guy coming back for a 5th year to end his season.  With the freshman QB's taking over for Albion I am sure Kraus' experience and wisdom will be helpful in their play as the league games start up. 


From Saturday's game against Central Iowa it seems that Bona had a better showing than what took place at Benedictine.  It is safe to say that a backup QB getting thrown into a game off an injury can be rattling and is not necessarily an indication of lack of reps or a "huge coaching error".

[wisd3fan2]

Ypsi,
To respond to your question on Albion's QB Krause, as RuleBrit mentioned he is likely done for the season.  What was heard is that he suffered a separated shoulder....grade 3 was term tossed around.  Tough way for a guy coming back for a 5th year to end his season.  With the freshman QB's taking over for Albion I am sure Kraus' experience and wisdom will be helpful in their play as the league games start up. 


From Saturday's game against Central Iowa it seems that Bona had a better showing than what took place at Benedictine.  It is safe to say that a backup QB getting thrown into a game off an injury can be rattling and is not necessarily an indication of lack of reps or a "huge coaching error".

First of all,Ypsi you know your football. Your earlier post was right on about the Albion game. We felt they were a good match-up w/ Central and had that game a toss up. Congrats!
Cous Ed, With all do respect, I think your missing out. After the starter was hurt Mr. Bona finally got the Reps and coaching he needed. probably spent the whole week looking at film, got all the reps in practice. he came in confident and won that game, Good for him!!! The Albion people should hope that the coaches correct their error and work just a little harder to make sure their number 2 is coached and ready to go. They need to go that extra mile. ALL teams need 2 qb's ready!!!!!! Its 2012! Just the way it is. Mr Bona, GREAT JOB! Now help your # 2 get ready, You may need him!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

It is safe to say that a backup QB getting thrown into a game off an injury can be rattling and is not necessarily an indication of lack of reps or a "huge coaching error".

I have to agree that this must defintely be a factor.  No doubt that preparation is also a factor, but a Freshman entering his first collegiate game under that kind of situation can be, as you say, rattling.

Cous Ed, With all do respect, I think your missing out. After the starter was hurt Mr. Bona finally got the Reps and coaching he needed. probably spent the whole week looking at film, got all the reps in practice. he came in confident and won that game, Good for him!!! The Albion people should hope that the coaches correct their error and work just a little harder to make sure their number 2 is coached and ready to go. They need to go that extra mile. ALL teams need 2 qb's ready!!!!!! Its 2012! Just the way it is. Mr Bona, GREAT JOB! Now help your # 2 get ready, You may need him!

wisd3 - So do you KNOW these things to be true (you attending practices at Albion) or do you ASSUME them to be true?  Either way, you have to admit that Cousin Ed's point about the stress of being thrown unexpectedly into your first collegiate game can be "rattling".  Heck, look at how it has affected NFL back-ups - or do they also suffer from lack of reps and poor coaching?