FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[wisd3fan2]

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?

I played in the NFL for seven years and was rattled before every game. And yes I do agree that coming in under those circumstances would be unnerveing, however your performance in a game is generally determined by your preperation. In practice I generally took about 20% of the reps as the starter and the # 2 took most of the rest. A lot of the D1's, the starter takes about half. In D3 I find that the starters are getting almost all the reps but that trend is changing as D3 is getting much better. I think that D3 is the fastest growing Div in football today. I truely believe that D3 is passing D2 by very quickly as more and more money is being pumped into it. As it grows the coaching is getting much better. In 2010 UWW lost their QB during the last game of the season. Their #2 came in because of an injury and led the team to 5 straight wins and the National Championship. Coach Liepold had prepped him all year long. GREAT COACHING!

[Cousin Eddie]

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?

Right in line with what I was thinking.

wisd3, as many of us here are former players, we all have seen players that know they are legitimate backups and aren't expecting to see the field not carry the same focus in practice....which is something coaches cannot always influence and control.  So regardless of number of reps they get they still may not be prepared.  In the past several years Albion has had the habbit of playing the #2 QB for a series or two at the start of the 2nd half.  The reasons for this may vary but points to the issue of the backups receiving close to an equal amount of reps and preparation.  I am venturing to guess that you have not attended an Albion practice this year nor have you attended in the past.  But what it really comes down to is the fact that neither of us have true knowledge of what currently takes place at Albion practices.  We both are making some assumptions that are likely reaching a bit.  You mention that you have found that D3 starters get most reps....would be interested to know at how many schools you have found this and if it can be considered a good representation of all of D3.  I don't want to take the time to go back and check, as I am sure you will tell me, but was the #2 that took over for UWW a freshman?  Probably not.  If not then it is a bit easier to come in as a backup when you have been with the system for a few years.  1-2yrs of reps and preparation even if only at 20%, is a bit better than 1-2months of preparation with 50% reps.  Obviously talent level comes into play...but that is a whole other conversation.  I am not taking anything away from Liepold, he is a good coach and the team is well coached.  But to toss out GREAT COACHING when attempting to compare these situations is a bit off the mark. 

[Cousin Eddie]

wisd3, as many of us here are former players, we all have seen players that know they are legitimate backups and aren't expecting to see the field not carry the same focus in practice....which is something coaches cannot always influence and control.  So regardless of number of reps they get they still may not be prepared.  In the past several years Albion has had the habbit of playing the #2 QB for a series or two at the start of the 2nd half.  The reasons for this may vary but points to the issue of the backups receiving close to an equal amount of reps and preparation.... 

As I looked back on this post just a few things I felt I wanted to clear up in case of confusion.  First when mentioning lack of focus I was not referring directly to Bona.  I was just giving a scenario and hopefully those reading the post did not think I was questioning the way he practices or approaches the game.  Second I brought up Albion inserting the #2 QB in games to make the point that the reason they would feel comfortable doing this is because they were confident in the preparation and number of reps given to the #2 QB.  Again when I reread my post it seemed like I wasn't clear on those two points.

[sac]

Last week

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

This week using the regular ratings

78.  Albion
129.  Trine
143.  Adrian
157.  Hope
161.  Kalamazoo
198.  Alma
238.  Olivet

On the heels of Trine's victory over Taylor, the thunder climb 42 spots.  Along with marginal moves up by everone else.  Including Alma who were thumped and still moved up, that's what an SOS boost will do for you I guess.

BCS version, which I still don't like
73.  Albion
116.  Hope
154.  Trine
155.  Kalamazoo
157.  Adrian
161.  Alma
239.  Olivet


This week's schedule
Trine @ Kalamazoo    73% for Trine
Alma @ Olivet    96% for Alma 
Hope @ Adrian   65 % for Adrian

I think we might find out something about Kalamazoo this weekend.

[Cousin Eddie]

Mainly because I don't feel this joke ever gets old.....

sac you forgot one:

BYE @ Albion  100% for Albion.     

[dahlby]

Cousin Eddie,

Good one!

Check my email address (Click on dahlby).

It is a long season for BYE...fortunately no injuries so far.
BYE shows for most games, but usually wins by forfeit.
Undefeated so far, but not ranked.

PS...I know, I won't quit my day job!

[Pat Coleman]

Cousin Eddie,

Good one!

Check my email address (Click on dahlby).

It is a long season for BYE...fortunately no injuries so far.
BYE shows for most games, but usually wins by forfeit.
Undefeated so far, but not ranked.

PS...I know, I won't quit my day job!

BYE's strength of schedule has always been really low.

[dahlby]

Pat,

I showed your posting to my wife, and she indicated that the BYE SOS is not low, but in the middle, as BYE is on not only the lower portion of D3 teams, but also on the top ranked teams.

I don't argue with her.

Anyway, I chuckled at your posting.

I do appreciate the D3 boards and all the work you guys put into it. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Cousin Eddie]

Haha.  Well played dahlby and Pat.....Well played.  Laughed at both posts.

[formerd3db]

Cous, dah, and Pat:

Good to see some levity on the boards!


Anyway, we'll see how this weekend shapes out.  Hope's game at Adrian is a "night" game - uh...actually starts @ 5 PM, so it probably won't be dark until near the end of the game.  I hope there is a good crowd at Adrian and, of course, I hope Hope will be ready to give a better performance against Adrian, more like the second half of last week's game against IWU.

As far as the other two games, I agree that Alma will win and, most likely, Trine will beat Kazoo, although it would be neat to see a close game there - except, of course, for the Trine fans.   However, the game is at Kazoo's new refurbished Angell field/stadium.   

[Raider 68]

Cous, dah, and Pat:

Good to see some levity on the boards!


Anyway, we'll see how this weekend shapes out.  Hope's game at Adrian is a "night" game - uh...actually starts @ 5 PM, so it probably won't be dark until near the end of the game.  I hope there is a good crowd at Adrian and, of course, I hope Hope will be ready to give a better performance against Adrian, more like the second half of last week's game against IWU.

As far as the other two games, I agree that Alma will win and, most likely, Trine will beat Kazoo, although it would be neat to see a close game there - except, of course, for the Trine fans.   However, the game is at Kazoo's new refurbished Angell field/stadium.   

formerd3db,

I agree, IMHO Alma wins (sflzman will be happy). Trine probably will win, but Hope vs.
Adrian. Not sure which team will be more ready, but this one should be close. I pulling for your team!

[formerd3db]

Thanks Raider68, although we won't tell that to our Adrian colleagues here!   Good luck to your Mount also, although I doubt they will need it. If you are going to Mount's game, I hope you have a great time.

[Raider 68]

Thanks Raider68, although we won't tell that to our Adrian colleagues here!   Good luck to your Mount also, although I doubt they will need it. If you are going to Mount's game, I hope you have a great time.

formerd3db,

Yes, was at the game. Ohio Northern was not a very good test for the Raiders at 54-0.
This team seems to moving in the right direction with a defense that given up only
7 points in 4 games and averaged 52 per game.

What happen to Hope, no points? This was a surprize to me!

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

formerd3db:

Were you on the sideline for Hope yesterday?

[formerd3db]

formerd3db:

Were you on the sideline for Hope yesterday?

DAWG:

Good to hear from you.  Yes, I was down there last evening. If you were at the game, you should have sought me out for a visit after the game, it would have been nice to see you.  Anyway, I was impressed with what a fantastic atmosphere it was for your alma mater's Homecoming.  A ton of people, great crowd at the stadium, the rock and jazz bands playing before and after the game in the tents on the hill for the students and parents and other alumni, the tailgaiting and the college cooking hamburgs and hotdogs for almuni.  It was a great early evening for a game.  Overall, I was impressed, although I will go ahead an just say it here...despite all that, I am still unhappy with the way the Lyall situation was handled by the Adrian's administration those 3 years ago.  We all move on in life, however, as many of us discussed here a long time ago when that happened, that will forever be a "black spot" on Adrian's history - a shame.  

As to the game itself, I was obivously disappointed our (Hope's) play.  Adrian certainly deserved their well played win, although they are not the type of "powerhouse" that I expected them to be and/or that some people have implied they are since they've been picked to win the league.  Hope's offense is not playing very well, unfortunately, yet if we would have scored once right before the half or right after to make it a 14-7 deficit, I believe it would have been a slightly different game thereafter, although perhaps not.  I was also curious as to why Coach Deere kept his starters in during the mid-late 4th quarter with the game safely in hand.  Not what I would do were I a head coach (but...perhaps that's why I'm not! ).

I will say that our (Hope's) punter DeVries (who is only a freshman) is one of the best pure punters I've seen in a long time at any level.  He had some +50 legit "all in the air" non, bouncing boomers complete with spirals (he has consistently done that and going into the Adrian game, was averaging 40.9 yards per kick).  I dare say he would be a legit DI punter - he is that good.

Anyway, I hope your Homecoming was enjoyable if you were there.  Take care and don't be so much of a stranger on this board if you are still around the region and/or continuing to follow Adrian and the MIAA.