FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Trine 27, Albion 22
Hope 24, Olivet 14
Adrian 27, Alma 3

Trine and Adrian now tied at 2-0.......guess who play each other next week.

[formerd3db]

Everyone:

You all know how crazy the MIAA race always is, regardless of who is in the upper tier and who is in the lower tier.  I believe the winner of the Adrian/Trine game will have the upper hand temporarily, however, upsets can occur as we know and as the league games come down to the wire, I believe is going to come down to 1 loss tie and the tie breaker then deciding who gets the AQ.  Of course, my opinion/theory could very well get "blown out of the water".

Today's game at Hope kind of went as expected. It was a good win for Hope, a little confidence booster, although I think us Hope fans have to admit that Olivet was good enough to win the game had they played the entire game like they did in the last 4 minutes of the game.  Their first half doomed them and like last week in their loss to Alma, today's game was another case of "too little to late".  However, that was good for Hope and Hope did not totally let down at the end and saved the win.  It was a cold, moderately windy and overcast cloudy day the entire game with a tinge of rain (and very light hail or punctate snowflakes for a couple of minutes) right before the end of the first half.  I think everyone needs to make sure they have their gloves and rainsuits our for the next couple of weeks.

Homecoming for Hope is next weekend and I am obviously looking forward to the game against Alma.  sflzman, will you be there?  Everyone take care and we'll review our posts throughout this week.

BTW, I was disappointed that Northwestern blew their game today against Penn State and while Michigan State needs to get credit for not giving up, Indiana blew that game also.

[formerd3db]

I don't wish to cause any problems (perceived or otherwise) here, however, does anyone find it strange that Hope's home attendance listing for yesterday's game with Olivet was listed at 1810, the same as it was for the Illinois Wesleyan game?   Perhaps it is just a coincidence, however, that seems strange to me.  I will admit that the overall general view of the crowd did seem very similar and the weather in addtion to the fact that it is Fall Break for the College both contributed to the lower attendance IMO.  This is somewhat disappointing after the great crowd of 3400+ we had at the opening home game of the season, although, of course, Hope has not been playing as well since then, which is probably another factor for lower attendance.  Still, we have some home game still left on the schedule so there is always HOPE .

[Uncle Rico]

That does seem odd that the attendance was EXACTLY the same.  I always wonder how they get these actual totals.  The attendance for the Albion / Trine game (Trine's homecoming) was listed at 5485.   There did seem to be a lot of people, but heck if I can judge totals just by looking at the crowd size.   

It was the first game we attended this year and it was a very exciting game, from a Trine perspective.  A turnover and a couple of quick scores for Trine were key to getting them off to a good start and keeping the crowd in the game.  Hope to attend the Adrian game this coming weekend. 

[sac]

81.  Albion
119.  Trine
129.  Adrian
165.  Kalamazoo
183.  Hope
215.  Alma
238.  Olivet

This week's massey rankings

97.  Albion
105.  Trine
121.  Adrian
160.  Kalamazoo
186.  Hope
209.  Alma
235.  Olivet

Albion down a bit, Trine up a bit, everyone else holds pretty much steady.


Saturday, October 13
Kalamazoo at Albion, 1 p.m.
Alma at Hope, 2 p.m.
Trine at Adrian, 4 p.m.

Massey's chances at victory
Albion 95%.......think this one might be close
Hope 77%
Adrian 51 %.....pretty much a toss-up to massey

[formerd3db]

Uncle Rico:
Good to have you post again here and also that you were able to attend the Trine game.  Agree with you about the attendance.  As far back as I can remember, Hope always took very good attendance statistics, however, last year and this year so far, I am somewhat suspect of a few of the home game totals and am not sure why that is.  I posted this a long time ago, but at the home game against Milikin last year there was no way the attendance was only 1400 at that game - it had to be at least twice that number.  Oh well.

sac:
I think that Kazoo might give Albion a tougher game, although I have to give the edge for the win to Albion because it is a home game for Albion.
Hope should beat Alma by a fair margin, however, I suspect it will be a much closer game.  Just have that feeling.
And finally, I agree that it will be a toss up between Trine and Adrian, but I give that edge to Adrian because it is a home game for them.  It will be interesting to see if they have high attendance numbers for that game (like they did for their Homecoming game against Hope two weeks ago and also historically with Trine the last 2-3 years, regardless of which stadium that game was at either in Angola or Adrian).

[sflzman]

I feel like if it's anything how Alma and Hope have played so far it might be a 10-7, 7-3, 9-6 type of game at half, but the final will probably look more like 24-7.  Alma has had solid defensive efforts each time out with the exception of Oshkosh, but really the offense hasn't done much after the early minutes.

Saturday's game Alma had 84 yards in their first drive but managed 32 the rest of the game.  I really like the new offensive system, but the players aren't really here for it, and the defenses make adjustments after early drives.

[AlmaFan27]

I feel like if it's anything how Alma and Hope have played so far it might be a 10-7, 7-3, 9-6 type of game at half, but the final will probably look more like 24-7.  Alma has had solid defensive efforts each time out with the exception of Oshkosh, but really the offense hasn't done much after the early minutes.

Saturday's game Alma had 84 yards in their first drive but managed 32 the rest of the game.  I really like the new offensive system, but the players aren't really here for it, and the defenses make adjustments after early drives.

It will be interesting to see how the Alma/Hope games plays out.  Expectations were certainly higher for Hope this year.  General consensus was that Alma was going to struggle.

I also like the offense that Alma is trying to evolve, but the execution has been very tough.  To Sflzman's point, they simply don't have the personnel to run it.  It's been difficult to watch.  I wonder who will get the nod at qb this week, with Psconda making the switch in the 3rd quarter last week?  While Leister has missed a lot of open guys, there have been plenty of drops by receivers as well.  Seems like the qb has one option to throw to, and if that option isn't available, there's difficulty in finding another option.  Psconda seems to go away from what is successful early in the game.  The first drive last week was a mix of some runs outside the tackles, utilizing the tight end over the middle, and also getting #88 a chance to make a play.

[formerd3db]

I agree with you sflzman and AlmaFan.  It will be interesting to see how the game plays out this Saturday.

Also, to everyone:
Many of you Michigan natives may remember the Karras of Detroit Lions and George Plimpton's "Paper Lion" book experience.  In that regard, please say a prayer for the extended familes inclusive of Ted Karras, Jr. (former Northwestern University Big-Ten star, former DIII HCAC Rose-Hulman Head Coach and current Head Coach of NAIA Marion University in Indianapolis of the Mid-States League) as his uncle, famed former Detroit Lion NFL star Alex Karras (who is the brother of his father Ted Karras, Sr.) is dying of kidney failure in California it was announced this evening.  Karras was sent home from the hospital to spend his last few days/hours with his family.  The Karras families have an extensive longtime history in football as most of you know.  Alex Karras is apparently also suffering from long term closed head injury and has been one of the leaders in the recent ongoing lawsuit against the NFL for concussions, until his illnesses recently put him on the sidelines.  So again, keep all of them in your prayers.   

[sac]

I'm much to young to remember Alex Karras as anything but Webster's dad.



Very interesting the ties that people have to D3 sometimes.


It has not been a good couple of days for Detroit sports legends with the news yesterday morning that long time Detroit Red Wings public address announcer Bud Lynch passed away at 95.  He was hired by the Red Wings in 1949 and was with the club in some capacity for 63 years, and like he had since the building opened was announcing Red Wings games last season.  Think of everything he's seen in that town.

Found this in an Edmonton blog of all places, but this is the kind of admiration he had around the NHL
http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/10/09/the-greatest-wing-may-have-been-budd-lynch/

Whenever they get back to playing hockey, the Wings will retire Nicholas Lidstrom's #5 to the rafters of JLA and it will make me quite sad that it will not be Bud Lynch on the PA system.  I hope they will also find a way to honor Lynch in the same way the Tigers honored Ernie Harwell.

[cave2bens]

I'm much to young to remember Alex Karras as anything but Webster's dad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwNJla8WvoY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRma7PDW10

For those of us "old enough" to recall AK tearing up the Big Ten as a Hoosier who went Hawkeye - and his cinematic role with Cleavon, Gene, Mel, and Harvey during senior year of college... Cheers, Alex!   

[Stinger]

Also, to everyone:
Many of you Michigan natives may remember the Karras of Detroit Lions and George Plimpton's "Paper Lion" book experience.  In that regard, please say a prayer for the extended familes inclusive of Ted Karras, Jr. (former Northwestern University Big-Ten star, former DIII HCAC Rose-Hulman Head Coach and current Head Coach of NAIA Marion University in Indianapolis of the Mid-States League) as his uncle, famed former Detroit Lion NFL star Alex Karras (who is the brother of his father Ted Karras, Sr.) is dying of kidney failure in California it was announced this evening.  Karras was sent home from the hospital to spend his last few days/hours with his family.  The Karras families have an extensive longtime history in football as most of you know.  Alex Karras is apparently also suffering from long term closed head injury and has been one of the leaders in the recent ongoing lawsuit against the NFL for concussions, until his illnesses recently put him on the sidelines.  So again, keep all of them in your prayers.

Small sidenote: Joe Haklin recruited Ted Karras to Marian from RHI to build their football program from ground up. He's done a fantastic job.

Blazing Saddles anyone?

[Mr. Ypsi]

"Mongo just pawn in game of life."

[Gregory Sager]

Chuck, you got the quote wrong. That's surprising, as it's one of the most memorable comic lines in the last fifty years of film.

RIP Alex "Mad Duck" Karras.

It has not been a good couple of days for Detroit sports legends with the news yesterday morning that long time Detroit Red Wings public address announcer Bud Lynch passed away at 95.  He was hired by the Red Wings in 1949 and was with the club in some capacity for 63 years, and like he had since the building opened was announcing Red Wings games last season.  Think of everything he's seen in that town.

Maybe it would be best not to. No city in America has had an unhappier last 63 years than Detroit, Michigan.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Chuck, you got the quote wrong. That's surprising, as it's one of the most memorable comic lines in the last fifty years of film.

RIP Alex "Mad Duck" Karras.

It has not been a good couple of days for Detroit sports legends with the news yesterday morning that long time Detroit Red Wings public address announcer Bud Lynch passed away at 95.  He was hired by the Red Wings in 1949 and was with the club in some capacity for 63 years, and like he had since the building opened was announcing Red Wings games last season.  Think of everything he's seen in that town.

Maybe it would be best not to. No city in America has had an unhappier last 63 years than Detroit, Michigan.

Yeah, and it is one of my favorite movies (and lines).

[In my (lame) defense, just ran across a site which said subbing 'just' for 'only' is the second most common movie quotation error, behind only 'Play it again, Sam'.  Speaking of Casablanca( ), it's trivia challenge time: how many times does Rick say "Here's looking at you, kid"?]