FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Mr. Ypsi]

I just realized that I may be 'the Holland jinx'.  Hope's only two losses are to my alma mater and to the d3 school closest to Ypsi!

Sorry, guys!

Well,, let's hope not, Mr. Ypsi!   We darn near beat your alma mater this year (probably the closest game of all the recent series).  Anyway, maybe this Saturday it will be a different story for Hope - at least that is what I'm hoping for and I think we have a very good chance.  I anticipate a good game, hopefully a huge crowd and hope that it is not a blow-out either way- as long as we win.

I fully expect a Hope title - Albion is neither my alma mater nor closest to Ypsi!   (It IS closER to Ypsi, but then so are Olivet, Kazoo, Trine, and probably Alma!)

Aside from 2011, Hope has always given IWU a helluva game.  BUT ... football gods willing, you've never beaten us and never will!!   That series I'd like to see continue indefinitely, and I understand playing Aurora (very close by, and usually semi-decent), but I hope they will replace Alma on the schedule.  That game badly hurts our SoS; there must be a dozen options who are closer AND stand a decent chance of having 6+ wins, yet whom we would almost certainly beat.  (With both NCC and Wheaton in the CCIW, we cannot afford an OOC loss; otherwise I'd love to schedule Wabash or Franklin, but too risky.)

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I just realized that I may be 'the Holland jinx'.  Hope's only two losses are to my alma mater and to the d3 school closest to Ypsi!

Sorry, guys!

Well,, let's hope not, Mr. Ypsi!   We darn near beat your alma mater this year (probably the closest game of all the recent series).  Anyway, maybe this Saturday it will be a different story for Hope - at least that is what I'm hoping for and I think we have a very good chance.  I anticipate a good game, hopefully a huge crowd and hope that it is not a blow-out either way- as long as we win.

I fully expect a Hope title - Albion is neither my alma mater nor closest to Ypsi!   (It IS closER to Ypsi, but then so are Olivet, Kazoo, Trine, and probably Alma!)

Aside from 2011, Hope has always given IWU a helluva game.  BUT ... football gods willing, you've never beaten us and never will!!   That series I'd like to see continue indefinitely, and I understand playing Aurora (very close by, and usually semi-decent), but I hope they will replace Alma on the schedule.  That game badly hurts our SoS; there must be a dozen options who are closer AND stand a decent chance of having 6+ wins, yet whom we would almost certainly beat.  (With both NCC and Wheaton in the CCIW, we cannot afford an OOC loss; otherwise I'd love to schedule Wabash or Franklin, but too risky.)

Sorry but I have to comment on that (emphasis mine).  That kind of scheduling attitude really bothers me on several levels.  (And I do get that when you are scheduling several years in advance, that you can't necessarily predict who is a "good" team vs "bad" team in the future)

- We've seen in the past that a loss to a "good" team (ranked) can actually improve your SOS versus a win over a "bad" team (seen it in basketball and I assume the same could happen in FB).
- Playing against a "bad" team is really a no win situation.  You are supposed to win big, but does that really help develop your team?  Or you end up with a poor performance, because lets's face it, the players know they are playing a dog, and may not be playing with the same intensity (IWU vs Alma 1st half this year).   Challenge your team with tough competition - adversity drives improvement.

</rant off>

[AlmaFan27]

formerd3db,

I will be rooting for your Alma mater this Saturday. It will be a real good game, as will
the Mount Union/ John Carroll game. Home field advantage helps for both of these contest!

Talk with you late in the week!

Thanks Raider68!  Appreciate the support.  Of course, I don't think your alma mater will have much of a problem this Saturday!
Yes, talk to you later this week, my friend.

I believe that John Carroll will give Mount Union all they handle on Saturday.  JC has a legitimate shot at winning this game. 

[Raider 68]

formerd3db,

I will be rooting for your Alma mater this Saturday. It will be a real good game, as will
the Mount Union/ John Carroll game. Home field advantage helps for both of these contest!

Talk with you late in the week!

Thanks Raider68!  Appreciate the support.  Of course, I don't think your alma mater will have much of a problem this Saturday!
Yes, talk to you later this week, my friend.

I believe that John Carroll will give Mount Union all they handle on Saturday.  JC has a legitimate shot at winning this game. 

AlmaFan27,

I agree, JCU is a very good team and has the capability to win this one. However, this is not the
first very good team to meet the Raiders in a playoff atmosphere. No doubt it will be exciting
and both teams are likely in the playoffs starting 11-23. By the way the game is sold out. Mount's
stadium will hold around 8,000 although officially 5400-5500.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Looks like we might get some good weather for the game in Holland on Saturday.  Really excited to see what I HOPE is a good game

[DBQ1965]

Looking forward to being in Holland tomorrow.  Its been a long time since I watched a regular season closer which will decide a conference title.  Should be a good game ... maybe even going to overtime.  I can wear my UD blue and not be tagged as either a Flying Dutch or a Briton  

[formerd3db]

Looking forward to being in Holland tomorrow.  Its been a long time since I watched a regular season closer which will decide a conference title.  Should be a good game ... maybe even going to overtime.  I can wear my UD blue and not be tagged as either a Flying Dutch or a Briton

Okay, DBQ1965.  As you are going to be there tomorrow, let's try to see if we can finally meet in person for a quick visit - since we have been trying to do that for the past couple of years!  I will be there, however, may be arriving a little late after the opening kickoff because I have to attend a funeral service tomorrow morning.  Halftime will be busy for me, but perhaps at the hill gate when we come out for the second half or otherwise right after the game, even if to say hello.  And yes, it will be exciting particularly since it has indeed been a long time since the last game of the season has been the deciding one between two playing teams for the title, let alone that being for Albion/Hope.  Anyway, let me know.  Safe travels.

[Raider 68]

Looking forward to being in Holland tomorrow.  Its been a long time since I watched a regular season closer which will decide a conference title.  Should be a good game ... maybe even going to overtime.  I can wear my UD blue and not be tagged as either a Flying Dutch or a Briton

Okay, DBQ1965.  As you are going to be there tomorrow, let's try to see if we can finally meet in person for a quick visit - since we have been trying to do that for the past couple of years!  I will be there, however, may be arriving a little late after the opening kickoff because I have to attend a funeral service tomorrow morning.  Halftime will be busy for me, but perhaps at the hill gate when we come out for the second half or otherwise right after the game, even if to say hello.  And yes, it will be exciting particularly since it has indeed been a long time since the last game of the season has been the deciding one between two playing teams for the title, let alone that being for Albion/Hope.  Anyway, let me know.  Safe travels.

formerd3db,

I hope you and meet DBQ1965. I have asked him if his travel would include Mount Union, but he
has not been able as yet. Looking forward to sitting with NCF from Chicago, it should be fun and
a great game. I had a meeting at Mount on Thursday and the campus is really excited about the game.
They expect 8,000 to 9,000 in attendance!

All the best for Hope on Saturday!

[DBQ1965]

Looking forward to being in Holland tomorrow.  Its been a long time since I watched a regular season closer which will decide a conference title.  Should be a good game ... maybe even going to overtime.  I can wear my UD blue and not be tagged as either a Flying Dutch or a Briton

Okay, DBQ1965.  As you are going to be there tomorrow, let's try to see if we can finally meet in person for a quick visit - since we have been trying to do that for the past couple of years!  I will be there, however, may be arriving a little late after the opening kickoff because I have to attend a funeral service tomorrow morning.  Halftime will be busy for me, but perhaps at the hill gate when we come out for the second half or otherwise right after the game, even if to say hello.  And yes, it will be exciting particularly since it has indeed been a long time since the last game of the season has been the deciding one between two playing teams for the title, let alone that being for Albion/Hope.  Anyway, let me know.  Safe travels.

I'll see what I can do to meet up ... either at the end of halftime or at the end of the game.  I will wear my blue UD hat so I should be easily recognizable.

[DBQ1965]

Looking forward to being in Holland tomorrow.  Its been a long time since I watched a regular season closer which will decide a conference title.  Should be a good game ... maybe even going to overtime.  I can wear my UD blue and not be tagged as either a Flying Dutch or a Briton

Okay, DBQ1965.  As you are going to be there tomorrow, let's try to see if we can finally meet in person for a quick visit - since we have been trying to do that for the past couple of years!  I will be there, however, may be arriving a little late after the opening kickoff because I have to attend a funeral service tomorrow morning.  Halftime will be busy for me, but perhaps at the hill gate when we come out for the second half or otherwise right after the game, even if to say hello.  And yes, it will be exciting particularly since it has indeed been a long time since the last game of the season has been the deciding one between two playing teams for the title, let alone that being for Albion/Hope.  Anyway, let me know.  Safe travels.

formerd3db,

I hope you and meet DBQ1965. I have asked him if his travel would include Mount Union, but he
has not been able as yet. Looking forward to sitting with NCF from Chicago, it should be fun and
a great game. I had a meeting at Mount on Thursday and the campus is really excited about the game.
They expect 8,000 to 9,000 in attendance!

All the best for Hope on Saturday!

Hey Raider 68 ...

Don't give up on me.  I learned this year that one of my seminary classmates is an alum of Mt. Union ... class of '64 I think.  So one of these days I will make a Purple Raider game.

[formerd3db]

Raider 68:

Thank you very much for the well wishes. Same to you and your Mount Union.  That will be awesome if the attendance hits those figures!  I hope you have a great time and I know NCF will enjoy your hospitality.  All the best to Mount Union tomorrow- uh, I mean today! Talk to you later.

[formerd3db]

DBQ1965:

Thanks for the reply.  I'll look for your UD; we'll meet for sure at one or the other of those times!  See you later today!
GO HOPE!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Halftime in Holland:  Hope 24, Albion 16.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Albion has taken the lead, 27-24 w/ a FG at 5:29 left in the game.  The good news for Hope is Albion had it 1st and goal at the 4, and the Dutch held them to 3.

[Mr. Ypsi]

What a game in Holland!!  Albion took a 34-31 lead with 45 seconds remaining.  Hope got it to the Albion 14, but hit the left upright on a 31-yd FG attempt at the final gun.

Albion is the 2013 MIAA champion.  Congratulations to the Britons.