FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Hope released its schedule for next year:

Saturday, Sept. 6 - Hope at Monmouth, Ill, 1 p.m. CT
Saturday, Sept. 13 - Augustana, Ill CCIW/MIAA Challenge (Community Day), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20 - Lakeland College (NAC/MIAA Challenge) 2:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 27 - Bye
Saturday, Oct. 4 - Hope at Albion, 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 11 - Rockford at Hope, 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 18 - Olivet at Hope, 2 p.m. ET (Homecoming)
Saturday, Oct. 25 - Hope at Alma, 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 1 - Hope at Adrian, 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 8 - Trine at Hope, 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 15 - Kalamazoo at Hope, 1 p.m. ET

Monmouth went 5-5
Augustana went 5-5
Lakeland went 7-3
Rockford went 1-9

Oops, you missed one

Bye went 0-10   

They out-rushed Michigan twice

[New Tradition]

Can anybody provide some insight as to what we can expect from Albion on Saturday?  What type of offense/defense do they run?  Any strengths?  Weaknesses?

As far as NCC, they run a spread-style offense and are about as balanced as can be.  They have sort of a running back by committee type situation and rotate the position frequently.  The QB was the OPOY for the conference and completes passes at over a 70% rate and has thrown 32 TDs vs. 1 INT this season.  Defensively, I've seen them run both 3 and 4 man fronts.  They have a great deal of team speed, and will be tough to get outside on.  Historically, where they have had problems in the playoffs is with a team that is VERY efficient passing the football.  If you can get them down and keep their offense off the field with a slow, methodical west-coast style passing attack, that would give Albion the best shot at winning, IMO. 

[AlmaFan27]

Can anybody provide some insight as to what we can expect from Albion on Saturday?  What type of offense/defense do they run?  Any strengths?  Weaknesses?

As far as NCC, they run a spread-style offense and are about as balanced as can be.  They have sort of a running back by committee type situation and rotate the position frequently.  The QB was the OPOY for the conference and completes passes at over a 70% rate and has thrown 32 TDs vs. 1 INT this season.  Defensively, I've seen them run both 3 and 4 man fronts.  They have a great deal of team speed, and will be tough to get outside on.  Historically, where they have had problems in the playoffs is with a team that is VERY efficient passing the football.  If you can get them down and keep their offense off the field with a slow, methodical west-coast style passing attack, that would give Albion the best shot at winning, IMO.

I am pretty sure NCC will have their way with Albion, likely the way they would have with any other team coming out of the MIAA.  It was exciting to watch the MIAA race, because of the parody that exists in the league, but overall, teams from the MIAA are not prepared for the next level at present.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Can anybody provide some insight as to what we can expect from Albion on Saturday?  What type of offense/defense do they run?  Any strengths?  Weaknesses?

As far as NCC, they run a spread-style offense and are about as balanced as can be.  They have sort of a running back by committee type situation and rotate the position frequently.  The QB was the OPOY for the conference and completes passes at over a 70% rate and has thrown 32 TDs vs. 1 INT this season.  Defensively, I've seen them run both 3 and 4 man fronts.  They have a great deal of team speed, and will be tough to get outside on.  Historically, where they have had problems in the playoffs is with a team that is VERY efficient passing the football.  If you can get them down and keep their offense off the field with a slow, methodical west-coast style passing attack, that would give Albion the best shot at winning, IMO.

I am pretty sure NCC will have their way with Albion, likely the way they would have with any other team coming out of the MIAA.  It was exciting to watch the MIAA race, because of the parody that exists in the league, but overall, teams from the MIAA are not prepared for the next level at present.

27, don't sell out your conference - the MIAA has parity, but I don't consider them a parody!

[AlmaFan27]

Can anybody provide some insight as to what we can expect from Albion on Saturday?  What type of offense/defense do they run?  Any strengths?  Weaknesses?

As far as NCC, they run a spread-style offense and are about as balanced as can be.  They have sort of a running back by committee type situation and rotate the position frequently.  The QB was the OPOY for the conference and completes passes at over a 70% rate and has thrown 32 TDs vs. 1 INT this season.  Defensively, I've seen them run both 3 and 4 man fronts.  They have a great deal of team speed, and will be tough to get outside on.  Historically, where they have had problems in the playoffs is with a team that is VERY efficient passing the football.  If you can get them down and keep their offense off the field with a slow, methodical west-coast style passing attack, that would give Albion the best shot at winning, IMO.

I am pretty sure NCC will have their way with Albion, likely the way they would have with any other team coming out of the MIAA.  It was exciting to watch the MIAA race, because of the parody that exists in the league, but overall, teams from the MIAA are not prepared for the next level at present.

27, don't sell out your conference - the MIAA has parity, but I don't consider them a parody!

Aren't they ciniminous??   

[New Tradition]

Man, this board is quiet!

[formerd3db]

Man, this board is quiet!

I was just thinking that same thing and about to post the same comment, NT.  You would think that with Albion getting to the playoffs, their posters would be flooding this board.  However, quite sad - this certainly isn't like years ago in the "good old days" in the MIAA (and I'm not just talking about here).   Anyway, good luck to Albion tomorrow.  Wouldn't that be a great upset if they knock off NCC?

[New Tradition]

Man, this board is quiet!

I was just thinking that same thing and about to post the same comment, NT.  You would think that with Albion getting to the playoffs, their posters would be flooding this board.  However, quite sad - this certainly isn't like years ago in the "good old days" in the MIAA (and I'm not just talking about here).   Anyway, good luck to Albion tomorrow.  Wouldn't that be a great upset if they knock off NCC?

According to the bracket, there couldn't be many bigger!

[Joe Wally]

Go Albion!

[formerd3db]

Go Albion!

Thanks, JW for the support of our MIAA representative!

[formerd3db]

Ouch. Albion is getting hammered by North Central 42-0 so far.  I really thought Albion would give them a better game; at least making it somewhat of close game for a while.  We'll see if they can get a score or two just to try and make it "respectable".

[formerd3db]

Double ouch!  Albion has been shellshacked; North Central up at 63-0 with a few minutes left.  Another embarrassing loss in the 1st round, but also another literal beating, giving up another "60-some" points like they did to Wheaton.  I realize North Central is good, however, after seeing Albion play last week, I really thought they would at least make it a competitive game.  They must have simply imploded.  Very disappointing.

Even Illinois Wesleyan is getting wacked today.  Although Hope barely lost to them this year, I also thought IWU would go at least to the middle of the playoffs.  Too bad for them as well.  However, it looks like Hope Head Baseball Coach Stu Fritz's alma mater Wartburg (he played both baseball and football there) might just be a team to watch out for in the playoffs!

As far as the playoffs, some disappointing attendance today also at the various games with the crowds being in the 2,000's for most.  Even Franklin didn't hit their season average of in the mid-3,000's.  However, most likely much of this was due to the inclement and cold weather at most of the sites today. 

[NCCAlum48]

Just got home from the NCC-Albion game.  Despite the score, NCC didn't play their best game IMHO.  NCC will need to have a better pass rush next week vs. UWP.  The sacks today seemed to be more from coverage than from winning individual battles.  Pad level seemed very high and NCC was uncharacteristically careless with the ball at times.  Not sure if it was the cold temps or something else.  A win is a win but NCC will need to play better next week if they want to advance further IMO.

[formerd3db]

Just got home from the NCC-Albion game.  Despite the score, NCC didn't play their best game IMHO.  NCC will need to have a better pass rush next week vs. UWP.  The sacks today seemed to be more from coverage than from winning individual battles.  Pad level seemed very high and NCC was uncharacteristically careless with the ball at times.  Not sure if it was the cold temps or something else.  A win is a win but NCC will need to play better next week if they want to advance further IMO.

Certainly understand that.  Obviously, I did not see the game today.  However, if North Central played that way in adverse weather conditions, I'd say too that if they improve to what they usually do as you mention, that and better weather should be a plus for them; they should be okay, although, indeed, UW-Platteville will be a tough opponent.  Having the game at your home stadium again, also doesn't hurt.  Good luck to you guys next week.

[Raider 68]

To all the MIAA posters, Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!