FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

Pat:

I realize you have ignored my question, and understandably so, since I really screwed that up; no doubt you were thinking..."what an idiot that guy is"!   Indeed, I do not know what I was thinking totally, when I penned that.  Anyway, what I really had intended it to say was that if the other scenario played out with all three teams winning tomorrow, again, knowing that Albion goes anyway, what is your opinion as to Olivet's chance (not Albion as I erroneously typed ) of getting one of the at-large bids with a 9-1 record, despite their having a lower SOS as opposed to some of the other teams who would be in the mix for an A-L bid?


To: IoTrimphe and DBQ:
There have been several discussions in the past couple of years or so here on the MIAA board regarding the "state of the MIAA" and reasons why.  Both of your posts have touched on some of those various factors.  Although I have offered my own opinions on the topic in the past also, I would enjoy sharing a few of those comments again here with you.  I do not have time to do another post right now, however, I will try to do so at some time over the weekend or shortly thereafter.

Good luck to Albion and Dubuque tomorrow, especially for Albion so they don't "blow" having a one-loss season!  If Olivet wins @ Alma (that might be tough up there if Alma brings it's better "game" tomorrow like it has on a few occasions this year), it will be nice to see them end up 9-1.  As far as Hope, hoping (no pun intended) that a self-implosion doesn't happen tomorrow like it has the last few games, I'm going out on a limb and predicting they will beat Kalamazoo, although it is at Kazoo's stadium.  Anyway, the weather is supposed to be decent for a change- mid to high 50's and no rain for once!

[wally_wabash]

Pat:

I realize you have ignored my question, and understandably so, since I really screwed that up; no doubt you were thinking..."what an idiot that guy is"!   Indeed, I do not know what I was thinking totally, when I penned that.  Anyway, what I really had intended it to say was that if the other scenario played out with all three teams winning tomorrow, again, knowing that Albion goes anyway, what is your opinion as to Olivet's chance (not Albion as I erroneously typed ) of getting one of the at-large bids with a 9-1 record, despite their having a lower SOS as opposed to some of the other teams who would be in the mix for an A-L bid?

Not Pat, but I'll offer my .02 here.   

I think it looks tough for Olivet.  ONU moving into the rankings and all the way past Olivet is a bad sign.  If everybody wins (I don't see any significant SOS shifts based on this week's opponents), I don't think Olivet would go back over ONU after Saturday's games which puts Olivet, at best, second in line for Pool C from the North region and behind a team that I don't think will make the field. 

I think the MIAA's best chance for two teams in the field is for Olivet to lose and Trine to win the league's AQ.  Albion is a much better at-large candidate; but even they look like they would be on the last in/first out borderline. 

[IoTriumphe]

Pat:

To: IoTrimphe and DBQ:
There have been several discussions in the past couple of years or so here on the MIAA board regarding the "state of the MIAA" and reasons why.  Both of your posts have touched on some of those various factors.  Although I have offered my own opinions on the topic in the past also, I would enjoy sharing a few of those comments again here with you.  I do not have time to do another post right now, however, I will try to do so at some time over the weekend or shortly thereafter.

Would love to hear them when you have the chance to put pen to paper.

[Uncle Rico]

Pat:

I realize you have ignored my question, and understandably so, since I really screwed that up; no doubt you were thinking..."what an idiot that guy is"!   Indeed, I do not know what I was thinking totally, when I penned that.  Anyway, what I really had intended it to say was that if the other scenario played out with all three teams winning tomorrow, again, knowing that Albion goes anyway, what is your opinion as to Olivet's chance (not Albion as I erroneously typed ) of getting one of the at-large bids with a 9-1 record, despite their having a lower SOS as opposed to some of the other teams who would be in the mix for an A-L bid?

Not Pat, but I'll offer my .02 here.   

I think it looks tough for Olivet.  ONU moving into the rankings and all the way past Olivet is a bad sign.  If everybody wins (I don't see any significant SOS shifts based on this week's opponents), I don't think Olivet would go back over ONU after Saturday's games which puts Olivet, at best, second in line for Pool C from the North region and behind a team that I don't think will make the field. 

I think the MIAA's best chance for two teams in the field is for Olivet to lose and Trine to win the league's AQ.  Albion is a much better at-large candidate; but even they look like they would be on the last in/first out borderline.

I admit I like Wally's scenario the best, but I am a Trine fan.   

[sac]

Adrian beat Trine which means Albion and Olivet share the miaa title with Albion getting the auto bid

[sac]

1961 was a long time ago

[dumezrules]

Does anyone know Dean Kreps' career record at Hope? 

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Kreps is 109-97 (83-41 in MIAA) by my count. His last MIAA title was in 2007 when they went back to back. They have struggled of late, but from 95-2007 Hope finished worse than 2nd in MIAA only once, in 1995 his first year.

[formerd3db]

Some Post-season/Selection-night ramblings:

Congratulations to Olivet and Albion for their co-championship.  A great season for Olivet in their long history.  Too bad they did not receive an at-large bid, however, the SOS is a problem for the MIAA.  Congratulations to Albion for their AQ.  I do not see them beating Wabash, however, hopefully, they will have a good showing.  I expect it to be similar to the last time they met Wabash in the playoffs in Crawfordsville this past decade.

Congratulations to Kalamazoo's players and staff and fans for the victory over Hope yesterday.  A nice way for their seniors to go out.  Also, nice to see a good crowd at their stadium (1245) as well as great weather (finally ), especially for a last game of the season as opposed to the usual. 

Hope's self-implosion was very disappointing to say the least.  As is obvious to most, being on the 2 yard line with just seconds left in the first half and having that INT run back 98 yards was the game changing atmosphere.  Hope would have been up 31-7 had we scored, instead going into halftime with a 24-14 lead.  While the coaching staff and fans were/are disappointed, it is even more so for the senior class.  I feel bad for them going out with that result as being the last game of their collegiate careers.  However, such is life.  Yet, I encourage them to think about the positive aspects and memories of their careers.  As to the underclassemen, hopefully, they will endeavor to be better next next year.

sac, while 1961 was a long time ago, it still is disheartening and unbelievable in not winning a league game. Looking back over the scores, there are several that were so close with Hope having a chance to have won those games.  But, if, if if.....

IoTriumphe, I mentioned I would "re-mention" some of my own thoughts and comments I have heard from others (including some coaching staffs in the MIAA) as to reasons for the difficulties the MIAA has had with regard to being less competitive comparatively overall the past couple of decades.  Many are of the opinion that this is due to a) the higher number of scholarship football schools in the state and region DII, NAIA and b) the high cost of tuition at the DIII schools.  Receiving a "full-ride" at one of the GLIAC or Mid-West NAIA schools makes a huge difference to families with regard to finances and being able to attend some schools.  If one's son is good enough to play at the DII level, unless their family can afford to send them to a Hope, Albion or Kazoo, etc. and/or they receive more than half of the tuition via grants, community scholarships, etc., thereby bringing down the overall yearly cost comparable to going to a state university and not playing football, a great number take the scholarship (or unless they really want to go to one of MIAA schools for some specific academic tract or family tradition and/or other various reasons). 

Thus, while this is still collegiate football and a big step up from high school and there are many very good high school players who are not good enough to play at this level, the MIAA schools are simply not getting those type of higher talented players overall like they did 2-3 decades ago.  However, there are still occasions where some of the schools may land (for various reasons) an occasional/some occasional players who are good enough to play at the DII or even DI level.  DBQ also made some good points relative to other factors involved.

Anyway, the playoffs begin and it will be interesting to see how this year's field plays out.

DAWG, I did think you guys would beat Trine at your home (sorry, Uncle Rico! )

And finally, many people figured that the U of Michigan game would play out exactly as it did yesterday.  But, it was good to see Michigan pull one out like that for once (or twice, I guess, like they did with the win against Minnesota).  Also, good season for Northwestern!

     

[formerd3db]

wally w:
Thanks for your offering opinion the other night.   Good analysis.

Congrats to your Wabash.  There is an outside chance I might be able to "blast down" to the game next weekend, but not sure yet.  I hope the weather is nice again like yesterday for next Saturday's first round game.  Do you expect a decent crowd?

[wabco]

Formerd3db

Weather looks decent for next Saturday.  Anticipate a good Wabash crowd and I suspect we should have a good turnout from Albion.  Should be interesting ... we start with Albion next year.  Book ends.  Also, Albion President is a Wabash Grad and new Admissions Director there was at Wabash before taking the Albion job.  I anticipate a lot of good hospitality by Wabash.  If any MIAA rooters come down, suggest you amble over to the tailgating behind the Wabash side.  I am sure everyone will be welcome.  We save the cold shoulder for DePauw and Witt folks.  We anticipate a great tailgate also at Albion next year to open the season.  Should be fun "working over" their now President Mauri Ditzler also grad and good friend of Wabash.  This is what D III is about.  It should be a celebration of both teams' hard work to get there + a little fun thrown in.

[wally_wabash]

wally w:
Thanks for your offering opinion the other night.   Good analysis.

Congrats to your Wabash.  There is an outside chance I might be able to "blast down" to the game next weekend, but not sure yet.  I hope the weather is nice again like yesterday for next Saturday's first round game.  Do you expect a decent crowd?

Thanks for listening!  Glad you enjoyed the show. 

Experience tells me that we'll have a smaller, but spirited crowd at Wabash for Round 1.  Classes break for Thanksgiving at the end of next week, so there's just no keeping all of the student body around for the game.  Last year's reported attendance for that first round game was something like 1300.  Would love to see a little better than that, but I understand how the holiday impacts availability for many.  I've lucked out and my own holiday travel won't be until Sunday, so I will definitely be there on Saturday. 

Going to be fun to revisit some Wabash-Albion history this week.  As you know, Wabash and Albion are definitely not strangers, even though it's been a while since we've seen one another. 

[USee]

I want to see how that Albion offense does against the Giant Swarm.  Could be epic.

[formerd3db]

wabco and wally:

Thanks for the info follow-up.  Didn't know about the Wabash connection re: the new Albion administrators.  Yes, it would be nice to have larger crowds for the first round games, yet, the holiday "conflict" is always there as you mention, and that is understandable.  As we have shared before, yes, I/we miss those Albion/Wabash, Hope/Wabash clashes, but it is good to see they are back on your schedule for next year.

If I am able to make it down, it would be a pleasure to visit with you guys-thanks for the invite.  I'll see what goes this week.  Thanks again.

Usee: It could be interesting, but will be a tough task down there.

[wabco]

Wally is correct about students out f school.  I had forgotten that.  But otherwise I believe the crowd will be fine ... a function of weather.