FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Bofadeeznuts]

Sure it does!
The ones in Honorable Mention DID get a vote to be in Top 25. As I scrolled down 2 MORE lines, voting is based on a 25 to 1 voting. #1 team gets 25 votes. #25 team gets 1 vote. Trine got a #25 ranking. Hence the 1 point. Hope probably got a #24 voting from the same guy. Hence the 2 points.

[Bofadeeznuts]

ITS THE PRINCIPLE OF IT. Knowing that probably more of the coaches are clueless about the rest of the nation.
That's it.
Sorry for posting it. Just a little disturbed by it.

[bleedpurple]

I think I just got lectured on principle by someone with a screen name of "Bofadeeznuts". 

Don't ever apologize for posting, brother. As long as you don't mind pushback when someone else holds a different view, it's all good.

[wally_wabash]

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/d3/afca-coaches

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Mason Opple - Hope QB named to the D3football Team of the Week
K Cooper West - Adrian Kicker named to the D3football Team of the Week

Neither of these men were MIAA player of the week in their respective categories...

https://www.d3football.com/awards/tow/2019/week5

[formerd3db]

FDF:
Interesting.

BTW, I think the tentative weather predicted schedule may have some effect on the attendance and perhaps a little even the game plan philosophy, but then, perhaps not with regard to the latter if it doesn't rain.

DBQ: You are added as a member to the DIII Levity Club for your "I do look under the bed" comment reply to your acussers of being in the conspiracy camp over on the MIAC board!😁

Edited for spelling.

[DBQ1965]

FDF:
Interesting.

BTW, I think the tentative weather predicted schedule may have some effect on the attendance and perhaps a little even the game plan philosophy, but then, perhaps not with regard to the latter if it doesn't rain.

DBQ: You are added as a member to the DIII Levity Club for your "I do look under the bed" comment reply to your acussers of being in the conspiracy camp over on the MIAC board!😁

Edited for spelling.

Thank you former3db. That feels like a good club to belong to. 

[formerd3db]

You are welcome, DBQ. Indeed, there are some really funny and good guys that are in that category and I'm sure we'll have more.😊

[formerd3db]

So this will be one of the decisive weeks in starting to sort out the MIAA race this year. Alma's shocking upset of Albion this past  Saturday may have put a sideline diversion for someone on the trail.  While many of us think that the winner of this week's Hope/Albion game will likely be the eventual champion (myself included, which I think will be Hope, although I am biased as you all know), Olivet will not be a pushover for anyone assuming they beat Adrian this Saturday. And, if Alma wins, then we'll still have some teams that present a road block and/or just might have a chance at grabbing the title.

However, if Hope continues the level of performance it did against Trine, I believe we'll be hard to stop. At the same time, we all know that underdog upsets do occur occasionaly as Alma pulled off, but I am not convinced that Albion isn't a team that isn't very good and very dangerous because they still are both. Of course, this is our most heated rival, without question, amd anything can happen. Hope has won the last three years and that, along with Albion's stinging recent loss,  I am expecting they will be on a mission and fired up in a controlled frenzy, again, in part, because it is against us.

So I am hopeful that the Navy Blue and Orange will continue the intensity and their top performances on all phases of their game. 4 days left to prepare.

BTW, does anyone think Finlandia has a chance against Kalamazoo this Saturday? It is at Angell Field in Kalamazoo.

[Jameswys]

BTW, does anyone think Finlandia has a chance against Kalamazoo this Saturday? It is at Angell Field in Kalamazoo.

No. Not a chance. None. At all.

[formerd3db]

Jamesways.

Strange things do happen.   However, I think you are right.   Based on Finlandias games so far this year, I think they might score more than zero or one TD like they did against most teams last year.

I forgot to ask.  What is/are your prediction/thoughts about your Olivet against Adrian this Saturday.  Regarding the non on-the-field action, you mentioned you thought there would be a huge crowd for the game, although as I related in my earlier post, I think attendance for these "big" games this weekend will be a slight victim of the expected (predicted) worse weather.  Anyway, I think Olivet will win the game.

[Jameswys]

I was actually camping last weekend and only saw box scores, no live action. I think that the freshman quarterback is going to be a great player in a few years, but this will be a learning year. I've seen him around campus, he looks more like a D1 linebacker than a D3 QB, so I think he could be a handful for defenses when running the ball.

As for attendance, Olivet is doing big things this week. Today they posted photos on Facebook of the rides moving in for the carnival. They are going to have a stage, bar, craft beer local wines, food trucks etc. They are planning on a crowd and I have alumni friends flying in from Colorado for this one.

[formerd3db]

I was actually camping last weekend and only saw box scores, no live action. I think that the freshman quarterback is going to be a great player in a few years, but this will be a learning year. I've seen him around campus, he looks more like a D1 linebacker than a D3 QB, so I think he could be a handful for defenses when running the ball.

As for attendance, Olivet is doing big things this week. Today they posted photos on Facebook of the rides moving in for the carnival. They are going to have a stage, bar, craft beer local wines, food trucks etc. They are planning on a crowd and I have alumni friends flying in from Colorado for this one.

That's awesome. Olivet seems to be going all out for fresh ideas  for being in alumni and increasing attendance whether it is Homecoming or not. Also, I know the SID there, a great guy who does a great job.  I hope you guys have a huge turnout and break the record that was set two years ago. Good luck to your team and have a great time.

[DBQ1965]

For what it's worth, here is my brief take on today's Hope - Albion game.  First of all,  it was a COLD Lake Michigan wind blowing over Smith Stadium this afternoon ... brrrrr.  The first half was well played by both teams.  Albion's no-huddle offense was a problem for the Flying Dutchmen for 2 quarters, but Hope made some important halftime adjustments on both offense and defense, and I thought the game was decided in the 3rd quarter.  I continue to be impressed with Hope's QB Opple's decision making ability in the heat of the moment.  In some ways, this was a very important win for Hope following last week's Trine win.  And on a final word, I must call attention to the University of Dubuque Spartans beating the favored Central  College Dutch on Schipper Field in Pella this Saturday.  When I say "Go Blue", I am not referring to that other team in Michigan.   

[formerd3db]

For what it's worth, here is my brief take on today's Hope - Albion game.  First of all,  it was a COLD Lake Michigan wind blowing over Smith Stadium this afternoon ... brrrrr.  The first half was well played by both teams.  Albion's no-huddle offense was a problem for the Flying Dutchmen for 2 quarters, but Hope made some important halftime adjustments on both offense and defense, and I thought the game was decided in the 3rd quarter.  I continue to be impressed with Hope's QB Opple's decision making ability in the heat of the moment.  In some ways, this was a very important win for Hope following last week's Trine win.  And on a final word, I must call attention to the University of Dubuque Spartans beating the favored Central  College Dutch on Schipper Field in Pella this Saturday.  When I say "Go Blue", I am not referring to that other team in Michigan.   

DBQ1965:

Don't ever say that, your opinions/observations are always respected here!

I agree with you.  My thoughts have been, at least in the first two games, that the defense could not/would not be able to sustain the team and that the offense needed to do their part and contribute to the same. I still believe that holds for the remainder of the season.  A defense can keep you in the game (even when giving up a TD or two), yet, you have to have the offense to respond and return a score right after the opponent does (and also score when you are in the Red Zone.)  As great as a QB/player as Opple is, we can't rely totally on him all the time.  However, that said, the offense (all positions) has really has stepped up and done the job the last two games.

As you mention, in the first half, the Albion no huddle offense was difficult for Hope to deal with, although the defense did give up two of those rushing TDs in the game in the Red Zone too easily and those should have been stopped.  Yet, they did make the adjustments.  I  thought Albion somewhat gave up slightly in the last quarter, although they did throw several long bombs, two of which were dropped. However, overall, the Hope defense and secondary did a great job.  I will say that I thought this was one of the poorer Albion defensive secondary play that I have seen in quite a long time (dbs getting beat, out of position, etc.)

Overall, it was a great win and who would have believed we have now beaten our most heated rival 4 years in a row.  A few years ago, I dare say no one thought that was possible.  Things are cyclic for sure.  The only disappointment, IMO, was the lower turnout for a Homecoming game, 2803.  It is just not what it used to be at Hope, which is baffling to me in regards to the last 3 seasons and the type of football they've been playing.  Perhaps the daily weather reports and the colder weather early this morning had some affect on people deciding to attend.  Yet, while as you mentioned, the wind was cold and gusty at times, it actually was no where near as bad of weather as I thought it would be as the sun was out for most of the game, and dressed for moderately cold fall weather was comfortable on the sidelines.  Yet, perhaps it was colder for those sitting in the stadium in the shadows (those guys/gals in our H Club athletic hospitality tent on the south endzone hill had the best seats as the tent blocked the wind.  The tent was full all game (unfortunately, I never made it over there, and I was also told by one of my former teammates that only about 3 others from our era showed up there at the game, although perhaps we just did not run in to others.

Anyway, it is now on to Finlandia, which should be an easy win for Hope, although the 10 hour bus ride will be brutal!  The following week is Olivet and assuming they win next week.  Congratulations to our players, coaches, support staff and fans.  Winning a Homecoming is always the best!