FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[pointlem]

Hope lands a 3 star OL recruit for 2023

https://twitter.com/jackstorey05/status/1555330797661470721?s=21&t=791qUOV1Hvf8oPkHfo-hmA

Interesting . . . after https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2022/07/top-recruits-brightons-jack-storey-explains-why-grand-valley-is-the-place-for-him.html. Great news for Hope if this holds . . . sounds like someone who knows who he is and what's best for him.

And what a great come-from-behind Hope victory today against a fine Aurora team that made it into the DIII playoffs last year. As expected, Hope's experienced offense was pretty special, with 591 yards . . . and its young defense made mistakes but surely will improve with experience.

A well-played first game by both teams, with few penalties or turnovers.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

So 2 weeks into the season and the MIAA is 13-1.  Impressive start!!

[HOPEful]

So 2 weeks into the season and the MIAA is 13-1.  Impressive start!!

And that lone loss was Adrian (pre-season picked to finish 5th in the MIAA) losing to a very solid Heidelberg team (pre-season picked to finish second to Mount in the OAC). Impressive indeed!

[wally_wabash]

There's a nonzero chance that the MIAA can be 20-1 after this weekend.  All of the crossover games are on the road, but very winnable. 

[HOPEful]

There's a nonzero chance that the MIAA can be 20-1 after this weekend.  All of the crossover games are on the road, but very winnable.

Mount St. Joseph worries me a little. I think Hope should win this matchup, but Coe definitely should have won that game Saturday. The final score of 33-24 is deceptive, as Hope ran back a rumble recovery as time ran out. It was the 7th time Hope turned Coe over and the second time they took it took it to the house! Coe's offense was significantly better than Hope's all day, minus taking care of the ball. I believe Coe's defense is better than Mount St. Joseph's, but if Hope struggles to move the ball against the Lions, it could take some magic once again to pull out a W.

Rose Hulman is a good 0-2 team. Losing to DePauw and Trine, both in very close games, are respectable losses. I think Albion wins, but wouldn't be shocked if they didn't.

Kalamazoo should beat Defiance. Trine should roll a 0-2 Franklin team. Adrian should beat Bluffton.

Olivet and Alma both felt like toss ups two weeks ago, but with Hanover and Anderson starting 0-2, both feel like favorites. 

[TUAngola]

Hard to believe there isn't more chatter on the MIAA football board.  After 3 weeks the conference has a cumulative record of 19-2.  When was the last time the conference has had this good of a start? Never?  Yesterday the MIAA went 6-1 against the HCAC with the lone loss by Hope to an undefeated MSJ team who appears to be the favorite to win their conference.  Albion looks to be the team to beat in the MIAA.  They have a really well balanced offense and the best defense in the league.  Trine with a good win at Franklin, but the Grizz seem to be down this year.  Trine does have some weaknesses however.  The ground game is sputtering, the O-line needs to play better.  We do have a good group of receivers it's just a matter of can our QB's get it to them consistently.  Hope has had the toughest non-con schedule in the MIAA and has faired pretty well.  Olivet, Alma and Adrian all appear to be playing very well.  In looking at the last week of the non-con schedule I'd say the MIAA is favored in at least 4 of the 7 games, Hope, Alma, Adrian and Olivet.  Albion with a real test at UW-Eau Claire, should the Brits win that one it will send a strong message to the rest of the MIAA.  Trine has a tough one at home against a really good Centre team.  Kalamazoo goes to NY to play Alfred, if the Hornets win this may be their best start in a long long time.  Should be a dogfight once conference play begins. 

[HOPEful]

Hope's slow start and some poorly timed turnovers ended up being their undoing in Cincinnati. Mount St. Joseph and Hope felt very evenly matched. Hope intercepted the Lions in the middle of the first quarter deep in their territory, only to throw it right back to them. What should have been at least 7-3 became 13-0. Which became 19-7 later in the first. Mount St. Joseph's defense looked significantly better than I had given them credit for prior to the game, although it was certainly aided by an anemic Dutchman offense. Hope survived Coe due to turning them over 7 times. The turnover ratio Saturday was EVEN (2 for both teams) while Chase Brown was sacked 5 times to Josh Taylor's one.

A disappointing loss for sure, but Hope still has everything ahead of them. After Northwestern (MN) this weekend, they start MIAA play with a sneaky Adrian team before go to Albion and to Alma. Alma should head into MIAA play undefeated and gets Trine and Hope as their first two conference opponents. Looks to be an exciting season in the MIAA, with perhaps a little more open for the taking than in most recent years.

[HOPEful]

Just noticed Saturday is Northwestern's homecoming, and Hope will get to play the role of spoilers.

[TUAngola]

Another good Saturday for the MIAA going 6-1 this afternoon.  Lone loss was Kalamazoo falling to Alfred.  As expected the Adrian, Alma, Hope and Olivet games were not close: Adrian winning 73-13, Alma 69-0, Hope 56-7 and Olivet 63-7.  Albion with a very good road win at UW-Eau Claire 28-20, and Trine with a defensive gem against Centre 17-0.  The Colonels came into the game receiving votes in the D3 football poll, so this is a good win for the Thunder.  We had two good scoring opportunities in the first quarter, getting intercepted in the end zone to end our first drive and then turning ball over on downs at the 1 yd line on the second drive.  Alex Price with one of his better throwing days for the Thunder.  Defense was the story though, Centre really didn't have a scoring opportunity until late in the game and the Thunder forced a fumble on a 1st and goal at the 1 yd line.

League play begins next week, Alma at Trine, Albion at Kalamazoo and Adrian at Hope.  Alma is playing very well and wouldn't be at all surprised for them to come to Angola and get a win.  The final nonconference schdule totals are 25 wins and 3 losses.  The non-con schedule was a little on the weak side overall however. 

[MRMIKESMITH]

Another good Saturday for the MIAA going 6-1 this afternoon.  Lone loss was Kalamazoo falling to Alfred.  As expected the Adrian, Alma, Hope and Olivet games were not close: Adrian winning 73-13, Alma 69-0, Hope 56-7 and Olivet 63-7.  Albion with a very good road win at UW-Eau Claire 28-20, and Trine with a defensive gem against Centre 17-0.  The Colonels came into the game receiving votes in the D3 football poll, so this is a good win for the Thunder.  We had two good scoring opportunities in the first quarter, getting intercepted in the end zone to end our first drive and then turning ball over on downs at the 1 yd line on the second drive.  Alex Price with one of his better throwing days for the Thunder.  Defense was the story though, Centre really didn't have a scoring opportunity until late in the game and the Thunder forced a fumble on a 1st and goal at the 1 yd line.

League play begins next week, Alma at Trine, Albion at Kalamazoo and Adrian at Hope.  Alma is playing very well and wouldn't be at all surprised for them to come to Angola and get a win.  The final non conference schedule totals are 25 wins and 3 losses.  The non-con schedule was a little on the weak side overall however.

If the MIAA doesn't cannibalize themselves, I think the MIAA get's two teams this year.

[sac]

If the MIAA doesn't cannibalize themselves, I think the MIAA get's two teams this year.

That has never happened and is still very unlikely to happen.

[TUAngola]

If the MIAA doesn't cannibalize themselves, I think the MIAA get's two teams this year.

That has never happened and is still very unlikely to happen.

I agree, the MIAA will be represented by the league champion only.  I don't think anyone is going to beat Albion from what I've seen on video (and Trine in person) of the MIAA teams so far this year.  It should be a good battle for second.

[HOPEful]

If the MIAA doesn't cannibalize themselves, I think the MIAA get's two teams this year.

If Trine and Albion both run the table, with one of those team's sole loss being to the other... it's not as impossible as everyone is making it out to be. Or if Hope runs the table, and Albion's only loss was to Hope. The amount of teams in line with said MIAA 2nd place finisher would be...

At least one WIAC team
The two loss Bethel/St John's non-AQ
Centennial 2nd place finisher (Johns Hopkins/Susquehanna)
MAC 2nd place finisher (Stevenson/Delaware Valley)
Hardin Simmons.
Wheaton

I could see a couple of these teams dropping a game and dropping off this list. Sounds absurd, but the MIAA getting two teams in is not impossible, and may even be likely if the 2nd place finisher ends the season with their only loss being to the MIAA champion.

[sac]

Not impossible they get two, but I stand by it being not very likely.

[HOPEful]

Not impossible they get two, but I stand by it being not very likely.

My money is on Albion running the table and Trine losing another one, either to Hope, Adrian, or Olivet. Then it's a moot argument.