FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Alma is dominating the MIAA.  There is a wide gap to competing with the best teams nationally.  Maybe this Alma team is different, but probably not.  The MIAA owns 9 NCAA tournament wins in 45 years, 5 belong to Albion 93 and 94.

100% That's why I say, "i'd like to see them play"... more of a statement of lament that it won't happen. Last year they got Aurora after beating MSJ though, so who knows?

Well that seems to be quite a bit different than this statement (at least that's how it comes across to me):

As excited as I was about Hope's hard-fought win over Albion, I didn't go into the homecoming matchup against Alma last week with much optimism. Carter St. John and Eddie Williams are just really, really good. I'd love to see a John Carroll or Mount Union matchup for the Alma deeper in the playoffs. It would be a great barometer for how they match up with the best in the region. It definitely feels like until those guys are no longer at Alma, they'll be closer to the big boys regionally and nationally than the rest of the MIAA is to them...

[HOPEful]

Well that seems to be quite a bit different than this statement (at least that's how it comes across to me)...

Just as Mount Union has earned and will always get the benefit of the doubt... so too the MIAA has earned NOT getting the benefit of the doubt. So when it comes to a year and a team like Alma this year, it's 100% fair to say, "I'll believe it when I see it in the playoffs against a "good" team"

My opinion is that this Alma team is the best MIAA team I've seen since... maybe Trine in 2010, maybe ever (I watched Albion in 1994 as a kid, but don't remember anything about it or the team other than watching it) So yes, I believe that there is still a earned and perceived gap between ANY MIAA, HCAC, or NCAC team and Mount Union and John Carroll. But I stick by the statement that I believe that gap is narrower this year for Alma than the gap between them and the rest of the MIAA.

[sac]

Kind of interesting to look back at 1994  (check out those conferences)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_NCAA_Division_III_football_season

How about only 16 teams and the WIAC champ wasn't one of them.

Albion won 4 close games including a 1 point W over Mt. Union that I think was sort of heroic as was the win over St. John's.  I kind of recall maybe the Albion/St. John's game being played in heavy snow.     Doesn't seem that long ago but hitting 30 years next year. 


https://www.albion1994.com/season/   I recognize several names here and have bumped into 2 or 3 over the years in weird places and worked with one of their brothers for a time.

[GoYeo]

Adrian College hired a great man and a great coach today. I along with my 3 brothers, had the honor of playing for him at Saline and had the utmost respect for him and the way that he ran the program. Adrian got better as a program today, I look forward to seeing what Coach Palka can do for Adrian.

https://adrianbulldogs.com/news/2023/11/17/general-joe-palka-named-24th-head-coach-of-adrian-college-football.aspx

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

I second the hire of Joe Palka being a great move. He was on staff at Adrian in 02-03 when I was a junior and while he wasn't my position coach you could tell he was a good one. Since then I've had friends that worked with him at EMU and at Saline. Hell hit the ground running and should have things turned around there quickly I hope. I look forward to having a chance to meet him once he gets settled in, can't imagined he remembers me from Adam from one season at Adrian 20 years ago!

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I'd love to see a John Carroll or Mount Union matchup for the Alma deeper in the playoffs. It would be a great barometer for how they match up with the best in the region. It definitely feels like until those guys are no longer at Alma, they'll be closer to the big boys regionally and nationally than the rest of the MIAA is to them...

So you got your wish with the Scots off to play at Mt Union in the 2nd round.  With the Purple Raiders being very heavy favorites - Massey predicts a 91% chance of a Mt Union win with a predicted score of 41-17 - I'm curious what kind of result woudld you consider to be a "success/steps in the right direction" for Alma.  And yes, I think all of the MIAA (myself included) would love to see the Scots take down Mt Union in a massive upset.

[HOPEful]

So you got your wish with the Scots off to play at Mt Union in the 2nd round.  With the Purple Raiders being very heavy favorites - Massey predicts a 91% chance of a Mt Union win with a predicted score of 41-17 - I'm curious what kind of result woudld you consider to be a "success/steps in the right direction" for Alma.  And yes, I think all of the MIAA (myself included) would love to see the Scots take down Mt Union in a massive upset.

Alma beating DePauw in a game they never trailed and that was never in doubt is already a great step... now, for the next opponent, it's so hard to say. Mount beat JCU 49-14, and John Carroll is a very, very good team. Would losing similarly mean Alma's not where they hoped they'd be... I don't think so.

Here are my own personal, incremental barometers...

1. Alma finds some success on offense. (The most points Mount Union has allowed in a game this year is 17. I'd love to see Alma eclipse 20+ but double digits would still be much more palatable than getting skunked)

2. Alma takes care of the ball. (JCU felt still in the game against Mount up to the pick six that brought the score from 21-7 to 28-7...)

3. Mount is forced to punt. (Mount doesn't have to punt all that often, finding success on defense would be  amazing... but I'm just not sure Alma's defense can keep up.)

4. The game is still within reach the longer it goes on (Baldwin Wallace lost to Mount 41-17 but the 24-10 halftime score feels like a small victory.)

[Flying Dutch Fan]

So you got your wish with the Scots off to play at Mt Union in the 2nd round.  With the Purple Raiders being very heavy favorites - Massey predicts a 91% chance of a Mt Union win with a predicted score of 41-17 - I'm curious what kind of result woudld you consider to be a "success/steps in the right direction" for Alma.  And yes, I think all of the MIAA (myself included) would love to see the Scots take down Mt Union in a massive upset.

Alma beating DePauw in a game they never trailed and that was never in doubt is already a great step... now, for the next opponent, it's so hard to say. Mount beat JCU 49-14, and John Carroll is a very, very good team. Would losing similarly mean Alma's not where they hoped they'd be... I don't think so.

Here are my own personal, incremental barometers...

1. Alma finds some success on offense. (The most points Mount Union has allowed in a game this year is 17. I'd love to see Alma eclipse 20+ but double digits would still be much more palatable than getting skunked)

2. Alma takes care of the ball. (JCU felt still in the game against Mount up to the pick six that brought the score from 21-7 to 28-7...)

3. Mount is forced to punt. (Mount doesn't have to punt all that often, finding success on defense would be  amazing... but I'm just not sure Alma's defense can keep up.)

4. The game is still within reach the longer it goes on (Baldwin Wallace lost to Mount 41-17 but the 24-10 halftime score feels like a small victory.)

Thanks HOPEful - I think those points are all good.  As you said, it will be great for it to be "a game" at halftime.

[HOPEful]

Thanks HOPEful - I think those points are all good.  As you said, it will be great for it to be "a game" at halftime.

I've been very high on Alma all year. And still am. But Mount Union is so dominant on both sides of the ball. I really hope they can find some offensive success, but I just have a difficult time seeing how their defense is going to hold Mount Union's offense to under 35 points.

If they lost 38-17, it would be the best anyone has done against Mount so far this year...

[Raider 68]

Mount Union is taking the Alma Scots very seriously and will bring their A game come this Saturday. The Raiders did not have a few key players last Saturday including their best defender Rossy Moore # 1 who will play Saturday along with their starting Tight end.

Against the top Defense in D3, Alma will need to utilize their weapons and stay in the game for 4 quarters. John Carroll had a very good team this year, great QB and running game. The result was JCU inability to stop the Mount offense. For decades one big difference for Mount vs. all their opponents is Speed. Their team speed is on another level which you will see on Saturday.

Safe travels to all from Alma. Weather is forecasted dry and low 40's temperature.

[formerd3db]

As I mentioned previously, I've seen Alma play three times this year. Indeed, they are a very explosive team. As has been noted here and over on the OAC board, Alma  has a great passing game. My take on the game is that if Mount shuts down Alma's running game and the Scots have to rely mainly on their passing game, their QB cannot afford to have an off day, even though Mount's secondary has struggled at times throughout the season. My fear is that Alma comes out strong and shocks the Raiders early, but then implodes , in part, due to the "Mount factor,' regardless of the fact that Mount is still a very, very good team. That would be similar to back in 2007 when Hope traveled to Mount in the first round, shocked the Raiders on the opening drive, but were stuffed at the goal line and never recovered. I hope that doesn't happen to Alma and would love to see a great competative game. I'm obviously rooting for Alma, but good luck to both teams for a great and safe contest for all.

[HOPEful]

For decades one big difference for Mount vs. all their opponents is Speed. Their team speed is on another level which you will see on Saturday.

...Mount is forced to punt. (Mount doesn't have to punt all that often, finding success on defense would be amazing... but I'm just not sure Alma's defense can keep up.)...

I hear you and 100% was referring to that speed when I said I'm not sure Alma can keep up. I am worried about both side of the ball but am much more worried about Alma's defense being overwhelmed than I am their offense.

[Raider 68]

For decades one big difference for Mount vs. all their opponents is Speed. Their team speed is on another level which you will see on Saturday.

...Mount is forced to punt. (Mount doesn't have to punt all that often, finding success on defense would be amazing... but I'm just not sure Alma's defense can keep up.)...

I hear you and 100% was referring to that speed when I said I'm not sure Alma can keep up. I am worried about both side of the ball but am much more worried about Alma's defense being overwhelmed than I am their offense.

It would be nice if Alma brought their fans in numbers, but it is a long drive especially on a holiday weekend.

Mount Union  (Kehres) is the oldest stadium in Ohio (1913) with a great atmosphere

[HOPEful]

It would be nice if Alma brought their fans in numbers, but it is a long drive especially on a holiday weekend.

I wouldn't get your hopes too high.. this is picture of the away stands for the Alma @ Hope game earlier this year. The game was in many ways a de facto MIAA championship game and three hours closer to Alma than Alliance. Alma doesn't have a reputation for travelling well...

[formerd3db]

It would be nice if Alma brought their fans in numbers, but it is a long drive especially on a holiday weekend.

I wouldn't get your hopes too high.. this is picture of the away stands for the Alma @ Hope game earlier this year. The game was in many ways a de facto MIAA championship game and three hours closer to Alma than Alliance. Alma doesn't have a reputation for travelling well...

The day of the Hope game, it had been raining extremely heavily that morning for several hours prior until right up to the start of the contest (and 24 hours before as well.) That affected attendance at the game for both teams. Actually, Alma fans travel just as well as any of the MIAA teams. They had about the same amount fans as Albion did at the last game of the season at Albion's Sprankle-Sprandle Stadium at Fraser-Schmidt Field.

That said, Raider68 is right as attendance at the 2nd round playoff games has traditionally been poor due to it being the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This is, of course, unavoidable. Such occurs even at Mount Union's home stadium despit their having had some great teams in the past, including in their best national championship years. I know this is true because I have attended playoff games there that same weekend.