FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[msmith0076]

The only team that would have gotten in being in 2nd is Alm, had they not lost to K and only lost to Hope or Albion.  With regards to the playoffs the conference is in trouble, assuming the non-league performances are an indication of the leagues overall strength.  With this in mind Alma will go to the Stagg Bowl and pigs will fly.  This will be accompanied by hell freezing over and a female president.  Any other predictions???
GO SCOTS!!!

[miaafbfan]

There is no way two MIAA teams will go on this year.  As is, our champ will have a tough time winning in round one.  I also agree that the MIAA is in serious trouble in the post season.  The MIAA is viewed as a weak conference.  A team to make a decent run in the playoffs is badly needed.  I think the league would be better off this year if Alma ended up as champ.  Before you Albion fans start typing an angry reply, hear me out.  I'm not ripping on Albion (or anybody else).  Alma has the best non conference record and schedule of anybody, Adrian included.  Seeding is an important part of playoff success, and Alma has a better chance at a better playoff spot this year if they win out.  Now if Albion happens to get the nod, I will be behind the Brits 100%.  I'll post my picks for the week later.

[formerd3db]

I doubt highly that Alma would even get in if they came in second regardless of the scenario you posted or otherwise.  While they may have the best non-conference record, it is still not considered that good based on who they played.  AU is a lower tier team, Witt is having a bad year and Tiffin, well...DII, and that really isn't taken into consideration.

We've all discussed this previously on here in the past, however, I have to agree with you all.  Until the MIAA teams start playing and beating some of the higher tier non-conf foes, they will not get far in the playoffs.  That takes a long time to develop, both attitutde and talent wise.  With Hope playing the likes of Wheaton, DePauw, John Carroll (althoug the latter has been in a rebuilding mode as well; and now Central, Iowa on the schedule for next couple of years (and in the past Wabash, Wooster), and Alma playing some DII teams, others like Albion and Wis Luth (and Hope in the past) playing the DIAA non-scholarships such as Butler and Valpo, that could help, yet they have to do it on a regular basis rather than just a game or two here and there so to speak.  Of course, Butler has been like a lower tier DIII team in recent years, but Albion should con't the series in my opinion.  The other teams need to improve the non-conf foes - come on, look at Adrian beating up on the likes of Hiram, Heidleburg, etc.  Olivet has done faily well by scheduling some of the OAC teams like OWU, the latter which has started to improve too.  But, until MIAA's beat some of the higher tier DIII teams in non-conf, or play them close regularly, they are not going to develop the "attitude" necessary to go on to the next level.  And the other factor is, your team has to have the basic talent to move on, and they way most of our teams are playing of recent, that's not going to happen.  A lot of generalalities in my comments, I realize, yet just MHO

[wlcalum]

Why do you think the MIAA cannot win in the post season? WLC and TS are just starting programs and have no name made for themselves. Most everyone has heard of the city Kalamazoo because the name is cool - do they not know a college is there? As for the three "A's", Hope and Olivet - (no slam here) never heard of them prior to football. Is this the problem - no name recognition beyond the home field. So much great football in Michigan all the better players would rather sit the bench in D1?

Should the MIAA put together a panel to help with recruiting? By that I mean not just recruiting for your school but for all the schools - and not just for sports but for students. Does the MIAA need to study the top tier conferences to see how they are successful every year?

Does DIII football need to change to allow redshirting and sports related scholarships to attract the better players?

Just some ideas - what do you think?

[BashDad]

wlcalum:

Does DIII football need to change to allow redshirting and sports related scholarships to attract the better players?

If NCAA allows D-III programs "redshirting and sports related scholarships," then D-III football as we know it "goes out the window."  As you may know, medical redshirts are still permissible in D-III.  Remove other restraints and the beauty and spirit of competitive football for the true scholar-athlete at the college level disappears.  It would become a "bidding war."   The playing field would be even more uneven than it is now.  Just my two cents...       

[miaafbfan]

D-III wouldn't be D-III if scholarships came into the picture.  I love college football at this level because the players are student athletes with the emphasis on "student."  They play because they love the game and they love their school.  It's not corrupt like at the other levels.  It should stay as it is.

As for the MIAA, I think the respective schools need to beef up their non conference schedules.  Formerd3db explained it well.  It's a change in mindset that needs to occur for the MIAA to get some respect in the realm of D-III football.  In many other ways, the MIAA schools do very well.  Albion, Alma, Hope, and Kalamazoo are all nationally recognized academically.  The others also earn respect in that way as well.  In other sports, the MIAA is consistently competitive at  the regional and national levels.  Let's hope football can be added to that list soon.

[b4uknewit]

former-- always nice to talk to you bro   )GO MTU Huskies! and of course Ferris State Bulldogs! catch ya later eh-- Da yooper

[wlcalum]

Yep - I went too far.  Should never have typed paragraph three as I agree - DIII football is because it is pure. Sorry!

Picks for the week

Kalamazoo at Adrian - Adrian wins out and they have a chance. Kazoo hurt Alma and can do the same to Adrian.
Going with the home team Adrian - but don't be surprised...

Alma at Adrian - both teams NEED this win, only one will get it. Going with the home team again, Adrian.

Hope at Tri State - Should I make it three for three going with the home team? I would HOPE not. Sorry Tri State.

Olivet at Wisconsin Lutheran - Olivet needs to win out to have an outside chance. WLC can spoil that chance. I am going with the heart and not the head - WLC.

[BashDad]

wlcalum:

You need to look at your MIAA picks--Alma plays at Albion this Saturday, your earlier pairing is correct--Adrian plays Kalamazoo.

[wlcalum]

You guessed it I'm an idiot  I still am going with the home team ALBION. Thanks BashDad for keeping my honest.

[miaafbfan]

My picks:

Adrian over Kalamazoo
Hope over Tri-State
Olivet over Wisconsin Lutheran


And the game of the week:

Alma over Albion in a close one

[formerd3db]

My picks for this week:

Hope over Tri-State
Adrian over Kazoo
Olivet over Wis Luth
Albion over Alma (it's at Albion )

b4uknewit:
Thanks and same goes from me to you friend.

[BashDad]

formerd3db:

Yes, it looks like Hope and Adrian will be looking from the outside in come playoff time.   I will look forward to the Hope/Tri-State score to see how your Dutchmen feel about themselves as the end of season nears--I hope to see "real good!"

Thanks for your thoughts expressed on the NCAC board regarding Wabash's upcoming Denison game.  Wabash has been playing so well and can't let down now.  Besides, the Bell game is next.  We need to go into "green-dingle" on a high.  When we whomp DePauw, I'll remember that we'll also be paying them back for the loss that Hope suffered to them in Holland early in the season.   Still, that game is more than one week away--one game at a time!  The Little Giants will be ready for "senior day" tomorrow...60's tomorrow in Crawfordsville (but with 50% chance of thundershowers!)--please keep the cold weather up in your neck of the woods for another eight days!

Later, friend.   

[albinomascot19]

A wild and crazy week of MIAA football this week.  I was at the Albion game, it was over early.  The offense definitely stepped it up today.  Albion cruised by Alma  66-27.  As most people would have predicted, Adrian blew out Kalamazoo 42-10, and Hope disposes Tri-State 42-10 as well.  Finally Olivet, stays in this crazy MIAA race with a 28-14 win over Wisconsin Lutheran.  It all goes down to next week.  Albion travels to Olivet to play the Comets, for a key MIAA matchup.  An Albion win, and they are in, otherwise, it is a big mess...and can you tell me who would win then?  For us Britons fans, we are hoping they can take care of business against the Comets.  Next Saturday is tabbed as "Redemption" Saturday.  MIAA Game of the Week: Albion @ Olivet.  However the other games are important as well, depending on the result of the Albion game.  A crazy race, one more week to go.  Good luck everyone in the MIAA!

By the way hope you all enjoyed the nice weather!

[wlcalum]

What a crazy good game at WLC. Thunder and lightning a fumble on the four with three int's to end the game. WLC was in it to nearly the end. No fumble on the four yard line and the win could have gone to WLC. Great game for the seniors - Seiler collects 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one tackle for lost yards - not bad for a three man line. Lepke did equally as well. Both seniors showing what they were made of.

What happened in Albian? Did not expect a blow out there! Other games ended as expected. Next week decides it all. See you in Michigan.