FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[79jaybird]

I know in Illinois the CCIW's metro schools  Elmhurst, North Central, North Park, Wheaton, and Carthage in Kenosha, WI  compete with larger schools i.e.  Northern/Southern/Eastern/Western IL, Ill. State, etc. 
Many times these kids will go to the larger schools, find out that the playing time is scarce and much more competitive overall, and wind up back at a D-3 football school for success.
BTW  Formerd3db   the paper is going well.  Should have first issue out on September 8, 2006. 

[superbob]

Enough talk about what is going on in all the other conferences in college football, lets talk about the up coming MIAA season.  I will gladly start it off.
Business first, last season was a very interesting season for the MIAA.  Their were upsets, and shocking games all around.  Example Olivet over Hope, Hopes complete dominance over Adrian, and lastly K-Zoo over Alma.  Yet at the end of the season there was still a disappointment about the season.  This is not a shot at Albion for they were the MIAA champions at the top all alone.
The unfinished business and the question that is yet to be answered is (i will capitalize this) HOW IS GOING TO EMERGE??? 
Some say, what do u mean by who is going to emerge,  The MIAA as of the last 5 years has grown to a level that has put its popularity higher then its been since the mid 90's.  Even better the league has finally shown that there are more then just Albion.  Albion completely dominated the MIAA for nearly a decade.  Now there is compitition coming from Olivet, Adrian, and the team who gives us one nice upset every now and then K-Zoo.
If history repeats itself, we will see Hope win the MIAA title for the 3rd time in 7 years. Who is going to win the first playoff game for the MIAA?  It is obvious that not winning a playoff game since 1994 has put a huge monkey on the back of this conference being a complete D3 National Conference.  Winning the MIAA has not became enough, teams want to win nationally, and want to get that d3 playoff win.... Adrian finally got rid of Hiedleberg, and ventures to Pennsylvania....K-Zoo does something that should have been done a long time ago and plays  Austin down in Texas.  Every coach and team knows that there school, players, coaching staff, and fans, know that the MIAA is seen as a conference who cant win in the playoffs.............the race for national power begins now

[matblake]

Wheaton has posted it's recruits for this year.  http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/football/recruits.html  Was hoping some of you Western Michigan people had perhaps seen the following play because I couldn't find much info on them, despite being in MI myself.  Thanks!

Michael Freeland-Portage Central
Devon Gainey-Northview
Tyler Langs-Climax Scotts
Joshua Bishop-Central Montcalm

[formerd3db]

It's been kind of quiet on this board, friends.  I assume everyone is busy with "end of school year, graduations, perhaps family outings/weddings, etc.?).  Anyway, what's the word on various MIAA athletic fundraisers?  Alma has their annual athletic golf outing fundraiser this weekend while Hope's annual fb fundraiser is the following weekend.  For those attending, I hope you all have a great time (and thanks for your support).

[bulldogalum]

I think Adrian has a football fundraiser golf scramble coming up in the near future too.  Also, the first strips of the field turf are being laid today at the new stadium.  I took a tour of the place last week, and it's really going to be a special place.

[formerd3db]

bulldogalum:

Speaking of Adrian's stadium, I have a ? for you.  Why did they make the visitors permanent stands so small?  It looks kind of strange, although I'm sure students will sit on the side of the hill on either side of those.  The concourse from the endzone will be a neat feature.

Also, I saw on Adrian's website that they are planning an ice hockey arena and received that huge donation from the alumni doc!  Having ice hockey will be a great addition to Hope and Calvin's teams.  I'm hoping that once Adrian elevates their lacrosse team to varsity from club status, the other MIAA schools that have teams will do the same.  But as club teams in the current collegiate league they play in now is still some great college lacrosse.  I think that Adrian will make their steady enrollment goal of about 1400. 

[bulldogalum]

formerd3db:

I'm assuming a couple of things when it comes to the visitor's stands.  First, as you noted, there will be plenty of available seating on the hillside.  Second, I'm guessing that they didn't want to build too much, if that makes sense.  Why build 2,000 visitors seats when all you regularly need is 500, essentially?  Not the best answer, I know, but it's the best I have.

The entrance area to the stadium, as well as the south endzone area, will be nice gathering places for fans.  The north endzone will feature student seating, and has some homes in the neighborhood, which, at least for me, retains a little bit of the neighborhood feel of Maple Stadium in the new place.  The thing that really got me excited was what will eventually become the new locker room area and tunnel on the eastern side.  The players will come down a tunnel that drops 8 feet to field level, like a much smaller version of Michigan Stadium, but it will be a really cool effect. 

Seems as though the alumni (myself aside, at least for the time being) are really stepping up to help this new administration get the ball rolling.  I have mixed feelings about the hockey rink.  It could be a huge boost or a huge drain, depending on how they use it, and how much demand there is in the community.  I know that there isn't a sheet of ice until you hit Ann Arbor, Jackson or Toledo, so there should be plenty of potential users.  The question is, will they use it?  If they do, it's a big win for Adrian.  If they don't, heaven help us. 

As far as lacrosse goes, I'm sure the administration is banking on the fact that other MIAA schools will follow suit when Adrian's lacrosse program becomes a varsity sport.  BTW, I hear you're coming out of retirement?

Word around campus is that the enrollment numbers are looking very promising.  I'm sure they'll be meeting their enrollment goals in the very near future.  It sure is exciting to see things headed in the right direction.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

I see the stadium has become a topic of conversation again so I thought Id throw my everyday info into the ring.  The visitors bleachers seemed a bit small to me as well but some of the logic is that there will be so much hillside seating as well as a large pavilion in one endzone for pregame and things of that nature which will enhance the setting.  The idea of the smaller stadium was to give it the look of a sellout every week which is a great environment to perform in.  On top of that the turf has started to go down as they have about 80% of the field itself(not surrounding area) down which is a big change.  The floors for locker rooms, showers, bathrooms, meeting room and training room are poured and construction is begining on those as well.  The press boxes are going up and all that jazz as well.  Everything is going well and with the exception of some rainy days progress is moving ahead quickly.  Enrollment is already up, an aggresive approach was taken this year which resulted in about 1800 applicants and many more denials which is good for the overall strength of the freshman class.  We are looking right now at a freshman class of about 330+ which is a nice boost from the mid 200 classes of years past.  Future looks bright and things are moving in the right direction, if theres one thing the new administration wont do it is stick with the status quo and thats a good thing.  They want the school to be nationally recognized in all aspects and they are doing what it takes to get it there.

[formerd3db]

DAWG:
Thanks for the inside info and follow-up.  The current photos of the stadium construction look great and very exciting to see the turf laid down the past 3-4 days.  Keep us posted.

bulldogalum:

Between you and DAWG, you guy's with keep me/us up to date re: the Adrian project.  BTW, thank you also (and to your brother too) for including me Fri.  Take care and we'll obviously be in frequent communication.

[70_dc_alum]

interesting comments on the main page about former Kzoo coach rogers turning them in at his current post.  from the email sounded like tired of dealing with college football politics and looking for something else to do.  Coach rogers was a good guy wonder what the skinny was on that deal...

[Pat Coleman]

Whatever job he has this year will be his fourth in four years. That's unfortunate on the resume. 

[scotty]

70dcalum, remember you can't spell Rogers without EGO

[70_dc_alum]

Scotty too funny.  i did almost get a GA position when he was at Kzoo until his last question and asked me if i was a minority...said the school would only offer to a minority...he did not think a tanning bed would work.  Kzoo was not real good with him there so i was suprised to see him end up there.

Pat turnover is only good on a resume if you are moving up and then it still causes you issues.  one of my highschool coaches and fellow DC alum went around many major colleges (GA for Lou at Notre Dame)  when Lou got the SC job he tried to get on the staff, lou told him he would love ot have him but wont hire him becuase he knows it would only be for a year becuase we wants to move up.  of course not all that bad...the lucky SOB gets the d-coordinator job at Western Kentucky wins a national championship, leaves and has been the linebackers coach at the raiders for the last 3 years and was the only defensive coach Art Shell kept.

[D306]

Any comments as to whom the new QB at Albion will be?
How do they look?
Would be nice to see MIAA get a win in the playoffs this year.
What do you think is lacking to make the step?
Looks like defense is the key.

[albinomascot19]

Any comments as to whom the new QB at Albion will be?
How do they look?
Would be nice to see MIAA get a win in the playoffs this year.
What do you think is lacking to make the step?
Looks like defense is the key.

From what I have been hearing, Jake Wilson should emerge as the starting quarterback for the Britons in the upcoming 2006 season.  However there are some younger guys on the team that could also compete for the starting role.  From last year to this year, the Britons are basically having a facelift to the team might I say.  They lose their 4 year starter at Punter-Tyler Hunter.  Also it will be pretty hard to replace the Most Valuable Player of the MIAA-Steve Wasil, who had a recording breaking season last year as he led the Britons back into the post season.  He was remarkable as he threw 33 touchdowns against only  12 interceptions.  Britons also lose a part of their receivers corps which includes Shane Brogan, Kevin Polnasek, and TE Troy Rundle. I feel the younger guys will step up and make this year an even more memorable season than before.  The future looks bright.  This upcoming season I am looking forward in watching the Britons have a remarkable year, there remain questions for the quarterback position, but the running backs are solid, as well as the wide receivers.  We will find out more about them as the team gets together for practice. 

I think this year the MIAA will finally break the losing streak in the playoffs.  I have seen MIAA teams go through so much in the regular season, with all the competition and then to lose in the playoffs is unacceptable.  This year I believe we will show the nation that we're more than just basketball, we are one of the elite football conferences as well.