FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[WLCALUM83]

Tri-State turned it over, got a stop. 90 yds away, less than 2 minutes left.

[WLCALUM83]

Franklin 31, Tri-State 28, Final. (Franklin held, and got a long kickoff return to put them in range, then a late field goal.)

[dc_has_been]

Tough loss for Tri-State.  3 losses by a td or less.  Looks like if they can keep everyone there they may be a contender in the future.

[NW Hope Fan]

Ouch...
4-18 pre-league season!!!

[79jaybird]

Just returned from Olivet College after driving from Olivet to NW suburbs of Chicago in wall to wall heavy rain!  Ugh!  I hate driving in inclement weather. Literally I was driving 25 mph on the expressway because the rain was coming down so heavy.  Dark, ominous skies  and just poor driving conditions.

As I mentioned on the CCIW I want to compliment Olivet College and their Staff.  Geoff, your facilities, accomodations, and school are second to none and A+.  Your field ( I love the end zones!) and press box is beautiful.  Very spacious, comfortable, and not a bad view in the booth.  Thank you for your help during the weekend.

Coach Sparks, it was great to hang out with you and your wife at "The Gavel" Friday Night.  Except  hehe,  I was asked by one of our Assistant Coaches if I "gave away any of our secrets." 
No in all seriousness, I stayed in Charlotte, MI   and really enjoyed my stay/weekend with you folks. 

As for the game,  I think the game has a whole different makeup and storyline if Olivet doesn't have the 3 major turnovers early.  3 turnovers were converted into 17 points... that is a huge hole to dig out of.  Secondly, your running back #2  is going to be a great one in the coming years.  I hope he sticks with the program and ( I believe he's only a Soph?) has two more years.  #2's running really impressed me.

That is the first win ever for Elmhurst in the state of Michigan and against a MIAA opponent.  They were previously 0-4  losing to Alma during a stretch from 1994-1997.

Best of luck to Olivet and the MIAA in the upcoming MIAA season.  (MR)

[formerd3db]

WLCAlum:
Thanks for the game scenarios.  Also, a thanks for helping our board "get up there" in pages for posts!  We have a long way to go to even think about catching up with the other boards!   Anyway, appreciate your contributions.

To fellow MIAA'er's:  see my post (i.e. opinion) on the CCIW board about the Hope/Wheaton game.

jaybird:
Glad you had a good time on your trip (except for the drive and rain - I had the exact same experience driving back from Hope tonight as well )  Also, good that you had some time to hang out with a former "Hopeite" i.e. Coach Sparks!  He was a great player for us awhile back.  Congrats on the Elmhurst win.  Sounds like they are a good team and have a good foundation/start heading into the league play.  Still, I was very impressed with Wheaton today.  But like any team, on any given day, they could be beat.  Talk to you later.

[79jaybird]

formerd3db-- thank you and I too am glad you made it home safely.  You mentioned a tornado warning in Grand Rapids.  I hope everybody was o.k. and there was no tornado spotted.  Get this!  I had just finished dinner on Friday in Charlotte, MI when I go back to my hotel.  I turn on the Weather Channel to get a forecast for Saturday's game.  The first thing that the Meteorologist says is this: "Right now we want to focus on the Chicago Area where there is a dangerous situation... There is a tornado SPOTTED!  in Park Ridge, IL heading towards Niles, (and other suburbs etc.) 
I nearly choked on my glass of water (yes it was water!  )
Park Ridge is adjacent to Mt. Prospect so now I am really worried about the folks at home.  I called home and my Mother says, "Well, we are in the basement, the sirens are going off, the streets are flooded, and it is really dark!"
Thankfully, there was no damage, just a lot of water.
I was watching the MSU/ND game and the heavy rain that was pelting Spartan Stadium.. is exactly what I had to drive home in.

When I called the Wheaton/Albion game I knew the Thunder were going to be strong this year.  Their defensive line (Studebaker)  is one of the strongest I have seen in a long time.  Anything can happen in conference play, but I wouldn't be surprised in Wheaton is able to bring back the hardware this year.  I think that would make 4 of the last 6 years.
2000 Wheaton (tied with 2 others) 2002, 2003

In regards to the officiating.  I am sorry to hear that there were some questionable calls and unprofessional moments with your crew.  I thought the MIAA crew that called the EC/Olivet game was very good.  There were some questionable Pass Int. calls at the end of the game (when it was 33-10), but all in all I thought it was a well officiated game.

Yes, Coach Sparks and his wife Mindy were very nice people to spend Friday Night with.  Really, all the people in Olivet and Charlotte, MI were pleasant to spend time with.  Coach Sparks and I spent some time talking about Hope Football and the last time Hope made the playoffs.

Even though Hope is 0-3  as long as they play well in conference and get that AQ,  then the 0-3 start doesn't come into play.  Similarly,  Augie (defending CCIW champs) is 1-2 but if they run the table again in conf.  then their 1-2 record doesn't matter. 

[wlcalum]

Glad to hear everyone got home safely, all homes are safe, and hopefully all teams are healthy. Get ready to start the beating boys as another season hits it's stride.

Looking forward to the homecoming game at WLC, will be there with beads on.

[WLCALUM83]

WLCAlum:
Thanks for the game scenarios.  Also, a thanks for helping our board "get up there" in pages for posts!  We have a long way to go to even think about catching up with the other boards!   Anyway, appreciate your contributions.

To fellow MIAA'er's:  see my post (i.e. opinion) on the CCIW board about the Hope/Wheaton game.

Thanks, --fortunately the games I've picked so far haven't been blowouts. (Hey, wlcalum--got a question for you:  How can next week be our Homecoming when the football Warriors haven't even been on the road yet?--ba dumm bumm. (Unless you count the local paved roads between the main campus and practice.)

[wlcalum]

Alum83 - It is homecoming for Seiler and Hahm who just got back from Finland!!

[WLCALUM83]

Ah HA! Good response!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Since there is apparently little to discuss in the MIAA this week (!), a d1 question:

When Michigan ventures to Minnesota this Saturday, SOMETHING'S got to give.  UMinn is averaging almost 227 rushing yards a game (2nd in the Big 10); UMich is averaging 18.5(!!) yards allowed (first in the whole country).  Who's average will be harder hit (or will one totally prevail)?

I have trouble believing that Michigan can maintain that average, but if they come even close, the rout is on.  If Minnesota's average is NOT severely impaired, things could get dicey.

Comments?

[79jaybird]

formerd3db-- How was Hope's defensive performance last week vs. Wheaton?  The reason I ask is this:  I think if Hope can muster up a strong defensive pursuit/rush,  I think the Dutch will have some opportunities vs. Albion.
When I called the Albion/Wheaton game, the Thunder mounted a strong pass rush all game.  Albion looked a little "slow" responding to the Thunder onslaught, in particular Studebaker.
I was impressed with Albion's offense and think the Britons have a very good team.  I picked Hope as my upset special. What do you think?

[D306]

Jaybird

Wheaton had a great Dline push that game.
Albion was playing without 2 starters on offense, QB and OL.
Would have been a different game with these guys in there.
Still think Wheaton was fired up and Dline would have been the difference in the game Wheatons way.
Looking forward to this weekend, I will go with Albion in a hard fought game.

[dc_has_been]

Mr. Ypsi- I don't think U of M will be able to keep Minnesota under 19 yeards rushing, but I do think they'll be able to contain them to under 100 yards rushing which is very impressive against Minnesota.  Michigan's defense is very fast this year which will show why they'll dominate the Big Ten & knock off OSU.