FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

Deacon Addendu:

I know what you mean about the "streak" posting.  While our board has stepped it up a lot the past 4 months or so, we all need to keep this going.  Heck, the HCAC board is fast catching up with us even after losing all their post counts a while back (we used to be more than double ahead of them in pages).  I would just like to join in with you in saying, that I, too, have appreciated the insightful and civility of posts that our MIAA colleagues have done here.  I thank all of you for your "class", even when we have differing opinions.  Let's keep it up.

I'll post my predictions for this week later.  I will be with Hope at our game @ Albion this weekend.  I look for a "barnburner" as usual as bulldogalum has pointed out!

[DEACONBLUE]

Absolutly right, Uncle Rico and this season and next season are still the "good old days" of Tri-State Thunder football!  We're writing history now, let's puncuate it with a gallant ending signaling a new beginning.

As a tribute to the start of the conference play, I believe you would agree with me in saying it is an honor being a part of the tradition of the MIAA - the oldest collegiate league in the nation.  Next year Albion and Olivet celebrate 120 years and Adrian 100 years, this year Kalamazoo 110 years and Alma 105, last year Hope reached 80 years.  They've bumped heads with University of Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan State.  The tradition just drips off of this league, and the pureness of D3 football preserves it.

Looking forward to the trip to Alma this weekend, the beautiful Michigan countryside beginning to turn color as one heads further north.  The pre-game festivities, the famous Scots Marching Band, and ultimately the clash of the Blue and Maroon as only the MIAA can serve up.  Whew!

HOF: Agreed, love reading all the posts.  Answer to your question - all of TSU's games were near or at capacity attendence.  The MIAA web site posts the attendence in their game stats, if I remember correctly we averaged 3K - 4K.     

[SaintsFAN]

formerd3db,

Pat found me the picture of "the meeting" Justin Harris and I had back in 1999..


I'm sending you a link in your personal messages..

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Justin Harris, the DT from Alma?

[rome]

Dom needs to step down now...

This current crop of players is the last bit of talent that Irv brought in...he is running off quality players and what offense is he running? Well, it is what you see on Sundays--but without the skill---this staff is in over its head and it shows

04 it looked like Olivet was ready for a run at the conference and the playoffs---now it is like watching a stone in water--back to the basement.

OC should have stayed in-house---but on the OFFENSIVE side--Jay Carrigan would have had this team playing hard nose football.


Boo---Boo---Boo!!!

[ACRULZ]

My picks this week:


Adrian over K- Zoo - Big time blowout
Albion over Hope - Battle of the beaten's
Tri-State over Alma - My upset special
Olivet over WLC

[miaafbfan]

My picks:

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

[formerd3db]

My picks: (basically agree with everyone else )

Adrian over Kalamazoo
Hope over Albion (Hopefully we'll get lucky there for once )
Alma over Tri-State
Olivet over Wis-Luth

Good luck to all teams this weekend.  Initial report appears the weather will be nice.  Safe drive to all who are traveling to the games.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Adrian over Kalamazoo
Hope over Albion (Booko Returns)
Tri State over Alma (No Brehm + TSU scoring 36 last year and improved this year)
Olivet over Wisconsin Lutheran

Notes:

Adrian is rolling at this point and as good as Kzoo's offense looked against Bluffton, they will not be able to match that performance against the Bulldog Defense.  Adrians offense has been playing well, if the running game becomes more consistent and the turnovers are limited things are looking very up.  Kzoo while always having good defensive schemes is just outmanned in most games this will be the case here as well.

Hope has a ton of talent and if Booko can return and get back on track they will be a much improved football team and it will take pressure off of the QB and passing game.  The defense is solid and will show itself well as it always does in the MIAA season.  Albion is a solid team, though they have suffered key losses on defense at some positions which may hinder them in this game.  I think it will be a very close game but Hope has the edge.

Tri State is a much improved team this year despite the loss to Franklin last week.  Coach Land and his staff did a good job last year with a rather bare cupboard and with another year of recruting under their belts should be better.  Even last year TSU wasnt the pushover they have been and their offense did manage 36pts against Alma.  Alma suffers from the loss of an amazing quarterback and while MCgrady has promise this isnt his year to replicate Brehm.  TSU is my upset pick, but this game could slide the other way just as easliy as Coach Cole always does a good job with his team.

Olivet is a strange team this year.  I dont know quite what is going on with them as the commitment to the running game which has been their staple in years past seems to have gone by the wayside.  This class is the last of Irv Siglers recruits so they do still have some very good talent.  WLC is an unknown to most of us MIAA fans as they are a distant team.  Losing Kehl is a huge blow for them and will greatly hamper their efforts in the MIAA this season.

Good luck to all MIAA teams, hopefully everyone stays healthy this season as it should be a close and exciting MIAA race.

[DEACONBLUE]

This week's picks - with a bit of color - I stand with ADAWG

ADRIAN over K-ZOO:  No doubt Hornets can sting, but Dawgs have depth and a 3-0 swagger.  Adrian will control both sides of the ball.

HOPE over ALBION:  The "Game of the Week", potential MIAA champs and angry for a win - dangerous!  Albion has the home field advantage, but lack the returners Hope enjoys from last year's championship team.  Game a slugfest at first, then Hope slowly wears down Britons

OLIVET over WIS. LUTH:  Both teams rebuilding, but Olivet has played a more difficult schedule and will not suffer from the "bus-lag" of WL.

TRI-STATE over ALMA:  (I know, I'm playing favorite, but not really an upset if - let me explain.)  TSU's veteran defense anchored by LBs Pearson & Eby will keep MacGrady and company in check, the Scots may compile yardage, but the bend not break Thunder defense will hold them to a few points.  The key is the Thunder offense.  They have had stellar performances from their "fab three freshmen" RB-Brill, QB-Watt, and WR Curtis, but have never quite had all three cylinders in sync.  If Thunder play selection improves to balance these weapons the result will be an impressive TSU victory.  If not expect a low scoring defensive battle - edge ALMA.

Have a great MIAA Saturday everyone!   

[D306]

Adrian over Kazoo - Kazoo has been moving the ball in non conference, but I think that was due to quality of opponents. Adrian too much depth. Adrain is feeling good about themselves right now.

Alma over Tri-State while Tri-State has certainly imporved I still think the Alma Offense will find a way to outscore Them. Tri- State a year away from really making some noise in conference.

Olivet over WLC Everything I see says Olivet is in a Funk with loss of RB and Offense Power Game. That may be but I still say it is enough to take down WLC

Albion in a mild upset over Hope. Albion's defense has improved every week. The key to Albion's success is Offense not committing drive ending penalties and turnovers in the RED ZONE on both side of the field. Hope has a lot returning but the offense looks confused. Booko I think will be back so he could be the difference maker. I say Albion with Homecoming makes a statement.

U of M in a blowout vs. Northwestern. Mallet or Henne, I say play Mallet let Henne get healthy while getting Mallet some more time.

Wisconsin over MSU. I want to go MSU but I have to see them play a better team that has equal talent and not self distruct before I am a true believer. MSU is improving and playing better, lets see what happens when it counts now. I am worried that the big boys from Wisconsin will run the power game right over MSU Dline.

[SaintsFAN]

Justin Harris, the DT from Alma?

Yessir.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Saintsfan:

Last game of my freshman year I had the pleasure of playing against Harris.  Never saw another DT as good in the next three years, he was a monster.  Pretty good goal line fullback as well.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

D306:

Good picks I hear you on all of them.  A word on Wisconsin though, they are not the team they appear and have been struggling all year.  Reference the Citadel game and the UNLV game for examples and they also stuggled mightly against Iowa a team that was beaten by Iowa State who was beaten by Northern Iowa.  They are good, but MSU will be the best team theyve faced so far, Id look for MSU to pull the upset in this one.  I dont think Dantonio is going to let this team falter as they had in the past under John L, he gets it and thats a good thing when they get into Big Ten play.

[D306]

Dawg

I understand your point.
I annually think Wisconsin is over rated. Typically play no one in Non conference. Lose to Michigan and OSU go to a mid ranked Bowl and beat some WAC or 3-4th place Team from some BCS cponference.
Always makes them look decent but if you watch the games they roll the teams they should and loss the tough ones.

Wish in some ways U of M and MSU would have that fervor on the gams they are supposed to win.

I still have the wait and see attitude on MSU it takes a while to purge the Sloppy play, and loose rules they have been plagued with for too many years now.

I hope you are wrong on the Albion VS Hope game. Really not sure, I have the feeling some game this year the Albion offence will start "clicking" and they will be on a roll. The defense while thin in many positions with lack of back-up talent, is really coming along. A little ball control and cut out the turnovers especially inside the 20 ours and theirs and the defense will really shine. Outside contain, and quick slants are the areas the D needs to improve on.

The Dawgs look to be very confident, and I think that results in aggressive play, I believe momentum is key in college ball. Many a game the team with lesser talent pervails due to momentum and confidence that they can. That is not imply Adrian has lesser talent than otherss in the MIAA just pointing out Confidence is HUGE in college ball.