FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[bulldogalum]

Something's gotta give--I'm not sure if I can handle another really close loss.  If Adrian is to buck this trend, they may as well do it with a win!

[DEACONBLUE]

Some BIG pieces of the MIAA puzzle should come together this weekend.  Every game as mysterious as the weather, which could also become the X-factor in the unraveling dramas this Saturday.

1)  Hope proven premier MIAA team with a power offense unmatched so far this season enters (with a swagger) the unfriendly Dawghouse.  Adrian waits, still stinging from the anger of two final seconds losses both defensive slugfests.  Angered further by the fact that they could have easily had the respect of being 6-0 facing Hope, if not for the mistakes.  IMPLICATIONS:  For Hope this is the first time they will be confronting one of the elite defenses in the MIAA, if they are able to move the ball effectively...question answered...they will be the MIAA Champion.  For Adrian their 2007 season hinges on the outcome.  They HAVE to beat Hope at home to regain respect, meet their own high expectations, and mathamatically have a shot at the crown.  This is the battle of Midway.

2)  Is there life after Hope?  How strong is Olivet?  Is Tri-State a gathering storm or just distant thunder?  Well, TSU travels to Olivet and crucial questions should be answered.  Both teams beat Adrian in close defensive battles.  It may come down to a game of offensive chemistry.  IMPLICATIONS:  If Olivet wins they set the stage for an MIAA championship game with Hope.  If TSU wins but especially if Hope loses too...the MIAA is really up for grabs.

3)  Is Albion as weak as their record and is Alma as strong as their record?  These questions will be settled on the gridiron alongside the Kalamazoo River.  It should be an offensive firestorm, and when the smoke settles a clearer picture of the MIAA should be exposed.  IMPLICATIONS:  Albion, like Adrian, needs this game to salvage the season.  A must win before a home crowd, nothing will be spared.  For Alma, they are positioned well for a possible MIAA bid depending on the destiny of others.  In order to keep their hopes (no pun) alive they must win out.

4)  This hasn't been the most productive season for K-Zoo and WLC, but this is the match-up both have been awaiting as the opportunity to move ahead.  From an outsider's point of view it becomes an interesting match-up.  IMPLICATIONS:  For WLC this is their last season in the MIAA, and one they would like to leave a positive mark before the home crowd.  They have been experiencing greater production as the season has unfolded.  For the Hornets, it has been frustrating to have talent, but not the depth.  For both teams a win is paramount to the alternative of a possible winless season.               

Looking forward to everyone's predictions.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

DeaconBlue

+karma for an excellent summation.  You made me wish I could watch every one of the games this weekend.  Sadly, I'll have to settle for listening to a few via the internet.

[DutchFan2004]

The Dutch facing a good defense in the MIAA maybe this week.  They have faced a decent defense this year in the nonconference.  That may help them and give them the edge they need to continue to win in the MIAA


Go Dutch good luck in the MIAA. 

[DEACONBLUE]

Flying Dutch Fan:

Thank you.  Luckily I will be making the trek up I-69 to Olivet.  Don't know wether to bring a winter coat, rain coat, or sunscreen - the weather map shows fronts coming in from all directions.  I too wish I could witness all these pivotal games.  It's too bad that in this age of cell phones the MIAA stadiums don't organize a network to update each other on the progress of games.  It's always exciting to hear the rare update of a MIAA score from the game or radio announcer.

I'm starting to see Hope being mentioned on other North Region boards in early playoff talk.  I imagine it's got to be an time exciting for Dutch fans.  Can't wait for the trip to Holland, I'm a Great Lakes fanatic and just being near the big water is food for the soul.   8)

[Pat Coleman]

It's too bad that in this age of cell phones the MIAA stadiums don't organize a network to update each other on the progress of games.  It's always exciting to hear the rare update of a MIAA score from the game or radio announcer.

Shoot -- if the schools all used our scoreboard they could simply read off the Web.

[miaafbfan]

Picks for Saturday, October 20:

Hope at Adrian:  Hope  The vast difference in pre-conference schedule strength shows in this one.  Hope rolls.
Alma at Albion:  Albion  Alma struggled a bit with WLC last week.  That doesn't bode well on the road at Albion.
Kalamazoo at Wisconsin Lutheran:  WLC  This one is close, but home field advantage makes the difference.
Tri-State at Olivet:  Olivet  Everybody is talking about Hope.  Don't overlook the Comets.

Good luck to all MIAA'ers this weekend.  I hope I am wrong about a couple of these games.

[bulldogalum]

Alright, I've got to respond to this whole vast difference in preconference schedule business, knowing full well that because I do, I'll probably stick my foot in my mouth on Saturday.  A couple of comments have been made on here about Adrian being "the same old Adrian" and knocking the schedule of the team.  I think the latter is fair--perhaps they could schedule better opponents, but there are arguments that have been made the mitigate the scheduling deficiencies--but I don't care much for the former claim.

This is not the same old Adrian.  When I got to school there in the fall of 2001, the football team was a losing team, and had struggled mightily for a few years.  Starting around that time, in large part due to the hard work of guys like ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE, the program was transformed into a winning program, and a program was was consistently competitive in the league.  To suggest that this year's team is the "same old Adrian" requires a person to engage in a bit of definition.  Just how old is old, really?

And as far as the vast differences in scheduling are concerned, I really don't buy that argument this far into the season.  Even if Adrian played a vastly inferior nonconference schedule, they've played two tough games against good teams the last two weeks.  That, if nothing else should help get them up to speed.  And let's not forget, one of those games was against a team that everyone here would agree played a strong nonconference schedule.  Sure, Adrian lost taht one, but it was by one thin point.  They've lost the last two weeks by a total of 4 points.  That does not smack of a team that is underprepared through weak nonconference competition (unless you're going to argue that Adrian has considerably better talent than the teams they lost to, a point which I would not willingly concede), but instead of a team that is competitive in games, and who for any number of reasons (including, at times, self injury and poor fortune) has wound up on the wrong end of a couple of really good games.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

miaafbfan:

2005 Adrian started 4-0 before losing a 13-10 game to Alma without its starting QB for the second half and then lost to Hope two weeks later and were the only team to knock off MIAA champ Albion(6-1) that season.  Not exactly the collapse that is portrayed here.

2003 Adrian started 5-0 before losing to MIAA champ Hope(5-1) and didnt lose again until the last week of the season against a solid KZOO squad.

2002 Adrian starts the season 5-1 before losing to Olivet and then losing to MIAA champ Alma(6-0) two weeks later. 

The two other years in recent past 2004 and 2006 were both dissapointing years in general with plenty of conference and non conference losses.  But recent past is hardly indicative of a team that is unprepared for league play.

[formerd3db]

My picks for this week:

Hope @ Adrian: Hope in a close one, even though it is at Adrian's great new stadium.

Alma @ Albion:  Albion as Alma always has a very tough time there.

Kalamazoo @ WLC:  WLC, probably a close one, but agree with miaafan that the home field advantage will be just that for WLC.

Tri-State @ Olivet:  Olivet  My "gut feeling" is that this will be a great and exciting game to see.  While TSU is a vastly improved team and very good, I think Olivet is on "a mission", will be concentrated, it is at their home i.e. that home field advantage again, and they want to make it to Hope for a championship game.  Of course, stranger things have happened, and they dare not be looking past this game, nor TSU past Hope the following weekend and visa versa, as there are 3 Saturdays still to play and anything can happen.  The race for the title is up for grabs but if Hope or Olivet loses, it could be "crazy"!

I join all our other colleagues here in wishing everyone safe travels to the games this weekend.  Today's weather report related it is supposed to be a nice weekend weatherwise (although we've all heard that before from the weatherpeople and...it is October!!

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Picks for the Week:

Alma @ Albion: Albion gets back in the win column and makes a push for a respectable record on the season.

Kalamazoo @ WLC: Kalamazoo, WLC has shown improvement over the last several weeks but I'm sticking with the air show that is KZOO.

Tri State @ Olivet: This should be a knock down defensive battle from what I have seen heard and can gather from the stat sheets.  Tri State is a program on the rise and Olivet is a program that has been knocking on the door, when this is done one will be much more established in the MIAA race.  That being said I think the power offense that Olivet runs may prove to much for Tri State to control from a ball control perspective.  I am going to take Olivet in a close one.

Last but not least....

Hope @ Adrian:  This game has huge ramifications for both teams.  Adrian has dropped two games in a row and seems to have fallen out of MIAA title contention.  Hope is as usual on the rise after their tough start against non conference powerhouses.  The Hope offense is in high gear, averaging 53 points per game in league play with the MIAA leading rusher,  2nd leading receiver (yards) leading receiver(TD's) and to this point the most efficient QB in the league.  Their defense isn't as strong as some thought but is always fundamentally sound and comes ready to play, every game could be the game that Rugenstein breaks out.  Adrian seems to be lacking an identity on offense, the run game that has buoyed Adrian for the last 6 years has been pushed to the wayside in place of a pass heavy offense that has been eratic to this point.  There are questions coming into this game with how the Bulldogs will respond and if there will be depthchart changes as well  can Adrian run the ball on Hope or will we see an aireal circus with deep passes that have cause Hope problems so far this season.  The Adrian Defense however is the class of the league, in its first year with Jim Deere at the helm the Adrian defense leads the MIAA in scoring defense, rushing defense, passing defense, total defense, opponents 1st downs, Red Zone defense and opponent 3rd down conversions and is second in the MIAA in sacks.  This will be the Adrian defenses biggest test of the year and the same may go for Hope.  All this being said I look for a game that will be low scoring, Hope should be held well below its 53pt per game average.  Adrian's offense needs to step up and find itself in this game or it could be a long day for the Adrian defense, as the offense has struggled the last two weeks when facing solid defense, as much as it pains me to say it and as much as I'm sure a certain coach will see fit to use this as bulletin board material as he has once already this season I have to follow the numbers and take Hope in a close game with the Adrian defense and home crowd keeping them in it until the end.

[HOF]

My picks:

Alma at Albion:  I really don't know....a toss up...but I think Alma wins in a close one, with perhaps whoever has the ball last scoring to win.

K @ WLC:  WLC gets on the board and wins.  WLC always seems to be ready in midseason and plays some teams tough.  This week they win, retire Kehl's number and Dennis Miller will dance a dance at the midfield and they will play it on the big screen...just joking.  I've never seen this scoreboard, but heard it is something.

TSU @ Olivet:  The Comets keep winning and keep the MIAA wondering how good they really are...I think they are good!  Just like it says on the front page about Franklin...run the table, but beware of knocking in the eight ball.

Hope @ Adrian:  In talking with my Hope friends, they say it shall be an exciting venue down at Adrian.  Having hockey open up this weekend on campus, the Stanley Cup on campus and oh yeah...a pretty big football game.  You are actually telling me they put this stuff in the lockerroom?  I might call you a legend if you can make the lockerroom.  I could see Lee Lamberts getting in lockerrooms, but us?  I don't know Jim Deere, but his Defense looks good.  Tough for you to bet against your former team...ouch!  Anyways....I take Hope too...but I don't think AC can slow them down...35-10.

[Uncle Rico]

I do not know the teams as well as many of you, but I have seen Tri-State a few times now, and their defense really can turn it on.  They have a SOLID linebacking core.  IF they cut down on the turnovers, their offense is a lot more potent than people realize as well, especially the passing game.  I would not be at all suprised if they take one from Olivet this Saturday. 

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Im going out on a limb here and saying that the Adrian defense holds Hope to right around 14 I think they are that good and can do that well.

[DEACONBLUE]

My thoughts..."The term UPSET cannot be applied to this week".  I would agree there are "favored" teams, but a reversal would not suprise me in the least.  Reviewing stats and head to head competition just reminds me that there are still important pieces missing that need this weekend to answer.  So guys, forgive me, but I'm taking a less committed stance on Saturday's predictions.

Favored team HOPE (record/OF-stats) BUT ADRIAN can easily win this posessing a stronger DEF, home field, and the emotional edge MOJO if controled.  I agree with  ADAWG's assessment that the Adrian offense is crucial to a victory.  Hope's defense is hard to evaluate yet.  After playing the Olivet D and TSU D, the Dawgs "could" be pleasantly suprised.  My own humble suggestion to the Adrian offense would be to find more ways to keep both Niblock and McGee on the field at the same time.

Favored team OLIVET (record/home) BUT TSU can easily win this using their powerful DEF to stuff the Comets just as Adrian had done.  Remember the DAWGS had a KO-TD scored against them.  The Thunder wildcard is special teams - best KO coverage and FG kicker, in a defensive battle these become aces - ask Adrian.  The question here again is the TSU offense which has been mediocre in conference play so far.  But hold on...the Blue offense finally looks to be 100% healthy now, and I have a suspision Coach Land has something up his sleeve for this one.

Favored team WLC (home/stats) BUT the HORNET'S AirZoo offense and their individual defensive stand-outs, while stuggling against the MIAA's finest, could finally gain traction against a less formidable opponent.

Favored team ALMA (record) BUT mid-season records can be deceptive.  ALBION can easily win.  Brits look almost stronger on paper and will be playing before a home crowd.  One thing is for certain...lots of points.               

Pat: 
You're right.  The D3 Web Scoreboard would take a lot less coordination.  Perhaps some MIAA announcers that monitor this page will take advantage of the idea.