FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[DEACONBLUE]

WLCALUM:
Congrats on the win.  It must also be exciting looking a bit toward next year, new rivalries, less exhausting travel time, also allowing more fan support at away games.  WLC appears to be getting tougher as the season progresses.  I am looking forward to our final contest at Angola in a couple weeks.  I am going to miss the journey to Wisconsin.  Even though it made for a long trip, we all had a great time with many good memories.

Question to MIAAsters:  Sorry if this has been answered before, but any news for next year without WLC?  Is another team going to replace them, if not will there be a conference bye week for each team? 

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

DEACONBLUE:

I would imagine that there will just be a 4th non leauge game picked up as it used to bed, if there was an in league bye the MIAA would return to a 9 game schedule, is that what you are reffering to?

[formerd3db]

DEACONBLUE:

First, thanks for the review on the TSU/Olivet game and the "state of TSU".  Indeed, sounds like it was a very good game to watch (from a spectator's standpoint), but a tough one to lose, if your team is the latter.  Still, I think that next week's game will be a tough one.  I will look forward to meeting you sometime before or after the game (perhaps even at halftime).

Second, as DAWG points out, currently there are no plans for bringing in another MIAA team.  This has been discussed extensively here on our board last year and the year before, but no need for you to apologize for bringing it us as you could not have known this, being a newcomer to the board.  I won't go into all the details regarding the various aspects of this discussion, but rather summarize it to say that none of the other colleges in the state that currently do not have football are willing to start a program.  Hillsdale, which used to be in the MIAA (and was a charter member) is a school of similar size, but they are very comfortable and desirous of staying at the DII level.  Thus, aside from St. Mary's which won''t have fb for obvious reasons, Calvin would be the logical choice, however, for reasons of their own (which I won't go into here), there is no interest in adding football.  Many of us believe that is disappointing because they would have a great recruiting base and can you imagine the Hope/Calvin rivalry that would ensue, along with some other great contests they would have with the other MIAA schools?

Anyway, acquiring and maintaining the AQ was always the original goal and why TSU was desired to be added, particularly with the school's academic and athetic goals and close proximity, once they decided to drop NAIA scholarship football and go DIII.

So DAWG is correct that the 4th game will be a non-conference game (just like it was for years), now that the league has sanctioned 10 season games (with the exception of Kazoo which many times just wants to schedule 9 games for various reasons - a previous discussion on this took place here this year in pre-season as I recall).  Unless one of the other MI state schools like Sienna Heights, Spring Arbor, Acquinas, Cornerstone, or Concordia (or like Bethel in your region) wants to start a program OR perhaps Taylor would switch like your TSU, most likely the MIAA will remain a conference with 7 fb playing schools for quite some time.

DAWG:

Thanks for your message on the private board.  I will reply there also.  Appreciated you sharing your insight and experience from yesterday and in past years.  Again, sorry we didn't meet up - guess we just missed each other not by much.  Agree with you about your LB friend who is a "dynamite" player package!   

[DEACONBLUE]

D3DB & DAWG:

Thanks for the info.  Let me see if I've got it right:  All teams (except K-ZOO) will play the first 4 games against non-conference teams without a bye week, then once the conference season starts each week one MIAA team will have a bye (no pair being available).  Sound right?

D3DB :  My "better half" and I are thinking of heading to Holland Friday.  Are there any hotels and resturants near the waterfront you might suggest?

   

[sac]

The only thing near the waterfront in Holland is sand, rich people and ill-placed powerplant, metal recycling center and a drydock.  Although the drydock gets a pass because,........well you need water to have a dock don't you.  Ooo almost forgot the pickle factory.


Plenty of hotels in Holland.  North of town are closer to shopping eating etc. 

[formerd3db]

DEACONBLUE:

You are welcome.  I think that (i.e. the scheduling) sounds about right.  Bye weeks can either help or hinder one's team, depending on the particular year. 

Also, sac is indeed correct.  Nothing out by the waterfront or beaches of Lake Michigan.  The motels are on U.S. 131 going north (toward Muskegon) and just about 3 miles from campus.  Plenty of Holiday Inn Express, Country Inn & Suites, etc., the malls, Wal-Mart, Lowes, Meijer's, and many many restaurants, etc.  Downtown Holland has some very nice restaurants if you want a more elevated atmosphere (also has some very nice shops, although those stores will be closing by early evening after the game when you are ready to get something to eat.)  Some good restaurants are Crazy Horse, Charlie 'O's, the IHOP, Applebees, Logan's, etc.

See you Saturday, but I'm sure we'll be talking more here on the board before then.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Downtown Holland is a wonderful place.  Dont they have heated sidewalks?

[Uncle Rico]

I help coach a youth football team and had to missed the Tri-State game, but I heard from someone who was at the game that Tri-State outplayed Olivet and coulda - shoulda - woulda won if not for a couple of turnovers deep in their own territory.  The defense only gave up one score.  Still, turnovers are a part of the game...no excuse.  Olivet gets the W. 

It IS encouraging that Tri-State is beating or at least hanging with teams that were expected to be able to roll over them before the start of the season.  They went from being a doormat in the league to a contender and a factor in the conference.   As a new Tri-State fan I have to feel good about where they are heading, AND where they are now. 

[formerd3db]

DAWG:

The sidewalks are indeed heated in downtown Holland.  If I recall correctly, they were one of the first, if not the first, of their kind in the nation.

Uncle Rico:

Yes, it is good to see TSU (soon to be Trine - I'm still trying to get used to that soon to be name change, no disrespect to the Trine family ) improve.  It is great for both them and the league overall.  I recall that they had a 10-0 season just a few years ago (in the short history of their program) when they were scholarship NAIA and it wasn't against slouch teams either I believe.  Not sure why the drastic slip from then until now, but it appears they are building a solid base as you and your colleague Deaconblue have been discussing.  I assume you will be at Holland this Saturday.

[LetItRain]

Holland Hotels - there's a nice Holiday Inn Express and a nice Hampton Inn side-by-side on Felch Street in Holland.  Both include hot breakfast, I believe.

TSU vs. Olivet - Uncle Rico's source is correct.  TSU outplayed Olivet on Saturday and I think everyone at the game knew it.  Two less picks and it's a different game.  I concede the win to Olivet on the score alone - not on the game itself. 

We'll be tailgating at Hope this weekend, getting fired up for the game!

[formerd3db]

LetItRain:

Those are nice motels/hotels, however, there are several youth hockey teams that stay there each weekend, including about now.  It sometimes gets quite noisy and difficult to sleep.  That's one reason why the Country Inn & Suites is an alternative and/or the motel by the Wooden Shoe Factory (near the south Meijer's) i.e. the former Red Roof Inn, or the Regular Holiday Inn.  Just an FYI.

[sac]

Those are nice motels/hotels, however, there are several youth hockey teams that stay there each weekend, including about now.  It sometimes gets quite noisy and difficult to sleep

Ha! now lets see where did I learn first hand how rowdy those youth hockey kids can be.............ah yes, Stevens Point, WI.  It is true they are a rowdy bunch.  But after 7 or 8 hours of driving, sleeping is easy.

I had to be in Holland today and was trying to figure out where I'd stay if I were visiting, probably the north side but the old Holiday Inn.......which I believe is now a Doubletree hotel is the nicest and closest to the college.  You could probably call and see if there are rooms at the college's Haworth Inn, right on campus.

It won't help you now but they are building a "boutique" hotel (whatever that is) in downtown Holland.......for future reference.

http://holland.org/sections/20-hotels

quite a few I'd forgotten.


Since I lived there I never had use for this site, but its very helpfull

http://holland.org/

[formerd3db]

sac:

Of course we aren't trying to make this an advertizement for Holland area motels and hopefully Pat won't get upset with us for this line of discussion , but hopefully the info we've discussed will be helpful to visiting teams parents and fans    Not that I doubt your info regarding the Doubletree Inn (formerly Holiday Inn), and not to keep plugging the Country Inn & Suites, but the latter (aside from the college's beautiful Haworth Inn) is extremely nice and caters (or advertizes) for visiting teams supporters and Hope College parents, fans, etc. as well.  It is a great inn, with extremely nice rooms, a nice, comfortable, cozy lobby with TV and great AM Continental breakfast.  It is close to campus (less than 2 minutes), right by restaurants, the malls, etc., and the wonderful Old Dutch Village attraction!!

As for the Haworth, as mentioned, a beautiful inn as well - only problem is that it is almost always booked!  But highly recommend staying there sometime also if anyone gets the chance.  Indeed, right on the beautiful campus and in very short walking distance of downtown shops, restaurants, etc.  Again, sorry for the plugs!

Okay, we'll now get back to football talk!

[formerd3db]

Sad news as it was just learned over on the OAC board that former Baldwin-Wallace head coach Bob Packard, passed away Saturday of an apparent heart attack at age 64.  For those who might not know his DIII history, he only recently retired as head coach there in 2001, having coached previously there under Lee Tressel, current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel's dad.  A shock for sure; my thoughts and prayers to his family and the BW community.

[sac]

  It is close to campus (less than 2 minutes), right by restaurants, the malls, etc., and the wonderful Old Dutch Village attraction!!

Now I've been accused of being a bit of lead foot in the past, but I find this to be truely remarkable drving.