FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

Thoughts From This Weekend:

First, congrats to Trine players, coaching staff and fans for their undefeated regular season and playoff spot.  A great accomplishment for the program.  Drawing Wheaton is a touch challenge, however, not impossible to win.  Trine just has to make sure they don't have any temporary let downs during the game as they did against Hope and Kazoo as well as capitalize on their opportunities unlike they did in the Adrian game.  For sure, Wheaton will be "gunning" even though they are playing an "away" game.  Hopefully, the home crowd will be of an emotional boost for Trine.  Overall, the bracket that Trine is in is a very tough one.  Weather is going to be..."not nice", but the game goes on and both teams have to deal with the conditions.

Hope had a nice win yesterday.  Give credit to the players and the coaching staff.  One aspect that was nice to see was a renewed attitude among the players.  Two weeks ago, I commented on the "depressed" attitute among them, but it was evident that they decided to not give up and persevere yesterday.  Perhaps the two week layoff helped somewhat in that regard.  Hope executed quite well yesterday - there were a few minor breakdowns, but overall they did well.  One of our players (#29) fractured his clavical in the latter part of the game yesterday and we wish him well and good recovery for that.  Hope must stay focused for the final game this weekend against a good Alma team that defeated Albion yesterday.  QB McGrady and his air arsenal will test our secondary, but if the latter plays like they did yesterday against Kazoo, they should be okay.

As far as Kazoo, my hats off to Coach Zerbo and his staff as they are doing a great job.  It was very evident that a new attitude is at Kazoo now as well.  From conversations with various parents there and others yesterday, it appears that the administration and alumni are soundly behind the coach and helping in recruiting of good student-athletes for them yet in keepin with their academic expections.  Kazoo had some bright spots yesterday and while they have a long way to go, I think they have a good chance of vastly improving the program (if Olivet can do it in recent years, so can Kazoo).  Despite a small crowd, the Kazoo people were enthusiastic and it was great to see all the tailgaiters out there at historic Angell Stadium/Field.  Our Hope fan's jam-packed the visitors side (along with many standing on the parimeter) so that was good to see.  Weather wasn't too bad, stopped raining by game time and when the wind was not around, it was comfortable with the sun actually coming out several times in the second half and the last two minutes of the game.  It was nice to see some of the younger reserve players get a chance to get some playing time in the 4th quarter.  Western Michigan had their game against Toledo going on at the same time, which is always exciting to hear the roar of both Kazoo and Western crowds alternating at time.  The Air Force jet formation pre-game for Western flew over Angel Field as well, so that was a neat sight to see.

Anyway, best wishes to all the seniors on all the MIAA football teams this year as they eventually move on in their next endeavors in "the game of life". 

A few more posts for this week's Alma/Hope game I'm sure and for Trine's playoff week as well.  Talk to you all later.

[Uncle Rico]

Trine 31 Hope 30

Wheaton 47 Hope 7
Adrian 39  Hope 3

Trine 9  Adrian 0

Trine must have forgotten to look at Hope scores when they played Adrian.  Gotta believe they will wear the same blinders when they play Wheaton.   

It looks like Wheaton's loss to 7-3 Elmhurst on the road was still to a good team.

Some people at Trine where a little disappointed ESPN gave more attention to Wheaton than Trine.  They managed to say a least a sentence for about every team listed, except for Trine.  For a minute I thought Wheaton was the #2 seed.   No one will give respect until it is earned, no doubt.   Should be a great game at Angola.

[D306]

CWRU70

Youtube link referenced by miaafan44 is were I saw the highlights.

Tough draw for Trine, Wheaton will be a tough game.

Wheaton has had their way with MIAA lately, least hope Trine reverses that trend and gets this one.

Home field will be a nice change for the MIAA.

Congrats to all Seniors and Coachs in the MIAA.
I wish the Graduating Seniors found memeories and friendships from thier efforts on the field.
All these years later I recall my football days at every level and have life long friends from those teams.
I think sweating and pushing yourselves to places you did not think you could go, builds Character and a bond you do not outgrow or forget.

[usee]

Who has seen Trine and can tell me about them? I am a Wheaton fan and look foward to coming to Angola and adding Trine to the teams I have seen in D3. Should only be a 2.5 hr drive from chicago?

[Uncle Rico]

Wheaton is very excited to play Trine, apparently...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4077.0

"If I am Wheaton...this is the best possible draw. MIAA champ and a much friendlier than usualsecond round opponent."

"I love this time of year as a CCIW fan.  Overrated 10-0 teams "match-up" in the playoffs, and get beat up by a more physical CCIW teams. 

Thunder(Wheaton) 31-10"

"#7 (8-2) Wheaton is listed as a 7.5 point favorite AT #2 (10-0) Trine" in their pick-ems.

"Now with the talent they have, and a new appreciation for where they are at, this could be a great recipe for the Thunder.  It's not easy sledding to get to the third round, but it is very doable.  definitely looking forward to a Wheaton/NCC rematch!"   Looking ahead already to the third round.

"My philosophy (shared by some, perhaps not all) is that once the conference battles are over, I'm a CCIW fan.  Go Cards and (Wheaton, not Trine) Thunder!"  Mr Ypsi  

"Looking like an All-CCIW regional final."

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Definitely no respect being given to the MIAA, and this all looks to be great locker room posting material.  On the other hand, respect does need to be earned, and I'm looking forward to Trine beginning that process on Saturday! 

[Mugsy]

Wheaton is very excited to play Trine, apparently...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4077.0

"If I am Wheaton...this is the best possible draw. MIAA champ and a much friendlier than usualsecond round opponent."

"I love this time of year as a CCIW fan.  Overrated 10-0 teams "match-up" in the playoffs, and get beat up by a more physical CCIW teams.  

Thunder(Wheaton) 31-10"

"#7 (8-2) Wheaton is listed as a 7.5 point favorite AT #2 (10-0) Trine" in their pick-ems.

"Now with the talent they have, and a new appreciation for where they are at, this could be a great recipe for the Thunder.  It's not easy sledding to get to the third round, but it is very doable.  definitely looking forward to a Wheaton/NCC rematch!"   Looking ahead already to the third round.

"My philosophy (shared by some, perhaps not all) is that once the conference battles are over, I'm a CCIW fan.  Go Cards and (Wheaton, not Trine) Thunder!"  Mr Ypsi  

"Looking like an All-CCIW regional final."

It should be pointed out that the quote in red is from a very rare Wheaton poster who is not a typical poster.  He rarely posts and when he does it usually isn't well received, even by Wheaton posters.  His significant negative post to karma ratio exhibits that.

The other poster has only posted 10 times... so these quotes should be taken with a grain of salt.  They do not represent the tone of most on the board.

The quote attributed to the point spread line between Wheaton and Trine comes from the OAC Pick-Ems.  This was not set by anyone affiliated with Wheaton or the CCIW! 

Furthermore you need to consider that 98% of us had Wheaton turning in their gear this morning.  At 8-2 their season was over, until all the upsets occurred last Saturday (even then it was a stretch).  There is some understandable excitement...

You probably don't have the context that Wheaton is 5-0 in first round games, only to head to Alliance, OH for most 2nd round games, where like most teams who play MUC the season ends abruptly.  Added to that Wheaton has beaten the MIAA the last 13-14 times they have played over the past 5-6 seasons.  So... no MUC until far into the playoffs and playing the MIAA in the 1st round where we've had some success.  I don't believe this was intended as a slight on Trine.

I can guarantee you Coach Swider and the Wheaton players will not take Trine lightly at all and will show nothing but respect.  You don't get to 10-0 without having a very strong team.

If you want locker room posting material from quotes attributed to people about as far away from the program as possible, so be it.  That is not the attitude of those close to the program.  Given the recent track record of the MIAA in the playoffs, playing with a "chip on the shoulder" is a good thing.

I'm looking for a great game on Saturday between the Thunders, but I'm hopefully the southwest version comes out on top.

[Stinger]

The MIAA hasn't won a playoff game since Albion's 1994 title win, and every loss this decade, with the exception of  Alma/Carthage '04 has been a blowout.  I would say it's the best possible match-up.

[Diezel1]

Im not familiar with the way the top 25 works and I know this has been talked about before on here but how is Trine still below Franklin in the rankings? Is it based on the differences in the HCAC and the MIAA?

[Pat Coleman]

There's been a fair amount of discussion on this and it's basically been boiled down to a few points:

1. It was a three-point game on Trine's home field, right around the average value of home field. The poll tries to measure who would beat whom on a neutral field.
2. Trine hasn't exactly looked strong with some of its conference wins.
3. The game was in September and Trine hasn't looked like that team consistently.

All can be erased with one playoff win, though.

[Uncle Rico]

There's been a fair amount of discussion on this and it's basically been boiled down to a few points:

1. It was a three-point game on Trine's home field, right around the average value of home field. The poll tries to measure who would beat whom on a neutral field.
2. Trine hasn't exactly looked strong with some of its conference wins.
3. The game was in September and Trine hasn't looked like that team consistently.

All can be erased with one playoff win, though.

Understood, but Trine also outplayed Franklin in the other common opponents they had in Defiance and Manchester.   

However, as proven before, it is hard to judge a team by common opponents when you compare Adrians performance against Kzoo / Hope and Trines performance against Kzoo / Hope, and the fact that Trine beat Adrian at Adrain.  It is all about matchups I guess.

[matblake]

You don't get to be an undefeated conference champ by being a slouch.  I'm sure both teams will be ready.  IMO whichever team is more consistent will be the victor.  At times this year, Wheaton has had some problems with being consistent.  It should be a great game.

[miaafbfan]

Looks like things are heating up between the CCIW and MIAA.  Personally, I am glad Wheaton is playing Trine.  Wheaton is a solid, well-coached program, and the vast majority of their fans are respectful and leave the trash talk for the other boards. Let's face it, the MIAA would be thrilled to be where the CCIW is right now in terms of quality and depth.  We need a playoff win against a quality opponent.  Wheaton is most definitely that.  This should be a great game.  May the best Thunder win!

[thundermike11]

Wheaton is very excited to play Trine, apparently...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4077.0

"If I am Wheaton...this is the best possible draw. MIAA champ and a much friendlier than usualsecond round opponent."

"I love this time of year as a CCIW fan.  Overrated 10-0 teams "match-up" in the playoffs, and get beat up by a more physical CCIW teams. 

Thunder(Wheaton) 31-10"

"#7 (8-2) Wheaton is listed as a 7.5 point favorite AT #2 (10-0) Trine" in their pick-ems.

"Now with the talent they have, and a new appreciation for where they are at, this could be a great recipe for the Thunder.  It's not easy sledding to get to the third round, but it is very doable.  definitely looking forward to a Wheaton/NCC rematch!"   Looking ahead already to the third round.

"My philosophy (shared by some, perhaps not all) is that once the conference battles are over, I'm a CCIW fan.  Go Cards and (Wheaton, not Trine) Thunder!"  Mr Ypsi  

"Looking like an All-CCIW regional final."

At this point I don't think Wheaton is taking anyone lightly. They are just excited to have the opportunity to play at all. If these were quotes from Wheaton players or coaches it would be a different story, but you will not hear anything of the sort coming from them.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Looking ahead to Saturday - here's the forcast for Angola:

High 37°F

Precip 10%
Thunder 100%
Wind: SSW 10 mph
Max. Humidity: 67%
UV Index: 2 Low