FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[cave2bens]

Well stated, Cardinal, and best wishes to Tri-State this weekend.  As one with origins just across the border in Bryan, the school will always be Tri-State to those engineers, some who are personal friends and relatives, who weathered their years in Angola.  I'm just waiting for Defiance to follow similar circumstances and become "McMaster" University. 

"Oh, there is one!  There is one!"
                                      - Natalie Wood   


Besides, any school with a handgun team can't be all bad. 

Signed,

Denny Crane
                                     

[cardinals1226]

Well stated, Cardinal, and best wishes to Tri-State this weekend.  As one with origins just across the border in Bryan, the school will always be Tri-State to those engineers, some who are personal friends and relatives, who weathered their years in Angola.  I'm just waiting for Defiance to follow similar circumstances and become "McMaster" University. 

"Oh, there is one!  There is one!"
                                      - Natalie Wood   


Besides, any school with a handgun team can't be all bad. 

Signed,

Denny Crane
                                     

Got to love those C.J. majors.... 

[Augie6]

I keep reading the words "lack of respect" for Trine and I'm wondering where this is coming from.

Is it just simply the few random quotes from internet posters?

Because it surely can't be from receiving a #2 seed from a conference that hasn't won a playoff game since 1994, can it?

As a Trine fan, here is what I have seen....How about a number of postings in the CCIW forum proclaiming big wins, and an easy road, for Wheaton.  The ESPN bracket coverage mentioned something for just about every team except Trine.  People picking Trine as the most likely upset of the top 8 seeds.  D3football.com placing Franklin ahead of Trine even though Trine beat them, and Trine also beat their common opponents by a larger margin than Franklin did.  Early on, the predictions of finishing middle of the conference in spite of the fact that Trine was returning about 19 of 21 starters (when they finished 6-4).  Maybe in some minds Trine has not done anything yet to deserve respect, but the lack of respect has not gone unnoticed either. 

I am hoping for a great game on Saturday.  Wheaton is a super team.  Trine wins, maybe some more people will believe.  Wheaton wins, Trine will have represented themselves well regardless.   

The only thing that will earn Trine (or any MIAA team) respect outside of their conference, is to win a playoff game.  When a conference hasn't won a playoff game since 1994 and hasn't been all that competitive in their most recent playoff appearances (7 first round losses since 2000 with an average score of 39-18) it's natural for most people to not give the conference's representative much of a chance in the playoffs.  The fact that they beat a good Franklin team this year is great, but let's not forget that the HCAC hasn't had much more success in the playoffs than the MIAA.  If Trine beats Wheaton this weekend, Trine and the MIAA will have earned the respect of people outside the conference.  If not, my guess is you'll see the same types of things next year for whoever the MIAA playoff rep is.

[sac]

I keep reading the words "lack of respect" for Trine and I'm wondering where this is coming from.

Is it just simply the few random quotes from internet posters?

Because it surely can't be from receiving a #2 seed from a conference that hasn't won a playoff game since 1994, can it?

As a Trine fan, here is what I have seen....How about a number of postings in the CCIW forum proclaiming big wins, and an easy road, for Wheaton.  The ESPN bracket coverage mentioned something for just about every team except Trine.  People picking Trine as the most likely upset of the top 8 seeds.  D3football.com placing Franklin ahead of Trine even though Trine beat them, and Trine also beat their common opponents by a larger margin than Franklin did.  Early on, the predictions of finishing middle of the conference in spite of the fact that Trine was returning about 19 of 21 starters (when they finished 6-4).  Maybe in some minds Trine has not done anything yet to deserve respect, but the lack of respect has not gone unnoticed either. 

I am hoping for a great game on Saturday.  Wheaton is a super team.  Trine wins, maybe some more people will believe.  Wheaton wins, Trine will have represented themselves well regardless.   

The only thing that will earn Trine (or any MIAA team) respect outside of their conference, is to win a playoff game.  When a conference hasn't won a playoff game since 1994 and hasn't been all that competitive in their most recent playoff appearances (7 first round losses since 2000 with an average score of 39-18) it's natural for most people to not give the conference's representative much of a chance in the playoffs.  The fact that they beat a good Franklin team this year is great, but let's not forget that the HCAC hasn't had much more success in the playoffs than the MIAA.  If Trine beats Wheaton this weekend, Trine and the MIAA will have earned the respect of people outside the conference.  If not, my guess is you'll see the same types of things next year for whoever the MIAA playoff rep is.

Guilt by association then 

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Augie6:

Couldnt agree more.

[LetItRain]

I have intentionally chosen to stay out of the fray about what people are posting about Trine.  However, it's time to weigh in.  My perspective may be somewhat different than most Trine supporters, but so be it.

I like flying under the radar.  I like being the underdog.  I like people assuming they can come in and walk all over us.  It's worked in our favor all year - why stop now?  Every post, every comment, every TV or radio interview, every poll in D3football.com - it's all fodder for the coaches to use to get the team fired up.  So, keep it coming.  Help build the fire in the bellies of our boys.

Those of us who know the coaches and the players already know what this team is capable of.  So what if no one outside of the Trine "village" respects our team?  The people that really count already respect you - who cares about everyone else.  Are you here to earn respect or to win a National Championship?  Stop worrying about people respecting you and get the job done on the field.  Let's start on Saturday by kicking some Wheaton butt!!

GO TRINE THUNDER!!

[Pat Coleman]

As a Trine fan, here is what I have seen....How about a number of postings in the CCIW forum proclaiming big wins, and an easy road, for Wheaton.  The ESPN bracket coverage mentioned something for just about every team except Trine.  People picking Trine as the most likely upset of the top 8 seeds.  D3football.com placing Franklin ahead of Trine even though Trine beat them, and Trine also beat their common opponents by a larger margin than Franklin did.  Early on, the predictions of finishing middle of the conference in spite of the fact that Trine was returning about 19 of 21 starters (when they finished 6-4).  Maybe in some minds Trine has not done anything yet to deserve respect, but the lack of respect has not gone unnoticed either. 

In the two minutes I was given to talk about each bracket, I tried to spotlight as much as possible.

I didn't talk about St. John's, one of the most tradition-laden teams in Division III. So taking my not talking about Trine personally is rather silly.

[D306]

All this talk about "lack of respect" is wasted effort.
I hope that Coach Land and the Trine Thunder are game planning and not wasting time putting up bulletin board info about lack of repsect.
I find when teams get caught up in what others say about them, they play emotional and try to make "BIG" plays instead of running the system and what got you there in the first place.

Believe me Trine needs no motivation to play Wheaton.
Wheaton is a successful proram that has had its way with the MIAA recently.
Trine will be fine if the defense comes to play like the Adrian game.
The defense is a aggresive pressure unit, with mulitple angles of attack.
This type of defense causes breakdowns and turnovers the key is to capitalize on these tunrovers, becuase when you apply the pressure defense you can also give up big plays with 1 on 1 coverage.

I expect a close game and hope Trine comes away with the win, I think the home field advantage is big for Trine. Trine has been on a good roll at home. I also believe Trine will be aggressive on the offensive end, I think Coach Lands Arena ball experience is reflected in the teams style of play.

[Uncle Rico]

I was not trying to beat a dead horse, just answering SAC's question of where that sentiment comes from.  I explained how this fan felt.   

I am not trying to use this forum to "fire up the troops" or get locker-room material.  I am not a coach, and I trust that they know how to get the team ready.  They won't need me or a forum to motivate them.

I also agree 1000% with many that a playoff win or two or three will go a long ways towards bringing respect, more than anything else. 

I DO think that NOT mentioning Trine at all is rather silly, or dismissive, since you have a team that went from 0 to 2 to 6 to 10 wins, and earns a SECOND seed (even if you may disagree with that seeding).  But my skin is thicker now and I will get over it.   

I promise to get off my soapbox (for the remainder of this season, anyway).   

[formerd3db]

Thanks Mr. Ypsi, you are most kind my friend.  Have to support the league's rep for sure!

[formerd3db]

Just ask DePauw (and Wabash) about being an underdog after this last weekend.   Or we might ask Northwestern or Central Michigan aor Western Michigan or Appal State (i.e. last year) about that as well.  Anything can happen.

Anyway, people are always spouting about "how terrible this team is and how lousy that team is" when it comes to the playoffs.  For sure we know there are some weaker teams from some conferences, and while the odds are against these teams in the majority of situations, yet, again, one never knows what might happen on occasion.  Sometimes a "fluke" or miracle (or whatever term one wants to use) does happen.  IMO, any team that goes undefeated in their regular season deserves respect.

[miaafbfan]

The only thing that will earn Trine (or any MIAA team) respect outside of their conference, is to win a playoff game.  When a conference hasn't won a playoff game since 1994 and hasn't been all that competitive in their most recent playoff appearances (7 first round losses since 2000 with an average score of 39-18) it's natural for most people to not give the conference's representative much of a chance in the playoffs.  The fact that they beat a good Franklin team this year is great, but let's not forget that the HCAC hasn't had much more success in the playoffs than the MIAA.  If Trine beats Wheaton this weekend, Trine and the MIAA will have earned the respect of people outside the conference.  If not, my guess is you'll see the same types of things next year for whoever the MIAA playoff rep is.

Very true.  Respect needs to be earned on the field.  Trine has had a great season and is in a good position to do just that. 

GO TRINE THUNDER!!

Ditto.

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Best of luck to Trine tomorrow afternoon, go out there and get the win, show them the MIAA means business.  As long as Trine plays their game, they should have a great day tomorrow, get after the QB and play that solid brand of offense!

[Uncle Rico]

There is no doubt that if Trine takes it to Wheaton, attacks them on offense and defense, and doesn't lay back, Trine will win.  They have worked too hard to let it end tomorrow!  Go TRINE THUNDER!

[ACRULZ]

Ok, I know I'm going to be the bad guy...but I have to be the realist and say it...Trine will not win tomorrows game.  Wheaton will beat Trine.  And yes I am a little bitter!