MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[hope1]

thank you sac for finding that out so fast when the hope calvin game is at calvin

[calvin_grad]

Calvin's schedule is up:

http://www.calvin.edu/sports/mbasket/schedule.htm

[gohope]

Calvin's schedule is up:

http://www.calvin.edu/sports/mbasket/schedule.htm

Looks like SAC is going to be front row and center to cheer on HIS favorite  team at the "Tip-Off" Tourney!   

[calvin_grad]

Any word on how construction is coming on the new Spoelhof Fieldhouse?  Is it supposed to be ready in time for the pre-season non-conference non-league games that occur before the regular season MIAA conference games start (sorry, couldn't resist  ) or is it not going to be ready until the league games in 2009?

[Civic Minded]

Any word on how construction is coming on the new Spoelhof Fieldhouse?  Is it supposed to be ready in time for the pre-season non-conference non-league games that occur before the regular season MIAA conference games start (sorry, couldn't resist  ) or is it not going to be ready until the league games in 2009?

They were planning on it being ready for league play, but not before, playing pre-conference games at a local high school, I believe.  But knowing how construction can go, I too am curious about how it's progressing...

[KnightSlappy]

Calvin will play the Tip-Off Tournament at Grand Rapids Christian High School and are scheduled to be away until the conference opener with Trine.

[calvin_grad]

Calvin will play the Tip-Off Tournament at Grand Rapids Christian High School and are scheduled to be away until the conference opener with Trine.

Thanks.  I guess it would have helped to look a little closer at the schedule.

[sac]

So about that commissioners cup


07-08 Commissioner's Cup Standings
End in Tie Between Calvin and Hope

For the first time in the eight-decade-long history of the MIAA Commissioner's Cup (All-Sports) standings, there is a tie for first place. Calvin and Hope each accumulated 202 points in the compilation. The MIAA Commissioner's Cup award is based on the cumulative performance of each member school in the league's 18 sports for men and women.

The Commissioner's Cup (MIAA All-Sports Award) has been presented since 1934-35. The standings have been based on men's and women's sports standings since 1981-82. The closest finish before this tie occurred in 1999-2000 when Calvin edged Hope 178-176. Hope won the Commissioner's Cup the next seven years (2000-01 thru 2006-07).

This year's "race" came down to the final MIAA athletic of the school year. By winnning its final baseball game, Calvin clinched the MIAA championship and garnered enough all-sports points to cause the tie.

Commissioner's Cup Standings:1. Calvin 202. 1. Hope 202, 3. Albion 153, 4. Olivet 110, 5. Alma 103, 6. Tri-State 102, 7. Adrian 89, 8. Kalamazoo 79

Men's All-Sports Standings: 1. Hope 97, 2. Calvin 90, 3. Albion 68, 4. Olivet 60, 5. Tri-State 51, 6. Alma 45, 7. Kalamazoo 42, 8. Adrian 36.

Women's All-Sports Standings: 1. Calvin 112, 2. Hope 105, 3. Albion 85, 4. Saint Mary's 75, 5. Alma 58, 6. Adrian 53, 7. Tri-State 51, 8. Olivet 50, 9. Kalamazoo 37.

The final Commissioner's Cup standings are determined on the basis of each college's standings in eight of nine sports for men and eight of nine sports for women.

[northb]

So about that commissioners cup


07-08 Commissioner's Cup Standings
End in Tie Between Calvin and Hope

For the first time in the eight-decade-long history of the MIAA Commissioner's Cup (All-Sports) standings, there is a tie for first place. Calvin and Hope each accumulated 202 points in the compilation. The MIAA Commissioner's Cup award is based on the cumulative performance of each member school in the league's 18 sports for men and women.



The final Commissioner's Cup standings are determined on the basis of each college's standings in eight of nine sports for men and eight of nine sports for women.

So the theory that football costs Calvin in this "race" does not really hold much wieght, don't you think?  I suppose if Calvin had a men's football team and it finished higher than their lowest other sport, then that would have given them one more point and broken the tie. 

But if we get this heated up about basketball, how much worse would we be about football?!

[Mr. Ypsi]

So about that commissioners cup


07-08 Commissioner's Cup Standings
End in Tie Between Calvin and Hope

For the first time in the eight-decade-long history of the MIAA Commissioner's Cup (All-Sports) standings, there is a tie for first place. Calvin and Hope each accumulated 202 points in the compilation. The MIAA Commissioner's Cup award is based on the cumulative performance of each member school in the league's 18 sports for men and women.



The final Commissioner's Cup standings are determined on the basis of each college's standings in eight of nine sports for men and eight of nine sports for women.

So the theory that football costs Calvin in this "race" does not really hold much wieght, don't you think?  I suppose if Calvin had a men's football team and it finished higher than their lowest other sport, then that would have given them one more point and broken the tie. 

But if we get this heated up about basketball, how much worse would we be about football?!

Can you say "infinitely"?

"Western Michigan murder wave - News at 11"

[Pat Coleman]

So about that commissioners cup


07-08 Commissioner's Cup Standings
End in Tie Between Calvin and Hope

I congratulated Tom Renner on making history on his way into retirement.

[tniem]

So about that commissioners cup


07-08 Commissioner's Cup Standings
End in Tie Between Calvin and Hope

For the first time in the eight-decade-long history of the MIAA Commissioner's Cup (All-Sports) standings, there is a tie for first place. Calvin and Hope each accumulated 202 points in the compilation. The MIAA Commissioner's Cup award is based on the cumulative performance of each member school in the league's 18 sports for men and women.



The final Commissioner's Cup standings are determined on the basis of each college's standings in eight of nine sports for men and eight of nine sports for women.

So the theory that football costs Calvin in this "race" does not really hold much wieght, don't you think?  I suppose if Calvin had a men's football team and it finished higher than their lowest other sport, then that would have given them one more point and broken the tie. 

But if we get this heated up about basketball, how much worse would we be about football?!

Calvin finished sixth in Men's Golf.  So if "their football" team had finished at least fifth, they win the cup.  I'd say it at least plays a role.  Although, I doubt the decision to play football has anything to do with a point equation determined cup.  And my Calvin friends will surely point to national championships as more important then conference wins. 

[Gregory Sager]

I apologize if this subject has come up and been dealt with in the past in Let's Talk MIAA and I just missed it, but what is Calvin's rationale for not having a football program? Has it ever had one? Has there ever been (and is there now) any student or alumni pressure to start one?

Since a very large number of D3 schools don't field football teams, it's not really that unusual for Calvin to eschew the gridiron. But in a specifc sense it just seems a little odd that it doesn't; you don't see many schools of Calvin's size, wealth, and prominence in D3 that don't have football teams, and all seven of the school's conference rivals have them.

I'm not trying to step on any toes, disparage Calvin (or any other school), or provoke yet another Hope/Calvin feud here. I'm just genuinely curious as to why Calvin doesn't have a football program.

[realist]

GS:  I am not sure that I have ever heard an "offical" reason for the lack of football at Calvin, but I do know the decision goes back many years.  The prevailing thought seems to be no one in a position of authority ever felt strongly that football was essential to the educational experience.   Another thought was that some aspects of the game of football, and some of the activities tied with it were not the types of behavior or conduct that the CRC really wanted it's youth involved in.  This thought pattern also seemed to prevail in many of the various Christian high schools closely aligned to the denomination.  In fact, several of them have only recently fielded football teams.  According to stories I have heard one of the "major" issues about the time Calvin entered the MIAA was it's lack of a football program, and that is long before the playoffs with AQ considerations.  Calvin was accepted in the MIAA in 1953 without football, so why would the MIAA now want to make it a "requirement", and force out it's largest school?  Injuries to players has often been cited as a major reason along with the cost involved in starting/ operating a football program for not adding football.  Calvin grew rapidly after the war, and did so without playing football.  Enrollment is now capped at around 4200, and except for a few years Calvin has meet it's enrollment goal.  If one were to add football at this point what really would it do to "improve or enhance" a Calvin education is one way to phrase the issue.  Sort of we got where we are without football so what would be gained by adding football now.  I am sure over the years some prospective Calvin students have gone elsewhere to continue playing football.  Calvin's answer would probably be one goes to college to get an education, and while competitive sports are important they should not be the primary consideration.  Sports are frosting on the cake, not the cake itself.  IMHO Calvin has never placed an overpowering importance on winning either MIAA "cups" or national championships.  Granted they are nice "like a cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae", but hardly a major factor in how the college views it's self or it's mission.   
Calvin has never had football.  All the alums went to a non-football school so I doubt they would feel strongly that Calvin "must" add it now.  I can't speak for the students, but logic seems to say they enrolled at a non -football school so why would it be an issue now?  If Calvin is filling it's fr. classes without football why add it?  If a prospective student rules Calvin out because it lacks a football program than Calvin probably feels fortunate the person went somewhere else if that is their "value" system.  Over the years a rumor about some deep pocket willing to "pick up the tab" if Calvin adds football has surfaced.  I seriously doubt even if someone offered to build a stadium, totally equip a team, pay the coach (and all other expenses, perpetually) that Calvin would add football.

[tniem]

Another thought was that some aspects of the game of football, and some of the activities tied with it were not the types of behavior or conduct that the CRC really wanted it's youth involved in.  This thought pattern also seemed to prevail in many of the various Christian high schools closely aligned to the denomination.  In fact, several of them have only recently fielded football teams. 

Won't comment on the other parts of the post from realist (great insights by the way), but this is the one growing up in GR that I heard the most.  Since places like Calvin Christian and other CRC student heavy high schools in West Michigan did not have football, there never was the natural graduation that happened with so many other CRC kids/schools.  The addition of high school football programs more recently seemed to allow for the possibility for Calvin to add but realist is probably correct that the perceived need is not there - even if the ability is.