MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[KnightSlappy]

I was perusing the Grace Bible College Athletic website, and it looks like they're growing their athletic program. Cross country (men's & women's) is now a varsity sport, and they have added men's golf and men's and women's tennis (unless I just missed them in the past).

Anyone have any idea know if it's just part of the plan, or do they have D3 aspirations? I think they now meet the NCAA's minimum sport sponsorship requirement.

I could see them leaning toward NAIA and the WHAC.  I see them following the Davenport model of using athletics and scholarships as a marketing tool to promote the school.

That was one of my initial reactions too, but the NAIA doesn't require a minimum sport sponsorship, and Grace's $400,000 endowment (in Wikipedia dollars) probably doesn't lend itself to athletic scholarships very well (although I don't think they're required to hand out scholarships).

Their men's basketball program has shown in recent years that they can compete with many (most?) MIAA schools on any given day.

[Bob MacKenzie]

I was perusing the Grace Bible College Athletic website, and it looks like they're growing their athletic program. Cross country (men's & women's) is now a varsity sport, and they have added men's golf and men's and women's tennis (unless I just missed them in the past).

Anyone have any idea know if it's just part of the plan, or do they have D3 aspirations? I think they now meet the NCAA's minimum sport sponsorship requirement.

I could see them leaning toward NAIA and the WHAC.  I see them following the Davenport model of using athletics and scholarships as a marketing tool to promote the school.

That was one of my initial reactions too, but the NAIA doesn't require a minimum sport sponsorship, and Grace's $400,000 endowment (in Wikipedia dollars) probably doesn't lend itself to athletic scholarships very well (although I don't think they're required to hand out scholarships).

Their men's basketball program has shown in recent years that they can compete with many (most?) MIAA schools on any given day.

I don't think a school's endowment has anything to do with whether or not they offer athletic scholarships.  In fact, I'd bet that on average NAIA schools have far lower endowments than NCAAIII schools.

Athletic scholarships are just one component of a financial aid package.  Amazingly  , most athletes can find a DIII package that is competitive with an NAIA package.  There just won't be any of it labeled as athletic scholarships.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Their men's basketball program has shown in recent years that they can compete with many (most?) MIAA schools on any given day.

When Grace Bible came to GRCHS gym to play the Knights just two seasons ago (when the Van Noord construction was still being completed) I felt that they were far inferior to MIAA quality.  Last year's game against the Knights I felt that they played a much higher brand of basketball, and really stuck it to Calvin.  not sure what happened in the meantime, but needless to say I'm impressed with the development of their program.   If last season's game is any indication, I'd say they could probably win the MIAA.

[KnightSlappy]

Their men's basketball program has shown in recent years that they can compete with many (most?) MIAA schools on any given day.

When Grace Bible came to GRCHS gym to play the Knights just two seasons ago (when the Van Noord construction was still being completed) I felt that they were far inferior to MIAA quality.  Last year's game against the Knights I felt that they played a much higher brand of basketball, and really stuck it to Calvin.  not sure what happened in the meantime, but needless to say I'm impressed with the development of their program. If last season's game is any indication, I'd say they could probably win the MIAA.

We can't really judge MIAA quality based on how teams fare against Calvin. If we did that we'd really only have three 'MIAA caliber' teams.

I doubt that Grace would have beaten the Knights last year if they played that game in February, but it was an impressive win to be sure. I'd be willing to bet that last year's squad was one of the best teams, if not the best, in the school's history. Grace probably couldn't win their way to the top half of the league in most years, but then again, when was the last time Alma did that?

It's hard to judge a team by one early season game, but I think Grace would have finished 6th or 7th in a nine team league last year.

[KnightSlappy]

I was perusing the Grace Bible College Athletic website, and it looks like they're growing their athletic program. Cross country (men's & women's) is now a varsity sport, and they have added men's golf and men's and women's tennis (unless I just missed them in the past).

Anyone have any idea know if it's just part of the plan, or do they have D3 aspirations? I think they now meet the NCAA's minimum sport sponsorship requirement.

I could see them leaning toward NAIA and the WHAC.  I see them following the Davenport model of using athletics and scholarships as a marketing tool to promote the school.

That was one of my initial reactions too, but the NAIA doesn't require a minimum sport sponsorship, and Grace's $400,000 endowment (in Wikipedia dollars) probably doesn't lend itself to athletic scholarships very well (although I don't think they're required to hand out scholarships).

Their men's basketball program has shown in recent years that they can compete with many (most?) MIAA schools on any given day.

I don't think a school's endowment has anything to do with whether or not they offer athletic scholarships.  In fact, I'd bet that on average NAIA schools have far lower endowments than NCAAIII schools.

Athletic scholarships are just one component of a financial aid package.  Amazingly  , most athletes can find a DIII package that is competitive with an NAIA package.  There just won't be any of it labeled as athletic scholarships.

Could be, but I'd bet that on average NAIA schools have far larger endowments than $400,000.

[Bob MacKenzie]

I was perusing the Grace Bible College Athletic website, and it looks like they're growing their athletic program. Cross country (men's & women's) is now a varsity sport, and they have added men's golf and men's and women's tennis (unless I just missed them in the past).

Anyone have any idea know if it's just part of the plan, or do they have D3 aspirations? I think they now meet the NCAA's minimum sport sponsorship requirement.

I could see them leaning toward NAIA and the WHAC.  I see them following the Davenport model of using athletics and scholarships as a marketing tool to promote the school.

That was one of my initial reactions too, but the NAIA doesn't require a minimum sport sponsorship, and Grace's $400,000 endowment (in Wikipedia dollars) probably doesn't lend itself to athletic scholarships very well (although I don't think they're required to hand out scholarships).

Their men's basketball program has shown in recent years that they can compete with many (most?) MIAA schools on any given day.

I don't think a school's endowment has anything to do with whether or not they offer athletic scholarships.  In fact, I'd bet that on average NAIA schools have far lower endowments than NCAAIII schools.

Athletic scholarships are just one component of a financial aid package.  Amazingly  , most athletes can find a DIII package that is competitive with an NAIA package.  There just won't be any of it labeled as athletic scholarships.

Could be, but I'd bet that on average NAIA schools have far larger endowments than $400,000.

Tru dat.  But even at schools with larger endowments, the vast majority of scholarship and/or grant aid is just a discount off of the "sticker" price.  A very small percentage comes from endowment.  Having no endowment wouldn't discourage Grace from trying to attract students--whether they be athletes, scholars, musicians, thespians etc.--by offering scholarships for attributes they value.

[Civic Minded]

Looks like the head coach's position at Alma has been filled, at least temporarily:

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x459820222/Alma-College-names-Charlie-Goffnett-as-interim-men-s-basketball-coach

[sac]

Looks like the head coach's position at Alma has been filled, at least temporarily:

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x459820222/Alma-College-names-Charlie-Goffnett-as-interim-men-s-basketball-coach

Given the time frame, this was really all they could do.  Now they'll have a solid 8 months to look for a coach, instead of the 2 or 3 months in late summer they had last time.

[Knight In The Stan]

Once again I am deployed, however this time I may have internet to stream some of the Calvin games. Does anyone know if any other MIAA schools have also installed video streaming capabilities?

[ziggy]

Once again I am deployed, however this time I may have internet to stream some of the Calvin games. Does anyone know if any other MIAA schools have also installed video streaming capabilities?

Albion streamed games last year.

[calvin_grad]

Once again I am deployed, however this time I may have internet to stream some of the Calvin games. Does anyone know if any other MIAA schools have also installed video streaming capabilities?

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Knight.  Thank you for serving.  Hopefully some MIAA hoops can give you just a little distraction from the serious reality of your day-to-day life overseas. 

[Gregory Sager]

Once again I am deployed, however this time I may have internet to stream some of the Calvin games. Does anyone know if any other MIAA schools have also installed video streaming capabilities?

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Knight.  Thank you for serving.  Hopefully some MIAA hoops can give you just a little distraction from the serious reality of your day-to-day life overseas. 

I second that sentiment.

[Knight In The Stan]

Thanks for the information and support. D3hoops/boards is a serious bright spot in my day. I don't care how many times SAC argues with somebody about their maturity level and false speculations   

[sflzman]

Once again I am deployed, however this time I may have internet to stream some of the Calvin games. Does anyone know if any other MIAA schools have also installed video streaming capabilities?

I beleive Alma should have the capabilities in that brand-new arena they opened up last week.

[ziggy]

Once again I am deployed, however this time I may have internet to stream some of the Calvin games. Does anyone know if any other MIAA schools have also installed video streaming capabilities?

I beleive Alma should have the capabilities in that brand-new arena they opened up last week.

The correlation between new arenas and streaming video appears to be 50-50 at best.