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Flying Dutchmen Launch
MIAA Play With An Old Rival
Posted October 10, 2000
HOLLAND -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
(MIAA) football season picks up where it ended a year ago with
the renewal of a spirited rivalry as the Hope College Flying
Dutchmen (3-1) travel to Kalamazoo College (2-2) on Saturday (Oct. 14).
Kickoff for Kalamazoo's homecoming game will be 1 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on WHTC-AM (1450) and WFUR-FM
(102.9). It will also be broadcast on the internet
(www.hope.edu).
Coach Dean Kreps' Dutchmen concluded the 1999 season with an
MIAA title clinching victory over Kalamazoo. Now in their 2000
league opener the Dutchmen carry a three-game winning streak
against a Hornet team that after losing its first two games of
the season has won the last two.
When Hope plays Kalamazoo it is known as the "Wooden Shoes
Rivalry." The coach of the winning team gains possession of a
pair of hand-carved wooden shoes until the next meeting of the
teams.
This will be the 80th renewal of a series that started in
1910. It is Hope's oldest active rivalry. Hope holds a 39-34-6
advantage in the series. The Flying Dutchmen have won 20 of the
last 24 games between the teams, including a 44-28 victory in
1999.
The Flying Dutchmen haven't played since September 30th
while Kalamazoo is coming off its longest road trip in school
history, a 23-19 at Colorado College last Saturday.
Last week Hope was ranked seventh in the nation among NCAA
Division III teams in rushing defense. Opponents are averaging
just 51.3 yards per game on the ground. Kalamazoo will enter the
game with the second best rushing average among MIAA teams at
150.3 ypg. Last Saturday the Hornets gained 191 yards rushing
against Colorado.
Hope was also ranked nationally in turnover margin ratio
with an advantage of 2.25 turnovers per game. The Dutchmen have
recovered 20 opponent turnovers (7 fumbles and 13 interceptions)
while losing 11 turnovers (6 fumbles, 5 interceptions).
Kalamazoo, meanwhile, has lost 13 turnovers in four games while
losing 12.
The Flying Dutchmen will play their first home game in
nearly a month on Saturday, Oct. 21 against Alma.
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