Adam

I have no problem giving Anderson credit for the win.  I was just making sure you knew all the facts.  Unless you were at the game, which I was, you wouldn't know what I am talking about.  17-0 in 5 minutes and driving to score again when there best offensive player goes down.  The game was over right then.  If you were in the crowd you knew it.  So congratulations "man of Steele".  Let's just add him to the list of other great QBs better than our guy.

As for Saturdays game.  I really don't think it matters if I'm prepared or not since I won't make one block, tackle, catch, or run.  I am sure the players know what they have to do and my banter on this dumb post board will have very little outcome in the game.  Thanks for your concern though.  I am going to go focus on the game now. 

CardinalDad

I am not totally disagreeing with you.  And I do think Kniss is a good player.  All I am saying is with the scores being what they are and the fact that Kniss has not played well against an OAC defense, that can not be a coincidence.  CAP rarely blitzes and never plays nickel or dime.  They really don't disguise coverages, so what you see is what you get.  That being said, the only logically explanation is that the talent is better.  Which was my point all along.  Are there great players everywhere? ABSOLUTELY.  Are there great teams everywhere? NO DOUBT.  But, the overall talent and depth in the OAC is hands down superior to other leagues.  So, to achieve what he has achieved against far superior competition makes comparisons between the two unfair.  I have seen Rocky play his whole career, and I actually think you are lucky.  I do not think Saturday was one of his better games throwing the football.  I have seen him much much sharper.  And still, he was a drop from 6 TD's and another 400 Yards.  You think the CAP D is tough, drive to Alliance some Saturday and see what we have to play in the OAC every year.  Simply put, Kniss is very good, Rocky is REALLY GREAT.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I just realized Tristan Murray was a Gagliardi finalist as well.  Let's see how he and his teams have done in 4 games against CAP. It must be nice to play Kenyon and Oberlin and whoever else they play in the NCAC.  All I have to do is look at the numbers and the scores to tell you that the Gagliardi award DOES NOT go to the best football player in D-3.  They should either change the criteria or call it the well-rounded award.  To consider it the equivalent to the Heisman Trophy for D-3 is a slap in the face to past Heisman winners.  CAP is 4-0 this year against Gagliardi finalists.  ENOUGH SAID.

SaintsFan

Let's be honest about one thing.....In Anderson's win at Capital, CAP was up 17-0 five minutes into the game.  Rocky breaks his collar bone and game over.  The CAP backup was Jeremy Leeds and he lost his job the next week to  a WR.  So, needless to say, the CAP D was on the field the ENTIRE game.  It was only about 100 degrees that day so fatigue and constantly being on the field probably had more to do with Steele's big day.  Sorry to bust your bubble, but that score would have been worse than your 65-13 a$$ whooping if Rocky doesn't get hurt.  The next year, his 272 came against mostly backups in mop up time.  The entire first half looked like college players against middle schoolers.  No offense.  That score could have easily been 100- 13 if Rocky, in his first full college game, and the rest of the ones not been tailgating by halftime.  He might be a good QB but his numbers are obviously skewed towards his competition.  7-3 after losing 65-13 tells me exactly what kind of POWERHOUSES they play.

CardinalDad

I don't think anyone is judging Kniss unfairly.  He is a very good QB with a strong accurate arm and very elusive in the pocket.  The point is, two of his "off" days have come against CAP, an OAC opponent.  It is not a coincidence.  Every game and every team is tough in the OAC.  With all due respect to Kniss and NCC, they would be a fourth or fifth place team in the OAC at best.  That is why the comparisons are not justified.  Rocky has put up better numbers against the best competition D-3 has to offer.  You saw first hand what the OAC did to your league and CAP destroyed the best the NCAC had to offer twice.  Mount speaks for itself.  So, when comparing the two players, you also have to consider who they play.

I saw Joel Steele from Anderson College play against CAP his senior year.  He was a 12,000 yard career passer.  CAP, a non-playoff qualifier that season with a freshman QB, beat Anderson 65-7. The score easily could have been much much worse and I believe Anderson went on to be 8-2 or 7-3 that year.  The point is, the numbers players like Garcon, Kmic, and Rocky are putting up in their league have to be looked at differently than guaddy numbers put up in other leagues.  No disrespect, but it is like comparing the Big Ten to Ivy league.  I think the playoff records back me up, especially since almost all OAC losses have come against another OAC team.

As for the comparison between last year's CAP vs. NCC game.  CAP relied much more heavily on their defense last season.  As a result, the play calling was MUCH MUCH more conservative.  Add that to the fact that CAP lacked big play speed to stretch the field last year, you saw a team content to grind out victories rather than step on the gas pedal.  Rocky did not have his best game last year at NCC, but alot of that was situational and game planning.  He still made enough plays to win on the road against a higher seeded opponent in the playoffs.

You saw the REAL CAP offense Saturday.  When they open things up and play TO WIN, they are very very tough to stop.

By the way.......ROCKY IS OLD.......Look how creative and funny I was.

RIC

Once again you totally miss the point.  The point is all Mount fans make fun of Rocky's age and his four years and ONE game of playing even though Mount has benefited from the fifth year as much or more than anyone.  To say it is flattering is nieve and assinine.  Mount people have nothing flattering or complimentary to say about Rocky.  Perhaps you don't read this board or maybe you should come out of your comfortable little press box and hear your CLASSY fans.  The old man jokes are old and uncreative.  You might have the number one team in the country but your fans need to work on their originality and creativity for upcoming opponents.

I do mean SHOCK THE WORLD.  Can CAP win, YES, by all means.  They could have easily won last year.  But, to the most arrogant fans in the country and other who write and follow D-3 football, any Mount defeat, especially before the championship game would be a shock.  Don't go and be all politically correct now when being cocky and over confident has served you so well in the past.  People like you and all your other raider fan buddies are the reason a win this Saturday would be soooooooo much sweeter.

AGAIN.  GO CAP!!!!  Expcect to Win and SHOCK THE WORLD!!!!!!  C U Saturday!   

Before we hear another Mount Union fan make another Rocky is old joke, real creative by the way, let's state facts.
Stickley has been playing for Mount as long as Rocky has been at Cap and I believe he is older.
Also, Shaun Spisack was a starter for FIVE years at Mount but no one up there complained about that.
Mount players routinely get extra years, but when Joel Sickmeir, a Mount transfer and the best LB in the OAC last year, applied for an extra year, eliminating Cap's biggest defensive weakness, a tough run stopping middle LB, Mount would have none of that.
Even though he only played 2 games at Mount one season.  I am pretty sure if he would have been wearing Mount purple instead of Capital purple, that extra year would have been had.

Enough of that nonsense, Kudos to Cap and their staff for perhaps their best game of the season.  The play calling has been aggressive and Coach Collins is allowing his best player to win or lose games for him.  They are using the pass to set-up the run and both aspects are benefiting from it.  Charlie Smith has been running angry and has been playing great.  The line is opening holes and giving Rocky time to throw.  The receivers are getting open and making plays. However, there are still too many drops (one sure TD and two off hands or face masks for picks) to have a chance to beat Mount.  Rocky is simply playing lights out.  If Kniss is a Gagliardi finalist then Rocky should be in New York for the Heisman presentation.  Kniss is a good player, but the difference between him and Rocky is the same as the difference between the OAC and CCIW.  NO CONTEST.

The Cap defense had their hardest hitting game of the season.  The DBs especially brought the wood.  They will need that and much much more to have a chance Saturday.  I'd still like to see them be more aggressive and force some mistakes.  They have to force turnovers to have a chance to win and if they continue to allow Kmic & Co. to run and control the clock, Cap's chances seriously diminish.  I would crowd the box, especially on the edges, and force Mount to throw.  I know they ARE capable, but if I had to pick my poison, I would try to stop the run and bring all kinds of pressure on Jorris.  At least by passing, Mount would be playing to Cap's defensive strength, their DBs.  Jorris is very effective in the pocket, but the times I have seen him, he, like most QBs, has problems with pressure.  He is not the most mobile guy in the world and I would rather him beat us than Kmic.  They already proved they could beat us running the ball the first game.  Stack the box and take your chances.  If you stop the run and make them one-dimensional, you have a chance.
I'd also like to see nickel and dime out of Cap.  CJ Steele and Marcus McDonough (if healthy) have played extensively and well this season when others were out with injury.  Marcus has started numerous games in his career (including last year's playoff game against Mount) and CJ started all season while Kyle Hausler was hurt.  Both have played well and their speed and versatility would give Mount something else to deal with they haven't seen on film.  Tony Hessel is another wild card.  He has played well when used as 3rd down specialist.  He made plays Saturday and especially against Ohio Northern early in the year. 
The defense has the athletes to compete with Mount and I expect a better game than in the regular season.  The keys will be up front in the trenches and turnovers.  If Cap can win either or both of those battles, they have a chance.

GO CAP!!!!  EXPECT TO WIN and SHOCK THE WORLD!!!!!
 

WOW!!!!!
If the democrats think they were robbed in the Florida Presidential election a few years ago, they need to talk to Rocky Pentello.  The Gagliardi finalists were named and the OAC representative is Chad Otte of WILMINGTON!!!!  I thought the award was for best player in the nation, no offense to this kid or his team, but he wasn't the best player in his league, or even at his own position.  I've seen Cap play Wilmington four times in four years and I never even heard this guys name.  Best player in the nation means make your team better, can any of us REALLY say this guy did this for a TERRIBLE Wilmington team.  D-III voting is a joke.  Rocky FINALLY got first team, "so to keep him in his place" he isn't among the finalists for national player of the year even though we have had "great" QBs like Zac Bruney and Doug Phillips as finalists. 
I'd like to know the criteria since all the kid has done is start every game for four straight years (yes, he has only played four years and one game he was injured), break every school and league passing record (minus TDs), take a middle of the road program and turn it into a national contender,  win back-to-back years ATONU, win a huge game AT JCU, and win AT BW with a playoff berth on the line, he beat three Gagliardi finalists head-to-head last year, and has played well AT Mount for two straight seasons.  The kid has better career numbers than than any active player in college football (including Brady Quinn, which one t.v. broadcast messed up) in fewer games.  And honestly, he gives his team a chance to win every game he plays in.  Did anyone ever worry about playing Capital before Rocky arrived on campus and did anyone really fear playing Wilmington this year because Chad Otte was roaming the secondary.
After three straight second-team all-league selections, which was an absolute joke, I didn't think Rocky would get any more slaps in the face.  But, boy was I wrong.  I hope the next time Coach Collins gets a truly great player he lets him play.  Since numbers are so important when it is convienent, I hope Coach Collins let's his next great player play into the third and fourth quarter and put up gigantic numbers.  If you were at any of Cap's first five or six games this year or in years past you would know that given the opportunity, 8 td's and 500 yards were possible every single game against some of these teams.  So I say go for it, maybe then your players will get the recognition they have earned and deserved.
Imagine, the all-time OAC league leader in every passing category except touchdowns in which he is second with over 100 and not a Gagliardi finalist, let alone winner.  You think that would happen if the QB was from MOUNT.  Right!!!!!  Oh, I forgot, the records Rocky broke, Borchert and Ballard, Gagliardi winners!!!!  You do the math.
Congratulations Rock!!!  You deserve it.  Now take care of business this weekend so you can have one more shot at MOUNT!!!!!!!
GO CAPITAL!!!!!

Obviously my request is going to be denied, but I guarantee you will still be able to hear what I have to say at the game.  I just thought it might be a sign of goodwill towards the opposition to allow a guest in the booth.  I am sure I could add some "INSIDE INFORMATION" and analysis to the game.  Doug Phillips was a guest announcer at last year's playoff game and I know I could do as well him.  From watching our 2005 Back of the Year play, I think I could play as well too.  If you change your minds, RIC and HS Coach, you know where to find me.

HS Coach

What's the chances of me getting a little booth time with you and RIC this weekend?  You know, a little guest visitor with some CU insight!

Give Cap's O-line a lot of credit, one sack against, and it was not Trusnik.  Pershing is playing great at tackle and is a first team all OAC in the making, but no tackles at all from the POY, that has to be a misprint.

All I know is this, Trusnik wins POY in 2004 and then misses all 2005.  But ONU upsets Mount 21-14 WITHOUT him.  Then he comes back in 2006 and they get beat 49-7!!!!  I know it is a team game and there was a lot going right for ONU last year, but they still only gave up 14 points WITHOUT him.  They gave up 49 points with him!!!!!  And a week later he has no tackles against Cap.  Sorry, I'm with you HS Coach, I expect a LITTLE more from the POY.

Quote from: Toph on October 12, 2006, 06:51:15 PM
dabein-
Since you describe Cap as an "up and coming" program...just how many years does a program get to be called an "up and coming" program?  Ever since Rocky's freshman year I've been hearing about Capital as a program on the rise.  I think it's safe to say they've risen, and they probably won't field a much better team than they have now...unless Marty Assman's arm is as great as his name.  As for 1 vs. 4...unless you're talking about Rocky vs. the ONU line, those numbers are irrelevant this week.

Up and coming only applies to the grand scheme of things or if you are the Columbus Dispatch.  Compared to the Mounts, ONUs, JCUs and BWs of the world, with great tradition, Cap still is relatively new to the top tier of the league.  But I do agree with you as far as Cap having some legitimacy of being an upper echelon program.  The local paper still calls them an "up and coming" team every year in there college preview.  I guess top 5 and the country and an elite 8 appearnce does not satisfy them either.  I like your 1 vs. 4 reference, quite humorous, but hopefully not a sign of what is to come.  I haven't seen ONU play this year obviously, but I think Cap will more than have there hands full.  If JCU could control the ball against the Cap D, I worry about what the ONU running game can do.  Let's hope for more ONU turnovers and short fields.  I say play 8 in the box, bring pressure off the edges and make Quirk beat you with his arm rather than his legs.  If they can control Meadows and keep Quirk in the pocket, I like our chances.  Of course turnovers are always the wildcard along with special teams.

When I questioned the decision to skip the game in Alliance on Oct. 28 it was more for some national recognition for CU.  Mount gets and deserves the national spotlight all the time, but the CU players, especially the upperclassmen who have helped turn this program around, deserve some recognition as well.  Besides, that is a good opportunity to show the rest of the country how tough the OAC is, EVERY YEAR.  I hope the game lives up to the hype (maybe even as exciting as last year's playoff game), but I have my doubts.  REALLY, I just hope this game still means something when the two teams meet (ie. no CU slip-ups to ONU and OTT).  Enjoy your game in Texas and hopefully there will be a rematch you can attend!!!!!

Quote from: Pat Coleman on October 12, 2006, 01:16:39 PM
dabein:

We've been to Capital. We've been to Mount Union (many times, in fact).

We've never been to Mary Hardin-Baylor.

You do not have a monopoly on good games. You better worry about Saturday before you start assuming that the Cap/Mount game will be a better game in the rankings.

I feel like TO, totally misunderstood......lol.  I think I said everything that was said back to me, I am worried about losing to ONU (that is definitely not a gimme game), I do think the WW-MHB game is a GREAT game and not an every year occurence, I do think Mount will PROBABLY handle CU.  All that being said, it is tough to miss 1 vs. 4 (potentially) in any division.  I even stated that I understand Mount gets and deserves a great deal of national exposure, but a highlight game for an up an coming program can only help bridge the gap between Mount and the other OAC teams.  I was not complaining, rather consider it constructive criticism.  Maybe you can make the rematch if CU is fortunate enough to make the playoffs again.  That still is a big IF.

kirasdad

Quote from: kirasdad on October 12, 2006, 10:45:16 AM

Quote from: dabein22 on October 12, 2006, 10:37:52 AM
..., so to miss the game of the year in the country's strongest conference makes me wonder.

When did MUC and CU move to the WIAC?

Just so you were updated on the latest d3 polls and so you knew who the best league was:

1 Mount Union (22) 5-0 622
2 UW-Whitewater (3) 5-0 603
3 St. John's 6-0 571
4 Capital 5-0 540
5 Wesley 5-0 511
6 UW-La Crosse 4-0 475
7 Mary Hardin-Baylor 4-1 427
8 Bridgewater (Va.) 5-0 420
9 Rowan 3-1 410
10 Hardin-Simmons 3-1 357
11 Occidental 4-0 355
12 Whitworth 5-0 340
13 Central 5-0 293
14 St. John Fisher 6-0 285
15 Wilkes 5-0 255
16 Cortland State 5-0 245
17 Ohio Northern 4-1

Pat

By no means am I trying to disrespect other conferences around the nation, in fact the game you are attending that week should be fantastic.  However, passing up a game between 2 higher ranked teams in a pivotal LEAGUE battle is interesting to me.  You can not argue with the OAC's dominance in the playoffs the past few years, so to miss the game of the year in the country's strongest conference makes me wonder.

The game you will be attending will probably end up being a better game anyways, after Mount's dominating performance against ONU and Cap's squeaker against JCU, but the potential for greatness is still there.  I am not even 100% sure Cap will still be undefeated when the 2 teams play.  However, basing your plans on current rankings and the leagues involved, IMHO, the Cap-Mount game is just as deserving of the national spotlight.

As for my lack of support on this site, most posters are huge Mount fans and are used to the national spotlight and get plenty of media attention.  All be it well deserved, they are used to it.  A national spotlight game like this for Cap could do wonders for the program and I hate to see the opportunity missed.  There players deserve the attention as well.

Thanks for responding!!!!