I'm not going to spend a lot of time researching a lot of stats of other teams when my intentions is to give a Marietta perspective of their up and coming game. I'll leave the diggin into all the stats to you pros, which you never let me down.

Here is my source:

http://pioneers.marietta.edu/football/archive/2007-08/20070927.html

The number one defense in the country, the number one offensive QB in the OAC, no not his name butt his stats, and 2 sensational wideouts. You would think I was talking about MUC but it is Capital. MUC is having another unreal season but Capital is putting up some impressive numbers. Their QB, only a sophomore, is a Jason Vrable type QB, he can do it all. As stated before, the defense has not given up a TD yet this season. This is not the team Marietta needs to play to get out of their slump, had to use a baseball term. I'm curious how Marietta will try to compete. This probably will be another long day for me. It will be nice if Etta can score an offensive TD, so for at least one game the preview may state that Marietta is the only team so far to score a TD against them. Something positive to take out of this game would be nice. I believe in miracles. Go Pios!

JK: Cap's DBs will get a workout this weekend. It will be interesting to see if they can contain #4 Dawson. I actually would like to see Etta run the ball more but I doubt that will happen. The positive Etta can take out of this game is for their offense to score a TD.

GGB: I agree.

D3 Poster: I agree with your posts. I really thought the last couple of years they turned things around. I have lived most of my life less than 5 minutes from the field and I have seen the improvement over the last couple years. They did show some promise against BW but they have yet to be really competitive in a game. I thought the matchup with OTT was even. The defense looked good against BW. OTT's Senior QB I'm sure played a huge role leadership wise and #9 was an awesome receiver. The problem was the defense didn't make OTT punt once until late second half. The offense continues to turn the ball over. I haven't thrown in the towell and jumped ship but they better hurry up and find themselves to salvage this season. Jr. is staying positive and he really likes Coach Wiese and the other coaches. He moved back home for financial and academic reasons. He is good friends with some of the playmakers I believe you were alluding to and wants to help the team win. More importantly he wants to get into a federal law enforcement internship which Marietta is popular for.

There is no doubt the NCAC is a weaker conference than the OAC. I respect the Marietta players for not quitting and I also respect the players in both the NCAC and OAC bottom tier for their dedication to their sport. They all are adapting to adversity and being stronger for it. I'll still be at every game rooting hard for the Pios to win. Lets Go Pios!

I taught Jr. and my players that adversity can make you stronger or weaker. He is facing some adversity and he is getting stronger in character. I realized I was facing some adversity, on a much smaller scale, and realized I was becoming weaker in character. I cannot allow that to happen.

Thanks for the supportive emails, they really did mean a lot.

While listening to Mike & Mike in the morning, a great concept in sports reporting, it reminded me about how much I like to talk sports so that is what I'm going to do for now on.

BW at JC: Etta has played their best game against BW and I'm not sold on them yet. BW's defense is good but offensively can they get the job done against JC? Based on what little I know I too believe this will be a great game.

ONU at OTT: I was very impressed with OTT's passing game. If ONU has a good defensive backfield then they should be okay. OTT's D needs some work. If ONU shuts down their passing game, I like ONU. If OTT's D shows up and their passing game is on, I'll give OTT a chance.

Capital at Etta will be ugly. I just hope Etta finds themselves sometime this year or they will struggle to win a game. They may stand more of a chance against a running team. A chance of keeping the score closer. Etta's d-backs are athletic but small and they get burnt. Offensively, they need to take care of the ball. The turnover ratio is horrible. You cannot be competitive without playing good D and turning the ball over.   

What is your problem Pat? Don't put words in my mouth. I haven't one time commented about my team being a great team but I just give them a chance in any game. I get bombarded because I even gave my team a chance. I admit their mistakes and this past game I was honest about how they looked. I get bombarded. Ric states in a past post that Marietta is bad and I won't say I told you so later. What happens is he does and yes you guessed it, I get bombarded. I don't wear rose colored glasses but I support and believe in my team.  I will continue to do that. I have over and over stated I appreciate what Pat does for this site and hscoach's dedication to the pickems. What do I get, Pat puts words in my mouth stating something along the lines that I don't appreciate anyone if they weren't an athlete, completely false.

To those of you that have befriended me, emailed me, and the ones I was lucky to meet in person, I say a HUGE THANK YOU. I know some of you are not athletes and that is perfectly fine with me. I love your enthusiasm for the game and your teams. I also know I wouldn't have met you if it wasn't for this site. I loved playing the game, coaching it, and enjoying watching my son participate. The experience was heightened by this site. God Bless all of you! I will continue to read your posts but I don't know if I'll ever post again. Pat, Ric, hscoach, and RC, you win.

Journalists, okay it all makes sense to me now. I have stated before that I am a little slow. Don't get me wrong and start slamming me, I appreciate journalists. They sometimes have a different mindset then athletes, at least with this one anyway.

runyr, thanks and I DO agree.

Ric: You didn't answer my question which probably answered it for me. There is nothing wrong with never playing the game but it helps me understand your viewpoints better. The problem lies with trying to understand where the other one is coming from. I'm trying, your not. As far as being childish, I was once but I apologized for that. As far as posts on the NCAC board, post them, I don't care. I have nothing to hide. I know you may find this hard to believe but I disagreed with some posters on the NCAC board. Is that not allowed?

Pat: There is a very remote chance but never say never. There may be one day more parity in the OAC, maybe not my lifetime. I was always taught, anything is possible, it takes believers. So my question to you Pat, is it possible?

OWU lost their first four in 2004 and still played for the conference title their last game. No matter how much a homer I am, I can't believe it could happen this year for the Pios or if it is even possible in the OAC.

Ric, I am curious and don't be offended as you easily are, did you ever play football?

I just remembered, didn't someone say they wouldn't say I told you so? 

hscoach and Ric: I want to believe in them and each season brings a fresh look to a team. If you can remember back that far, MU turned their program around and look at it now. I thought Etta was headed in the right direction but they took a U-turn and are headed into the headlights of that Capital Mack truck next week. I don't know why he didn't sub more last year either. I still say, however, Go Pios!

Marietta is terrible, enough said. Only positive, they didn't quit.

RC:  Your absolutely right, I am a homer as you put it, and the ONU game was a big win for Etta fans, no matter what variables played into it. I realize not on the same level as MU getting beat but be flattered not offended. I guess how I stated it could have been misleading. 

Ric: Going strictly on being a MU fan and seeing only Ott this year, I can appreciate your comments.

RC: Just for you I will clarify, if you are MU with a loss you still have a strong feeling you will be there in the end. At the beginning of the season, I would like the other teams to believe it too, at least until it plays out. By the way, I was impressed that ONU beat MU. I was equally impressed that Etta beat ONU last year.