Quote from: mc1983 on February 10, 2025, 01:24:01 PM

Quote from: Dr. Acula on February 10, 2025, 01:17:21 PMWhile I agree it's a strong hire, thinking the Pios may have upgraded is a bit of a stretch to me at this point.  His predecessor was hired away because he had built the program up and won games.  Maybe Kaufman will continue to elevate the program.  I just don't want to discount what Waddle did there.  There's a reason stuff like that has only happened a couple times in the past 30 years.

Fully agree. Kaufman has a great resume, but Waddle did the heavy lifting of building the program. Hopefully he can build on that success, but it's a lot easier to take over an 8-3 team than a 1-10 team.

that, and the #2 spot in the OAC (nearly a guaranteed playoff spot) being wide open had to be intriguing.  If Etta, Berg, BW, ONU, etc are all racing for that spot, it'd be hard to pick anyone but Etta

I'm not trying to take anything away from Waddle and Staff they were great. I'm just pointing out what an outstanding hire MC made. Look at the places Kaufman has worked. After nearly 2 decades of chasing the highest level of football he's found a home at a program that is ready to take the next step. MC could have messed this up, but it looks like they hit a home run with this hire. I could see MC and BW starting a rivalry for #2 in the OAC.

Absolutely agree that Etta made a strong hire.  That is a far better resume than most D3 programs could hope for.
 
Disagree about the rivalry with BW for second.  BW isn't good enough to consistently be battling for 2nd.   

Quote from: Dr. Acula on February 10, 2025, 03:31:49 PMAbsolutely agree that Etta made a strong hire.  That is a far better resume than most D3 programs could hope for.
 
Disagree about the rivalry with BW for second.  BW isn't good enough to consistently be battling for 2nd.   

agreed, 6-4 shouldn't ever be 2nd place in the OAC

Quote from: Dr. Acula on February 10, 2025, 09:11:55 AMSirianni and Ryan Day both gave up calling plays.  Just sayin.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/football/eagles-nick-sirianni-reveals-how-a-play-calling-change-led-to-super-bowl-success/ar-AA1yx5X4?ocid=socialshare

QuoteSirianni handed over play-calling duties to his then-offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, and has been filling more of a "CEO" role with the team ever since, helping with key decision-making, managing the clock, and guaranteeing that everything is going on-schedule the way he wants it to be run.

Quote"There's a lot, obviously, to do during the game as far as managing a football game and all the things that go into that with the decisions that go into that and two-minute football, four-minute football, fourth down decisions. Everything that goes there. And so, on game day, that's what I'm focused on. As far as during the week and things like that, still go to a lot of different meetings and talk through a lot of the game planning with the offense," Siriani told reporters.

Quote"It's about setting the culture. It's about being able to go to different things, being able to if a player needs you, to be able to step out of a meeting to be able to meet with that player. There are a lot of different things that go into it. Calling plays is one portion of it that some coaches do and some coaches don't. So, that's just the mode that I have."

There's a culture problem in Alliance.  There are not rosters full of national champions any longer to keep the culture in check.  You don't win just because your chest says "Raiders", you are not "the machine".  The coaches, especially the Head Coach need to make major strides in this department.  If there was ever something to capitalize on, its an alum reaching the highest level by preaching culture, toughness, togetherness.

Muskingum hires Matt Nardo away from Bluffton. He got his start at Muskingum and certainly knows the valley! I think this is a good hire.

I'm an idiot and don't follow the HCAC but the records are not great?  Is Bluffton hamstrung overall?  Obviously I know they don't have a great facility recruiting tool like Musky just built.  I hope he does well in New Concord.  With JCU gone we need everyone else to improve.

Quote from: Dr. Acula on February 11, 2025, 09:38:33 PMI'm an idiot and don't follow the HCAC but the records are not great?  Is Bluffton hamstrung overall?  Obviously I know they don't have a great facility recruiting tool like Musky just built.  I hope he does well in New Concord.  With JCU gone we need everyone else to improve.

I hate to bang the drum again about JCU tucking tail and running away to the NCAC, but the OAC has never been more wide open (other than the top spot, obviously).

Replacing what has recently been a nearly guaranteed loss on your schedule (JCU) with a winnable OOC game has to be very intriguing for the middle of the pack OAC teams.  Turning those 5-5's to 6-4's. 6-4's to 7-3, etc etc will be big for recruiting and likely playoff bids at 9-1/8-2.  A coach could really earn a jump to the next level if he can get a program to the OAC's second tier.

I've never really understood how some of those Columbus-and-South OAC teams couldn't be more consistently successful. Not a ton of recruiting competition, pretty good facilities, success at other sports

Mount's had a busy week with "commitments".  Including a first team all-state DL (jr year) from OH who would have likely would not have been a Mount kid if not for an early senior year injury, an all-state RB/DB from Minnesota.  I can't remember the last MN player at Mount and a dozen or so others. 

sadly, Mount is losing CB Tony Cook to the portal once again. https://x.com/CookTony710/status/1889746399924723894

He went to the portal last year, but then rejoined Mount.  I wish the '18 high school grad who never saw a RB that he'd like to tackle nothing but the best.  I'd question some of the stats posted, but hopefully he finds a new home that fits his talents

Here is the very unofficial list of Mount Union 'commitments'.

HS recruits
Calvin Gore LB Cleveland, OH
Levi Mullen-Zurbrugg OL Painesville, OH
Amani Powell RB Cleveland, OH (VASJ)
Drew McKowan QB Cortland,OH (Lakeview HS)
Lucas Weaver RB Cuyahoga Falls,OH (Walsh Jesuit)
Darnell Randle LB Cleveland, OH (VASJ)
Luke Stenson K Jacksonville, FL
Trevor Bennett LB Livonia, MI
Jameson Marlatt K/P Dover, OH
Parker Jenks OL Hudson, OH
DK Liverpool OL Macedonia,OH
Roman Chiacco OL Gibsonia, PA
Josh Bowen DL Schuylerville,NY
Kevin Demory DL Chambersburg, PA
Noah Robinson DE/LB/TE Tallmadge,OH
Bo Bokman WR/RB Lakeville, MN
Elijah Roush LB Fredericktown,OH

Transfers
Jaeson Anderson DB Akron,OH (Defiance transfer)
Gavin Ehrhardt LB Avon, OH (U Cinci Baseball)
Jacob Cockrell WR Hampton,GA (Elmhurst transfer)
Davion Grant WR Hoschton,GA (Muskingum)
Mykel Davis WR Wheeling,WV (PWO at WVU)
Kosta Thrasivoulou CB North Ridgeville,OH (Trine)
Blake Ewert RB South Range, OH (Baldwin Wallace)

Calvin Gore is a transfer from Findlay.

Dawann Gray is a transfer from Findlay

Braiden Hershey is a transfer from Tiffin

Kentrell Marks is a transfer from Purdue/Notre Dame College (played for former Raider Marcello DeAngelis at Valley Forge) '22 3 star RB recruit offers from Michigan State, Iowa State (!), Pitt, UK, WVU, UC....very interesting pickup

Anthony Gentile is a transfer from Dayton, former all-ohio RB from Strongsville

https://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/football/roster

Mount having a '25 roster posted in February is something new.  All of those "freshman" must already be enrolled, right?

Shaun Thomas and Darnell Williams is quite the Thunder/Lightning returning duo at RB

I would agree with your assessment that those 15 must be mid-year transfers.

"Gavin Ehrhardt LB Avon, OH (U Cinci Baseball)"

This one surprises me. He was a big time dude in the Ohio High School baseball scene a few years ago.

To not only give up on Cincy but on the sport entirely is surprising.

Quote from: pradierguy on February 13, 2025, 03:25:41 PM"Gavin Ehrhardt LB Avon, OH (U Cinci Baseball)"

This one surprises me. He was a big time dude in the Ohio High School baseball scene a few years ago.

To not only give up on Cincy but on the sport entirely is surprising.

he was also a 2x All-Ohio LB and bruising RB for Mike Elder at Avon.  But he's not coming straight from UC, he tried the JUCO route for baseball, somewhere in GA.  Baseball is one of the sports where I can totally see burnout being an issue.  Maybe he just wanted to hit some people? I'm sure Hesse wouldn't have a problem if he got an itch for hardball again

So, not realy a critique but moreso curious, why no article about former D3 player coaches super bowl winning team? I saw the BW press release about their assistant coach, surprised no Sirianni love on the homepage.