FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[JK]

hscoach,

I don't think that what Coach Collins built at Cap will "all come crashing down," as you said.  I expected some growing pains this year (not 4 or 5 losses, but still, some growing pains.

I think this goes to show that you need a second QB who can do the same things your starter does.  Losing Marty just was too much to overcome this year, and the backup (no offense to him, I'm sure he is a great kid) has shown two years in a row that he can't do the same things Marty does ans that he's not capable of moving the offense on a consistent basis.

The Crusaders lose Alexander but a lot of guys are coming back next year.  If Assmann can stay healthy for a whole season, Cap could be back in that second place in the OAC and in the playoffs next year.

I know I am a day late, but let me add my thanks to my fellow veterans.  Without your sacrifices before me, I could not have been as successful as I was.  Let me add a special thanks to the enlisted soldiers who always did the hard work and got none of the credit and to the NCO's who taught me more than any book on leadership ever could have.  Forged in Battle, United in Spirit, Brothers-in-Arms to the End.

The Columbus area has more than enough talent to keep Cap a top half team for a long time.  AS long as they don't let the facilities get to the point where they were when I was there, kids will come.  Coach Bickel will be fine, Cap will be fine...


OldOtter,

Do you REALLY think I want JCU to win and be left with only one OAC team in the playoffs?   You'll just never get me to admit the other scenario.  Too much pride.

[SaintsFAN]

re:  Mount Union moving to MAC


I thought seventies was the only person on this thread who's under the influence of narcotics!! 

Seventies has a very good medical reason though... now this other guy?

[Toph]

Can we PLEASE put Mount Union in the Big 10 where they belong!

With their high powered offense, they would still run the table and have an undefeated record in the conference!

1. Illinois
2. Indiana
3. Iowa
4. Purdue
5. Michigan
6. Michigan St
7. Ohio State
8. Penn St.
9 Wisconsin
10. Minnesota
11. Northwestern
12. Mount Union

Looks good to me, I think they can do it! Maybe we need to send a petition to LK & see what it takes to make this dream a REALITY!
I'm sure the teams in the OAC can appreciate facing an opponent that's not ahead by 50 @ the half! 

I wonder what Mount Union's winning percentage would be if they played in the Big 10?

OK, If you guys think that Mount Union would have trouble handling the competition in the Big 10 ... what about the Mid American (West)

EAST CONFERENCE
Akron 
Buffalo
Bowling Green
Temple 
Kent State
Miami (OH)
Ohio 

WEST CONFERENCE
Ball State 
Central Michigan 
Western Michigan
Northern Illinois
Toledo
Eastern Michigan
Mount Union

Not only would they help balance out the teams in the 2 conferences but NO ONE in the Mid American Conference has a perennial top 25 football program!
Mount Union can certainly compete & win games on a week to week basis in the Mid Amer so let's contact LK or the AD to get this idea in MOTION!  8)

You don't really think that "Mount Union can certainly compete & win games on a week to week basis in the Mid Amer [sic]."  If you're really an "Ex d3 athlete" you'd realize the huge difference between Division III and Division I.  JCU just lost an exhibition game with Cleveland State 81-33 in men's basketball.

Stop posting, you have 17 posts and -30 karma.  Your posts aren't worth our time.

EDIT:  And is my guess correct that you are a former Rowan Prof who is probably still bitter about losing to Mount Union?

[HScoach]

JK:  I'm not woried about Bickel as a coach and leader of the football team.  I'm worried about the administration abve him.  That's why I think the Capital ship is taking on water.

[cufan]

I think the coaching staff at Cap will be fine.  My only concern is when Collins left he also took the recruiting coordinator and a couple other young coaches with him.  I think Cap needs to get some young coaches with some fire to get these HS kids excited about playing at Cap.  Mount has done a nice job mixing in former players to keep the fire burning.    I think the football program has some good years if Assmann can stay healthy but if things don't change from an administration standpoint we are looking at a midlevel OAC team.  It reminds me a little bit of the early 90's the financial aid packages sucked and the facilities sucked.  Collins did a great job turning the program around but he didn't do it by himself.  He had a supportive adm., a supportive AD and a brand new facility.  I just hope they give Bickle the same.  It amazes me that people don't realize how important athletics are to universities.  Not just the excitement around campus but the amount of money it can generate.  I am not talking about gate receipts, Mount has 200 kids paying 30k a year the math seems pretty simple.  Cap has about 85 kids on its current roster.  Unacceptable!

[OldOtter]

I think the coaching staff at Cap will be fine.  My only concern is when Collins left he also took the recruiting coordinator and a couple other young coaches with him.  I think Cap needs to get some young coaches with some fire to get these HS kids excited about playing at Cap.  Mount has done a nice job mixing in former players to keep the fire burning.    I think the football program has some good years if Assmann can stay healthy but if things don't change from an administration standpoint we are looking at a midlevel OAC team.  It reminds me a little bit of the early 90's the financial aid packages sucked and the facilities sucked.  Collins did a great job turning the program around but he didn't do it by himself.  He had a supportive adm., a supportive AD and a brand new facility.  I just hope they give Bickle the same.  It amazes me that people don’t realize how important athletics are to universities.  Not just the excitement around campus but the amount of money it can generate.  I am not talking about gate receipts, Mount has 200 kids paying 30k a year the math seems pretty simple.  Cap has about 85 kids on its current roster.  Unacceptable!

I can second that about how important athletes are to DIII campuses. I work as an Admission Counselor at a DIII school and I can tell you that here athletes make up 40-45% of our student body each year. They are an important part of our campus.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I think what HSCoach is trying to say is that he thinks that the School Administration has taken a different opinion on how important athletics are at Capital and may not give the current coaching staff the same advantages/help that they did in the past.

[skunks_sidekick]

It's just about time for play-off football!

I thought last year's team was one of the "best ever", so I would hesitate to make any predictions about this year's play-off run.  I certainly expect to get to the regional finals without a real/true test, and then I think it's best to just "see what happens".  I think if Mount heals up a bit on the O-line, this offense has proven it's really unstoppable so far.  Defensively........I think the jury is still out.  They have answered all the challenges so far, but let's be honest...there hasn't been many challenges to face. 

However.......with WW, MHB, SJU (multiple) losing regular season games this year, it just again is proof as to how amazing this Mount programs is on a yearly basis.  Relatively speaking (in comparison to everyone else BUT Mount), they have not had anything other than a fantastic season for the last 17? 

Let the play-offs begin!   8)

[HScoach]

I think what HSCoach is trying to say is that he thinks that the School Administration has taken a different opinion on how important athletics are at Capital and may not give the current coaching staff the same advantages/help that they did in the past.

Yup. 

[Desertraider]

I am 'cautiously opptomistic' about Mount in the playoffs. I thought last year was a slam-dunk. No offense to any of the great teams - including WW - but last years Mount team was just awesome. Then they came out and played like the trophy was already theirs - they just seemed to go through the motions (especially early on). This years team does seem more focused as has been mentioned before. I don't recall who referenced the pre-game festivities at OTT - but they were right. The OTT pre-game with last years squad may have turned really ugly; I think the same for JCUs QB jawing after every play (granted I understand his situation). The point is that last years team may have bit more on that and it could have turned into something. This years team seems more focused and determined on the prize at the end.

Didn't Kmic say prior to the season that he felt he let the team down last year - and that this year it was about redemption (or something to that effect)? Maybe it's more than just Nate - and it has carried over. Regardless - bring on the playoffs!

[formerd3db]

Can we PLEASE put Mount Union in the Big 10 where they belong!

With their high powered offense, they would still run the table and have an undefeated record in the conference!

1. Illinois
2. Indiana
3. Iowa
4. Purdue
5. Michigan
6. Michigan St
7. Ohio State
8. Penn St.
9 Wisconsin
10. Minnesota
11. Northwestern
12. Mount Union

Looks good to me, I think they can do it! Maybe we need to send a petition to LK & see what it takes to make this dream a REALITY!
I'm sure the teams in the OAC can appreciate facing an opponent that's not ahead by 50 @ the half! 

I wonder what Mount Union's winning percentage would be if they played in the Big 10?

OK, If you guys think that Mount Union would have trouble handling the competition in the Big 10 ... what about the Mid American (West)

EAST CONFERENCE
Akron 
Buffalo
Bowling Green
Temple 
Kent State
Miami (OH)
Ohio 

WEST CONFERENCE
Ball State 
Central Michigan 
Western Michigan
Northern Illinois
Toledo
Eastern Michigan
Mount Union

Not only would they help balance out the teams in the 2 conferences but NO ONE in the Mid American Conference has a perennial top 25 football program!
Mount Union can certainly compete & win games on a week to week basis in the Mid Amer so let's contact LK or the AD to get this idea in MOTION!  8)

You don't really think that "Mount Union can certainly compete & win games on a week to week basis in the Mid Amer [sic]."  If you're really an "Ex d3 athlete" you'd realize the huge difference between Division III and Division I.  JCU just lost an exhibition game with Cleveland State 81-33 in men's basketball.

Stop posting, you have 17 posts and -30 karma.  Your posts aren't worth our time.

EDIT:  And is my guess correct that you are a former Rowan Prof who is probably still bitter about losing to Mount Union?

Toph:
I agree with you regarding the topic in question, so don't get upset with me for mentioning this .  Indeed, a big difference between DIII and DI (even though some DIII athletes in all sports can compete at that level); recall though that Wheaton's men's basketball team lost at the buzzer two years ago to the Big Ten's Northwestern   So it can be done, but..."week in and week out" is an entirely different animal, and particularly in football - not even close! .   

[SaintsFAN]

I think what HSCoach is trying to say is that he thinks that the School Administration has taken a different opinion on how important athletics are at Capital and may not give the current coaching staff the same advantages/help that they did in the past.

Yup. 

Not that they were ever on the level of an OAC Playoff team, but this happened at Hanover also.  The beginnings of this are also being felt at Washington & Jefferson.  You'd think the school administration would see $$ when they look at how much tuition can be raised from 120 players on the football team.  Then again, its a pesky dilemna.  You have to look at the spirit of Division 3 athletics.  Alums of some schools bemoan how their degree is worth as much as a Degree from a Community College (I'm not naming names there).  I think for the most part, the OAC and NCAC are great examples of having a happy medium in both.  Look at MUC, ONU, BW, and JCU as proof positive.

[seventiesraider]

I remember Mount hanging on till half time with Akron a few years ago in early season basketball. The second half was ugly. The better D3 schools in sports like Track and Cross Country are more than competetive with second tier D1 schools like the MAC. I gotta believe the best of D3 baseball is competitive with many D1 programs.

But football? No way, way different beast. Way more money, full time staffs, better facilties.

[Desertraider]

I remember Mount hanging on till half time with Akron a few years ago in early season basketball. The second half was ugly. The better D3 schools in sports like Track and Cross Country are more than competetive with second tier D1 schools like the MAC. I gotta believe the best of D3 baseball is competitive with many D1 programs.

But football? No way, way different beast. Way more money, full time staffs, better facilties.

I agree 100%. However, this years Mount team would pound my beloved Michigan Wolverines. Granted that is more a statement about how far down Michigan has fallen (yea I know 'they beat Minnesota' - but it was Minnesota!!). Anyway - back to a relevant D3 issue. How does Marietta stack up against the run? I read the game notes but it did not get into specifics about their run D. Do they have one?

[seventiesraider]

Marietta is bad and not good bad, awful bad, especially on the D side of the ball. They are almost dead last against the pass. Ckick HERE FOR PROOF

Excuse me, they are second in the conference in kickoff returns. You give up more than 30 points a game, you field a lot of KO's


They are so bad, Ric isn't going, and that is the equivilent of my late brother missing a game, which we did at Tiffin because of driving sleet storm, but at least we started out and decided to listen to it on the radio at a local watering hole