FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[reality check]

Story on the Panthers site regarding Rod (HE HATE ME) Smart had this to say about Jamal...

"And Jamal Robertson has been one of the surprises of the preseason for the Panthers."

A good omen perhaps but I know he is in for a fight to the end.

[benchwarmerinIRAQ]

thanks guys glad to be back.. i should be back in the states around th eend of the year..whats the oac lookin like this year? i know my p-bears are highly ranked as they should be. did i see crapital in those same rankings? crapital..another blast from the past

[tdubs]

Haven't heard anyone say Crapital in awhile!lol.....

Speaking of Cap, how did they look in the scrimmage this past week?

[frank uible]

Shark: In the 60s and before there was a magical quality to the atmosphere of Massillon home games. Does that atmosphere still exist? Or is the turnout merely just another big crowd?

[Shark]

Frank

         It was hard to evaluate the crowd in Massilon. Being a Thursday game and the kickoff of HS football, as well as the only one in the area, many of the crowd came from other schools something that would not happen on a regular Friday night contest. Also, this was Stacy's 1st game and there is obvioulsy a renewed interest in Tiger town and the surrounding area. Never have been a Massillon fan but there is still something magical about the atmosphere there along with a crowd of 18,000+. It's really quite a venue for a HS game. How may high school's have that kind of stadium with a scoreboard with instant replays.

I still have fond memories of WB's 1994 state title game played on that field.

[e_lee]

Another day, another series of articles praising Jamal Robertson in the Charlotte and Rock Hill newspapers.

Rod Smart is saying all the right things.  If he gets the axe I sure hope he finds a spot somewhere else. 

[HScoach]

Maybe it's the new format, but this is the quietest I've ever seen the OAC page leading into Week 1.  Almost makes me wish for Doeder and Busta99 to come back..... 

OK, I'm not that desperate.

2005 is shaping up to be an interesting year.  ONU looks to be back, MUC is as vulnerable as they've been since 1998, Capital should cause some sleepness nights with Pentello and Co, and B-W is.... well B-W, Marietta should be better than they've been in quite a while.  The only surprise is how low JCU has sunk.  It wasn't too long ago that JCU was Mount's biggest competition. 

Anyway, good luck to all and stay healthy!

[e_lee]

It is pretty quiet.  Last year I was extremely fired up about the Capital-Wittenberg showdown.  So I posted a bit here.  But this year, with me probalby not making the drive to Springfield for the game I am not as excited, even though Witt is improved, in my estimation and Capital is as well.  Perhaps I am suffering from anhedonia.

Don't get me wrong I am real excited about Cap's chances this year.  I think the defense will be greatly improved and as always the offense will be the amin show.

I fear that being away from Ohio has lessened my excitement about the season. 

[scotty]

hscoach, an thoughts on why JCU has fallen off?...recruiting, coaching, their rivals taken bigger steps...thoght the new facility would help...

[OU#25]

hscoach:

I always think it's funny when someone says that a team is vulnerable.  Every team is vulnerable...even the New England Patriots.  To your comment "MUC is as vulnerable as they've been since 1998"

I hope they are!  They went on to win the Nationa Chapionship in '98 and also in '00, '01 & '02.

Good luck to all the teams!

[HScoach]

OU25:  That's why I said "vulnerable" in the relative sense as they've been since 1998.  I wouldn't classify the 1997 team or 2001 teams as "vulnerable" since they were coming off titles with basically everyone returning.  The only question in 1997 was whether Mount would be tested, not whether they'd win it.  In 2005, as in 2004, there are huge question marks surrounding the Raiders.  No experience at QB, no D-coordinator, average returning WR's, a TB that hasn't been healthy thru an entire year yet, only one LB returning and he weighs a whopping 190 lbs.  The only sure things are O-line, D-line and LK.   Does that sound vulnerable to you?

[tdubs]

Elee,
        I'm not going to make it to the game either. I'm headed to columbus to drink some cold beverages.

The HCAC Pick-em's. Just another shot at trying to be like the OAC!lol

[frank uible]

Shark: Is Dover a football power? In the old days Massillon would intentionally put together the toughest schedule that it could, playing one of the strongest  opponents from almost every region of the State along with its local rivals of McKinley, Alliance, Mansfield, Steubenville, etc. Of course, the opponents which were not local rivals always were required to play in Massillon - no courtesy of a home and home arrangement. Nevertheless the schedule annually was  the most difficult unquestionably in Ohio and arguably in the nation. There were no patsies among Massillon's opponents, and Massillon classily treated each of them with great respect. Football night in Massillon was dynamic and dynamite! Does this continue?

[pios]

Frank, from what I was told by a person that lives in in the area and follows HS football is that Dover was supposed to have great year this year.  It was my understanding that Massilon scheduled Dover on this basis and expected much stiffer competition than they received.  I haven't been in the area for over a year and cannot answer from my own opinion, just what I heard.

[OU#25]

hscoach:

We agree that the experience along both the offensive and defensive lines is a strength for this year's squad.  I do feel good about this year's team because that's the area where you win or lose the game.

(see: 93 v. Rowan and '03 v. SJU as varying examples)

Regarding the WR's... their veteran and both returning this season.  In the backfield, Ibeh is a man among boys and Robinson led the OAC last season in  average YPC.  At the QB position, I'm fine with having two talented QB's this year.  Defensively Mount returns 6 starters (4 - All OAC) so it looks pretty good there as well.  Coaching is an important ingrediant and this is still LK's team and system from what I can tell.

I think everyone forgets that Mount was a hail-mary away from advancing to the National Championship game last season and I would say that on both lines they are stronger this season.

So to answer your question... No I don't think that this is the year that Mount is vulnerable and gets beaten within the conference.

...but hey I could be wrong.  Everyone says this is the year for the Cincinnati Bengals and I don't believe that either.