FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[frank uible]

pios: Thanks for the information. Perhaps this year Massillon is off and running again.

[Shark]

Frank

           Dover is supposed to be very good. They are a smaller school and took  on quite a challange going to Massillon. They have a potential D1 prospect in Dan Ifft. He was thought to be their starting QB but played WR in the game. He went down with what looked like a back injury just before half time and never returned. He would look good as a Purple Raider!

There are a number of issues with Massillon IMO. They days of playing outside a conference and getting 9 home games a year are dwindling. Once conference play starts, it becomes increasing difficult to find teams to schedule. They have in the past been able to lure (bribe) teams to play in Massllon due to the stadium draw and large payouts. I think those days are over. Somewhere in the near future they will be forced to join a conference and have a 5 game home schedule as all conference teams do. The most likely candidate would be the Federal league which has become quite a large power conference. I for one am not sure, given its school size, that Massillon will be a dominant power in the years to come. A good football program with a rich history ...yes.... a consistent playoff and state title threat...no.

[frank uible]

Shark: Thank you. Based on what little I know, Massillon has lost position relative to its prospective opponents for real estate tax base and student population. Until the Massillon economy improves dramatically, Massillon will not be able to catch up in tax base or student population and consequently, although it may have the desire and determination, will not have the human and financial resources to be consistently at the very top of the stack in Ohio high school football as it once was.  Economic improvement sufficient for Massillon to do this does not appear to be foreseeable. But the nature of Massillon has been such that I don't expect it to stop trying.

[scotty]

when i was a kid back in the massilon area, if you were a stud all of a sudden your dad would get promoted to foreman  and you would move to Massilon, or Canton...it worked both ways...i agree those days are gone but they were great...

[frank uible]

scotty: Absolutely true.

[seventiesraider]

The poll on the home page begs the question of whether we would go to a game featuring a team other than our personal favorite. Despite my obvious allegiance to Mount, if I could handle the logistics,(ie gas prices), I'd be at the Etta/E&H game to see Coach Monty's debut.  I don't expect much of a game in Alliance. Actually I have to miss it anyway to coach my son's youth football team in Mogadore. It will give me a few more weeks to deal with returning to Mount football without R66.

[skunks_sidekick]

I attended the Massillon/Dover game last week.  It was truly men vs. boys.  As good as Ifft has kept Dover over the past years, they certainly were no match for Massillon.  It was somewhat ridiculous.  So, why did the play?  No, it wasn't because Ifft thought they could compete, or even beat Massillon.  It was the fact that Dover got to keep all ticket $$ from the 4500 tickets it received from Massillon to sell (which they sold all of them), and the additional $5000 they received to play Massillon.  That's more than they will make the rest of the year combined, not counting the New Philly game. 

Maybe someone can help me with this.  NIKE bought Massillon new jerseys for all their football teams as reward for getting the Massillon shoe contract.  Is this something that happens regularly these days?  Also, as long as there are enough Massillon alums that still have cash, and are willing donate to the program, Massillon will still keep some of there prominence in HS football.  But, one of the main reasons they can't schedule like they used to is the fact that most teams play in tough conferences.  Massillon has wanted to get into the Federal for the last few years, and now that Sheephead is gone, maybe that will happen.

Finally, in regards to the reference to Dover's D1 prospect, Ifft.  As an 8th grader, he was considered one of the top prospects in the country at QB.  This summer he attended a high level QB camp in Michigan, where after it's conclusion his father (Coach Ifft) was told that his son would have a much better chance getting to D1 as a receiver, than a QB. 

It should be a fun year for Mount.  I for one think that this could be a HUGE year for the Raiders.  It's almost like they have a chance for a new lease on life.  The Skunkster and I are ready to roll.  Our usual pregame will be at Pancho's for margs, and then it's time to get fired up for some football!

[b4uknewit]

70's--Don't wait too long to get back in the saddle!

[seventiesraider]

Not to worry, Kevin and I will be at John Carroll and at Mount for the Otterbein game. Unfortunately for most of the daylight games I be grooming a defensive end for the 2015 Purple Raiders

[polarbearman]

Can't we talk about something other then Mount's greatness, and how they're going to "romp all over the oac" again???

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

NO. 

Just Kidding.

[pios]

Does anyone have any insight about Emory and Henry other than Montgomery is the head coach?  I was just curious as to what I would see this weekend down on  the river.  I believe they were 4-6 last year and return some good players, plus added Monty as a coach.  Just curious to see if anyone thought I could could expect to see a "Mini Mount" on the field, in terms of play style, when I was there Saturday.  Good luck and good health to all teams competeing this weekend.  It's getting closer!!!

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Monty took former MTU LB and Defensive Coach Stan Watson to be his DC. I expect the D will be very similar to MTU. Monty is not only the HC but also taking on the reigns of OC. I think they have a stud QB coming back. It will be interesting to see what type of O he runs.

Try posting on the ODAC board, those guys are cool and I am sure 'Kid will give you an evaluation of E&H.

[pios]

Thanks for the info, I'll try that board and see what I can come up with.  From what I gathered from their website, their QB returns from a 3000+ yard season and it looks like their top 3 receivers are back.  Should be a good game.

[runyr]

Kirasdad,
Thanks for the Monty info.