FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Blutarsky]

It's amazing that UWW and MUC (MUU?) have to travel hundreds of miles to establish a "rivalry".....are each of our leagues that bad to require the long-distance dissing?  Or, are they just that dominant?

[Raider 68]

It's amazing that UWW and MUC (MUU?) have to travel hundreds of miles to establish a "rivalry".....are each of our leagues that bad to require the long-distance dissing?  Or, are they just that dominant?

The major problem that is causing the travel, especially in Mount's case is that no other closer schools want to play them. As far as I know the NCAC does not and we have talked on these boards about an old Mount foe being Wooster. I expect that UWW has the same issue but in their case there are not as many D3 schools that are close other than their own conference. Both Wooster and Muskingum used to be rivals, but those days
have past. Capital was many years ago and still is, but since Rocky finally
left, it has dropped off some.

[Knightstalker]

It's amazing that UWW and MUC (MUU?) have to travel hundreds of miles to establish a "rivalry".....are each of our leagues that bad to require the long-distance dissing?  Or, are they just that dominant?

It seems that it is a similar situation to MUC Rowan 9-10 years ago.  I think it is two Dominant programs that go into every game confident that they will win.  The only time I believe they may have a little doubt creep in is when they play each other.  Both teams know that the other team will take advantage of any mistakes.  In a few years it may be MUC and Wesley or maybe Linfield or Rowan again or another East or South team that steps up.

The only constant is MUC, the other is a rotating cast of characters.

[old scot]

It would be great to see Wooster put Mount on their schedule but, they haven't made the committment to take the program to the next level. Sure, they will take their lumps like other opponents but, how do you expect elevate your program if you shy away from competition?
I beleave having Mount on the schedule can help recruiting. What player wouldn't want a shot at the most dominant program in the last 25 years. Plus, a lose to Mount doesn't kill you in the regional rankings.

[reality check]

What about MUC playing one of the Ohio D-II or FCS schools like Dayton?  ONU has played Dayton a couple times in the last ten years.  Wittenberg played Dayton even more recently.  I think it would be more a case of the bigger schools ducking MUC but I don't know for sure.   UWW has played D-II schools in their non-conference slate.  Or would playing an Ashland, Dayton, Tiffin, etc. just open up that old can of worms about MUC needing to move up permanently?  Nobody seems to say that about UWW and the other WIAC schools despite the fact that the public university system in the state of Wisconsin is set up much better to make the move.  Just a thought.  Curious what others might think.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

What about MUC playing one of the Ohio D-II or FCS schools like Dayton?  ONU has played Dayton a couple times in the last ten years.  Wittenberg played Dayton even more recently.  I think it would be more a case of the bigger schools ducking MUC but I don't know for sure.   UWW has played D-II schools in their non-conference slate.  Or would playing an Ashland, Dayton, Tiffin, etc. just open up that old can of worms about MUC needing to move up permanently?  Nobody seems to say that about UWW and the other WIAC schools despite the fact that the public university system in the state of Wisconsin is set up much better to make the move.  Just a thought.  Curious what others might think.

MUC has played Ashland in JV games, and lost some.  I think this has been discussed on here before, but I don't think DII schools want to risk a loss to MUC.  The last time Ashland's JV played MUC, they made sure to bring some of the more talented players, to ensure a victory.  I think SeventiesRaider knows someone who played for Ashland and was told something about this.

[HScoach]

It's amazing that UWW and MUC (MUU?) have to travel hundreds of miles to establish a "rivalry".....are each of our leagues that bad to require the long-distance dissing?  Or, are they just that dominant?

It seems that it is a similar situation to MUC Rowan 9-10 years ago.  I think it is two Dominant programs that go into every game confident that they will win.  The only time I believe they may have a little doubt creep in is when they play each other.  Both teams know that the other team will take advantage of any mistakes.  In a few years it may be MUC and Wesley or maybe Linfield or Rowan again or another East or South team that steps up.

The only constant is MUC, the other is a rotating cast of characters.

Yup. What he said.

[Desertraider]

....but since Rocky finally left, it has dropped off some.

Did Rocky leave or did he retire?

On the Mount playing a DII etc..I think it would open a major can of worms. If Mount plays Ashland, Dayton, Tiffin....and makes it a tough game or wins (which I have to say they probably would win big over a couple of those) then the calls for Mount to move up become louder. Additionally, Ohio has a lot of college football programs that make it difficult to recruit in state. I am sure Ashland, Tiffin and Dayton would not want to compete against a DIII school in recruiting when they already have to compete against YSU, Akron, BG, Kent, OSU to an extent, UC, etc. Didn't Lee Owens at Ashland say something to that effect in an interview after Mount won 100 consecutive conference games? The UWW is different in that they have played out-of-state DII programs (at least I don't recall them playing one from in state). Maybe Mount could schedule USC in a couple of years - gotta be early and after Ohio State since USC always seems to fall on their face around then. 

[BoBo]

UWW has played D-II schools in their non-conference slate.  Or would playing an Ashland, Dayton, Tiffin, etc. just open up that old can of worms about MUC needing to move up permanently?  Nobody seems to say that about UWW and the other WIAC schools despite the fact that the public university system in the state of Wisconsin is set up much better to make the move.  Just a thought.  Curious what others might think.

In fact, they do say it and have been for a long time...this just a couple days ago on the MWC board:

UW-why-aren't-you-DII? team.

Your theory of being a state school sets them up easier for a move to DII is completely the opposite, actually.  Long story short, the charter that merged what is now UW-Madison (of the Big Ten) and the old Wisconsin State University schools (i.e. UWW, LX, etc) together to create the UW System stipulates that the old WSU schools be non-scholarship, as in no athletic scholarships, in nature. In other words, state law forbids it. Under the charter, only Madison is allowed to offer athletic scholarships. To change it, the state legislature would have to vote to repeal the charter. UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Parkside (Kenosha DII, but no football program) were excluded.  Any change in classification would be an all or none deal, at a considerable financial burden to taxpayers, I might add - and you know that's never going to fly this day and age.  The Chancellor of UW-Stevens Point actually proposed a move to DII about a year ago as she was just settling in to her position.  A scandal a short time later, I believe, had her removed from her position with out any further discussion on the issue.  I don't recall exactly, but I also believe she was ridiculed quite openly for her proposal.  

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Your theory of being a state school sets them up easier for a move to DII is completely the opposite, actually.  Long story short, the charter that merged what is now UW-Madison (of the Big Ten) and the old Wisconsin State University schools (i.e. UWW, LX, etc) together to create the UW System stipulates that the old WSU schools be non-scholarship, as in no athletic scholarships, in nature. In other words, state law forbids it. Under the charter, only Madison is allowed to offer athletic scholarships. To change it, the state legislature would have to vote to repeal the charter. UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Parkside (Kenosha DII, but no football program) were excluded.  Any change in classification would be an all or none deal, at a considerable financial burden to taxpayers, I might add - and you know that's never going to fly this day and age.  The Chancellor of UW-Stevens Point actually proposed a move to DII about a year ago as she was just settling in to her position.  A scandal a short time later, I believe, had her removed from her position with out any further discussion on the issue.  I don't recall exactly, but I also believe she was riduculed quite openly for her proposal.   

Interesting, I hadn't heard that before.  Thank you for sharing it with us!

[skunks_sidekick]

Mount's JV has already beaten the Ashland JV team this year.  They play again later in the year, and you wonder if Lee Owens will bring his "extra special" JV team for that game.   

We have beaten the Wooster thing to death, and quite honestly the Wooster coach made it clear that he will NEVER schedule Mount in the regular season.  His comments were to the effect that if he plays Mount, he wants it to be in the play-offs. 

No in-state D-II team is going to schedule Mount.  It is a lose/lose proposition for them. 

JK - do you think CAP is "back" this year?

[raiderpa]

Mount Union JV's beat Ashland 30-14 a couple weeks ago....

As long as LK is at Mount, I don't see any schools other than D3 schools on the schedule.  He has two NAIA schools 12 miles away that would be great attendance draws and possibly decent games, but I doubt we will ever see it happen.  There are also some NAIa schools in Western Pa that would probably be interested as well, but it'll probably never happen...

[JK]

JK - do you think CAP is "back" this year?

I don't know...maybe. 

The offense is good.  Marty is probably one of the best 2 or 3 QBs in the conference, they have a couple of big WR's, and it looks like they have finally figured out how to run the ball with both RB's gaining over 100 yards two weeks in a row.  Plus the OL is experienced... 4 of 5 starters returned from last season.

The run D is solid, very solid, allowing only 33.3 ypg thus far (4th in the nation).  The pass rush is good to go with 14 sacks on the season. 
But... The pass defense SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME.  They have already given up over 1000 yards this season through the air.  Opponent average is 342 ypg.  Against Wilma, they gave up TD passes of 55 and 39 yards, against Berg the longest pass was 49 yards but they gave up 381 yards passing and 4 passing TDs, and against Adrian they gave up TD passes of 61 and 44 and another 32 yarder that set up Adrian's last TD.  Although some of this, especially the Berg and Wilma games, is "garbage time" it still is a serious concern against MUC with Shorts.  If average receivers from Adrian and Wilma can get open behind the Cap secondary I'm afraid of what Shorts with his speed will be able to do.  The Otters are also a concern with Rafferty and WR Ryan Rowley.

The other thing that scares me is what we know to be true from the last two years and we saw again in garbage time this year.  If Marty gets hurt, the offense will struggle.  No offense to Nick Alexander, but for whatever reason, the offense just can't seem to find it's rhythm with him under center.  Against the Berg, Cap gets up 40-10 in the 4th.  MArty comes out, Nick comes in to run out the clock.  Cap goes 3 and out, Berg scores.  Cap goes 3 and out again, Berg scores again.  Marty comes back in, Cap scores in 6 plays.  I don't know what the issue is there, if it's timing with the receivers or what, but when Marty has been hurt the last 2 years and Nick has come in, the offense goes all to hell.  Hope it doesn't happen this year.

I guess we'll know better in 2 weeks when MUC comes to Bexley.  I will be in Columbus that weekend for Drill.  May have to invent an excuse as to why I need to get out of the office so I can head over to check it out.  It's homecoming for Cap (I know, not a good choice of homecoming opponent) so there will be food and stuff going on.

Cap has the talent and experience to finish 2nd and get to the playoffs if they stay healthy.  A good showing against MUC will be a big boost.  In my mind the race for 2nd is between OTT and CAP right now, but despite the OTT loss ONU will still have a say in it, as will BW and JCU.  Wouldn't surprise me if the 2nd place team has 2 losses this year.

[SaintsFAN]

Cap has the talent and experience to finish 2nd and get to the playoffs if they stay healthy.  A good showing against MUC will be a big boost.  In my mind the race for 2nd is between OTT and CAP right now, but despite the OTT loss ONU will still have a say in it, as will BW and JCU.  Wouldn't surprise me if the 2nd place team has 2 losses this year.

would love to see JCU finish #2 in the OAC this year, for selfish reasons.  Lots of football left to be played though

[TooForRaider]

I'd love Mount to play some Ohio D2 schools. I don't see them losing to anyone, at least not more than once. I'd REALLY love to see MUC play Walsh or Malone. It would be complete domination.......by MUC.

With the blackout, I wonder if the steaming pile will plan a brown-out??