FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[JK]

Otterbein University, who are they?

Let's not get crazy here, Otterbein is still a College.  Clearly not on the same level as Capital University, ONU, or UMU 

[Raider 68]

The team, the coach, and the Mount community has a basic disdain for all things OTT.  I personally believe that OTT lacks the cajones to really rise up and play the type of game needed to beat Mount.  ONU, and Capital have proven at various times that they could/can rise to the challenge. 

Dominic Jones or no, OTT has a lot to prove. 

So the new Mount chant.....UUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMUUUUUUU.......UUUUUUMMMMMUUUUU!  Hmmm...that just is SO not good.   

The Mount coaching staff has respect for the ONU and Capital programs, but it is not the same with Ott. The incident before the game at Ott a few years back, showed the lack of contol and respect that Coach Loth and his staff have for a tough opponent. At this point Mount looks at the Ott program as just another game they want to win and not much more, so Coach Kehres will be unlikely to cast his vote for them anytime soon, IMHO!

[75 bucks]

If that is your reasoning. Why did Coach Kehres give Otterbein the first place vote last year? I just looked it up on the Mtunionfootball.com site.

[theaprof]

Otterbein University, who are they?

Let's not get crazy here, Otterbein is still a College.  Clearly not on the same level as Capital University, ONU, or UMU  

According to their web site they are now Otterbein University.

http://www.otterbein.edu/university/

[reality check]

What is the word on ONU non-conference game? I know all of those Wisconsin schools are competitive.

ONU should take care of business versus River Falls.  Granted UWRF lost four of seven games last year by a total of nine points and could have gone 7-3 with just 10 more cumulative points but this is a WIAC team that has just one returning first-team WIAC player (a return specialist) and only two returning second-team players.  If this game was being played in Cheeseland I'd be a little more concerned but being at home, I think the program expects nothing but a solid opening win for 2010 against the UWRF club.

The question has to be is their QB going to be better than anyone Mount starts? Is their RB going to be better than anyone mount starts? Is this the year ONU does it again?

Ask any knowledgeable Mount fan and they'll tell you it's not a matter of whether or not ONU has the better QB or RB, but who wins the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in this matchup.  ONU has played Mount before with All-Americans and All-OAC RB's, QB's and WR's and still came away with losses because Mount's line play dominated.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a more talented trio to play Mount Union than the Franzer/Robertson/Vagedes combination.  The reason ONU won in 2005 was a combination of mistake-free football, capitalizing on MUC turnovers (thanks to 3 picks by Rusty Midlam) and clutch running performance by RJ Meadows (thanks to his offensive line).  If ONU is to win in Alliance this year it will once again be due to taking care of the football, winning the turnover battle and how the defense reacts to LK's second half adjustments.

[Raider 68]

If that is your reasoning. Why did Coach Kehres give Otterbein the first place vote last year? I just looked it up on the Mtunionfootball.com site.

That is my opinion, but if I am incorrect than I am incorrect. The poll was taken on 8-11-09 per Ric's site, but it does not mean that a Coach has to vote for another team. Any coach could vote for his own team. The rest of my prior post is true, no love lost for Ott by Mount!

[reality check]

Otterbein University, who are they?

Let's not get crazy here, Otterbein is still a College.  Clearly not on the same level as Capital University, ONU, or UMU  

According to their web site they are now Otterbein University.

http://www.otterbein.edu/university/

Remember when the OAC was filled with small schools.  I miss the days when we had these little colleges and trade schools and not all this big, overwhelming universities.   

[reality check]

If that is your reasoning. Why did Coach Kehres give Otterbein the first place vote last year? I just looked it up on the Mtunionfootball.com site.

That is my opinion, but if I am incorrect than I am incorrect. The poll was taken on 8-11-09 per Ric's site, but it does not mean that a Coach has to vote for another team. Any coach could vote for his own team. The rest of my prior post is true, no love lost for Ott by Mount!

I could be misreading and if I am I apologize but LK definitely voted OTT as his preseason OAC #1 last year.  He has a long history of not voting for his program or his kids.  Every year you look at the OAC preseason poll there is always at least one rogue (non-MUC) vote and that vote comes from LK.  His policy also explains why you haven't seen a single MUC player win OAC player of the week honors in forever; he doesn't nominate them.

[rscl70]

Otterbein University,  OU!  Maybe Jones thought he was enrolling at Oklahoma.   

[lakeshore]

Otterbein University,  OU!  Maybe Jones thought he was enrolling at Oklahoma.   

What is Jones' first name?  What position does he play?

[HScoach]

The question has to be is their QB going to be better than anyone Mount starts? Is their RB going to be better than anyone mount starts? Is this the year ONU does it again?

Ask any knowledgeable Mount fan and they'll tell you it's not a matter of whether or not ONU has the better QB or RB, but who wins the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in this matchup.  ONU has played Mount before with All-Americans and All-OAC RB's, QB's and WR's and still came away with losses because Mount's line play dominated.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a more talented trio to play Mount Union than the Franzer/Robertson/Vagedes combination.  The reason ONU won in 2005 was a combination of mistake-free football, capitalizing on MUC turnovers (thanks to 3 picks by Rusty Midlam) and clutch running performance by RJ Meadows (thanks to his offensive line).  If ONU is to win in Alliance this year it will once again be due to taking care of the football, winning the turnover battle and how the defense reacts to LK's second half adjustments.

I fit the "fan" part of RC's statement, but not so sure about the "knowledgeable" part, so take this at face value.   But he's 100% right.  If you want to beat Mount you either need to catch them on a really bad day (which doesn't happen often) or win the line of scrimmage.    You don't have to dominate the LOS play, just neutralize the usual MUC advantage they have there so that your skill people can make the difference.

There have been a TON of great skill people to face the Raiders over the last 15+ years (Arth, Pentello, the ONU trio, Larlham, etc) that all were better than their respective MUC counterparts, but it didn't matter.    Mount won the battle up front and therefore won the game.   Tom Arth is in the discussion as the best QB in OAC history with Bill Borchert and Jim Ballard, and would have been absolutely sick if he had MUC's O-line in front of him.  Arth was the best QB on the field all five times he played Mount but came up short. 

The reason Whitewater has played MUC tough and beaten them twice is their O and D lines are every bit as good, and sometimes better, than Mount's.  Put LB's Raebel/Borzick/Rindahl behind an average D-line and Mount hangs 40+ on Whitewater easy.  It's UWW's dominant line play that makes them a equal match for Mount.

And until Otterbein, ONU, Capital, etc step up their talent on the O and D lines, they're not going to be able to take Mount's best shot and still win.  Not to say those teams can't ever beat Mount, but as currently constructed they're either going to need an "off" day by Mount (ala ONU in '05) or their waiting on a lucky day with a QB completely playing out his arse (ala Arth or Pentello) to get a win.   But to really compete and have a legit chance at winning, they need to improve their line play.   

[SaintsFAN]

Plus, his 40 time is bound to increase wearing an ankle bracelet.

While the nat'l title quips deserve to be lambasted, I'd just as soon stop the ex-con jokes with that one...

I disagree.  There's a ton of good material in this.   

After reading the article, I think a "cell phone ban" would be appropriate too.  Those things are a big distraction to your studies as well as being a safety hazard when traveling back and forth to your bible study meetings.

where did you read about Bible Study ??  Could be a Jehovah's Witness, I guess... working on the penetration of new homes in the name of Jehovah.. Don't they go door to door??

[HScoach]

Plus, his 40 time is bound to increase wearing an ankle bracelet.

While the nat'l title quips deserve to be lambasted, I'd just as soon stop the ex-con jokes with that one...

I disagree.  There's a ton of good material in this.   

After reading the article, I think a "cell phone ban" would be appropriate too.  Those things are a big distraction to your studies as well as being a safety hazard when traveling back and forth to your bible study meetings.

where did you read about Bible Study ??  Could be a Jehovah's Witness, I guess... working on the penetration of new homes in the name of Jehovah.. Don't they go door to door??

Nice. 

[theaprof]

Plus, his 40 time is bound to increase wearing an ankle bracelet.

While the nat'l title quips deserve to be lambasted, I'd just as soon stop the ex-con jokes with that one...

I disagree.  There's a ton of good material in this.   

After reading the article, I think a "cell phone ban" would be appropriate too.  Those things are a big distraction to your studies as well as being a safety hazard when traveling back and forth to your bible study meetings.

There may be similar material out there about one of UMU's transfers as well.  Not as bad, but similar.

[beenhit2hard]

I needed to reply on page 1959,,that is the year I graduated from High School