FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[HScoach]

UWW will and should be #1, but they have as large a question at QB as does the Raiders. Their benefit is that the offensive line returns and have only a few holes in the defensive secondary. My guess is that they will be a running team first this fall. Maybe the D3 guys will agree, but they have sometimes surprized us with their picks!

A agree on the UMU/ONU/Cap threesome. Maybe they will be pre-season picks for the OAC, but we will see!

Nah...Mount WILL be selected #1, business as usual for the preseason poll. Honostly I think it's a toss up on who SHOULD be #1 to start the year. I like Mount's defense better, but I don't think anyone has a better O-line/running game better than UWW.

I'm curious as to why you like MTU's defense better?  They only return three starters from last year:
LB Sam Kershaw,
DB Chaz Jordan
DB Alex Ferrara

Outside of the WR corps, this Raider team is going to be very, very inexperienced.   

[wildcat11]

With Simmons (the best QB in maybe the country)...

I'd put these two above him:

Alex Tanney, Monmouth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXId6BHQ5xY

Aaron Boehme, Linfield: http://podcasts3.stretchinternet.com/linvideo/fb/hsu091209.mov

Boehme's my why-not sleeper for National OPOY. Linfield could really be tough this year...

BashDad,

Boehme has what any D3 coach would want for a QB.  Here is a little better look at him in action:  2010 Linfield offensive preview

[02 Warhawk]

UWW will and should be #1, but they have as large a question at QB as does the Raiders. Their benefit is that the offensive line returns and have only a few holes in the defensive secondary. My guess is that they will be a running team first this fall. Maybe the D3 guys will agree, but they have sometimes surprized us with their picks!

A agree on the UMU/ONU/Cap threesome. Maybe they will be pre-season picks for the OAC, but we will see!

Nah...Mount WILL be selected #1, business as usual for the preseason poll. Honostly I think it's a toss up on who SHOULD be #1 to start the year. I like Mount's defense better, but I don't think anyone has a better O-line/running game better than UWW.

I'm curious as to why you like MTU's defense better?  They only return three starters from last year:
LB Sam Kershaw,
DB Chaz Jordan
DB Alex Ferrara

Outside of the WR corps, this Raider team is going to be very, very inexperienced.   

I knew whitewater lost a bunch on D as well, and I know Kershaw is probably the best LB in DIII, so naturally I thought Mount will have the better D overall.

But I had no idea that Mount was returning even fewer than Whitewater. But if history told us anything, Mount will do just fine..

[BashDad]

BashDad,

Boehme has what any D3 coach would want for a QB.  Here is a little better look at him in action:  2010 Linfield offensive preview

What a pretty release...

That's a seriously awesome video. Who puts those together?

[wildcat11]

What a pretty release...

That's a seriously awesome video. Who puts those together?

/raises hand sheepishly

...naw, thanks for the compliment.  I'm Linfield's volunteer video highlight nerd.   Been putting together the 'Cats highlight DVD for the past 4 years.  Hoping this season will be our best yet.

[seventiesraider]

Any guesses on which teams are way higher or lower in the coaches poll vs the press poll tomorrow. I think both Musky and the Berg show higher among coaches.

[Raider 68]

No doubt the Raiders have questions on defense with only 3 starters returning, but at the same time how many teams have the number players in the game to receive significant PT as Mount does. Inexperience yes, ready to continue the strong defensive growth history, sure. IMHO opinion, the defense will do a very good job with 5-6 other returners with alot of playing time last season.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I posted this after the Stagg:

Mt. Union's Starting Defense in Stagg:
8 Seniors (Herbert, Budzinski, Stewart, Renbarger, McClain, Lutz, Williamson, Liggett) - Also lose Millings
2 Juniors (Jordan, Kershaw)
1 Sophomore (Ferrara)

Mt. Union's Backup Defense for Stagg:
4 Seniors (Coppeler, Lamolinara, Dyke, Saum) - Saum was backup for both DT so only 10 on Two-Deep Roster
1 Junior (Herzick)
3 Sophomores (Alwardt, Sith, West)
2 Freshmen (Driskill, Dieuseul)

Mt. Union's Starting Offense in Stagg:
9 Seniors (Morring, Petruziello, Shorts, Rocco, Harrold, Nitz, Guerrero, Bird, Crowl) - Shorts can petition for 5th year
1 Junior (Nicolozakes)
1 Sophomore (Ryder II)

Mt. Union's Backup Offense for Stagg:
3 Seniors (Coan, Purnell, Miller) - Coan was backup LG and RT
1 Junior (Claycomb)
3 Sophomores (Lemmon, Harris, Ekkens)
3 Freshmen (Seaman, Tate, Collins)

Returning 3/11 Defensive Starters and 6/11 backups.
Returning 2/11 (3/11 if Shorts comes back) Offensive Starters and 7/11 (8/11 if Miller comes back) backups.

Should be an interesting year.

We now know that Shorts and Miller are coming back.

[lakeshore]

With Simmons (the best QB in maybe the country) and Donnally back (maybe the best back in the country) I think ONU may be the best team in the country. #1 overall.

i'll have what he's drinking

I'm too old to handle the stuff he's on. 

Before you worry about Simmons being in the discussion for best QB in the nation, he might want to unseat Assman as the best QB in the OAC first.  Simmons is a nice player, and much better than what ONU has had since Franzer, but he's not elite IMHO.

And yes, I put "unseat" and "Assman" in the same sentence on purpose.......

I remember Franzer he was a nice QB!  Why was Simmons voted 1st team All-OAC...it looks as if Assman and Rocco had much better numbers

[PurpleSuit]

I posted this after the Stagg:

Mt. Union's Starting Defense in Stagg:
8 Seniors (Herbert, Budzinski, Stewart, Renbarger, McClain, Lutz, Williamson, Liggett) - Also lose Millings
2 Juniors (Jordan, Kershaw)
1 Sophomore (Ferrara)

Mt. Union's Backup Defense for Stagg:
4 Seniors (Coppeler, Lamolinara, Dyke, Saum) - Saum was backup for both DT so only 10 on Two-Deep Roster
1 Junior (Herzick)
3 Sophomores (Alwardt, Sith, West)
2 Freshmen (Driskill, Dieuseul)

Mt. Union's Starting Offense in Stagg:
9 Seniors (Morring, Petruziello, Shorts, Rocco, Harrold, Nitz, Guerrero, Bird, Crowl) - Shorts can petition for 5th year
1 Junior (Nicolozakes)
1 Sophomore (Ryder II)

Mt. Union's Backup Offense for Stagg:
3 Seniors (Coan, Purnell, Miller) - Coan was backup LG and RT
1 Junior (Claycomb)
3 Sophomores (Lemmon, Harris, Ekkens)
3 Freshmen (Seaman, Tate, Collins)

Returning 3/11 Defensive Starters and 6/11 backups.
Returning 2/11 (3/11 if Shorts comes back) Offensive Starters and 7/11 (8/11 if Miller comes back) backups.

Should be an interesting year.

We now know that Shorts and Miller are coming back.

Dieuseul and Driskill are going to be 3 yr stars on the Mount defense

[Raider 68]

I posted this after the Stagg:

Mt. Union's Starting Defense in Stagg:
8 Seniors (Herbert, Budzinski, Stewart, Renbarger, McClain, Lutz, Williamson, Liggett) - Also lose Millings
2 Juniors (Jordan, Kershaw)
1 Sophomore (Ferrara)

Mt. Union's Backup Defense for Stagg:
4 Seniors (Coppeler, Lamolinara, Dyke, Saum) - Saum was backup for both DT so only 10 on Two-Deep Roster
1 Junior (Herzick)
3 Sophomores (Alwardt, Sith, West)
2 Freshmen (Driskill, Dieuseul)

Mt. Union's Starting Offense in Stagg:
9 Seniors (Morring, Petruziello, Shorts, Rocco, Harrold, Nitz, Guerrero, Bird, Crowl) - Shorts can petition for 5th year
1 Junior (Nicolozakes)
1 Sophomore (Ryder II)

Mt. Union's Backup Offense for Stagg:
3 Seniors (Coan, Purnell, Miller) - Coan was backup LG and RT
1 Junior (Claycomb)
3 Sophomores (Lemmon, Harris, Ekkens)
3 Freshmen (Seaman, Tate, Collins)

Returning 3/11 Defensive Starters and 6/11 backups.
Returning 2/11 (3/11 if Shorts comes back) Offensive Starters and 7/11 (8/11 if Miller comes back) backups.

Should be an interesting year.

We now know that Shorts and Miller are coming back.

Dieuseul and Driskill are going to be 3 yr stars on the Mount defense

Also returning from the Stagg Bowl starters are Guerrero OL, Budzinski, DL, Panchik  RB (was starter until injury)

[footballfan413]

With Simmons (the best QB in maybe the country) and Donnally back (maybe the best back in the country) I think ONU may be the best team in the country. #1 overall.

i'll have what he's drinking

Me three

Put mine in a shot glass, would have to have to drink it quickly so as not to gag on it.      

[Blutarsky]

I've said this before, but one of the keys to Mount "reloading" is the fact that the younger kids (playoff roster) get an extra five weeks of practice every year....and, those practices, are against a pretty-tough opponent.  It's easier for Mount to replace folks because they DO have experience--not only in practice, but typically, during the initial four playoff games.

[Raider 68]

I've said this before, but one of the keys to Mount "reloading" is the fact that the younger kids (playoff roster) get an extra five weeks of practice every year....and, those practices, are against a pretty-tough opponent.  It's easier for Mount to replace folks because they DO have experience--not only in practice, but typically, during the initial four playoff games.

Well said, Blut! +k

[HScoach]

SHOCKING NEWS:  OAC poll released and MTU is picked




COLUMBUS, Ohio--Mount Union's football team tops both Ohio Athletic Conference media and coaches preseason polls announced today (Aug. 4) at the conference football media day at Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus.

The Purple Raiders, the preseason No.1 pick in the nation by USA Today, went 14-1 last season, won the OAC championship and advanced to the Stagg Bowl, national championship game, for a fifth straight season.  Mount Union has won the last 18-straight and 21 OAC football titles overall.

"We appreciate the respect that coaches and the media in the OAC have for our program," commented head coach Larry Kehres.  "We also know that playing in this conference is a tremendous challenge week in and week out."

The football team reports back to campus on Wednesday, August 18 and starts practice on Thursday, August 19 with the season opener Saturday, September 11 at 2 pm against The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  The game will begin Larry Kehres' 25th season as Mount Union head coach and he has a 289-22-3 overall record.

OAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Mount Union (9) - 81
2. Ohio Northern - 71.5 (0.5)
3. Otterbein - 63.5 (0.5)
4. Capital - 56
5. Heidelberg - 43
6. Muskingum - 41
7. Baldwin-Wallace - 34
8. John Carroll - 31
9. Marietta - 19
10. Wilmington - 10

OAC Preseason Media Poll
1. Mount Union (34) - 340
2. Ohio Northern - 299
3. Otterbein  - 274
4. Capital - 197
5. Heidelberg - 176
6. John Carroll - 158
7. Muskingum - 154
8. Baldwin-Wallace - 145
9. Marietta - 78
10. Wilmington - 49