FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

rc:

I understand and appreciate your "pain"/disappointment.  Being involved in athletics for many years, you and I and our colleagues here know that happens at all levels - from high school to colleges.  It has happened for decades and always will be, unfortunately.  I don't know that there is any solution.  It seems, as you indicate, "to the victor goes the spoils" to use that old well-known phrase.  It is unfortunate that many coaches, who should know better, still allow their bias to infiltrate and take over.  That is simply wrong, yet, again, unfortunately, some do not have the integrity to simply "do the right thing".  I realize that some people might argue that there are situations in which stats shouldn't be the sole determining factor; for example, if a player were to lead the league in a certain category, but it was done in a "mop-up" type of role i.e. he obtained these by getting in at the end of games and hardly otherwise played.  However, such instances are rare.  It has always been my philosophy that if a player who is a regular and heavily contributed to their team's season, if they led the league in some major category, even if they played on a non-winning team i.e. even if their team was a cellar-dweller, that player should be selected on the first team, instead of someone who, with much lesser stats gets a first-team selection by virture of their just being on the conference's champion team.  Unfortunately, I've seen that latter scenario happen many times.  But, as you and seventies say, that's just the way it is.  Doesn't make it right, however.  

BTW, I don't begrudge or mind your venting here - nothing wrong with that.  Besides, a great number of us have done that regarding this discussion as it pertains to the DIII various conference selections and again, that is legit.  Coming from you and people here, there no vindictiveness aimed at anyone; we're all just stating our opinions and the "way we see it". Again, such situations do occur and that is most disappointing - especially feel bad for the kids it happens to.  

[mr_mom]

I worked so hard on this post, but FormerD3DB said it so much better than I could. 

So RC, I'm gonna go back into my hole.

[reality check]

It's one thing for a league leader to get snubbed of a first team vote but for two league leaders not to find their way into one of four slots at each position between first and second teams is what bugs me.  I would feel a lot better if they were at least second team but I basically gave them a consolation vote in having to pick them as my honorable mentions. 

I really don't think the coaches were doing it on purpose.  You couldn't vote for your own kids and I certainly don't think anyone was in cahoots.  I just think it came down to the other coaches not really paying attention to what they were doing.

Of course, two of the six schools nominated 11 guys on the defensive side of the ball each.  In other words, they nominated every starter on their defenses.  I think that tells you a lot about where they're coming from.  I nominated 7 total kids on O, D and ST.  I could have nominated our TE but didn't really think he was worthy of consideration.  Turns out I should have as only one was nominated and there wasn't even a second teamer.

[Raider 68]

A non-D3 comment, Browns won big over New Orleans when most everyone thought they had no chance. Good for them!

I must have missed the voting selections you are talking about, does anyone have the link?, Thanks.

[seventiesraider]

A non-D3 comment, Browns won big over New Orleans when most everyone thought they had no chance. Good for them!

As long as there have been football teams, there have been coaches who let their teams "look past" the opponent at hand. It's why I think BW stands a big chance of losing at Muskingum next week, that and Snell is still the coach.

[seventiesraider]

OK, Ohio Northern had 86 net passing yards vs Mount and Capital had 45, even the passing machine Heidelberg was held to 160. Is everybody that really that awful OR has Mount's defense gotten that good?

[HScoach]

the former.

[108Vincent]

RC - IMO you're being too generous to say the other coaches "weren't paying attention."  It's just laziness and it's epidemic.  If your peers had put forth the same thought and effort you did, they might have had to miss Dancing with the Stars.

[formerd3db]

mr. mom:
You are most kind, although I'm sure your own opinion/comments would have been just as good.  But thanks for the nice comments.

rc:
In your particular situation, it may have been the other coaches were not paying close attention to the situation; obviously, you were in a position to judge that since you were there.  However, if that was the case, that is just as bad as coaches who would intentionally do it on purpose.  Anyway, it is too bad for your players; but in the end, I'm sure people know what the real truth is as far as who truly deserved those post-season awards and who didn't (at least those who are honest enough with themselves to admit it, even if they don't publically .).

[HScoach]

RC:  Though your guys got screwed, which is more common than it should be, at least they're voting on each position.  The NBC switched a few years ago to a predetermined # of players based on the record of the team and they don't pick positions.  The HC at each team gets to simply pick the # of players he wants, regardless of their position.  So what you end up with is 5 first team QB's, 6 running backs and 1 guard.  Really stupid.

[seventiesraider]

 One other thought, we were able to campaign or at least explain the kids we put up and why they were there. Often, a kid sits out or is not impressive the time the other coach gets to see them head to head.

Once a decade or so you will finds yourself in "cahoots" to support/protect a special kid. There are often leadership skills or extra special effort that the other coaches wouldn't understand. I once agreed to a change in league policy that I had fought for years to court votes for my most dedicated athlete who sacrificed a lot of special recognition for the good of the team.

.....And wow, I agree HSCoach that is really stupid

[mr_mom]

In the "Hmmm" department ...

UMU is 122nd in NCAA Strength of Schedule.

119 Anna Maria    0-7    .000    0.522 (92)    0.438    0.494
120 Guilford    0-6    .000    0.514 (98)    0.449    0.492
121 Hanover    5-2    .714    0.500 (111)    0.480    0.493
122 Mount Union    6-0    1.000    0.471 (141)    0.538    0.493

Usually I ignore such stats until I realized that Anna Maria was ahead of them.

The same Anna Maria, 0-8, 38-53 loser to Husson.
...
Husson, 38-0 loser to Ott (and gave up 84 to Salisbury)
...
Eventually, we are gonna find a High School team here!   

Sorry, rambling

[Blutarsky]

In the "Hmmm" department ...

UMU is 122nd in NCAA Strength of Schedule.

119 Anna Maria    0-7    .000    0.522 (92)    0.438    0.494
120 Guilford    0-6    .000    0.514 (98)    0.449    0.492
121 Hanover    5-2    .714    0.500 (111)    0.480    0.493
122 Mount Union    6-0    1.000    0.471 (141)    0.538    0.493

Usually I ignore such stats until I realized that Anna Maria was ahead of them.

The same Anna Maria, 0-8, 38-53 loser to Husson.
...
Husson, 38-0 loser to Ott (and gave up 84 to Salisbury)
...
Eventually, we are gonna find a High School team here!   

Sorry, rambling

.....she sang at our wedding.

[jam40jeff]

SoS doesn't matter for an 0-7 team.  And what is your point that they lost to one bad team?  Mount plays a couple bad teams as well.  The difference is that they have won every game.  Keep in mind that record is still much more important than SoS.  Having the #1 SoS does no good if you're 3-4.

[Desertraider]

Interesting fact from the otterbein athletics site: "The Otterbein sports teams were known as the Tans in the '20's, later becoming the Tan and Cardinals, and, finally, Cardinals." I don't know why it is interesting - it just is.

Still planning on going to the MUC/Ott game on Saturday - thanks for the feedback on parking etc. Are ticket prices the same as Mounts? Go Raiders - Pound the Tans!