FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[HScoach]

Take nothing away from St John's, they played well and Elliott was a beast, but nobody that has watched Mount for any length of time would consider the 2003 team the best ever.  Not even by a long shot.  They had great stats, but the OAC was crap that season.    And this team is much like that one.  Potential, but wildly inconsistent.

Off the top of my head, here's the best Mount teams in the last 20 years in my less than humble opinion.  Might need to adjust a few once I step back and think about it for a while:

1   1997   -  led by Bill Borchert's 61 TD's against 2 INT's
2   1993   -  Jim Ballard passed/willed Mount to their 1st title.  Perfect leader for a young program.
3   2008
4   2007
5   1996
6   2002
7   2006
8   1992   -   great team that should have made Stagg, but TO's on frozen field stopped them
9   2000
10   2001
11   2005   
12   1995   -  close to a title, but tripped up by LaCrosse in Semi's
13   2009
14   2003
15   1998   -  youngest, least talented team to win a Stagg.  Pulled game after game out of their rearends.  Led by stud LB Jason Hall
16   2010   
17   1999
18   2004
19   1994   -   foretaste of things come.  Freshmen QB Borchert lost by 1 at champion Albion in 2nd round
20   1991

[repete]

That's a great list.

At the time, though, the stature of the 2003 team was a hot topic on this board, perhaps because the OAC was "crap" and MUC dominated. Nonetheless, that team and the team was super-hyped headed into the Stagg.

Kinnard was touted far and wide as unbeatable. Elliott was a questionable start that game, BTW, and played with a very bad hamstring.

I'm wondering if over time your assessment might temper ... especially since these Raiders are "much like those."  Certainly, Friday might affect this, right? I'm hoping for a great game.

[Raider 68]

That's a great list.

At the time, though, the stature of the 2003 team was a hot topic on this board, perhaps because the OAC was "crap" and MUC dominated. Nonetheless, that team and the team was super-hyped headed into the Stagg.

Kinnard was touted far and wide as unbeatable. Elliott was a questionable start that game, BTW, and played with a very bad hamstring.

I'm wondering if over time you assessment might temper ... especially since these Raiders are "much like those."  Certainly, Friday might affect this, right? I'm hoping for a great game.

repete,

I think you will see a great game, since this year's Raiders had to overcome more than most teams and are really motivated. Against UWW over the last 6 games, I never thought either team was a true favorite since either could win against the other, so all the stats and measurements have not applied in this match-up. Both are talented, both are well coached and both will have to play a great game to win. That is why this championship between again for the 7th time is so exciting, despite the other D3 schools are tired of the two purple powers. They both continue to prove that they are the best each year!

[WarhawkDad]

That's a great list.

At the time, though, the stature of the 2003 team was a hot topic on this board, perhaps because the OAC was "crap" and MUC dominated. Nonetheless, that team and the team was super-hyped headed into the Stagg.

Kinnard was touted far and wide as unbeatable. Elliott was a questionable start that game, BTW, and played with a very bad hamstring.

I'm wondering if over time you assessment might temper ... especially since these Raiders are "much like those."  Certainly, Friday might affect this, right? I'm hoping for a great game.

repete,

I think you will see a great game, since this year's Raiders had to overcome more than most teams and are really motivated. Against UWW over the last 6 games, I never thought either team was a true favorite since either could win against the other, so all the stats and measurements have not applied in this match-up. Both are talented, both are well coached and both will have to play a great game to win. That is why this championship between again for the 7th time is so exciting, despite the other D3 schools are tired of the two purple powers. They both continue to prove that they are the best each year!

Ok Raider 68, great post and exactly my sentiment as well. +k to you

[Kehresma]

Do Piloto's passes usually look like they are in the air forever, or was that just yesterday.  Some of the passes looked almost to be in slow motion.  He is very accurate.  His int's yesterday were, if I recall correctly, all underthrown, does he struggle with the longer passes?

Wesleydad,

Congratulations to Wesley for a great year and a hard-fought game Saturday.  Thanks for coming to A-town in support of the team. I know they had their hearts set on this being the year, and they played like it was.

I'm glad you asked the question above (and I haven't read to the end of the posts to see if others have answered it).  Piloto deserves more credit for Saturday's performance than he is generally being given, particularly as concerns the two interceptions-- or at least there is an explanation to account for Saturday's picks other than a struggle with longer passes.  My understanding from the inside is that one was an incomplete read of the play call and the other was getting hit on launch.

Those who need to (not you) will continue with the handwringing about the deficiencies of this year's undefeated MU team. Hey--Maybe it's the old reverse psychology trick for this Friday's  matchup.  But to  me, it's seriously getting old.

And speaking of another NOT inconsistent player on offense, props to often unsung Brandon Brown for advancing drives with sure-handed and strategic catches yesterday.  I'm glad they saw fit to include him in the highlight film.

[DE Wesley Fan]

A question for you Mount guys.  Do Piloto's passes usually look like they are in the air forever, or was that just yesterday.  Some of the passes looked almost to be in slow motion.  He is very accurate.  His int's yesterday were, if I recall correctly, all underthrown, does he struggle with the longer passes?

No, Piloto has a strong arm...if I remember correctly the second pick was caused by him getting hit when he threw the ball.

Not having seen him play before, I was wondering if last week's hip injury was still bothering him any?  Did seem like his balls floated and that a top notch secondary could have picked a couple more of them off.  Not knocking the guy, he did a good job of finding the open receiver and put the ball where it needed to be.  Just saying that UWW's secondary looks to be better than ours so that could be a concern. 

Met some really nice MU fans before and after the game.  Safe travels to Salem and I hope you get to head home happy.  Have vowed not to make the trip until my beloved Wolverines are playing, but will certainly be glued to the TV to root you on.

[Raider 68]

Do Piloto's passes usually look like they are in the air forever, or was that just yesterday.  Some of the passes looked almost to be in slow motion.  He is very accurate.  His int's yesterday were, if I recall correctly, all underthrown, does he struggle with the longer passes?

Wesleydad,

Congratulations to Wesley for a great year and a hard-fought game Saturday.  Thanks for coming to A-town in support of the team. I know they had their hearts set on this being the year, and they played like it was.

I'm glad you asked the question above (and I haven't read to the end of the posts to see if others have answered it).  Piloto deserves more credit for Saturday's performance than he is generally being given, particularly as concerns the two interceptions-- or at least there is an explanation to account for Saturday's picks other than a struggle with longer passes.  My understanding from the inside is that one was an incomplete read of the play call and the other was getting hit on launch.

Those who need to (not you) will continue with the handwringing about the deficiencies of this year's undefeated MU team. Hey--Maybe it's the old reverse psychology trick for this Friday's  matchup.  But to  me, it's seriously getting old.

And speaking of another NOT inconsistent player on offense, props to often unsung Brandon Brown for advancing drives with sure-handed and strategic catches yesterday.  I'm glad they saw fit to include him in the highlight film.

Kehresma,

Good post! +K

[aueagle]

I watched the Mount & Whitewater games...Just a thought.
If Mount hadn't of fumbled the INT early in the game (which resulted in a Wesley TD & momentum),
would it have been as close as it was? AND...I found it offensive that the NCAA ran commercials promoting
Division 2 during both telecasts. Poor call by the NCAA on that one. The Warhawks look very tough.

[repete]

Don't  think so. Wesley showed me a lot of character after falling far behind to a very good (but not Mount good) Linfield team. Sure, it was on the road this time, but there was plenty of heart behind all that talent.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Story on Matt Campbell at Toledo:

Born To Coach: Campbell Comes from Football Family

[formerd3db]

I watched the Mount & Whitewater games...Just a thought.
If Mount hadn't of fumbled the INT early in the game (which resulted in a Wesley TD & momentum),
would it have been as close as it was? AND...I found it offensive that the NCAA ran commercials promoting
Division 2 during both telecasts. Poor call by the NCAA on that one. The Warhawks look very tough.

aueagle:

I did not see the telecast of the game because I was not going to pay $75 for that which was the price.  I have ESPN1 and ESPN2 but not ESPN3 as it is extra $ in our area and I'm already paying a ton for cable here as it is.  Anyway, with regard to the commercials you mention, I agree with you entirely.  Once again, that is another example of the "idoitic" thought process and actions on many occasions by the NCAA.  I could cite other examples, however, I've done that here in the past and it does no good including the fact that it only gets my blood pressure up.

BTW, I forgot to congratulate you on Ohio Wesleyan's national scoccer championship win over our league rival Calvin (and their knocking my Hope out of the tournament before that).  Now, if only your football team at OWU can work on improving towards that.  

[@d3jason]

I watched the Mount & Whitewater games...Just a thought.
If Mount hadn't of fumbled the INT early in the game (which resulted in a Wesley TD & momentum),
would it have been as close as it was? AND...I found it offensive that the NCAA ran commercials promoting
Division 2 during both telecasts. Poor call by the NCAA on that one. The Warhawks look very tough.

Sure it could may been a different game, but I think you have to credit the Wesley player that stripped him with making a play. Just like you have to credit the Mount D for making a couple of plays to force turnovers at the start of the second half to change the momentum and give their O a short field. Wesley a hard the start of a couple of nice drives going. The UMU D gave up 496 yards but made the plays they need to.

[Olinemom]

Hope to see you all this Friday if not before. 70s raider are you & son going to make it? Theaprof? SKUNKS? Raiderpa? Gosh I sure hope so!!! Purple Stagg VII

[amonachino]

     If you have a computer or library near you, the game was on www.espn3.com.  The cost was zero, as it alwyays is.  Try it there are all kinds of sports on it.   

[OAC Yahoo]

Another Stagg Bowl appearance!
I give a lot of credit to the other OAC schools, that have enabled this historic run that will never be duplicated.What other conference would ever allow a team to plow thru it for 20 years. 

In the last 20 years 
Ohio Northern 1-19
Baldwin Wallace 1-19
Capital 0-20
Heidelberg 0-20
John Carroll 0-20
Marietta 0-20
Muskingum 0-20
Otterbein 0-20
Wilmington 0-20
Total: 2-178

Everyone can say what a great conference the OAC - 2-198 says otherwise. The teams in conference needs to step up. Why won't teams try to bring in 150 freshmen like the Raiders.  Why won't teams carry 250 plus on their roster. They don't want to compete. Their administrations are soft. Dont they realize we can't be caught. Division III is the only level that allows such an uneven playing field. Our roster size- financial aid- admissions- great coaching.  It is like Ohio State having 85 scholarships playing a division II school like Malone  with 36. Year after year-  178-2 baby.

With what Mount does year after year with facility upgrade!
BW had there chance this year. Didn't they have all seniors starting on defense. We will see you in about 7 years for another game. 

Why would we ever leave Division III? If we went Division II we wold have divide 36 scholarships. We would havevto compete on a level field. We will never lose our edge. We are here - its time to start stepping up OAC. Build your roster.