FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Desertraider]

Regarding the fans on the field and the crowd noise - every single student in my class was raving about it. Some had to work the basketball game and said they could here the fans in the stadium and they kept wondering what was going on, and were pissed they had to miss it. Had a few say they could hear it across campus in Jae and Clutter Manor. Nice.

I see the front page has the "postgame show" with links. Any idea if there is a link to Mount post-game press conference?

[rscl70]

raiderguy:

Just a few comments in observing yours:

First, while I have not met SaintsFAN's wife, it sounds like they are the perfect couple.  He is a good guy and from what everyone has said, she is a wonderful lady as well.

Second, I agree with you and your Mount colleagues that student fan support is important.  While it is obviously much more desired to have capacity crowds (or near it) for games, similar to what St. Thomas had yesterday (6,000) at the other semifinal playoff game yesterday (and like you mentioned St. Johns almost routinely has), many people for years have held to the premise (actually, because they have seen it personally) that you don't always have to have a packed house to have some tremendous crowd noise.  That was obviously evident yesterday at Mount's stadium, even though they only had 3500+ at the game.  Unfortunately, I was not able to make it down to attend the game yesterday due to a previous commitment-I was a guest of Raider68 who kindly had me down last year at one of Mount's playoff games and had a great time at the game and witnessed the neat atmoshphere and crowd.

You mentioned complacency.  That sometimes happens as we have all seen it (at all division levels) when teams get to that high level of consisent winning, such that there is a tendency by fans to expect a route the oppoent weekly.  On the other hand, in this year's situation for Mount as you and others have described i.e. the seniors who have never experienced winning the national title, unlike many of their predecessors, seems to be a real motivational aspect not only for them, but the Mount students and fans as well.

Some final comments:  From what you describe (and my apologies if I have misunderstood what you are describing/talking about in this regard) that it appears having the fans and students down on the field after the game is a new situation/experience for Mount this year?  That is something that is an absolute routine in our MIAA and has been for years even back to my own Hope days (and, of course, happens at many other schools) in which students and fans are allowed down on the field after to mingle and visit with the players and their families, coaching staff and administration as well as for those photo ops as you mention, including at playoff games (despite the sometimes ridiculous NCAA rules).  All great memories for anyone forever as you mentioned.  So if that is a new occurance at Mount (or something new to the playoffs - again, which the latter might seem strange since I've seen it before), all the better.

Nothing against St. Thomas, however, I seem to have the underlying feeling that Mount Union will win the Stagg Bowl this year and return to reclaiming the national championship.  It appears from the semifinal games, though, that it should be a great Stagg Bowl game this year.  I hope that the attendance will be on the larger side this year also.  I haven't been to it for a few years and wish I could make the trip down this year, but can't.  Anyway, best wishes to all who are going to it for a great time.   

formerd3db,
My bitch with Mount fans is they don't go because they expect to win.

Then I would submit that they are not truly fans. 

I've heard many people in supposedly football mad Stark County say that they don't go to the games because winning all the time is boring. Excellence is boring?  Perhaps they would come if we lost 10 games a year.  Better warn Urban Myer that too many undefeated seasons will ruin the Buckeye's attendance.

See you all in Salem, if it's not "too close to Christmas" for you to make the trip.

[umhb2001]

Well, as was said earlier in the week that I would be on here saying, "We'll be better next year," I WON'T be saying that, as we were good enough to have done it this year. So you won't get that here.

I knew the Mount D was good, but their D Line was a blanket all day on our passing game. LB just didn't have the time to get good looks. Credit the D there. I also credit the the special teams for their huge blocked punt and stop on 4th and 1. These two things may have been mentioned, but this is my post for Saturday and haven't had time to read all the others.

Those two plays were the difference. Your D and ST showed up on those two plays, specificly, and changed the game. Up until that 4th and 1, we had been running well. That stop and subsequent TD really showed the championship fortitude Mount has. I think the blocked punt was the first one for us all year. I may be wrong, but what a swarm, and then the fact that our D didn't stop the run on the final TD for ya'll to win it after we had done a good job all game was unfortunate. The replay on TV looked like we were expecting a pass. Our D Line was very wide, pretty much gave ya'll that play. Credit to Burke for audibleing if he did, or the the coaches for the call. Huge play.

Anyways, as I've always said, root for the ones who beat you, and I hope y'all beat them badly because that will make us look better.

For those who thought this would be a cake walk and that we should just hand you the win, I hope you have some respect for UMHB and the ASC, and the South Region for that matter. I think we've shown that we are right there, ready to get a championship. Perhaps next time y'all can make the trip to Belton! Till next time, great job, great game, all the credit to you, your team, and the coaches. Much respect from me.

Till next year!

[umhb2001]

Greatest game ever for Mount Union to overcome 4 fumbles losing 3 and 2 interceptions, 1 for TD.  I'm not sure UMHB will recover from this loss.

You must not have seen us play on Saturday, then, as we recovered from losing to Wesley in the quarterfinals the last two years and Whitewater, what, 3 times. We'll recover and use this as a learning experience.

[yessir]

We won't recover from this loss...Big Bad MU put a whooping on us...so now were just gonna roll over and our program is gonna go belly up!!! Wonder if anyone said that about MU since Whitewaters been handing it to y'all the past 3 years. I have alot of respect for what MU has done...you'd think after beating y'all in 04, and taking you to the last 5 seconds this game the respect would be mutual. Maybe you were one of the stand up guys screaming for us to go back to Texas!!

[PurpleReign]

Somebody please come and pickup raiderguy, he is having an emotional breakdown.

[raiderguy]

Well, as was said earlier in the week that I would be on here saying, "We'll be better next year," I WON'T be saying that, as we were good enough to have done it this year. So you won't get that here.

I knew the Mount D was good, but their D Line was a blanket all day on our passing game. LB just didn't have the time to get good looks. Credit the D there. I also credit the the special teams for their huge blocked punt and stop on 4th and 1. These two things may have been mentioned, but this is my post for Saturday and haven't had time to read all the others.

Those two plays were the difference. Your D and ST showed up on those two plays, specificly, and changed the game. Up until that 4th and 1, we had been running well. That stop and subsequent TD really showed the championship fortitude Mount has. I think the blocked punt was the first one for us all year. I may be wrong, but what a swarm, and then the fact that our D didn't stop the run on the final TD for ya'll to win it after we had done a good job all game was unfortunate. The replay on TV looked like we were expecting a pass. Our D Line was very wide, pretty much gave ya'll that play. Credit to Burke for audibleing if he did, or the the coaches for the call. Huge play.

Anyways, as I've always said, root for the ones who beat you, and I hope y'all beat them badly because that will make us look better.

For those who thought this would be a cake walk and that we should just hand you the win, I hope you have some respect for UMHB and the ASC, and the South Region for that matter. I think we've shown that we are right there, ready to get a championship. Perhaps next time y'all can make the trip to Belton! Till next time, great job, great game, all the credit to you, your team, and the coaches. Much respect from me.

Till next year!

I don't know of anyone who thought this was going to be an easy game. I have seen you guys play before and knew we would have our hands full. Someone else will have to tell me the last time we had 5 turnovers in a game but it has been awhile. It is hard to comprehend we were able to win that game and on the other side of it I am sure you are wondering how you could have 5 scores off turnovers and lose.
Great post and hope you have a good Holiday season. Ya'll will be back no doubt.

We'll do our best next week for ya. Just like 04 was rooting for you guys against Linfield.

[raiderguy]

Somebody please come and pickup raiderguy, he is having an emotional breakdown.

NOT


But thanks for thinking of me.


And the Tommies now and forever still SUCK

[Mr. Ypsi]

Might be time to lock raiderguy and PurpleReign in the rubber room.  We'll come release the survivor in the morning!

[Raiderplaybyplay]

Regarding the fans on the field and the crowd noise - every single student in my class was raving about it. Some had to work the basketball game and said they could here the fans in the stadium and they kept wondering what was going on, and were pissed they had to miss it. Had a few say they could hear it across campus in Jae and Clutter Manor. Nice.

I see the front page has the "postgame show" with links. Any idea if there is a link to Mount post-game press conference?

We, WRMU, recorded the Mount Press conference, and plan on playing the audio during our Stagg Bowl Pre-Game

[Pat Coleman]

We have excerpts from the audio in the Around the Nation podcast (should be up in an hour), and the full audio will be uploaded and posted underneath the podcast as well.

[raiderpa]

Salem forecast for Friday:  High of 55  sunny  0% chance of rain, dropping into mid 30's at night...
layer up Mount fans...Minnesota fans: golf shirts and shorts..

[HScoach]

Anyone wanting to re-live the end of the game and our post game celebration, see top selection at:  http://bambuser.com/channel/PLAYERONE

Listened to it again this morning and it gave me chills......   Crazy game.


The entire game is on there too further down the list.

[tommiegun]

Wow, watching the replay and reading the board, it looks like Mount survived on pure luck, again!

[tommiegun]

and now lets see how sarcasm translates in Ohio.