FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[rscl70]

I thought the Tommies had their chances in the second quarter.  Their D was playing well, and they had two good drives with their OL controling the line of scrimage.  Then they got down around the 30 and started getting cute.  In my opinion Caruso outcoached himself.

The Tommies were tough, and with the guys they have coming back they have a lot to look forward to.

Congratulations to our Raiders!  So happy we made the trip to Salem to watch Mount bring home #11!

[jaypeter]

Way to "Dear Old 'MUC'"!!!

Thought St Thomas might have been able to make a move if they kept running up the middle but then thought they started getting too cute at times.  But, the fake field goal did work so it's hard to criticize it too much.  Felt like the Mount defense was able to bend bulgur not break for a while and started to assert itself in the third. 

Great showing by the Tommies who fought hard and played well the whole game.  Hats off to you and look forward to seeing how your freshmen and sophomores start to take over the team next year.  Could easily be the start of a good run.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Really Ypsi?  STU showed what a classless A-hole team they were with Caruso's end of the game "strategy". 

Really?  What a frickin' JOKE..........

WOW.....I am shocked.

ypsi   who showed call tonight?  GUHOYA

Craft_Beermeister, very clever of you to delete the post for which I called you out, then harass me.  You're a real piece of work.

Fortunately, most Mount fans have much more class than you.

BTW, I was pulling for UMU, and the game came out very nearly how I expected.  But your (deleted) post to D.O.C. (who was simply rooting for his team, and said nothing derogatory) was totally uncalled for.  Before I might have thought you were simply caught up in the emotions of the game; with your latest stunt, I now know you are an immature jerk.

[raiderpa]

Thought Caruso got too cute as well when they were moving the ball.  The Tommie D was outstanding and controlled the second and third period, IMO.   #87 was getting open all over the place and they were running double reverses.
If Caruso never quits why did he punt at the end.  The timeouts were grandstanding bs.  IMO from all I saw and read, Caruso is full of himself and his little witty sayings and endless coach-speak cliches are tired.  He is like listening to Dick freaking Vitale. 
To the Tommies on the field, great team, great effort.

[UMUplayerdad]

Really Ypsi?  STU showed what a classless A-hole team they were with Caruso's end of the game "strategy". 

Really?  What a frickin' JOKE..........

WOW.....I am shocked.

2 things    I am not sure their coach's thing was TOTAL bull     and you have a PM       just back from red eye bus, bed time

[edward de vere]

Super hard-fought game from St. Thomas, but listening to Caruso at the postgame press conference, I couldn't help but think of the line from "Good Morning , Vietnam":

"You're in more dire need of a xxxxxxx than any white man in history."

[muc-raider]

Did anyone hear an announcement of the MVP for the Stagg Bowl?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Did anyone hear an announcement of the MVP for the Stagg Bowl?

Kevin Burke

[muc-raider]

Kevin Burke would be a good choice.   There were a lot of standouts this year.    Thanks.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Kevin Burke would be a good choice.   There were a lot of standouts this year.    Thanks.

Burke was the MOP.  If you go to Espn3.com they have the trophy presentation and post game interviews with Kehres, Driskill, and Burke.

[Dr. Acula]

I watched the game again this morning.  I really have to tip my cap to UST.  They really did a good job defensively for a long stretch there in the middle of the game.  But the thing that proves to be the difference is that when it was 14-10 UMU turns it up another notch.  80 plus yd drive for a TD.  INT by Scott.  Another 80 plus yd TD.  Game over.  When the game was on the line the Raiders just executed beautifully and made plays. 

As for the end of the game I didn't think it was out of line.  Obviously no one likes to see it get chippy at the end when the outcome is decided, but I have no problem with using your timeouts to show your kids "we never give up until it's 00:00".  I did, however, find the logic perplexing to punt on 4th down and then let the clock run on not one, but two running plays only to THEN start calling TO's when they take a knee.  I've seen coaches not burn a timeout on a run play if the kid gets say 8 yds on 1st down because they're assuming you'll convert on 2nd or 3rd down.  But Simon gained 2 yds on first down?  It was just odd. 
 

[Raider 68]

A real good showing by St. Thomas, They are a solid team with a bright future over the
next few years. I agree with the  other comments about their coach, the end of the game
decisions were, IMHO, very poor.

The Raiders were able to make adjustments in the second half that turned the tide. While
St. Thomas D kept the Raider around 350 yards, the Raider D kept them under 200. A great job.

[formerd3db]

Dr. A:

I obviously did not see the Stagg Bowl last evening as I mentioned before since I don't get ESPN3.  However, from what you describe, it appears that was somewhat similar (although not entirely the same) as to what happened at the end of the FCS semifinal game last evening between Georgia Souther and defending FCS National champion North Dakota State.  Because of poor game management at the end by both the coaching staff and their players, Georgia Southern ended up burning their last two remaining timeouts with just over 3 minutes left in the game and NDSU about ready to score on their 3 yard line to take the lead (which did win them the game).

On the ensuing final game attempted drive, again then with no timeouts, Georgia Southern's coordinator has their QB doing running plays in the middle, which clearly made no sense at all, especially when he was getting either sacked or only gaining 2 yards.  All the time, of course, the clock is ticking, losing precious seconds.  They did bring in their "throwing QB", who ended up completing a 40 yard pass on 4th down (only because the All-American DB for NDSU fell down right at the end) to keep their faint hopes alive.  However, they immediately returned to the running plays up the middle, then two horribly thrown desparation sideline passes (although the latter due to the overwhelming defensive rush put on the QB each play).  They then lose the game (actually the attempt to force the game into OT) when their new long range kicker missed a 50+ field goal attempt, who they just brought on to the team 2 days prior since he was on the schools soccer team and a former kicker in high school.

So, to borrow your phrase, indeed, it seemed very odd what the Georgia Southern coach approached the waning minutes of the game like that, similar to what you describe with the exception that the Stagg Bowl outcome was already decided and the FCS game was not i.e. Georgia Southern still had a, albeit, outside chance. 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

My observations on end of game.

MTU was up 18.
UST has a 4th and long with 3 TOs and clock stopped around their own 35 yard line.
UST punts.
MTU takes over fairly deep in own territory.
MTU runs the ball twice, gets a first down, UST doesn't take any TOs.

At this time I (incorrectly) assume that UST coach is conceding the game, still down by three scores.

MTU goes into Victory formation, UST pulls a Greg Schiano and forces the action at the kneel down.
UST then calls a TO and Caruso pulls his entire team together on the sideline.

At ths time I (incorrectly again) assume he I'ds telling them to be classy and not rush the play.

MTU goes into Victory formation, UST rushes again and calls a second TO.
End of game ensues..

My question is, if are wanting to show your team that you are going to a fight to the end why don't you either go for it on 4th down, or you use your TOs on the first two running plays after the change of posession?

[runyr]

Thought Caruso got too cute as well when they were moving the ball.  The Tommie D was outstanding and controlled the second and third period, IMO.   #87 was getting open all over the place and they were running double reverses.
If Caruso never quits why did he punt at the end.  The timeouts were grandstanding bs.  IMO from all I saw and read, Caruso is full of himself and his little witty sayings and endless coach-speak cliches are tired.  He is like listening to Dick freaking Vitale. 
To the Tommies on the field, great team, great effort.

Ditto.

From my 65 year old alumnus perspective:
Tommies were a good team with a lot of good athletes, but Caruso was full of cliches and cute plays.
Damn it was cold for someone who rarely feels the temp drop below 45, let alone sit out in it for hours on aluminum benches! :-(
LK is as good a coach as there has ever been.
Congrats to the seniors and everyone who helps keep the dream alive.

The fans:
Amazing fans for D3 ball.  Wandering around all the tailgating parties was a great experience.