FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[mr_mom]

I buddy of mine and I once inquired with a local Philadelphia TV station about airing local D3 or D2 "games of the week" even on off hours.  We were told that they had looked into this in the past, but there were too many issues with the NCAA and the conferences, AND, that re-runs of women's bowling had better ratings...

Not sure the bowling dig was legitimate, thought that was just to get us off the phone, but I have always wondered if NCAA or conference issues with rights(in D3) play into this, or would play into restricting live stream broadcasts.
Thoughts?

My thought (and by that I mean my guess) is that Mount doesn't want to make the initial investment into a cable TV station.  They have always been fiscally conservative -- their years running in the black is legendary -- and unless their bean-counters determine that starting a true Radio and Television broadcasting program would increase enrollment quickly enough to be pay for itself, it isn't going to happen.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I buddy of mine and I once inquired with a local Philadelphia TV station about airing local D3 or D2 "games of the week" even on off hours.  We were told that they had looked into this in the past, but there were too many issues with the NCAA and the conferences, AND, that re-runs of women's bowling had better ratings...

Not sure the bowling dig was legitimate, thought that was just to get us off the phone, but I have always wondered if NCAA or conference issues with rights(in D3) play into this, or would play into restricting live stream broadcasts.
Thoughts?

My thought (and by that I mean my guess) is that Mount doesn't want to make the initial investment into a cable TV station.  They have always been fiscally conservative -- their years running in the black is legendary -- and unless their bean-counters determine that starting a true Radio and Television broadcasting program would increase enrollment quickly enough to be pay for itself, it isn't going to happen.

It doesn't take a cable TV Station to do a Web Broadcast of a D3Football Game.  Heidelberg does it with just a live stream of the game with random scoreboard shots to keep the viewers updated.  Would not cost much at all.

[mr_mom]

It doesn't take a cable TV Station to do a Web Broadcast of a D3Football Game.  Heidelberg does it with just a live stream of the game with random scoreboard shots to keep the viewers updated.  Would not cost much at all.

I'll buy that.  A mute broadcast nearly synced with Ric and Mark (at an appropriate volume, please!) would suffice quite nicely.

[mr_mom]

As we start to come out of our tryptophan-induced comas, let's remember to get those OAC Post-Season picks in.

[Let's see ... have already had a turkey omelette and a turkey wrap today ... maybe a turkey milkshake for dessert!   ]

[Dr. Acula]

I was in Alliance today visiting family. The turf is completely cleared.  People were milling around taking pics through the fence.  Ahhh Thanksgiving weekend in Raiderland.

As for streaming video, I don't get it.  I think every other playoff game tomorrow has video.  As a Cap coach once told me, he wished Cap spent half what Mount spends on athletics.  They're most definitely one of the "haves" in the OAC.  There is no way if Berg does some kind of streaming that Mount can't.  They have an SID and two Asst SIDs.  They have an accredited Athletic Training program. They have great facilities. They don't cut corners with any piece of the athletics puzzle.  So why no streaming?  It does suck for alumni that don't live close by.

[raiderpa]

No streaming until LK approves it...plain and simple It's, IMO, not a question of money, Paidas would probably love to do the broadcasts.

I hope the Raiders are on their game tomorrow, I really believe that Finchem is a great coach and will have his team beyond ready.
If Mount doesn't come out smokin' they may get into a hole that they can't escape...I don't think this team has a 2012 Mary Hardin Baylor comeback in its arsenal.
Is Witt the best D Mount will have seen? Probably to this point.  The offense may be as good or better than they will have seen, with a good QB and a good corp of receivers.
Mount appears to be getting better each week in several areas.  I think Vince has done a great job of building an offensive line that was a major
weakness in the early season.
I look for some blitz packages to try to pressure QB.  If they let him stand there and scan the field, it could be a long day. Also, Mount DB's might want to turn and look for ball...I hate the "back to the QB, face the receiver" coverage they consistently use.

[raiderpa]

Plus..the fact that HS Coach took Witt and the points scares the bejesus out of me and many Mount followers.

[Craft_Beermeister]

Mount Union had one of their best advance scout getting a close look at Wittenberg a few weeks back to get a good read on the Tigers when Vince's cousin Erik Raeburn coached against Wittenberg.

The Wabash Wittenberg game statically was a fairly close, but Wit won by 18 after jumping out to a sizable early lead in the game.  You can be sure that Erik shared a good scouting report with Vince and Larry.

[Craft_Beermeister]

The D3 Football has a great article on the Mount Union Wittenberg game in which they note that both schools have an impressive list of total football wins with the Tigers having a two game edge over Mount (727 to 725).  Don't blame LK for deficiency in total wins. I just read a twitter tweet which reported 

@JeffZupReview: Wittenberg had a 100-game lead on @purpleraiders when LK took over in 1986. MTU has gone 343-24-3 while Witt is 237-64-1 since that year

I didn't try to go back and look at the records, but the totals for LK's era look to be about right.  Now Vince needs to finish the job.

[mr_mom]

Plus..the fact that HS Coach took Witt and the points scares the bejesus out of me and many Mount followers.

As you should be.  I set the spread based on the fact that I feel they are very (VERY) comparable to JC.  A drop or a zebra screw-up and the game goes the other way.

I'm still not sure which way to go when I make my own picks tomorrow.   

[HScoach]

I'm very concerned about Witt.   Much more so than either potential opponent for next week.    Assuming Mount wins.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Good luck today Mount.  I always enjoy rooting for the machine when they aren't playing Fisher 

I predict a UMU victory by 17.  Boom. 

[Desertraider]

Another playoff Saturday! While I am truly thankful for that (God I hate basketball - so anything that keeps D3 football going another week is awesome) I am equally concerned about the Mount - Witt game today. Mount has the potential to roll Witt, they seem to be able to score whenever they want to and make stops on D when they have to. The Franklin, Heidi, JCU and WJ games all have that in common: those teams didn't really stop Mount so much as Mount stopped being aggressive and scoring (sloppy play also crept in) and on D - it bent all day and made the stop only when it simply could bend no more. That won't be enough today. Witt is too good and experienced for Mount to play the way they have the last few weeks. The D has to get to the QB early and rattle him, the DBs must have tight coverage to allow for coverage sacks, and no big pass plays. I think the comment on Mounts DBs getting their heads around is spot on - they played with back to QB in every game I mentioned above. On offense - the emergence of BJ and Sherman could not have come at a better time! Witt will focus on Burke but he now has legitimate weapons with Meacham, Mitchell, Wilkinson, and Nicholls. That is much more difficult to stop than just the Kevin Burke Show. Raiders could win by 30 or lose by 3-10 if the ill timed penalties, turnovers (my god 5!!), and sloppy play don't cease. Still waiting for this team to play 4 solid quarters of football.

As always: Roll Raiders ~ Roll!

[skunks_sidekick]

UMU - 41
WITT - 24

BOOM.......

(or WITT wins by 3)

[BashDad]

If UMU plays man (your "backs to the qb" description of DBs), look for Cunningham, #80, to have a big day. It'll be interesting to see if in fact the Purple Raiders play a combo coverage on his side and double him up with a Safety playing half or quarter over the top. Thing is, Witt has several skill guys that will be up to snuff with the talent UMU has -- Florence, Cunningham, Gary/Dehke, and Kirkman -- but, you know, they all play offense. Which isn't good for the Tigers. If UMU loses, we'll be talking about one of two things this evening:

1. A combined score approaching 100.

or

2. Turnovers.