FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Kovo]

For what it is worth.

@JeffZupReview: Mount Union has never played North Central. @purpleraiders are 31-1 vs first-time opp in playoffs since 1993. Avg. score is 46-13

Forgive my ignorance ( I am not the sharpest spoon in the drawer) but stats like this don't make any sense since Mt Union is 100gazillion-1 in games when the sun sets in the west and the Pope is Catholic. If you have basically won every game in the last 20 years, doesn't that make stats like this a little meaningless? (Not just this one but I saw a few others this week of "Mount is 100-1 when [INSERT CONDITION HERE] and 1,000-1 when [INSERT SUBSEQUENT CONDITION].

What a great point!  We should have some fun like UMU's record wearing purple the past 20 years or UMU's record when it is below 32 degrees.  I suspect all of the stats will look the same.

[Desertraider]

For what it is worth.

@JeffZupReview: Mount Union has never played North Central. @purpleraiders are 31-1 vs first-time opp in playoffs since 1993. Avg. score is 46-13

Forgive my ignorance ( I am not the sharpest spoon in the drawer) but stats like this don't make any sense since Mt Union is 100gazillion-1 in games when the sun sets in the west and the Pope is Catholic. If you have basically won every game in the last 20 years, doesn't that make stats like this a little meaningless? (Not just this one but I saw a few others this week of "Mount is 100-1 when [INSERT CONDITION HERE] and 1,000-1 when [INSERT SUBSEQUENT CONDITION].

What a great point!  We should have some fun like UMU's record wearing purple the past 20 years or UMU's record when it is below 32 degrees.  I suspect all of the stats will look the same.

We could create some "made-up" records like ESPN does (especially Tim Kiurjian-sp): "He is the only player in the history of MLB to homer in his 26th at bat while using a black Mizuno, wearing white 5 cleat shoes, having not shaved for at least 3 days prior to the game after having doubled in his previous plate appearance. I think we can expect big things from this new comer".

How about: Mount Union has won each of the 727 games where they outscored the opponent. Or maybe Mount is 44-4 against teams nicknamed Cardinal(s) since 1937.

Mount Union is 345-24-3 in games played with a brown football, on a green field, since 1986.

[Ric]

Or how about we don't make light of the fact that it's hard to make one deep run in the playoffs let alone being able to do with the consistency Mount has.

[HScoach]

Latest forecast for Alliance:

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 PM EST SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 PM EST SATURDAY.

* ACCUMULATIONS... 5 TO 6 INCHES.

* TIMING... THE SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION FROM WEST TO EAST LATER TONIGHT AND THEN TAPER OFF BY LATE SATURDAY EVENING.

* WINDS... SOUTHEAST TO EAST WINDS AT 5 TO 15 MPH.

* IMPACTS... SNOW ACCUMULATION CAN MAKE ROADS SLICK... REQUIRING LOWER SPEEDS AND GREATER DISTANCES BETWEEN VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING.

* TEMPERATURES... IN THE 20S TONIGHT CLIMBING INTO THE LOWER 30S ON SATURDAY.

[HScoach]

Or how about we don't make light of the fact that it's hard to make one deep run in the playoffs let alone being able to do with the consistency Mount has.

EXACTLY!

[USee]

Or how about we don't make light of the fact that it's hard to make one deep run in the playoffs let alone being able to do with the consistency Mount has.

Or how about we relax a little and enjoy the excellence, having a little fun along the way.  Levity and respect are not mutually exclusive. 

[mr_mom]

It's Friday, which means it's time again for some helpful reminders from MOM:

- Dress warm
- Drive safe
- Get your Pick-Em selections in.   

[PurpleSuit]

Regardless of what adjective or descriptor is used, there have been many a team over the last 20 years that wanted nothing to do with Mount Union on the field and were beat before they got off the bus.   This usually applies to the bottom feeders in the OAC (or even Otterbein this season) or about 1/3 of the 1st round playoff opponents.   

There have been numerous teams that played tough and pushed Mount around for a half but completely collapsed/imploded when Mount made a run.  Most notably Rowan in the 1996 Stagg Bowl where Rowan led 24-21 at half and lost 56-24.   Or again in the 1998 Stagg Bowl where Rowan led 24-20 and lost 44-24 as Mount rolled in the 2nd half.   

Each of these scenarios could be considered "pissing down their leg", either from the start or in crunch time.

And no.  I've never thought UWW fell into that category. 

What we could see on Saturday from North Central is a team that looks like Wittenberg (at least the
uniforms). Wittenberg was competitive in the first half then the Raiders were very efficient in the second half. Do I believe NC is stronger than Wittenberg, YES, both NC And Wittenberg have some similiarities, good passing and running games. We'll see!

My main worry (and I'm sure most NCC fans) is NCC starting slow due to the reasons mentioned on the CCIW board (1st time playing Mt Union...and AT Mt Union, 1st time in the Semi's). In the few games where NCC had to keep their starters in past halftime (IWU, Wheaton, Bethel), they've managed to use their tempo and efficiency to pull away in the 2nd half, so I don't really worry about them fading late in the game.

Has Mt Union faced any teams that run an up-tempo type of offense (think Oregon-lite)?

everyday in practice.  I wouldn't take comfort in your teams playing style.  Mount has been running the "Oregon offense" better than NCC for years.

If NCC gets down early, it will be over.  Mount will run the clock down with Burke and BJ.   I know we all think that Mount's defense is the worst D of all time, but I'll put my faith in VK as DC.  Taking the 6" on snow into account, Mount beats NCC 42-21.

I will leave the Mount vs UWW conversation until the offseason b/c I dont want to disrespect the '14 Stagg Bowl opponent UMHB

[02 Warhawk]

everyday in practice.  I wouldn't take comfort in your teams playing style.  Mount has been running the "Oregon offense" better than NCC for years.

If NCC gets down early, it will be over.  Mount will run the clock down with Burke and BJ.   I know we all think that Mount's defense is the worst D of all time, but I'll put my faith in VK as DC.  Taking the 6" on snow into account, Mount beats NCC 42-21.

I will leave the Mount vs UWW conversation until the offseason b/c I dont want to disrespect the '14 Stagg Bowl opponent UMHB

Like 31-0?   

[PurpleSuit]

everyday in practice.  I wouldn't take comfort in your teams playing style.  Mount has been running the "Oregon offense" better than NCC for years.

If NCC gets down early, it will be over.  Mount will run the clock down with Burke and BJ.   I know we all think that Mount's defense is the worst D of all time, but I'll put my faith in VK as DC.  Taking the 6" on snow into account, Mount beats NCC 42-21.

I will leave the Mount vs UWW conversation until the offseason b/c I dont want to disrespect the '14 Stagg Bowl opponent UMHB

Like 31-0?   

Did Mount lose?  Its been a while since they have, maybe I missed it.  Was it 31-0 against a scrubby team from Buffalo? 

Maybe you missed the weather forecast, but it seems like an UWW education < typical D3 private school education. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

Or how about we don't make light of the fact that it's hard to make one deep run in the playoffs let alone being able to do with the consistency Mount has.

Or how about we relax a little and enjoy the excellence, having a little fun along the way.  Levity and respect are not mutually exclusive.

Yes.

It's not that Mount's streak or impressive record against first-time opponents deserves mockery, but (as you guys know) included in that "first time opponents" stat are a bunch of overmatched first- and second-round opponents and plenty of games so far removed from the matchup with North Central that they just don't mean anything.  It's an impressive statistic and speaks to Mount's overall dominance, and there is something to the thought that the first time you ever play Mount (regardless of how good you are), it takes some time to adjust to their overall speed and talent.  I suppose the anecdotal evidence of Mount's toughest playoff tests coming against "repeat" opponents like Wesley, UMHB, and UWW supports that, but that's confounded by the fact that those teams only see Mount as often as they do because they are always good and making deep playoff runs themselves.  I was admittedly shocked by the game Wesley was able to give Mount this past weekend and think the Wesley players (and even moreso coaching staff, since the current players only had seen them once while the coaching staff has faced Mount and UWW several times each) probably benefited from previous experience against the machine, but also from specific matchups in their favor - Wesley has a couple of wideouts that are just flat-out faster than almost anyone else in Division III (they will be a scary opponent next year with all of the underclassmen on that offense; Callahan, Koudossou, Shade all returning?); I have not seen North Central play and do not know if their WR's are of the same caliber.  I wish to stress that I said don't know, not that NCC's receivers "are not" of the same caliber as Wesley's.

North Central may or may not be good enough to beat Mount.  If Mount wins the game, I don't think it will be because NCC hasn't played Mount Union before; I think it will be because 2013 Mount Union is better than 2013 North Central is at football.  NCC may not have played Mount before in the playoffs but they've been in the dance, and far enough in the dance, that this should not be the deciding factor.  Just my opinion.

[D3MAFAN]

everyday in practice.  I wouldn't take comfort in your teams playing style.  Mount has been running the "Oregon offense" better than NCC for years.

If NCC gets down early, it will be over.  Mount will run the clock down with Burke and BJ.   I know we all think that Mount's defense is the worst D of all time, but I'll put my faith in VK as DC.  Taking the 6" on snow into account, Mount beats NCC 42-21.

I will leave the Mount vs UWW conversation until the offseason b/c I dont want to disrespect the '14 Stagg Bowl opponent UMHB

Like 31-0?   

Did Mount lose?  Its been a while since they have, maybe I missed it.  Was it 31-0 against a scrubby team from Buffalo? 

Maybe you missed the weather forecast, but it seems like an UWW education < typical D3 private school education.

Hey, Hey that team shocked the world last year, only proves you can never count a team out. Any given Saturday, right?

[02 Warhawk]

everyday in practice.  I wouldn't take comfort in your teams playing style.  Mount has been running the "Oregon offense" better than NCC for years.

If NCC gets down early, it will be over.  Mount will run the clock down with Burke and BJ.   I know we all think that Mount's defense is the worst D of all time, but I'll put my faith in VK as DC.  Taking the 6" on snow into account, Mount beats NCC 42-21.

I will leave the Mount vs UWW conversation until the offseason b/c I dont want to disrespect the '14 Stagg Bowl opponent UMHB

Like 31-0?   

Did Mount lose?  Its been a while since they have, maybe I missed it.  Was it 31-0 against a scrubby team from Buffalo? 

Maybe you missed the weather forecast, but it seems like an UWW education < typical D3 private school education.

Again with the UWW-losing-in-2012 reference. I fail to see how that relates to your "NCC gets down early, it will be over" against UMU comment. Rather than explaining yourself, I'm sure you'll just reply with your typical irrelevant UWW insults.

[emma17]

Or how about we don't make light of the fact that it's hard to make one deep run in the playoffs let alone being able to do with the consistency Mount has.

Or how about we relax a little and enjoy the excellence, having a little fun along the way.  Levity and respect are not mutually exclusive.

Yes.

It's not that Mount's streak or impressive record against first-time opponents deserves mockery, but (as you guys know) included in that "first time opponents" stat are a bunch of overmatched first- and second-round opponents and plenty of games so far removed from the matchup with North Central that they just don't mean anything.  It's an impressive statistic and speaks to Mount's overall dominance, and there is something to the thought that the first time you ever play Mount (regardless of how good you are), it takes some time to adjust to their overall speed and talent.  I suppose the anecdotal evidence of Mount's toughest playoff tests coming against "repeat" opponents like Wesley, UMHB, and UWW supports that, but that's confounded by the fact that those teams only see Mount as often as they do because they are always good and making deep playoff runs themselves.  I was admittedly shocked by the game Wesley was able to give Mount this past weekend and think the Wesley players (and even moreso coaching staff, since the current players only had seen them once while the coaching staff has faced Mount and UWW several times each) probably benefited from previous experience against the machine, but also from specific matchups in their favor - Wesley has a couple of wideouts that are just flat-out faster than almost anyone else in Division III (they will be a scary opponent next year with all of the underclassmen on that offense; Callahan, Koudossou, Shade all returning?); I have not seen North Central play and do not know if their WR's are of the same caliber.  I wish to stress that I said don't know, not that NCC's receivers "are not" of the same caliber as Wesley's.

North Central may or may not be good enough to beat Mount.  If Mount wins the game, I don't think it will be because NCC hasn't played Mount Union before; I think it will be because 2013 Mount Union is better than 2013 North Central is at football.  NCC may not have played Mount before in the playoffs but they've been in the dance, and far enough in the dance, that this should not be the deciding factor.  Just my opinion.

Good post Ex TP.
Regarding the NCC receivers I think it's been established that they don't have the top end speed of the Wesley guys, but they are good/excellent receivers. That being the case I do wonder if NCC will struggle more with the intermediate stuff as safeties won't need to worry as much about the deep threat.
We shall see.
At least snow isn't usually as bad as driving rain or heavy wind - as long as the field can be cleared a couple times. I hope both teams can use all of their arsenal.

[emma17]

everyday in practice.  I wouldn't take comfort in your teams playing style.  Mount has been running the "Oregon offense" better than NCC for years.

If NCC gets down early, it will be over.  Mount will run the clock down with Burke and BJ.   I know we all think that Mount's defense is the worst D of all time, but I'll put my faith in VK as DC.  Taking the 6" on snow into account, Mount beats NCC 42-21.

I will leave the Mount vs UWW conversation until the offseason b/c I dont want to disrespect the '14 Stagg Bowl opponent UMHB

Like 31-0?   

Did Mount lose?  Its been a while since they have, maybe I missed it.  Was it 31-0 against a scrubby team from Buffalo? 

Maybe you missed the weather forecast, but it seems like an UWW education < typical D3 private school education.

You're such a touchy sort of fella.
Did one of the weather sites issue a report comparing public and private university education?  Man, everyone's got an opinion on that subject don't they.