FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[purple]

 The biggest reason people didn't attend was the weather. It had rained like hell right before the game and was raining when it started,albeit not the downpour of the afternoon. It was a very entertaining game. I was impressed how hard Mexico hit. They had some real hombres at linebacker. Burke got better as the game went on, just like he did in so many of the Purples games.Looking forward to the Japan game on Sunday, I have a feeling the US will be much better. The US had trouble protecting Burke in the first half from those big and quick Mexicans.

[wally_wabash]

They had some real hombres at linebacker.

I see what you did there.

[section13raiderfan]

I attended the IFAF games S well. As for attendance, it was sparse but don't go by published figures. The bi office was attended but if you ignored them and walked right in nobody cared.... So people did.. The prevalence pagentry delayed kickoff 45 minutes as it rained on the fans. As stated before Mexico has some fast hard hitting players and won't lose again IMHO.  It was great to see the former raider players again

[hsbsballcoach7]

D3 football pre-season poll is out:
#   School (No. 1 votes)   Rec   Pts   Prev.   P
1   UW-Whitewater (18)   15-0   614   1
2   Mount Union (6)   14-1   603   2
3   Linfield (1)   11-2   535   3
4   Mary Hardin-Baylor   11-1   531   6
5   Wesley   12-2   516   7
6   Wartburg   12-1   504   4
7   Wheaton (Ill.)   11-1   430   8
8   John Carroll   11-2   362   5
9   St. John's   10-2   356   12
10   Wabash   10-2   335   13   
11   North Central (Ill.)   8-2   324   15   
12   Widener   12-1   320   11   
13   Johns Hopkins   11-1   303   10   
14   St. Thomas   8-3   300   16   
15   Washington and Jefferson   10-2   270   14   
16   Hobart   12-1   257   9   
17   Wittenberg   9-2   231   17   
18   UW-Oshkosh   6-4   178   20   
19   St. John Fisher   9-2   170   21   
20   Bethel   7-3   153   --   
21   Texas Lutheran   9-2   104   19   
22   Centre   10-1   100   22   
23   Thomas More   8-2   84   18   
24   Chapman   8-2   70   23   
25   Muhlenberg   9-2   61   --   
Others receiving votes: Heidelberg 44; Franklin 42; Rowan 42; UW-Platteville 36; Delaware Valley 34; Hardin-Simmons 30; Christopher Newport 26; Montclair State 25; St. Lawrence 24; Guilford 24; Ithaca 21; MIT 16; Lycoming 11; Bridgewater (Va.) 9; Pacific Lutheran 8; Framingham State 7; Salisbury 5; Monmouth 3; Amherst 2; Louisiana College 2; Chicago 1; Hampden-Sydney 1; Redlands 1.

Not really many surprises, other than it looks just like the post-season poll. Not like you have much to go on but how the teams finished the season and who they return.
What do you guys think are surprises?

[Sir Battlescars]

I'm surprised Mount Union didn't get more first place votes with the coaching change at Whitewater. I'm also a bit surprised Wesley is as high as they are after the embarrassment Mount handed them in the playoffs last year. All in all though, about what you expect from a preseason poll.

[Raider 68]

I'm surprised Mount Union didn't get more first place votes with the coaching change at Whitewater. I'm also a bit surprised Wesley is as high as they are after the embarrassment Mount handed them in the playoffs last year. All in all though, about what you expect from a preseason poll.

Agree with your first point. There was a  D3 poll several months ago about how UWW would finish in 2015, and its results
do not quite match the 18 votes. I think the WIAC will have some good challengers this year for UWW.
With Coach Leipold's skill as a HC from his first season, it may take his successor a little more time than a year to stay at the #1 slot IMHO.

The Raiders will be very good again this year, even with the graduation of Kevin Burke. Taurice Scott will do a great job, just
a little different approach. I see the defense even stronger than 2014 and a great receiving group and running attack. We
will see how it develops! Hope everyone is having a great summer.

[MasterJedi]

I'm honestly surprised that UWW is rated number 1. I would have put them at 2a or 2b and Mount at 2a or 2b. Wesley I'm never scared of, but I'd have put Linfield at #1. Sam Riddle was great last year and now will have a much better Sophmore season after getting battle tested and I don't think they lose much. UWW and Mount both have questions. UWW losing the top of its coaching staff and QB and Kumerow. Mount losing Burke, which is huge considering he's the one that won them so many games they could have lost without him.

Either way should be a great year of D3 football!

[wally_wabash]

I'm honestly surprised that UWW is rated number 1. I would have put them at 2a or 2b and Mount at 2a or 2b. Wesley I'm never scared of, but I'd have put Linfield at #1. Sam Riddle was great last year and now will have a much better Sophmore season after getting battle tested and I don't think they lose much. UWW and Mount both have questions. UWW losing the top of its coaching staff and QB and Kumerow. Mount losing Burke, which is huge considering he's the one that won them so many games they could have lost without him.

Either way should be a great year of D3 football!

All valid points but I think until somebody else beats UMU or UWW it's more than fair to have them be the presumptive top two teams in any poll.  I'm as curious as everybody else to see how these two teams navigate this transition year, but they get to be 1 and 2 until a result forces the poll's hand.

[Dr. Acula]

I know some folks like to take a more prediction based approach to the poll, but I agree with Wally.  UWW has to be #1, IMO.  They're the defending champs and, LL or not, they've earned that spot until proven otherwise.  With Burke gone I can see the argument for Linfield at #2, but again it's kind of a "show me first" thing for me.  Mount has been to 10 straight Stagg Bowls so calling them a top 2 team seems pretty logical.

As for the 2015 season, this is going to be a very, very interesting one for the OAC.  VK faces his first season at the helm without a proven QB.  Arth has to replace Myers among other pieces.  Hallett has to replace a 4 year starter at QB, a WR that was in an NFL camp and probably the best RB in school history.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Team USA beat France 82-0 tonight.  France had previously beaten Brazil 31-6 and Australia 53-3.

Team USA will play Japan in the Gold Medal Game on Saturday at 7pm on ESPN 3 (or whatever they call it now).

US 82 - France 0

[section13raiderfan]

it was interesting that France had a 41 year old backup Qb that was French only by marriage.   There is also a 35 year old player on another team. I got 2 words for ya, George Blanda!   RIP George and Kenny the snake Stabler.  Raiders of a more happy time in NFL history. Where would Darryl Lamonica have been without old George Blanda to clean up after him?   Kenny didnt need any Qb help with the receiving corps he had around him. MY, HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN!

[Dr. Acula]

Saw on Twitter today that Mount will be playing Westminster in 2020 & 2021.  So following Bethany this season it'll be home and homes with NC Wesleyan, RHIT and Westminster.

[wally_wabash]

That's a bit of a gear shift for Westminster who has had an ongoing non-conference series with Hiram. 

[purple]

 I would respectfully disagree with Count Dracula about the Raiders QB situation. They have two great prospects in Roman Namdar and Tourice Scott, and both have proven themselves, at least to their teammates. Scott is D3's answer to Braxton Miller; super fast and I predict he will break the QB single season rushing record for Mount quarterbacks this season. Namdar impressed none other than LK as a pocket QB. Kevin Burke was simply magic and we can't expect to see his like again, but that's what I said when the Great Number 7 Bill Borchert graduated. I don't see anyone in the OAC who will be competitive with the Purples and I don't think we will know how good the Raiders are until the national semi-finals.

[section13raiderfan]

Kevin Burke was able to improvise and escape injury for the most part. Most scramblers are not that lucky. Scott will be able to extend plays with his feet no doubt. Someone will eventually rack him up though. Namdar is gonna get rid of the ball on a laser type pass before he takes many shots. The line is going to have to be adept at protecting two different style passers. I dont think Qbs 3-4-5 are going to be more like Scott than Namdar. That makes for interesting line scheming. Im glad I dont have to coach the O line this year.

Any word on defensive players who may have been asked to play new positions? Seems like someone always changes positions to get on the field more.

Does anybody have a prediction for surprise breakout player for this season?