FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[hsbsballcoach7]

Got this info from Mount Union's page today on important upcoming dates.

OAC Football Media Day - Tuesday, August 9<Mitch Doraty Union head coach Vince Kehres along with Mitch Doraty will represent the Purple Raiders at the Ohio Athletic Conference Football Preview - Tuesday, August 9 at 10:30 am at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

All 10 conference coaches along with players from each school and hall of fame president David Baker will all speak at the event.

Dates to Remember

August 15 - First Practice

August 27 - Scrimmage vs. Washington & Jefferson -- 10 am -- Washington, Pa.

September 4 - Photo Day/Media Day --  Mount Union Stadium

[Dr. Acula]

Courtesy of the Mount twitter feed here is a very nice story about an incoming freshman track athlete.  AJ Digby is a double amputee who will be competing in the Paralympics in Rio for Team USA in the 200 and 400.  The young man is also a straight 'A' student.  He received an academic scholarship and plans on running track at Mount.  Great stuff. 

AJ Digby Article

[matblake]

Good luck to AJ!

[section13raiderfan]

Give Callahan a mulligan friday against the Browns. I feel bad for the guy. He will do better against the Browns D Anyways.

[Dr. Acula]

Any opinions on the new matte black and chrome helmets for this season?  I think they're pretty cool as an alternative lid, but I want to see what they wear them with before giving them the thumbs up.

[Dr. Acula]

Good luck to Tom Lally again!  The Carolina Panthers signed him after working out four DL yesterday.   

[hsbsballcoach7]

Any opinions on the new matte black and chrome helmets for this season?  I think they're pretty cool as an alternative lid, but I want to see what they wear them with before giving them the thumbs up.

I like them a lot as well, but I agree with you on the combination being important. I liked the gray jerseys last year, but didn't like them with the gray pants. I think they would've looked sharp with purple pants though. I'm glad that UMU is staying with the jersey trend bc it's something that players are attracted to. It may seem simple, but all high school/college athletes like to look good when they're playing.

[hsbsballcoach7]

They made a nice media day write up on all OAC teams here:
http://static.psbin.com/o/i/mbmqy23kzua8jg/FBGuideFinal16.pdf

I figured UMU would start Deerr, Dear and Stewart at linebacker with all of the DBs they return. I'm interested to see how they set up their defensive backfield and linebackers with lots of talented underclassmen waiting for their chance to shine.

[rscl70]

Any opinions on the new matte black and chrome helmets for this season?  I think they're pretty cool as an alternative lid, but I want to see what they wear them with before giving them the thumbs up.

I like them a lot as well, but I agree with you on the combination being important. I liked the gray jerseys last year, but didn't like them with the gray pants. I think they would've looked sharp with purple pants though. I'm glad that UMU is staying with the jersey trend bc it's something that players are attracted to. It may seem simple, but all high school/college athletes like to look good when they're playing.

I'm not opposed to a change in helmet design, but at the risk of sounding like a stodgy old traditionalist, Mount Union's colors are Purple and White.  Not Purple and Black or Purple and Gray, and certainly not Matte Black and Chrome.

[@d3jason]

I like them. But am more impressed that there is a Twitter page for UMU equipment and kind of depressed that it has more followers than I do.

[Desertraider]

Any opinions on the new matte black and chrome helmets for this season?  I think they're pretty cool as an alternative lid, but I want to see what they wear them with before giving them the thumbs up.

I like them a lot as well, but I agree with you on the combination being important. I liked the gray jerseys last year, but didn't like them with the gray pants. I think they would've looked sharp with purple pants though. I'm glad that UMU is staying with the jersey trend bc it's something that players are attracted to. It may seem simple, but all high school/college athletes like to look good when they're playing.

I'm not opposed to a change in helmet design, but at the risk of sounding like a stodgy old traditionalist, Mount Union's colors are Purple and White.  Not Purple and Black or Purple and Gray, and certainly not Matte Black and Chrome.

I have said this before (on the white helmet design, and again on the gray uniforms) so it isn't a shock to anyone. And I don't care if I sound like a stodgy old traditionalist. I saw them (the matte helmets), they look nice BUT - where is the Purple? My daughters (ages 15, 9 and 7) - definitely not old, hopefully not stodgy - saw them and asked the same thing. I get it, the kids are attracted to an extent by this - but when your name is "The PURPLE Raiders - you should have some Purple. With the matte black helmets, gray jerseys and white pants (or white jersey and gray pants) the Purple has sort of been kicked to the curb.

Oh and I still don't like the way BJ carries the Ball!

[Desertraider]

I would like to add that the Twitter page says the Purple helmet is still the primary and the matte black and chrome is an alternate. So maybe not kicked to the curb....yet.

[wally_wabash]

Seems like there are purple accents all over the place.  Too much and you all start looking like Grimace out there and that's not a good thing.  Sometimes, and this is one of those times, less is more.   

[Dr. Acula]

Oh, Wally.  Now you've done it.  There are people on this board who, no joke, love the old all purples.  Purple helmet, purple jersey, purple pants.  I'm not one of them.

Old school all white with purple...I like a lot

Old school all purple?  No.

[Dr. Acula]

I would like to add that the Twitter page says the Purple helmet is still the primary and the matte black and chrome is an alternate. So maybe not kicked to the curb....yet.

I think they've done a pretty good job trying to mix tradition with modern flare.  The helmet RAIDERS decal has remained unchanged for ages.  In fact, until now they've pretty much had the exact same helmet for what, 3 decades?  They seem to wear the all black or all gray uniforms sparingly.  However, I can also see the other side of the argument that it seems like they are drifting away from the purple as time goes by.