FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

I watched almost all of the game.  Quick thoughts...

I thought today Fulford looked the best.  He definitely has a big arm and he's athletic.  He seemed to roll out and throw on the run pretty well.  Poorman looked good too though.  I don't want to say he was handcuffed, but that first drive was 1 short pass and like 9 runs.  They definitely were easing him into it.  That entire first quarter was very conservative.  Lots of runs.  Kind of what you expect breaking in a freshman QB.  When Fulford came in I think 2 of his first 3 plays were passes including a deep ball to Ruth for 52 yds.

Mitchell looked good today.  It's hard to know how excited to get though because he's looked good against everyone but the elite teams for a while now.  But he did exactly what they needed him to do today.  Evans-Morris ran well.  He seems to be the #2 back right now.  He also had a nice kick return.

Defense looked good against the run.  Vidal and Mihoci clogged up the middle and as usual trying to run wide is futile with Kappas' preference for speed on the edges.  Their pursuit closes so quickly.  They got some decent pressure on 3rd downs, but I think only one sack maybe.  The secondary was tested by Malik Adams.  He pushed them and did end up catching a TD late, but I thought after the 1st qtr they did a nice job on him.  Even when he caught his score on a fade it was the 3rd straight time they ran it.  Berry broke up the pass the first 2 attempts and then cramped up on the 3rd one. 

My guess is we see all 3 QB's again next Saturday.  Obviously they'll dismantle Etta, but that night game at BW the following week will be good for the QB's.  A bit more hostility than today. 

[Desertraider]

I watched almost all of the game.  Quick thoughts...

I thought today Fulford looked the best.  He definitely has a big arm and he's athletic.  He seemed to roll out and throw on the run pretty well.  Poorman looked good too though.  I don't want to say he was handcuffed, but that first drive was 1 short pass and like 9 runs.  They definitely were easing him into it.  That entire first quarter was very conservative.  Lots of runs.  Kind of what you expect breaking in a freshman QB.  When Fulford came in I think 2 of his first 3 plays were passes including a deep ball to Ruth for 52 yds.

Mitchell looked good today.  It's hard to know how excited to get though because he's looked good against everyone but the elite teams for a while now.  But he did exactly what they needed him to do today.  Evans-Morris ran well.  He seems to be the #2 back right now.  He also had a nice kick return.

Defense looked good against the run.  Vidal and Mihoci clogged up the middle and as usual trying to run wide is futile with Kappas' preference for speed on the edges.  Their pursuit closes so quickly.  They got some decent pressure on 3rd downs, but I think only one sack maybe.  The secondary was tested by Malik Adams.  He pushed them and did end up catching a TD late, but I thought after the 1st qtr they did a nice job on him.  Even when he caught his score on a fade it was the 3rd straight time they ran it.  Berry broke up the pass the first 2 attempts and then cramped up on the 3rd one. 

My guess is we see all 3 QB's again next Saturday.  Obviously they'll dismantle Etta, but that night game at BW the following week will be good for the QB's.  A bit more hostility than today.

Couldn't have said it better myself. However, I was expecting more from Kennedy and Hargrove. Both had quiet days (i.e. no big plays). The absence of a big play was un-nerving. Just so used to Mount getting a 60+ yrd run or pass for a TD. The game plan was conservative and perhaps needed to be. The D was ok. Granted the shoes they have to fill are HUGE but they didn't leave me impressed. Had pressure, but only 1 sack. Made a few stops but seemed to struggle late to get off the field. Oh well. It is game 1 and hopefully by the BW game (the first game I will attend this year) the Raiders will be clicking.

I think Fulford is the starter next week and I want to see what tweaks get made during the week. All tolled - Mount is 1-0 and that is the best start to a season you can have.

BTW: No internet stream is better than a bad one. I turned it off after 5 minutes and listened to the dulcet tones of Big Noah Hiles on WRMU!

[Dr. Acula]

I wonder how much of the lack of big play was because of play calling.  They really didn't throw the ball down the field at all outside of a couple tries (one being the 52 yarder to Ruth).  I was hoping for them to just come out and blow the doors off of NCW, but then I tempered that and settled into more of a "this team is going to improve week to week as they play together".  There's an eternity from now until the JCU game.  They're going to grow up immensely between now and then.

If I had to ask one concerning thing it would be this:  We know that we have 22 really good players.  But how many great players do we have?  You have to have some to win it all.  You need a Lally and a Nemeth.  Guys who are difference makers against anyone. 

[purple]

 I was wrong about Fulford starting but right about what I saw in practice. I think he's the kind of QB that can make us recall Terrance Scott, except he's 6'2" and hasn't finished growing. Kid is a stud.

[reality check]

The write-up on the ONU website makes that final play at Utica sound very controversial.  Didn't see it so I don't know but supposedly it bounced between two Polar Bears and appeared to be in the hands of both (dual possession) in the end zone and still called incomplete;game over.  Crazy ending to a crazy game.

[Spurrier]

Watched the game on a very clear stream provided by Utica...it indeed looked like the catch was made in the end zone...regardless, the polar bears held a 17 point lead with 6 minutes left and the ball when things went horribly wrong

[boobyhasgameyo]

The write-up on the ONU website makes that final play at Utica sound very controversial.  Didn't see it so I don't know but supposedly it bounced between two Polar Bears and appeared to be in the hands of both (dual possession) in the end zone and still called incomplete;game over.  Crazy ending to a crazy game.

It was strange.  The refs took their sweet time before indicating it was an incomplete pass too. 

But the ONU players weren't exactly freaking out about it either.  I found that to be odd if it was indeed a catch.  Then a few minutes later both teams were huddled together at midfield praying or something.  So if ONU was indeed hosed then they took it about as graciously as anyone could hope to expect. 

[Spurrier]

I can explain our players and coaches reaction...it's called class

[edward de vere]

Just a darn shame Fulford might turn out to be such a great replacement for Taurice Scott.  Otherwise, he could be a great replacement for  . . . Logan Nemeth!

[raiderpa]

I thought Fulford looked the best, reminded me of Taurice.  Don't know if I like Poorman's release...looks funky... A slow start and for Mount fans (very spoiled), I am sure they were sitting there or watching the feed with negative thoughts on the slow start.  I think the play calling was for the benefit of the youth and made very good sense.
The Wesleyan receiver was very good.  A good start and things will get better each week.

I never realized what a bad team Matt Campbell inherited...Iowa just dominating them in every phase...The Hawkeyes looked like they were practicing their offense.  Iowa State looked clueless and slow on defense, and the Cyclone QB was horrible, worse than clueless.   Felt bad for Campbell, but am confident he can get it turned around in a few years...  It will be a monumental task.

[D O.C.]

Yes, I tried to count.

109 players listed on the roster for UMU.
32 African-Americans.
11 players from Florida.

Is this something that's been evolving in the program or I'm finally aware of it?

[Toph]

I made the relatively short trip (for me) east to Rocky Mount yesterday.  Fulford would be my QB going forward.  The offense looked more in sync, much more explosive, and flat out better.  Defensively the front seven didn't bring as much pressure as I've grown accustomed to seeing from Mount Union in recent years. 

It'll be interesting to see how they grow this season.

[boobyhasgameyo]

I can explain our players and coaches reaction...it's called class

Right.  Class might describe the team's getting together.  But it wouldn't be lacking in class for the receiver to show emotion in the moment if he felt the ref made a wrong call.  But I didn't really see him do that.  Wouldn't that be sort of indicative to you that maybe he knew they were right? 

Unless he did have a conniption and I missed it.  That's possible too. 

[Dr. Acula]

Yes, I tried to count.

109 players listed on the roster for UMU.
32 African-Americans.
11 players from Florida.

Is this something that's been evolving in the program or I'm finally aware of it?

That is only the varsity roster.  The freshmen roster is listed separately in case you wanted to look at the complete roster.

To answer this, I do a state-by-state breakdown of the freshmen each year when the roster is posted.  FL has been the 2nd most represented state (after OH, of course) for a number of years.  There may have been a year where PA was, but the FL thing is not new within the last couple years or anything.  GA is the state that is newer to the mix, but seems to be gaining for traction for recruiting. 

[Dr. Acula]

If anyone needs to kill some time during lunch Mount has the freshmen roster up already.  The 150 number floated out there was a little high.  They did end up with 140 reporting though.  It looks like they really hit MI hard in recruiting this year.

Freshmen by position:

DB--21
DL--26
K--5
LB--20
OL--24
QB--10
RB--9
WR--25

Freshmen by home state:

OH--55
FL--22
MI--16
PA--12
GA--7
IN--6
CA, VA--4
MD, NY, TX--2
KY, ME, NC, NJ, OK, OR, TN, WA--1

D.O.C., here is the freshmen class by state post from earlier this year.  FYI.