FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[BergAlum]

On another non-Mount Union note:

Does anyone know why Ott and Musky are playing this weekend rather than Oct 7 where the game would logically be placed based on the conference schedule? 

Supposedly the coaches of the two teams wanted a mid season bye and agreed to meet instead in week 2, and the OAC approved the change of date

[SaintsFAN]

I don't find it that surprising. I mean from a cost stand point the $$ for Mount is similar to other D3's (no I do not have a spreadsheet to illustrate). The overwhelming majority of these guys know they are not going to NFL so there is little risk of moving for greater exposure and they know they will need something more than the ability to read a defense and throw for 5 TDs - ya know a degree. They chose Mount for a reason, and yes I am sure the football team and history was a part of that.

I would think that for the majority of them the football team is by far the biggest factor in the decision to choose Mount. 

I could see maybe transferring closer to home (FL nay not have D3 but they have other programs closer) for whatever reason but aside from that... I know 'but they would prefer to play (yada yada)'. Sorry but I would prefer to see limited duty at Mount and go deep in playoffs etc...to going 1-9 or 2-8 as a starter at Earlham, Hiram, Etta, or Wilmington (and back to the academic side...Mount is equal to these or better in every regard).

I'm not sure this is an accurate portrayal.  These are 3 kids good enough to start for Mount.  They're not going to Wilm.  What if one transferred to Wabash?  Or W&J?  Or Franklin?  They'd be in a pretty darn good position to win a lot of games and play in the playoffs.  I think they didn't transfer because they're all highly competitive and think they can help the team win a ring.  I also think they'd all be correct in that thinking.   

Man, everyone is really high on W&J this year  .  I guess we'll see..

It's our mandated Mount allegiance to Sirianni!     FWIW since it's a hypothetical transfer scenario I was thinking about 2018 and 2019 W&J in a TMC-less PAC when I mentioned W&J.             

I was totally kidding around BUT they were dominated last year in KY and I'm hoping TMC can ruin the Kickoff Prediction of an undefeated regular season for W&J

[Dr. Acula]

Media guide is up. Still many freshmen and sophomores in 2 deep which is interesting.
Freshmen backup at C, DE, CB, LB, RB, S and many sophomores starting/backup. This is good and bad. Good for our future and we recruited well, but a possible lack of college football readiness and physicality. I like it though...it shows hunger and guys always competing. Only thing I don't like is not seeing Crenshaw among other guys on the roster, let's hope it's just an injury.

Backup DT freshman Anthony Howell...6'6", 290.  Good grief.  What's that kid gonna look like after a couple yrs in the weight room??

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Media guide is up. Still many freshmen and sophomores in 2 deep which is interesting.
Freshmen backup at C, DE, CB, LB, RB, S and many sophomores starting/backup. This is good and bad. Good for our future and we recruited well, but a possible lack of college football readiness and physicality. I like it though...it shows hunger and guys always competing. Only thing I don't like is not seeing Crenshaw among other guys on the roster, let's hope it's just an injury.

Backup DT freshman Anthony Howell...6'6", 290.  Good grief.  What's that kid gonna look like after a couple yrs in the weight room??

Doesn't look out of shape in HS either:

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

How many players are they down to?

http://www.oxyathletics.com/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20170914wzh4rc

[theaprof]

How many players are they down to?

http://www.oxyathletics.com/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20170914wzh4rc

I remember a year when Alliance High School only had 17 players on their roster.  I think it was Joe Montgomery's (Don Montgomery's son) senior year.

I don't believe they forfeited any games that year.

[Dr. Acula]

Media guide is up. Still many freshmen and sophomores in 2 deep which is interesting.
Freshmen backup at C, DE, CB, LB, RB, S and many sophomores starting/backup. This is good and bad. Good for our future and we recruited well, but a possible lack of college football readiness and physicality. I like it though...it shows hunger and guys always competing. Only thing I don't like is not seeing Crenshaw among other guys on the roster, let's hope it's just an injury.

Backup DT freshman Anthony Howell...6'6", 290.  Good grief.  What's that kid gonna look like after a couple yrs in the weight room??

Doesn't look out of shape in HS either:

Definitely not.  Actually looks pretty lean.  I guess when you stretch 290 over a 6'6" frame it doesn't look how I think 290 looks.  I'm definitely going to keep an eye out to see if/when he gets in tomorrow.

[Pat Coleman]

How many players are they down to?

http://www.oxyathletics.com/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20170914wzh4rc

36 this week:
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2017/09/occidental-calls-off-game-with-pacific

[Bombers798891]

And part of the issue is, of course, the positional distribution of those players. 36 might be enough, if everything broke right, to field a team, but if you have five healthy QBs and only 3 healthy OL players, it doesn't do you much good

[rscl70]

If it's already been asked and answered please forgive me, but WHY does Occidental only have 36 players?

[jknezek]

If it's already been asked and answered please forgive me, but WHY does Occidental only have 36 players?

If you visit the SCIAC boards you will definitely get the feeling "lack of institutional support" is playing a role. The new AD is not held in high esteem by those posters, and the President takes a few shots as well. The coach retired at the end of July and the new guy, in his much quoted remarks, didn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence.

Now a few posters on a football board probably don't tell the whole story, but it fits the effects we are seeing...

[mr_mom]

If it's already been asked and answered please forgive me, but WHY does Occidental only have 36 players?

Read the article that Pat posted.  Started with 47, 9 injured in their first game, 2 quit.

[mr_mom]

When you get home from your kid's HS football game tonight, remember to get your OAC Pick-Em selections in.

[Desertraider]

Battle of former Mount greats...now coaches. Matt Kostelnik's Avon Lake Shoreman defeat Jason Hall's Westlake Demons by a score of 38-0. Ouch. of course last week Kostelnik faced another great in Mike Elder and Avon and went down 31-6. And now...is it kickoff yet? Roll Raiders!

[Dr. Acula]

Congrats to Josh Petruccelli on the first of hopefully many touchdowns.  10-0 Raiders. 

He only had to wait about a quarter.  Petruccelli from 17 yards out.  31-3. 

Mount D with 3 takeaways in the first 20 minutes of play.  Berry and Cox with picks, White with a fumble recovery. 

Hooks blasts the kick returner forcing the 4th turnover of the half on the heels of a Raider TD. 

Robert Powell is the first QB in off the bench.  He immediately rips off a 40 yard run.