FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Raider 68]

I was at the Ohio State/Iowa game, but checked the Raider game a few times before the 3;30 kickoff.

if you look back at Mount's first four games you see:

Game 1 against Ferrum - a team that the Raiders should not have scheduled 55- 6

Game 2 against JCU - a team with talent a goal of beating the Raiders in their last meeting
                    and they played that way. Won 38-31

Game 3 against BW - a team that started the season on a positive note, but fell the the Raiders
                    52-14. This was Mount's best game

Game 4 against Otterbein - a team that is struggling, but came to play and lost 21-0


A HC's job is to prepare his team for each contest regardless of the opponents record. Good coaches do that each week.
Some don't and those that don't will fall by the wayside.  For 4 years now, D3Fan and I have posted our displeasure with the results that these Raiders have provided. Are they good enough, yes if the standards are to win the conference. To advance beyond a conference title is another story. Mount will win the conference, maybe, but Game 4 is an indication that all the great aspects of Championship football at Mount Union are not in place. When was the last time that the Raiders did not score in the 1st Quarter, it has been a long, long time. Motivation to succeed each week comes from the top. Players play to their ability, coaches take that to another level to prepare, instill the desire to excel in each game regardless of the opponent. So here we are with 6 remaining games, will we all be posting the same concerns going into week 10, if so then the Raider brain trust will not have learned or improved at all?

[SimpleCoach]

I get it that this team is held to the highest standards.  That's real hard to live up to week in and week out.  But we were so off the mark against OTT, it made it look like we have no standards.

SC.

[Desertraider]

Had a day to think about it and cool off. Nope. It was worse than what we all saw. Dartt essentially had no answer for Otts D through 3 quarters (the same Ott that pasted by Marietta) but to make matters worse - Ely had no answer for Otts O. It seemed like they ran the QB draw a dozen times and on every one the LBs peeled and vacated the center of the field. Ely was mystified by the wizardry of the Ott OC.
What I am waiting for are the apologists - "so and so was banged up" or "our corners....". This was Otterbein and Mount made them look like world beaters. I have walked through the locker room and the coaches facility and the Gulling Center. Its time for a hard talk with the players and make sure they are all aware - the COACHES have won Championships, and Rings, and accolades - these players have won nothing. Need to stop living off of the Old Glory.

[MUC 2008]

Had a day to think about it and cool off. Nope. It was worse than what we all saw. Dartt essentially had no answer for Otts D through 3 quarters (the same Ott that pasted by Marietta) but to make matters worse - Ely had no answer for Otts O. It seemed like they ran the QB draw a dozen times and on every one the LBs peeled and vacated the center of the field. Ely was mystified by the wizardry of the Ott OC.
What I am waiting for are the apologists - "so and so was banged up" or "our corners....". This was Otterbein and Mount made them look like world beaters. I have walked through the locker room and the coaches facility and the Gulling Center. Its time for a hard talk with the players and make sure they are all aware - the COACHES have won Championships, and Rings, and accolades - these players have won nothing. Need to stop living off of the Old Glory.

It starts at the top. If the players have that sort of attitude, it's because the coaches foster it. If the players aren't prepared for the vaunted Otterbein schemes, that starts with Genius Geoffrey.

[Dr. Acula]

The simplest way I can evaluate yesterday is this: they beat Otterbein 21-0 in a disjointed and uninspired effort.  When the standard was actually in place Mount's backups would have been up 21-0 at half on that Otterbein squad.  We used to half jokingly say that Mount's backups would finish top 3 in the OAC.  Now we just have to be thankful there hasn't been one of those really good JCU teams around.

Some stats from yesterday:

The 21 points was the fewest Mount has scored against Ott in 33 years. 

Ott's 286 yds and 16 first downs (tied) were their season highs offensively.

Ott has not scored in the first half this season.  The 7 points allowed in the first half yesterday was their best defensive effort so far unseating the 16-0 halftime deficit against OWU.

[D3fanboy]

Winning the OAC is not guaranteed. I have concerns about the game against Marietta...

Seriously? I am worried about the game with Capital.

the first "Dartt Special" was probably ONU in '21, but one that was alarming was in '22 vs Capital.  35-0 Mount at half, but then a 14-14 deadlock in the 2nd half...with the starters playing deep into the 4th quarter.  His ability to completely take the foot off of the gas and drain all energy is quite incredible

We all know that you can't fire your daughter's husband and father to your grandkids, but hopefully there are some talks within the LK coaching tree about a "promotion" for one of the greatest minds to ever patrol the Mount Union sidelines, I mean he has a 93.8% winning percentage.  Some school can sell that as an OL or TE coach, or Offensive Analyst

[pradierguy]

Rapid improvement and a deep playoff run is imperative to prevent an uncomfortable conversation in January.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

LK is no longer the Athletic Director.  Is he the one who would make the call?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

New Top 25 is out.

Mount union drops from 4 to 5.

UW-Lacrosse lost to UW-Plattville and falls from 3 to 12.

UW-River Falls beat UW-Eau Claire jumps from 6 to 3

St. John's beat Augsburg and moves from 5 to 4.

[The Third Division]

One point is the reason Mount drops from 4 to 5

Am I insane for thinking it should be more obvious than this?

[MUC 2008]

Rapid improvement and a deep playoff run is imperative to prevent an uncomfortable conversation in January.

I like Fanboy's suggestion - a promotion, addition by subtraction, no one has to have hurt feelings. But that last part is a bonus; someone has to be the adult in the room because lord knows no one seems to want to be as of late.

[Pat Coleman]

One point is the reason Mount drops from 4 to 5

Am I insane for thinking it should be more obvious than this?

You got a number of good responses on X to this same question, so I hope you look at those, where I noted that Mount Union actually lost eight points and others noted that Mount Union fell even though UW-La Crosse also fell past them. St. John's and UW-River Falls both passed Mount Union.

[WRMUalum13]

One point is the reason Mount drops from 4 to 5

Am I insane for thinking it should be more obvious than this?

I think Pat answered it but also not every voter may have been tuned into the game and may have just registered it as just another UMU conference game shutout

[Pat Coleman]

Perhaps, but every voter knew Otterbein's record, because we provided it to them.

[pradierguy]

One point is the reason Mount drops from 4 to 5

Am I insane for thinking it should be more obvious than this?

The Third Division over simplifying something in an attempt to disparage Mount Union? I am shocked.