FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[raiderpa]

Don Meredith used the quote, however, I don't know if it was his originally....someone once attributed it to Bear Bryant...

Pat, I don't care about the Coach of the Year and I am sure LK would rather have the Natl' Championship.  Merry Christmas..

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

 Was LK setting up UWW for next year?  Keep the game close also helps the "sport" by not having a blowout?  Trying to give them confidence?  Only Coach K will ever know...

This is the most interesting theory I've read.   I hardly know what to say in response.  I suppose I should simply thank Coach K for sparing us the humilation.   

Too freakin' funny KD. 

It really was out of character for the D to play so soft.  Maybe MTU was aware that UWW could run the ball successfully on them, so they played the soft D so as to keep UWW in front of them and not give up the big play.  I don't want to take anything away from UWW, but the defensive game plan was very out of character for MTU.

UWW did bottle up the MTU offense after the 1st quarter, so Huge props for that.

I think that if UWW would have focused more on the run, earlier, UWW may have won.  Being up in the first Quarter allowed MTU to "play it safe" and not take chances on both sides of the ball.

I didn't mean to infer that UWW would have been humiliated.  But it just was a different game after the 1st quarter.

[seventiesraider]

Hey, Larry looked pretty darn happy at the rest stop in West Virginia Saturday night. Doubt he'd trade the team's accomplishment for a personal honor even if I think he clearly out coached LL for the majority of the 60 minutes. The AA awards were a done deal before the game and it seemed that most of the D3 crew was at least leaning towards a WW victory. Apparently they knew something we didn't and still don't.

Better the bride than the bridesmaid 8)

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Tough call on COY.

MTU had a weaker regular season, easier playoff run (all home games), and the return of Micheli and Kmic.  Even though they had to replace almost everyone else, having those two back definitely made things easier.

UWW had a tougher regular season, harder playoff run (2/4 games on the road), and they had to replace Beaver and Jones, as well as the rest of the starters already documented.

If I had to vote, prior to the Stagg bowl, I probably would have voted for LL also.

[HScoach]

LK should have been very happy.   He just beat a bigger, faster, stronger team by getting up early and then hanging on when his defense got tired. 

Without the quick bombs to Shorts, Whitewater might have been more likely to control the game with their running from the start.   I completely agree with those that have said that WWW didn't run the ball enough early.   Our discussions off the air often centered around the opinion that Whtewater was doing Mount a favor everytime they threw the ball in the first half.   Then in the second half, it sure seemed like Mount's tired defense played it safe to avoid given up a quick score.   

The mistake that put more pressure on the defense than what should have been was the Micheli fumble into the end zone.  I know the McClain INT return evened it out on the score board, but the long Mount drive that was inches away from being a TD and a 31-13 lead would have been a dagger to Whitewater.   The fumble recovery re-energized WWW and again put Mount's defense in a pressure situation.  Luckily it came up with the big play to ice it.

What I still don't understand is all the passing by Whitewater in the first 3 quarters when they had plenty of time and then all the running in the 4th quarter when they needed 3 scores to win?  That just doesn't make any sense. 

I had no problem with Mount's defensive scheme in the 4th quarter playing with a 3 score lead.  The last thing they needed was a tired defense being out of position and give up a quick score.   Now if they were only up 6 points, then the bend-but-don't-break defense would have been the wrong strategy.


As far as Coach of the Year goes, I have no problem with Leipold getting it.  Kehres has proven that getting to the Stagg is not a shock for Mount regardless of how much he has coming back.  However for Leipold, he's proving that Whitewater was more than just a great senior class with Beaver at the head.   I honestly think this season ranks right up there with the 1998 season in terms of coaching, but LK's history and record works against him when it comes to these awards. 

[reality check]

nor do I see a "check" in the league championship column for WW. 

Whitewater's league does.

http://www.wiacsports.com/football/08champ.html

Funny coincidence that the link has Nike listed as official sponsor of WIAC football so quite literally that page has info on a league championship and there's a "check" there to boot in the form of the Nike logo.  Ironic?!?

This whole season I kept being reminded of the quote (and I forgot who originally said it):

"He can take his, and beat yours; or, he can take yours, and beat his."

.....should be applied to Coach Kehres (especially this "rebuilding" year)

It's on someone's signature in Post Patterns.  The quote though is about Bear Bryant's ability to do just that and is attributed to Bum Phillips according to multiple internet search engines.

The AA awards were a done deal before the game and it seemed that most of the D3 crew was at least leaning towards a WW victory.

Seriously?  You now think that D3football.com was leaning towards UWW winning simply based on the fact that there were a lot of UWW guys on the All-America team.  To use some track lingo, I think you've stopped jumping to conclusions.  Instead it appears that you've started pole-vaulting to conclusions.  That's a stretch.


Mount fans

Enjoy number 10 already.  Nitpicking coach of the year in the shadow of the walnut and bronze is a bit much.  I don't know what difference it makes really.  LK isn't the coach of the year.  But he might be the best coach ever in NCAA football.  You all know that.  And you know that every media outlet isn't going to give him COY honors every single season.  He had the most productive RB in NCAA history and the most efficient QB in the NCAA coming into the season.  He won a weakened OAC with little trouble.  Maybe Liepold didn't deserve the honor either.  But he's a solid candidate and the voting shouldn't be based on who outcoached who in the Stagg Bowl.  I wouldn't have had a problem if the honor went to a coach that wasn't even in the championship.  Maybe it should have gone to Trine, or Wheaton or Franklin.  I dunno.  But I didn't see anyone complaining about Mike Hallett winning COY in the OAC last year.  And certainly noone was using the same logic in picking MH over LK in the OAC.  Just enjoy number 10.  Many of us would love number 1.

[Blutarsky]

hscoach:  Would agree that WW was bigger and stronger.  However, I felt we had an "athletic" (see:  "speed") advantage until the defense tired in the 4th quarter.  It was then that WW exerted their dominance along the line, and we didn't have the athleticism to counter their strength/size........but, "all's well that ends well".

Reality:  You're right....we should stop being greedy.  'Tis the season for giving.

[seventiesraider]

Actually I "jumped" to that conclusion based on reading the pre-game predictions

[Pat Coleman]

In those predictions, the five D3football.com staff went as follows: Three picked Mount Union, by an average of 13 points; two picked UWW, by an average of five.

[reality check]

Pat you beat me to it.  Of course, that's not counting a guest predicter from UMHB or the guy from warhawkfootball.com that (SURPRISE) picked UWW. 

But only 60% of the DIII staff picked MUC.  How dare you guys!!!   

[HSCTiger74]

The AA awards were a done deal before the game and it seemed that most of the D3 crew was at least leaning towards a WW victory.

Seriously?  You now think that D3football.com was leaning towards UWW winning simply based on the fact that there were a lot of UWW guys on the All-America team.  To use some track lingo, I think you've stopped jumping to conclusions.  Instead it appears that you've started pole-vaulting to conclusions.  That's a stretch.

RC, you may also be confusing the idea of "leaning" toward a particular team to win with "hoping" that the team will win. I may be leaning toward the idea that the Yankees will be a force in the AL East next season, but I'm hoping that they will be the first team in history to not win a game.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat you beat me to it.  Of course, that's not counting a guest predicter from UMHB or the guy from warhawkfootball.com that (SURPRISE) picked UWW. 

Well, he said D3 crew ... so I thought he meant the D3 crew ...

[reality check]

RC, you may also be confusing the idea of "leaning" toward a particular team to win with "hoping" that the team will win. I may be leaning toward the idea that the Yankees will be a force in the AL East next season, but I'm hoping that they will be the first team in history to not win a game.

I'm not confusing either "hoping" or "leaning".  The staff picked for MUC by a 3:2 ratio.  I have no idea what they hoped for but the facts state that the majority of D3football.com staff leaned towards the Purple Raiders.  Sometimes we see what we want to see no matter what the facts state.  That's what makes a fan a fan I suppose.

Pat

Totally agree with you.  I was looking at the crew being staff as well.  Hard to count a guy who runs the website for the opposing team unless you wanted to include Ric with a pick for Mount Union to cancel things out.

[mtfan]

Mount fans

Enjoy number 10 already.  Nitpicking coach of the year in the shadow of the walnut and bronze is a bit much.  I don't know what difference it makes really.  LK isn't the coach of the year.  But he might be the best coach ever in NCAA football.  You all know that.  And you know that every media outlet isn't going to give him COY honors every single season.  He had the most productive RB in NCAA history and the most efficient QB in the NCAA coming into the season.  He won a weakened OAC with little trouble.  Maybe Liepold didn't deserve the honor either.  But he's a solid candidate and the voting shouldn't be based on who outcoached who in the Stagg Bowl.  I wouldn't have had a problem if the honor went to a coach that wasn't even in the championship.  Maybe it should have gone to Trine, or Wheaton or Franklin.  I dunno.  But I didn't see anyone complaining about Mike Hallett winning COY in the OAC last year.  And certainly noone was using the same logic in picking MH over LK in the OAC.  Just enjoy number 10.  Many of us would love number 1.

I would have to agree with you RC with that statement!
I mean looking at what Speckman done with Williamette is quite an achievement at 11-1 after 3 dismall campaigns in '05, '06, and '07. Even with an early exit in the playoffs, i beleive he is pretty deserved for that accomplishment. Nothing against Lance either, he's done a terrific job at UWW and is deserving in his own right, but with that size of team and the talent assembled there, I could see success with someone with even lesser coaching skills.
And YES, no complaints here with #10, i will gladly enjoy the Walnut and Bronze this time of year far more than any walnut and dates in any holiday fruit cake!
Happy Holidays to all of you during this holiday season. Remember those that are less fortunate than ourselves as well as those in the armed services that are away from their families this holiday season. Keep them in our prayers and thoughts not only at this time, but throughout the year!

[seventiesraider]

UNCLE

Let's move on. Maybe jumping on the "talent" that tried to sing the National Anthem