FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[reality check]

Vettorel was the one I was trying to remember.  I think he was a Junior in College, but had Soph. eligibility due to an injury.

So you're saying he might still have two years left?  Good news for the Purple Raiders.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Unfortunatlely not.  As far as I know, once you start your eligibility, you have 5 years (10 semesters) to complete it.  Although there may be some provisions for the BYU players who go on their missions and such.

[JK]

Who was the MUC QB before Ballard?

I know:
82-83 was Colao (1st team OAC both years)
84-85 was Woolf (1st team OAC both years)
86 was Gindlesberger (1st team OAC)
87 was Rybarczyk (1st team OAC)
88 was ? my guess is Rybarczyk, his career stats are listed as 85-88, but strange that he was All OAC in 87 and not in 88.
89 was ? my guess is Petro as a Jr.
90 was Petro (1st team OAC)
91 was ? Ballard I guess, his stats are listed as 91-93
92-93 was Ballard (1st team both years)

Then Borchert, Smeck, etc.  

In fact, I think that every QB to play at MUC except the years I have ? in were 1st team All-OAC at least once in their careers.  Nice run.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Who was the MUC QB before Ballard?

I know:
82-83 was Colao (1st team OAC both years)
84-85 was Woolf (1st team OAC both years)
86 was Gindlesberger (1st team OAC)
87 was Rybarczyk (1st team OAC)
88 was ? my guess is Rybarczyk, his career stats are listed as 85-88, but strange that he was All OAC in 87 and not in 88.
89 was ? my guess is Petro as a Jr.
90 was Petro (1st team OAC)
91 was ? Ballard I guess, his stats are listed as 91-93
92-93 was Ballard (1st team both years)

Then Borchert, Smeck, etc.  

In fact, I think that every QB to play at MUC except the years I have ? in were 1st team All-OAC at least once in their careers.  Nice run.

Ballard's first year was 1991.  He transferred in as a Sophomore from Wilmington (who was NAIA at the time).
Petro was QB in 1990 (that was my Freshmen year, his Senior Year).

I'm not sure if Petro was the starter in 1989 or not.

"Small but Slow" was there when Rybarczyk was a starter.  He has told me stories about Rybarczyk slacking off his Senior year.  A little too much partying at the ATO house maybe...

[JK]

Partying at the ATO house?  Say it ain't so...

I never drank any adult beverages there 
(especially not during the summer of '96)

Looking at what I posted is as amazing as MUC's run in general.  Every MUC starting QB since Nineteen-freaking- EIGHTY TWO  has been first team all OAC at least once in their career.

Some people forget about MUC before Ballard.  Growing up in the Alliance area, I remember the mid-80's, especially since Woolf and Kring were both guys my Dad coached in High School.  They weren't what they are now, but they were pretty good back then.

[bushman]

This has been stated many times before, Rocco is not the answer for QB  Time to recruit another superstar.  He must be able to run and gun.   LK's offense has always been based on a star QB.  Can Rocco become that person?  Maybe, but from what I observed this last season, he's got a long way to go.

[reality check]

As big a stud as Shorts is at WR, it seems to make sense to go back to him at QB if you guys really think Rocco can't cut it.  Shorts would obviously get more touches.  He'd take some pressure off the RB whether it's Panchik or whomever fills Nate's shoes.  He has plenty of quality WR options to distribute to even if he's not one of them anymore.  Shorts could have a green light to tuck and run when he felt pressure and allow himself to be an athlete.  Is it a stretch to say he couldn't be a 1000 yard rusher and a decent thrower?  I mean it would be a different offensive strategy but maybe that's what MUC needs to follow up on the Greg and Nate years.  Just a thought.

[JK]

Given his speed and athletic ability, it'd be scary to see Shorts back there scrambling around.  If he broke the pocket, look out...

[purple]

 I'm looking for a picture of Mount players holding the trophy up. I have good pix of all the Championship teams doing that and need some help locating one for the 2008 team. e-mail is jkmds@aol.com. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

[JK]

Micheli was a great scrambler, but Shorts would be a whole new level.  Plus imagine the possibilities with QB draw, rollouts, and maybe even some spread option looks, a la Pat White at West Virginia.  Lots of options there for LK the mad scientist to work with.

As a fan of an opponent, all I can say is...scary!

[HScoach]

As big a stud as Shorts is at WR, it seems to make sense to go back to him at QB if you guys really think Rocco can't cut it.  Shorts would obviously get more touches.  He'd take some pressure off the RB whether it's Panchik or whomever fills Nate's shoes.  He has plenty of quality WR options to distribute to even if he's not one of them anymore.  Shorts could have a green light to tuck and run when he felt pressure and allow himself to be an athlete.  Is it a stretch to say he couldn't be a 1000 yard rusher and a decent thrower?  I mean it would be a different offensive strategy but maybe that's what MUC needs to follow up on the Greg and Nate years.  Just a thought.

My sentiments exactly.  Anyone with half a memory knows where I think Rocco should be next season.  Standing beside LK.

Only way I'd be satisifed with Rocco under center is if LK recruits a stud freshman QB to rotate in to allow the youngster to get ready for the playoffs.  Ala Greg Micheli taking over for Mike Jorris.

Personally, I think Cecil will be the QB next season, but if LK thinks his best chance to win is with someone else at QB and Shorts at WR, who am I to argue?  I think he's more than proven he knows what's best.

[purple]

 I don't think we've seen enough of Rocco to say he can't do it.  After all he was LK's No. 2 all year.  It seemed to me when LK let him throw ,he was called upon to make deep throws down the middle,really difficult throws, and he delivered. The kid can really throw the ball and with a great receiving core coming back...... No one thought Gary Smeck was the man either his first year.

[section13raiderfan]

Gary Smeck the first half of the season and Gary Smeck the last half of the season were different players. He learned on the fly.  Rocco has the kind of stance that invites the blitz IMHO. Its hard to be quick and nimble with your butt cheeks resting on your heels. His stance nullifies his height advantage. hes looking over the D with the eyes of a smaller QB. Strong arm though....not much arc to his passes...but they get there pretty quick. He has exploitable traits though. He will have to develop on the fly as well. My guess is a two QB system is already in the playbook. 

Any recruit news yet?

[michael.fineman]

I would like to see MUC use Shorts like Florida uses Jarrod Fason.  Not as much as the main QB, but get Cecil the ball in more creative ways.

This is the first year in a long time when we don't know who the next QB will be.  Looking back you could pretty well tell who the next QB was because whomever it was, they got PT the year before.  It may go all they way back to the Ballard-Borchert "hand off" when we didn't really know in the off season who the next QB would be.

Ballard: 1991-1993
Borchert:  1994-1997
Smeck:  1998-2000
Adamson:  2001-2002
Burghardt: 2002-2003 (shared time with both Adamson and Bruney)
Bruney:  2003-2004
Jorris:  2005-2006
Michelli: 2006-2008

Edit:  Does anyone know who the backup QB to Ballard was?  I seem to remember there was an underclassman who was maybe a Soph. in 1993 who didn't return in 1994, which opened the door for Borchert to be a 4 year starter.

Actually the backup for 93 was a freshman named Nate Sinning.  He left after August of his sophomore year because he didn't work hard enough in the off-season.  He thought he was the guaranteed starter until 2 freshman started pushing him.  He didn't like it and left.  If you remember, Borchert was not the full time QB his freshman year until about 4 games into the season.  He shared time with another freshman named Mike something I think.  They were in a battle for the QB job, but obviously Borchert won the spot.

[rscl70]

I would like to see MUC use Shorts like Florida uses Jarrod Fason.  Not as much as the main QB, but get Cecil the ball in more creative ways.

This is the first year in a long time when we don't know who the next QB will be.  Looking back you could pretty well tell who the next QB was because whomever it was, they got PT the year before.  It may go all they way back to the Ballard-Borchert "hand off" when we didn't really know in the off season who the next QB would be.

Ballard: 1991-1993
Borchert:  1994-1997
Smeck:  1998-2000
Adamson:  2001-2002
Burghardt: 2002-2003 (shared time with both Adamson and Bruney)
Bruney:  2003-2004
Jorris:  2005-2006
Michelli: 2006-2008

Edit:  Does anyone know who the backup QB to Ballard was?  I seem to remember there was an underclassman who was maybe a Soph. in 1993 who didn't return in 1994, which opened the door for Borchert to be a 4 year starter.

Actually the backup for 93 was a freshman named Nate Sinning.  He left after August of his sophomore year because he didn't work hard enough in the off-season.  He thought he was the guaranteed starter until 2 freshman started pushing him.  He didn't like it and left.  If you remember, Borchert was not the full time QB his freshman year until about 4 games into the season.  He shared time with another freshman named Mike something I think.  They were in a battle for the QB job, but obviously Borchert won the spot.

I don't know how I missed Nate when I looked at the '93 roster a few days ago.  I do remember Mr. Sinning and I remember being disappointed when he wasn't the QB at the start of the '94 season.  Needless to say, I was not disappointed for long.