FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[DagarmanSpartan]

WOWSERS!!!

Back in my time at CWRU (early 90s), Notre Dame College was a WOMEN'S college, and a common off-campus location for CWRU guys to go looking for brides.  More than one of my fraternity brothers ended up marrying a NDC gal.

It's amazing how times have changed!

Since they will be giving scholarships, I presume that means that they won't be DIII.

At what level do they plan to compete?

[DagarmanSpartan]

Never mind.  I just checked their website.

They're going to be NAIA.

I wonder if Case will schedule them?  That'd be another potentially interesting cross-town rivalry.

Is NAIA, given that it is technically scholarship football, a higher level of competition than Division III?

[blue4now]

ND will be a club sport this fall and a DII in 2010.  more opps for neo kids.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Is NAIA, given that it is technically scholarship football, a higher level of competition than Division III?

There is a thread on the General Board covering this topic:
http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4504.0

There is a difference in opinion about this all around.  I would say the top of the mountain DIII teams would probably beat a Top Tier NAIA school, but that is just my opinion.

[HScoach]

In my less than humble opinion, the top of D3 is much better than the top of NAIA.  But the bottom of D3 (Hiram) is much worse than the bottom of NAIA.

I've seen too many examples of local HS kids, including those that I either coached or coached against, that went to Malone or Walsh and played early compared to kids that went to Mount and never saw the field.  If it was just a player or two, I'd dismiss it.  But it's happened too many times.

[raiderguy]

This was in the "opinion" column of the Royal Purple at WW. A follow up to that in depth expose' of all the benefits athletes receive at WW. It doesn't sound like he had too much fun there. Anyone who has watched the last couple of Stagg Bowls will surely recognize the name of the player. He was a beast.

It appears there is way too much emphasis on winning football games at UWWW!

From the sound of it he didn't receive his degree...something LK would not be happy about. I somehow don't think this is the way it is at MUC. Someone can enlighten me if I have this misconception.



My experience as a football player
AJ Raebel
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Opinion
PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 The Royal Purple,

I want to share my experience as a football player here in WW. I was about as center stage as a defense player gets. I got clothes, tuition, cleats, gloves, food and gym passes. I paid for all of them. I missed classes, missed tests, and missed assignments. I failed. Preferential treatment for athletes is a myth. Even the story that inspired the headline, "Spoiled athletes need reality check" ends with the cops being called on him. How is this spoiling?

When it comes to weight room access, we should be spoiled. We make the school a lot of money. More than most people realize despite being DIII. We should be held to a higher standard than students ATHLETICALLY. We should have free access to weight rooms. Did you know? When football players show up to football camp, they have to deliver the lofts to each and every room in wells east and west. We do this so that we don't have to pay for our dorm room that we sleep in during camps. We have to pay about $200 dollars for food at esker during camps. We have to pay for weight room access. We have to pay for our own practice cleats, game cleats, turf cleats, gloves and everything else besides helmet and shoulder pads. We paid for our national runners-up rings! Here's a list of the freebies I received at whitewater: 5 shorts, 5 shirts, my locker room name tag, 1 national championship ring.

Academically, I've failed more classes than most. My major is mathematics, my minor is coaching. I've failed more coaching classes than math classes. The coaches didn't even hold us to different standards academically. I've failed from teachers associated with football. The truth is, with the high level of competition in WW, if you miss a lift, miss a film session, miss a practice... You are going to get chewed out and you aren't going to play. If you miss a class, miss an assignment, miss a test... you fail, but you don't have the teacher pull you into their office to scream at you for an hour. When you hear about football players never showing up to class, it's not because they don't have to, it's because they would rather fail a class than lose the next football game. School is harder in WW because you're a football player. I've told professors that I can't take the final during the scheduled time because I'm traveling to Salem for the national championship game and they get mad because it's a hassle. They think this is unfair to the other students and that this is preferential treatment. One could argue that, but I, as a player, don't have a choice. I just love football, we arn't here for any other reason than that. It makes our life harder in every way, but we don't know anything else.

Media coverage turns every story into either how great the football players are on the field, or how bad they are off the field. I bet most people don't know that I like to play the piano when life gets hard. Brian Ryczkowski, Steve Wagner and Luke Nelson love to get up at five in the morning and go hunting before classes. We as a team sang Garth Brooks every day in the locker room. Cal Schmitt built a projector for their living room. Jeff Donovan helps coach the offensive coordinator's son's little league team. Instead all stories either cover the football field, or the police blotter.

Why do we do it? We the players weren't even sure sometimes. I've sat in the locker room many days and overheard several conversations of contemplating quitting. Life would be easier if we didn't play football, but a hell of a lot less fun. I don't know why this battle has arisen, but before snapping to any judgments about anyone, get to know them first. Especially if you're a journalist.

AJ Raebel,
Former Warhawk football player

Look out somehow I don't think there is an oppology coming to the "Journalist" anytime soon. More likely a legal blind sided sack!

Hunting...Look out their players have guns! Win at all costs

[SaintsFAN]

wow

[HScoach]

That was one very weird letter.  Not sure what he was trying to say. 

I'm not sure what was more shocking.  That he bad mouthed his experience and schooling or that team sang Garth Brooks songs together?

[DagarmanSpartan]

B4N,

Its not JUST the fact they lose 14 seniors and Dan Whalen --- which is alot bigger loss than you think.  Where would CWRU have been last year if they lost him in 2nd Quarter of Week 1 to an injury?  Definitely not 10-0. 

Maybe not.  But if Hvorka ends up coming to CWRU, he's got enough talent to become the next Whalen, and he'll have a year as Whalen's understudy by the time we play JCU.

We may not be 10-0, but I suspect that we'll still be able to give JCU a competitive match-up.

If the '10 JCU game is anything like our '09 home/season opener, then it could end up being that year's "Heritage Game." 

The "Heritage Game" is a new promotion that is being introduced this season for the Kenyon game.  During the game, CWRU's players will wear uniforms with Case Institute of Technology/Western Reserve University references of some kind.  It's a way of recognizing CWRU's predecessor institutions.

[Small but Slow]

In my less than humble opinion, the top of D3 is much better than the top of NAIA.  But the bottom of D3 (Hiram) is much worse than the bottom of NAIA.

I've seen too many examples of local HS kids, including those that I either coached or coached against, that went to Malone or Walsh and played early compared to kids that went to Mount and never saw the field.  If it was just a player or two, I'd dismiss it.  But it's happened too many times.

The NAIA regulations ensure relative parity compared to DIII.  Academic requirements are not much less than NCAA scholarship levels and sometimes more difficult for students from larger high schools to qualify.  DIII has the ability to accept some kids who may not qualify and give them an opportunity to succeed academically, as well as on the field. For a number of reasons, it seems, top level DIII players have greater commitment to the game than NAIA or even partial scholarship DII and FCS athletes.

[Small but Slow]

I got the quote thing right that time.  That's what I get for using the phone on Post Patterns.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I got the quote thing right that time.  That's what I get for using the phone on Post Patterns.

You need to get an IPhone!

[Small but Slow]

I got the quote thing right that time.  That's what I get for using the phone on Post Patterns.

You need to get an IPhone!

I just had to download the right application.

How's spring practice going?  Heard you've got good numbers.

[Knightstalker]

hscoach,

You should bring the fam down to the "Battle of Ohio"... Indians vs. Reds later this month.  They are in town on May 22-24

I'll be there with my Family.  Wife bought me tix for my birthday (May 23rd).  We're parking over by the Hofbrauhaus (might enjoy a few fine german beverages beforehand) and walking over the purple people bridge to the game.  Couple of the wife's cousins will be there as well (although I don't think Ceplauch will be one of them).

JK,

I don't think Cepluch ever leaves Trenton.  I haven't seen him since his wedding... and before that it was in 2003 for my wedding.  We'll talk beforehand to see if we're in the same area.  I usually pregame at Beer Cellar nearby and ride the boat over to the game.

Also... have you heard about the book being written about Terry Malone?  I'm being interviewed for it coming up shortly about my senior season (he won his 300th in week 8 that year).  Pretty cool to think my high school coach is going to be the subject of a book.

hscoach --- boo!  Though I certainly understand.  What do you do after the college football season is over and you are left with the Browns?  The only way they are 90% is if you count the losses! 

"Would the next person that sees ANYBODY throw anything onto this field, point them out and get 'em outta here.  You don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!!"  -Sam Wyche

I haven't followed the Browns since they fired Marty.  So after I get back from our rightful trip to Salem, I either work on the race car or hibernate until next football season. 

What type of car HSCoach?  I used to be half owner and crew chief (and crew) of a micro sprint.  I also used to race a 71 gran torino in some late model races in VA and NC while I was in the Navy.  Only drove into three walls.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I got the quote thing right that time.  That's what I get for using the phone on Post Patterns.

You need to get an IPhone!

I just had to download the right application.

How's spring practice going?  Heard you've got good numbers.

We have had 4 practices this week.  Consistantly seeing about 50 kids per day.  Great Attitudes and Work Ethic from the kids right now.  I'm planning on stopping by your practice this afternoon.  Still from 3-6?