FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[theaprof]

Nice to be on campus and have a casual chance to talk to Larry. I gotta say, driving around Alliance makes me gratfull for where I live. So much blight. abondoned homes, closed businesses in the Alliance area.

It's sad, but it seems the College is one of the only things doing well in Alliance these days.  I was just on campus last month and every time I go back it gets harder and harder to recognize.  Just perpetual improvements to campus.  It's hard to think that when I was graduating 7 years ago there was no Bracy Hall, no apartment style dorms and the frat houses were still alive in their ancient, less than clean glory.  Ahhh, the good old days...

Hey--SAE is still there--and so is ATO

[seventiesraider]

SAE house is looking good. ATO, not so much. New Welcome Center by the lakes will be nice. Amazing changes since I left the last time in May of 2002

[Dr. Acula]

Nice to be on campus and have a casual chance to talk to Larry. I gotta say, driving around Alliance makes me gratfull for where I live. So much blight. abondoned homes, closed businesses in the Alliance area.

It's sad, but it seems the College is one of the only things doing well in Alliance these days.  I was just on campus last month and every time I go back it gets harder and harder to recognize.  Just perpetual improvements to campus.  It's hard to think that when I was graduating 7 years ago there was no Bracy Hall, no apartment style dorms and the frat houses were still alive in their ancient, less than clean glory.  Ahhh, the good old days...

Hey--SAE is still there--and so is ATO

I know, but it's just not the same without them all in a row on Union.  I can't believe the ATO house hasn't been moved.  That's prime space and the house isn't exactly the finest structure on campus.

Last time I was there the new Welcome Center consisted of only steel beams and I'm not creative enough to envision it finished! 

[reality check]

From the "barely related to D-III" department...

Umpire ejects rowdy crowd from Mount Union

....well it was at least interesting to learn there is another Mount Union.

[seventiesraider]

....well it was at least interesting to learn there is another Mount Union.

Pennsylvania, Iowa, but only one with purple and white fire hydrants.

[skunks_sidekick]

Seventies.....the players at camp were selling really cool 2008 championship t-shirts.  Has a cool design, and I bought two.  It might have been something that has been out there for a while, but I had not seen them as of yet. 

On the front it has a Mount Union logo, with 2008 National Champions on it, and on the back it shows two hands held up (signifying ten fingers), and above the hands it just says......DYNASTY.

Pretty cool......

[seventiesraider]

This years camp shirts are pretty sweet as well. I'd like to get lost in the bookstore witha couple hundred, but I don't know where I'd put an LK signed Raiders helmet.  8)

Loved the ten time national champion golf shirts, classy

Next week Jud Logan Track and Field camp in Ashland

[Blutarsky]

http://www.ohiocollegefootball.com/members/ocf/blog/VIEW/00000011/00000682/OCF-Ask-The-CoachOhio-Northerns-Dean-Paul.html#00000682

Very interesting interview with the head coach at ONU.....seems like a quality individual.  Also, listed are some additional recruits for 'da Bears.  As with previous recruits, "stellarness" TBD.

[reality check]

Blutarsky

You beat me to posting the link about Coach Paul's Q&A. 


Also not mentioned last week was the announcement that Troy Rothenbuhler has been named OC and QB coach.  This could be a big pick up because of Rothenbuhler's experience.  He comes to ONU from Bowling Green where he has served as associate HC, recruiting coordinator and other roles.  When Stacey Hairston left for the CFL coaching ranks and Bill Rychel accepting the OC duties at Notre Dame College, ONU lost two valuable coaches. 

I don't know for certain that all the other coaches are back from last year's staff but with the newest additions of Russell and Rothenbuhler to go along with some very talented and passionate assistant coaches from last year's staff, ONU has a fine group of men to lead these athletes.  Rychel and Hairston will be missed but ONU's not taking a huge step backwards with their new hires.  Great job!

[SaintsFAN]

Also not mentioned last week was the announcement that Troy Rothenbuhler has been named OC and QB coach.  This could be a big pick up because of Rothenbuhler's experience.  He comes to ONU from Bowling Green where he has served as associate HC, recruiting coordinator and other roles.  When Stacey Hairston left for the CFL coaching ranks and Bill Rychel accepting the OC duties at Notre Dame College, ONU lost two valuable coaches. 

DP talks about how important it is to have success recruiting (for coaches) ... ironic because this is a great "recruit" for him and ONU... that sounds like a great hire.

[Bump]

I had the pleasure of having lunch with Coach Hairston last winter. He is a super person. I wish him the best in his new position with the Eskimos.

[reality check]

Coach Hairston will forever have my respect for staying for the sake of the players in 2003 when everything went down.  I don't know every detail of the drama involved in the weeks leading up to the 2003 season but I am glad Hairston did stay for the sake of the players on that Polar Bears team so that the season was not a total loss.  Those kids showed their character by winning 4 of their final 5 games after being in shambles for the first half of the season in the wake of the NCAA infractions.

[SaintsFAN]

Coach Hairston will forever have my respect for staying for the sake of the players in 2003 when everything went down.  I don't know every detail of the drama involved in the weeks leading up to the 2003 season but I am glad Hairston did stay for the sake of the players on that Polar Bears team so that the season was not a total loss.  Those kids showed their character by winning 4 of their final 5 games after being in shambles for the first half of the season in the wake of the NCAA infractions.

You're right, RC.  It takes a special kind of Coach to hold a team together like that.

Chris Wells (who you know) did the same for us at Thomas More in 1998-1999.  Our long-time coach, Vic Clark had resigned in November of 1998 following a 3-7 season.  Thomas More didn't hire Dean Paul until late February of 1999.  Coach Wells kept everyone on board and in the weightroom... and saved a bunch of us 5th-years from giving up the game and graduating with our academic class in that Spring. 

As soon as Dean Paul came on board, it was obvious that I made a great decision to play #5.  With DP and Mike Hallett, we actually got to experience what college football was like.  We just had our TMC Football Golf Outing and the 5th year guys from that team were all still talking about how much fun they had with DP and Mike Hallett on staff...  Those guys were great.

[reality check]

For what it's worth, Otterbein does have a 2009 roster listed comprised of SO's, JR's and SR's and Jack Rafferty's name is omitted from that list.  It doesn't mean he won't be there but it allows the question to remain quite concerning.

Also read on Wimington's sight that NCAC director and former Otterbein SID, Dennis Collins passed away.  He served as NCAC executive director for 25 years from the inception of the conference.  I'm not sure why Wilmington featured the story other than the fact that Wilmington came to the OAC when Hiram went to the NCAC.  There was no mention of personal ties to WC for Mr. Collins.

From Capital...

Capital Spring Video

Half the video is just guys lifting but there's some decent action towards the end.  But why would you end a "hype" video with FG's?

Muskingum's upgraded its football digs.  Pictures linked below:

Kalnow Training Center

[HScoach]

The Otters better be pulling out the stops to get Rafferty back on campus.  Without him they're a .500 club.