FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[seventiesraider]

 Sorry about the bitter post from last night (which I deleted). Best of luck to all the new and newer teachers on this board. It can be an extremely rewarding career.

Maybe Pat can bar me from posting after mid-night. 

[Blutarsky]

Sorry about the bitter post from last night (which I deleted). Best of luck to all the new and newer teachers on this board. It can be an extremely rewarding career.

Maybe Pat can bar me from posting after mid-night. 

All is forgiven......your experience has entitled you to some bitterness/sarcasm.  However, simply remember what a positive influence you have been on literally THOUSANDS of young folks.....that will ease the pain.  That's why we all get in this mess called education/coaching in the first place.

[JK]

Mount #1 (623 points, 23 of 25 first place votes), OTT #24 (121 points), Capital (Others receiving votes- #31, 56 points), and JCU (others receiving votes- #40, 7 points) all in the first pre-season poll on the front page.

No real surprise I guess, but I wonder who the two were who didn't give MUC their 1st place vote?  Maybe it was a Spurrier-like oversight

[02 Warhawk]

Mount #1 (623 points, 23 of 25 first place votes), OTT #24 (121 points), Capital (Others receiving votes- #31, 56 points), and JCU (others receiving votes- #40, 7 points) all in the first pre-season poll on the front page.

No real surprise I guess, but I wonder who the two were who didn't give MUC their 1st place vote?  Maybe it was a Spurrier-like oversight

probably the two who took into consideration that UWW has 18 of last years 22 starters returning...

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Mount #1 (623 points, 23 of 25 first place votes), OTT #24 (121 points), Capital (Others receiving votes- #31, 56 points), and JCU (others receiving votes- #40, 7 points) all in the first pre-season poll on the front page.

No real surprise I guess, but I wonder who the two were who didn't give MUC their 1st place vote?  Maybe it was a Spurrier-like oversight

probably the two who took into consideration that UWW has 18 of last years 22 starters returning...

I agree.  Even though MUC is the defending champion, they have more to replace on Offense.  Regular season will be good to break in the new QB and RB.

[seventiesraider]

Without Rafferty, I don't picture Otterbein as the number 2 OAC school or present anywhere in the top 25. I'll pick JCU to improve this year on the basis of a couple of good recruiting classes.

BTW 02 Warhawk, please refer to the picture on the homepage of this site 

[reality check]

I think it's a complete crapshoot who the number two team is until the season unfolds.  I mean, can you honestly tell me anyone deserves it besides OTT if they come back with Rafferty (which all indications is not happening)?  CAP has to prove themselves in life after JimCo.  JCU needs a new QB and who knows what else.  BW hasn't been better than average since Larlham and Co.  ONU needs to find some more consistent offense week in and week out.  And the Berg might be in the mix as well. 

Sounds like a great year for MUC to replace Micheli and Kmic unfortunately.

[02 Warhawk]

Without Rafferty, I don't picture Otterbein as the number 2 OAC school or present anywhere in the top 25. I'll pick JCU to improve this year on the basis of a couple of good recruiting classes.

BTW 02 Warhawk, please refer to the picture on the homepage of this site  

I see what you're saying seventiesraider. point taken. I see the pictures of last year's team  . However, I have little doubt Kehres will have trouble replacing studs like Kmic and Micheli. Reloading is what he does best, he's proven that of the past couple decades. Best of luck, and see you Salem  

[seventiesraider]

Was reffering to the picture of Cecil buring the WWW defender 8)

More than any year I can remember the OAC is a crap shoot not counting MUC on top and the quackers and the Muskies on the other end. Heidelberg could ruin BW's reign of mediocrity.

[raiderguy]

Mount #1 (623 points, 23 of 25 first place votes), OTT #24 (121 points), Capital (Others receiving votes- #31, 56 points), and JCU (others receiving votes- #40, 7 points) all in the first pre-season poll on the front page.

No real surprise I guess, but I wonder who the two were who didn't give MUC their 1st place vote?  Maybe it was a Spurrier-like oversight

probably the two who took into consideration that UWW has 18 of last years 22 starters returning...

I agree.  Even though MUC is the defending champion, they have more to replace on Offense.  Regular season will be good to break in the new QB and RB.

I agree with Kirasdad as well. Raiders return 17 starters but Micheli and Kimic accounted for 450 yds/game of offense out of a total of 546. That's a big loss. The running game I think will still be solid because four of five linemen return but the QB spot is still going to be a challenge since Rocco has not played all that much.

[seventiesraider]

At least when Mount is putting "new" RB or QB on the field, they are usually Jr's or Sr's. Those two or three years make alot of difference.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I really disagree with people who vote for a Preseason #1 based on the previous year's champion.  You need to look at the current year's roster and schedule to really make a case for a team.  Just because you are the defending champion, does not mean you are the same team.

Pros are different as they can keep their roster more intact, don't lose players to graduation.

[Dr. Acula]

Saw this on the NCAC board...

John Carroll Wants in the NCAC Badly that is common knowledge among High School Coaches in the Cleveland area.

News to me.  Where is Toph when you need him?

[Dr. Acula]

I think it's a complete crapshoot who the number two team is until the season unfolds.  I mean, can you honestly tell me anyone deserves it besides OTT if they come back with Rafferty (which all indications is not happening)?  CAP has to prove themselves in life after JimCo.  JCU needs a new QB and who knows what else.  BW hasn't been better than average since Larlham and Co.  ONU needs to find some more consistent offense week in and week out.  And the Berg might be in the mix as well. 

Sounds like a great year for MUC to replace Micheli and Kmic unfortunately.

Good post, RC.  There are tons of question marks throughout the conference heading into the season.  I'm probably going to regret this terribly in about 3 months when they're on the fast track to 6-4, but I kind of like BW as my dark horse this year.  I can't believe I just typed that... 

[HScoach]

I really disagree with people who vote for a Preseason #1 based on the previous year's champion.  You need to look at the current year's roster and schedule to really make a case for a team.  Just because you are the defending champion, does not mean you are the same team.

I agree 100%.  Who won the title last year is not the defining reason on the next year's vote.  It's all about the depth within the specific program and what each team has coming back.  Mount and Whitewater are definitely the top 2 with a big drop off to #3, but I don't think Mount is a clear cut #1.  Yes they return a lot of starters, but Whitewater returns even more starters and the entire backfield.  In my less than humble opinion, Whitewater should have been #1 with Mount #2.  If Rocco turns out to be a very good QB then MUC will be every bit as good as WWW on paper, but the hole at QB is too big for me to just assume Mount will be right back at #1 with another team out there as good and as loaded as Whitewater is.

In general, I hate pre-season polls as it's nothing more than a shuffle of last year's final Top 25.  Otterbein has no business being in the top 25.  Yes they had a good season last year and warranted their ranking in '08, but the program goes not have the depth or stability to remain there without their entire offense (Rafferty) gone.  At least in D3, the polls are nothing more than a discussion item that has zero bearing on who makes the title game. 

There are also differing opinions on what the pre-season poll is supposed to represent.  Is it a prediction of the final rankings or a listing of the Top 25 teams as the season starts?  Big difference.

If you're trying to predict the final Top 25, then stronger conferences (WIAC, OAC, CCIW) should all have a team in the top 5 and then a second team in 10-15 range.  I have no doubt that NCC and Wheaton will be playoff teams this season, but both won't finish the season in the top 6. 

If you're trying to rank the teams to start the season, then Whitewater should definitely be #1 with the experience they have at QB/RB returning over Mount.  If the two teams played each other in week 1, who would you think has the advantage?  And if we're doing a ranking for week 1, then North Central should be much higher than Wheaton due to the numbers Wheaton loses on defense.