FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[reality check]

While there has been no talk at all about the the BW/Mount game, what
might B-W try and do against the Raiders? With a potential 1-3 record after Saturday, can they even get to 5-5 with Cap, Ott  and ONU coming later?

Why does it matter if they get to 5-5?  They broke their amazing streak of mediocrity in 2005 with a 4-6 record.  The "streak" is over and we've all moved on.

[Raider 68]

While there has been no talk at all about the the BW/Mount game, what
might B-W try and do against the Raiders? With a potential 1-3 record after Saturday, can they even get to 5-5 with Cap, Ott  and ONU coming later?

This goes back to earlier posts concerning Mount's rivals. At one time
B-W not only was a rival, but had more wins against the Raiders!

If I am BW (and thank god I am not) I blitz early and often from the backside. Rocco is not as good under pressure and is not the most mobile so they may be able to get to him and rattle him. However, they need to double Cecil which leaves them single on the other WRs so they have to get Rocco quick. They also have to stop the running game to force Mount to pass so the blitz can be effective. How do they do that - no clue. Mounts line seems to open a hole at will and Panchik is running more like Kmic than the opponents would like. The problem for BW (colors aside) is that Mount normally uses 3 and 4 WR sets. If they commit 2 to Cecil and single on the others then they have used 4 or 5 DBs in coverage. Zone coverage won't work because someone is going to be 1 on 1 with Cecil and that is a mismatch. That limits them to 6 or 7 (or even 8 if they use Mounts famous 12 man defense - reference to Pam Ward at the Stagg) to stop the run and blitz. BWs options on D are somewhat limited. They could just pray - pray a lot! That might work.

desertraider,

Good analysis and given the coverage that B-W may want to throw
at the Raiders, it could be long and deep quick with Cecil to stretch
the defense and pound with the running game. Could be a long day for
B-W and unlike prior years the back-ups could see more PT this Saturday.

HScoach,

The Cap comment is just what I hope will happen as well, but not quite at the edge like the ONU first half. Cap is in a good position to be that other
OAC team and a challenge to the Raiders early will help both schools as the season moves along.

[JK]

Legendary Muskies coach Ed Sherman passed away yesterday.  Here is a link:

http://www.muskingum.edu/home/news/features/1.html

Great coach and great lineage: Sherman begat Wable who begat Kehres, or so to speak

Echo JK's thoughts.  In Ed's days The Muskies were the men.  Anyone remember Cannonball Cooper?  Also, just like the machine of Mount that wins today, lots of Ed's players became college coaches just like the machine of Kehres.

Though not on the same level as above, Sherman also begat Roger Welsh- my HC at Capital.

He also begat the Heacock family... all three of them.

[muc-raider]

Legendary Muskies coach Ed Sherman passed away yesterday.  Here is a link:

http://www.muskingum.edu/home/news/features/1.html

Great coach and great lineage: Sherman begat Wable who begat Kehres, or so to speak

Echo JK's thoughts.  In Ed's days The Muskies were the men.  Anyone remember Cannonball Cooper?  Also, just like the machine of Mount that wins today, lots of Ed's players became college coaches just like the machine of Kehres.

Though not on the same level as above, Sherman also begat Roger Welsh- my HC at Capital.

He also begat the Heacock family... all three of them.

This makes for a whole lot of begatting.   

[bleedpurple]

While there has been no talk at all about the the BW/Mount game, what
might B-W try and do against the Raiders? With a potential 1-3 record after Saturday, can they even get to 5-5 with Cap, Ott  and ONU coming later?

This goes back to earlier posts concerning Mount's rivals. At one time
B-W not only was a rival, but had more wins against the Raiders!

If I am BW (and thank god I am not) I blitz early and often from the backside. Rocco is not as good under pressure and is not the most mobile so they may be able to get to him and rattle him. However, they need to double Cecil which leaves them single on the other WRs so they have to get Rocco quick. They also have to stop the running game to force Mount to pass so the blitz can be effective. How do they do that - no clue. Mounts line seems to open a hole at will and Panchik is running more like Kmic than the opponents would like. The problem for BW (colors aside) is that Mount normally uses 3 and 4 WR sets. If they commit 2 to Cecil and single on the others then they have used 4 or 5 DBs in coverage. Zone coverage won't work because someone is going to be 1 on 1 with Cecil and that is a mismatch. That limits them to 6 or 7 (or even 8 if they use Mounts famous 12 man defense - reference to Pam Ward at the Stagg) to stop the run and blitz. BWs options on D are somewhat limited. They could just pray - pray a lot! That might work.

desertraider,

Good analysis and given the coverage that B-W may want to throw
at the Raiders, it could be long and deep quick with Cecil to stretch
the defense and pound with the running game. Could be a long day for
B-W and unlike prior years the back-ups could see more PT this Saturday.

HScoach,

The Cap comment is just what I hope will happen as well, but not quite at the edge like the ONU first half. Cap is in a good position to be that other
OAC team and a challenge to the Raiders early will help both schools as the season moves along.

You guys are killing me!

THESE are the type of comments I have sarcastically responded to in the past and been lit up as if I've somehow insulted Mount Union's team or program. To honor an actually civil exchange on this board earlier in the week, I won't say a word. It's not the team that smacks of arrogance!  

[bleedpurple]

While there has been no talk at all about the the BW/Mount game, what
might B-W try and do against the Raiders?

Hope that the flu wipes out the top 3 layers of talent at every position before Saturday.  Otherwise, stay in Berea.
[/b][/b]


On the Cap subject, I really hope they're back and remain there.  Mount needs a strong competitor that will push them to the edge.  Outside of the 2005, Ohio Northern hasn't shown the ability to be competitive and I still think that game was more about MUC than ONU.  B-W and JCU are shells of their glory years and Otterbein is, well, Otterbein.  The OAC and Mount need Capital to be back.

[Desertraider]

While there has been no talk at all about the the BW/Mount game, what
might B-W try and do against the Raiders? With a potential 1-3 record after Saturday, can they even get to 5-5 with Cap, Ott  and ONU coming later?

This goes back to earlier posts concerning Mount's rivals. At one time
B-W not only was a rival, but had more wins against the Raiders!

If I am BW (and thank god I am not) I blitz early and often from the backside. Rocco is not as good under pressure and is not the most mobile so they may be able to get to him and rattle him. However, they need to double Cecil which leaves them single on the other WRs so they have to get Rocco quick. They also have to stop the running game to force Mount to pass so the blitz can be effective. How do they do that - no clue. Mounts line seems to open a hole at will and Panchik is running more like Kmic than the opponents would like. The problem for BW (colors aside) is that Mount normally uses 3 and 4 WR sets. If they commit 2 to Cecil and single on the others then they have used 4 or 5 DBs in coverage. Zone coverage won't work because someone is going to be 1 on 1 with Cecil and that is a mismatch. That limits them to 6 or 7 (or even 8 if they use Mounts famous 12 man defense - reference to Pam Ward at the Stagg) to stop the run and blitz. BWs options on D are somewhat limited. They could just pray - pray a lot! That might work.

desertraider,

Good analysis and given the coverage that B-W may want to throw
at the Raiders, it could be long and deep quick with Cecil to stretch
the defense and pound with the running game. Could be a long day for
B-W and unlike prior years the back-ups could see more PT this Saturday.

HScoach,

The Cap comment is just what I hope will happen as well, but not quite at the edge like the ONU first half. Cap is in a good position to be that other
OAC team and a challenge to the Raiders early will help both schools as the season moves along.

You guys are killing me!

THESE are the type of comments I have sarcastically responded to in the past and been lit up as if I've somehow insulted Mount Union's team or program. To honor an actually civil exchange on this board earlier in the week, I won't say a word. It's not the team that smacks of arrogance!  

I see no arrogance. The truth is that I am glad I am not BW - BW is having a down year (a down few years) and needs a win to get on track. Needing a win to get your season on track is one thing but have Mount as your opponent when you have not beaten them since 1994 is another. It is not arrogance when it is fact. Additionally, I have no clue how BW is going to stop the run, force Mount to pass, and cover Cecil/AJ/Vince. Hell if I knew how to pull that off with this Mount team I might have gotten a call from some area coaches eager to shed their 20+ year run of futility against the Machine. Now I did offer a tip that may help BW - blitz Rocco and force him to move. But I don't know how they do that and not get burnt. Arrogance is that over-inflated sense of entitlement. When you have watched a team completely dominate for 20 years - the sense of entitlement is no longer over-inflated.

[old scot]

Getting back to worthy non-conference opponents for Mount, what about Wabash? A program with winning tradition and head coach that is a Mount alum. Maybe they would be willing? Could logistics be a problem?

[Raider 68]

Getting back to worthy non-conference opponents for Mount, what about Wabash? A program with winning tradition and head coach that is a Mount alum. Maybe they would be willing? Could logistics be a problem?

old scot,

Not sure if there have been any discussions lately, Mount will play
Wisc. - Oskosh in 2010-2011 for its only open game. Also, I do not
know if Erik Raeburn (MUC'91) is ready to take on the Raiders or if
Coach Kehres has considered in future games. He has a good repore
with his former players, i.e. Mike Sirani of W & J, a team that Mount
has been scrimmaging during per-season for several years.

What I continue to hear is that other D3 schools are not interested, but
I think it would be a good opportunity to measure your program
against the best. UWW did in the early part of this decade and although
they lost back to back, look where their program is now. Also, this year
St. John Fisher, Pittsfield N.Y filled their stadium when Mount played
them this year. While is not like a MAC school getting a good gate by going to a Big 10 school, it does not hurt either.

[bleedpurple]

While there has been no talk at all about the the BW/Mount game, what
might B-W try and do against the Raiders? With a potential 1-3 record after Saturday, can they even get to 5-5 with Cap, Ott  and ONU coming later?

This goes back to earlier posts concerning Mount's rivals. At one time
B-W not only was a rival, but had more wins against the Raiders!

If I am BW (and thank god I am not) I blitz early and often from the backside. Rocco is not as good under pressure and is not the most mobile so they may be able to get to him and rattle him. However, they need to double Cecil which leaves them single on the other WRs so they have to get Rocco quick. They also have to stop the running game to force Mount to pass so the blitz can be effective. How do they do that - no clue. Mounts line seems to open a hole at will and Panchik is running more like Kmic than the opponents would like. The problem for BW (colors aside) is that Mount normally uses 3 and 4 WR sets. If they commit 2 to Cecil and single on the others then they have used 4 or 5 DBs in coverage. Zone coverage won't work because someone is going to be 1 on 1 with Cecil and that is a mismatch. That limits them to 6 or 7 (or even 8 if they use Mounts famous 12 man defense - reference to Pam Ward at the Stagg) to stop the run and blitz. BWs options on D are somewhat limited. They could just pray - pray a lot! That might work.

desertraider,

Good analysis and given the coverage that B-W may want to throw
at the Raiders, it could be long and deep quick with Cecil to stretch
the defense and pound with the running game. Could be a long day for
B-W and unlike prior years the back-ups could see more PT this Saturday.

HScoach,

The Cap comment is just what I hope will happen as well, but not quite at the edge like the ONU first half. Cap is in a good position to be that other
OAC team and a challenge to the Raiders early will help both schools as the season moves along.

You guys are killing me!

THESE are the type of comments I have sarcastically responded to in the past and been lit up as if I've somehow insulted Mount Union's team or program. To honor an actually civil exchange on this board earlier in the week, I won't say a word. It's not the team that smacks of arrogance!  

I see no arrogance. The truth is that I am glad I am not BW - BW is having a down year (a down few years) and needs a win to get on track. Needing a win to get your season on track is one thing but have Mount as your opponent when you have not beaten them since 1994 is another. It is not arrogance when it is fact. Additionally, I have no clue how BW is going to stop the run, force Mount to pass, and cover Cecil/AJ/Vince. Hell if I knew how to pull that off with this Mount team I might have gotten a call from some area coaches eager to shed their 20+ year run of futility against the Machine. Now I did offer a tip that may help BW - blitz Rocco and force him to move. But I don't know how they do that and not get burnt. Arrogance is that over-inflated sense of entitlement. When you have watched a team completely dominate for 20 years - the sense of entitlement is no longer over-inflated.

Dessert,

Should have clarified, I was referring ONLY to the portion I put in bold on the quote. You are right in that you did offer some analysis and even a tip.  And maybe your last two sentences really says it all and explains both the comments I read and the response I get when I imply arrogance within SOME posts of SOME MUC fans.

The actual definition of arrogance is: " offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride." per dictionary.com 

You see arrogance is most often associated with greatness. The greatness of the MUC program and the heady success it has achieved is beyond question. Those associated with greatness can either display arrogance or humility in the throes of that success. Ironically, other than rare exceptions, everything I've seen is that the MUC players and coaches and others associated with the program demonstrate humility. SOME fans posting on this site, not so much.

I have no doubt that watching "a team dominate for 20 years" has an effect on a fan. Part of my intrigue is in observing  what following this dominant team has done to the perspective of SOME fans. I actually find your response very helpful. (For those of you who have seen my more acerbic posts, I am actually being serious here).

I guess I'd like to ask you a couple of questions I've been wondering for a long time:

Exactly how does simply being a fan of a dominant program "entitle" you to anything?  What does the success of MUC "entitle" you to?

Thanks,
BP

[seventiesraider]

While there has been no talk at all about the the BW/Mount game, what
might B-W try and do against the Raiders? With a potential 1-3 record after Saturday, can they even get to 5-5 with Cap, Ott  and ONU coming later?

Why does it matter if they get to 5-5?  They broke their amazing streak of mediocrity in 2005 with a 4-6 record.  The "streak" is over and we've all moved on.

They still mention the average streak on the dub's athletic site with a one year disclaimer.

Reminds me of Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon, where "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average"


What's all this arrogance talk about? I've been busy all day. Was someone being arrogant in my absence? I was around when we had to "prepare" for Hiram, I've earned to right to spread the ill will

[mr_mom]

Flashback ...

My flag football team near Washington, DC has sucked for years.  But this year we will make the playoffs because of some small-college players ...

Dustin Helle, Wide Receiver from Tressel Jr.'s Youngstown State (and Girard HS), and Randy Mason, MUC QB (also from Girard ... how weird!).  Randy had the chance to be a MUC starter, but Mike Jorris 2-4-24 beat his 2-4-16 in the 2004 opener against Washington (MO) and that was all she wrote!

It's one of the [VERY] few positives of living in the DC area.  The other is being able to see Fletcher play every week.  If that sunobitch doesn't make the HOF, then it should be razed!

[Ryan Tipps]

Getting back to worthy non-conference opponents for Mount, what about Wabash? A program with winning tradition and head coach that is a Mount alum. Maybe they would be willing? Could logistics be a problem?

Been down this road before: The NCAC and UAA are locked into a scheduling agreement through 2011. It's been extended once by the powers-that-be, and could very well be extended again.

Want to or not, Wabash isn't even being given the option of playing Mount in the regular season, or any of the OAC runners-up for that matter...

[PurpleSuit]

desertraider,

how dare you be so arrogant?  what has your program ever accomplished? 10 national titles? fluke.  two longest winning streaks ever? who cares.  two decades of complete dominance? its 2009 now, come on.  why can't you just say that Mount will be for the fight of their lives against BW?  They have only had one losing season in what seems to be a hundred years.  The law of averages would make Mount fortunate to win on Saturday.  let's try to show a little humility towards our OAC opponent.  what's with the sense of entitlement man?

[Desertraider]

BP: I know the definition of arrogance - I used a working definition (thus no "quotation" marks). I will simply answer the last 2 questions - within 1 answer. MOUNT fans are entitled to believe that their team will win - regardless of opponent - every weekend in the regular season, the playoffs, and the Stagg. The team has earned the right to be the favorite virtually every given Saturday - and the fans by default have earned the right to celebrate that success and make sure all are aware. We are further entitled to believe that our team is the most dominant of all time - because they have earned that right on the field and the fans celebrate that every Saturday - or every day for the trully dedicated. A former Coach of mine used to say that it is not arrogance - when you back it up.