FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[SaintsFAN]

I have no problem with Simmons getting 1st Team All-OAC over Rocco.  Simmons led his team to the cusp of a playoff birth with much less supporting cast than Rocco has.   Plus Kurt wasn't even The Man for the Raiders until mid season.  Half the OAC saw LK rotating him and a freshman.  That doesn't scream "All-OAC" to me.

Rocco is playing great now and I completely believe he's the better QB right now, but the award isn't for the player playing the best in Week 10.  It's over the entire OAC season.  And for that, Simmons gets the nod.

And the talk about Rocco in a national context is crazy in my less than humble opinion.  Until we see what he does on the national stage against the best of competition, it's way too premature to discuss where he ranks nationally.  Shoot, the only 2 good QB's Mount has seen this year are Simmons and Assman.  Neither of which I'd tab as nationally dominate QB's. 

If someone wants to say that Rocco's production is impressive on a national scale, that's fine with me.  But we don't have nearly enough data in place yet to make the "he's the best QB in D3" statement.

I remember some really smart guy saying this yesterday (not in the same way)... you might be onto something here, hscoach.

[JK]

I'm back, boys and girls.

Although my time as an Otter wasn't too terrible (thanks to the nice person who supported me during my time on the dark side), it's nice to have a decent looking logo back on my profile.

[reality check]

I'm back, boys and girls.

Although my time as an Otter wasn't too terrible (thanks to the nice person who supported me during my time on the dark side), it's nice to have a decent looking logo back on my profile.

Oh great.  Another CAP fan.

[SaintsFAN]

I'm back, boys and girls.

Although my time as an Otter wasn't too terrible (thanks to the nice person who supported me during my time on the dark side), it's nice to have a decent looking logo back on my profile.

Oh great.  Another CAP fan.

That looks like the CWRU logo

[Blutarsky]

JK's out of jail--or the bird cage?  "Nobody knows the trouble I seen...."

[PurpleSuit]

Think that the fabulous frosh special teams player will dress Saturday?...I saw a news article in the Alliance Review that described a real bonehead (freshman) move by #4...It seems like all the Alliance police have to do is bust underage drinkers at Mount Union, while the all the drug dealing goes on north of the college...but cant blame the cops, the kids must be smarter...(like we were---- we learned to hide it better)

I had heard about this, but didnt know if i should have posted it.  I think the drinking during the season will be more of a punishment than the actual "crime."  I wouldn't expect to see him this Saturday....he will probably be a little tired from running all week anyways.

The APD is ridiculous, college kids drinking is more of a problem than the meth labs and such?

[purpled]

Mount Union Game Preview: Montclair State
Tuesday, November 24th 2009 @ 9:59 AM    post viewed 21 times

Thanks to OhioCollegeFootball.com Enjoy!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#1 Mount Union (11-0) vs #24 Montclair State (NJ)(10-1)
Sat., Nov. 28, 2009 - 12 pm - Mount Union Stadium (Alliance, OH)
RADIO: WDPN 1310 AM/WRMU 91.1 FM (Alliance)
TV: Joe Tait (play-by-play), Harry Paidas (color)
SportsTime Ohio (Tape Delay - Sat. Nov. 28 - 10pm)
WIVM Ch. 52/Ch. 367-Time Warner (Tape Delay-Sat. Nov 28 - 8pm; Sun. Nov 29 - 1pm)
LIVE STATS: http://www.muc.edu/football


THE GAME

No. 1 ranked Mount Union hosts No. 24 Montclair State (NJ) in the second round of the 2009 NCAA Division III Football Championship Saturday at noon at Mount Union Stadium in Alliance, Ohio.

The Purple Raiders are 11-0 overall and won their 18th straight and 20th Ohio Athletic Conference title to claim the conference's automatic bid. Mount Union is making its 21st NCAA playoff appearance with a record of 62-10 (.861) in the playoffs with 10 national championships (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008). Mount Union has played in the Stagg Bowl, national championship game, 11 of the last 13 seasons.

Montclair State is 10-1 and won the New Jersey Athletic Conference to claim the conference's automatic bid.  The Red Hawks are making their 9th playoff appearance, first since 2003, and have a record of 8-8 (.500) in the playoffs.  They made the national quarterfinals five times and the national semifinals in 1981.

MOUNT UNION FOOTBALL ON THE RADIO, TV AND ONLINE; ALL PLAYOFF GAMES ON TV

All Mount Union football playoff games will be broadcast on TV on WIVM and SportsTime Ohio, on the radio on WDPN 1310 AM and WRMU 91.1 FM and simulcast online at www.muc.edu/athletics, while the website will feature a live statistics game tracker. 

Image Video produces the TV broadcasts with Joe Tait, who enters his 38th season as the voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers, doing the play-by-play and Harry Paidas on the color commentary.  SportsTime Ohio is a regional cable sports network that reaches more than 4-million homes nationwide on cable and satellite.  For complete channel listings for your area go on the Internet to http://www.sportstimeohio.com.

THE SERIES

The two schools have never met on the football field. Mount Union is 6-1 against the NJAC with five of those games against Rowan (NJ), a meeting with The College of New Jersey in the 2008 playoffs and a 41-14 win over Cortland State (NY) in last year's playoffs. Rowan beat Mount Union 24-17 in overtime in Alliance in an NCAA Playoff national semifinal game in 1999.

THE COACHES

Larry Kehres (Mount Union '71) is 286-21-3 (.927) in his 24th season at his Alma mater.  Kehres is one of the most successful coaches in college football history as his teams have won 20 OAC Championships, including the last 18 in a row, along with 10 of the last 16 NCAA Division III National Championships.  Kehres is respected by his peers in the coaching profession as he is the current first vice president of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).  He will become the AFCA President for the 2010-2011.

Rick Giancola (Glassboro St., NJ '68) is 191-85-2 (.691) in his 27th season as head coach at Montclair State.  He has led the Redwaks to nine New Jersey Athletic Conference titles and eight NCAA Playoff appearances.  The eight-time NJAC Coach of the Year was an assistant coach of Red Hawks for eight years before taking over has head coach meaning he has spent 35 years with the program.

UP NEXT ...

The winner of this game plays in next week's regional final agains the winner of a matchup between Delaware Valley (PA) and Albright (PA) next Saturday at noon at a location to be determined.


SCOUTING THE RED HAWKS

Montclair State returned only nine starters and was picked in the preseason to finish third in the NJAC, but after a season-opening loss to Wilkes (PA), the Red Hawks ripped off nine-straight wins including 16-7 win over defending league champ Cortland State (NY) and 14-7 win over preseason favorite Rowan (NJ).


Senior running back Jeff Bliss had 132 yards rushing and three TD's in the first round win over Maine Maritime.  For the season he has 695 yards on 227 attempts with 10 scores.  Sophomore Tom Fischer is under center and has completed 54.1 percent of his passes for 1929 yards, 12 TD's and 15 interceptions.  His top targets are sophomores Byron Lewin (42 rec., 462 yds., 4TD) and Dan Keegan (30 rec., 451yds., 3TD) and senior A.J. Letizia (34 rec., 568 yds., 2TD).

On defense, junior linebacker Ed Kirschenbaum has a team-high 89 tackles while senior linebacker Brian Tweer has 86 stops, 4.0 sacks, 3 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries.  Senior defensive end Chris Merkle has 7.0 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss and anchors a defensive line that has an average height and weight of 6-2 and 264 pounds.

Last but certainly not least, kicker Marco Capozzoli is the NJAC Special Teams Player of the Year as he has made 10 field goals including a 47-yarder against The College of NJ

     
20 PURPLE RAIDERS NAMED TO ALL-OAC TEAMS

Nine starters on each side of the football along with a punter and special teams player were selected to the All-OAC teams by the conferecne's 10 head coaches.

On defense, seven players were first team selections in defensive linemen Joe Millings (Copley/Copley), James Herbert (Sagamore Hills/Nordonia) and Matt Williamson (Columbus/DeSales), linebackers Sam Kershaw (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) and Judd Lutz (Tiffin/Tiffin Columbian) with defensive backs Drew McClain (Newark/Licking Valley) and Roger Stewart III (Pleasantville/Fairfield Union).  Defensive backs Chaz Jordan (Medina/Buckeye) and Alex Ferrara (Independence/Walsh Jesuit) were second team and honorable mention selections.

On offense, wide receiver Cecil Shorts III (Cleveland/Collinwood), tight end Kyle Miller (Elida/Elida) and offensive lineman Caleb Crowl (Lisbon/David Anderson) were on the first team, quarterback Kurt Rocco (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon), wide reciever Vince Petruziello (Mentor/Lake Catholic), offensive linemen Samy Guerrero (Dublin/Dublin Scioto) and Mike Nitz (Copley/Copley) and running back Scott Panchik (Natrona Hts, PA/Higlands) were on the second team while running back Terrance Morring (Sanford, FL/Winter Springs) was an honorable mention selection.

Punter Jay Carpenter (Fairmont, WV/Fairmont) and special teams player James Coppeler (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) were second team selections.


BY THE NUMBERS

62-10   

Mount Union's record in the NCAA Playoffs

136-4   

Mount Union's win-loss record since 2000

26         

Mount Union has the nation's current longest winning streak at 26 games.

55, 54   

The Raiders hold the NCAA's two longest consecutive college football win streaks -- 55 from 2000-2003 and 54 from 1996-99

33         

Mount Union has won 33 straight home games dating back to a 21-14 win by Ohio Northern at Mount Union Stadium on 10/22/05.

16         

Mount Union has won 16 straight home playoff games since a 38-35 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX) in the NCAA Semifinals on Dec. 11, 2004.

97-0     

Since 1996, the Raiders record when winning the turnover battle.

142-1   

The Raiders record since 1990 when winning the turnover battle.  That lone loss was a 20-17 loss to Wisconsin-LaCrosse. In that game, the Raiders had a +1 turnover margin.

GARCON HAS CAREER DAY FOR THE COLTS

Former Raider receiver Pierre Garcon in his 2nd year with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and had a career-best six catches for 108 yards as the Colts held off Baltimore, 15-12 to stay undefeated on the season.  He has 32 catches for 511 yards and three touchdowns which also came on national TV, a 29-yarder against New England, a 53-yarder against Arizona and a 48-yard game-winner in Miami.  Garcon, a 2008 sixth round draft pick of the Colts, plans to return to Mount Union this Spring and work on completing his bachelor's degree in communications.

DID YOU KNOW?

Larry Kehres is in his 24th season as head coach and 35th season at Mount Union. He spent 10 seasons (1975-84) as an assistant coach to Ken Wable then in 1985 worked only as director of athletics before adding head football coaching duties in 1986. You might not know, he was also the first swimming coach at Mount Union.

Mount Union claimed its 21st OAC Football this season.  The Raiders won their first title in 1985, Ken Wable's last year as head coach, their second in 1986 in Larry Kehres' first year as head coach.  Mount Union next won the 1990 title then started a run of 18-straight starting in 1992. 

Montclair State is 14 miles from New York City and is the second largest university in the state of New Jersey.  Two of its more infamous alums are former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Fratello and former NFL player and recently inducted college football hall of famer Sam Mills

[seventiesraider]

Can we suggest some new terminology for the WRMU broadcasters this next weekend. I am willing to bet they used the the expression "ran into a buzz-saw" at least twenty times in the second half. I lost Ric & HSCoach's broadcast just outside Alliance.

W&J rumors about moving to the NCAC seem to be picking up steam. Won't leave much in the PAC, at least in football. (Beyond TMC)

And isn't 42+ points, a Gorilla Stomp?

[SaintsFAN]

W&J rumors about moving to the NCAC seem to be picking up steam. Won't leave much in the PAC, at least in football. (Beyond TMC)

That would royally suck.  We'd have no reason to stay in that conference without them---football-wise.

[raiderpa]

Ohio State had only two players on the All Big Ten first team...and the Mounties are upset?

Word on the street is that Akron University will not bring back Head football coach...shame, he is a really nice fella..
so, when does the LK to Akron rumor/discussion begin....

The Akron U facilities are now top dog and,arguably, the best in the MAC... the head coach's reported salary at Akron is $250,000...Would LK leave Mount Union for 300K?  I think that this job is more worthy of a thought  than any of those past ...considering location to his roots, keeping same recruiting contacts, facilities, money... I think this would be a tough one to pass on....BUT that is just me

[seventiesraider]

Let's hope the Akron Athletic Director looks down his nose at D3 football. All sentiment aside, I think Akron's stadium is arguably the nicest total facility in Ohio. In many aspects compares nicely with Virginia Tech's

[TooForRaider]

Ohio State had only two players on the All Big Ten first team...and the Mounties are upset?

Word on the street is that Akron University will not bring back Head football coach...shame, he is a really nice fella..
so, when does the LK to Akron rumor/discussion begin....

The Akron U facilities are now top dog and,arguably, the best in the MAC... the head coach's reported salary at Akron is $250,000...Would LK leave Mount Union for 300K?  I think that this job is more worthy of a thought  than any of those past ...considering location to his roots, keeping same recruiting contacts, facilities, money... I think this would be a tough one to pass on....BUT that is just me

No chance. That's where careers go to die.

[PurpleSuit]

how about Akron "settles" for an LK pupil, like Matt Campbell?

[HSCTiger74]

Ohio State had only two players on the All Big Ten first team...and the Mounties are upset?

Word on the street is that Akron University will not bring back Head football coach...shame, he is a really nice fella..
so, when does the LK to Akron rumor/discussion begin....

The Akron U facilities are now top dog and,arguably, the best in the MAC... the head coach's reported salary at Akron is $250,000...Would LK leave Mount Union for 300K?  I think that this job is more worthy of a thought  than any of those past ...considering location to his roots, keeping same recruiting contacts, facilities, money... I think this would be a tough one to pass on....BUT that is just me

No chance. That's where careers go to die.

Maybe, but I'd be more likely to put my money on South Carolina.

[TooForRaider]

Ohio State had only two players on the All Big Ten first team...and the Mounties are upset?

Word on the street is that Akron University will not bring back Head football coach...shame, he is a really nice fella..
so, when does the LK to Akron rumor/discussion begin....

The Akron U facilities are now top dog and,arguably, the best in the MAC... the head coach's reported salary at Akron is $250,000...Would LK leave Mount Union for 300K?  I think that this job is more worthy of a thought  than any of those past ...considering location to his roots, keeping same recruiting contacts, facilities, money... I think this would be a tough one to pass on....BUT that is just me

No chance. That's where careers go to die.

Maybe, but I'd be more likely to put my money on South Carolina.

Can't die if its already dead!