FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Raider 68]

That is great indeed about Garcon and Fletcher.  The only problem is I wish the announcers would make more mention of the fact that they are from DIII.  As you all mentioned the announcers not having the correct information regarding that, it  not only irritates me but it is sad.  Moreoever, there is no excuse for that.  Those announcers supposed to be the top notch professionals.

Anyway, I join you in wishing both Garcon and Fletcher all the best in two weeks.

Congrats to Pierre and London Fletcher, as RC said the D-3 guys deserve to
have  the correct history announced and written. In Pierre's case he has received the exposure before, so one would think they would get it right!

[Small but Slow]

Re: Announcers and Errors

Anyone who has worked in the booth at the high school or Division III level can probably attest to the fact that it's a ton of work to be prepared as a broadcaster.  I put in a lot of hours prior to every broadcast and life has gotten a little easier to sound informed, accurate and on top of things with live stats and the internet playing a bigger role in gameday broadcasting.  I remember just a few years ago having to check the quarterly stat sheets to track a player's production and just knowing the exact carry that gave a RB 100 yards on the day was a task.  Even covering D-II U of New Haven, things were hands on.  We had a game at Fordham and were amazed that the radio booth had a monitor linked to the statistician's numbers. 

Pro and D-I announcers rarely work like we do.  They have statisticians and spotters and half the time they don't even appear to be paying attention to the game (television broadcasts).  I get personally frustrated that the big guys can make mistake after mistake after mistake but no one calls them on it.  I have a hunch that those kinds of mistakes wouldn't be made by a D-III guy because D-III guys understand what it is to work to sound educated, prepared and attentive during a game broadcast.

Sorry for the rant but well-prepared D-III guys get so much more respect from me because of what it takes to do what they (we) do.

The lack of respect and knowledge of d3 football is sad, but not surprising.  The average football fan doesn't know football is played by anyone besides the big time mercenaries they see on network television each Saturday.  Unfortunately, most of the broadcasters didn't get their jobs because of their knowledge of football.  The only reason Troy Aikman and Phil Simms are where they are is name recognition and their ability to make comments that the average waterhead watching the game can understand.  I prefer watching the broadcast with the sound off and if anything listen to a team's radio broadcast.  Those guys usually at least know their team's players and their backgrounds and can offer some useful, if biased analysis.  IMHO if a broadcaster doesn't know who Mount Union is (10 national champ, holder of college football's two longest winning streaks, alma mater of the college game's all time leading rusher) he/she sure as hell isn't an expert! 

[SaintsFAN]

Re: Announcers and Errors

Anyone who has worked in the booth at the high school or Division III level can probably attest to the fact that it's a ton of work to be prepared as a broadcaster.  I put in a lot of hours prior to every broadcast and life has gotten a little easier to sound informed, accurate and on top of things with live stats and the internet playing a bigger role in gameday broadcasting.  I remember just a few years ago having to check the quarterly stat sheets to track a player's production and just knowing the exact carry that gave a RB 100 yards on the day was a task.  Even covering D-II U of New Haven, things were hands on.  We had a game at Fordham and were amazed that the radio booth had a monitor linked to the statistician's numbers.  

Pro and D-I announcers rarely work like we do.  They have statisticians and spotters and half the time they don't even appear to be paying attention to the game (television broadcasts).  I get personally frustrated that the big guys can make mistake after mistake after mistake but no one calls them on it.  I have a hunch that those kinds of mistakes wouldn't be made by a D-III guy because D-III guys understand what it is to work to sound educated, prepared and attentive during a game broadcast.

Sorry for the rant but well-prepared D-III guys get so much more respect from me because of what it takes to do what they (we) do.

The lack of respect and knowledge of d3 football is sad, but not surprising.  The average football fan doesn't know football is played by anyone besides the big time mercenaries they see on network television each Saturday.  Unfortunately, most of the broadcasters didn't get their jobs because of their knowledge of football.  The only reason Troy Aikman and Phil Simms are where they are is name recognition and their ability to make comments that the average waterhead watching the game can understand.  I prefer watching the broadcast with the sound off and if anything listen to a team's radio broadcast.  Those guys usually at least know their team's players and their backgrounds and can offer some useful, if biased analysis.  IMHO if a broadcaster doesn't know who Mount Union is (10 national champ, holder of college football's two longest winning streaks, alma mater of the college game's all time leading rusher) he/she sure as hell isn't an expert!  

Phill Simms and Jim Nance would've mentioned Mount Union... Simms is a small school guy himself... having come from Morehead St (KY) after prepping in Louisville.   I also respect Phil Simm's preparedness ---- he's the one guy I like listening to.. besides Grossman/Brienza and Coleman/McMillen

Could it also be that most people know Garcon's story from having him play a major role for 17 weeks and the coverage he got after the tragedy in Haiti??  Just food for thought..


How many other OAC guys have Super Bowl rings? (if he wins)

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

How many other OAC guys have Super Bowl rings? (if he wins)

That topic was discussed on the WIAC board the other day.

Fletcher with the Rams in 1999 is the only one I think.

[Small but Slow]

Andy - True, Simms is well prepared, but sometimes I sense he is ashamed of his small school roots.  Actually, most of the play by play teams are pretty well informed and knowledgeable of the teams they broadcast.  I have issue with some of the studio hosts and analysts.  The ESPN Game Day guys are pretty good, but sometimes I wonder how much time Marino, Bradshaw, Long, and a few other network guys have committed to research.  Some of the broadcasters are really good and their love of the game shines through.  Others, are not so good and all they demonstrate is how much they love themselves.  Guys with big egos make the best media personalities, but simply having a name and an opinion makes not an expert.

[PurpleSuit]

great week for OAC, Pierre dominated on the way to the Super Bowl, London's way overdue Pro Bowl selection and I believe that one of the Saints coaches is a BW guy

Hopefully the Super Bowl media will focus more on Pierre the player rather than Haitian-America Pierre...its a great cause, but he deserves some pub for being a great up-an-coming player

[Knightstalker]

How many other OAC guys have Super Bowl rings? (if he wins)

That topic was discussed on the WIAC board the other day.

Fletcher with the Rams in 1999 is the only one I think.

It depends on whether you confine it to players or count coaches too.

[old scot]

The broadcast teams do minimal prep work for games.  Mostly, they interveiw coaches and star players.

When it comes to individual Bios and stats,  they rely on the producers in the truck. They feed them info through ear pieces and make the calls on how the broadcast will play out.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

How many other OAC guys have Super Bowl rings? (if he wins)

That topic was discussed on the WIAC board the other day.

Fletcher with the Rams in 1999 is the only one I think.

It depends on whether you confine it to players or count coaches too.

They were talking players.

[seventiesraider]

We may be number 2, but we got a starter in the big game

[seventiesraider]

The smile in the picture says it all (even if the Chicago Tribune can't spell right)

Heavy heart can't stop Colts' Pierre Garcon from have huge AFC title game

Congratulations Pierre, you're a great young man and have your head screwed on right. Get your ring and then get back and get your diploma

[runyr]

Fan comments about Pierre from Colts fan website (they like him!):
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2010/1/24/1268294/ap-photo-michael-conroy#comments

[SJFF82]

'Interesting' column in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle today....


Indianapolis Colts' Pierre Garcon no stranger to St. John Fisher

Bob Matthews • Staff writer • January 26, 2010

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Pierre Garcon might have surprised many football fans with his 11 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown for the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's 30-17 victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Conference championship game, but St. John Fisher football players caught his act three times during his college career.

In 2004, as a freshman at Norwich University, Garcon caught eight passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns in a 37-32 win over Fisher in Northfield, Vt. It was Fisher's only loss during the regular season.

"We played zone in that game," former Fisher player Steve Stepnick recalled Monday. "No one could keep up with him. He had great speed and good size."

Stepnick also was a freshman that afternoon. He went on to be a two-time Division III All-American cornerback for the Cardinals.

Garcon transferred from Norwich to Mount Union College and played twice more against Fisher.

In 2006, Mount Union beat Fisher 26-14 in Alliance, Ohio, but Stepnick and his teammates held Garcon to one catch for three yards. The Purple Raiders won the Division III national championship the following week.

In 2007, with Stepnick sidelined with a leg injury, Garcon caught six passes for 75 yards and three TDs in a 52-10 home win over Fisher.

"I was watching the game from a booth at the stadium," Stepnick recalled Monday. "Each time Garcon scored, he gave the exact stupid pose he used after Sunday's touchdown — his hands on his hips like Superman."

Stepnick, who works road patrol for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, recalls Garcon as a gifted opponent: "Mount Union was predominantly a running team, but they made sure to get him the ball. He was easily the best receiver I ever played against, but I am surprised that any Division III receiver is doing so well. I know he had a good combine and got drafted, but I didn't think he'd do what he's doing now."

During Sunday's game, Stepnick was receiving messages from good-natured friends suggesting that the Jets should put him in the game to help contain Garcon.

Stepnick, who admittedly wasn't fast enough to play in the NFL and passed up opportunities to play in low-paying indoor leagues, is rooting for the Colts to win Super Bowl XLIV, but not because of his Garcon connection: "I'm a Peyton Manning fan."

# St. John Fisher assistant athletic director Norm Kieffer suggests that the Buffalo Bills should consider drafting another Mount Union wide receiver — Cecil Short III. He had 100 catches for 1,736 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. Garcon was the 205th pick in the 2008 NFL college draft by Indianapolis. The Bills took wide receiver James Hardy No. 41.

[rocketraider]

Nice post SJFF82. I remember those games  and how that defense shut down Pierre. Interesting to see Mike Hart playing for the Colts too. I always thought Nate Kmic could've gotten a shot at the league simply because Hart did. I've stood next to both of them and Nate is as big, if not bigger than Hart and his equal as a football player.

[pradierguy]

'
"I was watching the game from a booth at the stadium," Stepnick recalled Monday. "Each time Garcon scored, he gave the exact stupid pose he used after Sunday's touchdown — his hands on his hips like Superman."

I don't think that pose is stupid