FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[seventiesraider]

Baldwin Wallace-decades of average football

[reality check]

Baldwin Wallace-decades of average football

Only recently average.  Before that they were known for decades of slightly above-average football.

[short]

Short,

I understand you are not an OAC guy, but why do you think Musky will break into the top 4 of the conference?  What could possibly give you any belief that could happen?  Sure they're improving, as evidenced by last season's 4-6, but to get into the top 4 they're going to have to improve by at least 2, more likely 3 wins.  It's probably OAC default logic for me to have grouped them into the "dregs" of the conference since they have been down for quite a while now, perhaps they should be above BW and in the same group as JCU and H-Berg in my analysis.  But they still have offensive issues.  Last season they were 8th in total offense and 8th in total defense.  Their pass offense was above average, but they couldn't run the ball and they couldn't stop the run either.  By comparison, BW, who had a horrible year, was 4th in total offense and 5th in total defense.  They just couldn't score and turned the ball over a lot.  So their scoring defense was terrible, but those two go hand in hand.  Defense is on the field all day and you invariably give up points.

Musky is proably as good as JCU, Berg and BW and those 4 will probably fight it out for 5th, but I think OTT and Cap (of course there is my CAP bias) are still better than those 4.  Could it happen, sure.  But you have to think any game between the 4 I mentioned could go either way even if both teams perform exactly as you would expect, and then to beat either Cap or OTT, any of those teams would have to get some breaks.  Simply put, 4th is a nice goal for Musky, but 5th-6th is more likely.  

I am high on Muskingum and think Coach Logan and his staff are doing a good job (OAC coach of the year 2009) and each of the last two years they have made improvements.  Their QB is back along with most of the oline while on defense their front 7 is almost all back too. They have had 2 and this year would be 3 good recruiting year in a row and will have a # of Junior starts this year.  But mostly I just have a feeling that they are doing a better job than Capital, JC, and BW of recruiting and developing players.  As a whole I believe MOUNT is MOUNT and will be as long as LK is the HC.  ONU is the Great Sleeping Giant, by that I mean they have seen 10 season past and have NOT played a single playoff game.  Most years ONU has the talent but they trip up along the way.  Ott is next for me.  Coach Loth and staff have done a GREAT job over the last 8 years.  He has gotten Transfers to return home and high school students to stay home and all of them go to Ott and make a very solid program.  Then I am sorry I just don't see Capital.  Coach Collins left and Capital took a BIG hit!  IF Collins was still at Capital they would be cemented in my top 4 year in year out but I have major question about them in 2010 and beyond.  SO I like Musky and then the Burg or switched.  JC and BW? Wow, both should be better but I think both have been hit hard by Notre Dame College, Lake Erie College and Others in recruiting over the last few years and I'm not sure changing the Coach would fix the problem.  Then I see Wilmington as just a little ahead of Etta.

BUT I AM NOT AN OAC GUY

[reality check]

When you say you put Wilmington slightly ahead of Marietta are you talking about Wilmington High School?  I think Wilmington HS could give the Pioneers a good run, the Quakers though, that's another story.

[short]

RC,

Your right.  I told you I wasn't an OAC guy

[JK]

OK short.  Though I disagree with you, I will entertain your notion that Musky is ready to challenge the big boys.  If they are to finish 4th in the OAC, where are they going to pick up the two additional wins?  Last year Cap was 4th at 7-3 overall and 6-3 in the conference.  Musky was 5th at 4-6 and 4-5.  Assumption is you think they will beat Cap, which was a rather one sided 35-7 beatdown last season.  Who else?

Last year Musky beat Etta, Wilma, JCU and the Berg.  They lost to MUC, ONU, BW, Cap, and OTT.

I assume you think BW, but I feel BW was an aberration last year.  Their statistics showed a team that should have won more, but turnovers killed them.  BW beat Musky pretty handily too last year in a game that they held on to the ball for once all season, 28-17.  If you think H-berg is rising, then you have to consider that the score of that game was 31-28 Musky.  A field goal.

If your point is that Musky is rising and that Logan is a good coach, then I give you that.  No disagreements, but I don't see much opportunity for a 2 win improvement when everyone above brings a lot back.

Plus, I think you overestimate the "Hit" that Cap has taken.  Ott and Cap will continue to be each other's worst enemy, both literally and figuratively.  They are taking talent away from one another.  Ott's mild rise has corresponded directly to Caps minor fall.  But there still is enough talent in both places to be good teams, and I think both will be, and both will be better than Musky at least this year.

If I eat crow, I will do so gracefully, but I just don't see it.  Sorry.

[seventiesraider]

I stay with picking Otterbien to come crashing back to reality and make room for someone in the top half.

Cards beat Musky by 3, Northern by 2 (and shoulda got beat), BW by 4, Cap by 1, got buzzed by Etta, beat JCU by 2. (Did I mention beating the Quackers by 8). I like Joe Loth, but I don't see the talent that Short does waiting in the wings.

[short]

Capital had 27 Seniors on their Roster last in 2009!
22 Juniors
14 Sophomores
38 Freshmen 

I don't like that break down going forward in 2010 and beyond and their Recruiting had to be hurt in 2010 down a HC and/or fulltime recruiter.

Musky on the other hand
10 seniors
21 Juniors
39 Sophomores
77 Freshmen


I think they are on their way up.

[Raider 68]

Musky plays ONU, 'Berg, OTT and UMU away. IMHO, they do not win those games, and have to win six at home to have a chance to finish in the top five
of the OAC. A real tall order!

[TooForRaider]

I think its hard to get a read on Musky's last year and especially hard to forecast this season based on that. 5 of their games were won/lost by a total margin of 18 points (3-2 in those games). A few points here or there and its a different season. I was at three of their games last year (MUC, Wilmington, ONU). The Wilmington game was closer than 24-7. The ONU game was great-ONU played awful but still managed to win. I don't know if I can Musky going any better than 5-5. Saying they are "rising" to me would mean that they are putting the 1-9 and 2-8 seasons being them.

[HScoach]

I stay with picking Otterbien to come crashing back to reality and make room for someone in the top half.

Cards beat Musky by 3, Northern by 2 (and shoulda got beat), BW by 4, Cap by 1, got buzzed by Etta, beat JCU by 2. (Did I mention beating the Quackers by 8).

70's:  I agree with your opinion of Otter.  Which means the meds are definitely kicking in.   Whatever pain killers you're on, double the dose!

[Blutarsky]

UMU JV Schedule posted on Ric's Site for 2010:

Interesting Opponent:
Columbus Post-Graduate Sports Academy

I found nothing about this place on a search other than it's a business in Grove City, Ohio that employs 18 people.
I suspect it's a post-high school prep school that helps kids get their academic scores and skill level up to possible athletic scholarship range.
Anybody know more about it?

......remember Cincinnati Harmony on the MUC JV schedule a few years ago?  Sounds like a "school" for non-qualifiers who are still showing their wares in an attempt to still secure a scholarship.  Harmony/MUC was an interesting matchup.....MUC returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Harmony returns the ensuing kickoff for a TD.  It was 7-7 with about 20 seconds off the clock.

[reality check]

I failed to mention this earlier but the ONU football team embarks today on a week-long trip to Italy similar to the trip they made to Germany in 2007.  They will travel with about 80 players, coaches and parents to sight-see and play an exhibition game against an Italian All-Star club on May 29. 

You can check in on the Polar Bears here this week.

[Raider 68]

I stay with picking Otterbien to come crashing back to reality and make room for someone in the top half.

Cards beat Musky by 3, Northern by 2 (and shoulda got beat), BW by 4, Cap by 1, got buzzed by Etta, beat JCU by 2. (Did I mention beating the Quackers by 8).

70's:  I agree with your opinion of Otter.  Which means the meds are definitely kicking in.   Whatever pain killers you're on, double the dose!

I hear that Jack Daniels is great for pain, but after you are done with the meds!

[Raider 68]

I failed to mention this earlier but the ONU football team embarks today on a week-long trip to Italy similar to the trip they made to Germany in 2007.  They will travel with about 80 players, coaches and parents to sight-see and play an exhibition game against an Italian All-Star club on May 29. 

You can check in on the Polar Bears here this week.

Great opportunity for players, coaches and parents!