FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[seventiesraider]

If Ada is still using War Memorial as their home field, then it makes sense that the playoff game was there. I guess I made the assumption based on the fact that Alliance has shared Mount Union's stadium for as long I remember, grass or not. Nothing wrong with War Memorial that some modern stands wouldn't fix, well maybe some parking other than residential streets.

FormerD3DB-The amazing thing that nobody understands about the switch to turf is the increased utilization of the stadium. Suddenly there are soccer games, HS playoffs and dare I say it, the Marching band can practice on the same field they play on.

[formerd3db]

seventies:

You are so correct about those aspects of the new style turf.  Another reason in addition to those is one of maintanence; for example, many of the small schools just do not have the manpower to maintain natural turf fields the way those really should be kept.  The playing conditions can become dangerous as I mentioned, but also it costs additonal $.  That is one of the reasons why Alma College went to synthetic turf (the first to do so in our MIAA, albeit originally it was the old style turf) among all the other reasons you mention.  Although many people still like the natural turf, I am a proponent of the new style turf and it is (has become) an entity here to stay in today's football world at all the levels, even though not every school at every level can obviously afford the new turf.

[HScoach]

Spreads for the regular season finale have been posted.  Good luck to everyone chasing Usee.

[mr_mom]

Spreads for the regular season finale have been posted.  Good luck to everyone chasing Usee.

Chasing Usee?     My dream is to stay ahead of you!

[reality check]

Here's a link that gives an interesting history of ONU's athletic facilities. 

ONU used War Memorial from 1947 to 2004 as part of an agreement that allowed ONU to use the town's facilities in exchange for maintaining the fields.  According to wikipedia, a new scoreboard was installed this season that has video replay so Ada HS appears to be more than content with its facilities. 

[skunks_sidekick]

RC - you so eloquently laid out Mount's shortcomings/capabilities.  I am wondering if you would do the same for your beloved Polar Bears?

IF Mount gets moved East, and NCC is the #1 seed in the North, can ONU challenge any/all in that bracket, and potentially set up a Mount/ONU semi if both win out?

What are their strong points, weaknesses, intangibles?

I would love to see two OAC teams in the semis.

[formerd3db]

Here's a link that gives an interesting history of ONU's athletic facilities. 

ONU used War Memorial from 1947 to 2004 as part of an agreement that allowed ONU to use the town's facilities in exchange for maintaining the fields.  According to wikipedia, a new scoreboard was installed this season that has video replay so Ada HS appears to be more than content with its facilities. 

Thanks rc; interesting and informative article.

[Raider 68]

RC - you so eloquently laid out Mount's shortcomings/capabilities.  I am wondering if you would do the same for your beloved Polar Bears?

IF Mount gets moved East, and NCC is the #1 seed in the North, can ONU challenge any/all in that bracket, and potentially set up a Mount/ONU semi if both win out?

What are their strong points, weaknesses, intangibles?

I would love to see two OAC teams in the semis.

Agree, that will great to have that, since IMHO, ONU will make the playoffs and be a top 4 seed!

[reality check]

RC - you so eloquently laid out Mount's shortcomings/capabilities.  I am wondering if you would do the same for your beloved Polar Bears?

IF Mount gets moved East, and NCC is the #1 seed in the North, can ONU challenge any/all in that bracket, and potentially set up a Mount/ONU semi if both win out?

What are their strong points, weaknesses, intangibles?

I would love to see two OAC teams in the semis.

I have no problem reflecting on my Bears.  I think they have a very good chance to challenge whomever they would see in the North Region and would love an OAC semi or quarterfinal if it presents itself.

The optimist in me says they're right where they should be.  The pessimist says the offense is just one step away from being where I would expect/want them to be.  Simmons and Donley are both playing about the same as they did last season which is pretty darn good.  It's been talked about before but Simmons' numbers aren't necessarily eye-popping yet he is indeed very productive as a signal caller.  He has accounted for 14 passing TD's to just 5 INT's and he has another 7 rushing TD's in 2010.  He might be the best running QB we've had although Franzer had some good legs too.  Simmons has 46 career passing TD's to just 16 INT's and another 21 rushing touchdowns.  He's a unique threat and reminds me a little bit of Larlham with his skill set.  Donley has cleared 100 yards for the second straight year and sits fourth on the all-time rushing list with a legit shot at number two all-time with a playoff run of any kind.  

The passing game has a little more in the way of options than in recent years.  There is no standout receiver but Ryan Fleming is a deep/big play threat with all 4 TD's coming at 45+ yards each.  Crawford and Priest are both solid but not flashy options as well and Evan Elliot can be a good red zone target at TE although he's not used too much.  One knock on ONU has always been the lack of a playmaker and while Crawford/Priest fit that typical ONU receiver mold Fleming gives the offense an option to play vertically.

Defensively ONU worried me coming into the season and this year they've been a bit of an enigma.  There are no big names and so there are no individual eye-popping numbers but the defensive backfield is a strength and is extremely deep.  The LBs are young and still a bit of a concern.  The same could be said for the defensive line.  It's strange, this defense doesn't scare me on paper but they have really bought into the team concept and while no individual number stands out, they are very active and productive.  Consider this: 12 different players have recorded sacks and 8 different players have intercepted passes.  There no studs, just eleven guys flying to the football and playing swarming defense, causing pressure and creating turnovers.

The return game is not where I expected it to be after a great 2009 campaign by JJ Mihoci.  The return game has only managed a long KR of 28 yards which is a bit surprising as I've felt ONU has always done a nice job in that area.  I think our kicking and punting are at the top of Division III though with Wesloski averaging over 40 per punt and 11 FG's on the season.  I just hope Ellenberger isn't dinged up as he shared duties this week on kickoff and as the placekicker.  

I'd be lying if I said I was completely satisfied with where the 2010 Polar Bears stand.  I think I would give them a B+ but I was hoping we'd be in A territory by this point in the year.  I guess I might be tougher on them than I should.  It's hard as a fan and an alum to see a no-name defense and be ecstatic but they're getting the job done.  As seniors I'd like Donley and Simmons to have a little more production but they're more efficient than I usually give them credit for.  All that said, I think ONU has the tools, the players and the coaches in place to represent the OAC well in the postseason.  In the North Region, North central and Wheaton are certainly capable of challenging ONU or Mount but I think ONU could hold their own in a contest against either.  ONU's beaten a very good NCC team before and this could be a great matchup.  NCC's defense is stout allowing just 2 rushing TD's and 7 in the air.  That's a matchup that would really intrigue me and I would love to see them square off again.

[Shark]

Just saw RC's assessment and question regarding this year's edition of the Raiders. I was thinking of how to respond and had a number of thoughts I was ready to post and then I read HS Coach's assessment and he hit the nail on the head. In fact, if I wait a bit HS Coach almost always echoes my thoughts but with much greater clarity . Interesting observation regarding the junior class. This year's team does remind me a bit of Bochert's freshman season. They may be vulnerable this year but don't underestimate them. They should be a beast next few years.

I do appreciate HS Coach's assessment of UMU as well as RC's of the Polar Bears. This should be an exciting playoff for the OAC.

[PurpleSuit]

i get that ONU has had a good year and they should definitely make the playoffs, but when did ONU and Mount join the same level of being a championship caliber team?  I guess since Mount is horrible this year, according to this board, that makes sense

[skunks_sidekick]

i get that ONU has had a good year and they should definitely make the playoffs, but when did ONU and Mount join the same level of being a championship caliber team?  I guess since Mount is horrible this year, according to this board, that makes sense

I don't understand your statement.  Where did you see that anyone said anything about them being on the same level?  I asked for RC's assesment of ONU, and expressed the hope that they could make some noise in the play-offs.  I have thought many other years that the #2 team in the OAC could beat, or at least compete with amost anyone else in the play-offs.  It's ONU's turn to be that team this year.

[PurpleSuit]

I will root for ONU every game in the playoffs, don't get me wrong.  But it seems strange to me that many here think that Mount is having a down year, a good not great year, but will also pump ONU up like a great squad.  I guess the 27-0 result over a potential top 4 seed in the playoffs, doesnt mean much.  All the Neal Seaman negative chatter reminds me of how most thought that Jorris wasnt "the" QB for Mount, altough he did alright in terms of titles

[Shark]

I think the expectations are always championship or bust for the Mount faithful. The bar has been set so high. Last year many of my family (not die hard fans) asked what happened to Mount when we lost in the Stagg Bowl. Anything short of a title is a great disappointment to most fans now. If we were honest, don't we all expect to go to Salem every year? I remember LK saying it's not near as hard to get to the top as it is to stay there. Every team wants to be the one to bring down Mount and many of those players don't want to be the class that fails to maintain that standard.

That pressure that we place on every Mount team, we also put on individual players. We tend to hold players up to the absolute standards set by Borchert, Micheli, Kmic, Moore, Pugh, ect.  Smeck, Jorris, Bruney, Adamson, ect got some of the same criticism when compared to the greats at that position. It's part of process when you play at program with this much success.

This is a very good Mount team but also overall the youngest LK has ever had. Given the youth and inexperience, I'm quite pleased with the progress of this team. As with most young teams we are our worst enemy at times with turnovers, penalties and missed assignments. Many teams with this much youth never have a chance at the playoffs so it is quite a testament to LK and the staff.  If we hope to go deep in the playoffs, those miscues must be eliminated or at least minimized. Given his comments throughout the season, I think LK is pleased with the progress. Having said this, I do have concerns that we can overcome our inconsistencies and perform at a high level each week to continue to advance in the playoffs. If we do, I fully expect this team to make it to Salem. If so, it will be one of LK's greatest coaching jobs.

[skunks_sidekick]

Without going back through umpteen gazillion pages.....I don't know who the "many" are that have pumped ONU up as a top 4 team.  I ALWAYS hope the second OAC team gets as far as possible.

As far as this year's Mount team......I think they are as vulnerable a play-off team that Mount has had in the postseason since the '04 team.  Does that mean they can't win the Stagg?  Nope...but they will have to play MUCH better then they have been to accomplish that task.  A healthy CSIII will help us in that regard, and Seamon needs to play extremely well.  He has improved greatly from last year to this year, but until we see him in a knock-down, tight, physical game, we will not know how much he has improved. 

Call me spoiled, but I know what championship teams looked like, and to date, this team isn't quite there.  We are young, and seem to lack a bit of that killer instinct we have had in years past.  LK thinks this bunch is one of the most athletic he has had in a while (especially on defense), but his consistent comment has been to say that "we are young". 

It's all good......the play-offs should be very exciting.  Especially with that potential first round game against the juggernaut that is St. Lawrence.