FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

Shark, so even LK is not above that (false) coaches' cliche?!  ("It's much easier to get to the top than to stay there.")  I can think of 234 d3 coaches who would beg to differ!

Mount (and now UWW, who DID make it) have huge built-in advantages due to their success.  Start with the obvious recruiting advantage of showing off rings to potential recruits.  Toss in the extra half-season of games and practices they get virtually each-and-every year.  By the time Mount and UWW players are juniors, they are seniors in terms of practice and game time!  How is an aspiring top program suppose to compete with that?!

Maybe the cliche is true in the NFL, where consistent success means consistent low draft picks, but it sure ain't true in college (at any level) where consistent success means just about YOUR pick of recruits!

[B38W]

Just like to thank whoever tore up the visting locker room ater the game. Real class.

[raiderpa]

B38W  please explain the post.  If you are saying that someone from Mount Union tore up the locker room after the game, I am sure ( I would hope) that if  Mount officials are aware, they would investigate and make restitution if they are responsible.  As a Mount alum, I would expect nothing less.

[B38W]

All I know for sure is some lockers were found broken into after the game when some of the players returned to put their stuff back. Cant say for sure but it looks like maybe some players may have done it. Having met LK on some recruiting trips, if this is the case I sure feel sorry for the team. Those boys will run till they puke and then run again.

[skunks_sidekick]

Wait.......B-W players have a locker in the visitors locker room?

How is that possible, and what does that mean?

[seventiesraider]

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

The only sporting thing to do was take a week off and see if I can't catch "someone "  

Am I the only one who isn't following the logic of this locker incident. Is there a possibility, however remote, that someone not associated at all with either team might have done this? You don't have to be a NCAC graduate to know that no one will be in the locker room during the game

[B38W]

Anything is possible 70s. Unless someone would step up and say they did it is the only way we would know for sure. That will never happen so no big deal.

[beenhit2hard]

According to some sources close to the team,,the locker room was not locked before ,during or after the game,,could have been a pre game problem,,or maybe some upset BW players after UMU left,,only the Shadow knows for sure

[HScoach]

Could have been Ric as paybacks for the crappy pizza in the pressbox.

[purple]

Ric was the individual responsible for the locker room incident.  He has pestered LK for years about getting him in a game as a running back.  It's his dream to run a sweep because he thinks he's fast.  LK was a little more direct with Ric this time and told him it's not going to happen. He tried to let him down easy. Ric wouldn't take off the Mount Union helmet so they left him in there and thats when it happened.

[Shark]

Shark, so even LK is not above that (false) coaches' cliche?!  ("It's much easier to get to the top than to stay there.")  I can think of 234 d3 coaches who would beg to differ!

Mount (and now UWW, who DID make it) have huge built-in advantages due to their success.  Start with the obvious recruiting advantage of showing off rings to potential recruits.  Toss in the extra half-season of games and practices they get virtually each-and-every year.  By the time Mount and UWW players are juniors, they are seniors in terms of practice and game time!  How is an aspiring top program suppose to compete with that?!

Maybe the cliche is true in the NFL, where consistent success means consistent low draft picks, but it sure ain't true in college (at any level) where consistent success means just about YOUR pick of recruits!

Mr. Y

I agree that success breeds success and that a good program can become somewhat self-perpetuating. Many schools however elevate their programs and win but cannot maintain a run but rather live off an exceptional class of players for the short run.

I can't speak for LK but success also raises the expectations and pressure on the program as well. Those expectations border on anticipating perfection (even dominance) every year and can be very difficult to maintain especially for the incredible period that Mount has had. That pressure is felt by the players who don't want to be the class that "drops the ball". Look at the number of people that are concerned that Mount is not winning by 50 pts a game. Larry has in some cases defended his 9-0 team because of those expectations.

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice place to be but it takes a substantial amount of commitment and work to maintain success because when you take it for granted it will be gone.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Shark, so even LK is not above that (false) coaches' cliche?!  ("It's much easier to get to the top than to stay there.")  I can think of 234 d3 coaches who would beg to differ!

Mount (and now UWW, who DID make it) have huge built-in advantages due to their success.  Start with the obvious recruiting advantage of showing off rings to potential recruits.  Toss in the extra half-season of games and practices they get virtually each-and-every year.  By the time Mount and UWW players are juniors, they are seniors in terms of practice and game time!  How is an aspiring top program suppose to compete with that?!

Maybe the cliche is true in the NFL, where consistent success means consistent low draft picks, but it sure ain't true in college (at any level) where consistent success means just about YOUR pick of recruits!

Mr. Y

I agree that success breeds success and that a good program can become somewhat self-perpetuating. Many schools however elevate their programs and win but cannot maintain a run but rather live off an exceptional class of players for the short run.

I can't speak for LK but success also raises the expectations and pressure on the program as well. Those expectations border on anticipating perfection (even dominance) every year and can be very difficult to maintain especially for the incredible period that Mount has had. That pressure is felt by the players who don't want to be the class that "drops the ball". Look at the number of people that are concerned that Mount is not winning by 50 pts a game. Larry has in some cases defended his 9-0 team because of those expectations.

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice place to be but it takes a substantial amount of commitment and work to maintain success because when you take it for granted it will be gone.

I agree with everything you said, but will STILL contend that in college it is tougher to get there in the first place than to stay there.

Virtually every TOP d3 recruit wants to play for LK (or, now, also LL at UWW).  Combine that with the extra games/practices of the Purple Monsters, and it is one awfully steep hill to climb for anyone else.

The Lions get top draft picks; what does Marietta (or even NCC or St. Thomas) get?

[seventiesraider]

 The success formula is also elusive at the High School Level:

Only 11 high schools in Ohio have been to 20 or more post season football playoffs. Mogadore is one with 24 appearances. Only Cincinnati Moeller (29), Newark Catholic (31) and Ironton (28) have more.

Having worked with Mogadore youth for years and high school conditioning I can tell you there is only about a 15 minute break allowable every year if you want to stay on top.

Larry might think 15 minutes is extravagant.

BTW Success in the NFL means you buy free agents and use the rest of the league as a farm system

[seventiesraider]

The D3Fan Poll will not be published until Wednesday AM

[Raider 68]

Is it a forgone conclusion that the Raiders move to the East Region again?

Top Seedings "could" be:

North - North Central

South - Wesley or Mary Hardin Baylor

East - Mount Union

West - UW-Whitewater

But, St. Thomas has had a great year, do they take the West and Wesley becomes a #2 seed?