FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[WarhawkDad]

Have not posted for awhile, but have been observing over the past few weeks......

I am also a "UMUPlayerDad", but ours graduated in May.  Like most of the players' parents, I watched our son dominate in junior high and high school.  When he was being recruited, we took joy in the fact that D-II and MUC were interested in his services.  To have Coach Kehres drive across the state to watch him play basketball just added to the excitement.  We, as parents, had a false impression of his skills......don't get me wrong, he was a good HS player.  All-league good.  However, when he arrived at MUC as a freshman, his world was shook.  The first few weeks, he was struggling to stay on the 6th team.  Over time, he worked his way up.  LK did not promise anything.....even though as a parent, I would question why my son wasn't playing more (Note to Reality Check:  I didn't want to be one of "those parents").  I learned, over time, that his struggle for playing time needed to be HIS struggle.  I could question the coaches, the philosophy, and the play selection......but, it didn't change anything for our son.   This was his battle.  We even asked him if he would be happier elsewhere--with more possibility of playing time.  His response was "and leave my teammates and this program?"

Bottom line, is he graduated last May with two National Championship rings, two Runner-ups, two varsity letters, and a commission as a LT in the US Army (was part of the Mount ROTC program).  His experiences with the football program (along with FCA, etc.) are unforgettable.  For me, it was also educational.......#1, don't question a man with a 90%+ winning record, and #2, let your son become a man through his own struggles/experiences.

As he now prepares for deployment on December 21st, I am grateful for his experience at UMU, and the lessons learned from his coaches.  They truly do care.

Excellent post Blutarsky!  +K  As a father of a current UWW player, we have had to recognize exactly what you are saying.  It is interesting to listen to other parents who do sometimes question coaching decisions, playing time, etc.....yet, the program continues to just flat out win.  How can you question that?  Frankly, whether it is UMU or UWW or any other school, if you make a decision to attend, you have to come into that program and adjust to their expectations and then work to excel.   My experience after just two years of watching, listening and learning is that the individual player knows better where he stands on the depth chart in relation to his fellow players than the parents do and they are also more accepting of coaching decisions made than parents

[bushman]

blutarsky       Now that was funny  and I am almost sure it is full most of the time for some people.  Have a merry christmas, you really made my day.

[mtfan]

Sorry, didn't mean to be "heavy"....in the spirit of the true "reason for the season", i've linked a heart-lifting scene from my favorite Holiday tribute movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImluYXmKJc

+k for your earlier post! I left you a PM
Randy Quaid, what a classic!! now where's Grace? ....LOL

[mtfan]

Olinemom has arrived at her usual abode, ther Quality on the roqad into the Satgg Bowl stadiu,/  It's cold, but sunny, but calling for snow and sleet tomorrow!  Planning on being at the Gagliardi and team luncheon and hope to see friends there!!  Lookinf forward to help at the tailgate before the game on Saturday!!!  Thanks for the great photo and the story re: Stone Stataion on the front page!!  See everybody soon!!

Glad to see you made it OLinemom! Look forward to the brownies, just hope i'm not hauling them back down to the stadium through 2+ feet of snow again! LOL
see ya there!!

[b4uknewit]

Purple haze all in my brain
lately things don't seem the same
Ya'llActing funny and i don't know why
excuse me while i kiss Stagg Bowl Good bye! [just kiddin ]

Purple haze all around
don't know if I'm going up or down
am i happy or in prurplety?
whatever at is D-3 put a spell on me

Purple haze all in my eyes
don't know if it's day or night

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/purple-haze-lyrics-jimi-hendrix.html ]

you've got me blowin', SANDTRUCKS AT NIGHT
is it tomorrow or just the end of time

help me, help me
i don't know
cant go on like this
HELP ME!

GLEE CLUB !


blow my mind


Brian J. Lane

[SaintsFAN]

Guys I gave up my junior year of football in high school because of an overbearing and obsessive father.  Call it teenage stubborness or call it coming of age, but I thought long and hard about what I loved about football and if it was worth the issues and harassment my dad put me through.  After some sole-searching, I gave up the game in the off-season between sophomore and junior year.  I cried in the Coach's office while I explained my decision and did the best I could to be a man about it.  

After sitting in the stands as a junior and watching my "brothers" play their butts off, I think my dad finally got it figured out.  My dad and I didn't really talk or communicate much at the time and it took him everything he had (I'm sure) to write me a four page letter apologizing for how he had acted and acknowledging his role in my decision to give up something I loved because it just wasn't worth the ridicule and angst he sent my way or the way of the coaching staff.  He went so far as to write that he'd not attend my games senior year if playing was what I wanted to do and he was indeed keeping me from doing what I loved.  

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about football and think about the year I lost in that decision but I also feel like it was a decision I had to make.  I needed to do it to stand up for what I believed and I needed to do it to set the record straight.  I think that experience has helped me immensely as a coach and mentor to the kids I've had the privilege to work with over the last 4+ years and think although we still don't have the best relationship, it's helped my father and I to at least see each other a little more eye to eye.  We'd have nothing if I hadn't gone through that tough time IMHO.


Sorry to railroad things but this obviously impacts me and I just hope it causes someone to scratch their head a little or think about what can happen as a result of the things we say.

That awful, RC... maybe you aren't such a pu$$y as that took some major balls to do.  

I sure am glad my pops is the strong silent type... he only complained when we were at home... and mostly it was about my play, not some BS coach stuff.... Been watching my 11 year old nephew play football and basketball the past few years I've noticed that my dad and I (our family) are the only ones not yelling $hit at the umpires/refs... are you serious?  Its a societal problem.  

[Shark]

These posts have been awesome. +K to many of you.

Raider 68

I think its a combo of #4 & #5 and the passing game in general. I think Mount must be able to pass effectively. The strength of the Whitewater defense is their front 7. The soft spot (if you can really say that) is their secondary. Mount's strength is their wide receivers and Miller. IMO, we absolutely must prevail in the passing game to win and that can only happen if the "O" line can provides adequate protection. I don't see us running with great consistency and pass protection is the key. With sophomore QBs, confidence will be very important.

Skunks, I have never missed a Stagg Bowl till last year when the weather thwarted my trip. I still have the unused tickets from last year. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it this year due to some family commitments. I will make sure this trend does not continue!

[Blutarsky]

Sorry, didn't mean to be "heavy"....in the spirit of the true "reason for the season", i've linked a heart-lifting scene from my favorite Holiday tribute movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImluYXmKJc

+k for your earlier post! I left you a PM
Randy Quaid, what a classic!! now where's Grace? ....LOL

OK, just because it's the Holidays.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZcZVugtF6w

[jaypeter]

Skunks, I have never missed a Stagg Bowl till last year when the weather thwarted my trip. I still have the unused tickets from last year. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it this year due to some family commitments. I will make sure this trend does not continue!

I missed last year, too, and never even got my ticket.  Was going to pick it up at the box office, drove up to Salem at half my normal speed, and arrived at the parking lot about 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff.  Only after I got out of my car did I learn that the game had been pushed back.  There was no way I was going to make that same trip through the dark after the game ended (I barely should have made it in daylight!), and with a sick wife and 3 month old at home, spending the night in Salem was out of the question.  First Stagg I missed since moving to North Carolina. 

But, I'll be there in a couple of days!

[b4uknewit]

UMUplayerdad-- I may be the ONLY poster on this board that drinks more than you  that said,

I have nevr in my life the days that my son played at Mount!

I have been a fatherbragger to the hilt.

I have been to Mount Games when my son STARTED AT 3 position AT 1 TIME...
STILL NOTE SURE IF THAT WAS DONE B4

and had the HONOR of Ric represent ME  with a handshake at a game I just couldn't make [GOD REST MY SOUL]

NEVER...EVER..WILL YOUR SON GET THE EDUCATION, THE MANHOOD, THE SIMPLICITY OF WHAT MAKES A MAN...TRULY A MAN ...OTHER THAN MUC...

GOD BLESS ALL THAT MAKES MINE AND YOUR SON'S EXPERIENCE WHAT IT WAS AND IS

AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL THAT MADE OUR EXPERIENCE...WHAT IT WAS

and I mean ALL OF YOU! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND PASS THE WHINE UDUBB DUBB

[b4uknewit]

THOSE POSITIONS WERE ...OLINE TACKLE...LONGSNAPPER AND AFTER POINT SNAPPER....STILL BRAGGIN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

[seventiesraider]

Purple haze all in my brain
lately things don't seem the same
Ya'llActing funny and i don't know why
excuse me while i kiss Stagg Bowl Good bye! [just kiddin ]

Purple haze all around
don't know if I'm going up or down
am i happy or in prurplety?
whatever at is D-3 put a spell on me

Purple haze all in my eyes
don't know if it's day or night

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/purple-haze-lyrics-jimi-hendrix.html ]

you've got me blowin', SANDTRUCKS AT NIGHT
is it tomorrow or just the end of time

help me, help me
i don't know
cant go on like this
HELP ME!

GLEE CLUB !


blow my mind


Brian J. Lane

Speechless   

[skunks_sidekick]

WOW 

Afte all this I think I really might need to check into a program........hmmmm....well after the Stagg Bowl any way!   

[seventiesraider]

And after all I've done to uphold the high standards on this board

[Kehresma]

Thea,
It appears we may have a bromance growing, maybe we could make a date of it lol, I'll bring the PBR to your place and we can watch some Glee and discuss how much we adore the Mount program. 

Hey, End oF O,
I was wondering if your Overlook was CL. HTS Now, I'm pretty sure it is.  Let the love flow, Raider faithful. Maximize the good energy behind our guys. Oops...preachin' again... Sorry, back to the mayhem...