FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Raider 68]

To all the OAC posters, I wish each of you and your famlies a Merry Christmas!

[mr_mom]

O-line coach Tom Manning heading to Toledo to coach with Campbell.

An ex- Youngstown State wide-out told me that this morning.  Wow ... three former MUC players on the coaching staff.  Go Toledo!

And I see Akron picked up a minor Bowden.  They might end up the first NCAA team to go on probation before they make a bowl game!

Happy Holidays, Y'All!

[mr_mom]

Sorry, I was quickly corrected.  Hilltop High/Action U. has been in two bowls:

1968/12/14 - Grantland Rice Bowl - Akron 13 - Louisiana Tech 33
2005/12/26 - Motor City Bowl - Akron 31 - Memphis 38 

So please let me amend ...

They might end up the first NCAA team to go on probation before they win a bowl game!

[formerd3db]

So mr_mom...what do you and our Ohio friends here really think about the Akron hire of Terry Bowden?  Although Paul Winters, former Akron player, decided to stay at Wayne State, I wonder if Winters had kept his name in for the position, if Bowden would have still been the pick.  Bowden was a good coach and I don't really put him in the category of his dad as I considered the latter a little lax on discipline and character definment at Florida State.  Bowden has done a very good job everywhere he has been, yes even at Auburn and his being "let go" there was actually not because of any misdoings or violations, but rather a political "hack job" and smear campaign by a very, very wealthy alum/booster. 

So for those who have criticized the Akron program of recent, I guess my question is do you think they (the administration) have finally gotten more serious about making a "truly" serious commitment to try and take their program to that "next level" or at least above where they are now?  I will be interested to hear your and everyone's opinions/comments about this.

Yes, Merry Christmas to everyone here.

formerd3db   

[ace]

Remember when there was a quarterly list published about all of the ex-mount players coaching at some level? I can't remember if it was Ric or the school who published it.
It has been a couple years but I would love to see a current list. This compilation would let people see that LK is not only a great coach, but a great leader of men.
       You can talk about wins and losses and show what he has done for the school. But talk about his legacy and see what he has done for people.
      I don't know how long LK will grace us on the sideline, but I think Mount, the OAC, D3 and all of football should appreciate what he has done for the sport.
As I get off my soapbox, I wish all a Merry and safe Holiday season. Good night and God bless.

[HScoach]

^  it was a newsletter published by the school.   VK was the one behind it.

[SaintsFAN]

Happy Holidays everyone..

[skunks_sidekick]

FD3DB......word here is that Winters was "their man", and Bowden wasn't even a consideration until Winters said no.  I could be wrong (and I hope I am), but this hire smacks a bit of "hey look at us", and I am not sure he is the guy to build the Akron program up to respectability. 

Bowden had a contact on the board, and he reached out to him at the beginning of last week.  It goes to show that in coaching, as in business, and as in life, it's more of a WHO you know, rather than WHAT you know.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my "little internet friends"!!!!   

And to all of you who are of any other faith, enjoy the holiday season as a time to spread good will and good cheer.

[rscl70]

Merry Christmas!

[nike]

If Akron wanted Winters, they should have hired him two years ago when they hired the Notre Dame gentleman.  My understanding is that he would have come then.  Since then, Akron has gone 2-22 and Wayne State has had their two best football seasons ever, culminating with a slot in the D2 championship game recently.  I applaud his loyalty after this year's run to stay put.  And evidently Wayne State stepped up to the plate also.
Akron also should have kept their former asst. AD as their new AD.

[formerd3db]

skunks and nike:

Thanks for your opinions.  I agree with you entirely about today's coaching era - like any other profession, you are right...it is certainly "who" you know.  That is so true even at the DIII level it is sad to say.  Hopefully, Bowden will help Akron get back to a more than respectable and competitive level.

Anyway, I, too, applaud Winter's loyalty to staying at Wayne State.  Some other coaches (as we have seen of recent) would not have done that and it is a rare breed in this current era.  As you said, nike, Wayne State appears to have "stepped up to the plate" in retaining him and just perhaps, Winters has decided that what he had built there as far as the program and what the "true" value is in preparing young men for life beyond football and "when the cheering stops" is worth more than some "big time" program, even though he played at Akron.  He is like so many of the great DIII coaches we know in that regard LK, former Hope coach Ray Smith (the latter who played at UCLA and chose to stay in DIII rather than take one of several DI jobs that he had the opportunity to do), just to name a couple (obviously, there are many, many more that I'm not mentioning here).

Wayne State was going to drop their program back in the mid-1980's due to the very mis-guided philosophy of their then president, however, thankfully, the Board of Trustees and others had the intelligence and sense to see that move would have been wrong.  Who would have thought Wayne State would become very competitive in the GLIAC, challenge perennial power Grand Valley State for the GLIAC title, let alone blast through the DII playoffs like they did this year.  They've upgraded their stadium and facilities, have a good fan base following now with a renewed sense of pride and a very good coaching staff.  Hopefully, that will continue for ensuing years. 

Have a great holiday weekend everyone.     

[raiderpa]

We always talk about Larry Kehres being courted by bigger schools, I wonder if the same discussions go on for the
Head Coach of Wisconsin Whitewater?  Do the Warhawk faithful believe that he will pull an LK and stay around or does he have his eyes on a bigger prize.  I am sure that he is rewarded handsomely and loved at WW, however, it is not always about that...
What say you warhawks?

[bleedpurple]

We always talk about Larry Kehres being courted by bigger schools, I wonder if the same discussions go on for the
Head Coach of Wisconsin Whitewater?  Do the Warhawk faithful believe that he will pull an LK and stay around or does he have his eyes on a bigger prize.  I am sure that he is rewarded handsomely and loved at WW, however, it is not always about that...
What say you warhawks?

I don't know if his eyes are on a bigger prize or not, but I do think he will be pursued. He is an excellent football coach.  However, I believe it would have to be a special situation for him to leave.  He was one of four finalists for the Grand Valley State job between the 09 and 10 seasons.  But, Grand Valley State definitely qualifies as a special situation. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

We always talk about Larry Kehres being courted by bigger schools, I wonder if the same discussions go on for the
Head Coach of Wisconsin Whitewater?  Do the Warhawk faithful believe that he will pull an LK and stay around or does he have his eyes on a bigger prize.  I am sure that he is rewarded handsomely and loved at WW, however, it is not always about that...
What say you warhawks?

I don't know if his eyes are on a bigger prize or not, but I do think he will be pursued. He is an excellent football coach.  However, I believe it would have to be a special situation for him to leave.  He was one of four finalists for the Grand Valley State job between the 09 and 10 seasons.  But, Grand Valley State definitely qualifies as a special situation.

But Wayne State is trying to change that!

LK has clearly decided to be a d3 lifer (quite a few highly sought coaches have made that choice in all sports); LL is young enough he still could decide either way.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Merry Christmas to all my internet friends!