FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[HScoach]

Interesting article on Mount WR's in today's Canton Rep:

http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x1783181132/Around-the-NFL-What-if-Browns-had-drafted-Mount-Union-receivers

[SaintsFAN]

Great day of football in Alliance yesterday.  I was kinda thinking that it would be a classic game, I couldn't miss seeing that in person.  I'll admit that after the pick-6, I thought Mount Union was on the brink.  But obviously, the defense played well to force MHB's offense off the field and then Burke came back and settled down.  Kinda fitting, because the story on the Purple Raiders this year has been the efficiency of Burke and the dominance of the defense. 


Sitting behind the Mount Union bench in the 2nd half with raiderguy and Mrs Saintsfan, we were able to see how the team was reacting to each ebb and flow and then also were enveloped by the noise from the fans.  I didn't expect that from the fans, with what everyone had said about them previously on here.  In the end, I can't believe UMU beat MHB while giving the ball away 5 times. 

HScoach, I agree with you about the energy spent -- was wondering about that on the way home. 

Thanks to skunkssidekick, skunks, and raiderguy (who also sat with us) at the Mexican Restaurant.  It was great catching up with you guys.  If you want to bring junior down to look at schools in this area, let me know.  I'll go with you guys. 

HScoach -- I'm glad I got to see you and Ric in action at the end.  I wasn't sure if I should be in the pressbox, but was in there earlier because I needed a stat sheet.  I was actually the guy who took them up to you guys. 

Mrs SF was more than impressed with everyone she met yesterday.  Each of you are quality people.  Thanks for the hospitality.  I am VERY lucky and don't know what I did to marry someone that wants me to do stuff like I did yesterday.  We'll be in Salem next year -- thats already being booked. 

[USee]

Great game.  Congrats to both teams. Fun to watch.

As a side note I think a locked punt for a TD is considered a turnover by most coaches even if it isn't represented in the box score.

[Dr. Acula]

2.  Best crowd/atmosphere I've ever seen at Mount.  That had the feel of a Stagg, one of the early ones before we got used to attending.  And the crowd emptying onto the field at the end was electric.  Way to go Mount Fans!

I went to school from 97-02.  Obviously during that time they won 4 titles in 5 yrs.  The students especially, but fans at large always struck me as complacent.  I was always disappointed that there weren't more students at games.  THAT was the thing that gave me goosebumps watching the game yesterday.  The students were 100% into the game and the players love it.  Jake Simon running into them and getting mobbed?  So cool.  The entire crowd was loud down the stretch.  And hearing the huge roar of the crowd on a play like the punt block?  Awesome.  And the fans spilling out onto the field was one of the best moments I can recall at a home game. 

Maybe UWW did us a favor the last 5 yrs and taught us to better appreciate the success and how magical this era truly is.  And with the Warhawks not around this year and facing the prospect of falling short again it really seemed like the crowd was willing the team to prove they still have that magic.  We're going to the Stagg Bowl for the 8th straight year.  The 15th time in the last 17 years.  That's INSANE.  Someday LK will hang it up.  But until then we get to enjoy the ride. 

[raiderpa]

Went back and looked closely at 2nd half ....
3rd qtr:
MHB:  Total  O : 33 yds  1 First Down  3rd/4th conversions 0-4
MTU:                75 yds  4 First Down                              2-6

4th qtr:
MHB:  Total O:  78 yds   2 First Downs  3rd/4th conversions 0-3
MTU:              176 yds  9 First Downs   3rd conversions      5-5

Total game tackles:
MHB  J Jones 10U Favorite 7U Maldonado 5U 6A
MTU  Driskill 11U 8A  Dieusel 4U 8A  Kochoff 5U 3A

story is the Mount D and lack of conversions on 3rd and 4th by MHB.  To do this to this powered offense was nothing short of phenomenal.
I agree with HS Coach..I will be hard to get players up mentally for Stagg after this effort, no matter what they may say...

[ohiofan1954]

in case nobody has mentioned it yet espn had one of the hits put on by baylor on plays of the day.

[Desertraider]

Interesting article on Mount WR's in today's Canton Rep:

http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x1783181132/Around-the-NFL-What-if-Browns-had-drafted-Mount-Union-receivers

I will qualify this by stating that I am a Steeler/Pats fan - always have been, always will be. But I still want to answer the question posed by the article. The answer is - neither player would be in the league right now. The Browns would have drafted them and either cut, traded, or put them on practice squad. Cleveland, until maybe this year, just doesn't seem to give players time to adjust/develop before moving on to a new coach/system/gm/etc...

I was overjoyed that neither went to the Browns or Bengals - I didn't see it as a good fit for a 'team focused' Mount guy. I think we all discussed that on this board at the time. However, I was bummed - when the Pats and Steelers didn't take either. Oh well - now lest get an NFL team to look at tape on Kmic! Maybe they will say "ya know if Woodhead can do this for the Pats, they why couldn't this guy to that for us?".

Now- wow! I am still geeked about that game last night!! Watched the replay three times and it still blows me away!

[Desertraider]

BTW: how would you rate the ESPN crew calling the game? how do they compare with our favorite from ESPN, Pam Ward?

[Dr. Acula]

I agree with HS Coach..I will be hard to get players up mentally for Stagg after this effort, no matter what they may say...

I'll be the glass half full guy...while I agree with this I would counter that this is foreign territory.  These seniors have never won a ring.  It's the reason they came to Alliance.  Now they're 60 minutes from their goal.  And they have great leaders in that senior class.  If this was 10 years ago then I'd be very worried.  But there will be urgency because their careers literally come down to this game.  It's their legacy on the line.  I think they'll be ready. 

[mr_mom]

BTW: how would you rate the ESPN crew calling the game? how do they compare with our favorite from ESPN, Pam Ward?

I thought they were OK ... maybe a bit repetitive, but were leagues better than the crew calling the Oshkosh game. 

Don't think they are worthy of a Pammy Award ... http://www.awfulannouncing.com/pammies/pammy-awards/

[amonachino]

Thanks to DesertRaider for link up to the replay.  Really enjoyed watching it again.  The 4 td's that umhb got avg. 40 yds. Plus one int. for a t.d.  Mount had 5 t.d.'s that avg. 70 yds. plus 2 spec.team t.d.s.  Mount had 18 opportunities to score.   umhb had 17.  umhb scored 4 off. td's and punted 10 times and 1 on downs, 1 lost fumble(kickoff) and int. for t.d.  Mount on the other hand scored 5 t.d.'s punted 5 times, with 1 on downs and 5 turn overs  with 1 blocked punt and fumble recovery for t.d. This boils down to the Mount off. getting 16 chances to score giving up 5 of them which leaves 11 to which they scored 5 times out of 11.  It also put pressure on the def. to stop them and special teams to create t.d. possibilities.  umhb had 17 chances to score and got 4 t.d.'s out of 16 chances that avg. 40 yds. per drive not 70 yds. There only turnover was a  hail mary on the last play.  You can't fault them for that one.  In the end the Mount def. and Vince K. deserve a ton of credit.  They were creative and made this victory possible.  The special teams were just that very special.  The off. continue to work at until they got it right.  The off. line held their own against an athletic def.  Much praise to our visitors and their program, which is excellent.  For all of us, including the team, this victory will mean very little without a victory at the stagg.  Just as Rowan in 1999 and UMHB in 2004, getting a big semi win and not winning the stagg is meaningless.  Water, rest and feed the horses, time to finish the job.!!!!! 

[muc-raider]

Is there any word yet which ESPN will be broadcasting the Stagg Bowl?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

BTW: how would you rate the ESPN crew calling the game? how do they compare with our favorite from ESPN, Pam Ward?

I thought they were OK ... maybe a bit repetitive, but were leagues better than the crew calling the Oshkosh game. 

Don't think they are worthy of a Pammy Award ... http://www.awfulannouncing.com/pammies/pammy-awards/

Color guy kept calling him "Jasper" Collins instead of "Junior". 

[Desertraider]

BTW: how would you rate the ESPN crew calling the game? how do they compare with our favorite from ESPN, Pam Ward?

I thought they were OK ... maybe a bit repetitive, but were leagues better than the crew calling the Oshkosh game. 

Don't think they are worthy of a Pammy Award ... http://www.awfulannouncing.com/pammies/pammy-awards/

I found a couple of things funny. 1) When they reviewed Mounts great players and showed Garcon, Shorts and Kmic (pronounced as "kay-mick"). Just thought that if your'e gonna do it - may as well know how to pronounce it. and #2 - at times they made it sound like Mount was a "newcomer". Nothing specific - but watching the replay you find some spots where they talk about UMHB's dominance and hint at Mount 'not being able to get it done' (every time they mention the last 3 staggs). It was like they were saying Mount has been close but not there - yet.

Oh well. Here's hoping ESPN can find a crew for the Stagg that doesn't know anything about football, nothing about Mount or UST, and was plucked from the desk getting ready to call the American Miniature Horse Equestrian Finals in Alvarado, Texas.

[Desertraider]

Is there any word yet which ESPN will be broadcasting the Stagg Bowl?

From ESPN website: http://espn.go.com/college-football/schedule/_/seasontype/3/week/1/group/35

They have the ESPNU logo - but the replay of the Semis also shows ESPNU (on the mic's) even though game was on ESPN3.

BTW: We need a name for the Semis with UMHB. If a Mount guy mentions "The Game" we all know what game. We need something better than 'The turnover laden, offensively disappointing, defensively dominating, last minute heart pounding Mount semifinal victory against UMHB in 2012'. Suggestions?