FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[mr_mom]

The final results for the OAC Post-Season Pick-Em are posted.

Those who were counting on an offensive free-for-all last night did not fare so well.  And Larry must have finally read my Emails as the final score made me look like I know what I'm doing.  gobash83, TheBerg40, and wesleydad went contra and were able to scrape out 23 of the possible 29 points to take tops for the week.

Like the LA Lakers who don't bother to play during the regular season and only show up for the playoffs, the winner of this year's OAC Post-Season Pick-Em is a rookie that didn't play this year's earlier contest.  Congratulations to Shark, your winner of the 2012 OAC Post-Season Pick-Em!

I thank everybodyfor playing again this year!  Hope you had as much fun with it as I did.

[runyr]

As we end another great season of d3 football, THANKS TO THE STAFF OF D3FOOTBALL.COM....The service you provide is like no other and the fact that you do it for love not money makes it even more special.  As a d3 fan, this forum, and news and entertainment source provides a great deal of enjoyment throughout the year, but especially during football season.  Your labor of love has become a very important and enjoyable part of the lives of many many fans.
Merry Christmas to Pat and all.
Thanks again for sharing your talents with us all.

Raiderpa -- thanks. I'm curling up for a short winter's nap right now because I am personally exhausted, but I'll be back in a couple hours.

Here's a photo of St. Thomas' opening game, Sept. 1, with the wristband visible on Caruso.
http://d3photography.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/FB-Wisc-Eau-Claire-vs-St-Thomas-09-01-12/G0000i.Jc7FtBxr4/I0000TWryquz2o3k/C00008k1ueSWIIVc

Maybe he read the book.
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Forget-About-Fight-Unconditional/dp/1469958619

[UMUplayerdad]

wesleydad:

Sounds like you had a great time.  Indeed, the Mount people are very gracious in their hospitality at the Stagg tailgaiting.  Just like you did, I, too, experienced that when I have attended the Stagg Bowl in the past.  Anyway, glad you made it home safe.

Also, just to pick your brain at bit, what do you think your Wesley team needs to do to get "over the hump" and win that "big game" in the future (taking off from one of your posts on one of the other boards.

Also, I, too, will join in with raiderpa in thanking Pat and all his staff for providing us another great year of D3fb.com and this forum to participate in.  Hard to believe it has been 12-13 years already.  Thank you.

formerd3db, having been to the last 7 staggs, i think it is that many, and talking to others who have seen wesley play the consensus seems to point to coaching.  the have played mount tough twice and have competed and beaten umhb a number of times.  they did not fair well against uww, but neither did anyone else except for mount.  the talent seems to be there, but for some reason when adjustments need to be made to make a difference they come out on the short end of them.  the offense seems to struggle when it comes to big games and i dont believe they have scored over 20 in any of the semis they have played in.  i understand that the d's are real good at that point, but so has wesley's offense been on more than 1 occasion. the mount folk have stated to me on several occasions that if the coaches switch teams wesley wins the game.  not suggesting that the coaches be replaced just that the mentality in the big game, mainly the second half of big games needs to improve.  just my 2 cents.

as a short timer(4 yrs w a kid in UMU program and ALL missions accomplished, thank god)  I watched some of your games in video and some in person, last year your team concerned me(i refuse to say scared) this year's version was dam good and WAY better than many playoff teams that had inflated opinions of themselves(a hint -are future doctors supposed to be big, flabby, slow,and out of shape with odd tactics) you guys didnt seem as good as last year(remember-comparing one of your teams against another-not all D3) I don't know that it can all be blamed on coaching. your group seems solid, who knows. I will say this-if UMU can come up with a decent O-line-with what I see(remember germany woods plays next year-the guy ahead of 2nd team D3 RB on heidelburg depth chart) and not miss driskill/deisul/scott on defense TOO much(dam some of the freshman kids HIT on defense) UMU makes another deep run(deep run being in final four games minimum. )
UMU will have some tune up games in conference to work out the kinks, with you all being independents not having that option(I know we would not have been overjoyed with TWO games with UMHB in a season-

[raiderpa]

Now that the playoff are over, I wonder if anyone would give me their two cents worth, or even three cents,  on comparisons to UMB and St Thomas...and your opinions on how that Stagg would have turned out...

[purple]

raiderpa...MHB had very good athletes on defense that could and did cover Mount's receivers,and hit like hell. St did not. I don't know if MHB offensive line could have handled ST's strong front. I did observe MHB defensive line wear down late,and ST's huge offensive line and power running game might have got to them late. Certainly,MHB had better skill players,on both sides of the ball,but ST has the edge on the o-line and the d-line. I would give the edge to ST,but only by a whisker. In the end,I think ST would have been able to control the ball enough to win.

[RoyalPurple]

One things for sure, tommies  will be back, good showing from them.  Raiders way to go, number 11 sounds good.  I was wondering how many d1 transfers St. Thomas has?

Harry Pitera, Minnesota
Willie Schneider, Minnesota
Curtis James, Minnesota
John Connelly, Indiana
Luke Marks, SDSU
Sam Pokornowski, North Dakota

According to a recent Caruso interview, 70% of his players were offered a D1, D1AA, or D2 scholarship.  He's done a great job recruiting over the past 5 years.  Tonight he started 7 freshmen against MU.

Sounds like the Rowan teams of KC Kheeler (sp?).

I almost forgot about KC  Keeler.

After all that nonsense at the end of the game, KC Keeler has moved out of last place in my all-time favorite coaches list. I also assumed The first TO was to get his young men calmed down so they could go out with class, quickly figured out he isn't familiar with the concept.

I UST players were getting frustrated and it is totally understandable, they just played their hearts out. Damn man just let the game be over and don't put them through anymore.

At least Larry had enough class to come back throwing for the end zone.

Congrats to the Tommies team, fans, parents for a great showing. My own personal jury is still out on the Head Coach.

[Desertraider]

Tough break for Matt Campbell and the Rockets tonight. I am sure they will be back strong next year.
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/famous-idaho-potato-bowl-utah-state-aggies-beat-toledo-rockets-kerwynn-williams-121512

If you watch the replay of the Stagg online - move forward to the UST punt late in fourth qtr - even the announcers (both of them) said it looked like the Tommies had tapped out when they punted. As for the post game handshake - it looked like LK wanted to move on but Caruso kept talking. Not a lip reader but it looks like at the end he says "nice job, stay focused". Maybe he was saying he was trying to have his guys stay focused. Who knows. Who cares. All I wanted for Christmas was #11 and Santa delivered.

[fredsdriveinn]

My thoughts:

1. Congratulations Mount Union.  Fantastic, record-breaking season!
2. UMHB was the second-best team in the country this year.
3. I now like K.C. Keeler better than Caruso. No class. When Caruso loses he acts like Greg Schiano and when he wins he's another back-slappin Jim Harbaugh.  Watch him come out onto the field and yell at Nick Driskill during the final tackle of the game.

'The true man is revealed in difficult times.' Epictecus

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

My thoughts:

1. Congratulations Mount Union.  Fantastic, record-breaking season!
2. UMHB was the second-best team in the country this year.
3. I now like K.C. Keeler better than Caruso. No class. When Caruso loses he acts like Greg Schiano and when he wins he's another back-slappin Jim Harbaugh.  Watch him come out onto the field and yell at Nick Driskill during the final tackle of the game.

'The true man is revealed in difficult times.' Epictecus

I haven't watched the full replay of the game yet, but watched the last 3 minutes plus the coaches handshake and still don't understad Caruso.  Looked like he was trying to Chat LK up and Coach K wanted to just shake hands and get away from him.  Caruso better hope to not run into Mount anytime soon, because Coach K has a LONG memory and tends to put his foot on the gas and make a statement against those who he thinks have not respected the game.

[formerd3db]

Tough break for Matt Campbell and the Rockets tonight. I am sure they will be back strong next year.
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/famous-idaho-potato-bowl-utah-state-aggies-beat-toledo-rockets-kerwynn-williams-121512

If you watch the replay of the Stagg online - move forward to the UST punt late in fourth qtr - even the announcers (both of them) said it looked like the Tommies had tapped out when they punted. As for the post game handshake - it looked like LK wanted to move on but Caruso kept talking. Not a lip reader but it looks like at the end he says "nice job, stay focused". Maybe he was saying he was trying to have his guys stay focused. Who knows. Who cares. All I wanted for Christmas was #11 and Santa delivered.

Yes, it was a disappointing loss for them.  I was rooting for them, however, Nevada certainly had a good team.  Toledo obvioulsy missed their opportunities in the red zone, which might have changed the tone of the game with them perhaps pulling out the win. A few dropped passes in the final drives in the 4th quarter did not help either. Yet, it was troubling to see that Campbell and his staff had difficulty in time clock and play calling management towards the end of the game.  Wasting the two timeouts with the waning minutes, not having plays readily called (particularly with the type of offensive shifting plays they wanted to run towards the end) certainly did not help.  Granted, that was only one game, however, they need to improve in that aspect for the next time.

Also, it didn't help that they lost a couple of their best players, one on the first play/opening kickoff of the game.  That had to have some effect.  Nonetheless, just the fact that they made it to the bowl game is a good accomplishment and it was a exciting bowl game to watch.  Anyway, I have no doubt that Campbell will continue to build the Toledo program and have further success.   

[Desertraider]

Congrats to LK on National COY and to the Purple Raiders!
http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/20121215uooe96

10AA selections and Burke still has 2 years left - me likes! Looking ahead to next year I know the defense will miss Dieusel, Driskill and a slew of others but with Fechko back along with Rosalva, Nyejel Thomas and Tom Lally (Fr. from St. Eds) I like what I see. On offense I know Germany Woods will boost the RB situation and Nichols at WR gives Burke some speed at WR. I know the Raiders are losing alot - but that is why the playing time the underclassmen got this year is invaluable.

I wonder if Thomas may get moved to LB like they did with Dieusel. Similar size and speed - who knows. Only 8.5 months to game plan!

[section13raiderfan]

Did anybody watch the D2 championship game and think that neither team was all that good? With Valdosta being in an area rich in highschool talent and history I expected much more of a powerhouse team. I actually thought they would have been in a dogfight with any of the D3 final four.  Which begs the question, what happened to Ashland this year? And what happens to D2 when Walsh and Malone compete there next year? Maybe Valdosta knew they had it easy and didnt try all that hard. Im no K C Keeler fan but his teams put on a better show than either team yesterday. 

[purpled]

I too have to agree regarding Caruso and the end of the game...for me it was total disrespect for the game itself and to Mount Union. Didn't care for his antics at all. And as was stated...LK has a long memory and you know he won't forget that.

[BrowardRaider]

Big day in Miami for some OAC alumni, Jason Trusnik with a couple big plays for the Phins defense for J'ville Cecil Shorts III w/ 6 catches for 101 yards and a Kyle Miller sighting on the Miami sideline. And a nice little Mount shoutout from the announcers on Championship #11

[formerd3db]

Did anybody watch the D2 championship game and think that neither team was all that good? With Valdosta being in an area rich in highschool talent and history I expected much more of a powerhouse team. I actually thought they would have been in a dogfight with any of the D3 final four.  Which begs the question, what happened to Ashland this year? And what happens to D2 when Walsh and Malone compete there next year? Maybe Valdosta knew they had it easy and didnt try all that hard. Im no K C Keeler fan but his teams put on a better show than either team yesterday.

Yes.  While Valdosta State has a good program, in watching the entire game I also thought the same thing.  I do think some of the top DIII teams as you mention would give them a great game and maybe even beat them.  I also agree with you in questioning what happened to Ashland.  I really thought they would go far in the playoffs and was surprised that they bowed out early.  I did not see the stats from that game.  They must have had a bad day.  I also thought the two Pennsylvania DII schools would get near to the final and was surprised they were canned as well.