FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[rscl70]

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.

Why would Malone and Walsh make any difference at all in D2?  Their basketball teams may be competitive, but based on their performance against GLIAC teams this past season, it would seem the football programs have a lot of work to do.

[MUCRaker]

Congrats on number 11 Raiders!!!  Now lets go for an even dozen.
Not a big fan of UST's coach.  Did he not realize he was on the national stage?  PuLeeease.... show some class.
Keith, Pat et al. on the D3football.com staff another magnificent season, I love you guys!!
Merry Christmas to all, and Happy new Year.

[raiderpa]

I really don't see Walsh or Malone becoming any factors in any division.  They have not been that strong and now in the new conference will take many lumps before they get competitive enough to challenge for any kind of title or playoff., if ever.  There are some strong teams in the GLIAC and neither school is, IMO, a great draw athletically and the mission of the two schools just doesn't bode well for football support or success.  Jim Dennison is a great coach and he just retired and Walsh will be under new leadership which may take some time to work itself out and Malone has not wowed anybody lately.
Mount will never schedule either, because they have nothing to gain and I think there are three or four teams in the OAC that would put the wood to Walsh and Malone.  Mount would double or triple monkey stomp both of them.

[raiderpa]

Now that I have watched the replay of Mount game, the end of game management by UST coach is even more confusing and open to criticism.  First the punt was obviously called because he did not want to lose 35-10. He quit, even though he says he never does. Then a questionable display of timeouts and DL attacking Mount,  when LK was going to let the clock go and not attack the defense. Then the handshake scene looked like the UST coach wanted to have a friendly chat, while LK just wanted to get away from the clown.  First, LK is generally very quiet, reserved and professional.  I think KC jr was fortunate that LK was so happy for his seniors that he really didn't give him a piece of advice.
If there is ever a rematch, and there could be, I hope LK will not sit on the ball given the same opportunity, however, there is no doubt he will take the more professional approach.
With this finish, it is easy to see why SJU and their fans hold such disdain for the Tommies and especially their coach, who seems to crave the spotlight.

[section13raiderfan]

When Walsh and Malone start to compete in D2 either they will add or detract from it. Their ability to attract athletes will have an affect on Ashland Im sure. There are some pretty good athletes in the area who will not get D1 offers who can still get scholarships and play close to home at either school. Some of those Parochial school athletes in Ohio have another chance at a subsidized education. You may not play for a title for a while but you wont graduate with a mountain of debt either. I see John Carroll losing out to the new D2 schools a little more than MUC. The ST. Ignatius pipeline may start to leak a little. The OAC recruiting rules may even have to be loosened up some to compete with the money guys. However if they both fail to build a winner soon MUC may be the school that affects THEM the most. Real competitive types wont play for a loser if there is a perennial winner just up the road. Still, $ talks. If parents refuse to sign for loans because a schollarship is on the table, who can blame them. It could get interesting.

[RoyalPurple]

Don't forget to get to Alliance this week for your NC 11 gear. The shirts (minus final score) were on the website this weekend at the University Store (that's bookstore to most of us)

[Desertraider]

Found this on youtube. Thought it was interesting that the one guy refers to Mount as a "D2 or D1AA school and we're a D3 school" - dude seriously? I know enrollment aint everything but UST is triple the size of Mount. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmCHDJ55ZAs

[formerd3db]

raiderpa and section13raiderfan:

I agree with your comments/opinions about Walsh and Malone.  It will take them awhile to try and get competitive in the GLIAC, however, it will not be impossible either.  Recall people said that about Hillsdale, Michigan Tech, Wayne State for years (with the latter two coming seriously close to permanently dropping their programs), yet they are competitive and the latter two having had title years in the last decade, with Wayne State reaching the national championship game last year.  I see those 3 schools comparable to Malone and Walsh to use the examples we are talking about (although you could say that also about almost all the GLIAC schools, except perhaps for Grand Valley State - which didn't have a great year this year)) in having a difficult time recuiting, especially in Detroit and way up in northern Michigan.  Yet, again, it is not impossible and that was seen this year by Ashland and even the University of Indianapolis.

In addition, the DII schools (and the NAIA schools) have had a serious impact on the DIII schools in our state i.e. the MIAA for the exact reasons you both state and many of us have discussed that at length over on the MIAA board.  The scholarship aspect and the cost of tuition at the MIAA are indeed a major reason why the MIAA teams are not as good as they were in past decades; we are simply not getting the more talented athletes overall.  I and many others don't see that changing for a long time -actually, I personally don't think it ever will.

Nonetheless, I think you are right that Mount Union will not be affected or have a problem in that regard ever, despite the variety of more DII school in your state/region. Those new schools to the GLIAC (and the ones who have recently joined the past 2-3 years) I doubt will ever be powerhouses, but I think they will eventually get competitive and perhaps occasionally get a shot at their league title, similar to some of the Michigan based GLIAC schools.  It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 2-3 years or more.  Interesting comments and discussion, gentlemen.

[Shark]

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.

Where can I pick up my walnut and bronze  ?

Congrats to Mount Union!!!! You guys were fantastic. I'm not sure any us will ever truly realize what special run this has been. Thanks to Salem, great venue and host. I really enjoy my time(s) there.

Congrats to UST on a fine season. Still perplexed about the final 3 minutes but it's been bantered enough.

Lastly, thank you Pat, Keith and all those that make this such a wonderful place for all of us D3 Football junkies.

[Raider 68]

A very special thank you to Pat, Keith and the D3 team for your tireless efforts this football season.
I look forward to 2013 and all the articles and discussion that you provide on D3.

May you all have a Merry Christmas, and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

[Desertraider]

The thanks to Pat, Keith and the D3 staff can not be stated often enough. I remember the days before D3 (BD3 instead of BCE?) trolling the Plain Dealer, Cleveland.com, etc...trying to find scores only to find 1 or 2 sentences surrounded by page after page of HS sports, Brown and OSU write-ups. When I found Rics site I thought I was in heaven since I had ount info. But this site is Shangri-la by comparison (no offense Ric as I truly miss your site!).

[Desertraider]

One of the many things I miss from Ric's site is the JV scores. How did the JV do this past season and does anyone have any scores? The Mount website has the schedule but no scores to go with it.

[Dr. Acula]

Is it too early to look at 2013?  Oh, I can't help myself!

What we know:  We know we have a stud QB.  That's certainly the best thing you can "know" already.  We also know he'll be joined in the backfield by a stud RB in Germany Woods.  Not a bad foundation for the offense.  And on defense we know Matt Fechko will be wreaking havoc again from DT.

What I think we know:  I think we know that they'll replace the 5 OL with another good unit.  They always do.  It's a hallmark of the program.  They always have a good line.  I also think we know that with Minnich also at RB they'll be very good at running the ball.  I liked Minnich every time I saw him on the STO games.  I think we also know the D line will be the strength of the defense.  I think we know that Lally is going to be a difference maker next year.  And if he is then that opens things up for Rosalva/Thomas even more.  I think we also know that Kocheff is a future star in the secondary.  VK trusts you to play that much and you play that well as a freshman and I'm sold.  I think we also know Spencer can play.  He's not ready to step into Dieuseul's shoes yet, but he's young.

What I'm unsure of:  How do you replace that WR group?  We don't have another Collins (yet).  Nicholls and Meacham looked solid.  Clark is a big target at TE.  Wilkinson has shown flashes, but has been hurt.  So who steps up?  One of those guys or is it one of the freshmen like Gainer or Gonzalez?  Can Prendergast fully recover and regain his explosiveness?  If so he could become a Wray type where he lines up all over and you just try to get him the ball in space.  Who steps into the secondary?  It seems like Kocheff and Tre Jones are locks at S and CB.  Who are the other 3? 

Lots of questions and we'll probably see a bunch of new faces.  But that's the fun of it. 

Thanks to Pat, Keith and the gang for giving us a place to come and wonder these things.   

[Shark]

Maybe Namdar steps into the WR role and excels. It wouldn't be the first time an athletic backup QB has done that.

[Desertraider]

Dr. Acula - Are you kidding? It is NEVER too early!!! Wouldn't suprise me if I learned LK and VK were talking roster on the way back from Salem (after ensuring the reservations for next year were in place).

Offense: The o-line will all go - so the backups (many of which saw significant playing time) should plug right in. I am not worried about the line. I am also not worried about RB or QB. RB should be better than this year. Woods didn't have ball control issues so that is a huge plus and Minnich looked solid this year. Prendergast is a BIG ? for me. I have heard he was explosive and all that but I have not seen anything so far. He looked slow and indecisive when I saw him this year. I commented awhile back that I wished he would just hit the hole instead of dancing around in the backfield. WR is where I am cautiously opptimistic. Nichols is fast and has moves and Meacham looks solid as well. I would like to see a dependable 3rd to go with them.

Defense: I like that Fechko is back with Rasalva and Thomas. Lally is going to be a stud. I also agree on Kocheff and Jones. I wouldn't be suprised if Thomas fills the Dieusel role to take pressure off of Spencer. It does leave a few ? in the secondary but I have faith in VK.