FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[jaypeter]

  Very weird.   Was worried about the offense to start the season and thru mid-year.   Now it's the defense that's the problem.    Never expected that.

I've been feeling the same way (and posted a couple times) the past month and a half or so.  At the beginning of the season we were all worried how the offense would look with just one returning starter and hoping the defense could carry the team.  Now it looks like the offense can score on just about anybody, but we have to pray the defense can come up with a few stops. 

Early expectations and current worries are about 180 degrees different from each other.

[mr_mom]

Early predictions:

Massey picks NCC and Whitewater
Smart picks UMU and UMHB

[jaypeter]

Early predictions:

Massey picks NCC and Whitewater
Smart picks UMU and UMHB

Had the "smart" picks for the Stagg in my original bracket.  Actually had the final four right, and 6 of today's teams.  Just don't ask me who my champ was.   

[formerd3db]

Gentlemen:

I'm sure for those who were there, it was a fantastic game at Mount Union Stadium today.  Valliant effort by Wesley and congratulations to them for a great season, yet congratulations to Mount Union for the tenacity to not give up.  I wish I could have made the trip down to see the game as from the summary article, it was a great atmosphere and very exciting.

One question, however....where were all the Mount Union faithful.  I realize that it was extremely (actually bitter) cold today, however, 1392 reported attendance at Mount Union Stadium is disappointing, especially after you guys had about 8,500 for the OAC title game.  For that matter, the playoff attendance so far for all of Div. III has been poor (I hate to use the word pathetic, but... ) as 986 at the UMHB/SJF game and only 862 at the UW-W/Linfield game is disappointing/sad.  NCC/Bethel had 2467 reported and from the photos, it seemed like they had the most snow.

That said, I hope the attendance for the semi-final games are much better and, of course, for the Stagg Bowl this year.  However, I have my doubts about the latter.  What do you think is the reason for this lower attendance (granted, I have not gone back and check the figures for last year's playoffs for comparison).   

[jaypeter]

Can't fault anybody for not going to the UMHB-SJF game today. The whole swath o central/northern Texas was hi. With an ice storm on Thursday and woke up to glassy-smooth ice on the roads this morning.  Plus, they were really only drawing one fan base and there was a big game down the road in Baylor today, too, that most thought would have been closer than it was.  I only know more abt that weather since I'm living in Texas.

The UWW-Linfield was realistically only drawing one fan base. 

As you said, very cold in Alliance combined with what many thought would not a very close game.  Plus a tough drive across PA weather-wise probably limited the away fans.

Not sure what the attendance looked like at the Bethel-NCC game .

Just my guesses.  Can't say for sure what's been going on attendance wise but today could be a tough one to judge things on

[Pat Coleman]

I think the number reported for Bethel was legit. Lot of people there and Bethel draws well. For Minnesotans, 0 degrees is cold but not impossible.

[rscl70]

Gentlemen:

I'm sure for those who were there, it was a fantastic game at Mount Union Stadium today.  Valliant effort by Wesley and congratulations to them for a great season, yet congratulations to Mount Union for the tenacity to not give up.  I wish I could have made the trip down to see the game as from the summary article, it was a great atmosphere and very exciting.

One question, however....where were all the Mount Union faithful.  I realize that it was extremely (actually bitter) cold today, however, 1392 reported attendance at Mount Union Stadium is disappointing, especially after you guys had about 8,500 for the OAC title game.  For that matter, the playoff attendance so far for all of Div. III has been poor (I hate to use the word pathetic, but... ) as 986 at the UMHB/SJF game and only 862 at the UW-W/Linfield game is disappointing/sad.  NCC/Bethel had 2467 reported and from the photos, it seemed like they had the most snow.

That said, I hope the attendance for the semi-final games are much better and, of course, for the Stagg Bowl this year.  However, I have my doubts about the latter.  What do you think is the reason for this lower attendance (granted, I have not gone back and check the figures for last year's playoffs for comparison).

The faithful were in the stands.  The bandwagon stayed home and stayed warm.  Maybe next week, with North Central, the crowd will be better.  It seems the only way to get a big crowd is if folks think Mount might lose.

[Ric]

Can't fault anybody for not going to the UMHB-SJF game today. The whole swath o central/northern Texas was hi. With an ice storm on Thursday and woke up to glassy-smooth ice on the roads this morning.  Plus, they were really only drawing one fan base and there was a big game down the road in Baylor today, too, that most thought would have been closer than it was.  I only know more abt that weather since I'm living in Texas.

The UWW-Linfield was realistically only drawing one fan base. 

As you said, very cold in Alliance combined with what many thought would not a very close game.  Plus a tough drive across PA weather-wise probably limited the away fans.

Not sure what the attendance looked like at the Bethel-NCC game .

Just my guesses.  Can't say for sure what's been going on attendance wise but today could be a tough one to judge things on

In the OAC championship game the visitors brought 2000 fans and the students were not on break. Neither was the case today. Also, three Ohio High School football championship games were played today about a half hour from Alliance. So football fans that come for a good game might be there instead. Others were Christmas shopping, since around these parts you gotta get that done early.

Or maybe the Alliance Review announced during the week that Lenny was doing PA, that would have kept a few ppl away 

Anyway I agree, I wish 3000-4000 would always be on the low end.

Whats interesting is Mount travels so well to Salem.

[Ric]

I can neither confirm nor deny the rumor that HScoach was ready to jump out of the press box window if Wesley recovered that onside kick at the end.

[Desertraider]

Gentlemen:

I'm sure for those who were there, it was a fantastic game at Mount Union Stadium today.  Valliant effort by Wesley and congratulations to them for a great season, yet congratulations to Mount Union for the tenacity to not give up.  I wish I could have made the trip down to see the game as from the summary article, it was a great atmosphere and very exciting.

One question, however....where were all the Mount Union faithful.  I realize that it was extremely (actually bitter) cold today, however, 1392 reported attendance at Mount Union Stadium is disappointing, especially after you guys had about 8,500 for the OAC title game.  For that matter, the playoff attendance so far for all of Div. III has been poor (I hate to use the word pathetic, but... ) as 986 at the UMHB/SJF game and only 862 at the UW-W/Linfield game is disappointing/sad.  NCC/Bethel had 2467 reported and from the photos, it seemed like they had the most snow.

That said, I hope the attendance for the semi-final games are much better and, of course, for the Stagg Bowl this year.  However, I have my doubts about the latter.  What do you think is the reason for this lower attendance (granted, I have not gone back and check the figures for last year's playoffs for comparison).

The faithful were in the stands.  The bandwagon stayed home and stayed warm.  Maybe next week, with North Central, the crowd will be better.  It seems the only way to get a big crowd is if folks think Mount might lose.

In addition Mount has finals starting Monday so I know alot of "local" students that were going home to avoid distractions. Some faithful (and I am one regardless of what you may think) were up until 3AM grading final papers (after getting 2 hours sleep from doing the same the night before) and getting the final exams ready for the week. So when I said I was going to bed - it was because of this. I stayed "up" to hear the game. I decided "to heck with this" I would rather sleep for the first time in nearly 48 hours.

[bleedpurple]

I can't even believe what I am reading. 633 yards passing and 8 TD's. Against Mount Union. In one game.
I'm not bringing this up to be a jerk and I'm not trying to harass Mount fans in any way. Unlike even some Mount faithful, I have not thought for one second anyone other than Mount would end up in the Stagg Bowl from that side of the bracket.  I honestly can't even process 633 and 8. 

Maybe my question is how in the world could Mount not make adjustments and stop the bleeding before 633 and 8??

[edward de vere]

Sometimes, as Whitewater found out last year, even the great programs can't replace all their top-class players.

Remember the mediocre year Duke basketball had a few years back?

[jaypeter]

Found it an interesting coincidence that the game that broke the tie with Wittenberg for most wins all-time in DIII saw the most points scored on Mount Union since Wittenberg did ages ago.

[sigma one]

Whitewater graduated a ton of players and lost multiple games.  Duke lost a ton of players and struggled to find wins. The difference is that UMU lost a ton of players and  is still undefeated. 

[formerd3db]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts re: the attendance question I posed.  I agree with and understand the assessments- the weather had a lot to do with the smaller crowds.  That is understandable without question when it comes to the more dangerous driving situations as mentioned, although, as Pat said, the people in MN are used to the bitter cold weather.  Mount students having finals on the horizon is understandable as well.  Also, I did not mean to imply that the Mount "faithful" weren't there- because you certainly were-I was referring more to the students and I should have clarified that better.

While I understand the "one fan base drawing" also, still, I thought that UW-W would have more of their own fan base there.

Anyway, I agree with Ric that it would be nice to see more Mount fans at the semi-final game and there probably will be.  And as Mount fans certainly travel well to the Stagg, if they get there this year, no doubt the usual big fan contingent will be in attendance, regardless of who the opponent is.  I just hope the weather warms up for the final two weekend-that would be nice for everyone who will be outside at the games.