FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[New Tradition]

At least you'll be able to catch them on ESPN for the Stagg Bowl

This weekend on ESPN3 and then next weekend LIVE AND IN Person in Salem!

HOOOOOO!!!  Shots fired!!

[emma17]

Advancing to the semifinals with a team with only one returning starter and having a legitimate shot to win it all again this year while having a rookie coach taking over for the winningest coach in college football and bettering his mentor's first season record sounds like The Machine has reloaded and will continue to roll for years to come.  Impressive achievement don't you think?
[/quote]

Absolutely. I think we are saying the same thing in different ways.

Impressive? Absolutely.
Exceeded expectations?  Apparently those "in the know", but not mine.

However, I will say that if the Purple Raiders win the Stagg Bowl they will exceed my expectations. 

See ya' in Salem.
[/quote]

I agree that i think we are saying the same thing, but probably from a different prescriptive.
[/quote]

I for one would be very surprised if both of you are actually saying the same thing. 

As I recall Mt only returned one starter on offense, but didn't the D return some starters?  Maybe Beermaster is referring only to the offensive returners. 
I do think Mt's season has been very impressive in terms of 13-0 and in the semi-finals.  I imagine it's been a tougher road than Mt has been used to, but it says a lot about the program and VK. 

[HScoach]

Mount returned 4 starters on defense:
DT Matt Fechko
DE Nyejel Thomas
DE Ted Rosalva
LB Hank Spencer

Only starter on offense was QB Burke.

[HScoach]

Congrats to Burke for being a Gagliardi finalist.   Hopefully he's in Salem with the rest of the team for the award ceremony.

[emma17]

Advancing to the semifinals with a team with only one returning starter and having a legitimate shot to win it all again this year while having a rookie coach taking over for the winningest coach in college football and bettering his mentor's first season record sounds like The Machine has reloaded and will continue to roll for years to come.  Impressive achievement don't you think?

Absolutely. I think we are saying the same thing in different ways.

Impressive? Absolutely.
Exceeded expectations?  Apparently those "in the know", but not mine.

However, I will say that if the Purple Raiders win the Stagg Bowl they will exceed my expectations. 

See ya' in Salem.
[/quote]

I agree that i think we are saying the same thing, but probably from a different prescriptive.
[/quote]

I for one would be very surprised if both of you are actually saying the same thing. 

As I recall Mt only returned one starter on offense, but didn't the D return some starters?  Maybe Beermaster is referring only to the offensive returners. 
I do think Mt's season has been very impressive in terms of 13-0 and in the semi-finals.  I imagine it's been a tougher road than Mt has been used to, but it says a lot about the program and VK.
[/quote]

What kind of rookie quote job is this??  Take a class man!

[HScoach]

Lessons are $50

[Mr. Ypsi]

Lessons are $50

Free enterprise at it's best: I'll give 'em for $40!

[amonachino]

If you have the time look at NCC games stats vs Wheaton and Elmhurst on their site.  Check out the opp. rushing yds and their passing stats.  Both games were 14-14 at half and both games NCC scored 14 in 3rd to zero for their opp.  The Elmhurst game was QB for NCC poorest game.  What I took from this was neither opp. could throw the ball at all.  HOW ABOUT 27 YDS OF PASSING IN ONE GAME.  Yet both ran the ball decent, one over 200 yds.   If I am a fan of NCC I have to be worried can I score enough to win.  NCC ran for over 200yds. in one game and 137 in the other.   Wheaton ran for over 200 yds. and passed for only 74 yds.  Elmhurst ran for 178 yds.  So can NCC run the ball, and if they can't will they be as effective as Wesley being one dimensional.  NCC has lost to Capital in their playoff past two times.  NCC has the glamor and glitz, do they have the guns for 60 mins.  I see both def. has having trouble.  I see NCC however having more trouble, Mount has seen some great passers and more quality teams then NCC.  Mount will be the best by far of any off. the NCC def. has faced all year.  Hang on to your hats and buckle up.

[Kovo]

If you have the time look at NCC games stats vs Wheaton and Elmhurst on their site.  Check out the opp. rushing yds and their passing stats.  Both games were 14-14 at half and both games NCC scored 14 in 3rd to zero for their opp.  The Elmhurst game was QB for NCC poorest game.  What I took from this was neither opp. could throw the ball at all.  HOW ABOUT 27 YDS OF PASSING IN ONE GAME.  Yet both ran the ball decent, one over 200 yds.   If I am a fan of NCC I have to be worried can I score enough to win.  NCC ran for over 200yds. in one game and 137 in the other.   Wheaton ran for over 200 yds. and passed for only 74 yds.  Elmhurst ran for 178 yds.  So can NCC run the ball, and if they can't will they be as effective as Wesley being one dimensional.  NCC has lost to Capital in their playoff past two times.  NCC has the glamor and glitz, do they have the guns for 60 mins.  I see both def. has having trouble.  I see NCC however having more trouble, Mount has seen some great passers and more quality teams then NCC.  Mount will be the best by far of any off. the NCC def. has faced all year.  Hang on to your hats and buckle up.

I am an NC fan and I am always worried if we can score enough to win.   With that said, if you google North Central football vs [          ] 2013, you will find the 5 minute or so highlight of each game which is produced very professionally.  It will give you a real sense of the Cardinal season.  And, it gives some insight to the games like the Elmhurst game which had a couple of real strange plays in the 1st half followed by an hour and a half storm delay in which there was so much water that the artificial turf began to buckle.  As far as running on NC, look at the Wheaton highlights.  Wheaton coach Mike Swider says in his post game comments that the plan was to run the ball and control the clock since they couldn't match up with NC's receivers.  The point being that the game plan all year against NC has been to pound the ball, no big secret. 

As far as Capital, I believe those games were in 2005 and 2006, so I'm not sure what we can take away from them.  More recently, we played Ohio Northern both in the playoffs and in a home and away nonconference series, I believe the last game being in 2010, so the seniors were around for one of those games.

With all that said, this is a real step up in class for the Cards, we shall see how they handle it.

[raiderguy]

Tre Jones second team all region defense.?  It seems to me he should have made the all OFFENSIVE TEAM considering his performance against Wesley and before.  The man has never seen a pass except as it lands in the opposing players hands. Before you mention four interceptions I subscribe to the "a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and them"  Don't get me wrong I am  behind the Raiders 100% but a back fumbles a ball and he may never see the field again.....how about someone who can't seem to prevent big completion after big completion. I'm just saying.

Earlier some one mentioned the team yelling "ball " when a pass is in the air... might help out. It sure is better than hearing touchdown from the other sidelines.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Tre Jones second team all region defense.?  It seems to me he should have made the all OFFENSIVE TEAM considering his performance against Wesley and before.  The man has never seen a pass except as it lands in the opposing players hands. Before you mention four interceptions I subscribe to the "a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and them"  Don't get me wrong I am  behind the Raiders 100% but a back fumbles a ball and he may never see the field again.....how about someone who can't seem to prevent big completion after big completion. I'm just saying.

Earlier some one mentioned the team yelling "ball " when a pass is in the air... might help out. It sure is better than hearing touchdown from the other sidelines.

Spoke recently with a college (D1FCS) db coach about yelling "Ball".  He doesn't believe in that practice because once the DB turns to look for the ball, he slows down and on a deep ball the WR runs by him for the possible catch/long gain.

His philosophy was for the DB to keep running with the WR, watching the eyes and making a play once the WR puts his hands up to catch it.  I don't know how this affects play on back shoulder throws though.

[PurpleSuit]

  As you referenced in your post many on the outside looking in have high expectations of Mount Union or should we say fear that has made many wet down their leg.  You also use the reference to word dynasty while those on the INSIDE prefer to reference to The Machine. 

No offense intended but I think it hilariously funny that you actually might think UMU is that frightening.

I find it more hilarious that you think Mount isn't frightening.  Its not like the Raiders didn't make the playoffs and lost to some scrub team from NY last year.  Mount might have played some close games score-wise in 2013 but you're also looking at the most battle tested Mount team in a while.  They have shown the ability to keep composure and pull out tight games.  Are they the best Mount team? Probably not, but they are good enough to win the NC.  I'd be more frightened about UMHB getting the tapes of the multiple losses UWW had in one season, I wonder what that is like, than the real D3 dynasty having a couple of close games.  No offense intended

[Blutarsky]

  As you referenced in your post many on the outside looking in have high expectations of Mount Union or should we say fear that has made many wet down their leg.  You also use the reference to word dynasty while those on the INSIDE prefer to reference to The Machine. 

No offense intended but I think it hilariously funny that you actually might think UMU is that frightening.

I find it more hilarious that you think Mount isn't frightening.  Its not like the Raiders didn't make the playoffs and lost to some scrub team from NY last year.  Mount might have played some close games score-wise in 2013 but you're also looking at the most battle tested Mount team in a while.  They have shown the ability to keep composure and pull out tight games.  Are they the best Mount team? Probably not, but they are good enough to win the NC.  I'd be more frightened about UMHB getting the tapes of the multiple losses UWW had in one season, I wonder what that is like, than the real D3 dynasty having a couple of close games.  No offense intended

I have to admit that, while at work, if I see that Purple Suit has added to the OAC thread, I typically look it up.......he's entertaining.  Sometimes a little over the top, but entertaining.

[PurpleSuit]

You're welcome

[Desertraider]

  As you referenced in your post many on the outside looking in have high expectations of Mount Union or should we say fear that has made many wet down their leg.  You also use the reference to word dynasty while those on the INSIDE prefer to reference to The Machine. 

No offense intended but I think it hilariously funny that you actually might think UMU is that frightening.

I find it more hilarious that you think Mount isn't frightening.  Its not like the Raiders didn't make the playoffs and lost to some scrub team from NY last year.  Mount might have played some close games score-wise in 2013 but you're also looking at the most battle tested Mount team in a while.  They have shown the ability to keep composure and pull out tight games.  Are they the best Mount team? Probably not, but they are good enough to win the NC.  I'd be more frightened about UMHB getting the tapes of the multiple losses UWW had in one season, I wonder what that is like, than the real D3 dynasty having a couple of close games.  No offense intended

I have to admit that, while at work, if I see that Purple Suit has added to the OAC thread, I typically look it up.......he's entertaining.  Sometimes a little over the top, but entertaining.

The truth is C_B is right and Badgerwarhawk isn't looking at history. How many times have good playoff teams come into Alliance - bang - find themselves down 2 scores and collapse? I am not saying that NCC will do that - but you look at the Johns Hopkins, Cortland State, Bethel, Widener, etc. that came in with high scoring teams, good defenses and failed to get off the bus. A number of teams have come knocking on the Machines door and then wet themselves when the door was answered. The same could be said for UWW - but it won't come from me.