FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[rscl70]

Was it technology that caused a lower than usual turnout for a playoff game yesterday? I actually know of one case where somebody did not want to buy tickets online and stayed home because they could not call the boxoffice to purchase a ticket. There are a lot of greyhairs among UMU fans and they may prefer to operate the good old fashioned way!

I watched the highlights and the open side looked Wilmington-esque.  Loooot of available seats.  And with the holiday there will be next to no students there Saturday.

Several of the Mount posters have mentioned that in past years, the first couple of playoff games there always have less attendance than in preceding weeks, in part being that it is close to the holiday and even later on being close to final exams.  However, I, too, was surprised to see the announced crowd being lower than it usually is for their first round game.  In addition, I noticed that for the DIII playoffs overall yesterday, the attendance at games was extremely low with the exception of a couple of the games.  Not sure if that was simply due to the weather or perhaps additional factors as well.

I think it was weather, a weak opponent, and a small visiting crowd.  We have friends from Columbus who bought tickets but did not come.  There was freezing rain covering the area until about 45 minutes before the kick off.  Regarding technology, I know there are a lot of people very unhappy about not being able to call for tickets.  Personally, I'm fine with ordering on line, but I completely understand and sympathize with those who would prefer to call.  As one person said, "Mount is becoming far too impersonal."

[mr_mom]

The results of Round One of the 2014 OAC Playoff Pick-Em have been posted.  They were a bit delayed by the Mary Hardin-Baylor/Texas Lutheran game which just ended with MHB intercepting a pass at the end zone as time ran out to win 27-20.

One of three people to correctly select Texas Lutheran was raider-in-law who takes an early two-point lead with a stellar 14.

Second round games will be worth 2 points apiece.  Spreads will come out Monday night.

[Dr. Acula]

Columbus roads were a disaster Saturday AM.  The Franklin County Sheriffs office told people to stay off the road unless it was an emergency due to the black ice.  So your friends wisely stayed home.

I think Mount (reasonably) tries to push people to online ticketing because you order and pay on your own and all they have to do is pull the tickets for will call.  I understand the grey hairs wanting to call in, but as someone who worked in the ticket office I can tell you phone orders are a pain in the a$$.

[pradierguy]

I'm sure weather played a big part in the attendance. Saturday morning there was a terrible tragedy just south of Alliance where three Minerva (HS) students were killed in an auto accident. The roads during travel time were horrendous.

[Craft_Beermeister]

Going into the D3 playoffs of the 32 teams two colleges had alumni that were head coaches of the 32 teams.  Can you name the two colleges?

Mount Union and Ithaca College

Alums from Mount Union are Vince Kehres at Mount Union, Erik Raeburn (cousin of Vince) at Wabash, and Mike Sirianni at Washington & Jefferson.

Alums from Ithaca College are Mike Welch at Ithaca, Glen Caruso at of St. Thomas and Mike Donnelly at Muhlenberg

Now that we have advanced to the second round of the playoffs only the 3 Mount Union graduates remain in the playoffs.  With Mike Sirianni going up against Vince and Erik leading Wabash on road at Whitewater the number of Mount alums as head coaches might be down to one.

[Dr. Acula]

I'm pretty sure SJU had two also.  I thought that first round game was an all Johnnies coaching battle. 

[Desertraider]

Going into the D3 playoffs of the 32 teams two colleges had alumni that were head coaches of the 32 teams.  Can you name the two colleges?

Mount Union and Ithaca College

Alums from Mount Union are Vince Kehres at Mount Union, Erik Raeburn (cousin of Vince) at Wabash, and Mike Sirianni at Washington & Jefferson.

Alums from Ithaca College are Mike Welch at Ithaca, Glen Caruso at of St. Thomas and Mike Donnelly at Muhlenberg

Now that we have advanced to the second round of the playoffs only the 3 Mount Union graduates remain in the playoffs.  With Mike Sirianni going up against his cousin Vince and Erik leading Wabash on road at Whitewater the number of Mount alums as head coaches might be down to one.

Small type-o. Mike and Vince are not cousins. However, you stated it correctly in the first part about Erik and Vince. In addition Erik was also on Mounts coaching staff from like 94-99 while Mike was an assistant in 96-97...so they coached together.

[theaprof]

Going into the D3 playoffs of the 32 teams two colleges had alumni that were head coaches of the 32 teams.  Can you name the two colleges?

Mount Union and Ithaca College

Alums from Mount Union are Vince Kehres at Mount Union, Erik Raeburn (cousin of Vince) at Wabash, and Mike Sirianni at Washington & Jefferson.

Alums from Ithaca College are Mike Welch at Ithaca, Glen Caruso at of St. Thomas and Mike Donnelly at Muhlenberg

Now that we have advanced to the second round of the playoffs only the 3 Mount Union graduates remain in the playoffs.  With Mike Sirianni going up against his cousin Vince and Erik leading Wabash on road at Whitewater the number of Mount alums as head coaches might be down to one.

Small type-o. Mike and Vince are not cousins. However, you stated it correctly in the first part about Erik and Vince. In addition Erik was also on Mounts coaching staff from like 94-99 while Mike was an assistant in 96-97...so they coached together.

And Erik is married to Liz Pugh, cheerleader extraordinaire, and sister to former running back Dan Pugh.  Anyone remember him?

[Craft_Beermeister]

Going into the D3 playoffs of the 32 teams two colleges had alumni that were head coaches of the 32 teams.  Can you name the two colleges?

Mount Union and Ithaca College

Alums from Mount Union are Vince Kehres at Mount Union, Erik Raeburn (cousin of Vince) at Wabash, and Mike Sirianni at Washington & Jefferson.

Alums from Ithaca College are Mike Welch at Ithaca, Glen Caruso at of St. Thomas and Mike Donnelly at Muhlenberg

Now that we have advanced to the second round of the playoffs only the 3 Mount Union graduates remain in the playoffs.  With Mike Sirianni going up against his cousin Vince and Erik leading Wabash on road at Whitewater the number of Mount alums as head coaches might be down to one.

Small type-o. Mike and Vince are not cousins. However, you stated it correctly in the first part about Erik and Vince. In addition Erik was also on Mounts coaching staff from like 94-99 while Mike was an assistant in 96-97...so they coached together.

And Erik is married to Liz Pugh, cheerleader extraordinaire, and sister to former running back Dan Pugh.  Anyone remember him?

Desertraider thanks for catching my typo.

Dan Pugh was a great running back and 2002 Gagliardi Award winner.

[Desertraider]

Going into the D3 playoffs of the 32 teams two colleges had alumni that were head coaches of the 32 teams.  Can you name the two colleges?

Mount Union and Ithaca College

Alums from Mount Union are Vince Kehres at Mount Union, Erik Raeburn (cousin of Vince) at Wabash, and Mike Sirianni at Washington & Jefferson.

Alums from Ithaca College are Mike Welch at Ithaca, Glen Caruso at of St. Thomas and Mike Donnelly at Muhlenberg

Now that we have advanced to the second round of the playoffs only the 3 Mount Union graduates remain in the playoffs.  With Mike Sirianni going up against his cousin Vince and Erik leading Wabash on road at Whitewater the number of Mount alums as head coaches might be down to one.

Small type-o. Mike and Vince are not cousins. However, you stated it correctly in the first part about Erik and Vince. In addition Erik was also on Mounts coaching staff from like 94-99 while Mike was an assistant in 96-97...so they coached together.

And Erik is married to Liz Pugh, cheerleader extraordinaire, and sister to former running back Dan Pugh.  Anyone remember him?

Pugh.....hmm...not sure I - oh right! The guy after Chuck Moore and before Nate Kmic! Kind of funny how he seems to be remembered that way. Pugh was a beast - and I loved the backfield with the Moore/Pugh tandem. Not much of a rest when the starters come out.

[Dr. Acula]

All-OAC teams have been posted.  Congratulations to all the players and coaches. 

2014 All-OAC Teams

[HScoach]

All-OAC teams have been posted.  Congratulations to all the players and coaches. 

2014 All-OAC Teams

Congrats to all the OAC selections.  Especially Mike Furda for earning 2nd team accolades at D-Line with limited playing time. 

[reality check]

Wow.  Initial reaction to All-OAC is that it looks very exclusive this year.  Of the 29 first team slots, only 5 OAC teams were represented and of Mount/JCU/Berg accounted for 26 of 29 first team players.  I'm sure the recipients were deserving but hard to believe that ONU/OTT/ETTA/WILMA/CAP don't have a single player on their rosters worthy of a first team vote at their positions.  Okay, I get that WILMA but still...

Etta had a RB with 930 yards and 15 rushing TD's.

Heck, 6 of the top 8 tacklers in the league were on teams that didn't place a player on the first team.

OAC sack leader doesn't make first or second team.


Just some weird omissions if you ask me. 

[Dr. Acula]

I was a little surprised it wasn't co-first team QB's again this year considering how good Myers was this year.  My assumption is that Burke winning Offensive Back of the Year this year was determined to be the difference and worthy of solo 1st team.

It should be mentioned that Burke and Brooks both ended up as 3-time 1st team selections and Packard Award winners.  Always an impressive feat.

From a Mount perspective I was surprised that it was Spencer and Pogorelc as 1st team LBs rather than Gonell.  First off, I didn't even realize Pogorelc was a LB.  Secondly, I thought just from watching some games that Gonell looked really good this yr (and he was 1st team last yr).     

[Raider 68]

Congratulations to all the Raider players and Coaches for being selected All-OAC, well done!