FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[flaballcoach]

If you look at the totality of D3 players that have made an NFL roster in the last 15 years I think by position it has been dominated by receivers.  Linemen are generally shorter or lighter than most NFL players at those positions where size is helpful at receiver but there are plenty of small receivers that have been successful.  I think quarterbacks other than Johnny football and Drew Brees are pretty much 6 2" or greater.  Linebackers and D-Backs are also places where the best of D3 can also make it a bit easier.  Quarterbacks are such a longshot that even the best from D3 usually just get a passing look and that is all with the exception of Ballard but that was the mid nineties also.

If an athlete is playing d3 , in all likelihood the NFL will never be an option for over 99% + of them, even at the elite schools such as Whitewater, MU etc. . The kids playing football at this level are playing because they love the game... They love playing football and this was their chance to do what they love for 4 more years beyond high school. I am often times amazed that given that, the above mentioned get so many athletes. I understand the attraction of a winning program, but, again these kids are looking to PLAY the game they love not WATCH someone else play ahead of them for 3 and maybe 4 years......bottom line...you are not going to the league, you love being on that field PLAYING, and there are MANY d3 schools that offer a great education so why not go where you can get on the field and play.

My son chose Mount Union for many reasons. There are many players at the D3 level who had multiple options at D1A, D1AA and the D2 level as well. One reason he chose Mount Union is the fact the financial package at Mount Union was better than 2 D2 schools. He also was invited to walk on at 3 D1 schools. He chose Mount Union because it had the majors he is interested in. The fact they have a winning football program was part of equation but the only factor. In many ways, Mount Union is very similar to many higher athletic level schools at least in football.

In addition, the kids who play D1 love football too. They just happen to have more of the characteristics that define D1 recruits & athletes than many athletes at D2 & D3 schools.

Many players have many goals from whatever football program they play. My son wanted to be wirh a winning program no matter what level he played. Every school he considered had a winning season last year. He wanted a school he could play the game at but also wanted to earn his playing time at the same school against teammates that were better than just good. He could have gone to many other D3 programs and had a better chance to earn playing time. Most football players who play in college have healthy egos and want to be the very best. In order to be the best, must beat the best.

All this said, it is not impossible to play D3 and play in the NFL. It's just more difficult.

Estimated number of athletes playing d3 football in 2012:  17,000
Number of former d3 football players in NFL in 2012:  16
Not impossible, but people here who are smarter than l can do the math.
I'm a coach.....I played d1 ball and l know the value of competition with peers as opponents and as teammates.As a player l never was on a National Championship team, but l would not trade my experiences as a player, the lessons l learned, and the lifetime friends l made where l went to school for anything. Winning is great and it something any athlete worth his sweat strives for, but it isn't the only thing. The best lessons from playing football as they apply to life go far beyond winning and losing on a scoreboard.
As a coach l want to see kids have the opportunity to get on that field and play.l also am a realist.

The math is worse than that -- we have about 25,000 people playing Division III football, and those 16 players represent the best pro players from multiple D-III graduating classes.

Thanks for the correction on the numbers, Pat. ..,...I had no idea the numbers playing were that high. ..,...again, l want to emphasize this is not a knock on d3 football or the kids playing. I personally know some terrific young men who are also terrific athletes playing at that level. My whole point has been it is VERY likely the last 4 years these kids will ever play football.......why not play instead of watch. Has nothing to do with " not wanting to compete against the best"....has everything to do with playing the game you love.

[Walt]

My whole point has been it is VERY likely the last 4 years these kids will ever play football.......why not play instead of watch. Has nothing to do with " not wanting to compete against the best"....has everything to do with playing the game you love.

A - friggin - Men!!!   I agree 100%!   After being a starter/rotator for 3 years in high school, I didn't think my son would have  the patience to wait his turn in college.  He didn't pick his school exclusively based upon football, but knowing he'd have a chance to play right away certainly helped influence that decision.

[Sir Battlescars]

It will be interested to see the spread for the B-W vs. JCU game at B-W.

EVEN! JCU is not the same team they've been the last two years.

[Desertraider]

Matt Campbell getting some love on yahoo sports:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/forde-yard-dash--college-football-s-most-overpaid--underpaid-coaches-050823033-ncaaf.html

It's at the bottom as one of the most underpaid coaches.

[Dr. Acula]

Campbell also has been mentioned by Urban both last week on his radio show and then this week at his Monday presser.  He said he wanted to hire Campbell when he was first assembling his staff when he got to OSU (when Campbell was the OC at Toledo).  Not a bad thing when arguably the best college coach in the land calls you "a star" and is heaping praise on you. 

[bluestreak66]

It will be interested to see the spread for the B-W vs. JCU game at B-W.

EVEN! JCU is not the same team they've been the last two years.

Maybe not. But BW isn't either (losing to Bluffton and all)

[Dr. Acula]

I didn't realize that freshman QB Matt Lowry got in the game Saturday and ran for 66 yards and his first collegiate TD.  Congratulations to him!  They just stockpile these dual threat QB's it seems.

[mr_mom]

Week #4 spreads are [belatedly] posted.

Thank you for your patience.   

[Sir Battlescars]

It will be interested to see the spread for the B-W vs. JCU game at B-W.

EVEN! JCU is not the same team they've been the last two years.

Maybe not. But BW isn't either (losing to Bluffton and all)

Yeah I know, wouldn't it be funny if JCU lost on Saturday after all that. Haha 

[raiderguy]

Matt Campbell getting some love on yahoo sports:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/forde-yard-dash--college-football-s-most-overpaid--underpaid-coaches-050823033-ncaaf.html

It's at the bottom as one of the most underpaid coaches.

He also had a very nice interview with WKNR yesterday afternoon with the Bull and Fox. Lots of fun with Dustin talking about playing against Matt in HS. They also mentioned the shout outs he has been getting from Urban. Way to go Matt....Brett B is still trying to get his foot out of his mouth.

[raiderguy]

I didn't realize that freshman QB Matt Lowry got in the game Saturday and ran for 66 yards and his first collegiate TD.  Congratulations to him!  They just stockpile these dual threat QB's it seems.

I guess that is good news but could we at least find a QB that can ride all the rides at Cedar Point!

[jknezek]

I didn't realize that freshman QB Matt Lowry got in the game Saturday and ran for 66 yards and his first collegiate TD.  Congratulations to him!  They just stockpile these dual threat QB's it seems.

I guess that is good news but could we at least find a QB that can ride all the rides at Cedar Point!

+K. That's funny. I know Mt. doesn't really follow the bulk of DIII, but it's the old adage when you buy something. Pick 2, cheap, fast, or good. For DIII athletes it tends to be pick 2, big, fast, or talented. If they have all three, they probably land somewhere in DI....  Fast and talented is pretty good. So is big and talented. Just depends on your offense...

[raiderpa]

The Cedar Point comment is hilarious...
Lowry, to me, looked quicker and faster than any QB we have seen lately...
His height will be a factor in pocket passing, but if he can throw on the run or rolling out, he is another weapon.  There appeared nobody on the field that was has fast or quick as he was.  Perhaps I was just overly impressed, but I liked him.

[Desertraider]

Matt Campbell getting some love on yahoo sports:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/forde-yard-dash--college-football-s-most-overpaid--underpaid-coaches-050823033-ncaaf.html

It's at the bottom as one of the most underpaid coaches.

He also had a very nice interview with WKNR yesterday afternoon with the Bull and Fox. Lots of fun with Dustin talking about playing against Matt in HS. They also mentioned the shout outs he has been getting from Urban. Way to go Matt....Brett B is still trying to get his foot out of his mouth.

No he isn't. It's been there so long he just decided to swallow it.

[Dr. Acula]

The Cedar Point comment is hilarious...
Lowry, to me, looked quicker and faster than any QB we have seen lately...
His height will be a factor in pocket passing, but if he can throw on the run or rolling out, he is another weapon.  There appeared nobody on the field that was has fast or quick as he was.  Perhaps I was just overly impressed, but I liked him.

Since the spread with the dual threat QB at the controls seems to be the scheme of choice I think we should probably get used to our QB's being on the south side of 6'2".  I'm fine with kids under 6' assuming they're the right kids.  Burke was what, 5'9"?  Like jknezek said, we can't expect all 3 attributes.  If we have a QB who is talented throwing the ball, a superior athlete, but also 5'9"?  I think you have to take that package in D3.  As close as you're going to get to all 3 is Micheli and guys like that don't fall in your lap very often.