FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[SaintsFAN]

Too many of you choose to ignore the actual statements made, or give a pass to the arrogance of some on these boards. 
I, Emma 17, said Mt isn't as well prepared to play against the best teams because of the horrific competition in the OAC.  I stand by that 100%.   

Un-measurable. I call BS. Stand by it 50, 100 or 150%. It's not provable either way. This is a subjective statement that simply cannot be measured. Be accountable and BE SPECIFIC. The OAC doesn't play anyone else but themselves so we don't have any idea if Otterbein beats UWO or Wilma crushes St Johns. It's all speculation. Not to mention the possibilty of other reasons that has already been entered but subjectively disregarded (That Mt Union plays UWW every year for 10 years so should be fully prepared or that they have a new coach with different experience than the predecessor)

Oh this is good.
Let's play then.  Prove that UWW's O line was better than Mt's O Line. 
Please prove your statement of "You don't win titles without controlling the line of scrimmage".

First, I don't need to prove it because it's my opinion.  The difference Is you said everyone else with that opinion is wrong.  You can't prove we are wrong and you declaring it doesn't make it so.  I made no such declaration.  Second, we do have data on my opinion.  We can watch the tape together, which I would be happy to do, and see it because it happened.  But these " tougher games" are much more subjective because the OAC doesn't play anyone else so that declaration is un-measurable.  So You and I can sit in a room and watch the tape of Stagg Bowls to see the performance in the trenches.  I'll bring the videos and the popcorn.  What will you bring?

I just realized I missed something you said- and had I read it closely I would have stopped discussing anything serious with you.  You actually said "we don't have any idea if Otterbein beats UWO or if Wilma crushes St. John's".  I'm sorry your years of following football leave you without an idea as to what the results would be of those games. This has gone to the level of quarantine.

Aaahh yes, the easy way out.  Guerilla warfare at its best.

emma17 - you're missing out.  USee is a great guy and watching football with such a fan of D3 would be a cool thing.  Plus, your both in N Illinois, so there's no travel involved.

[SaintsFAN]

Yes the competition is terrible in the OAC this year. However, this may be the best group of receivers Mount Union has ever had. Roman Namdar and that Kennedy kid are both first team All Americans. Mix in a very talented group of rookies and it's more than any D-3 team can handle. I don't think anyone expected Tauice Scott to bloom into an All-American either. These guys will obliterate everybody they play until the semi finals,where the big dogs come out. Except in the Wisconsin Cheese Eater Conference, where there are a couple + really good teams, Mount's offense would be doing the same thing in any other conference. Oh and I am so happy we end the year with BWC and JCU. There is still plenty of bad blood and hard feelings, and I hope VK lets the boys loose on them.

I dunno - there's a kid that I see every week at WR who is a First Team AA, if I've ever seen one.  He made a move today after catching a short pass at his own 12 yard line.  The move was fantastic and shook at least two guys and he outran the rest to house it.  If TMC turns in the tape, it should be up for play of the week. 

My point is that it will be hard to get TWO kids on the first team when it appears UMU WR is plug n play (right or wrong) after moving half last year's "best in D3" to QB.

[hsbsballcoach7]

Namdar is definitely an AA level WR.  Kennedy is probably an AA punt returner, but not WR, IMO.  He can develop into one, but I just don't think he's there yet. What he is though is a guy you can put in the slot and throw a quick slant to that ends up being a long TD.  He can fly.  Hargrove has started emerging as the clear #3.

My biggest concern with Scott was turnovers and he just hasn't done it.  Zero fumbles and 16-1 TD to INT.  That's fantastic for a first year starter and a credit to his ability to be smart with the ball from day 1.  Listening to the Wilm game I was happy to hear Downing complimenting Scott's accuracy, putting the ball on the money in stride, etc.  I think that's what we're all looking for first and foremost.  He was 11-12 so I want to see how today goes.  If he can start stringing together a few accurate games it'll be good for his confidence (and ours).

I agree with your point. I love the way that Kennedy plays, but he's not a 1st team AA in my opinion. He has a chance at making an AA team for punt return, but there are just too many guys that will provide better stats. Kennedy may do well for Mount, but even Namdar gets most of the red zone targets (11 TD's).

On another note, it was nice to see the Raiders working on their passing game early in the game. Scott even made a couple of real nice throws in tight spaces. It was also nice to see Jamal Johnson back healthy and running the ball.

Any news on how serious Mitchell and Furda's injuries are from last week? Neither player played today.

[Desertraider]

Here is what Mount learned yesterday.
1. The #2 and #3 defense shutout Otterbein's 1st unit in the 2nd half. (The QB was different - the rest was the same)
2. The #2 and #3 offense beat Ott 3-0 in the second half (the safety was by the 2nd D)
3. The 3rd O downed the ball to run out the clock on Otts 5 yard line.
4.  #11 for Otterbein likes to call people out on the sideline - but got shutdown by the 2nd and 3rds on Mount D.

Other things learned:
1. Coffee at the Mount game is half the size of a large Starbucks and costs .20 cents more.
2. Hot chocolate was sold out in the 2nd qtr and not available until halftime
3. Otterbein fans are convinced Mount is a dirty team and got all the calls (sorry - sat in the Ott section with friends in the 2nd half).

Otterbein is terrible - and I really mean god awful. The half time stats are all you need to see the real score of that game and see the level of competition the OAC is providing right now:
Total Offense
       Mount Union 451
       Otterbein 5 (6 yards passing and -1 rushing).

Ott got their first 1st down in the 4th qtr - even though the Ott website says the 3rd qtr I swear it was later. Have to check the box score in a bit. I heard a guy say before the game "we'll see how you guys deal with Pyles today", and then proceed to tell me what Pyles did against BW. All I said was "you won't run at all today"...and they didn't.

Just checked and Otterbein got the ball in the 3rd with 4:21 on the clock - the got all 3 first downs on that drive to end the 3rd and start the 4th.

[Spurrier]

Having actually seen diii football from other regions, its not that other teams in the OAC are bad, in fact, onu, bw, and jc would compete for championships in many other leagues (Laz index, other ranking websites and my eyeball test). Mount is at and has been at a different level for a long time. So all you mounty fans need to stop comparing apples to oranges and get ready to play some playoff games. Come home to Alliance either with your shield or on it...spartan talk.

[Desertraider]

Having actually seen diii football from other regions, its not that other teams in the OAC are bad, in fact, onu, bw, and jc would compete for championships in many other leagues (Laz index, other ranking websites and my eyeball test). Mount is at and has been at a different level for a long time. So all you mounty fans need to stop comparing apples to oranges and get ready to play some playoff games. Come home to Alliance either with your shield or on it...spartan talk.

I get what you are saying - and I understand it - but no seriously - Ott is not competing for any titles anywhere except maybe the HCAC(?). Look if Ott had scored, or came close to scoring, or put together a couple drives and got stopped or got a first down fine. Then it would simply be that Mount is on another level. Mount is on another level I will grant that - but Otterbein is that bad. And it isn't really the players. I know they have some players with talent. The Ott coaches did not give them a chance from the opening kick. The same 4 or 5 running plays for the same net result, no attempt to throw (2 of 8 for 6 yards), no attempt at misdirection, no creativity - hell you're down 50 points at the beginning of the third why not try something different? What have you got to lose? Try a fake punt, 3 wide to one side, screen pass, hand off to WR in motion - make it look like you are least putting in effort. No - same 4 running plays, same sets, same results. Otts players looked beaten in 1st qtr, Otts coaches were beaten when they got on the bus in Columbus.

[Dr. Acula]

Not that it makes much difference, but Ott's starting QB yesterday was their backup.  The kid who had been starting all year didn't play at all due to suffering a broken wrist last week.  Regardless they were completely non-competitive again this year.  I say it over and over, but the fact that neither school in Columbus is any good is sad.

[Desertraider]

Not that it makes much difference, but Ott's starting QB yesterday was their backup.  The kid who had been starting all year didn't play at all due to suffering a broken wrist last week.  Regardless they were completely non-competitive again this year.  I say it over and over, but the fact that neither school in Columbus is any good is sad.

I agree it is sad.

[ohiofan1954]

Not that it makes much difference, but Ott's starting QB yesterday was their backup.  The kid who had been starting all year didn't play at all due to suffering a broken wrist last week.  Regardless they were completely non-competitive again this year.  I say it over and over, but the fact that neither school in Columbus is any good is sad.

I agree it is sad.

I have seen Otterbein play once this year against Muskingum. They are that bad, the muskies almost beat them.

[pg04]

It does say a lot that Otterbein, at 4-3 in the conference, is so terrible. If we look at their one game outside the OAC, they lost 29-0 to Buffalo State, barely getting to 100 yards of offense and 7 first downs. Buff state, while competitive in the whacked out E8 is not a world beater and just lost to Hartwick who was 0-5 in conference. I think I would agree that Ott would not compete in most conference championship races. Maybe one of the poor New England ones.

[SaintsFAN]

Having actually seen diii football from other regions, its not that other teams in the OAC are bad, in fact, onu, bw, and jc would compete for championships in many other leagues (Laz index, other ranking websites and my eyeball test). Mount is at and has been at a different level for a long time. So all you mounty fans need to stop comparing apples to oranges and get ready to play some playoff games. Come home to Alliance either with your shield or on it...spartan talk.

I get what you are saying - and I understand it - but no seriously - Ott is not competing for any titles anywhere except maybe the HCAC(?). Look if Ott had scored, or came close to scoring, or put together a couple drives and got stopped or got a first down fine. Then it would simply be that Mount is on another level. Mount is on another level I will grant that - but Otterbein is that bad. And it isn't really the players. I know they have some players with talent. The Ott coaches did not give them a chance from the opening kick. The same 4 or 5 running plays for the same net result, no attempt to throw (2 of 8 for 6 yards), no attempt at misdirection, no creativity - hell you're down 50 points at the beginning of the third why not try something different? What have you got to lose? Try a fake punt, 3 wide to one side, screen pass, hand off to WR in motion - make it look like you are least putting in effort. No - same 4 running plays, same sets, same results. Otts players looked beaten in 1st qtr, Otts coaches were beaten when they got on the bus in Columbus.

They wouldn't have a prayer against Franklin or Rose Hulman.  They would probably be competitive with the rest of the teams, but they wouldn't be better than 3rd place there.

[mr_mom]

On a Halloween haunted by "evil" OAC spreads -- Thanks, Joelmama! -- there again were a lot of Haves and Have-nots this week.  gobash83 led the Haves with a frightening 14 out of 15 possible points.

02 Warhawk refuses to go quietly into that good night and has resurrected his three-point lead with two weeks remaining in the OAC Pick-em.  Anyone have a silver bullet?   

Week #10 spreads will come out Monday night.

[formerd3db]

Not that it makes much difference, but Ott's starting QB yesterday was their backup.  The kid who had been starting all year didn't play at all due to suffering a broken wrist last week.  Regardless they were completely non-competitive again this year.  I say it over and over, but the fact that neither school in Columbus is any good is sad.

What do you attribute that to in regards to recruiting (reasons concerning the latter)?  Just curious.  I'm trying to figure that out for Hope as well (although I have some opinion on that for Hope).

[LadyBear]

I have been off the board so long I am unsure how to post , but I did get a chance to see ONU play last night, at least until it began to pour, and WOW, not sure what the ending stats were, but they looked great!!

[Dr. Acula]

Not that it makes much difference, but Ott's starting QB yesterday was their backup.  The kid who had been starting all year didn't play at all due to suffering a broken wrist last week.  Regardless they were completely non-competitive again this year.  I say it over and over, but the fact that neither school in Columbus is any good is sad.

What do you attribute that to in regards to recruiting (reasons concerning the latter)?  Just curious.  I'm trying to figure that out for Hope as well (although I have some opinion on that for Hope).

I don't know what the deal is at Ott.  They'll throw together a 6-3 OAC record here and there, but short of a D1 QB transferring in again that seems to be about their ceiling.  They're going to finish 4-5 in OAC play this year which is the minimum wins if you're even halfway decent in the OAC.

Cap fell apart when Collins left for Saginaw and Pentello graduated.  They were decent when Assmann was taking snaps, but after that it's been a steep decline.  Other challenges exist in Bexley that make it tougher than Ott IMO.