FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[MasterJedi]

Good point Toph, and one that I think many misunderstand. Mount went in last year and the year before and the defense could not get stops. Its not that they didn't have something to prove then, its that they failed to prove it. This D has something to prove (again) and being loaded with so many seniors - it is their last time to prove it. I hope that pushes them to be more aggressive.

I would argue that what cost Mount last year was being too aggressive.  It was blind and misplaced aggression that turned a 6 point deficit into 16 points in the closing seconds of the first half.   You've been absolutely outplayed for 29 minutes so be happy you're only down 6 points, head to halftime and re-group.

And it was again being overly aggressive on the 1st Whitewater play after Mount took their 31-30 lead that cost them.   Everyone in the stadium knew Mount was rocking at that point and the defense would be sky high.   And right on queue Mount goes crazy after the QB and UWW hits them with a perfectly called screen pass for a 75 yard TD.  Ballgame.

I would argue VK needs to be more calculating in regards when, where and how to be aggressive.

They were probably used to getting the ball in that situation with that much time left and slinging it down the field pretty effortlessly all season and scoring. Probably figured they could do it again, and at times they were able to that game.

[Desertraider]

For those wondering (me for example) Tre Jones, Nick Rodriguez and Durum Alarms are all on the 2-deep.

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/files/15fbnotes-ncaa4.pdf

[edward de vere]

For those who think Mount Union needs some bigger linemen, I suggest inquiring as to whether or not the St. Thomas player shown on the D3 homepage has any siblings.

[warhawkguard]

Hi Raider fans.
I admit I never, ever, read other team pages but I just felt compelled to this time.
I spit my soda out when I read CHEESE EATING BIRDS. OMG. That is hilarious. What? You don't eat cheese in Ohio?
I was a Warhawk in the early 90's. I remembered reading all about the super power in the East, this Mount Union College. I met a few former players over the years and was always impressed. What a great bunch.
The wife and I have committed to coming to Alliance for the first time this weekend. I won't get there until almost midnight Friday but I can't wait honestly. We are staying the night after the game too so hopefully I can run into some of you in town. We are very excited about coming to D3 Mecca. How often does MU meet an equal on the field at home? What is the streak, like 500 games at home now?

Gonna be an interesting game to say the least. The Birds, er, hawks have been really banged up much of the year. A number of starters on both lines done for a while now. I was at both Oshkosh games and the Platteville one. Numerous new faces have stepped in. Personally, I am very pleasantly surprised they made it this far with such setbacks. This is gonna be a fun weekend regardless of what team wins.

Let the real football begin. Guaranteed Purple Bowl again this year. Should be great to watch.

As far as I am concerned - a Warhawk is always welcome on this page. Not sure if you and the wife would be interested but Mount does a pre-game brunch before home games in the HPCC just behind the stadium. It is $7.50 per person, all you can eat and the food is great. Visitors are always welcome. For the record - it is 94 consecutive home games but 500 sounds good to me. Safe travels-

Thank you for the invite. The UWW gang is apparently meeting prior to game at the BW-3 place nearby, which is just blocks from my little hotel. BUT, what about AFTER the game? I'd love to share a few pints with you guys. We are staying the night so we can enjoy the school and city as we rarely come out East.

[wesleydad]

Purpled...I love the loyalty and passion man, I really do.  Congrats to those young men for winning those honors.

However, I just don't think UWW gives a rats **s about how many D-III regional first-teamers we have on D.

They will know that in all the previous meetings except for the 13-10 game, they have been able to impose their will on our previous "great D's" (well I don't think anyone thought the 2013 D was great).  I am not being a hater, as I want Mount to put the cheese eating birds back in their place, but I am a realist and watched the previous games to their unfortunate results.

I will be the happiest fan alive if you get to come on this board and give me a huge "I TOLD YOU SO"!

Those defenses didn't have "something to prove" as we discussed a page or so ago.  HUGE difference this year, immeasurable difference.

From the eye test having seen Mount both this and last year.  I think that last year's defense was better.

Interesting take - in what ways was last years better?

I think they were better in all areas on the defensive side.  Wesley struggled to do anything last year, not the case this year.  Again, I don't spend much time comparing stats, I go by what I see and I was not wowed by what I saw Saturday.  They are good, just in my opinion not as good as last year.

[Toph]

Hi Raider fans.
I admit I never, ever, read other team pages but I just felt compelled to this time.
I spit my soda out when I read CHEESE EATING BIRDS. OMG. That is hilarious. What? You don't eat cheese in Ohio?
I was a Warhawk in the early 90's. I remembered reading all about the super power in the East, this Mount Union College. I met a few former players over the years and was always impressed. What a great bunch.
The wife and I have committed to coming to Alliance for the first time this weekend. I won't get there until almost midnight Friday but I can't wait honestly. We are staying the night after the game too so hopefully I can run into some of you in town. We are very excited about coming to D3 Mecca. How often does MU meet an equal on the field at home? What is the streak, like 500 games at home now?

Gonna be an interesting game to say the least. The Birds, er, hawks have been really banged up much of the year. A number of starters on both lines done for a while now. I was at both Oshkosh games and the Platteville one. Numerous new faces have stepped in. Personally, I am very pleasantly surprised they made it this far with such setbacks. This is gonna be a fun weekend regardless of what team wins.

Let the real football begin. Guaranteed Purple Bowl again this year. Should be great to watch.

I'm only going to address the important part of this post, re: cheese eating habits of Ohioans.  Even though I no longer live in the great state of Ohio, I'm quite qualified to answer this question, having lived most of my life in Ohio and visited Wisconsin on several occasions.  Ohioans eat cheese.  Ohioans, however, do not eat cheese for seemingly every meal.  Every appetizer in Ohio restaurants is not some kind of deep fried beer battered cheese based grease pile (I was at an Italian restaurant in Milwaukee that served cheese curds as an appetizer).  We do not have cheese available for purchase in our airports.  Our diet is not just beer and cheese.

But hey, cheese on, my pretty much Canadian friends, cheese on.

[Toph]

Good point Toph, and one that I think many misunderstand. Mount went in last year and the year before and the defense could not get stops. Its not that they didn't have something to prove then, its that they failed to prove it. This D has something to prove (again) and being loaded with so many seniors - it is their last time to prove it. I hope that pushes them to be more aggressive.

I was kidding.  This year's defense may be better, but that's because of tangible differences, not some immeasurable "feeling."

[Dr. Acula]

According to Footballscoop.com another former Raider joining the staff at Toledo:

Toledo: Ohio Dominican (D-II) running backs coach Ricky Ciccone is joining Jason Candle's staff at Toledo

No offense to Coach Candle or Ricky but........NATE KMIC!

Is Kmic coaching in college currently?  If not, then there's no chance a D1 coach is hiring him as a D1 assistant.  Hallett is the O line coach and he was a HC in college.  Candle isn't giving the RB coach job to someone lacking experience.  Maybe a GA or football ops job. 

Ciccone makes sense because:
1) He's already a college coach
2) He's at a good D2 program that's basically run like a D1 by former OSU asst Bill Conley
3) He's a Mount guy so there's a comfort level there

[Desertraider]

As far as the cheese thing goes, yep Ohioans eat cheese and plenty of it - but in Wisconsin it is a food group. Having been in Wisconsin for an extended period I can say that fried cheese curds are the greatest thing since sliced bread. They should be served with every meal! Now I have to disagree with not every appetizer being a deep fried etc.. in Ohio. We will batter and deep fry green beans and still claim we had a serving of green vegetables.

I was in Wisconsin for period training at Ft. Mccoy and went to a restaurant in LAX. I asked for a greek salad with my steak even though it wasn't a menu option. The waiter looked at me with this what the hell is a greek salad look, so I told him what it was. He nodded and said "we have all that" - until I said "feta cheese". He asked is cheddar ok? I asked "you don't have feta?" and he replied "we have cheddar" and asked what feta was. I told him it was white, etc..and he actually said "ok, so white cheddar, will there be anything else?". Gotta love Wisconsin.

[warhawkguard]

As far as the cheese thing goes, yep Ohioans eat cheese and plenty of it - but in Wisconsin it is a food group. Having been in Wisconsin for an extended period I can say that fried cheese curds are the greatest thing since sliced bread. They should be served with every meal! Now I have to disagree with not every appetizer being a deep fried etc.. in Ohio. We will batter and deep fry green beans and still claim we had a serving of green vegetables.

I was in Wisconsin for period training at Ft. Mccoy and went to a restaurant in LAX. I asked for a greek salad with my steak even though it wasn't a menu option. The waiter looked at me with this what the hell is a greek salad look, so I told him what it was. He nodded and said "we have all that" - until I said "feta cheese". He asked is cheddar ok? I asked "you don't have feta?" and he replied "we have cheddar" and asked what feta was. I told him it was white, etc..and he actually said "ok, so white cheddar, will there be anything else?". Gotta love Wisconsin.

LOL. Yes, cheese is quite prevalent here. I see it as mainly bar food stuff, and I keep it as a treat or something as it tends to make my midsection unappealing to my lady. But, it is so natural to get some curds in as I drink my six pack...

But, one must be prudent and keep cheese as NOT a main course dietary item. Now, if they would just enrich the hell out of it with vitamins and stuff, that would be different.

[Desertraider]

Nice! VitaCheese! Cheese snacks with B12, C, Iron (I am trademarking all of this!). Of course in Wisconsin (and hell Ohio too) it would morph into "for starers I will have the VitaC-Cheese platter, and then the VitaB12, B6, Iron and Potassium sampler - and can you deep fry that in VitaD-oil"?

[raiderpa]

Gotta totally agree with HC that Mount should have been happy to go in down 6 at last year's Stagg.  That was the turning point, IMO.

Another opinion, Mount HAS to win this game..another loss to WWW would be a huge blow to the psyche of all players and coaches and could create a mindset that may not be overcome about beating WWW.   To lose at home, even worse.

Even though the Raiders have more NC's, the VK era needs this win to establish that he belongs and the Raiders are still in the stratosphere of D3 football.  I believe a loss would be such a mental blow to all associated with the program, even fans, the doubt that would be created would be overpowering, and even though a great program, the elite status will take a hit.
We will never not give our hearts to the Raiders, but this one is really HUGE...

I had my pacemaker double checked, and so I am ready to go.

[section13raiderfan]

Cheesus..... Can we get back to football talk now?

[Raider 68]

Gotta totally agree with HC that Mount should have been happy to go in down 6 at last year's Stagg.  That was the turning point, IMO.

Another opinion, Mount HAS to win this game..another loss to WWW would be a huge blow to the psyche of all players and coaches and could create a mindset that may not be overcome about beating WWW.   To lose at home, even worse.

Even though the Raiders have more NC's, the VK era needs this win to establish that he belongs and the Raiders are still in the stratosphere of D3 football.  I believe a loss would be such a mental blow to all associated with the program, even fans, the doubt that would be created would be overpowering, and even though a great program, the elite status will take a hit.
We will never not give our hearts to the Raiders, but this one is really HUGE...

I had my pacemaker double checked, and so I am ready to go.

raiderpa, well said!!!!!

[emma17]

Nice! VitaCheese! Cheese snacks with B12, C, Iron (I am trademarking all of this!). Of course in Wisconsin (and hell Ohio too) it would morph into "for starers I will have the VitaC-Cheese platter, and then the VitaB12, B6, Iron and Potassium sampler - and can you deep fry that in VitaD-oil"?

Lol. Well done DR.