FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[hsbsballcoach7]

Ditto on the thanks to the D3 staff. I was unsure this year if I wanted to buy the kickoff program, but have to say I absolutely loved it with the thought and analysis of each team (if any of you are on the fence, it's totally worth the $13 or whatever it was). Even though I'm a big Mount Union fan, I really do appreciate the neutral reporting we get here. Much better than watching an ESPN love fest over certain teams. You all are helping give a name and some recognition to the D3 players and programs out there! It also makes it more fun for us D3 fans to follow when we can get instant scores and information on other teams around the nation.

Thanks again guys!

[gatek99]

When was the last time the conference landscape has changed?

[SaintsFAN]

Happy New Year to all here.. From Aruba.  Unfortunately, we come back to the cold tomorrow night.

[purple]

 I really disagree with JCUSTREAK70....I thought the OAC was terrible this year. In a "good" year there are two teams that challenge the Raiders; sometimes JCU, Berg, ONU, even BWC.  In most years there is at least one. This year no team was 40 points close, and that might be generous. Several teams ,and they know who they are, were flat out terrible and couldn't beat a good high school team. It can't get worse next year, it can only get better.  Having said that...I'd like to point out how right I was about Taurice Scott, but I won't...being modest to a fault.

[Desertraider]

In all honesty I had thought the OAC was down as well but have reconsidered that position recently. I think instead that Mount was just so much better than the rest of the OAC this year. I can't really take credit for this revelation as it actually was found in an east region (I think) board regarding Wesley (I know). The comment was concerning Wesleys "average" oline etc.. Someone had posted that Wesley's Oline was average only when compared to Mount, UST, UWW etc. but wasn't actually average in terms of the range of D3 (actually it was more along the lines that the rest of D3 would kill for a line like Wesley's). Mount wasn't good this year - Mount was Mount again (first time in a long time - 2008?). JCU and BW did challenge (or at least slow) Mount for a half. Those game were competitive until the 2nd half and Mount took over. I just think it may be a bit unfair (hate the word, despise the concept) to judge the relative strength of the OAC in terms of how they compare to Mount. Berg, ONU, BW, JCU all started slow but by week 5 or 6 (unless they played Mount that week) they were playing good football. ONU wasn't a world beater, and got thrashed by Mount - but won a playoff game on the road in round 1. I just don't think the OAC was that bad afterall.

[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.

this was from November 1 2015...

[Desertraider]

Here is the actual quote from the East Region Board:

"See, that's the whole problem. You guys, like UWW/MUC/Linfield/MHB/UST, are just off in your own world trying to win Stagg Bowls, and then, frankly, whenever that dream ends, you decide to wander on down to where 99% of the teams are, and you have zero perspective on how the rest of the division works.

You sit there shilling for your guy who had to make do with an "average at best" offensive line, and it never dawns on you that, your line is actually insanely good, by D-III standards. You don't have an average offensive line, because your definition of "average, at best" is based on "Are they good enough to beat Mount Union and win the Stagg Bowl?" and that's not the scale that teams like Brockport are operating on.

You know what teams that actually have "average, at best" talent at position groups are wondering? "Are we good enough to finish with a winning record? Can we possibly win our conference? Or is this going to hold us back from those goals?"

Wesley averaged 592 yards per game. Not only was that the best in the country, only two other teams were even within 50 yards of that total in all of D-III. Only a fan of a team that exists perpetually in the Top 7 would try to pretend that was possible behind an "average, at best offensive line"
« Last Edit: December 11, 2015, 01:46:11 pm by Bombers798891 »

I think the OAC (Muskies, Wilma and Etta excluded) is a strong conference - just that Mount is far beyond the remaining teams ability...at least this year.

[HScoach]

I guess I fall somewhere on both sides of this argument.   

On the negative side of the discussion, I think the OAC was down because they had no teams remotely good enough offensively to truly test Mount.   The in the better years of OAC play there was a team of 2 that would scare the Mount defense ala the decade at Capital where Pentello was at QB, the Arth and Myers teams at JCU, Berg a few years ago, ONU back in the day with Robertson/Vagedas/etc.   Those we teams that could challenge even the best of the Mount teams over the years.   The OAC didn't come close to this level of offensively play in 2015.

On the positive side I think ONU, JCU, Berg, BW were all better than the average D3 team.   None of them were really good, but ONU and JCU were both opening round playoff quality teams (or better) and Berg/BW were decent which hasn't always been the case in conference.   Often we see Mount and a really good #2 team then a huge drop off to the middle of the pack and the usual crap at the bottom. 

Guess it depends on your definition of a good conference.  Mount has made a lot of really good teams look very average over the years and I realize that slants the opinion of the opponents, I'm guilty of that too.   However I approach each OAC season knowing half the conference couldn't hang with Mount's 2nd string.  A couple/few teams are actually much better than they'll look in the box score against Mount simply because Mount will run them off the field and win by 40+ going away but watching the games live will reveal the opponent was a reasonable foe, just missing the difference makers to actually hang with Mount (think typical BW or 2nd round playoff team from the east region).   The key for me as I evaluate the conference as a whole is whether there a team or 2 that can make Mount work for it if Mount is actually playing pretty well.    Not a close game because Mount fumbles 5 times like a Marietta a while back, but a legit effort that was even for a while.   Either a solid defense that keeps Mount in check for 2 or 3 quarters (ala JCU) or an offense that can keep pace for a while (ala 2013 Berg).

After typing out of both sides of my mouth, I'm going to say the overall OAC was better in 2015 than they've been recently because the middle of the conference was better, but the 2nd and 3rd teams weren't as dangerous as the best OAC years.   

[purple]

 Ok, I see the point. I guess the next question is whether the 2015 team is one of the best ever?  My vote is "yes". One has to factor in the coaching staff in that evaluation and we had a couple pretty good QB coaches in LK and Two Time Gagli winner Kevin. The defense was superb and the offense,led by a great QB, was unstoppable at years end. Where does this team fall on the list of the best Mount Union teams?

[Raider 68]

Ok, I see the point. I guess the next question is whether the 2015 team is one of the best ever?  My vote is "yes". One has to factor in the coaching staff in that evaluation and we had a couple pretty good QB coaches in LK and Two Time Gagli winner Kevin. The defense was superb and the offense,led by a great QB, was unstoppable at years end. Where does this team fall on the list of the best Mount Union teams?

I believe one of the key factors with the 2015 was the ability of the coaching staff to make adjustments and good decisions which showed the maturity of the HC, OC, and DC now that they have a few years under the belt. Not only was the line play much better than the last few years, the solidarity of the defense and team in general made this year special. It did not matter who the opponent was in the Stagg Bowl this year, the Raiders were the superior team and the stats and results reflect that. The OAC, IMHO, did improve in some areas as HScoach mentioned. For 2016 it will be interesting to see how JCU, BW, ONU and Heidelberg perform ( new coach). Although Mount is losing a lot to graduation, the have a good group returning and as usual have the benefit of a 15 game season. I still believe the Florida QB L. Poorman will be a key factor.

[edward de vere]

Well over 400 years ago, Edward De Vere wrote "Twelfth Night."

Happy twelve drummers drumming, everybody! 

(Unless your religion celebrates tomorrow.)

[reality check]

Funny typo for the Cincy Glazier Clinic in February says Mike Hallett will be speaking.  Y'all don't know this but he's actually the head coach at Toledo.

http://www.glazierclinics.com/Coaching_Clinics/Cincinnati-Ohio-Football-Clinic-schedule

(Saturday morning session)

[Desertraider]

And the board has fallen silent...hate the off-season With all the playoff stuff I may have missed this being disucssed, and if so I apologize. However, with Mike Hallett leaving for Toledo any talk of where the Berg goes from here (i.e. back to the days of "Heidi" or somewhere else)? I have not really looked to see if they are looking in a particular direction. Would hate to see them return to the 0-46 (?) days.

edit: Nevermind http://athletics.heidelberg.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20151204mkiyjd

Wow - board is so dead I am answering my own questions...

[reality check]

There was discussion on the promotion of the Berg DC a couple weeks ago when it was initially released.

[reality check]

Since it's the off-season and things are slow, I hope that you join me in congratulating Kira and Jaxon's Dad on his appointment as head football coach at Fivay HS down in Florida.  He's done an awesome job as the interim guy and they made the right decision in giving him the official title!  Much luck and success to Fivay football!!!

Congrats Coach!