FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

2017 is going to be a great year for OAC football! I agree with a lot of what Grant Peppers has to say and enjoyed reading his thoughts and predictions about the upcoming season. It couldn't have showed up at a better time, as I was just starting to get that itch for some D3 football. So now that Mount Union's 24 year dominance over the OAC has finally come to an end, it will be interesting to see if the Coaches and Media polls will look anything like Mr. Peppers predictions. I personally think this will be the most exciting season for the OAC since 1994 when there was a three way tie for 1st.

It's nice having three, four, and possibly five OAC schools with a legitimate chance of winning the conference this year for a change.

I think you may be drastically overestimating our OAC brethren.  I will be very surprised if anyone except JCU is close in 2017.

[HansenRatings]

I did a thing last night showing the distribution of team ratings within a conference. The OAC pretty far & away had the widest distribution (the narrower the band, the more "parity").

[ADL70]

I did a thing last night showing the distribution of team ratings within a conference. The OAC pretty far & away had the widest distribution (the narrower the band, the more "parity").

Interesting, MIAA and ODAC are almost perfect 'bell' curves.

[HansenRatings]

Yeah. It's fun to look at some conferences and say, "I know who THAT little bump way to the left is *cough* Wilmington *cough*"

After the TMC news from the offseason, this graph also pretty clearly demonstrates how formidable the OAC - Wilmington + TMC would be.

[Dr. Acula]

The Wilm for TMC trade would be highway robbery.  It's a no brainer to add TMC if you can.  And they seem to be very pro-athletics down there so my hunch is that you'd see their programs elevate even more if they were in the OAC.  They're not going to throw in the towel and live in the bottom half every year like some current members. 

Looking at the men's all-sports results I couldn't help but notice that Musky has finished dead last for 5 years running now.  Perhaps W&J would want to join TMC?     I kid...Wilm is the new kid on the OAC block so I'm okay with them leaving.  I wouldn't be happy if anyone else left.

 

[ADL70]

Kevin Burke is new RB coach @ CWRU. Also joining the staff are former JCU players Jake Schaefer  (QB) and Anthony Ciccione (S).

[Dr. Acula]

Kevin Burke is new RB coach @ CWRU. Also joining the staff are former JCU players Jake Schaefer  (QB) and Anthony Ciccione (S).

Good for him.  Burke will be a good coach.  He was helping out at Mount after he was done and he's definitely a winner.  Not a lot of guys running around that were the QB of a state champ in HS and a national champ in college.

[Dr. Acula]

Anyone local seen the progress on the new scoreboard?  I saw the pic of the old one being removed on Twitter. 

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Some News-Herald articles related to OAC Media Day with a focus on JCU:

http://www.news-herald.com/sports/20170727/college-football-excitement-building-as-rick-finotti-led-john-carroll-approaches-2017-season

http://www.news-herald.com/sports/20170723/mark-podolski-john-carroll-upsetting-mount-union-at-oac-football-media-day-a-long-shot

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Anyone local seen the progress on the new scoreboard?  I saw the pic of the old one being removed on Twitter.

I could only find the same picture you did:
https://twitter.com/UMUFootball/status/889918544514887680

Neither the UMU athletics, football, or football equipment Twitter accounts have an update. 

[hsbsballcoach7]

Anyone local seen the progress on the new scoreboard?  I saw the pic of the old one being removed on Twitter.

I live nearby and walk by often, the bottom portion is the only part up. It is MUCH bigger than the old one. I'd guess either a video board or graphic screen being there.

Dwayne Aaron is going to be an assistant coach at Malone this year.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Only one Mount Union player on D3 Preseason All American:

http://www.d3football.com/awards/all-americans/2017-preseason

Mike Vidal - 2nd Team DL

See some JCU players on there

[gizzmo13]

1 mount union player on the pre season all America team. I wonder how that changes by the end of the year. I have a feeling Jared Ruth will be on 1st team O and possibly a rb (whoever it may be) and there's always a surprise guy . Dear on d possibly Robinson as well. Those 2 LB'S will be really good this year.

[Dr. Acula]

I love your optimism gizzmo, but I would have said the best chance on the offensive side is an OL emerging as a stud.  I'd be floored if Mount has an AA RB this season.  I don't think any one guy will get enough carries to accumulate the numbers needed to even warrant consideration. 

[gizzmo13]

I just figured its been a while since we had a Chuck Moore / Nate Kmic type rb. its time..