FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[raiderpa]

The nature of the game took the wildcat with Powell out of the plan.  He is not that powerful and his speed would not have been a factor against that defense,  The one time the Wildcat was used with JEM on 4th down, IMO, we should have used Petro as he is more powerful and fights stronger for yardage.  I think they would have gotten the first down with Petro.
I really got sick, throughout the playoffs, of JEM turning away from a hole right in front of him and bouncing trying to get the corner. Against the OAC, it may work as there is not a great deal of speed.  It worked about once at UWO. He just doesn't seem to get it.  Get through the hole, THEN look outside. I would have sat him after the first failure last night.  I understand the need for a couple of RB's, but Petro is so much more suited to the Mount attack.  JEM also needs to work on his "fumble-itis" for next year.
I feel really bad for Charlie Dear and Brian Groves, but their contributions through the season speak for themselves, They are great players.

[section13raiderfan]

I was dog tired when I sat down to watch the game last night, and I had guests over to watch the game. I was afraid I would fall asleep and be a bad host. Not a chance! Two great teams in a heavyweight slug out. I was never sure that UMU was going to be able to hold on to that piddly lead forever. I will be replaying this game all winter long. Thanks to both teams for a memorable Stagg Bowl experience. This one is an instant classic IMHO. I loved the shot of the UMU punter striding the sideline after pinning the CRU inside the 2 when it mattered most. He rarely is needed in a regular game, but he made his presence known last night.   Congrats to the Seniors on their Grand Exits. It was a great run guys. I guess we will be gathering for a celebration again soon. Cant wait to get a piece of purple championship cake again.

On the broadcast team this time....I actually liked it! Im not sure the sideline reporter was happy to be there. It was too cold to even smile for her. At least they found the REAL Larry Keres this time

[Desertraider]

Thought I saw Brian Groves sitting in a wheel chair after game hoisting trophy - for all the talk about UMHB having some players out, Mount lost a couple as well. Charlie Dear was the brain of the D calling the adjustments and I think that was a tough blow. A poster on here mentioned "not good" when word broke he was out. But Trey Williams played and called a great game. In addition losing Brian Groves and trying to replace his role with a rotation of Brish, FR (O'Hara), and the other guy (can't remember) - that's tough as well. Brish - a backup - finishing as MVP was incredible, though I agree Adam Snyder could easily have been a CO on that.

The D was lights out. Wilkerson had 2 catches for 12 yards. Special teams was unreal. Wilkerson returned 2 punts for -6 yards and had what 4 yards on kick return. Mount shut everything down. Now for those that say "running into kicker" blah blah blah. It is what it is. Was it questionable - sure. But - he actually did run into the kicker. No doubt contact was made. Is there a rule that says the kicker can't apply his minor in Theater ( ) and make it look worse - nope.

I counter with the fumble - that was a fumble. Forward progress stopped - no. Fumble - yes. Rewatch the game and the officials changed from that point forward - no more quick whistles. Seriously, they did not blow the whistle lke that the rest of the game. Mount got away with some holds - UMHB got away with some holds. In the end - Mount made literally 1 play and it was all that was needed.

12 National Titles + 1 Play = #13!

Roll Raiders ~ Roll!

[Desertraider]

Great point section13 and Kudos to the ESPN crew. I felt like I was watching a real college football game. None of that "what a great tackle. You know his favorite lollypop is a tootsiepop and he want to be a football player when he grows up" attitude. The color and play-by-play guys actually seemed like they had watched Mount and UMHB before.

[HScoach]

Well, WRMUalum13, as my old man used to say:  Who told you life was fair?

P.S.  Please tell me you're not serious about this Powell thing.  Please tell me this.

Lol no im legit dissapointed. When they the ran the stupid thing earlier this year i thought it was a pointless waste of plays... unless they were setting something up for later in the year.

Nope... not setting anything up. Just seems weird to introduce an interesting offensive wrinkle and then never use it when it could actually make a difference in the game. I mean it didn't matter since 3-0 would have won, but why even add the plays?

Don't get me wrong! Super happy with 13, but just confused.

The Powell stuff was an easy way to reward a senior that will never otherwise see the field with a few plays in games that don't matter.

Running the wildcat against that defense would have been idiotic.

[Craft_Beermeister]

What a great championship game and sure to be a classic.  Two great defensives slugging it out.  The weather additionally negatively impacted both offenses to operate against a stout defense. The conditions made it imperative for both teams to make in game adjustments and UMU was more successful in making adjustments.

Great win for Mount Union and excellent way to end an amazing run at Salem.

[Craft_Beermeister]

Leading up to the Stagg Bowl there were several post on the MAC.  Yesterday it was announced that former Mount Union star Jason Candle signed a six-year contract that runs through the 2023 and will pay him more than $1 million per year.

The new deal announced yesterday provides Jason with a base salary of $450,00 next season that increases by $25,000 each year, plus additional compensation of $650,000 annually related to sponsorship deals, radio and television shows and speaking engagements. Candle's total compensation makes him the highest paid coach in the MAC.

[WRMUalum13]

Well, WRMUalum13, as my old man used to say:  Who told you life was fair?

P.S.  Please tell me you're not serious about this Powell thing.  Please tell me this.

Lol no im legit dissapointed. When they the ran the stupid thing earlier this year i thought it was a pointless waste of plays... unless they were setting something up for later in the year.

Nope... not setting anything up. Just seems weird to introduce an interesting offensive wrinkle and then never use it when it could actually make a difference in the game. I mean it didn't matter since 3-0 would have won, but why even add the plays?

Don't get me wrong! Super happy with 13, but just confused.

The Powell stuff was an easy way to reward a senior that will never otherwise see the field with a few plays in games that don't matter.

Running the wildcat against that defense would have been idiotic.

You and raiderpa make good points about this, I guess it probably wasn't very well suited against a D that good. My several  celebration beers may have clouded my judgement 

[Ralph Turner]

What a great championship game and sure to be a classic.  Two great defensives slugging it out.  The weather additionally negatively impacted both offenses to operate against a stout defense. The conditions made it imperative for both teams to make in game adjustments and UMU was more successful in making adjustments.

Great win for Mount Union and excellent way to end an amazing run at Salem.

Glad to see an northerner comment on the weather.

A neutral site should include neutral weather:

Dry field, preferable a mature turf

Temperature 50 to 65 degrees

Wind less than 10 MPH.

We had a dry field.

[Bartman]

Congratulations to the Purple Raiders on a great Championship win.

[Desertraider]

On the weather......I don't care. Seriously. let's say the game is in Texas and Mount loses. Whats the reaction to "the weather was so warm and dry, no wind, Mount's not used to seeing that".

It was cold and windy. It's part of football.

Oh and weather wasn't an issue last year when UMHB won...over Wisconsin Oshkosh...it was 27 degrees and they beat a "cold weather" team.

[hsbsballcoach7]

What a great championship game and sure to be a classic.  Two great defensives slugging it out.  The weather additionally negatively impacted both offenses to operate against a stout defense. The conditions made it imperative for both teams to make in game adjustments and UMU was more successful in making adjustments.

Great win for Mount Union and excellent way to end an amazing run at Salem.

Glad to see an northerner comment on the weather.

A neutral site should include neutral weather:

Dry field, preferable a mature turf

Temperature 50 to 65 degrees

Wind less than 10 MPH.

We had a dry field.

That's nice and all, but with the budget D3 has you're asking for them to basically be playing in a dome. That's not going to happen with the geography of D3 schools around the country being mostly northern/Great Lakes/ middle Atlantic region. Football is an all weather sport and the team that is the most well rounded and can make adjustments will usually win.

[WRMUalum13]

On the weather......I don't care. Seriously. let's say the game is in Texas and Mount loses. Whats the reaction to "the weather was so warm and dry, no wind, Mount's not used to seeing that".

It was cold and windy. It's part of football.

Oh and weather wasn't an issue last year when UMHB won...over Wisconsin Oshkosh...it was 27 degrees and they beat a "cold weather" team.

To be fair, Mount gets to experience a wider variety of temps during a season then UMHB will. At the beginning of the the season Mount will usually play in 70-80 degree weather but UMHBs never going to play in temps below 45 unless they have an away playoff game.

That being said I think the weather more adversely affected Mount than UMHB last night, UMHB is more fun focused and Mount has relied on the deep ball all year.

[WRMUalum13]

Barring lasting legal repercussions with Fulford, I'm pretty excited to see him and Hill dominate opposing defenses for the next two years. Still hard to believe those two are only sophomores.

[Craft_Beermeister]

What a great championship game and sure to be a classic.  Two great defensives slugging it out.  The weather additionally negatively impacted both offenses to operate against a stout defense. The conditions made it imperative for both teams to make in game adjustments and UMU was more successful in making adjustments.

Great win for Mount Union and excellent way to end an amazing run at Salem.

Glad to see an northerner comment on the weather.

A neutral site should include neutral weather:

Dry field, preferable a mature turf

Temperature 50 to 65 degrees

Wind less than 10 MPH.

We had a dry field.

Ralph

Great comments. I always enjoy reading your many post over the years  Your comments caused me to reflect on how such a strong coaching technician Larry Kehres was in turning over every stone to best prepare his team for be successful in winning the championship and reaching their ultimate goal. 

In the 25 Stagg Bowl games played in Salem Larry participated as head coach, AD, and special consultant in 20 of those games.  I'm sure that over the years with the weather variability possible at Salem for the Stagg Bowl Larry adjusted the make up of his team's, their schemes, how they recruited, how they were prepared to make adjustments, how they practiced, and how they prepared for their targeted final game of the season. 

Did this give Mount Union and advantage over the years? I'm sure it did.  Does the the UMU process in general provide a benefit? I'm sure it does.  Did the strength of the UWW program cause Larry Kehres to tweak is process over the years?  I'm sure it did.  Did Larry pass on the process and knowledge to Vince?  You bet he did.

Does this take anything away from what Mount Union accomplished in the last 25 years?   Heck no.  In my eyes, it only provides another insight into the superior coaching mind and attention to details that Larry Kehres possessed of the years that separated him above other coaches and led to the long overdue recognition Larry Kehres received this week when we was inducted into College Football Hall of Fame.