FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[merlecanlas]

I was looking at the UMU Football Schedule through 2029 and it will be 11 years until UMU finishes up the regular season playing JCU.  8 out of the next 10 regular season games against JCU are scheduled to be played in September.  There could be a very good possibility that OAC championship might get set earlier in the year. 

The UMU/JCU match ups have been a good test for UMU and arguably helped ready them for the playoffs.

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/future_schedules

Then jcu better get off to a better start than they have the past couple of years. They struggle in September and get hot in Mid October. Big loss to berg this past year and a nail biter against BW. Gotta do better than that.

Agreed.  The Berg and BW losses cannot happen if you want to make the playoffs.  However, I will be more interested to see if the Coach Finotti will continue to schedule non-conference games against upper echelon teams, like UW-Oshkosh.  I thought that was a foolish game to schedule due to the fact that you almost force yourself to the run the table if you lose that opener and that means beating Mount Union (we've done that one time in 25+ years).  I guess there is a chance that an 8-2 OAC team could make the playoffs if the losses are to UMU and another top-flight opponent but that is risky.

JCU was a top 25 team in my opinion last year, but just super inconsistent.  A 6 point loss to UWO and 4 point loss to Mount would have been a pretty impressive "good loss" resume.  I doubt there are many playoff teams that would have liked to see JCU coming to town.  But the hiccups against Berg (L), ONU (L) and BW (gross win) just cant happen.  Its too bad, if JCU was playing well they could have been a quarterfinal type team. 

I think I might need a shower after saying good things about JCU

[formerd3db]

there are various factors that come into play with regard to the DII influence, talent, situation, etc.  I have posted this many times in similar discussion with our MIAA board posters...in our region, the DII schools have had a large  effect on recruiting for the MIAA schools over the past decade or so.  Perhaps unlike what you relate with regard to the talent issue, most of those who are offered the scholarship at DII are indeed very talented and can play at both the DIII schools and DII.  The problem then often indeed involves the economic issue.  As you well know, most of the MIAA schools now are pretty comparative as to the total costs (which is extremely expensive-not to mention the fact that many of your OAC schools are nearly $10,000 above that) and a) unless the player's parents can afford to send them to the DIII school and/or they receive enough need-based aid, which basically cuts the total cost in half (and thus makes it similar to attending one of the state universities without playing football) or b) the prospective recruit simply wants to go to that school and for a specific program with his parents finding someway to put them through, they will choose the DII scholarship, again assuming they are good enough to play at that level and many of them are.

An example, last year, if I recall the figures correctly (without checking right now), the total cost of attending Grand Valley State was about $18,900 per year.  With the DII limit of 35 full scholarships for football, in which most of those schools split those in half so that almost every player gets scholarship money, the "full ride" then being about $9,000 (of course, there are a number of undergraduate players who get less than that, in addition to a number of walk-ons), the obvious choice for many of those families who could not otherwise afford to go to the DIII school is they are going to chose the scholarship offer.  This is different than your Mount situation and in your region as you have discussed; again since most of these players in our region are more than good enough to play at both levels, although perhaps many would perhaps have to wait in line/their turn at Mount due to the immense numbers of high talented players who want to go there for all the reasons you (and your colleagues) have discussed.

And finally, the additional problem with regard to this situation in our region is that many of the DIII schools will simply not increase (and/or are unable to for whatever particular reason) their financial aid packages (of course, keeping within the legal parameters of DIII regulations/mandates) to compete with the DII schools.  Thus, we simply are not getting those kids anymore like we did many years ago and that, in part, IMO, is one of the reasons why the overall football talent level in the MIAA is not what it was back 2-3 decades ago (and many coaches in the MIAA are of this same opinion).  At any rate, again, a good discussion you guys have led here. Each region has their own factors involved.       

OMG.   Please explain to me why you're trying to be rational, reasonable and objective.

Come on now, edv, really.  OMG right back at you. I doubt you aren't intelligent enough to really know the answer to that question.   

[JCUStreaks70]

I was looking at the UMU Football Schedule through 2029 and it will be 11 years until UMU finishes up the regular season playing JCU.  8 out of the next 10 regular season games against JCU are scheduled to be played in September.  There could be a very good possibility that OAC championship might get set earlier in the year. 

The UMU/JCU match ups have been a good test for UMU and arguably helped ready them for the playoffs.

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/future_schedules

Then jcu better get off to a better start than they have the past couple of years. They struggle in September and get hot in Mid October. Big loss to berg this past year and a nail biter against BW. Gotta do better than that.

Agreed.  The Berg and BW losses cannot happen if you want to make the playoffs.  However, I will be more interested to see if the Coach Finotti will continue to schedule non-conference games against upper echelon teams, like UW-Oshkosh.  I thought that was a foolish game to schedule due to the fact that you almost force yourself to the run the table if you lose that opener and that means beating Mount Union (we've done that one time in 25+ years).  I guess there is a chance that an 8-2 OAC team could make the playoffs if the losses are to UMU and another top-flight opponent but that is risky.

JCU was a top 25 team in my opinion last year, but just super inconsistent.  A 6 point loss to UWO and 4 point loss to Mount would have been a pretty impressive "good loss" resume.  I doubt there are many playoff teams that would have liked to see JCU coming to town.  But the hiccups against Berg (L), ONU (L) and BW (gross win) just cant happen.  Its too bad, if JCU was playing well they could have been a quarterfinal type team. 

I think I might need a shower after saying good things about JCU

I was going say, this might the first time you've ever complimented JCU! LOL

And for once we agree on things!!! I think the world is coming to an end!

[merlecanlas]

I was looking at the UMU Football Schedule through 2029 and it will be 11 years until UMU finishes up the regular season playing JCU.  8 out of the next 10 regular season games against JCU are scheduled to be played in September.  There could be a very good possibility that OAC championship might get set earlier in the year. 

The UMU/JCU match ups have been a good test for UMU and arguably helped ready them for the playoffs.

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/future_schedules

Then jcu better get off to a better start than they have the past couple of years. They struggle in September and get hot in Mid October. Big loss to berg this past year and a nail biter against BW. Gotta do better than that.

Agreed.  The Berg and BW losses cannot happen if you want to make the playoffs.  However, I will be more interested to see if the Coach Finotti will continue to schedule non-conference games against upper echelon teams, like UW-Oshkosh.  I thought that was a foolish game to schedule due to the fact that you almost force yourself to the run the table if you lose that opener and that means beating Mount Union (we've done that one time in 25+ years).  I guess there is a chance that an 8-2 OAC team could make the playoffs if the losses are to UMU and another top-flight opponent but that is risky.

JCU was a top 25 team in my opinion last year, but just super inconsistent.  A 6 point loss to UWO and 4 point loss to Mount would have been a pretty impressive "good loss" resume.  I doubt there are many playoff teams that would have liked to see JCU coming to town.  But the hiccups against Berg (L), ONU (L) and BW (gross win) just cant happen.  Its too bad, if JCU was playing well they could have been a quarterfinal type team. 

I think I might need a shower after saying good things about JCU

I was going say, this might the first time you've ever complimented JCU! LOL

And for once we agree on things!!! I think the world is coming to an end!

I know, gross right.

[section13raiderfan]

Im surprised Mentors Qb committed to a D2 school when hes on Ohio States preferred walk-on list. He musta thought the scholarship was a sure thing and the OSU situation was a long shot. Money talks. Still I wonder where his heart really lies. I wish him the best. Maybe he can be the difference maker that elevates the program.

[merlecanlas]

Im surprised Mentors Qb committed to a D2 school when hes on Ohio States preferred walk-on list. He musta thought the scholarship was a sure thing and the OSU situation was a long shot. Money talks. Still I wonder where his heart really lies. I wish him the best. Maybe he can be the difference maker that elevates the program.

walk ons hardly ever play, especially at a top program.  walk ons = special teams, name the last walk on QB not named Baker Mayfield.  I hope he enjoys Walsh and those dozens of fans each Saturday.

[formerd3db]

Im surprised Mentors Qb committed to a D2 school when hes on Ohio States preferred walk-on list. He musta thought the scholarship was a sure thing and the OSU situation was a long shot. Money talks. Still I wonder where his heart really lies. I wish him the best. Maybe he can be the difference maker that elevates the program.

walk ons hardly ever play, especially at a top program.  walk ons = special teams, name the last walk on QB not named Baker Mayfield.  I hope he enjoys Walsh and those dozens of fans each Saturday.

While for the most part that is true, walk-on's becoming successful beyond just special teams at top programs does happen more than we may think.  Perhaps not for QBs as you are talking about here, however, I know of several examples in the Big Ten where that has happened in recent years. Wisconsin had a starting safety in Bielema's tenure just before he left for Arkansas that was  walk-on who became all Big Ten; Michigan State has traditionally given walk-ons a chance over many years, one of my friends/colleagues was a walk-on there, who while, yes did play on special teams, actually started some games at DB.  Central Michigan had one of it's players in the recent North-South All Star game who transferred from a DII school, initially a walk-on, then became a starter his final year. And, I could be wrong on this/faulty memory (as it may have been one of the other southern teams I caught while watching some of the bowl games), but wasn't one of Alabama's starting lineman this year initially a walk-on?  Also, not sure if he was on scholarship this year, but Olivet College's punter who graduated, used his final year via the "Graduate Student" Rule and was Maryland's starting punter for D.J. Durkin this year-granted that was a punter, not a QB.  So it is not common as you correctly point out, however, it is not as uncommon as we may think.   

[Pat Coleman]

Rutgers, rather than Maryland.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

One of my former players played JC for two years in Mississippi, then walked on to USF this year and was ST Starter and saw action as a RB and LB during the season.

Little different than Walking on as a Freshman.

[Craft_Beermeister]

Im surprised Mentors Qb committed to a D2 school when hes on Ohio States preferred walk-on list. He musta thought the scholarship was a sure thing and the OSU situation was a long shot. Money talks. Still I wonder where his heart really lies. I wish him the best. Maybe he can be the difference maker that elevates the program.

According to The News Herald Tadas Tatarunas, Mentor's QB, chose Walsh over Mount Union Robert Morris, Albany, John Carroll, Mercyhurst and Brown plus a reported preferred walk-on opportunity with the Ohio State was because "The opportunity to compete early is there,".  The article indicates he plans to sign Feb 7th.

The article also says his center Tyler Schonauer will also sign with Walsh and join him.

In the article Tadas was also quoted as saying  "I'm close to home, so my parents can see every game. And I'm able to play in Hall of Fame Stadium, too, so that's awesome."  If he signed with Mount Union and was good enough he might have been playing in a National Championship game in the Hall of Fame Stadium.

As far as a preferred walk-on QB at Ohio State and winning the starting QB job (or even getting into a game as a QB) I would think the chances of such would be almost nil.  Ohio State is a top tier school college football and remains one by recruiting top recruits, 4 and 5 star players.  Coach Meyers has a well established pattern of being very loyal to his top recruits for playing time, especially at QB.  There are many reasons for this, but one is that for OSU to get a chance of signing the next 5 star QB Urban can't afford to have a reputation of giving up to soon on a top recruit especially for a walk-on.  I'm not saying this is fair, but it is reality. 

Being a walk-on QB at Ohio State and helping run the scout team probably has a lot of benefits around campus, but getting a chance to start is probably not one of them.

[hsbsballcoach7]

Time for a little pre-signing day Mount Union recruiting note. As many of you know, this isn't end all be all, but I like to keep track and a running list for those interested. Many guys will start "committing" to D3 schools soon when they find out that there is no more athletic money being offered by D2s. I'm by no means an expert, but I'll give my 2 cents as well if I have something.

Karrson Ewing DL Pittsburgh, PA (big and quick off the edge)
Jake Dahlinger C/G Olmstead Falls, OH (big, plays nasty and smart-33 ACT)
Christian Szalay WR Wadsworth, OH (good hands and routes)
David Wilson RB Southfield, MI
Christ Knight DB Jacksonville Beach, FL (active on D, almost Brian Groves clone but a little quicker. Also seems to be actively recruiting on twitter for UMU!)
Mitchell Seavolt LB/LS Leslie,MI (solid tackler)
Juanito Gonzalez DL Cantonment, FL ( big and strong, finishes well)
Rodelson Petit DL Jacksonville, FL (quick first step, strong quick hands)
Jamari Laster DB Del Ray, FL (quick, ball hawk)
Jordan Joseph RB West Carrollton, OH
AJ Mendoza WR Coconut Creek, FL (Luc Meachum like player, long strider, great hands and makes plays)

There are a couple who initially said they were going to come to UMU, but have since backed away. It seems that as soon as Mount shows interest, these guys are getting "offers" from JCU, BW, ONU or UMHB. Finally, schools are catching on.....haha

I'll keep watching.

[formerd3db]

Rutgers, rather than Maryland.

Thank you for correcting me, Pat.  I really did know that, honestly, but don't know why I confused that and wrote Maryland/Durkin.

[formerd3db]

One of my former players played JC for two years in Mississippi, then walked on to USF this year and was ST Starter and saw action as a RB and LB during the season.

Little different than Walking on as a Freshman.

Your last sentence, so true K & J Dad; still a great story!  Always great to hear those kinds of stories; thanks for sharing that in this discussion.

[Pat Coleman]

Rutgers, rather than Maryland.

Thank you for correcting me, Pat.  I really did know that, honestly, but don't know why I confused that and wrote Maryland/Durkin.

Both schools who wear red and white and don't belong in the Big Ten.

[merlecanlas]

Berg picked up a big "commitment" from Massillon Perry yesterday.  Zach Blackiston was a 2x first team all-ohio DL (once in D2 and once in D1), pretty good wrestler too.  Pretty good player