FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[MUC57]

Mount fans

Great, long story on Iowa State head coach and former Raider Matt Campbell in today's Canton Repository. Good reading. Go Cyclones! ☠🏈

[Desertraider]

The roster size is large - no doubt and no secret - but 150 (or more) of them don't stand a chance of stepping onto the field and they know that. It really helps with practices and drills. I knew a ton of kids that were on the team and knew they were never playing. I guess take the 250+ with a grain of salt - a large grain of salt. It isn't like Mount has 250 all world talents. They have 100 kids with a shot of playing over a 4 year period and a 150 man practice squad. If anything I think the large roster may hold Mount back. Working all those kids into practice takes time away from the 2, 3 and 4's getting as many reps.

I think they run split practices.

Point is they still get practice time, coaches, etc. how much easier would it be for the coaches if they didn't have to do that and how much more attention would be spent on a smaller team. My point is simply that I think a large roster serves as more of a detriment than a benefit. 

[MUC57]

desertraider

You make an excellent point. However; how good can a guy feel to put on the uniform of Mount Union, a 13 time national champion and become a part of a dynasty? I never played so I'm guessing. If 400 kids want to be on the football team, let 'em. It's Mount's decision to have a no cut policy.
I'm not arguing with you, just kinda playing devil's advocate. But I'm old, and you know the rest!
Go Raiders, however many there are! ☠🏈

[formerd3db]

The roster size is large - no doubt and no secret - but 150 (or more) of them don't stand a chance of stepping onto the field and they know that. It really helps with practices and drills. I knew a ton of kids that were on the team and knew they were never playing. I guess take the 250+ with a grain of salt - a large grain of salt. It isn't like Mount has 250 all world talents. They have 100 kids with a shot of playing over a 4 year period and a 150 man practice squad. If anything I think the large roster may hold Mount back. Working all those kids into practice takes time away from the 2, 3 and 4's getting as many reps.

I think they run split practices.

Point is they still get practice time, coaches, etc. how much easier would it be for the coaches if they didn't have to do that and how much more attention would be spent on a smaller team. My point is simply that I think a large roster serves as more of a detriment than a benefit. 

desertraider

You make an excellent point. However; how good can a guy feel to put on the uniform of Mount Union, a 13 time national champion and become a part of a dynasty? I never played so I'm guessing. If 400 kids want to be on the football team, let 'em. It's Mount's decision to have a no cut policy.
I'm not arguing with you, just kinda playing devil's advocate. But I'm old, and you know the rest!
Go Raiders, however many there are! ☠🏈

Excellent discussion you guys.  There are legit points to both sides of the debate.  IMO, though, I essentially agree with desertraider.  Here is my analogy, which some of you might think is a dichotomy or strange. 

I can see it at the DI level.  There are some players, such as walk-ons, yet some scholarship players are in this situation as well, are content to just be on the team, putting in their 4 years of hard practice, self sacrifice with the knowledge that they probably won't ever get in on even one play during a game during their career (although, the hope for that one play is what keeps them there i.e. the Rudy Ruttinger or Donny Warner stories-no criticism or ridicule intended whatsoever, as I respect those two).  However, at the DIII (or even DII level), I think it is a somewhat different situation.  Those players in the situation I describe, IMO, even at a great top program such as Mount, would be much better off if they chose to attend a different school, where they would have a much more realistic chance at playing, even for one play in a 4 year career, yet highly likely much, much more than that.  I say that because the majority of the players choosing Mount, even those who you describe as being in the "150 man practice squad" have great talent such that they could play regularly if not simply a lot at some other school.  Of course, that chance at getting in on one play at Mount might still be the driving force for them, however, again, I would tend to think it would be more desirable to do that at Ohio State or Michigan, or some other DI school if they choose to walk-on.  And, I mean no disrespect to Mount as a school-this point of discussion is based solely on football, not the academics and/or campus atmosphere at Mount or any other particular college/university.   

I also agree with desertraider (which I think he is saying this) that having the numbers that Mount has i.e. well over 200 is a bit much. IMO, it is reasonable to have the range somewhere between 100-130 with squads more around the 105-110 range probably.  Recall that even when schools have the luxury of 140. 150 or so reporting to pre-season (I remember in the early to mid-2000s when some in our MIAA had that, Adrian, Hope and I believe Albion did at least once) that there is always that huge attrition in the first couple of weeks that gets the numbers back down to those lower reasonable ranges (again, I had mentioned that back in my day at Hope, our coaching staff made the decision to cut to 90). Yet, apparently, that is not what is done or desired at Mount.

The final decision, of course, is up to the individual player as to what they want to do.  I greatly respect those (in this described situation we have discussed) who choose to stay and the challenge of doing so at Mount especially, yet at any school.  It does make it a tough challenge for the coaching staff.  On the other hand, the lower end and opposite situation of having too little in roster number (such as in the 60s for some schools) really makes it a challenge especially with injuries as the season progresses.

Anyway, this is a good discussion and I enjoyed reading (and respect) each of your opinions on this.  A great (and well earned) situation that Mount has to deal with-others would be so lucky! 

[MUC57]

formerd3db

Excellent points by you. What can I say? This does make for an interesting discussion. ☠🏈

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Well, Mount Union has had around 200 players on their roster since the early 90s, so I think whatever they are doing is working well for them.  No matter what our opinions are, they have found the right recipe to make it work.

[MUC57]

K and J's Dad

You betcha! That says it all. Go Raiders! ☠🏈

[mr_mom]

Boys and Girls, Ladies and Herrings, the 2018 edition of the OAC Pick-em is here.

Because our first game this week is on Thursday, I put the spreads out a day early.  Hell, it is the first week and my spreads are a crap-shoot on the first week anyway, so go have at it.

If my half-a-brain is working correctly, then we should expect a nine-team-tie at the top of the OAC after this next weekend.

And to remind the newbies, this contest is open to all posters, OAC or not.

Good luck!
Mom

[BergAlum]

Oh wow, football and pick-em time already!  Summer sure did fly 

[rscl70]

          

Fall Sports Coaches Event: Aug. 29  7:30PM
M Club invites all Raider fans to campus for a fall sports preview from: Vince Kehres (Football), Keving Lucas (Cross Country), Kelley Clark (W. Soccer), Carter Poe (M. Soccer) and Melissa Mahnke (Volleyball).  Event is held in the Kresge Dining Commons and is free.  Donations to M Club accepted.

[gizzmo13]

ANYONE EVER UPDATE US ON THE SCRIMMAGE.

[wally_wabash]

ANYONE EVER UPDATE US ON THE SCRIMMAGE.

I'd bet a nickel that Mount Union was better than W&J. 

[raiderpa]

I think that, even as a Mount Union alum, I would encourage my son to go somewhere he could play.   The DIII level is unique in the fact that kids are playing because they love to play and I cannot imagine someone who loves to play being content to just attend practice and dress for home games.  Obviously kids are competitive and sometimes think they can make it to the top of the heap and play for a national contender, however, being realistic, there are few chances for an above average kid at MHB, UMU, WWW and the like.

[MUC57]

Wally Wabash

Only a nickel? Coming from you that frightens me! ☠🏈

[bleedpurple]

Wally Wabash

Only a nickel? Coming from you that frightens me! ☠🏈

I'm guessing Wally would be hard pressed to find a taker for that bet even at a literal nickel!  I won't even get into what a nickel means in betting lingo MUC57!

Besides, MUC57, you'd better start setting your eyes on Rose-Hulman buddy.  They aren't coming to Alliance to lay down.  They are coming to shock the darn world! I know you are old and forget things. But you aren't going to forget the earthquake that happens in Alliance, Ohio the night of September 1st!