FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[JCUStreaks70]

In the old days ( last year and before) Mount Union wouldn't show anything until week 10 when they played John Carroll. The defense would get better from week to week, the O line would begin to click, the receivers and backs would work on timing and try to stay healthy, and the play calling would be, well vanilla.  Come week 10 and the play book would start to creak open and footballs would start to fly and the defense would be doing things you never saw before.

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish.  So here we are in week 8.  How many long passes have you seen? Not many.  Trick or even unusual plays?  Very few.  Vanilla.  Plain and simple.  Why show your cards.  There are 8 games left. Line up and stop us.

Fast forward to week 10, or 11.  The defense, if they stay healthy, is really good IMHO. (MUC that means In My Humble Opinion.) The receiving core has to be one of the best if not THE best in D3.  The QB isn't too shabby either. And the running backs, with Jawanza healthy, will be three or four deep.  So the future is bright.  And by the way, while I think UMHB is pretty good, they really don't get tested much during the regular season.  And this quarterback reporting is kind of weird. Say what you want about the OAC in past years, there are some decent football teams in this conference.

Lol the "old days" thank you for clarifying that you only meant 2016/2017. Because in my version of the "old days" 2009-2012,  JCU was not the last game and they werent very competive, in 2011 they were mounts OAC opener and lost like 59-7 I think.

To be fair, all those "not very competitive games" were tied at one point............................ The beginning.

[wesleydad]

Hey mount friends, hope all is well.  Just wondering from afar, has Marietta improved that much to be very competitive with the top of the OAC.  I watched the game last week and believe they should have won it.  I dont think they compete with Mount, but is their level now close to that of JCU and BW?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Hey mount friends, hope all is well.  Just wondering from afar, has Marietta improved that much to be very competitive with the top of the OAC.  I watched the game last week and believe they should have won it.  I dont think they compete with Mount, but is their level now close to that of JCU and BW?

I don't think we'll know for sure until we see the Pios play against BW and MTU.  I didn't watch the game last week but saw the conversation.  I feel they should have punted on 4th down on their own 34 in the 4th.  Probably cost them the game.

[wally_wabash]

Hey mount friends, hope all is well.  Just wondering from afar, has Marietta improved that much to be very competitive with the top of the OAC.  I watched the game last week and believe they should have won it.  I dont think they compete with Mount, but is their level now close to that of JCU and BW?

I don't think we'll know for sure until we see the Pios play against BW and MTU.  I didn't watch the game last week but saw the conversation.  I feel they should have punted on 4th down on their own 34 in the 4th.  Probably cost them the game.

Watching the game at that time, I assumed Waddle went for it there because he knew his defense was tapped out and the best chance to win was to get one yard, run Clark and the clock for three more downs and see what happens.  It didn't work out and it looks like a bad call after the fact.  I think when you're Marietta having this kind of breakout year, you have to roll the dice like that.  The Pioneers have had a lot of lucky things go their way this year- Capital not converting the deuce in Week 2, Marietta getting the two and the win vs. ONU.  This time the dice came up snake eyes. 

[Dr. Acula]

^^^  I don't fault him.  I'm sure statistically he should have punted, but he put the ball in his best player's hands twice in need of 2 yards.  Waddle is probably okay with that risk.  Dance with who brung ya.

[Pat Coleman]

Marietta has definitely rolled the dice a couple times this year just to get to the point it was in on Saturday.

[raiderpa]

When you see the tide turning and your "D" is shot, you have to take the chance.  No way this decision could be questioned. I am anxious to see them at Mount.  I hope they do not lose again until the visit the Raiders.  But that is going to be difficult for them.

[wally_wabash]

When you see the tide turning and your "D" is shot, you have to take the chance.  No way this decision could be questioned. I am anxious to see them at Mount.  I hope they do not lose again until the visit the Raiders.  But that is going to be difficult for them.

This is probably my favorite Mount Union game.  The one that starts with "I can't wait to see [upstart flavor of the month] play at Mount Union" and ends with "Wow, that team was very disappointing.  Mount had no trouble with them! [fake surprise face]". 

[SaintsFAN]

When you see the tide turning and your "D" is shot, you have to take the chance.  No way this decision could be questioned. I am anxious to see them at Mount.  I hope they do not lose again until the visit the Raiders.  But that is going to be difficult for them.

This is probably my favorite Mount Union game.  The one that starts with "I can't wait to see [upstart flavor of the month] play at Mount Union" and ends with "Wow, that team was very disappointing.  Mount had no trouble with them! [fake surprise face]".

Hopefully accompanied by a week of "Mount has never seen...." from fans for old times sake???

[Dr. Acula]

I

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish. 

And arguably the best player on the team - Jared Ruth - didn't play.

Ruth is a difference maker.  I was trying to remember...Mount has obviously had a lot of great WR over the years.  And a lot of times you'd have the senior complimented by the soph who was going to be the next #1 guy.  But I was trying to remember a time where you had two upperclassmen big play WR playing side by side like Hill and Ruth.  The only season I could think of was the Knapp/Sirianni combo back in the early 00's.  Taurice was explosive with Namdar, but he was more of a quick slant guy than a home run threat.

1993 (All Seniors):
Bubonics (WR) - 1,769
Atwood (TE) - 851
M. Siriani (WR) - 684
Gresko (RB) - 638

2003:
Knapp (WR) - 1,467
N. Siriani (WR) - 998

2007:
Garcon (WR) - 955
Davis (WR) - 875

Of those I'd say only Knapp/Sirianni.  Those guys were both nearly 20 yds per catch and TD a game guys.  The other one I thought was a maybe (but I don't know the stats) was what about Knestrick/Gollate?  Knestrick was for sure.  He was one of the best big play WR ever at Mount.  I just don't recall Gollate as well.

[WRMUalum13]

I

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish. 

And arguably the best player on the team - Jared Ruth - didn't play.

Ruth is a difference maker.  I was trying to remember...Mount has obviously had a lot of great WR over the years.  And a lot of times you'd have the senior complimented by the soph who was going to be the next #1 guy.  But I was trying to remember a time where you had two upperclassmen big play WR playing side by side like Hill and Ruth.  The only season I could think of was the Knapp/Sirianni combo back in the early 00's.  Taurice was explosive with Namdar, but he was more of a quick slant guy than a home run threat.

1993 (All Seniors):
Bubonics (WR) - 1,769
Atwood (TE) - 851
M. Siriani (WR) - 684
Gresko (RB) - 638

2003:
Knapp (WR) - 1,467
N. Siriani (WR) - 998

2007:
Garcon (WR) - 955
Davis (WR) - 875

Of those I'd say only Knapp/Sirianni.  Those guys were both nearly 20 yds per catch and TD a game guys.  The other one I thought was a maybe (but I don't know the stats) was what about Knestrick/Gollate?  Knestrick was for sure.  He was one of the best big play WR ever at Mount.  I just don't recall Gollate as well.

In 2012 Mounts 4 leading receivers were all seniors, Denton and Collins were the 2 main guys. Denton was more of a slot guy, but he was definitely a difference maker.

[HScoach]

I

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish. 

And arguably the best player on the team - Jared Ruth - didn't play.

Ruth is a difference maker.  I was trying to remember...Mount has obviously had a lot of great WR over the years.  And a lot of times you'd have the senior complimented by the soph who was going to be the next #1 guy.  But I was trying to remember a time where you had two upperclassmen big play WR playing side by side like Hill and Ruth.  The only season I could think of was the Knapp/Sirianni combo back in the early 00's.  Taurice was explosive with Namdar, but he was more of a quick slant guy than a home run threat.

1993 (All Seniors):
Bubonics (WR) - 1,769
Atwood (TE) - 851
M. Siriani (WR) - 684
Gresko (RB) - 638

2003:
Knapp (WR) - 1,467
N. Siriani (WR) - 998

2007:
Garcon (WR) - 955
Davis (WR) - 875

Of those I'd say only Knapp/Sirianni.  Those guys were both nearly 20 yds per catch and TD a game guys.  The other one I thought was a maybe (but I don't know the stats) was what about Knestrick/Gollate?  Knestrick was for sure.  He was one of the best big play WR ever at Mount.  I just don't recall Gollate as well.

I remember those guys quite well.  I actually preferred Gollate as he was more sure handed.  Knestrick would make a circus catch but drop an easy one.  Both were very, very good.

[bluenote]

... Or maybe Mount Union could play SJU or Whitewater in the 1st round? ...

[Mr. Ypsi]

... Or maybe Mount Union could play SJU or Whitewater in the 1st round? ...

Have you been smokin' the 'wacky tobacky' again?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish. 

And arguably the best player on the team - Jared Ruth - didn't play.

Ruth is a difference maker.  I was trying to remember...Mount has obviously had a lot of great WR over the years.  And a lot of times you'd have the senior complimented by the soph who was going to be the next #1 guy.  But I was trying to remember a time where you had two upperclassmen big play WR playing side by side like Hill and Ruth.  The only season I could think of was the Knapp/Sirianni combo back in the early 00's.  Taurice was explosive with Namdar, but he was more of a quick slant guy than a home run threat.

1993 (All Seniors):
Bubonics (WR) - 1,769
Atwood (TE) - 851
M. Siriani (WR) - 684
Gresko (RB) - 638

2003:
Knapp (WR) - 1,467
N. Siriani (WR) - 998

2007:
Garcon (WR) - 955
Davis (WR) - 875

Of those I'd say only Knapp/Sirianni.  Those guys were both nearly 20 yds per catch and TD a game guys.  The other one I thought was a maybe (but I don't know the stats) was what about Knestrick/Gollate?  Knestrick was for sure.  He was one of the best big play WR ever at Mount.  I just don't recall Gollate as well.

I remember those guys quite well.  I actually preferred Gollate as he was more sure handed.  Knestrick would make a circus catch but drop an easy one.  Both were very, very good.

MTU site doesn't list a Roster for 1997 but these were the top receivers that year.  Interestingly, they all had 57 receptions.

Knestrict: 1,258
Gollate: 813
Tyla: 779