FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[WRMUalum13]

Media is plural. I only know of one outlet being affected.

Ohhhh, yeah I see what you mean, now that I think about it, I have seen player interviews in the canton rep and other local outlets... yeah hmmmm.

[WRMUalum13]

I have no idea why UMU didn't play Bethel? or SJU in the 3rd round.... it's beyond my comprehension...    Hope MUC57 is dressing down tomorrow..... for water boy. 

Well the main reason is that they didn't play this week is that they were on opposite sides of the bracket! Simple stuff bluenote 

[rscl70]

No was has talked about the time management, or rather, lack of, at the end of the 1st half. Why no time out when Muhlenberg was deep in their own territory? Maybe Mount could have got the ball back in decent field position. And then later, still no time out. Hey coaches, they don't carry over. They're gone forever. But what do I know?

I thought the time management was perfect.  Mount had a 2 score lead against a team that wasn't a threat to score unless Mount gave them a short field combined with an offense that had already turned it over twice and without your best receiver being able to actually catch the ball.  The chances of Mount screwing up and giving Muhlenberg a easy score was higher in my mind than the confidence in Mount scoring in the last minute in the rain.  Not the decision we usually see from VK, but I took it as a positive sign that he's beginning to be a little discerning instead of always aggressive.

Agree completely.  After a frustating, sloppy first half of offense, I think VK just wanted to get into the locker room and work on getting things right in the second half.

[pradierguy]

If any of you need some Loooouuuuuuuu in your week, here's an updated highlight just posted.

We'd love some Lou Berry in our week. We're trying to write a feature on him for the website but Mount Union is refusing to allow us to talk to anyone. (And that's not new -- it's been going on for about a year, no matter what storyline we propose.)

Perhaps someone on staff could "randomly bump into" Lou Berry's dad in a coffee shop. Seems to help get some exclusive content.

[Bartman]

FYI , Muhlenberg Defensive Coordinator is Kory David, who also coached the Hobart Statesman Defense two years ago and had the Hobart Defense keep the 2016 first round game in Geneva close. Kory was Eagles  Asst. Coach under Andy Reid and IMO one of the better DCs in D3 football.  Hobart hated to lose him , but wife works for Eagles and Allentown is close to Philly. Mount Union should pull away based on talent but David has his team well prepared and will do everything to frustrate the Purple Raiders. Also, HC Milne is Hobart 2003 and has done a great job this year.They are not trying to lust look good, the Mules are trying to win. David against Goliath in the second half(the slingshot malfunctioned in the second half).

Cool.  I've been looking for someone to give me a breakdown on the top ten defensive coordinators in D3 football.  Could you give us a rundown of your top ten, with their strengths and weaknesses(SWOT analysis to follow), and some illumination as to why you believe Kory David is better than the other nine?

Thanks!

P.S.  You must spend an INSANE amount of time watching D3 football( Yes, mostly in the basement by myself )!

If he is one of the best than I would love to see that list as well. Sorry - but having a week to prepare for Mount he had his team looking good. But the QB was never pressured, his stud LB and the "Rambo" guy were non-factors. I think God and his Rain Defense disrupted Fulford more than the Mules. Regardless, then Mount switches gears to the always difficult to follow wildcat and suddenly the Mules looked like Denison. Sorry but the wildcat wasn't difficult to follow. Every person in the stadium and streaming online knew where the ball was going. I think "the best"D coordinator in all of D3 would have at some point said to his players: "See the side car? the ball is going that side B or C gap".

I will give Milne credit. Pulling the QB to get the Senior in was a class move. Kudos for that one.

OK, based on the second half performance by Mount Union, I revised my overly effusive comment on Kory David. The Purple Raider supporters certainly know your football, so , respectfully, I will return to the East
boards until next year's playoffs.
   Good luck against Hopkins, now they have a very knowledgeable supporter in Mayor Bloomberg....well at least I heard he offered them the Bloomberg Jet to get out to Alliance at a nice discount

[Dr. Acula]

Thoughts from Saturday:

I was impressed with Muhlenberg.  They were well coached and disciplined.  Offensively they never had a legit chance of scoring enough to win the game, but they have some players.  They failed to execute on a few big plays that were there.  A quick review of their 2 deep looks like they'll return 10 starters on offense (1 OL gone).  They were very solid defensively and return 6 of their front 7.  If I was a Mules fan I'd be pumped for 2019 already. 

As for Mount that felt way too much like the JCU game to me.  The offense was never in sync.  Fulford was never in rhythm.  The bad thing was that JCU caused a lot of that with pressure.  Muhlenberg really didn't.  He was just off.  And IMO he's clearly nowhere close to 100% with the ankle.  Nothing he can do and I applaud him for playing through it, but it's an issue right now.

The defense played their typical stellar game.  They had a few plays where they could have (and should have) been burned, but they dodged the bullet.  One of those was weather related as the DB slipped and fell, but the others were not.  Against JHU maybe the QB connects and those plays hurt.  But overall it was another stout effort from VK's boys.  They're going to need another one Saturday.

The injuries are definitely concerning.  They were so fortunate to go through the regular season really only losing Stika long-term.  But they need Ruth, White and especially Fulford to be playing and effective now.  I admit that I severely underestimated Ruth's importance to the offense.  Haynes could be effective against JHU, but I just don't envision him being so against UMHB/UWW.  You're not going to "out quick" them.  White seemed okay and I'm sure he'll just tough it out again next week.  So will Fulford.  Hammies can be tricky so I don't have a lot of hope Ruth plays Saturday.

Lastly, 24 straight semifinals is insane.  The most impressive thing about the Mount Union run is the impossible consistency.  Not one down year, one slip up in the quarters in 2 plus decades.  It really is incredible.

[skunks_sidekick]

Media is plural. I only know of one outlet being affected.

And you know why.  Not sure what anyone is trying to prove with that stance, but I do know that "a certain reporter" did more than ruffle a few feathers.

My thoughts are eh...get over it & move on. 

[edward de vere]

I do know that "a certain reporter" did more than ruffle a few feathers.

Details, por favor.

[Pat Coleman]

Media is plural. I only know of one outlet being affected.

And you know why.  Not sure what anyone is trying to prove with that stance, but I do know that "a certain reporter" did more than ruffle a few feathers.

My thoughts are eh...get over it & move on.

Is that certain "reporter" someone who is on our staff listing? I'm betting not.

We don't move on from covering Mount Union just because the powers that be want to freeze us out. But after a year, I think it's time to talk about why current Purple Raiders aren't quoted in our stories and why we've written less this year than in the past.

[MUC57]

Media is plural. I only know of one outlet being affected.

And you know why.  Not sure what anyone is trying to prove with that stance, but I do know that "a certain reporter" did more than ruffle a few feathers.

My thoughts are eh...get over it & move on. Qqq wqqqqopponents

Is that certain "reporter" someone who is on our staff listing? I'm betting not.

We don't move on from covering Mount Union just because the powers that be want to freeze us out. But after a year, I think it's time to talk about why current Purple Raiders aren't quoted in our stories and why we've written less this year than in the past.

I'm on your side Pat. What's happening at my old alma mater? 

[Sir Battlescars]

Media is plural. I only know of one outlet being affected.

And you know why.  Not sure what anyone is trying to prove with that stance, but I do know that "a certain reporter" did more than ruffle a few feathers.

My thoughts are eh...get over it & move on. Qqq wqqqqopponents

Is that certain "reporter" someone who is on our staff listing? I'm betting not.

We don't move on from covering Mount Union just because the powers that be want to freeze us out. But after a year, I think it's time to talk about why current Purple Raiders aren't quoted in our stories and why we've written less this year than in the past.

I'm on your side Pat. What's happening at my old alma mater? 

Apparently Mount Union didn't like being asked the tough questions last year surrounding their starting QB and his criminal background and they're still holding a grudge over it. Sounds like someone at MU needs to man up and get over it.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Media is plural. I only know of one outlet being affected.

And you know why.  Not sure what anyone is trying to prove with that stance, but I do know that "a certain reporter" did more than ruffle a few feathers.

My thoughts are eh...get over it & move on. Qqq wqqqqopponents

Is that certain "reporter" someone who is on our staff listing? I'm betting not.

We don't move on from covering Mount Union just because the powers that be want to freeze us out. But after a year, I think it's time to talk about why current Purple Raiders aren't quoted in our stories and why we've written less this year than in the past.

I'm on your side Pat. What's happening at my old alma mater? 

Apparently Mount Union didn't like being asked the tough questions last year surrounding their starting QB and his criminal background and they're still holding a grudge over it. Sounds like someone at MU needs to man up and get over it.

[MUC57]

Media is plural. I only know of one outlet being affected.

And you know why.  Not sure what anyone is trying to prove with that stance, but I do know that "a certain reporter" did more than ruffle a few feathers.

My thoughts are eh...get over it & move on. Qqq wqqqqopponents

Is that certain "reporter" someone who is on our staff listing? I'm betting not.

We don't move on from covering Mount Union just because the powers that be want to freeze us out. But after a year, I think it's time to talk about why current Purple Raiders aren't quoted in our stories and why we've written less this year than in the past.

I'm on your side Pat. What's happening at my old alma mater? 

Apparently Mount Union didn't like being asked the tough questions last year surrounding their starting QB and his criminal background and they're still holding a grudge over it. Sounds like someone at MU needs to man up and get over it.

A picture truly is worth a thousand words!

[HScoach]

This is just another reminder of why climbing the coaching ladder isn't always the right answer for everyone.  Yes, it's a butt load more money, but it's also a ton more scrutiny.   Slow playing D3football.com is an easy one.  Try doing that to ESPN when you're at D1.

[raiderpa]

Akron's facilities appear to be top quality, Their stadium is a beautiful one, I think they have an indoor facility, and the location, like Kent State, is in a prime recruiting region.  It is amazing to me that neither Kent nor Akron has been able to sustain any success. Perhaps the close proximity of the MAC schools make recruiting difficult, but Solich has regularly gotten it done, now Leipold is settling in.  Toledo, strong consistently and the Michigan schools have had their successes. 
I think a dynamic guy with a positive outlook and philosophy could do it.  VK?  I seriously doubt it.  He appears, like dad, no nonsense and not a self promoter that you may need at a place like Akron. Money would be nice, but I believe he could get a better gig down the line.