FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

In the great QB discussion, I think it's important to remember the types of teams that each of the QB's were on.  The offense that Mount Union runs today is drastically different than what Ballard ran, or Brochert for that matter. 

I think  that Fulford probably sits somewhere in the 8-10 range of the best.  If Mount wins the Stagg bowl this year, and Fulford has a great game.  I might bump him up more.  This season in particular is nice to see, because Fulford's mistake have been limited.  (nod to LK).  If he finishes this season with 40+ TD's and 1 interception, that IMO, should get him some love. 

Also, I have not read back too far, but has anyone mentioned Micheli?  I'm sure he should be in the top 1-4 category.

Top Four (in alphabetical order) IMO:

Ballard
Borchert
Burke
Micheli

Dang, I forgot how quietly good Smeck was also.

[WRMUalum13]

In the great QB discussion, I think it's important to remember the types of teams that each of the QB's were on.  The offense that Mount Union runs today is drastically different than what Ballard ran, or Brochert for that matter. 

I think  that Fulford probably sits somewhere in the 8-10 range of the best.  If Mount wins the Stagg bowl this year, and Fulford has a great game.  I might bump him up more.  This season in particular is nice to see, because Fulford's mistake have been limited.  (nod to LK).  If he finishes this season with 40+ TD's and 1 interception, that IMO, should get him some love. 

Also, I have not read back too far, but has anyone mentioned Micheli?  I'm sure he should be in the top 1-4 category.

Yep, I mentioned earlier that Micheli has the highest career passer rating at any division in NCAA football. That has to get him something...

[BrowardRaider]

D'Angelo is a good QB. Period. He isn't great - he isn't an all time great. He's good. The Berg game showed his limitations. I know it was windy, and wet, and nasty. I have seen those games before with other Mount QB's (Ballard, Borchert and Burke come immediately to mind) and don't recall seeing the offense that one dimensional. Burke threw for 163 on 12-19  (1TD, 1INT) in the 2013 snow fest with NCC. I would say that adding the snow, and temp to the wind and wet makes that game more impressive. And KB threw some absolute dimes in that one. Ballard or Borchert in some of the mud games in Alliance (ah the days before turf) or Borchert throwing for 6 or 7 TDs against Lycoming in 30 mph winds. I don't remember Borchert's passes trailing in the wind.

We talk about this every off season - Mount's Mount Rushmore. D'Angelo is a good QB - he just isn't great.  It's not a dig or knock on him - he just isn't Bill Borchert, or Jim Ballard, or Gary Smeck, or....or....

Ballard in the Rain and Mud vs. St. John's in 1993 was awesome.  I can't find the Box Score online but remember it live.  56-8 Monkeystomp.

That was an epic one and so glad we had covered stands. Had to fire up the waybackmachine and all credit to Ric
https://web.archive.org/web/20060906230753/http://www.mtunionfootball.com/playoffseasons/93playoffs.htm

[OzJohnnie]

Ballard in the Rain and Mud vs. St. John's in 1993 was awesome.  I can't find the Box Score online but remember it live.  56-8 Monkeystomp.

Back when very few knew of Mount Union. 

The worst game in history when Mount dismantled the point-a-minute offense.  I listened on the radio and couldn't believe the turnovers. Five at least. Maybe seven. Was a horrid game.

[Desertraider]

In the great QB discussion, I think it's important to remember the types of teams that each of the QB's were on.  The offense that Mount Union runs today is drastically different than what Ballard ran, or Brochert for that matter. 

I think  that Fulford probably sits somewhere in the 8-10 range of the best.  If Mount wins the Stagg bowl this year, and Fulford has a great game.  I might bump him up more.  This season in particular is nice to see, because Fulford's mistake have been limited.  (nod to LK).  If he finishes this season with 40+ TD's and 1 interception, that IMO, should get him some love. 

Also, I have not read back too far, but has anyone mentioned Micheli?  I'm sure he should be in the top 1-4 category.

Top Four (in alphabetical order) IMO:

Ballard
Borchert
Burke
Micheli

Dang, I forgot how quietly good Smeck was also.

I agree....well almost. Take Burke out and put Smeck in. Sorry Smeck gets the edge with the extra ring. Burke is next though.

On Kurt Rocco - man I know people wonder what could have been and he gets mentioned quite a bit BUT I had a few of these guys in class and academically that is one that...well lets just say he could really throw the ball.  I just always wondered how much of the play book was "condensed".

[HScoach]

I'm not a QB-whisperer so this list should be taken with a grain of salt, but here's my QB ranking.  This is off the top of my head and I could be missing someone.

Mount Rushmore of Mount QB (plus a few extras):
1.  Bill Borchert - truly gifted with insane production
2.  Jim Ballard - great arm, tough as nails with the 'stones' necessary to carry Mount to Title #1.
3.  Greg Micheli - gets overshadowed because of sharing spotlight with Kmic and Garcon.  Stud on and off the field!
4.  Gary Smeck - Mr Steady.  Wasn't flashy, but unflappable under pressure.
5.  Kevin Burke - carried a couple teams to Salem that had no business getting there.
6.  Taurice Scott - unfortunately only started for a single year.  Had the skills to be higher on the list if he would have had multiple years to show it.

Beyond these 6, it gets a little fuzzy. 

Very solid.  Would be glad to have another QB just like them again:
   Rob Adamson
   Kurt Rocco

Had their moments, but too inconsistent:
   Jesse Burkhardt
   Zac Bruney
   D'Angelo Fulford
   Neal Seamen - had potential but couldn't stay healthy enough to ever prove it

Wish there would have been another option:
   Matt Piloto

[Desertraider]

No love for Mike Jorris. I think he threw the nicest deep ball of all of them.

[HScoach]

Shoot.  I knew I would miss someone.  Or two.

I'd put him in the "too inconsistent" category.   Great arm, but not much upstairs.

[Desertraider]

I found him to be pretty smart but if he made a mistake he never got over it. Sometimes just couldn't get out of hid own way. But man...had an absolute howitzer.

[Dr. Acula]

I'm not a QB-whisperer so this list should be taken with a grain of salt, but here's my QB ranking.  This is off the top of my head and I could be missing someone.

Mount Rushmore of Mount QB (plus a few extras):
1.  Bill Borchert - truly gifted with insane production
2.  Jim Ballard - great arm, tough as nails with the 'stones' necessary to carry Mount to Title #1.
3.  Greg Micheli - gets overshadowed because of sharing spotlight with Kmic and Garcon.  Stud on and off the field!
4.  Gary Smeck - Mr Steady.  Wasn't flashy, but unflappable under pressure.
5.  Kevin Burke - carried a couple teams to Salem that had no business getting there.
6.  Taurice Scott - unfortunately only started for a single year.  Had the skills to be higher on the list if he would have had multiple years to show it.

Beyond these 6, it gets a little fuzzy. 

Very solid.  Would be glad to have another QB just like them again:
   Rob Adamson
   Kurt Rocco

Had their moments, but too inconsistent:
   Jesse Burkhardt
   Zac Bruney
   D'Angelo Fulford
   Neal Seamen - had potential but couldn't stay healthy enough to ever prove it

Wish there would have been another option:
   Matt Piloto

Glad to see Burghardt get mentioned.  He was almost slightly ahead of his time being just before Bruney with his athleticism with his legs.  Would have liked to see what he could have done if he started on his own.  He was a dual threat QB before that was en vogue in Alliance.  Many only remember the pick 6 in the Stagg but he was a very good QB.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

In the great QB discussion, I think it's important to remember the types of teams that each of the QB's were on.  The offense that Mount Union runs today is drastically different than what Ballard ran, or Brochert for that matter. 

I think  that Fulford probably sits somewhere in the 8-10 range of the best.  If Mount wins the Stagg bowl this year, and Fulford has a great game.  I might bump him up more.  This season in particular is nice to see, because Fulford's mistake have been limited.  (nod to LK).  If he finishes this season with 40+ TD's and 1 interception, that IMO, should get him some love. 

Also, I have not read back too far, but has anyone mentioned Micheli?  I'm sure he should be in the top 1-4 category.

Top Four (in alphabetical order) IMO:

Ballard
Borchert
Burke
Micheli

Dang, I forgot how quietly good Smeck was also.

I agree....well almost. Take Burke out and put Smeck in. Sorry Smeck gets the edge with the extra ring. Burke is next though.

On Kurt Rocco - man I know people wonder what could have been and he gets mentioned quite a bit BUT I had a few of these guys in class and academically that is one that...well lets just say he could really throw the ball.  I just always wondered how much of the play book was "condensed".

Smeck's first ring was as a Freshman.  Did he start in 1997?

Burke was two time Gagliardi winner.  Tough choice.

[Desertraider]

Ballard got 1 in 93
Borchert in 96 and 97
Smeck in 98 and 2000
Adamson in 2001 and 2002
Jorris in 2005
Micheli 2006 and 2008
Burke in 2012
Scott in 2015
Fulford in 2017

The one that gets overlooked, IMO, is Smeck (the gap between the 2 and people forget he was still QB) and Adamson.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Thanks desertraider!

[SaintsFAN]

In the great QB discussion, I think it's important to remember the types of teams that each of the QB's were on.  The offense that Mount Union runs today is drastically different than what Ballard ran, or Brochert for that matter. 

I wonder how many of their yards came from "Roll Pass" --- it was an unstoppable play action, half roll usually with a backside "big" (WR would run either a post pattern or a dig depending on coverage). 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

In the great QB discussion, I think it's important to remember the types of teams that each of the QB's were on.  The offense that Mount Union runs today is drastically different than what Ballard ran, or Brochert for that matter. 

I wonder how many of their yards came from "Roll Pass" --- it was an unstoppable play action, half roll usually with a backside "big" (WR would run either a post pattern or a dig depending on coverage).

https://coachad.com/articles/larry-kehres-mount-union-roll-double-cross-play/