FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[HScoach]

^ nice link.

I remember those well.  Nearly impossible to stop without a complete disregard for the play action.  Which is dangerous.

An oldie but a goodie.

[Raider 68]

The most important question regarding D'Angelo Fulford is this: Does he have the skill and ability to lead
the Raiders to a 14th National Championship? The answer is yes. To me it is all about the team and not
just a comparison.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Concerning Fulford.  My opinion is based partly on some information I received from a friend's son, who played OL at MTU as a Freshman (Fulford's Soph year).

I was told that Fulford was very egotistical at first at MTU.  Thought he was better than D3 and his attitude turned off his teammates.

As he has matured, he has gotten much better relating to his teammates and becoming a true Team Player.

We all know the issues he went through with his Legal situation.  A lot for a young man to go through.

I thought he did a great job last year leading the team to the Stagg.  He was definitely hindered by his ankle vs UMHB.

If he can lead the team to the Championship this year, I believe he deserves consideration of being a Top 5 QB at Mount Union.

[SaintsFAN]

^ nice link.

I remember those well.  Nearly impossible to stop without a complete disregard for the play action.  Which is dangerous.

An oldie but a goodie.

Its too bad this play was dependent on being run with the QB under Center.  I remember it being really hard to not just skip the play-action part when I knew we had the Big from my PSR

[WRMUalum13]

I'm a little biased towards Burke being at least top 3 because of his two gagliardi win, however he certainly didn't have the arm talent of a Ballard or borchert.

One thing he did better than any QB at mount was run the zone read plays, his ability to read defenders and make the correct run/ pass call was amazing. He also had unbelievable vision as a runner, he wasn't nearly as athetic as some UMU qbs but he could really follow blockers and find a hole.

Honestly you'd be hard pressed to find a qb at any level of college football who can read defenders and run a zone read rpo, better than Burke could.

Unfortunately Burke was harassed by some really good UWW defenses in the stagg bowl and made some bad throws, really the only black mark on his career.

[HScoach]

Burke was also saddled with the learning curve of a new HC.

You could easily talk me into moving Burke ahead of Smeck and into 4th place.  But I'm solid on the top 3 being Borchert, Ballard and Micheli..  I wrestle with the #1 spot between Borchert and Ballard.   I don't think anyone other than Ballard has the stones to win the first title, but believe Borchert was a bit more physically talented.

[WRMUalum13]

Burke was also saddled with the learning curve of a new HC.

You could easily talk me into moving Burke ahead of Smeck and into 4th place.  But I'm solid on the top 3 being Borchert, Ballard and Micheli..  I wrestle with the #1 spot between Borchert and Ballard.   I don't think anyone other than Ballard has the stones to win the first title, but believe Borchert was a bit more physically talented.

Yeah... I can say I want Burke in the top 3 but who do I take off that list to put him in?  Hard to make a case for any of your top 3 moving down.

It's a stretch, but I guess I could maybe put Burke ahead of Micheli just because Micheli had Garçon, Shorts and Kmic. But I'd probably only make that argument If Burke won in 2014.

[Sir Battlescars]

The most important question regarding D'Angelo Fulford is this: Does he have the skill and ability to lead
the Raiders to a 14th National Championship? The answer is yes. To me it is all about the team and not
just a comparison.

I think he does, mostly because of everyone around him. I watched the Mount Union vs. Heidelberg game last Saturday and I don't see anyone coming close to beating Mount this year. I think this is one of Mounts best teams and will easily win the Stagg again.

[raiderpa]

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.

All I remember about Burghardt is the unfortunate 98 yard int for a TD that turned the Stagg.

[raiderpa]

I introduced my eight year old grandson to Fulford at a BBK last year and he was very nice to the little guy.  Ask him questions and made the night for my grandson.  I came away with a really good impression about him as a person.

The week before the Mount-St.John's mud bowl, the Johnnie QB had thrown, I believe, 7 TD passes.  It was like lighting a fire under Ballard.  Ballard's performance that day, in the inches deep muck and rain, was, I believe, one of the greatest performances by a Mount Union football player.
Gagliardi was incensed over the field conditions and I think this game led Mount to get artificial turf.

[pradierguy]

Burke was also saddled with the learning curve of a new HC.

You could easily talk me into moving Burke ahead of Smeck and into 4th place.  But I'm solid on the top 3 being Borchert, Ballard and Micheli..  I wrestle with the #1 spot between Borchert and Ballard.   I don't think anyone other than Ballard has the stones to win the first title, but believe Borchert was a bit more physically talented.

Yeah... I can say I want Burke in the top 3 but who do I take off that list to put him in?  Hard to make a case for any of your top 3 moving down.

It's a stretch, but I guess I could maybe put Burke ahead of Micheli just because Micheli had Garçon, Shorts and Kmic. But I'd probably only make that argument If Burke won in 2014.

I'd argue that if Micheli didn't have Garçon, Shorts, and Kmic, we'd rank him higher. Greg was really really good, and often gets "knocks" (not really knocks but you know what I mean) for being surrounded by such elite talent.

[WRMUalum13]

Burke was also saddled with the learning curve of a new HC.

You could easily talk me into moving Burke ahead of Smeck and into 4th place.  But I'm solid on the top 3 being Borchert, Ballard and Micheli..  I wrestle with the #1 spot between Borchert and Ballard.   I don't think anyone other than Ballard has the stones to win the first title, but believe Borchert was a bit more physically talented.

Yeah... I can say I want Burke in the top 3 but who do I take off that list to put him in?  Hard to make a case for any of your top 3 moving down.

It's a stretch, but I guess I could maybe put Burke ahead of Micheli just because Micheli had Garçon, Shorts and Kmic. But I'd probably only make that argument If Burke won in 2014.

I'd argue that if Micheli didn't have Garçon, Shorts, and Kmic, we'd rank him higher. Greg was really really good, and often gets "knocks" (not really knocks but you know what I mean) for being surrounded by such elite talent.

Yeah it's kind of funny, he even kinda knocked himself for having so much talent helping him. there's an interview somewhere where he said he had the easiest job in the world because of it.

[Dr. Acula]

This PAT issue isn't going away.  Another botched attempt luckily bailed out by a PI call when Burkes rolled out to pass.  Take 2 the kick was good.  14-3. 

[archgemini24]

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

Great to see my Aviator (Scott) get some love! What I can appreciate most was that not only is he among the Great Mount QBs (Mount QBs come in 3 tiers, IMO: Good, Great, and Legends), but was the #1 option for another one of the Greats before that (Burke). I agree that he could have been much higher on the list if he had gotten more run, but I can appreciate his humility to want to get on the field and help in anyway he can. Curse of being one of the best athletes on the team.

I'd argue that if Micheli didn't have Garçon, Shorts, and Kmic, we'd rank him higher. Greg was really really good, and often gets "knocks" (not really knocks but you know what I mean) for being surrounded by such elite talent.

If he doesn't have them, does he put up all the numbers he did to get that rank, though?

On Fulford, I think he is borderline Good/Great (he does not get enough credit on this board, and I am not sure why), and can do himself a lot of favors with a good playoff run culminating in another title. Yes, he had Ruth and Hill until this year, but we cannot knock him for having two good receivers, and somehow credit Micheli for having two NFL receivers.

[Dr. Acula]

Bradley is having a rough day.  ONU just throws to whichever WR he's covering every pass play.