FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[D3fanboy]

...If Berg is the 2nd best team Mount's gap to the 2nd place team will be as big as anytime in recent memory...

I went into the OAC forum to propose this very question... but you have already answered it for me.

Broader still, I would propose the gap between Mount and the 2nd best team in the REGION is as big as anytime. Right now, I'd put Heidelberg, DePauw, Hope, Albion, and Trine as 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and 2e. I think Mount beats all 5 by whatever score they want.

I'd agree with that. The weird thing is Mount isn't region centric in recruiting.  It'd be one thing if Mount was scooping up every decent D3 recruit in OH, IN, MI, etc but Mount pretty much recruits nationally.  It'd be great in another "local" D3 program built themselves up and wasn't all talk (i.e. BW)

[Pat Coleman]

...If Berg is the 2nd best team Mount's gap to the 2nd place team will be as big as anytime in recent memory...

I went into the OAC forum to propose this very question... but you have already answered it for me.

Broader still, I would propose the gap between Mount and the 2nd best team in the REGION is as big as anytime. Right now, I'd put Heidelberg, DePauw, Hope, Albion, and Trine as 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and 2e. I think Mount beats all 5 by whatever score they want.

I'd agree with that. The weird thing is Mount isn't region centric in recruiting.  It'd be one thing if Mount was scooping up every decent D3 recruit in OH, IN, MI, etc but Mount pretty much recruits nationally.  It'd be great in another "local" D3 program built themselves up and wasn't all talk (i.e. BW)

This is different in Region 4 than it was in the North Region because the CCIW is not in this group.

[D3fanboy]

...If Berg is the 2nd best team Mount's gap to the 2nd place team will be as big as anytime in recent memory...

I went into the OAC forum to propose this very question... but you have already answered it for me.

Broader still, I would propose the gap between Mount and the 2nd best team in the REGION is as big as anytime. Right now, I'd put Heidelberg, DePauw, Hope, Albion, and Trine as 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and 2e. I think Mount beats all 5 by whatever score they want.

I'd agree with that. The weird thing is Mount isn't region centric in recruiting.  It'd be one thing if Mount was scooping up every decent D3 recruit in OH, IN, MI, etc but Mount pretty much recruits nationally.  It'd be great in another "local" D3 program built themselves up and wasn't all talk (i.e. BW)

This is different in Region 4 than it was in the North Region because the CCIW is not in this group.

yes yes, the mighty CCIW and their multiple years of excellence.

[Pat Coleman]

...If Berg is the 2nd best team Mount's gap to the 2nd place team will be as big as anytime in recent memory...

I went into the OAC forum to propose this very question... but you have already answered it for me.

Broader still, I would propose the gap between Mount and the 2nd best team in the REGION is as big as anytime. Right now, I'd put Heidelberg, DePauw, Hope, Albion, and Trine as 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and 2e. I think Mount beats all 5 by whatever score they want.

I'd agree with that. The weird thing is Mount isn't region centric in recruiting.  It'd be one thing if Mount was scooping up every decent D3 recruit in OH, IN, MI, etc but Mount pretty much recruits nationally.  It'd be great in another "local" D3 program built themselves up and wasn't all talk (i.e. BW)

This is different in Region 4 than it was in the North Region because the CCIW is not in this group.

yes yes, the mighty CCIW and their multiple years of excellence.

I'm only talking about providing reasonable No. 2 ems in a region behind Mount Union -- I think even you can concede that's possible.

[WRMUalum13]

...If Berg is the 2nd best team Mount's gap to the 2nd place team will be as big as anytime in recent memory...

I went into the OAC forum to propose this very question... but you have already answered it for me.

Broader still, I would propose the gap between Mount and the 2nd best team in the REGION is as big as anytime. Right now, I'd put Heidelberg, DePauw, Hope, Albion, and Trine as 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and 2e. I think Mount beats all 5 by whatever score they want.

I'd agree with that. The weird thing is Mount isn't region centric in recruiting.  It'd be one thing if Mount was scooping up every decent D3 recruit in OH, IN, MI, etc but Mount pretty much recruits nationally.  It'd be great in another "local" D3 program built themselves up and wasn't all talk (i.e. BW)

This is different in Region 4 than it was in the North Region because the CCIW is not in this group.

yes yes, the mighty CCIW and their multiple years of excellence.

Since 1999 the CCIW is objectively one of the better d3 conferences looking at playoff results: https://www.d3football.com/interactive/faq/playoffs 7th best win percentage out of 30+ conferences

[Walt]

I'd agree with that. The weird thing is Mount isn't region centric in recruiting.  It'd be one thing if Mount was scooping up every decent D3 recruit in OH, IN, MI, etc but Mount pretty much recruits nationally.  It'd be great in another "local" D3 program built themselves up and wasn't all talk (i.e. BW)

I haven't paid close attention lately but 10-15 years ago the perception (and seemed to be true) was that Mount would get all the good "recruitable" kids in Ohio AND recruit nationally.    They would bring in 150 kids and didn't really care if the Ohio kids panned out or not or ever got to play, but if they came to Mount that meant that they didn't go to the other OAC schools.

This is similar to the tactic Woody used at Ohio State back in the days before scholarship limits.  He'd take all the Ohio D1 talent knowing that more than half of them would never see the field for him but they'd also not play against him.

Another factor is that there are more D2 schools in Ohio now and it seems that a lot of kids who in the past would have ended up at Cap, Otterbein, H-berg, ONU, etc are looking at Ohio Dominican, Ashland, Tiffin, etc.   They all want to be able to say they're "on scholarship" even if they're just getting $500 or their books covered.  They want that photo of them signing their LOI to post on social media. 

[Pat Coleman]

I do think the proliferation of D2 football programs in Ohio has taken kids that normally would go to OAC schools.

[Ralph Turner]

I'd agree with that. The weird thing is Mount isn't region centric in recruiting.  It'd be one thing if Mount was scooping up every decent D3 recruit in OH, IN, MI, etc but Mount pretty much recruits nationally.  It'd be great in another "local" D3 program built themselves up and wasn't all talk (i.e. BW)

I haven't paid close attention lately but 10-15 years ago the perception (and seemed to be true) was that Mount would get all the good "recruitable" kids in Ohio AND recruit nationally.    They would bring in 150 kids and didn't really care if the Ohio kids panned out or not or ever got to play, but if they came to Mount that meant that they didn't go to the other OAC schools.

This is similar to the tactic Woody used at Ohio State back in the days before scholarship limits.  He'd take all the Ohio D1 talent knowing that more than half of them would never see the field for him but they'd also not play against him.

Another factor is that there are more D2 schools in Ohio now and it seems that a lot of kids who in the past would have ended up at Cap, Otterbein, H-berg, ONU, etc are looking at Ohio Dominican, Ashland, Tiffin, etc.   They all want to be able to say they're "on scholarship" even if they're just getting $500 or their books covered.  They want that photo of them signing their LOI to post on social media.

... and Darrell K Royal at Texas. Read the 1972 classic,  Meat on the Hoof.

[WRMUalum13]

I do think the proliferation of D2 football programs in Ohio has taken kids that normally would go to OAC schools.

It seems like this hits Mount Union particularly in the trenches. Compared to other D3 powers I feel like Mount always looks undersized on the LOS.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I do think the proliferation of D2 football programs in Ohio has taken kids that normally would go to OAC schools.

It seems like this hits Mount Union particularly in the trenches. Compared to other D3 powers I feel like Mount always looks undersized on the LOS.

Back in the Days of Larry Kinnard, Mount had bigger offensive lines.  I think I remember one year when Mount's OL was as big (or bigger) than tOSU's OL.

[D3fanboy]

I do think the proliferation of D2 football programs in Ohio has taken kids that normally would go to OAC schools.

It seems like this hits Mount Union particularly in the trenches. Compared to other D3 powers I feel like Mount always looks undersized on the LOS.

Back in the Days of Larry Kinnard, Mount had bigger offensive lines.  I think I remember one year when Mount's OL was as big (or bigger) than tOSU's OL.

I think that was the Stagg Bowl loss against SJU, their smaller D-line whooped MUC's huge O-line.  Like Pat knows, size isn't everything

[Pat Coleman]

I do think the proliferation of D2 football programs in Ohio has taken kids that normally would go to OAC schools.

It seems like this hits Mount Union particularly in the trenches. Compared to other D3 powers I feel like Mount always looks undersized on the LOS.

Back in the Days of Larry Kinnard, Mount had bigger offensive lines.  I think I remember one year when Mount's OL was as big (or bigger) than tOSU's OL.

I think that was the Stagg Bowl loss against SJU, their smaller D-line whooped MUC's huge O-line.  Like Pat knows, size isn't everything

Technique is far more important than size, anyway.

[wally_wabash]

I do think the proliferation of D2 football programs in Ohio has taken kids that normally would go to OAC schools.

It seems like this hits Mount Union particularly in the trenches. Compared to other D3 powers I feel like Mount always looks undersized on the LOS.

Back in the Days of Larry Kinnard, Mount had bigger offensive lines.  I think I remember one year when Mount's OL was as big (or bigger) than tOSU's OL.

I think that was the Stagg Bowl loss against SJU, their smaller D-line whooped MUC's huge O-line.  Like Pat knows, size isn't everything

Technique is far more important than size, anyway.

[bluestreak66]

Happy Gold Bowl Eve everyone! Time to make it 10 in a row! 

[WRMUalum13]

Boy, the OAC OOC  losses really did a number on Mount Union's SOS. Not sure exactly how Massey Ratings calculates it but they've got Mount as #223 for SOS. In comparison NCC is #33, SJU IS #8 and UWW is #1