FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[D3fanboy]

Not that I think this is actually going to happen, but what is the OAC tiebreaker? If BW beats Mount next week for a three way tie, who gets this automatic bid?

I believe it's a vote amongst the OAC coaches

[bluestreak66]

Not that I think this is actually going to happen, but what is the OAC tiebreaker? If BW beats Mount next week for a three way tie, who gets this automatic bid?

I believe it's a vote amongst the OAC coaches

I hope if it comes to that they hire Jeff Probst to read the votes lol

[Desertraider]

Just a couple of thoughts on the game. First, Mount is an average team right now. I just don't see them advancing beyond 3rd round. Unless they are seriously holding something back. Second, Ruby fumbled in the 2nd qtr. Should have been JCU ball deep in Mount territory. Third, Mount #17 should have flagged at least 3x for unsportsmanlike conduct. He needs to shut up and play. Fourth, Mount is ridiculously predictable. I am no expert but when I can see the screen, or Ruby on a 5 yard crossing route then so can the Defense. Finally, Braxton needs to be reminded that he is allowed to run. Holding the ball while going through the progression for the 2nd or 3rd time isn't an option unless you are playing Capital. Oh and you are not goi gto play Capital again this year so RUN!

[Desertraider]

Side note. Does anyone know how to contact Ric? His old site....which I miss!!!....had GameDay notes by Dick Ross and I would love to know how to re-read his note on the Greatest Game. I was thinking about that one today. Anyway Roll  Raiders

[edward de vere]

Mount is an average team right now.

Uh, no.

. . . Unless you think there are approximately 100 teams in D3 better than Mount.

[D3fanboy]

Just a couple of thoughts on the game. First, Mount is an average team right now. I just don't see them advancing beyond 3rd round. Unless they are seriously holding something back. Second, Ruby fumbled in the 2nd qtr. Should have been JCU ball deep in Mount territory. Third, Mount #17 should have flagged at least 3x for unsportsmanlike conduct. He needs to shut up and play. Fourth, Mount is ridiculously predictable. I am no expert but when I can see the screen, or Ruby on a 5 yard crossing route then so can the Defense. Finally, Braxton needs to be reminded that he is allowed to run. Holding the ball while going through the progression for the 2nd or 3rd time isn't an option unless you are playing Capital. Oh and you are not goi gto play Capital again this year so RUN!

Mount better find some creativity in the postseason, because I don't know how much better the OL can really get.  Look at the highlight of the Plunk-Reed TD pass.  The RT gets spun around by the edge and barely gets a hand on him.  The ball is going to have to come out quick and it can't always be a WR screen or a swing pass to Parker

That being said, it was a 20 point game with 9 mins to go.  A good test with a really banged up squad.  BW with their big, 30 year old RB will definitely push Mount's beat up front 7

[Desertraider]

Mount is an average team right now.

Uh, no.

. . . Unless you think there are approximately 100 teams in D3 better than Mount.

Thanks there Literal Larry for reminding me why I don't post anymore. Look there are 240 teams, yada yada, and average would be approx 120. But anyone who thinks that 230 of those teams actually matter is an idiot (no offense intended). We know who will be the last 5 (with maybe AN exception from time to time). NCC matters. UWW matters. UMHB matters. Mount matters. St. Johns matters. This year UWW is down and Linfield matters. Among teams that matter - Mount is average.

However, I stopped comparing Mount to the rest of D3 along time ago. In comparison with Mount teams from the past 30 years. This Mount is the Neal Seaman Mount Union. They will score alot of points against the teams they should - but they seem to lack that next gear (on BOTH sides of the ball). Unless you think this team would do well against the Chuck Moore Raiders? Dan Pugh's Raiders? Kmic and Garcon? Shorts? How does this defense measure up to some of the great ones with Jason Hall, Spisak, Lally, Stickley, Campbell, Kern, Lou Berry, Driskell? Sorry but among the Great Mount teams I think they are below average. Oh I know (in my best whiny ass voice) "but those are all time great teams, you can't expect them to (insert more verbal vomit here)". Maybe not but no one in a purple helmet came to Mount to accept being subpar to those great teams. They came to Mount to be the NEXT great Mount team.

In the end I think 1st round will be a blowout as it should, 2nd round will have tense moments but end in a walk, 3rd round will be either really close or a Mount end. If they make the semis, they don't advance beyond it. It is what it is - but no one goes to Mount to make the playoffs, or to make it to the quarterfinals or semifinals. All of this could change. They could turn the page in the play book on both sides and LK could pull out the playoff magic wand and BAM. But they haven't shown anything on that level yet.

And for the record - I want to be wrong, I hope I am. I want Mount to win it all and get another title. They will - but I don't think anyone thinks it will be this year.

[hsbsballcoach7]

DesertRaider,
I know what you're saying, but football just isn't what it used to be from players to coaches at all levels. I see a huge difference in HS coaching lately where coordinators can't make adjustments or use their talent better. With that said, Mount has talent and coaching ability (I felt like the 2nd half adjustments were good). Is Ruby healthy? He didn't seem to have the speed burst he typically has had. I actually feel that Plunk looks better recently because he hasn't been trying to force the ball to Ruby.

I also understand the comparison to the UMHB, NCC, UWW, Linfield, St John's schools because the goal is always to win the Stagg Bowl. Even after UMHB lost to UWW, I thought they were the best team in D3 and even they almost lost yesterday. With all of the craziness in D3 this year, if Mount beats BW, there's a strong chance we would host until the finals. With the improvement of the defense, I see this team in any game.

[pradierguy]

Mount is an average team right now.

Uh, no.

. . . Unless you think there are approximately 100 teams in D3 better than Mount.

Thanks there Literal Larry for reminding me why I don't post anymore. Look there are 240 teams, yada yada, and average would be approx 120. But anyone who thinks that 230 of those teams actually matter is an idiot (no offense intended). We know who will be the last 5 (with maybe AN exception from time to time). NCC matters. UWW matters. UMHB matters. Mount matters. St. Johns matters. This year UWW is down and Linfield matters. Among teams that matter - Mount is average.

However, I stopped comparing Mount to the rest of D3 along time ago. In comparison with Mount teams from the past 30 years. This Mount is the Neal Seaman Mount Union. They will score alot of points against the teams they should - but they seem to lack that next gear (on BOTH sides of the ball). Unless you think this team would do well against the Chuck Moore Raiders? Dan Pugh's Raiders? Kmic and Garcon? Shorts? How does this defense measure up to some of the great ones with Jason Hall, Spisak, Lally, Stickley, Campbell, Kern, Lou Berry, Driskell? Sorry but among the Great Mount teams I think they are below average. Oh I know (in my best whiny ass voice) "but those are all time great teams, you can't expect them to (insert more verbal vomit here)". Maybe not but no one in a purple helmet came to Mount to accept being subpar to those great teams. They came to Mount to be the NEXT great Mount team.

In the end I think 1st round will be a blowout as it should, 2nd round will have tense moments but end in a walk, 3rd round will be either really close or a Mount end. If they make the semis, they don't advance beyond it. It is what it is - but no one goes to Mount to make the playoffs, or to make it to the quarterfinals or semifinals. All of this could change. They could turn the page in the play book on both sides and LK could pull out the playoff magic wand and BAM. But they haven't shown anything on that level yet.

And for the record - I want to be wrong, I hope I am. I want Mount to win it all and get another title. They will - but I don't think anyone thinks it will be this year.

Interesting comparison with the Seaman era. After watching yesterday I think they are a step above that, but reminds me a lot of the non-Stagg winning Fulford led teams. None of those teams ever gave me the Dear Old MUC vibes.  Good, but not great (using Elite D3 programs as the measuring stick).

[WRMUalum13]

Mount is an average team right now.

Uh, no.

. . . Unless you think there are approximately 100 teams in D3 better than Mount.

Thanks there Literal Larry for reminding me why I don't post anymore. Look there are 240 teams, yada yada, and average would be approx 120. But anyone who thinks that 230 of those teams actually matter is an idiot (no offense intended). We know who will be the last 5 (with maybe AN exception from time to time). NCC matters. UWW matters. UMHB matters. Mount matters. St. Johns matters. This year UWW is down and Linfield matters. Among teams that matter - Mount is average.

However, I stopped comparing Mount to the rest of D3 along time ago. In comparison with Mount teams from the past 30 years. This Mount is the Neal Seaman Mount Union. They will score alot of points against the teams they should - but they seem to lack that next gear (on BOTH sides of the ball). Unless you think this team would do well against the Chuck Moore Raiders? Dan Pugh's Raiders? Kmic and Garcon? Shorts? How does this defense measure up to some of the great ones with Jason Hall, Spisak, Lally, Stickley, Campbell, Kern, Lou Berry, Driskell? Sorry but among the Great Mount teams I think they are below average. Oh I know (in my best whiny ass voice) "but those are all time great teams, you can't expect them to (insert more verbal vomit here)". Maybe not but no one in a purple helmet came to Mount to accept being subpar to those great teams. They came to Mount to be the NEXT great Mount team.

In the end I think 1st round will be a blowout as it should, 2nd round will have tense moments but end in a walk, 3rd round will be either really close or a Mount end. If they make the semis, they don't advance beyond it. It is what it is - but no one goes to Mount to make the playoffs, or to make it to the quarterfinals or semifinals. All of this could change. They could turn the page in the play book on both sides and LK could pull out the playoff magic wand and BAM. But they haven't shown anything on that level yet.

And for the record - I want to be wrong, I hope I am. I want Mount to win it all and get another title. They will - but I don't think anyone thinks it will be this year.

Interesting comparison with the Seaman era. After watching yesterday I think they are a step above that, but reminds me a lot of the non-Stagg winning Fulford led teams. None of those teams ever gave me the Dear Old MUC vibes.  Good, but not great (using Elite D3 programs as the measuring stick).

Unfortunately I don't think the JCU game actually told us much about this year's Mount team.  Looking back on the last few years it hasn't really been a good indicator of how well or poorly Mount does in the playoffs. 2015 was the last blowout Mount win, but since then they always play the purple raiders tough.


2016  28-31 JCU victory -> Mount Union loses in semi finals by 2  (JCU undefeated OAC)
2017  31-27 UMU win -> Mount wins national championship          (JCU 6-3 OAC)
2018  23-10 UMU win -> Mount loses national championship         (JCU 8-1 OAC)
2019  37-14 UMU win -> Mount loses 2nd round*                        (JCU 8-1 OAC)         *loss to eventual national champs
2021  28-14 UMU win -> Mount loses semi finals                         (JCU 7-2 OAC)
2022  34-28 UMU win -> ?                                                         (JCU 7-1 OAC)


On a slightly different note, I am getting pretty concerned with Mount's ability to get big enough players on the LOS. I was watching the Howard Payne UMHB stream yesterday and I'd have thought I was watching an FCS matchup looking at size alone. I know there's lots of challenges with D2s in Ohio and such and only so many big guys to go around, but I just don't know how we're going to compete with some of the size  I'm seeing from some other schools.

That being said...line play is about a lot more than size, but it just seems like we're going to be at a disadvantage physically. Hope our guys in the trenches prove me wrong!

[BillyRayJimBob]

Mount is an average team right now.

Uh, no.

. . . Unless you think there are approximately 100 teams in D3 better than Mount.

Thanks there Literal Larry for reminding me why I don't post anymore. Look there are 240 teams, yada yada, and average would be approx 120. But anyone who thinks that 230 of those teams actually matter is an idiot (no offense intended). We know who will be the last 5 (with maybe AN exception from time to time). NCC matters. UWW matters. UMHB matters. Mount matters. St. Johns matters. This year UWW is down and Linfield matters. Among teams that matter - Mount is average.

However, I stopped comparing Mount to the rest of D3 along time ago. In comparison with Mount teams from the past 30 years. This Mount is the Neal Seaman Mount Union. They will score alot of points against the teams they should - but they seem to lack that next gear (on BOTH sides of the ball). Unless you think this team would do well against the Chuck Moore Raiders? Dan Pugh's Raiders? Kmic and Garcon? Shorts? How does this defense measure up to some of the great ones with Jason Hall, Spisak, Lally, Stickley, Campbell, Kern, Lou Berry, Driskell? Sorry but among the Great Mount teams I think they are below average. Oh I know (in my best whiny ass voice) "but those are all time great teams, you can't expect them to (insert more verbal vomit here)". Maybe not but no one in a purple helmet came to Mount to accept being subpar to those great teams. They came to Mount to be the NEXT great Mount team.

In the end I think 1st round will be a blowout as it should, 2nd round will have tense moments but end in a walk, 3rd round will be either really close or a Mount end. If they make the semis, they don't advance beyond it. It is what it is - but no one goes to Mount to make the playoffs, or to make it to the quarterfinals or semifinals. All of this could change. They could turn the page in the play book on both sides and LK could pull out the playoff magic wand and BAM. But they haven't shown anything on that level yet.

And for the record - I want to be wrong, I hope I am. I want Mount to win it all and get another title. They will - but I don't think anyone thinks it will be this year.

Interesting comparison with the Seaman era. After watching yesterday I think they are a step above that, but reminds me a lot of the non-Stagg winning Fulford led teams. None of those teams ever gave me the Dear Old MUC vibes.  Good, but not great (using Elite D3 programs as the measuring stick).

Unfortunately I don't think the JCU game actually told us much about this year's Mount team.  Looking back on the last few years it hasn't really been a good indicator of how well or poorly Mount does in the playoffs. 2015 was the last blowout Mount win, but since then they always play the purple raiders tough.


2016  28-31 JCU victory -> Mount Union loses in semi finals by 2  (JCU undefeated OAC)
2017  31-27 UMU win -> Mount wins national championship          (JCU 6-3 OAC)
2018  23-10 UMU win -> Mount loses national championship         (JCU 8-1 OAC)
2019  37-14 UMU win -> Mount loses 2nd round*                        (JCU 8-1 OAC)         *loss to eventual national champs
2021  28-14 UMU win -> Mount loses semi finals                         (JCU 7-2 OAC)
2022  34-28 UMU win -> ?                                                         (JCU 7-1 OAC)


On a slightly different note, I am getting pretty concerned with Mount's ability to get big enough players on the LOS. I was watching the Howard Payne UMHB stream yesterday and I'd have thought I was watching an FCS matchup looking at size alone. I know there's lots of challenges with D2s in Ohio and such and only so many big guys to go around, but I just don't know how we're going to compete with some of the size  I'm seeing from some other schools.

That being said...line play is about a lot more than size, but it just seems like we're going to be at a disadvantage physically. Hope our guys in the trenches prove me wrong!

Yes, I too have been watching the WIAC and Texas teams the last couple of weeks.  Particularly the WIAC teams and the monsters that they have on the O and D lines.  Watching while flipping back to the Mount Union game and wondering...
Thought that Whitewaters' #77(?) was Lurch, or a character that Adam Sandler recruited to play against the guards. 

[bleedpurple]

Yes, I too have been watching the WIAC and Texas teams the last couple of weeks.  Particularly the WIAC teams and the monsters that they have on the O and D lines.  Watching while flipping back to the Mount Union game and wondering...
Thought that Whitewaters' #77(?) was Lurch, or a character that Adam Sandler recruited to play against the guards. 

Addison DeShambo (our #77) is 6'8" but only goes 356 pounds. We need to get another 15 pounds on him.  But he's only a sophomore, so there's time.

[D3fanboy]

Mount is an average team right now.

Uh, no.

. . . Unless you think there are approximately 100 teams in D3 better than Mount.

Thanks there Literal Larry for reminding me why I don't post anymore. Look there are 240 teams, yada yada, and average would be approx 120. But anyone who thinks that 230 of those teams actually matter is an idiot (no offense intended). We know who will be the last 5 (with maybe AN exception from time to time). NCC matters. UWW matters. UMHB matters. Mount matters. St. Johns matters. This year UWW is down and Linfield matters. Among teams that matter - Mount is average.

However, I stopped comparing Mount to the rest of D3 along time ago. In comparison with Mount teams from the past 30 years. This Mount is the Neal Seaman Mount Union. They will score alot of points against the teams they should - but they seem to lack that next gear (on BOTH sides of the ball). Unless you think this team would do well against the Chuck Moore Raiders? Dan Pugh's Raiders? Kmic and Garcon? Shorts? How does this defense measure up to some of the great ones with Jason Hall, Spisak, Lally, Stickley, Campbell, Kern, Lou Berry, Driskell? Sorry but among the Great Mount teams I think they are below average. Oh I know (in my best whiny ass voice) "but those are all time great teams, you can't expect them to (insert more verbal vomit here)". Maybe not but no one in a purple helmet came to Mount to accept being subpar to those great teams. They came to Mount to be the NEXT great Mount team.

In the end I think 1st round will be a blowout as it should, 2nd round will have tense moments but end in a walk, 3rd round will be either really close or a Mount end. If they make the semis, they don't advance beyond it. It is what it is - but no one goes to Mount to make the playoffs, or to make it to the quarterfinals or semifinals. All of this could change. They could turn the page in the play book on both sides and LK could pull out the playoff magic wand and BAM. But they haven't shown anything on that level yet.

And for the record - I want to be wrong, I hope I am. I want Mount to win it all and get another title. They will - but I don't think anyone thinks it will be this year.

Interesting comparison with the Seaman era. After watching yesterday I think they are a step above that, but reminds me a lot of the non-Stagg winning Fulford led teams. None of those teams ever gave me the Dear Old MUC vibes.  Good, but not great (using Elite D3 programs as the measuring stick).

Unfortunately I don't think the JCU game actually told us much about this year's Mount team.  Looking back on the last few years it hasn't really been a good indicator of how well or poorly Mount does in the playoffs. 2015 was the last blowout Mount win, but since then they always play the purple raiders tough.


2016  28-31 JCU victory -> Mount Union loses in semi finals by 2  (JCU undefeated OAC)
2017  31-27 UMU win -> Mount wins national championship          (JCU 6-3 OAC)
2018  23-10 UMU win -> Mount loses national championship         (JCU 8-1 OAC)
2019  37-14 UMU win -> Mount loses 2nd round*                        (JCU 8-1 OAC)         *loss to eventual national champs
2021  28-14 UMU win -> Mount loses semi finals                         (JCU 7-2 OAC)
2022  34-28 UMU win -> ?                                                         (JCU 7-1 OAC)


On a slightly different note, I am getting pretty concerned with Mount's ability to get big enough players on the LOS. I was watching the Howard Payne UMHB stream yesterday and I'd have thought I was watching an FCS matchup looking at size alone. I know there's lots of challenges with D2s in Ohio and such and only so many big guys to go around, but I just don't know how we're going to compete with some of the size  I'm seeing from some other schools.

That being said...line play is about a lot more than size, but it just seems like we're going to be at a disadvantage physically. Hope our guys in the trenches prove me wrong!

it's not about size.  NC had the best OL in the country the past two years and he was 5-11 250-260.

I think where Mount is lacking is institutionally.  Mount has typically been ahead of the curve, or at least along side in the D3FB world.  But they have fallen behind in the Strength & Conditioning/Development world.  I can't believe that there is not a full-time S&C director and at least one coach under them for the Athletic Dept.  I don't think that it's that Mount is not getting the guys, but the development needs to take a step up. 

[Raider 68]

From:

D3FANBOY:

it's not about size.  NC had the best OL in the country the past two years and he was 5-11 250-260.

I think where Mount is lacking is institutionally.  Mount has typically been ahead of the curve, or at least along side in the D3FB world.  But they have fallen behind in the Strength & Conditioning/Development world.  I can't believe that there is not a full-time S&C director and at least one coach under them for the Athletic Dept.  I don't think that it's that Mount is not getting the guys, but the development needs to take a step up.


Agree, they need the S&C coach along with a OC and HC, IMHO

[Pat Coleman]

Totally agree with this on size. One of the reasons that the WIAC teams were not successful in the playoffs from like 1999 to 2002 or so was because their playoff reps had huge but not skilled or flexible offensive linemen and teams like St. John's just ran rings around them.