FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[D3fanboy]

If the players are expected to "Champion the Standard", then the coaching staff and school should be expected to as well.  Mount Union football is at a significant moment right now.  No disrespect to Alma, but there is no reason for the "Standard" of D3 to lose to a team like that at home.  Zero creativity out of the offense for years, running the shotgun when you are 6" from the goal line, how many more slow starts or anemic second halves to inferior competition do we need to see?

I'm as big of a Mount homer as you will find, but this program is soft right now.  Nobody is scared of Mount Union or scared to come to Alliance.  The team is talented but predictable, the attendance is garbage, there is no killer instinct, it's get up by a couple of scores and shut it down...save the creative for later

[D3fanboy]

I appreciated the context the D3Fb podcast gave Mount Today. They talked about how Coach Dartt has really done a wonderful job considering he's 42-3 with a Stagg Bowl appearance. On one hand I'm extremely grateful for the playoff runs we've had and the ability for Mount Union to remain the most consistent elite team of the last decade or so. despite multiple coaching changes... including a hall of famer! We're certainly a spoiled fan base.

On the other hand,  when viewed from the perspective of "The Standard" ("Champion the Standard") You can't view Dartt's tenure as anything less than disappointing (so far) and he'd probably agree!

To be fair, he has an extremely unfair and probably unrealistic standard to uphold... but it is what it is.

I agree with both things -- this has definitely not lived up to "Champion the Standard" but I don't know that anyone could. Trying to sustain what a literal Hall of Famer built is nigh on impossible.

Vince was pretty close though, at the same point in his career as Dartt is at (excluding Covid year) he had 3 Stagg Bowl appearances and 1 championship. However he also benefitted from having an all-time great QB in Kevin Burke for 2013 and 2014. Without Burke the 2013 team probably doesn't reach the Stagg Bowl. Plunk is a great player but I don't think he's nearly the offensive weapon that Burke was.

Vince also gave up being the DC....and the players would have ran through a wall for VK, good luck finding that attitude now

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

In the offseason I was excited to see Junior Collins named the OC.  Then he got the job with the Colts and Mount went back to status quo of a very vanilla offense.  Mount had too many weapons to be so generic.  I doubt we'll see a change in the HC.  I would like to see a full time OC hired and let Coach Dartt focus on being the HC.

[FIGHTINGSCOT]

"a team like that" had a wonderful trip to Alliance.  Thank you for your hospitality. 

[D3fanboy]

"a team like that" had a wonderful trip to Alliance.  Thank you for your hospitality.

congrats on the W, literally meant no disrespect. I'll be rooting for Alma to make a Stagg Bowl run.  It was a shot at the powers that be at Mount that allowed such a loss to even be a possibility.

[formerd3db]

"a team like that" had a wonderful trip to Alliance.  Thank you for your hospitality.

congrats on the W, literally meant no disrespect. I'll be rooting for Alma to make a Stagg Bowl run.  It was a shot at the powers that be at Mount that allowed such a loss to even be a possibility.

Even the top tier teams have their down years at all levels. There are so many examples it's not worth listing here. I recall a few years ago when Mount was killing everyone with their string of national championships. They talented teams that lost to Mount was not a result of bad coaching. It was due to extremely talented players making the plays. Good coaching, for sure, but the coaching staff did not do the execution of plays. In response to the so called "complaints" by others that Mount was winning all the time, I recall that many Mount supporters responded that Mount would someday reach that point where it wouldn't be automatic each year. Mount has reached that current segment in recent years.

JMO, but to put that all on the behalf of administrators of your college and coaching staff is a little misplaced. Certainly, there are times that a coaching change might need to be made. However, as I said before, how about accountability being held to the players? Certainly, Mounts talent pool of their team is extremely high, but even those talent levels have bad days and it is not always the fault of "poor coaching." I could share with you many stories over the years of high talented college players not responding at certain times, which certainly was not the result of poor coaching. Your Mount coaches did not get beat on long pass plays, or failure to cover a tight end in the seam and at the goal line in this recent Alma game.

Obviously, you know more about the inside workings at Mount than I. But your last statement is disrespectful to the Alma team. They are very talented and rose to the occasion. Mounts players just didn't do it on Saturday. We all know it happens every year to some team at all the NCAA divisions and another example is the Michigan/Ohio State game on the same day. Both of those teams are extremely talented-one just made more mistakes than the other and it was not due to coaching. But,...Mount losing that game due to the coaches-I respectfully disagree. Dealing with this loss is disappointing-believe me, I know. But, I do not doubt that Mount will be back in the run for national championships. Anyway, we will, of course, be rooting for our fellow MIAA team to, hopefully, win this next round game.

[wally_wabash]

"a team like that" had a wonderful trip to Alliance.  Thank you for your hospitality.

congrats on the W, literally meant no disrespect. I'll be rooting for Alma to make a Stagg Bowl run.  It was a shot at the powers that be at Mount that allowed such a loss to even be a possibility.

Everybody loves a double backhanded compliment. 

I'm not sure the powers that be at Mount Union have much control over the great jobs being done at other programs.  Mount Union set a goal for literally everyone in the division to chase.  Teams are reaching that endpoint.  It's less that Mount Union is not as good now and more that other teams are also excellent.  I believe Mount Union will continue to contend for national championships, but the playing field is different now.  Stagg Bowls are not only Mount Union's to lose as they may have been in the glory days.  There are a lot of great teams in the division now- largely thanks to the bar Mount Union set. 

[jmcozenlaw]

Sorry about that. They're holding together for now but need some serious help, which I am trying to get for them.

Need for fixes have progressed beyond my ability to manage the software.

Thanks for all you do!  I decided on Saturday to not pay the the $10 to watch the Mount Union Game and instead watched OSU v UM.  I was planning to go to OAC Boxcast later and watch the Mount game.  After seeing the final score, I've not gone back to watch.  Ugs.

It was very frustrating to watch in person... it's like we waited the whole game for the Mount machine to wake up and take control of the game and it never happened. At one point we intercepted their lateral on a trick play, in any other year that would be the turning point where Mount would capitalize and turn the tide, but Alma had an interception a few plays later.

The Machine hasn't been awake since '19.  NCC-Mount in the 2nd round was the title game played way too early, this was something entirely different.  "The Machine" has been idling on arrogance, entitlement and nepotism.

Speaking to your last sentence...............I remember being in Doylestown last year and watching MU players mock, blow kisses and wave goodbye to DelVal players with a few minutes left in the game. I never thought that I would have seen that from a MU team. It would have never happened under LK (who was talking about it and not very happy walking through the parking lot after the game.........I thanked him for Nick Sirrianni and mentioned how disappointed we were by MU's antics towards the end of the game. He agreed).

I became a North Central fan after that game and was pleased to see the result of the Alma game.

I only post this now as I read the post above and the mention of arrogance. Maybe these last two years will be a gut check and will help them going forward.

[hsbsballcoach7]

Sorry about that. They're holding together for now but need some serious help, which I am trying to get for them.

Need for fixes have progressed beyond my ability to manage the software.

Thanks for all you do!  I decided on Saturday to not pay the the $10 to watch the Mount Union Game and instead watched OSU v UM.  I was planning to go to OAC Boxcast later and watch the Mount game.  After seeing the final score, I've not gone back to watch.  Ugs.

It was very frustrating to watch in person... it's like we waited the whole game for the Mount machine to wake up and take control of the game and it never happened. At one point we intercepted their lateral on a trick play, in any other year that would be the turning point where Mount would capitalize and turn the tide, but Alma had an interception a few plays later.

The Machine hasn't been awake since '19.  NCC-Mount in the 2nd round was the title game played way too early, this was something entirely different.  "The Machine" has been idling on arrogance, entitlement and nepotism.

Speaking to your last sentence...............I remember being in Doylestown last year and watching MU players mock, blow kisses and wave goodbye to DelVal players with a few minutes left in the game. I never thought that I would have seen that from a MU team. It would have never happened under LK (who was talking about it and not very happy walking through the parking lot after the game.........I thanked him for Nick Sirrianni and mentioned how disappointed we were by MU's antics towards the end of the game. He agreed).

I became a North Central fan after that game and was pleased to see the result of the Alma game.

I only post this now as I read the post above and the mention of arrogance. Maybe these last two years will be a gut check and will help them going forward.

I wasn't at Del Valley and don't pretend to know all of the details, but I've seen many teams and fans unprovoked go after Mount players verbally in years past trying to get under their skin. I heard two specific incidents last year that occurred at Delaware Valley that were not shining examples of how you treat an opposing team. The first was  Del Valley wouldn't let the team buses get where they were supposed to go and delayed their arrival. The other was when there was a Del Valley "ballboy" saying inappropriate things to Mount players (on the Mount sideline) and trying to get near the team huddle and some other odd behavior that the official needed to remove that ball boy for the rest of the game.

I've seen my fair share of Mount fans say inappropriate things to other fans (and I've had to say something) and some players not play the game the right way, but I didn't see it in that game when Del Valley guys were extremely chippy and pushing the envelope with late hits and personal fouls.

[Dr. Acula]

Anyone acting like DelVal is the beacon of good sportsmanship is a joke.  Lol

[Dr. Acula]

"a team like that" had a wonderful trip to Alliance.  Thank you for your hospitality.

congrats on the W, literally meant no disrespect. I'll be rooting for Alma to make a Stagg Bowl run.  It was a shot at the powers that be at Mount that allowed such a loss to even be a possibility.

Even the top tier teams have their down years at all levels. There are so many examples it's not worth listing here. I recall a few years ago when Mount was killing everyone with their string of national championships. They talented teams that lost to Mount was not a result of bad coaching. It was due to extremely talented players making the plays. Good coaching, for sure, but the coaching staff did not do the execution of plays. In response to the so called "complaints" by others that Mount was winning all the time, I recall that many Mount supporters responded that Mount would someday reach that point where it wouldn't be automatic each year. Mount has reached that current segment in recent years.

JMO, but to put that all on the behalf of administrators of your college and coaching staff is a little misplaced. Certainly, there are times that a coaching change might need to be made. However, as I said before, how about accountability being held to the players? Certainly, Mounts talent pool of their team is extremely high, but even those talent levels have bad days and it is not always the fault of "poor coaching." I could share with you many stories over the years of high talented college players not responding at certain times, which certainly was not the result of poor coaching. Your Mount coaches did not get beat on long pass plays, or failure to cover a tight end in the seam and at the goal line in this recent Alma game.

Obviously, you know more about the inside workings at Mount than I. But your last statement is disrespectful to the Alma team. They are very talented and rose to the occasion. Mounts players just didn't do it on Saturday. We all know it happens every year to some team at all the NCAA divisions and another example is the Michigan/Ohio State game on the same day. Both of those teams are extremely talented-one just made more mistakes than the other and it was not due to coaching. But,...Mount losing that game due to the coaches-I respectfully disagree. Dealing with this loss is disappointing-believe me, I know. But, I do not doubt that Mount will be back in the run for national championships. Anyway, we will, of course, be rooting for our fellow MIAA team to, hopefully, win this next round game.

Just to be fair here, a "down year" is losing in the semis and not making it to Salem.  Has been for 3 decades.  I acknowledge that standard is unsustainable but that's the standard.  And to fanboy's point that's why it's a monumentally bad loss Saturday.  I hate the Steelers immensely but "the standard is the standard."  And you could feel from the social media posts from former players that it isn't something that's lip service.  It's a defining trait of the program unfair or not.  That result was unacceptable to the players, coaches and football alumni.

[hsbsballcoach7]

Let me start with a huge, Thank You!!!!! to the Mount Union football program for giving me a fun team to root for every fall.  Thank You seniors for putting in the work to represent the university and yourselves in a great way.  Many of you faced challenges we don't know about as fans,  but continued to wear the purple, white and black proudly. I wish you all the best and hope you can look back at your time as a Purple Raider in a better light as time passes.

State of the program from my point of view (and a nobody at that):
Mount still has good coaches, players, facilities and a great program(look what they did to the OAC this year). They will be back next year, compete for the OAC (JCU and Marietta have big holes to fill as well) and will have a shot at the title.
I like the talent in the position groups still, but have a couple of observations...
Our championship teams always got pressure on the QB and usually without needing to send extra guys. Since they've gone to 3 down lineman, they haven't handled the top tier offenses as well. Alma QB had lots of time in the 4th Q to find open guys.
In order to beat the great teams, there must be a threat of running the football from the QB position (or a near perfect pocket passer) and make the defense think you might do something. Nobody fell for the play action game in this offense. I don't think I ever saw the QB pull an RPO to pass the ball either. There were also many drops that weren't on the QB from TE and WRs.
Our play calling used to put defenses on their heels and play mind games with them. I was hoping there would be more deep ball opportunities with the speed on the outside. Sanders just missed the one deep ball thrown (and a missed PI with the jersey pulled), but that used to be commonplace after a turnover or drawing the defenders into the box.
Creation of mismatches just weren't there.... get your playmaker the ball in space.
I hope Dartt hires a true OC, so he can manage players and the game.  It's not easy trying to do all of that and prepare an offense for each series and get a feel from your players on what they're seeing.

I see next year, there's still an opening for week 1. Who are we calling? It needs to be someone decent because the schedule flips again and JCU is week 2.

Just my rambling thoughts. Go Purple Raiders!

[Raider 68]

Some great posts on tradition, sportsmanship, as well as some criticism

Thoughts on the Raiders this post season;

- The Alfred State game showed some telltale signs for the Raiders this post season

- 1st round, the team was flat, no emotion, lacked execution. Only some life in the second half made the score
   look better than it really was.

- Players, despite the records, QB Plunk's year was a drop off  from last year. Where was the defense last Saturday?
   Alma's QB had all day the throw the ball, no blitzes or any creativity on defense. Stupid defensive schemes
   at the end of the 4th Quarter. DeAndre Parker played a great game.

- Coaching. Mount's situation with the HC is similar to Ohio State. Ryan Day cannot beat Michigan with all the talent
                  in the world and is outcoached by a young coordinator. A change is needed at Ohio State. At Mount
                  Coach Dartt inherited a tradition rich program with the best of best players in D3, yet has not brought
                  his own mark to the program. Both he and Day would not use and or have an OC. The results are
                  showing big time. The players have to be motivated to play the game, the coaches have to motivate
                   themselves and the players. Although will not happen, changes need to be made at Mount. Running
                   the same play when you need to keep the ball late in the 4th Quarter shows no imagination,
                   whatsoever.  I wonder what Coach L. Kehres thinks after seeing that debacle on Saturday?

- Alma,  I give credit to Alma and their Coaches, saw some real creativity from them and the emotion that the     
             Raiders were lacking. Their fans really supported their team and hope they do well going forward. In
              ineptness of the Raiders kept them in the game and they prevailed.

Future,  Mount will return some key players next year, but the many 5th year players came back for the extra year to get to Salem.
They did not have the passionate desire required to get there as in past years.
As a former player season ticker holder, I just did not see the fire either in the players and certainly not the Coaches this year

While I know there were bright spots this season, 2023 was not what many thought would be, a Championship year.
There must be some major adjustments for 2024, or the long tradition of excellence will start to slip in many areas.

I do look forward to K & J Dad's returning player summary at the end of each season that will maybe provide
some optimism for next year.



                   

[Dr. Acula]

Good thoughts, 68.  Frankly it's gonna be a long tough offseason in Alliance and that's ok.  Adjustments are needed and if you're an elite program you make those and move forward. 

[WRMUalum13]

To Echo some of the previous comments, It's not so much that Mount had a down year, it's that THIS Mount team had a down year. A team that had Stagg Bowl Veterans and a Gagliardi finalist coming back for a 5th year. Just very unexpected for the level of experience and talent.

I also really liked 68's comments regarding have a dual threat QB. The modern game really puts pocket passers at a disadvantage unless you've got elite pass protection and wide receivers. Mount has good olines, but it really seems like not having a more running adept QB really handicapped our abilities on offense. I think that's one of my biggest complaints with this era.

I understand the Players -> Plays -> Formations philosophy, but I don't think we truly have the players to run a pocket passing west-coast offense as effectively as we want to.