FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[dy60358]

I am booked (from Maryland) for Houston!
Time to stock up on the Fireball shots for the Moms!!

$20.00 for a ticket and $11.60 in fees?!?!
And no senior-citizen discount???
Oy vey!

Will tickets only be available online or will tickets also be available at the gate?

[bluestreak66]

As an outside observer, I must admit that it is amusing many Mount faithful spent the better part of the season lamenting the fall of the empire and complaining about the weakest Mount team in decades, only for said team to make it back to the Stagg! Luckily for Mount you caught us on an off day lol 

Unrelated, a very Merry Christmas to all OAC posters, or as my wife likes to call you my "random D3 internet friends" lol. May Santa bring presents and cheer to everyone in the OAC, except BW, who I hope gets stolen away by Krampus in the dead of night   

[joelmama]

Those Augustana teams employed multiple quarterbacks during their 1983-86 championship run.  Defensive tackle Lynn Thomsen started every game during that run and graduated with a 49-0-1 w-l record and is in the College Football Hall of Fame.  The one tie was 0-0 versus Elmhurst in the 1986 season opener.  Augustana started the 1987 season 10-0 before losing to Dayton in the playoffs. The 60-game unbeaten streak remains a record across all divisions of college football.

Mark Lovdahl started all those games too I think.

[USee]

If Mount Defense plays Jan 5 like they did today, they may need 72 to win...

well, they scored at will on what the D3 "analytics" told me was one of the greatest D3 defenses of the modern era. "rarified air" and "best in a decade" I believe were thrown around.

Play with poise, limit negative plays and turnovers and don't piss down your leg at the start of the game a la Susquehanna and '22 Stagg Bowl will be key.  Can't get into a big hole against NCC.  Make it a physical game, drag them out into deeper waters and see if they can swim.  This Mount squad has a knack for not flinching in big moments. 

There is literally next to zero pressure on the Raiders in Houston.  NCC is the greatest superpower ever seen in D3 led by the quarterback who invented college football.  Their five year stretch is something that has never been seen before and definitely was not aided a great deal by a pandemic.  Five straight Stagg Bowls?!?!? I mean come on, that's unheard of.  They will probably keep that up for 10, maybe 11 straight years. "Red is the new Purple"

What analytics? Massey and Logan had them as #1 D in the country but not sure about all this "best of the era talk" talk.

JHU has one of the best defenses of the decade, which is especially stalwart in the Red Zone.
#d3fb

https://x.com/LogHanRatings/status/1870501360291942544

After holding UMHB to 10 points Saturday, Johns Hopkins' defense joins rarified air, with a Sub-Zero™ Adjusted Defensive Efficiency.
#d3fb

https://x.com/LogHanRatings/status/1868377298224693678

Forgetting for a moment that your "D3 Analytics" was really just 1 person, it seems Logan is focused on 2 fairly myopic statistics for JHU. I certainly didn't think JHU's defense was anything special going into the Mt Union game. In fact, the best defense Mount has faced all year is Carnegie Mellon (#5 Total Defense). CMU impressed me on defense. They were well coached, good tacklers, and disciplined. JHU's defense is ranked #70 in total defense according to NCAA stats. Here are the NCAA national rankings for JHU's defense in various categories (I put Mt Union's ranking in parenthesis for comparison):

Total defense: 70 (68)
Rush defense: 45 (46)
Pass defense: 127 (121)
Pass efficiency defense: 14 (91)
Scoring defense: 15 (30)
3rd down defense: 49 (143)
Red zone defense: 2 (93)

JHU has 1 category they are in the top 10 in the country (Red Zone Defense). That's not rarified anything. North Central's defense is light years better than JHU, but not as stout as Carnegie Mellon. I don't think the JHU game is much of a metric on how Mt Union will do vs NCC at all. After a first look I would say Mt Union will score more than they did vs Carnegie Mellon and less than they did vs JHU. I think Mt can score enough to win though I would be surprised if they rang up a big number on offense. The big question for me is how much can Mount slow NCC. The best defense NCC has faced this year is Hope (#14 Total Defense) followed by Springfield (#41). Hope had some legit dudes on their front 7.

[NCC2010]

If Mount Defense plays Jan 5 like they did today, they may need 72 to win...

well, they scored at will on what the D3 "analytics" told me was one of the greatest D3 defenses of the modern era. "rarified air" and "best in a decade" I believe were thrown around.

Play with poise, limit negative plays and turnovers and don't piss down your leg at the start of the game a la Susquehanna and '22 Stagg Bowl will be key.  Can't get into a big hole against NCC.  Make it a physical game, drag them out into deeper waters and see if they can swim.  This Mount squad has a knack for not flinching in big moments. 

There is literally next to zero pressure on the Raiders in Houston. NCC is the greatest superpower ever seen in D3 led by the quarterback who invented college football.  Their five year stretch is something that has never been seen before and definitely was not aided a great deal by a pandemic.  Five straight Stagg Bowls?!?!? I mean come on, that's unheard of.  They will probably keep that up for 10, maybe 11 straight years. "Red is the new Purple"

No question from my perspective that the timing of the pandemic was fortunate for NCC. We were afforded the opportunity of recruiting for 2 "off-seasons" as the reigning national champs and luckily the coaches were able to take advantage and bring in an immense amount of talent. Add in the fact that the current class of 5th year seniors got to be on a campus and in the weight room for an entire year before stepping foot on the field and it allowed Lehnen among others to start as freshman and hit the ground running.

Our obnoxious social media fanbase aside, everyone who was been through the program since the Thorne era started in 2003 has the utmost respect for Mount Union and all that they have accomplished. When I got there in 2006, the goal was to not only win a national championship, but to reach the level that Mount had taken D3 football too.  Thorne frequently talked about Mount/Larry Kehres and what it would take to get the program to that level.  It has taken 20 years to build up the program to what it is and the accomplishments still pale in comparison to 13 national titles and 23 appearances in the Stagg that Mount has. Even at our current pace it would still be another 20 years before we are sniffing those accomplishments.

Next year will be a huge year for the program to either keep the success going and continue to build towards those goals or take a step back following the most talent the program will ever lose in one offseason.

Looking forward to watching the 2 best teams in D3 this season down in Houston on January 5th, I think it will be a great gamem as the other 4 matchups between Mount and NCC have been. 

[Fido0650]

The Kehres family Thanksgiving should be interesting this year with the SiL having to sit at the card table and folding chairs with the kids.
LK has banned him from the main table.  That table is reserved for National Champion head coaches and their spouses only.

Will 2025 be the year he is allowed to sit at the main table or will it be the card table with the kids another year?  Only time will tell.

[USee]

Next year will be a huge year for the program to either keep the success going and continue to build towards those goals or take a step back following the most talent the program will ever lose in one offseason.
 

From an opponents perspective this is what we said 4 years ago when Gagliardi winning QB Broc Rutter graduated. Then this little known freshman named Luke Lehnen showed up. We also thought Kamienski was a once in a lifetime WR and DeAngelo Hardy appeared. Sharmore Clarke was the best OL in the country and then they got Jeske Maples and Sam Pryor.

Kind of reminds of another team. I though this QB named Ballard propelled the Raiders and when he was gone they'd fall off. Then came Bill Borchert and WR Kevin Knestrick. Ok, maybe after their gone? QB Gary Smeck and WR Adam Marino gave way to RB Chuck Moore and Dan Pugh. Fine, no one is that good right? Wrong! RB Nate Kmic showed up with Pierre Garcon followed by QB Greg Micheli and Cecil Shorts. Finally, we all though Mt Union was toast when LK left? Sorry, Vince K gave them another 2 titles.

I don't think anyone is thinking NCC is taking a step back next year and while some fans may think Mt Union has taken a step back, here they are in another Stagg Bowl.

[New Tradition]

If Mount Defense plays Jan 5 like they did today, they may need 72 to win...

well, they scored at will on what the D3 "analytics" told me was one of the greatest D3 defenses of the modern era. "rarified air" and "best in a decade" I believe were thrown around.

Play with poise, limit negative plays and turnovers and don't piss down your leg at the start of the game a la Susquehanna and '22 Stagg Bowl will be key.  Can't get into a big hole against NCC.  Make it a physical game, drag them out into deeper waters and see if they can swim.  This Mount squad has a knack for not flinching in big moments. 

There is literally next to zero pressure on the Raiders in Houston. NCC is the greatest superpower ever seen in D3 led by the quarterback who invented college football.  Their five year stretch is something that has never been seen before and definitely was not aided a great deal by a pandemic.  Five straight Stagg Bowls?!?!? I mean come on, that's unheard of.  They will probably keep that up for 10, maybe 11 straight years. "Red is the new Purple"

No question from my perspective that the timing of the pandemic was fortunate for NCC. We were afforded the opportunity of recruiting for 2 "off-seasons" as the reigning national champs and luckily the coaches were able to take advantage and bring in an immense amount of talent. Add in the fact that the current class of 5th year seniors got to be on a campus and in the weight room for an entire year before stepping foot on the field and it allowed Lehnen among others to start as freshman and hit the ground running.

Our obnoxious social media fanbase aside, everyone who was been through the program since the Thorne era started in 2003 has the utmost respect for Mount Union and all that they have accomplished. When I got there in 2006, the goal was to not only win a national championship, but to reach the level that Mount had taken D3 football too.  Thorne frequently talked about Mount/Larry Kehres and what it would take to get the program to that level.  It has taken 20 years to build up the program to what it is and the accomplishments still pale in comparison to 13 national titles and 23 appearances in the Stagg that Mount has. Even at our current pace it would still be another 20 years before we are sniffing those accomplishments.

Next year will be a huge year for the program to either keep the success going and continue to build towards those goals or take a step back following the most talent the program will ever lose in one offseason.

Looking forward to watching the 2 best teams in D3 this season down in Houston on January 5th, I think it will be a great gamem as the other 4 matchups between Mount and NCC have been. 

Very well said!  A slight correction--Thorne took over in 2002.  During the 2002 season, in spite of the fact that we managed a 6-4 record (our first winning record in many years), we still took a 65-0 drubbing from Augustana on family night under the lights.  After the season, Coach Thorne presented us with laminated cards to keep in our wallet that said "What have you done today to beat Augie?" 

During the 2003 season, we still lost to Augie, although not as badly.  Still, Coach Thorne encouraged us to set our sights higher.  Our laminated card that year said "What have you done to catch Mount Union and St. John's?" 

Point of the story is--we know that you guys are the standard and have been for a very long time. We still have a lot of work to do to "catch" you.

I kept those cards in my wallet long after I graduated (until my wallet got snatched...ugh).  There are lots of Augies, St. Johns, and Mount Unions in all phases of life that need catching and I always like the reminder. 

[Dr. Acula]

As an outside observer, I must admit that it is amusing many Mount faithful spent the better part of the season lamenting the fall of the empire and complaining about the weakest Mount team in decades, only for said team to make it back to the Stagg! Luckily for Mount you caught us on an off day lol 

Unrelated, a very Merry Christmas to all OAC posters, or as my wife likes to call you my "random D3 internet friends" lol. May Santa bring presents and cheer to everyone in the OAC, except BW, who I hope gets stolen away by Krampus in the dead of night   

I was definitely one of those bemoaning the lack of dominating wins every week.  The players and coaches deserve all the credit in the world for making it to the Stagg Bowl.  If you would have asked me midway through the regular season if that was likely I would have said no.  But the 2024 Raiders have been a little like Rocky Balboa...not as always pretty, but they keep answering the bell when it matters.  Their stars are doing everything in their power to will this team to a title and it's been awesome to watch.

[WRMUalum13]

Next year will be a huge year for the program to either keep the success going and continue to build towards those goals or take a step back following the most talent the program will ever lose in one offseason.
 

From an opponents perspective this is what we said 4 years ago when Gagliardi winning QB Broc Rutter graduated. Then this little known freshman named Luke Lehnen showed up. We also thought Kamienski was a once in a lifetime WR and DeAngelo Hardy appeared. Sharmore Clarke was the best OL in the country and then they got Jeske Maples and Sam Pryor.

Kind of reminds of another team. I though this QB named Ballard propelled the Raiders and when he was gone they'd fall off. Then came Bill Borchert and WR Kevin Knestrick. Ok, maybe after their gone? QB Gary Smeck and WR Adam Marino gave way to RB Chuck Moore and Dan Pugh. Fine, no one is that good right? Wrong! RB Nate Kmic showed up with Pierre Garcon followed by QB Greg Micheli and Cecil Shorts. Finally, we all though Mt Union was toast when LK left? Sorry, Vince K gave them another 2 titles.

I don't think anyone is thinking NCC is taking a step back next year and while some fans may think Mt Union has taken a step back, here they are in another Stagg Bowl.

Mount Union has objectively taken a step back! That's why we're having this whole discussion about NCC in the first place.

Mount hasn't fallen out of national contender category but they've certainly taken a step back from being the most dominant program in the county.

Admittedly reaching the Stagg Bowl did prove many of us naysayers wrong in terms of how far from the standard they are.

[MUC 2008]

As an outside observer, I must admit that it is amusing many Mount faithful spent the better part of the season lamenting the fall of the empire and complaining about the weakest Mount team in decades, only for said team to make it back to the Stagg! Luckily for Mount you caught us on an off day lol 

Unrelated, a very Merry Christmas to all OAC posters, or as my wife likes to call you my "random D3 internet friends" lol. May Santa bring presents and cheer to everyone in the OAC, except BW, who I hope gets stolen away by Krampus in the dead of night   

I was definitely one of those bemoaning the lack of dominating wins every week.  The players and coaches deserve all the credit in the world for making it to the Stagg Bowl.  If you would have asked me midway through the regular season if that was likely I would have said no.  But the 2024 Raiders have been a little like Rocky Balboa...not as always pretty, but they keep answering the bell when it matters.  Their stars are doing everything in their power to will this team to a title and it's been awesome to watch.

Same. They have shut me the H E double hockey sticks up, and I'm happy to be wrong.

[MUC 2008]

If Mount Defense plays Jan 5 like they did today, they may need 72 to win...

well, they scored at will on what the D3 "analytics" told me was one of the greatest D3 defenses of the modern era. "rarified air" and "best in a decade" I believe were thrown around.

Play with poise, limit negative plays and turnovers and don't piss down your leg at the start of the game a la Susquehanna and '22 Stagg Bowl will be key.  Can't get into a big hole against NCC.  Make it a physical game, drag them out into deeper waters and see if they can swim.  This Mount squad has a knack for not flinching in big moments. 

There is literally next to zero pressure on the Raiders in Houston. NCC is the greatest superpower ever seen in D3 led by the quarterback who invented college football.  Their five year stretch is something that has never been seen before and definitely was not aided a great deal by a pandemic.  Five straight Stagg Bowls?!?!? I mean come on, that's unheard of.  They will probably keep that up for 10, maybe 11 straight years. "Red is the new Purple"

No question from my perspective that the timing of the pandemic was fortunate for NCC. We were afforded the opportunity of recruiting for 2 "off-seasons" as the reigning national champs and luckily the coaches were able to take advantage and bring in an immense amount of talent. Add in the fact that the current class of 5th year seniors got to be on a campus and in the weight room for an entire year before stepping foot on the field and it allowed Lehnen among others to start as freshman and hit the ground running.

Our obnoxious social media fanbase aside, everyone who was been through the program since the Thorne era started in 2003 has the utmost respect for Mount Union and all that they have accomplished. When I got there in 2006, the goal was to not only win a national championship, but to reach the level that Mount had taken D3 football too.  Thorne frequently talked about Mount/Larry Kehres and what it would take to get the program to that level.  It has taken 20 years to build up the program to what it is and the accomplishments still pale in comparison to 13 national titles and 23 appearances in the Stagg that Mount has. Even at our current pace it would still be another 20 years before we are sniffing those accomplishments.

Next year will be a huge year for the program to either keep the success going and continue to build towards those goals or take a step back following the most talent the program will ever lose in one offseason.

Looking forward to watching the 2 best teams in D3 this season down in Houston on January 5th, I think it will be a great gamem as the other 4 matchups between Mount and NCC have been. 

Very well said!  A slight correction--Thorne took over in 2002.  During the 2002 season, in spite of the fact that we managed a 6-4 record (our first winning record in many years), we still took a 65-0 drubbing from Augustana on family night under the lights.  After the season, Coach Thorne presented us with laminated cards to keep in our wallet that said "What have you done today to beat Augie?" 

During the 2003 season, we still lost to Augie, although not as badly.  Still, Coach Thorne encouraged us to set our sights higher.  Our laminated card that year said "What have you done to catch Mount Union and St. John's?" 

Point of the story is--we know that you guys are the standard and have been for a very long time. We still have a lot of work to do to "catch" you.

I kept those cards in my wallet long after I graduated (until my wallet got snatched...ugh).  There are lots of Augies, St. Johns, and Mount Unions in all phases of life that need catching and I always like the reminder. 

New, I'm sure you have thought of this - no one in the program can help you get new copies? I know it's not the same but that's such a cool duo of mementos - you deserve to have such inspiration in your wallet.

[purpletitan]

JHU - Mount Semifinal reairing on ESPNU at 3 pm Eastern time today (12/24).  Susq - NCC Semi reairing at 6 pm Eastern, also on ESPNU.

[WRMUalum13]

JHU - Mount Semifinal reairing on ESPNU at 3 pm Eastern time today (12/24).  Susq - NCC Semi reairing at 6 pm Eastern, also on ESPNU.

If you have ESPN+ you can watch the replays on demand as well

[New Tradition]

New, I'm sure you have thought of this - no one in the program can help you get new copies? I know it's not the same but that's such a cool duo of mementos - you deserve to have such inspiration in your wallet.

You know, I never thought to ask!  I wonder who I could bug about it...