FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[jdean]

Agree with RC's post 100%. One of the jobs of a coach is to know the rules. The players aren't going to be thinking: are we allowed to be practicing today or is he allowed to be helping us? Its not as if ONU had a new, first time head coach and the kids had reason to question his knowledge. This was a 17yr veteran head coach.
I wish the school good luck with their appeal. I can understand their desire to give the Sr class and their outstanding football team a shot at the post-season. My fear is the NCAA will reject this appeal and then the current Jr class and next years team, even farther removed from the infractions, will have to pay the penalty. Wish for the best

[skunks_sidekick]

   They are now eligible for the playoffs?  Did I miss something?  Or is that a "at this very moment due to the appeal, they are technically elgible for the playoffs", type of statement?

Is this going to be one of those LeBron James high school elgibility things?  The appeal process isn't completed until AFTER the prescribed punishment (not playing in the playoffs) is moot?

It amazes me that the NCAA can even function.  It seems like everything they do is cloaked in secrecy, against public opinion, and contrary to to any resemblance of common sense.  It's almost as if they are all about "being the NCAA", and not about being for the students and universities that MAKE UP the NCAA.

So, what if the Polar Bears LOSE a game, or TWO (gasp), do they then DROP the appeal process because they know they won't get into the playoffs anyway?  Oh the ethical and moral dilemmas this NCAA causes!  

[tiger9]

The administration and coaching staff will handle the NCAA situation. The players will stand tall and proud and I would not want to be on the other side of the ball come Saturday's. Prior to this, this team was succesful playing with talent ,skill, heart and great coaching. All this has done has put gas on a fire. To the players, do what you do best.......win.

[Pat Coleman]

Skunks, you should consider reading the front page of the site before posting so you aren't so out of touch.

[OU#25]

Agree with it or not...I would say that most football players are taught and disciplined to trust their coaches and if you're told to be somewhere or to do something...then you do it.  Very similar to the military mindset.  When I was in school this obedience to the team methodology extended past the practice fields and included rigid time/place guidelines for running, weight training, dining schedules and mandatory study tables in the evening...no exceptions.  For home games we were bussed to West Virginia the night before... so the coaching staff could keep an eye on all of us.  It's really similar to a full-time job and your coaches become the folks that you count on and trust the most. 

I believe that everyone should take personal responsibility in whatever they do and as a collegiate athlete you should have at least a general knowledge of what you can and cannot do regarding one's eligibility...however the mindset is to trust your coach...and not to question too much.  They pretty much own you and your schedule...personal or otherwise.

[SaintsFAN]

Pat,

Thats actually not Skunks.  Its Skunks Sidekick....


You don't have to thank me

[SaintsFAN]

reality check,

I also enjoyed your latest posting on the situation.  Posts like that, surely are the reason the NCAA has granted Northern a reprieve for now...

[reality check]

Pat

There's a front page of this site???

[jdean]

There's nothing like a good old post-season ban to bring these pages alive. Thanks NCAA for giving us something to write about.

[Pat Coleman]

SF,

Every keystroke I save in posts now staves off carpal tunnel syndrome for another few minutes later.

[SaintsFAN]

Pat,

Gotcha.  Just trying to help you get your message across to the right guy, thats all.

[markdamaker40]

Question for OAC fans, now that Ohio Northern is being punished do you think this could lead to them pointing the finger at other members in the conference stating that, "We know they do this..." or "We know of that this is going on...." Just a quesiton.

[reality check]

markdamaker

The ONU program was gutted in response to the misconduct in 2003.  The adminstration brought Coach Paul on board because of the direction he could take this program.  The dept. has stated that it wants to be 100% compliant, 100% of the time.  I think they are now and forever will be mopre concerned with themselves than any other program in the OAC.  I do not see this staff trying to deflect the blame in any way.  It does not apear to be in Coach Paul. Mr. Simmons, or Dr. Baker's makeup to point a finger at other programs.

[D3 Poster]

Can't wait for the on the field distractions this Saturday.  We'll see which of the five conference leaders fall off... Etta, Mount, ONU, Ott & Wilm. 

We're guaranteed that at least one will be gone with Mount and Otterbein squaring off at night.

[seventiesraider]

And now, back to actual football.