FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[e_lee]

I never got the impression either, but I would hope the expansion would benefit the more deserving teams from smaller conferences and not runners up in weaker conferences that generally didn't get Pool C bids before, or winners of weak conferences that don't have automatic bids.

[Toph]

I guess a big win over a nationally ranked team can do that jdean...
I think that the JCU Cap game could shape up to have huge playoff implications.  The last two games between the two teams have been fantastic.

[DII/DIIIFan]

You have to give JCU credit but I believe the only table they will be running is the training table   there is nothing worse than meeting up with an INJURED BEAR throughout the course of hunting season! 

While I admit that Jason Trusnik is the best defensive player in D3 (Coach Scafe's words), JCU put up 622 yards of total offense.  You're telling me one guy is going to make that big of a difference?  Trusnik would take 25 points off the board had he been in the game?  What do ONU fans think of this assessment?  The fact of the matter is that after the first drive of the third quarter (until their last drive, or as I'll call it the "Timeout" drive) the ONU offense couldn't do anything.  They would move the ball only to have the JCU D tighten up and force a punt, or get an interception.

Here's a question for you Bears:
How excited are you about the future devleopment of RJ Meadows?  That kid (a freshman according to the depth chart) looks like a player.

Toph,

JCU played a brilliant game. Phillips was outstanding at eluding the pass rush and making good decisions. Take NOTHING away from them.

ONU is hurting on the defensive side of the ball due to injuries. Their top 3 DE's are all out (Stauffer and Trusnik injured, Allen - ineligible). Their strong safety got hurt against BW and is out for the year (Alexander). And they lost their top DT (Mochon) early in Q3 against JCU. Their lack of depth on defense makes it almost impossible to cover up for losing four starters (and their top DE sub). Things could get worse before they get better for the Bears.

RJ Meadows is the real deal. He was first team all state (5A) in Tennessee in high school - sat out last year and came to ONU as a true freshman. He's a legitimate 200 pounder with speed. Expect his playing time to continue increasing.

[formerd3db]

jdean:

We've all discussed this at length in the past.  You certainly have some good and legitimate points.  Yet, the current system is probably the best and fairest at present.  Since there are no sub-divisions in DIII (as yet, as some have been proposed as you know), the intent was to allow even the tiniest DIII schools have a chance at participating in the playoffs, even if their conferences are not in the upper tier (I won't mention any particular names so as not to offend anyone, although we all know who some of those schools are )  Certainly, there are some runner-ups from the more talented conferences who deserve a slot in the playoffs that get shut out.  The current system it is my uderstanding albeit decreases the number of slots for this, at least some of them still get the chance.  Obviously, everyone knows that the best teams will win out in the course of the playoffs, but at least some get the chance at it.  I realize that you and others believe otherwise and that's okay.  Then again, this is probably the best and fairest at least for now and much better than it was years ago (at least it isn't the ridiculous current system for DI )   

[jdean]

former d3db:
I might take issue with the "best and fairest" but it probably is better than years past. I understand the desire to throw a bone to the Sisters of the Poor (mostly Michigan schools!)of the D3 world but as long as this expanded format allows more deserving schools in the Post season that's what I think we all want. No matter what the criteria there are always going to be "better" teams on the sidelines and until I'm named Czar of D3 we'll have to live with it.

Toph:
I cannot, no matter how I try, forget the Mount game. JCU could go 9-1 and I'd still consider JCU's season a fluke because of that one disastrous game. The last 3 games of the year will determine your season. BW may have remembered how to play the game by the time you meet them; OTT is no Cap but they aren't bad and Cap should be your biggest challenge.
I'd like to see you go 9-1, get in the post-season in the North Reg , win a playoff game and eventually get sent to Alliance (that is unless you think JCU will have a higher seed than MUC!).  PS--there is no Santa Claus.

[Pat Coleman]

No Michigan team has gotten a Pool C bid under this system.

[purpled]

hscoach,

Yep, the 'Berg is gone! It was announced last week, where have you been?! So, now there are no easy games in the OAC? Right? Say "YES"

[jdean]

Thanks Pat. Now the rest of the world knows what we in Ohio have known forever--Michigan football is SOOOO bad they can't even get a Pool C bid.

[Otter_nut]

Yeah that JCU loss to Otterbein last year probably stings even worse since the score was 31-0 

[seventiesraider]

Let's hold on the JCU Pool C talk till they get past Muskingum. Doesn't pay to look too very far ahead in this conference.

[formerd3db]

jdean:
I can understand and respect your difference of opinion on "taking issue".  Granted our state schools (with the exception of Albion who won the Stagg Bowl in 1994) have not done well of recent years in the playoffs, although, truly I was not referring to our schools with regard to "the Sisters of the Poor"!  With no disrespet intended towards some of the others, I think our MIAA schools (at least several of them ) would always have a better chance of getting as opposed to some of the other conferences, regardless of the system.

If you can come up with a better system than present, please let us know , but until then, I still think the current one is the best.  I would much rather have a chance at getting in than what happend to Wabash back in the early '80's when they were undefeated and got slighted because Dayton and Baldwin-Wallace were ranked ahead of them in their region (and that with all three being ranked in the Top Ten of the nation).   That truly was a major disappointment, and "while ancient history", it still stings and always will - and I'm not even a former Wabash player!!  Anyway, thanks for the discussion.

[jdean]

Formerd3db:
Just having fun with the Michigan comments. Most of the Mich schools play pretty good football (thanks to the Ohio players on their teams-lol).
Imagine if D3 was around when Wabash was sent to the trash heap--their site would be on overload. And don't forget--Wabash Always Fights

[seventiesraider]

You know it's wierd year when the NCAC conference leaders are Wooster, Wabash, Wittenberg, HIRAM AND KENYON. (Based on their conference records)

[lancer98]

I wonder if ONU could drop there appeal since it is now pretty unlikely they will make the playoffs?  Would the NCAA let them do that and take the penalty this year?

It would seem to be a cheap way to do it but I wonder if it could happen.

Any thoughts?

[OU#25]

Hi Ric,

Great to hear from you this season!  I had typed up a huge response to your previous post but it got blown away.  In short, my comments were in response to a discussion I was having with HSCOACH during the pre-season when we were all prognasticating on the upcoming season.  HSCOACH stated that he believed that Mount would be heavily tested from within the conference this year.  I personally disagreed with him which is commonplace to do on these boards.  First and foremost, I did not believe that the rest of the OAC was as improved as everyone had stated.  Secondly and most importantly I felt that MUC was going to be greatly improved on both the offensive and defensive lines of the ball this year.  We know that everything starts up front and if you can control that area of the game you're going to be effective in other areas of the game.  I also felt good about the returning players at several of the skill positions, RB & WR and knew of Garcon from following several other conferences last season.  I felt that we had two capable QB's who had been in the Kehres system and that at least one of them would emerge and perform well.  Remember Bill Borchert threw less than 5 passes at Holy Name H.S.  so you can't underestimate the MUC system...especially at the QB position.

All this being said no one expected this to happen so quickly but I did expect this to happen this season.  I understand the gravity of the comment "special season" when it comes to this program and I will stand by that comment as this season progresses through the remainder of the regular season and beyond.

Stay in touch!