FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[MountFan08]

First time poster/long time reader.

First off my congratulations to ONU and Dean Paul they played a superb, mistake free football game on Saturday and that's whatcha gotta do to beat Mount.  But enough about last Saturday already.  What about this Saturday which is arguably the biggest weekend in the OAC in the past 10 years. So much is on the line now with the 3-way tie for the conference lead and there are huge game's this weekend in Capital vs. ONU, Otterbein vs. JCU and Mount vs. BW.  Things should be interesting these next 3 weeks. Mount has the easiest road (after BW its Musky and The Berg) but still if all these teams finish 9-1 who gets the automatic bid? I'd like to see all three make the playoffs but I don't think that's realistic so which is the odd team out? Should be interesting especially this weekend.

[onyxrook]

still if all these teams finish 9-1 who gets the automatic bid?

to be honest, if i was one of the coaches doing the voting, i'd take mount.  they're the only team who hasn't been blown out.

hscoach... thanks for the article reference.  i've got to say, i love this quote

"Throughout the recruiting process, we've always told people that we're going to be the ones to do it," Ohio Northern coach Dean Paul, himself a former Mount Union player, said Sunday. "I guess now there's evidence."

[reality check]

HSCoach

Thanks for the answer and the link. 

My reason for asking was that I thought the Bears were there in the middle of more of those games but upon further the two games in 2000 were not as close at the half as I remember.  I do recall though that in at least one of those games in 1999 (I think it was the playoff matchup) that ONU lead at the half and was promptly blown out of the water in the third quarter.  That was the best halftime I can ever remember and coincidentally the worst third quarter.

Mountfan08

This weekend is huge but mainly because of ONU vs. CAP and OTT vs. JCU.  The only reason to tune into the BW vs. MUC game would be to see if the Raiders break 100 or if BW finishes with positive total yardage.  I think in a three way, at least two teams are in and if JCU and ONU both win out convincingly, there's a chance of all three making it in.  If we have the three way, the odd team out might be JCU based on circumstance or ONU based on NCAA apeal situation but MUC is in at 9-1 no matter what.

[pios]

I agree that MUC would definitely be in with a 3-way tie at the top.  If I had a vote, it would be hard to vote for JCU after a 70 - 0 drubbing from MUC, but on the other hand JCU handled ONU fairly easy when they played.  As a result, I would flip a coin to see who got my choice.  I guess it all comes down to the NCAA appeal if all three end up 9 - 1, and I hope for ONU's sake that it goes in their favor.  As far as this weekend, ONU can now see the promised land and I don't think CAP can go into Ada and beat them.  I think it will be a close game, but with the weather how it is in Ada in late October I would give the edge to a running team rather than a passing team.  As far as JCU and OTT, JCU has been playing inspired ball since the MUC game and I look for them to win as well, but again it will probably be a close game.  I would love to see the 3-way 9 - 1 tie to see how it shook out for the playoffs.  However, there are some games left to be played and you can't look far ahead in this league because nothing is sweeter than being the spoiler.

[JK]

As much as I hate to say this, I think Cap loses to ONU (it will be a lot closer than the Bears will want it to be), but beats JCU.  I think the P-Bears are legit (obviously), but I feel like the Streaks are somehow doing it with smoke and mirrors.

This is just my opinion.  I have not seen any of these teams play yet (although I am hoping to see CAP-JCU in a few.  I'd be up this weekend for Cap-ONU, but it is homecoming here at UK and we have Alumni stuff that we host).  This is simply based on reading game stories and stats.  Outside of the ONU game, JCU just hasn't done anything to really impress me.  I don't know why.  

Sorry Toph.  I am sure you can come back with 150 different reasons why my opinion about JCU is wrong, but I am still not sold.

[TheCoach]

How does this year's JCU team compare to last years.  I know OTT put a pretty good beating on them last year and I know that OTT is much improved from a year ago.  I think OTT is finally starting to get that feeling for what its like to win and they are playing off of that.  With ONU coming off a big win is it going to be hard to get pumped up for a game against CAP.  I think there's alot of football left and I'll be suprised if they're aren't a few more upsets in the OAC before its said and done.

[beenhit2hard]

hscoach, I enjoyed your review of games MUC should win/lose etc. I disagree
with one statement, the 92 lax game was - 4 degrees, not 20,,, I was there and still think that was the coldest I have ever been.!!

[reality check]

HScoach

I was reading back in the D3.com game stories since onusports and Ric's site don't have game stories or box scores (that I could find anyways) to verify that halftime situation.  It was indeed the playoff game in 99 that ONU lead 16-14 at the half.  And Mount did indeed roll off 28 third quarter points to blow the scoreboard up.  

The first game in 99 wasn't as close as I recalled.  But that first game made me laugh because of this quote,"running back Chuck Moore had his first career 100-yard game (25 carries, 127 yards) to go along with two touchdowns."

Who?  Chuck Moore?  What did he ever do after this game?  

[MountFan08]

Reality Check

I'll be at the Mount vs. BW game this weekend, just like I'm at every Mount game.  I believe Mount will go 3-0 the rest of the year.  But this is the first year that the OAC title is up for grabs and this is the weekend that will most likely determine what happens b/c after this week JCU vs. Capital is the only really good game.  As far as Mount vs. BW, LK and the players are going to be really really angry and i feel sorry for them. But realistically I think Mount will be lucky if they get to 50, BW's defense and punting game are there only bright spot.  And unless Jorris has a JCU like game I don't think Mount will get to 50 points maybe 49 but not 50.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Was curious how you guys view the Liberty League... Do we have any respect from other conferences or what???

Who/where is the Liberty League? I am not joking. I would consider myself a farily avid reader of D3Football.com (check it daily) and I couldn't name one team from this league. Sorry.

OK, I checked the board and have heard of some of the teams, but since we (MTU) haven't played any of them, no reall first hand knowledge. I know RPI was good a couple of years ago and played SJU.

[onyxrook]

for the guys that also have no clue about the liberty league (i was included).......
apparently it's different for each sport, i fixed the list

Hobart
Rensselaer
Rochester
St. Lawrence
Union
Coast Guard
Merchant Marine
WPI

[Toph]

JK-
If a solid defeat of the team that beat Mount doesn't impress you, nothing I say will.  It will certainly be an exciting few weeks in the OAC, won't it?

[ohiofootball]

With ONU coming off a big win is it going to be hard to get pumped up for a game against CAP.  

The Dean of Football at ONU will have the Bears fired up. Remember, these two schools have much disdain for one another. Saturday prediction: A few beers and some good ol Cajun Gumbo before the game. See you there!

[reality check]

Toph

The Streaks beat us fair and square but I too have my doubts about them.  They got us on that Saturday.  But unlike the MUC faithful's consensus that ONU "beat" Mount this weekend, I feel ONU played flat and uninspired football against you guys.  I am not saying it wasn't a good win by JCU but I think ONU played horribly on the defensive side that day and they really hurt their own cause as much as JCU beat them by playing as flat as they did.  ONU just didn't get the job done and played as though the NCAA distractions were in their heads although that's no excuse.  

And as bad as BW is, it's a rivalry game and just ask CAP about rivalry games.  You have a tough road ahead of you in two good teams with good records and one that would love to wreck your season when their streak ends.

[onyxrook]

The Dean of Football at ONU will have the Bears fried up.

Sorry, I just had to laugh at this..... I surely hope there will be no fried bears at the game on Saturday.