FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[rp]

I knew I was goi'n to get it from the posters, but I am glad to see "the check" backed me up a little bit..

Guys, (Toph), re-read my post.  I didn't say that the Mount Football Program was done!  I am simply stating (what check commented on) that what they accomplished in the past is going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to duplicate.  IMO, I think they will be in more of a battle year in and year out to climb the hill to the National Title.

One could argue that during their run, that Mount had a first team All OAC selection at each position.  I just don't see that happening anymore..  Yes, they may have some very good players on both sides of the ball, but to assemble that talent on those teams, at almost every position, will be hard to duplicate... 

I'm not an idiot.  I have been watching Mount play for 13 years..  I know just about every player that has passed through that program in that span.  I realize how good they were and how good they will continue to be..  I just don't think that doing what was accomplished during their run can be duplicated again.  Just an opinion.  I certainly don't see them repeating as champs 3 to 4 years in a row.  Just an opinon.  And as a matter of fact, one could argue that their national dominance is over.  '03 Beat by St. Johns (No National Title). '04 (Get beat in the playoffs, no national title).  '05 (Beat in the OAC for the first time is 110 games..  national title? We'll see).

Raiderguy.. AHH, the good old rivalry is creep'n up on us..  I love this time of year..  The pleasant verbal arguements over the Yuckeyes and Wolverines..
One thing, Please don't compare LC to JC.  Out of the last 10 years, Coach Carr has won 5 Big Ten Titles... Including '03 and '04(Can you say Back to Back?) - Including the Title in '97.  Cooper didn't win a National Title, let alone the Big Ten.  To say Tressel has Coach Carr's number is to forget the waxing you took in '03 at the Big House...

[joelmama]

RP,

I think the raiders for the past few years have been down a bit in some of the skill positions on both sides of the ball. Not that they haven't had some excellent players at these positions just not the depth as in previous years.  I think that they have that depth coming through the system right now.  If the lines continue to be as strong and deep as they have been then I think you see a chance of a couple more years of domination coming up.

The thing about the past string that is the most amazing to me is that no matter what injuries they had they just plugged in someone from the bench and never missed a beat.  I wonder how many thrird stringers would have been starters for other good teams?

[formerd3db]

b4uknewit:
Thanks friend; always good to talk with you too.

[formerd3db]

Good grief!  I guess I better quit posting for the evening before I get grief about posting on all the boards again all at once, like I got from some people last year for doing the same one time! !  See what happens when one has too much time on their hands, as I guess I do tonight.  Sorry guys.

[raiderpa]

I believe that some perspective has been brought to the board with the death of the very young ONU assistant coach.  Sympathies to the entire ONU family.

As I read about the demise of Mount Union, in some respects you have to agree that the domination in the past was near miraculous, and any Raider fan who expects this to continue year in and year out, is more fanatic than realistic.  I would like to think that the success of Mount has been good for D3 as a whole.  Using their program as a measuring stick, I believe that d3 football has become because better as a whole because others followed their lead.
Obviously, Mount is not as dominant as they once were, but I believe that the OAC has stepped it up, as has other programs using their success as a motivator.

Finally, regarding the Mount Union fans...The success of this program is expected rather than appreciated by many many followers.
When we lost to ONU, many failed to give Northern their due.  As a lifetime (and beyond) Purple Raider,  I have to admit the tremendous pleasure that I had watching the pure joy of the ONU players, parents, and fans after the game.  It was was almost worth the loss.  I remember when we celebrated in that fashion.  I miss that feeling....
Personally, I miss being so happy that I dont remember the drive back from the Stagg. I miss the celebrations that lasted for hours, not the 30 second cheer  we now see regularly...For the most part a great many of the Mount following have forgotten just how special "winning a big one" can be...

It may seem a bit strange to some, but I wish I could have seen Coach Bendeckovic immediately after the Mount game...although football isn't life...the feeling he had that day was quite possibly the happiest moment he had in coaching, or at least his  greatest feeling of pride in  the last weeks of his all too short life.
I am glad he could experience the true joy of winnng with his players and fans.
I hope that all who participate get to experience that joy at least once.  I hope that those Mounties that have lost that can get it back.  But it just may take losing a few more to bring back the appreciation, and lose that expectation...
sorry for rambling..

[raiderguy]

RP
Please don't begin to think I have any postive vibes for JC. Talk about the biggest waste of talent over his tenure.
I was not comparring JC to LC. They are now one in the same.
I only meant that JC has now taken up residence in LC's body. Look at the facts. 1-3 against the Buckeyes since he left Columbus. You also are forgetting a Nationial Championship in 2002.

Big House, Smig House we have won there too.  Can you remember 2001? In only his first year as the coach! Some how he managed that with Cooper's players. But it was never a lack of players in any of his years. This only goes to show you what a real coach does with talent. Then again in 2002. "Can I get a back to back from you.  2004 & 2005 that's back to back again.

What kind of a deal is LC running when the rumor is Michigan will turn down a bowl bid if it's not a New Years Day offer? Sporting News has that in this weeks issue. He must not think much of his team either. Bowls are supposed to be a reward and apparently they feel they don't deserve it. How special they must be!

[seventiesraider]

RP While you make some very valid points, in total I think you may be missing the point. I really don't think the quality of the players has changed that much. Granted, I doubt we will ever see the likes of a Moore/Pugh backfield again, but who knows. What is the glaring difference between 1998 and today in Mount Football? Take a look at the sidelines. Where once there were coaches like Monty and Gulling, there now graduatesof the past 5-10 years, but even that isn't the real difference. There also were coaching legends, guys who had stadiums named after them who came and helped out, out of love of the game. Where there was once hundreds of years of coaching experience you would be lucky to find a hundred today. And while I know there are still some great coaches at Mount, the bulk of the staff is under 30 and in their first coaching job. That, I would maintain has far more to do with what you have seen over the past several years than anything else you could name. You can take an above average team to the Stagg Biowl,but only with great coaching. Larry is a great coach, but he is no longer surrounded by the caliber of men he was 5-8 years ago.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Um, raiderguy, OSU has not yet beaten UM in 2005 - duh!  And I doubt they will.

There is no way Michigan will turn down a bowl game just because it is not New Year's Day (though it will be).  They never have, and they probably never will.

Are you really enough of a naive moron that you believe every stupid  rumor you read in Sporting News?

[b4uknewit]

Gentlemen-- there is a site for D1---- I am as guilty as all for mentioning 'em here. (for whatever reason, I have used them as a common denominator)     I have finished a short story by an exciting author RC.  I find his non -fiction reading to be most exhilarating! If I can only get Tad, Biff and Muffy to indulge, ( I must admitt, it is based on facts and not feelings) I believe we might have a wonderful cup of tea in the Covered stands to discusss his brief novel.  I feel it parallels a fictional short story about a team in Alliance , Ohio, by an author named RP.  I do enjoy fiction,(NOT) Whatever entices those young men to wear those outlandish uniforms. How can one expect to remain Bullish in such circumstances!  Poppy-cock!  Who would have ever suspected at the begining of their string of success, (years later) that one could predict some losses, or even worse, a no show at the Nat'l title.  I for one will have to excuse those Mount faithfull from the He Man Women Haters Club!  Ohhh  Tayy!

[raiderguy]

Mr Yipsi

I bet you "doubted they would lose last year too". Look at the results.

A four loss team on New Years Day. I don't see it happening. And you're calling me a Naive moron?  Stay home and don't get embarassed by another Bowl defeat. You may have to face another Ohio team in the Motor City Bowl with sadly the same results.

You just won't let yourself believe it can happen at the House but it has and it can again. 1-3 so far in the Tressel era.  Another good ole' butt kickin' coming up. It's in the bank. A pattern has been established, we win two you win one, now we win two again and you try again next year.

I didn't write the article....just reported the info to you since you were unable read it for yourself. It was written in the context that LC was thinking of stepping down last year and decided not to.  Looks like it would have been a good decision.

They also suggested that a 1-4 VS OSU would have LC on the "Hot Seat". I don't suppose there is any truth to the rumor either? Losing to OSU doesn't mean that much does it? These guys just make this stuff up right? At this rate I hope he stays for a very long time.


BTW Which is it? "There is no way they turn down a bowl game" or "they probably never will". Plenty of wiggle room there.

Now back to D3..Go Raiders..Kick some Muskie butt.

[raiderguy]

Kirasdad,

Thanks for the correction. I wouldn't want to hang that kind of a butt kickin' on the wrong team. Sorry for the mistake Rowan.

[rp]

Jolemama/Seventies, I think you both make great points about Mount!!

Raiderguy..  Come'on, I'm just try'n to have some fun, no need for Mr. Y to get you all worked up!

Please don't tell me that Tressel knows what to do with talent!  If anything, it is the complete opposite!  Personally, I would like to see what a good coach "could" do with the talent they have on offense..Roy Hall and Gonzales never even touch the ball!  Could you imagine what a coach from the SEC would do with a four wide set like Holmes, Ginn, Hall, and Gonzales.. I know one thing, they wouldn't be ranked LAST in their conference in total Offense.  Do you realize before that Minnesota game that their offense was ranked last in the Big Ten? They have moved up now, sitt'n at 8, just ahead of Indiana and Illinois. How is that possible when you have two of the best offesive players in the Conference on your team?

And don't tell me about Bowl Losses.  It is easy to win your bowl games when your play'n Kansas State and Okla. State.  It is much more difficult when you play in the Rose Bowl two years in a row and play teams like USC and Texas..  (You should know about that Texas team.)

[cufan]

Mount lost...enough already!   

Big week for Cap and JCU, IMOP the winner goes to the playoffs.

[reality check]

For those who have been worried about ONU's homepage listing the defeat of Mount Union, I am pleased to inform you that you will no longer have to read about the game.  It has scrolled off of the campus news list.   

[Toph]

All the Cap fans seem to think that they can get into the playoffs at 8-2 while ONU and JCU will get left out.  I don't think any two loss team will get in, especially not when there are three of them.  What does everybody else think about that?