FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Ric]

I don't think Mount Union has committed a lot of personal foul penalties.  I've seen every game this year and that hasn't stood out for me.  Maybe I'm wrong about that? They have always committed a lot of penalties.  Go back and check the OAC stats over the last few years they are always one of the most if not the most penalized team.

I asked LK about penalties a couple years back because it seemed like his team was committing a lot of them.  He said aggressive teams are always going to commit more penalties, in every conference the top teams usually will have more penalties.  Why? Because if a wide receiver doesn't block downfield he isn't going to get called for an illegal block once in a while.  I've always remembered that.

(Oh you've now adjusted what you first wrote - so what I said above doesn't make much sense in response -- well, I'll not change it)

[mtfan]

I don't think MOunt has been penalized much more than normal but as Ric eluded too they are probably one of the most penalized in the OAC. LK's summation is truly accurate, any team that plays aggressive will drawn penalties more frequent, especially when you have an aggressive offense which may pull off a TD on most any play and players are moving well beyond their blocking assignments and going  "beyond the call of duty" so to speak! I'll take a few extra penalties without a problem when an offense is scoring 44.4 pts a game and your defense is slamming the door at a rate of 7.4 pts per game. With a margin of 37 points, a few penalties are negligible!

[reality check]

OU

MUC won't be sneaking up on anybody in the East.  I know that the Del Val folks I have encountered all have a healthy respect for the Purple Raiders and don't think any less of them after losing to ONU in the regular season.  

Here's how I measure whether or not they are on the national radar.  There were five teams mentioned in the press conference after the Del Val/Hobart game: Del Val, Hobart (duh), Rowan, Linfield and Mount Union.  Rowan you could expect because of the matchup this week.  Linfield and Mount Union were mentioned because they are still the cream of the crop in Division III (even with a regular season loss in MUC's case).

Capital, if they win in Alliance, could sneak up on the East champs to an extent.  That much I will agree on.  But CAP, if they make it to the semis will have gone down the UMHB 2004 road.  We all know how that one turned out so even CAP as a five seed isn't a true sleeper because of recent history.

Ric

Thanks.  I am already tentatively planning for next week.  I hope that Del Val wins because it guarantees me the broadcast.  Otherwise I need both Rowan and Capital to win (which doesn't help you much).  We will see what happens I suppose.

[HScoach]

Not sure if this fits in the context of the discussion, but to me, "sharpness" is the little things that come with time and often separate teams with similar talent levels.   I measure it more by the subtle fundamental things like RB taking the exact same steps and angle to the LOS on a running play, or the O-line splits being consistent from play to play (unless you're purposely stretching the DE to run an inside trap ), O-linemen using the proper position steps, the WR's lining up at the correct split and running the same route the exact same way every time,  the QB's footwork in and around the pocket,  throwing the 3-step pass on the 3rd step and the steps being exactly the same everytime, the corners playing with inside position when the WR is split wide and outside when you have inside help from the OLB, etc....    The rate at which these things are implemented and mastered is a direct of the talent and experience of the coaching staff as well as the work ethic, smarts and eperience level of the players.  More experienced coaches and players recognize the subtle variances quicker and correct them sooner.

Individual inconsistency, is most noticable to the casual fan in the passing game as the QB and WR obviously need to be in sync for the pass to be compelted, but there are tons of little things that add up thru the course of a game, or even an individual play, that sets the best teams apart from the good ones.  

For those of you that see alot of Ohio HS football, why has St Ignatius won so many titles and with such consistency?  They've had players very good players that are as talented as another other team in the state, but they're playing in a very disciplined, precise and consistent system.  That's what wins titles with the consistency of Iggy and MUC.  Very good players playing at a consistently high level.  When Canton McKinley won their titles in the late 90's, they did it with simply better players.  Iggy has won titles with very good players playing great football.  I can remember watching Doss and Rozier as RB's at McKinley and the same play never looked the same.  Especially the footwork of the O-line and RB's.  What made those McK teams great was the unbelievable collection of individual talent, not precise play.

It's that consistency of individual play that has allowed MUC to win as they have over the last 15 years.  And the consistency of the individual players is a direct result of LK having a consistent and workmanlike demeanor.   And nit-picking the details!  Can't remember which team it was (but I'm thinking it was Mike Swider of Wheaton) that said in the post-game press conference that he's glad to have played MUC in person to see their precision of play, "that it wasn't enough to make the play, you have to make the play exactly the right way and MUC does that at a very high level". 

[reality check]

OK so it's a slow time of year for those of us not still in the playoffs.  So today I found out that the name of the weatherman for the local Fox affiliate in the Hartford area.

His name is John Carroll and just like the school he shares his name with, it's been three years since he has had any success.   


It's just a joke...

[seventiesraider]

hscoach-Thanks, as very often happens, I need an interpreter. Given each persons experience and personal involvement with the game are very different,  each of us see a slighly different game than others. I'm am often so focused on D ends and corners that I miss a lot of what goes on. The last few weeks I was studying the cover on Casto and Garcon. I'm constantly looking for the small details. It's what makes Mount footballsuch an education for a coaching hacker like me.
The results may have been the same this year, but I wouldn't have used the old term "Machine" until the past few weeks. They are a great team at the right time. I just felt they struggled on and off this year. Something we aren't accustomed to.

[Ric]

LOL reality check.  Just a cpl years ago Baldwin-Wallace had a pretty good basketball player named Jon Carroll.  I don't know how the Blue Streaks missed on him but could you imagine doing a B-w - JCU game with him playing for the other team.  I had someone tell me after a Mount Union - B-W game that year that I kept calling B-W John Carroll I kept forgetting who they were playing.  I said nice going how close were you listening?

For those that care I just finished uploading some audio highlights from the Augie game, kinda like the Nate Kmic highlight reel.  Got his 42-yard run that broke the school rushing record on there as well.

[JK]

RP,

You are correct on me as far as the trash talking goes.  I realized this past Saturday that after the win Cap had won more games THIS SEASON (10) than we did in my four years playing there (9... 5-5, 2-8, 1-9,1-9).  I am thrilled to death that Coach Collins has turned the program around and every week this season I turned on my computer to listen to the game thinking Cap was going to win.  EVERY week, including the week of the Mount game.  Confident, yes, but I am not going to run my mouth on here and disrespect what Coach Collins and, to an extent Coach Welsh, are doing there.  They didn't, and don't, tolerate much talking from their players.  I respect both of them too much to drag a classy program down.

Tdubs,

I will be there on Saturday (actually I am driving up on Friday).  My open invite to hang out at my mother's place (5 blocks from MUC stadium) is still out there for all Capital folks.  Drop me a line if you want to park, meet, or eat there.

[purple]

  This may be the best Mount Union defense ever.The 2000 team was the greatest offensive unit in OAC history and this D may be the all time defensive unit.I was jumped when I suggested six Raiders were first team D all-OAC;well, four were and Stickley,the best player IMO and Kostelnic had super years.K scored TWICE on D,Stix made play after play.All Barren did (who IS this guy?) is recover a fumble and intercept a pass last week.Where did he come from?This is a Championship defense.

[b4uknewit]

Hey guys, just got a new computer at home and am breaking it on this post. Early Christmas gift for D-3 football cause it was a long time coming with Windows 95--  A few things if I may: 1st-- RIC, nothing sounds as sweet as your highlights on this speaker system!  2nd, HScoach, I've had the opportunity to read your posts for 2 years , and IMO those were the the best posts you have ever typed. Again, my opinion. RC-- It's goota be hard to keep on posting sometimes when your team has had to deal with the BS, but I appreciate your commentary ALWAYS.  SO Much Great commentary has been made recently, that I sometimes wonder if the other boards know how much collective knowledge a lot of you guys supply to those of us who came from other divisions or etc. ayear or so ago!  I hope this is a Most Rightious Season for my beloved Raiders! For our short tenure, my family BLEEDS PURPLE!  I want to take an opportunity to express to the RAIDER O'LINE how imperative it is you guys stay in SYNC. I know you read this stuff, but YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!!!! We ALL believe in YOU ! b4uknowit, we'll be in Salem!    I guess this things broke in now. Thanks   PS where the hell's the spell check  

[jdean]

SO Much Great commentary has been made recently, that I sometimes wonder if the other boards know how much collective knowledge a lot of you guys supply to those of us who came from other divisions or etc. ayear or so ago! 

And to prove that, tomorrows discussion subject is the String Theory.

[b4uknewit]

I was hoping it would be recipes for left over turkeys like Cap 8)

[HScoach]

b4:  Thanks. 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

b4:  Thanks. 

B4 and HSCoach should get a room. LOL

What is up with the recent lovefest on this board???

[reality check]

kirasdad

The real question is wiith all this love between b4 and hscoach, will jealousy rear its ugly head in ric.  He can't be too happy that someone's moving in on his buddy.