FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[joelmama]

I wasn't able to go to Virginia this year but from what I saw on TV LK hasreally done a good job with his new staff of coaches.  It seems from several things I have read that LK is really enjoying what he is doing.

I think MUC owes a big thank you to all of the upper tier OAC schoolss for providing them with such tough competition.  One thing that is certain and that the OAC is one of the best (if not the best) conference in D3.  The level of play of ONU, JCU, Capital and even Otterbeing Marietta and that flaming pile of BW is improving and causing the Purple Raiders to stay focused and increase their attention to all the details.  From what I saw in Salem via the deuce is that the machine is finely tuned and has been well oiled.  Although there will be significnat loses to graduation (especially on defense) I think next year could be exciting.

[footballfan413]

Just got back today so my congrats to MUC has been a little delayed!  They say that "defense wins championships," and IMHO yours sure did.  Had the Hawks off balance for alot of the game and when they got it together in the 4th quarter,  it was too late.  Losing a championship by a TD when you were literally inches from 3 TD's is a bitter pill to swallow.  The great defensive play knocking the TE out in the air before he could cross the plane and the other play hitting his arm preventing control were terriffic.  The other lost opportunites of the interception and the goal line stand had help from the hawks play calling and mental mistakes.  Anyway,  I believe that when a team plays badly, most of the credit must go to the opponent.  Your offense ain't too shabby either, LOL!!   Great QB, RB, WR etc... Your  O and D lines won the battle alot of the time.  And of course, your great coach!!!!
Many, many thanks to olinemom, llamaguy and Kidd and all the others at Stone Station for their great hospitality and food!     It was a pleasure meeting all of you and one of the highlights of the trip.  Great venue, cities and great football!
Congrats to my Hawks on the greatest season in UWW history!!  What a year to build on!!  Work hard in the off-season.  I want to go back for some of that great food again in 2006!!!!

[Ric]

I've added eight audio highlights from Mount Union's Stagg Bowl victory.  If they interest you, they are at http://www.mtunionfootball.com.

[HScoach]

Hopefully you cut off the highlight before your hack sidekick started talking!

[Ric]

LOL you got some air time including when you called Li-shin-ski Li-zin-ski.  LOL seriously it was great getting you in there, listened to the whole tape today, really sounded good.

[jdean]

I just read HScoach post--I need a nap.

Kehres took over the offensive calls this game. You have to wonder how that affects the UWW coaches as the asst coaches had been calling plays in prior games and now with Kehres the tendencies are out the window. Using the TE and RB out of the backfield .

I just wanted to point out this is one of a least a dozen brilliant posts I made over the past 2 1/2 days that have been plagarized. But lets lead HSCoach on--we don't want him to know we know he doesn't have any original thoughts

Seriously HSC, I thoroughly enjoy your pre- and post-game posts where you analyze the good, bad and brilliant.  Your posts are almost always right on the money and when they aren't, its Ric's fault! Thanks for making this forum fun as well as educational.

[Cap99Fan]

"I've added eight audio highlights from Mount Union's Stagg Bowl victory.  If they interest you, they are at http://www.mtunionfootball.com."

Thanks Ric. What a great website. The articles and content outstanding  . Even though I am a Cap fan I have enjoyed the site . Congrats to all of the Mount Union faithful.

[Ric]

Thx Cap99Fan I really appreciate you saying that.

To Mount Union fans that could not listen to our broadcast, this is how our broadcast ended Saturday... I hope Mount Union fans everywhere realize just how lucky we are...

"I just want to say people in Alliance, Ohio are so fortunate that this has happened in their back yard. No where else in the nation has a team done over the last 13 years what the Mount Union Purple Raiders have done at any level in any sport.  And Larry Kehres and his coaching staff have brought so much joy to the people of Alliance in times that have been difficult for a lot of us.  You go back 13 years and a lot has happened and one thing you can count on is Mount Union coming out and playing hard and they have been winning football games for a long time now and that needs to be recognized.  You go back, I can remember when I was a kid when Augustana won four straight national titles and you thought, well here's Augustana, we've got them next, that's when the playoffs are gonna end, well that's how a lot of teams and fans feel when they play Mount Union now.  Don't take this for granted because if you do you are missing just how very special it is.  The final score once again, Mount Union 35 and Wisconsin-Whitewater 28, congratulations to all of the Purple Raiders, they are the 2005 Division III football national champions."

[mtfan]

Ric
COuldn't have been said any better!! That should be etched in bronze and walnut as well, so everyone is Alliance can truly realize how special this has been and for everyone here to have and enjoy!
HSC
Awesome post!! but who drove all the way back from Virginia while you wrote all that ?  LOL  just kidding! I almost think there should have been a CO-MVP for the Stagg in seeing how Pierre just totally and unselfishly provided the escort for Nate on the 95 yd run! Like you stated, it seemed like Pierre was almost jogging and looking for anyone to knock back all the way down the field! NOt to take anything from Nate's awesome performance, but Pierre done the gift wrapping for Nate's 2 TD's!

[Mr. Ypsi]

No where else in the nation has a team done over the last 13 years what the Mount Union Purple Raiders have done at any level in any sport. 

Ric, I can identify with the sentiment, but you DID get a bit carried away with the 'any level in any sport'.  I've got just two words for you: Kenyon swimming!  Not even LK would dare to dream of THAT streak!

[Llamaguy]

Wow! Where to begin.

1. It was great to see all my Mt. Union buds at Mt Union East (aka Salem Stadium) again this weekend. Ric, HSCoach, MtFan, Skunks Sidekick, Skunk, Seventiesradier and Radier2019, and of course Theaprof.

2. I heard all the hype about Garcon, Kmic, et al and have to say, DEAD ON!
After watching the ESPN replay I couldn't count the number of times Bill Curry said Garcon was an impact player not in just D3, but could play at LSU or any D1 school. Quite the compliment.

3. I thought I was the luck charm for Mt. Union as I have seen them 4 times all victories 3 of which were Stagg Bowl wins. Then I remembered that Mount has only lost 6 games in the last 15 years. So much for me being a luck charm. LOL.

4. Congrats on #8 from the Bridgewater faithful. As usual we still want another shot at the Mighty Mount as we know that is always a stop on the road to Salem every year. Good luck in 2006 and enjoy the Championship.

I will leave you with a final note, as Skoaltrain and myself were loading the chicken onto the grill at 8:30am one of the first few Mt Union cars rolled into the parkinglot. They jumped out, climbed one of the snow piles and shouted:

Welcome to Salem and The Top of The Mountain, Home of Raider Nation!

How true, How true!

[Olinemom]

)

We def wont the tailgating game, and of the course the real game too.

     Actually Stone Station won the tailgating.  Just ask seventiesraiders, skunk_sidekick, theaprof, ric and any of the other MT. Union fans who ate with us.  And you could also ask the WW fans who also ate with us.  As We're from the ODAC we were the welcoming committee for the fans of the 2 teams.  Even supplied both teams with home-made brownies after the game for their trips back to campus.
     I would say that the 2 defensive stops in the red zone and the Kmic touchdown run had a whole lot to do with the win.  Especially as the run came right after one of the goal line stands.  Now where did I see a similar play?  Oh yeah, Bridgewater right, with Chuck Moore running the whole length of the field in the 2001 Stagg Bowl. 
     All of you who rode on that bus down, saw the game and rode right back, props to you.  what a trip and what fans you are to do that!! 70'sraiders got a ride back and who could blame him?
.     

[2minuteO]

The only area where WWW had a distinct edge over Capital was in the strength of the O-line

This was a comment from hscoach.   Capitla gave up 4 Sacks on the day, but arguably 2 of them were coverage sacs.  Although Pentello is an outstanding Qb he has to have time to throw the ball.  Many of the passes Howes was able to grab came off of play action.  The pa pass takes time to develop.  Also Capital is a primary spread offense that more than anything else relies on the pass.

[runyr]

Mr. Ypsi's mention of Kenyon swimming:
I've thought about it many times.  (The local high school swimming coach where my kids went to school was a Kenyon grad.  Plus, I grew up about a mile away from where Paul Newman [Kenyon '49] was born and raised.  I also eat his food products.  My aunt knew his mother well.)
Yeah, it's a huge accomplishment, but how many swimmers does it take to win the title?  It sure doesn't take as many as it does to win in football.  I think what Coach Kehres is doing at Mount Union is a comparable achievement to Coach Jim Steen's at Kenyon.  Coach Steen has had the program for 30 years.  He's got a 10 year head start on Coach Kehres.  Interestingly, Jim Steen graduated from Kent State in 1971 and Larry Kehres graduated from Mount the same year.  They were only 20 miles away from each other.
I think I need a nap after rereading my own dribble. 

[reality check]

"Mount Union is the Kenyon Swimming Program of DIII football."

Nice to see that ONU finishes four spots up from their previous ranking in the final d3football.com top 25 poll without playing a down.