FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

reality check · August 08, 2006, 05:34:13 PM

Raiderguy

The defensive unit looks very good coming into '06. The defensive backfield takes a hit with the losses of Midlam and Hostettler. They do however have Ryan Robertson returning to one corner spot where he has started 13 games in two seasons. The return of Dustin Alexander at SS will be a big help as well now that he is once again healthy. The other corner is open for grabs but word is that a transfer from Toledo named Steve Gunter has been playing very well. The free safety spot is a competition too from what I know. The secondary may have lost two big names but I'm optimistic that they have a lot coming back.

The linebacking core returns two in Aaron Esposito and Lenny Trusnik. They were 2 of the top 3 tacklers on the team. I think Jake Bennett might be moving up from safety where he played a good amount last year to an outside backer spot.

Jason Trusnik will have some good company on the line. Chris Stone may be the biggest surprise this year. Lokai-Owens returns too. Roudybush returns to the D-Line too. Jason won't be alone on the line.

I'm not saying there aren't questions, but the defense looks good for 2006.

raiderguy · August 08, 2006, 06:14:50 PM

Just throwing this out there.
Anyone in the NE Ohio/ Alliance area planning on making the trek to Averett and looking for some help driving/cost of the trip. I would look forward to spending some time with Raider faithful on a journey like that. Lord knows I have put on the miles visitng games in this nape of the neck-neck of the woods to quote Chevy Chase.

Just a thought if your looking for a rider who wants to help Exon and BP out of the financial hole they are in.

There is a bus from the alumni association but I am not sure 8 hour bus rides are on my list of favorite things.

Pat Coleman · August 08, 2006, 10:34:48 PM

I know nobody on this board really cares much, but Steve Wilson, the King's DE with the sack record, was a beast. I drove four hours to watch him play personally, in the playoffs no less, against an option team, and he was incredible.

If we were doing a player of the year award in 2002, Wilson would have gotten it.

reality check · August 08, 2006, 11:53:28 PM

Pat

Have you seen Trusnik play? He's a beast too. I'd be interested to hear how you think they'd compare to one another if you ever get to see Jason play.

ohiofootball · August 09, 2006, 12:22:25 AM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on August 08, 2006, 01:39:03 AM
Uh huh. It's nice to get Trusnik back and all but only five other starters from last year return. That win against Mount Union would mean more if the kids who played the game were still around.

You didn't even know Trusnik was coming back, or he would have been on that disappointing (OAC perspective) preseason ALL AMERICAN team. The win would mean more? Even The Ric said he had ONU #7 nationally.

Quote from: Genius Gone Bad on August 08, 2006, 07:21:19 AM
No, by no means did crapital have equal talent. My point is Capital was a very good team, but if you put Capital in the playoff seeding that would have made them face Mount Union in the second round Capital's playoff run would have ended just like the ONU playoff runs.

In '99 we made the Regional Finals.

raider guy- well said

rc- no its August still

ohiofootball · August 09, 2006, 12:27:20 AM

hscoach- Could we get a week 1 spread on the battle of the bluest schools, Illinois College Blue Boys vs Milikin Big Blue?

Pat Coleman · August 09, 2006, 12:31:42 AM

Quote from: ohiofootball on August 09, 2006, 12:22:25 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on August 08, 2006, 01:39:03 AM
Uh huh. It's nice to get Trusnik back and all but only five other starters from last year return. That win against Mount Union would mean more if the kids who played the game were still around.

You didn't even know Trusnik was coming back, or he would have been on that disappointing (OAC perspective) preseason ALL AMERICAN team. The win would mean more? Even The Ric said he had ONU #7 nationally.

Ric's an OAC voter. He's bound to have the OAC teams a little higher. That's why we spread the votes around to people in many conferences, go figure.

I don't know why your shot at me is relevant to ONU's lack of returning players. Oddly enough, there was some passage of time between the All-American team and the preseason Top 25. Right?

Shark · August 09, 2006, 07:58:13 AM

Pat

As another football season rolls around, I wanted to thank you and the D3.sports crew for this web site. I have enjoyed this site and appreciate your efforts to upgrade and maintain it. Most of us who closely follow D-3 sports would sorely miss it if it wasn't here.

Thanks again!

BTW, I also don't know what I would do without the insight and banter provided by the OAC crew (HS coach, RC, Ric and others)

Looking forward to a great season in the OAC.

reality check · August 09, 2006, 08:20:05 AM

EXACTLY ONE MONTH!!!

I noticed this is the first year in a while that JCU has company playing it's opener a week later. 7 games on the 2nd, 3 games on the 9th.

ohiofootball · August 09, 2006, 01:10:50 PM

Pat- Ummmmm yeah, I wasn't trying to take shots at you. I stated a fact about Trusnik. It had nothing to do with returning only five from last year on defense, just under half to reload. I know you work your tail off for our benefit of this website. It is still my opinion that the ranking is a joke, not intended about/4u. Others voted on it as well. Right?

HScoach · August 09, 2006, 04:17:36 PM

Quote from: ohiofootball on August 09, 2006, 12:27:20 AM
hscoach- Could we get a week 1 spread on the battle of the bluest schools, Illinois College Blue Boys vs Milikin Big Blue?

"Blue boys"

? Tempting...very tempting.

Actually, I've been looking thru the opening week's game and think I can find 3 national games to fill out the list of games to an even 10. As usual the 2nd week will be pretty light, but week 1 looks decent. As of right now, I'm leaning towards picking 3 games from following national games:
ROWAN at C. NEWPORT
UW-STEVEN'S POINT at HARDIN SIMMONS
UW-EAU CLAIRE at ST. JOHN'S
SALISBURY at WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON

Pat Coleman · August 09, 2006, 05:56:11 PM

Quote from: ohiofootball on August 09, 2006, 01:10:50 PM
Pat- Ummmmm yeah, I wasn't trying to take shots at you. I stated a fact about Trusnik. It had nothing to do with returning only five from last year on defense, just under half to reload. I know you work your tail off for our benefit of this website. It is still my opinion that the ranking is a joke, not intended about/4u. Others voted on it as well. Right?

I believe this is five starters total, both sides of the ball, not five starters on defense.

Quote from: onusports.com on August 09, 2006, 01:10:50 PM
Ohio Northern returns 35 lettermen and five starters under third-year head coach Dean Paul.

reality check · August 09, 2006, 06:15:56 PM

It doesn't make a big difference but I wonder how they came up with the number 5. Offensively, ONU returns Quirk, Meadows and Summers and on defense the Bears return Esposito, two Trusniks, Roudybush, Bennett, Alexander and Robertson.

I am guessing we don't count Jason Trusnik or Alexander because of injuries. But I consider the Bears to be returning 10 starters. Ultimately all that matters is that the Bears play well together come gameday.

Pat Coleman · August 09, 2006, 06:20:26 PM

Bennett isn't on the roster on the ONU site, for what it's worth. Doesn't mean much since camp hasn't opened but it might be a leading indicator.

reality check · August 09, 2006, 07:28:39 PM

Interesting catch. He's in the Media Guide as #15 and listed as a linebacker this season but not on the roster. I'm not sure what's up.