FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[HScoach]

Cap's D looks like a mirror image of Mount's.  Really looking forward to the trip south in 2 weeks. 
I'm very impressed that Collins has kept Capital at the top of the OAC after graduating Rocky and Company.  Looks like Capital is going to be the longterm battle mate for MUC.

BW will play hard like they always do, but they don't have a prayer this Saturday.

[crusader26]

Cap's D looks like a mirror image of Mount's.  Really looking forward to the trip south in 2 weeks. 
I'm very impressed that Collins has kept Capital at the top of the OAC after graduating Rocky and Company.  Looks like Capital is going to be the longterm battle mate for MUC.

BW will play hard like they always do, but they don't have a prayer this Saturday.

I would have to think this year may be Coach Collins best coaching job yet!!  He has done a tremendous job with this team in regards to the adjustments he makes at halftime...this defense flies everywhere and the offense does its job by not committing the big turnover!!  Still have huge games left with cross-town rival DaBein, home vs. MUC & BW & at Musky in b/w MUC & BW

[cufan]

Congrats to Cap for a huge win.  Who would of thought without Assmann, Alexander, Blake and a couple of defense of players out they would be in a position to win the conference and a 3rd straight trip to NCAA.  Two freshman WR's scored TD vs ONU and many other backups made big plays.  The offense is not flashy like years past but they don't turn the ball over and they protect the QB.

Hopefully they take care of business vs the Otters next week to set up the showdown with that other purple team.

[reality check]

Occasionally there's a sports-related story compelling enough and worth enough merit to break from the Division III topics and mention in here.  Perhaps I am finding new things to think about because of the pending arrival of my first child, perhaps it's due to the lack of sleep I've been getting with all my coaching responsibilities, or maybe it's just that touching of a story but anyone who has a few minutes should absolutely read the three-part feature on ESPN.com today entitled "Ray of Hope" regarding the UNC Tarheels mascot that was killed last at the NCAA tournament last year.  An incredible story.

[jcu_fan]

Hey folks...

I was looking through the last few weeks of posts... doesn't look like anyone saw this:

You'd think he'd bother to do his homework and find out that 9 out of Mount's 10 games are required conference games...

from: 
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/071002&sportCat=nfl


Obscure College Score of the Week No. 2: Mount Union 62, Heidelberg 3. Located in Alliance, Ohio, Mount Union -- the defending D-III champion -- is the scourge of small college football, a program dedicated to running up the score. In Division III, some schools emphasize sports and some don't: Mount Union strongly emphasizes football, then schedules schools that do not emphasize football to ensure blowout win after blowout win. So far this season, Mount Union has won by finals of 75-7, 58-14, 62-0 and 62-3. On Saturday versus hapless Heidelberg, Mount Union kept its starting quarterback on the field until the margin was 49-3, although the Purple Raiders did attempt a field goal on first-and-goal in the fourth quarter rather than run for the likely touchdown. Once Mount Union reaches the D-III playoffs, it faces other schools that likewise emphasize football and its scores fall back into the normal range. Maybe it would be enjoyable to play for a team that always won by runaway margins, but where is the sportsmanship in a regular-season schedule of opponents with little or no chance of winning? Mount Union also has six home games versus four road dates, a sure sign of a manipulated schedule.

[reality check]

jcu fan

It was addressed.  Consensus: Easterbrook's an idiot.

[raiderguy]

I addressed this Yayhoo last week with a kind and informative email after he basically said the same thing. Apparently he does not do any research or read his e-mails. I reviewed the OAC team schedule and all the reasons for the "manipulated schedule" as he refers to it. He missed the part about only four home games last year. It is pretty bad when he can not come up with any new material week after week. I guess you might say that is weak!

[D3 Poster]

Rhine River Cup -  this was a better game than I realized.  The Otters scored on the last play of the first half and with seconds remaining in the game to secure a three point win over the Berg.

MUC and Capital have amazing defensive stats.  MUC has disgustingly amazing offensive stats including a 204+% passing efficiency.

Odd stat of the week...Marietta is last in the league in passing offense and has two of the top ten receivers.

The league leader in penalties?  Nope, not the Raiders....BW with 63 vs MUC's paltry 47.  Come on refs, let's pick it up these last four games.

[SaintsFAN]

reality,

I read that story and agree. . . quite a few people benefited from what he wanted to do with his organs. .

[runyr]

jcu fan

It was addressed.  Consensus: Easterbrook's an idiot.

Ditto on Easterbrook.  I truly feel dumber having skimmed his column for the first and last time! He's the best example of the worst in sports reporting.

[4u]

As a JCU guy, I must admit that seeing what Coach Collins and his staff have done at Capital is amazing.  I was a player at JCU when Collins took over a dreadful situation and he and his staff have built a strong and steady program that would win most D3 conferences.  I have had the opportunity to meet Coach Collins and, by all appearences, he is as good of a person as he is a coach.  I don't know how they will derail the machine that is Mount Union, but it will not be for lack of effort or coaching.  I once pondered if Capital's facility upgrades (which are a huge improvement) had anything to do with their rise.  Then, I was quickly reminded that incredible upgrades were made at JCU, ONU, and other OAC schools.  College football is about recruiting, coaching (teaching), and effort.  I admire what the guys at Capital have done in regards to all three.
4u

[JK]

As a JCU guy, I must admit that seeing what Coach Collins and his staff have done at Capital is amazing.  I was a player at JCU when Collins took over a dreadful situation and he and his staff have built a strong and steady program that would win most D3 conferences.  I have had the opportunity to meet Coach Collins and, by all appearences, he is as good of a person as he is a coach.  I don't know how they will derail the machine that is Mount Union, but it will not be for lack of effort or coaching.  I once pondered if Capital's facility upgrades (which are a huge improvement) had anything to do with their rise.  Then, I was quickly reminded that incredible upgrades were made at JCU, ONU, and other OAC schools.  College football is about recruiting, coaching (teaching), and effort.  I admire what the guys at Capital have done in regards to all three.
4u

4u,

As a Capital guy, I have to agree.  Coach Collins has done a magnificent job.  I long thought that Cap, because of its location, was a "sleeping giant" in the OAC.  Certainly the facility upgrade was a big help, but Coach has awakened that giant and has made Cap into a conference and national player year in and year out.  I think a lot of people had questions as to how the Crusaders would be this year with all the losses to graduation.  I think those questions got even bigger when some of the top players in the program were injured.  Like another Cap poster commented, I think Coach has responded with his best coaching job yet.  The foundation is certainly in place for years to come.

BTW, I know Coach Collins peruses this message board from time to time (of course, as a coach he would never post on here).  I am sure he will appreciate your comments.

[HScoach]

Since it's a slow day at the office and someone brought up stats, I thought I'd go thru the NCAA info looking for OAC rankings versus each other and the national leaders:

The following list is individual stats thru 10/13/07:

Rushing yards per game:
1. Robert Heller, Waynesburg = 195.0 yds/game
2. Justin Beaver, UW Whitewater = 169.3 yds/game
37. Nate Kmic, Mount Union  = 103.3 yds/game

Passing Efficiency:
1. Bobby Swallow, Washington & Jefferson = 227.9
2. Greg Micheli, Mount Union = 213.5
No other OAC QB's ranked in Top 50

Passing yards per game:
1. Josh Vogelbach, Guilford = 382.8 yds/game
47. Greg Micheli, Mount Union = 223.2 yds/game
No other OAC QB's listed in Top 50

Total Offense:
1. Josh Vogelbach, Guilford  = 378.5 yds/game
43. Greg Micheli, Mount Union = 245.2 yds/game
No other OAC players listed in Top 50

Receptions per game:
1. Hagen Miller, Guilford = 11.2 rec/game
16. Scott DeLong, Otterbein = 7.5 rec/game
36. Marque Jones, Wilmington = 6.4 rec/game

Receiving yards per game:
1. Luke Dillon, Defiance = 157.7yds/game
17. Scott DeLong, Otterbein = 107.5 yds/game
40. Vinny Latessa, Baldwin Wallace = 92. yds/game

Scoring:
1. Robert Heller, Waynesburg = 18.0 pts/game
2. Nate Kmic, Mount Union = 16.0 pts/game
7. Mike Zimmerman, Mount Union = 12.0 pts/game
No other OAC players listed in Top 50

All purpose yardage:
1. Chris Schubert, Oberlin = 231.0 yds/game
No OAC players listed in Top 50

Field Goals per game:
1. Tyler Pease, Luther = 2.0/game
3.  Matt Sptiz, Capital = 1.8/game
6.  Mike Zimmerman, Mount Union = 1.5/game
15.  Jake Heaphy, Ohio Northern = 1.2/game
25.  Jesse Hawkins, Heidelberg = 1.0/game
49.  Josiah Kedzior, John Carroll = 0.8/game
49.  Alek Shirvanian, Otterbein = 0.8/game
49.  Adam Wilbum, Baldwin Wallace = 0.8/game

Punting (minimum 3.6 per game):
1. John Russell, Mississippi College = 42.7 yds/punt
5. Kevin Soflkiancs, Baldwin Wallace = 42.0 yds/punt
32. Brent Scherz, Wilmington = 39.7 yds/punt
36. Jake Heaphy, Ohio Northern = 39.4/punt
43. Tom Gantner, Capital = 39.1 yds/punt

Total Tackles:
1. Adam Hay, Centre = 15.3/game
No OAC players listed in Top 50

Pass Sacks:
1. Mike Czerwien, Waynesburg = 1.9/game
3. Ken Bevington, John Carroll = 1.6/game
14. Nick Bucci, Capital = 1.2/game
27.  John Spring, Capital = 1.0/game
37. Chad Adams, Wilmington = 0.9/game
37. Joe Kowalski, Baldwin Wallace = 0.9/game
37.  Mat Grieves, Heidelberg = 0.9/game

Tackles for Loss:
1. Ken Bevington, John Carroll = 3.2/game
23. Jake Fallis, Ohio Northern = 1.9/game
31. John Spring, Capital = 1.8/game
39.  Brian Hahn, Marietta = 1.75/game


The following stats are team rankings:

Rushing Offense per game:
1. Mary Hardin Baylor = 341.0 yds/game
2. Mount Union  = 329.7 yds/game
No other OAC teams listed in Top 50

Team Passing Efficiency:
1. Mount Union = 204.26
36. Capital = 147.20
No other OAC teams ranked in Top 50

Passing Offense per game:
1. Guilford = 408.0 yds/game
14. Mount Union = 298.0 yds/game
No other OAC teams listed in Top 50

Scoring Offense:
1. Mount Union = 60 pts/game
No other OAC teams ranked in Top 50

Total Offense:
1. Mount Union = 627.7 yds/game
No other OAC teams ranked in Top 50

Total Defense:
1. Mount Union = 132.5 yds/game
2. Capital = 143.8 yds/game
13. Baldwin Wallace = 263.3 yds/game
29. John Carroll = 267.7 yds/game
45. Ohio Northern = 282.8 yds/game

Scoring Defense:
1. Mount Union  = 4.0 pts/game
2. Capital = 4. pts/game
32. John Carroll = 15.3 pts/game
37. Baldwin Wallace = 16.0 pts/game

Rush Defense:
1. Mount Union = 14.0 yds/game
2. Capital = 19.2 yds/game
43. Baldwin Wallace = 95.2 yds/game
47. John Carroll = 99.3 yds/game

Team Passing Efficiency Defense:
1. Concordia Wisc. = 71.2
3. Mount Union = 74.4
5. Capital = 77.2
44. John Carroll = 98.0

[reality check]

I'm not discounting the other stats but that's really impressive that 7 kickers in the OAC in the top 50 of a category.  It doesn't necessarily mean they're all great kickers but I do think the OAC must be above average as Zimmerman, Spitz and Heaphy appear to be cream of the crop kickers.  Heaphy's success impresses me because he was in the same recruiting class as Drew Larger who was a 1st OHSAA Division I kicker from Hilliard Davidson.  Larger even won OAC Special Teams POW honors as a freshman but he disappeared in part, I believe, due to the kicking of Heaphy.

[HScoach]

After going thru all the numbers, I was surprised by the lack of offense around the OAC.  Outside of Mount, there isn't another decent offense in the entire conference statistically speaking.  That could be because all the defenses are strong, but I seriously doubt that's the case.  We all know MUC and Capital have great defenses, and we expected ONU, JCU and BW to have pretty good defenses too, but does that really explain the lack of offense around the entire conference?   Jeezz, Heidelberg hung 40+ on The Flaming Pile so it's awfully hard for me to put BW in the discussion of good OAC defenses. 

It seems to me that many of the offenses are under-performing.  Capital's low production can be explained by graduation and injury, but what's wrong with ONU and JCU?  BW is historically offense impaired, so I'll leave them out of this.   But I still find it surprising that MUC is the only offense to show up nationally in the Top 50 of almost all of the categories.

In previous years, there were always a couple statistically dominant offenses to go along with a couple dominant defenses.  But 2007 looks to be all defense?

Am I sniffing glue on this?