FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[theaprof]

I don't remember this being covered here:

Mount Union College senior Eric Safran (Sagamore Hills/Broadview Heights), a 6-3/290 pound All-American center on the Purple Raider football team, is one of only 15 players nationwide to earn the 2007 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete Post Graduate Scholarship.

Congrats to Eric and the coaching staff at MUC!

[bushman]

Mt. is that good this year.  The other OAC powerhouses maybe down a little but not much.  Mt. will turn it up for the playoffs.   It will  make no difference who is the opponent.   If the football gods allow, another championship should be forth coming.

[fredsdriveinn]

This is JCU week for Mount and nobody has even mentioned the game.  What's up?

I've seen around a couple of places people talking about this being a "down year" for the OAC as a whole, and it really seems that way. 

While some may see it as a down year for the OAC an argument could also be made that this is the best balanced conference in the nation.  The OAC always took smack from the rest of the country about being top heavy (2-3) good teams and everyone else stunk and this year we have 6 teams with winning records and improved play from the bottom of the conference which compares favorably to leagues such as the WIAC and MIAC.  It's all about your perspective.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

p.s.  where is kirasdad?  he hasn't shown himself in the E8 boards in a while....How we miss him so

Changed jobs.  Went from working at home to teaching 7th Grade Science.  Not as much time to surf the net and post on PP.

[section13raiderfan]

I see MUC JV s avenged their only loss last year at the hands of Cincy Harmony. Did anyone go to the game? If so, how about the lowdown on the game. Who Scored and how. Anybody shine? This had to be their best challenge....or was it?

[Dr. Acula]

Hello all.  After years of lurking I've decided to finally take the plunge and start posting.  I don't know if I should mention this given the dynamics of the board, but I'm a MUC alum.  I know, I know...just what the board needs.  If it helps any I'm going to also be a Cap alum in a couple years so maybe I can bring my own bipolar perspective.  I would like to thank you all for your posts as they were pretty much my only connection to the OAC before I moved back to Ohio.   

Enough with the intro...on to some football related stuff.

Can anyone (Reality Check?) tell me if Kyle Simmons is getting more snaps as the season goes on?  I saw him play a couple times in HS and caught the ONU game at Cap.  I was there early enough to see warmups.  I'm by no means a QB coach, but it appeared that he threw a noticably better ball than Pankratz.  Clearly he's also a good athlete, so no matter what the Bears have to be high on his future.   

[HScoach]

Dr:  Welcome aboard!

[seventiesraider]

Changed jobs.  Went from working at home to teaching 7th Grade Science.  Not as much time to surf the net and post on PP.

Ain't as easy as it looks, is it.  8)

[reality check]

Simmons has seen an increase in snaps as the season has worn on.  I've been told he's a great athlete as well but he's a little slight of frame.  I think he's been helped by the inconsistent play of Pankratz although Coach Paul has always liked a little platooning since he's been at Northern. 

Simmons is definitely a change-up style QB that may just play his way into being the main attraction with someone else being the change-of-pace.  It will be interesting to see him continue to develop...

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Changed jobs.  Went from working at home to teaching 7th Grade Science.  Not as much time to surf the net and post on PP.

Ain't as easy as it looks, is it.  8)

Having a wife who is in her 11th year of teaching, I knew it wouldn't be easy.  I didn't anticipate the rudeness from these middle schoolers though.  If I talked like they do when I was in school, my butt would have been whupped.

[jaypeter]

This is JCU week for Mount and nobody has even mentioned the game.  What's up?

I've seen around a couple of places people talking about this being a "down year" for the OAC as a whole, and it really seems that way. 

While some may see it as a down year for the OAC an argument could also be made that this is the best balanced conference in the nation.  The OAC always took smack from the rest of the country about being top heavy (2-3) good teams and everyone else stunk and this year we have 6 teams with winning records and improved play from the bottom of the conference which compares favorably to leagues such as the WIAC and MIAC.  It's all about your perspective.

Fredsdriveinn

I would agree that overall, the balance of power in the OAC seems to be much more level this year.  You could make the argument that the lower-tier schools have stepped it up, which does seem to be true.  However, I also believe that some of the other traditional top-tier teams seem to be having somewhat of a down year.  Things can be competitive even if the teams are bad.  Afterall, if the Dolphins and Rams played each other, someone would likely win.  It just seems like this year, in the OAC, nobody has really stepped up to make a statement that they deserve to be the second place team.  Nobody has really stepped up to stake a claim that in any other conference, they could be champs.  Nobody has really stepped up to stake a claim that the selection committee would be full fools if they didn't seed that team towards the top of a bracket.

You're right, though, you can make the argument either way.  My feeling is that the other top teams have taken a step back.

jaypeter

[formerd3db]

Changed jobs.  Went from working at home to teaching 7th Grade Science.  Not as much time to surf the net and post on PP.

Ain't as easy as it looks, is it.  8)

Having a wife who is in her 11th year of teaching, I knew it wouldn't be easy.  I didn't anticipate the rudeness from these middle schoolers though.  If I talked like they do when I was in school, my butt would have been whupped.

kirasdad:

I know exactly what you mean.  My wife having previous taught elementary school children, I saw that first hand.  Now we are seeing it as our oldest daughter who just graduated from college last spring, is teaching 2nd grade and there are some pretty rude and just simply "out of control" tykes.  She's had a couple of tough situations to handle (I mean some real bad situations), however, fortunately in these particular cases, the parents are supportive of her, which as you know is not always or usually not the case.    It's really sad, but unfortunately, that is today's society.

At any rate, I know you'll handle it, but hope otherwise that you are enjoying getting back into the teaching experience.  We need good ethical teachers such as yourself to "re-educate" and show the way, set by example for today's youngsters.  I wish you all the best this year in teaching.

formerd3db

[Shark]

Toph:  Sour grapes make a poor whine.

hscoach-

Did I miss something?  What is this in response to?

HS Coach. Just for the record, I think that statement about Tony D came from Tdubs not Toph.

[jaypeter]

I feel like I'm nothing but the link-guy lately.  But, here's a link to a team that puts Mount Union to shame: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/highschool/news/story?id=3087983

This high school prep team scored 72 in the first quarter! Man, we let Averett off easy!

[HScoach]

Toph:  Sour grapes make a poor whine.

hscoach-

Did I miss something?  What is this in response to?

HS Coach. Just for the record, I think that statement about Tony D came from Tdubs not Toph.

Oops.  You're right.  Sorry Toph