FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[bushman]

It is unwise to kick the giant before the contest.   "punch in the mouth"   excellent locker room material.  and so it goes

[HScoach]

As an old O-lineman myself, let me be the first to congratulate Blanchard on being 1 of 4 Gagliardi finalists!

[Toph]

Just don't waste time expecting to win because of some general notion about Bethel being a running team and Mount has already beat running teams this year.  It's a new game every Saturday, and Bethel is the best team you will have faced thus far.

You really don't get it, do you?  Mount Union fans hear this every...single...year.  9 national titles later, they still hear it.  Ithaca's and SJF's fans assured everyone that their respective teams were the best that Mount faced all year.  Do you know where that argument got them?  On the business end of a 24 point loss, and a 42 point drubbing (drumming?) last week.  
Both Mount fans and non-Mount fans aren't expecting to win "because of some general notion about Bethel being a running team [blah, blah, blah]."  I expect Mount to win because that is what they do.  Much like Wabash always fights, Mount always wins.  Why is this so hard for fans outside of the OAC to understand?  We never get this level of idiotic banter during the season.  I'm not saying that you can't be fired up about your team, and I'm not saying you can't hope to win, but to think that Mount is somehow going to overlook Bethel is downright foolish.

Don't worry, AO.  Your beating is coming too, Saturday will be here before you no it.

[HScoach]

Just don't waste time expecting to win because of some general notion about Bethel being a running team and Mount has already beat running teams this year.  It's a new game every Saturday, and Bethel is the best team you will have faced thus far.

We'll see about that.

I'm guessing they'll be somewhere between Marietta (57-0 MUC win) and Ithaca (42-18 MUC win).

Final: 
MUC 49
Bethel 14

[phil]

Ithaca's and SJF's fans assured everyone that their respective teams were the best that Mount faced all year. 

Judging by the final score, the above comment would be correct in Ithaca's case.

[jaypeter]

Yes, the prediction of "best team Mount has faced" was correct.  The common second half of that statement, "and IC will beat the Raiders," did not prove to be nearly as correct.  Although, there was one poster who correctly picked the Bombers in the pick-em's to cover the spread.

[Toph]

Ithaca's and SJF's fans assured everyone that their respective teams were the best that Mount faced all year. 

Judging by the final score, the above comment would be correct in Ithaca's case.

Great, put that on a trophy.  I'm sure the Bomber players would love it.  I can't help but notice that you didn't include the other part of that thought in quoting me.  Ithaca is at home, Mount is still playing.

[raiderfan1983]

I love this... arguing about which team is the best Mount has faced all year, the one that ONLY lost by more 3 touchdowns and a field goal, or the one that they have yet to play this week.  We ought to move this conversation to the MENSA board or someplace like that.

[kickerdad]

jaypeter,

I figured I would reply to you on your home board. You don't have to sell me on MUC's greatness. I have witnessed it two years in a row. I have mentioned on this board and my home board, how great the team was as well as the fans. I am pulling for you guys to go all the way. Good luck.

[AO]

The conversation is over when you consider who has advanced farther in the playoffs---having to play Mt. Union or not-Bethel is still in the semifinals and the other teams are not--ipso facto-Bethel is the best.  You can quote stats or compare scores all day long but winning in the post-season is all that matters.

[raiderfan1983]

For posters who talks a lot about respect it is interesting how little you give to a team you have never played and happened to win the west region.

At least kick our @ss once before you completely write us off

Freebird, I'm not sure if you read back a few pages or not, but the lack of respect you are referring to is mostly response to a post from a Bethel fan telling us MUC posters that Bethel is a like no team Mount has ever seen before and saying that Bethel is going to win this game because they play as a team and want to be together for another week.  I know I was not trying to disrespect Bethel in any of my posts, and as I'm sure you have noticed, people on this board have gotten pretty sick and tired of having fans come in and talk about how their team is like no other team Mount has seen before.

[raiderfan1983]

The conversation is over when you consider who has advanced farther in the playoffs---having to play Mt. Union or not-Bethel is still in the semifinals and the other teams are not--ipso facto-Bethel is the best.  You can quote stats or compare scores all day long but winning in the post-season is all that matters.

That is a statement I can agree with... and that is what makes D3 football better than 1A in my mind, everything is settled on the field.

[Toph]

The conversation is over when you consider who has advanced farther in the playoffs---having to play Mt. Union or not-Bethel is still in the semifinals and the other teams are not--ipso facto-Bethel is the best.  You can quote stats or compare scores all day long but winning in the post-season is all that matters.

Not true at all.  If Bethel had played Mount in the first round, they would be out of the playoffs.  If Bethel had played Mount in the regular season, they might not be in the playoffs.  Shall I continue?

[jaypeter]

Toph, I was trying to think of a way to correctly word a thought that was very similar to your post.  If Mount had been in a different bracket, then a different team would have won the "East".  That doesn't mean they would have been one of the four best teams in the country.  When a champion is crowned at the end of the playoffs in any sport, that doesn't guarantee the best team won. 

[raiderfan1983]

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, it'd be Christmas all year 'round.  Bethel didn't play Mount, and they are not in the same bracket, so I would have to agree that they are the best team Mount has played just by virtue of the system that is in place.