FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[skunks_sidekick]

HSCoach........you are preaching to the choir my man!   

When watching the MHB/WW game on the net yesterday, I really didn't see anything to convince me that we were "in trouble" next week.  HOWEVER.....upon further review I think that maybe MHB's defense was really just that good, and the conditions had a little something to do with the lack of offensive output by either team. 

It should be an interesting game.  I will be amazed if WW uses their usual "pound the rock" with Beaver against Mount.  I know he is most likely the G-winner this year, but I just can't buy that ANYONE can run between the tackles (or run period for that matter) against this defense.  Jones is a wild card that hasn't been present the last two years.  He will have to prove he can be sharp with the short passes (a la Juvon from Ithaca), and run for daylight when the opportunity presents itself.  I would hesitate to run planned sweeps/keepers with him against this D.  That is a recipe for getting his bell rung, and possibly knocked out of the game.  The hit on Bethel's QB was BRUTAL. 

Mount's offense is just too diverse (IMO) for anyone to "shut down".  I do believe this will be the best defense we MIGHT see (CAP was pretty darn good), but keeping this Mount O to under 28 points is a tall order.  I think it's more of a "contain" task, rather than a "stop" task.  That means WW offense must score 28+ to win.  Can they do it?

Ric/HSCoach......I will email you our info for Salem.  See you around the ranch!   

[purple]

 If Michigan was smart they would hire Dom Capers MUC 71 and Larry Kehres MUC 70 to take over the program.Dom,was architect of the Steeler D and we all know what LK has done.They could announce they have hired the most successful college football coach in the history of the United States of America in Larry Kehres.

[skunks_sidekick]

If Michigan would hire LK (and he would agree to go), I would be in a world of hurt!  I HATE Michigan.......but if LK was there...hmmm...what a dilemma. 

I think the "powers that be" in D-I football are some of the most short-sighted people in sports.  It's obvious what LK brings to the table.  Is he a "hard sell" to the alumni, etc...?  I don't see how.  I can see how there might be some worry about his ability to recruit with the big boys, but come on.  He could recruit just Ohio alone and be successful wherever he went.  It still amazes me he hasn't gotten more offers. 

[purple]

 No really knows about offers LK has recieved except his wife (and Ric).I know there has been more than a few.Larry supporters could also point out his graduation rate is even higher than his winning percentage!

[purpled]

D II note...Grand Valley State lost to NW Missouri State 34-16 Saturday. Their 40 game win streak is over.

[wildcat11]

Congrats once again to MUC for another trip to their second home in Salem.

Once again Catdomealumni.com will post up a Stagg Bowl recap ala The 2006 Stagg Bowl.

I suspect I'll be making another highlight clip of a MUC victory.

[dallas]

D II note...Grand Valley State lost to NW Missouri State 34-16 Saturday. Their 40 game win streak is over.

Could there be loss next weekend as well for the powerhouse of DIII?  It certainly has been an interesting season this year across all divisions.........   

[Acky]

I have been a long time reader but only posted a couple of times.  I agree with HSCOACH 's thoughts on the Stagg Bowl but I have a question that I have been asking all year.  Is the OAC really down this year or MUC just that strong?  I thought that question might be answered come the playoffs but the way the Raiders went through the playoffs to this point I still wonder.  It is hard to believe that all of the teams faced by Mount this season, either in the regular season or the playoffs,  could look as bad as they did.  Again is it the competition or is it Mount making them look so bad?  I have been watching Mount since L.K and Bill Unger rotated at the QB spot and this is far and away the best team I have seen, although they still have to win one more game to be considered the best.

[MUC Fan]

I'm not totally convinced that this is the best Mount team ever.  I think a lot of you are forgetting how great the 1997 team was.  Bill Borchert just had an unbelievable season at quarterback.  I think he had something like 57 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.  It would be great to see these two teams (1997 vs. 2007) square off.

[runk]

MUC FAN,
I respectfully disagree. I thought we would never see a team as strong as '97. This team though! .....Better D then '97. more offensive weapons. too much for other teams to contend with.    3x threepete....(threepete-threepete)

[footballfan413]

Figures can lie - liars can figure.  Let's figure out this Stagg Bowl thing.

I think MUC is the favorite to win #10, but comparing stats between MUC playing in a depleted OAC versus WWW playing in the WIAC is dangerous.
My biggest concern heading into MUC/WWW Part 3 is Mount being complacent and over confident.   I'm also confident that Whitewater will have much better QB play this year with Jacobs gone.  I also have to think that they'll have  better offensive play calling this season as the new guy can't be as bad as the previous O coordinator.

I would agree and would just add that in addition to UWW playing in the WIAC, those stats are against UMHB twice, the #2 team in the OAC and a D-II team.
 

[mtfan]

I have been a long time reader but only posted a couple of times.  I agree with HSCOACH 's thoughts on the Stagg Bowl but I have a question that I have been asking all year.  Is the OAC really down this year or MUC just that strong?  I thought that question might be answered come the playoffs but the way the Raiders went through the playoffs to this point I still wonder.  It is hard to believe that all of the teams faced by Mount this season, either in the regular season or the playoffs,  could look as bad as they did.  Again is it the competition or is it Mount making them look so bad?  I have been watching Mount since L.K and Bill Unger rotated at the QB spot and this is far and away the best team I have seen, although they still have to win one more game to be considered the best.

I agree with HScoach in that complacency can be Mount's Achilles heel right now, but not very likely in the way this team continues to push itself. They won't let down nor will they let one another down. I beleive as has been stated before that the OAC has been abit down for sure, but maybe not to the magnitude that most of us seeing it week in and week out think it might be. I think the preparedness of this coaching staff and likewise the players themsleves has probably somewhat "suckered" us all into feeling the competition is that much worse when in fact their play calling and overall play itself has risen well above "the normal" field of play. Maybe a similar analogy might be the NE Patriots and their play in comparison to the rest of the NFL. Will they be beaten? Sure, it will happen sometime but it will take another team to rise to the level of play and execution that they're playing at or for them to play "down" to another teams level. Becoming complacent will put you there real fast. Playing UWW again, and all those similarities can make someone become complacent......... been there , done this attitude.......THESE GUY WON"T LET THIS HAPPEN!
GO RAIDERS!!

[reality check]

I know we have all offseason to talk about these types of things but I;m supposed to be packing for a move and am doing whatever I can to sidetrack myself so...

After watching the Patriots completely destroy a very good Steelers team, I have to wonder how long until John Carroll's own Josh McDaniels is offered a head coaching gig.  With so many owners lately looking to give young coaches a shot, is there a better candidate right now than Josh???  At 31 years old, he'll be right there with Lane Kiffin regarding his age.  He's a protege of Belicheck which has certainly proved advantageous for Crennell, Mangini and Weiss. 

And I was going to ask what everyone thought about a top 5 list for OAC alums in the NFL (players/coaches/administration/etc.) but I ran into a roadblock.  I was only coming up with 3-4 solid choices and couldn't think of a fifth.  Then I did a little research and found out there were some great players in the NFL to ocme from OAC schools. 

My five would have been:

1.  Don Shula (JCU)
2.  London Fletcher (JCU)
3.  Josh McDaniels (JCU)
4.  Jamal Robertson (ONU)
5.  Stacey Hairston (ONU)

But then I did some research and found some pretty cool careers.

BW: Norb Hecker played 6 NFL seasons ('51-'57) for the LA Rams and Washington Redskins, totalling 64 games played, 9 receptions, 2 TD's and 28 career interceptions as an offensive end and safety.

Case (Western Reserve University): Johnny Badaczewski played 82 NFL games for four teams over 7 seasons ('46-'53) as a guard.

Also from Case was Warren Lahr.  He played 11 seasons ('49-'59) with the Cleveland Browns as a DB and tallied 40 INT's in his playing days, returning 5 for TD's.

Phil Ragazzo played for Case in the late 1930's and managed 60 games over 7 NFL seasons as a guard/tackle. 

Heidelberg: Jim Boeke played 9 seasons ('60-'68) for the Rams, Cowboys and Saints tallying 119 games played on the offensive line.

Bob Briggs played from '68-'74 for the Chiefs, Chargers and Browns totalling 74 games played as a DE.

In 6 AFL seasons ('60-'65), Boll Groman racked up 174 catches for 3481 yards and 36 TD's, leading the league in 1960 with 1473 yards and in 1961 with 17 receiving TD's.  He also threw for a TD and ran for a TD in his pro career.

Hiram: Jimmie Kennedy played 3 seasons ('75-'77) as a TE for the Baltimore Colts grabbing 3 balls/1 TD in 35 games.

JCU: Carl Taseff played 11 AFL/NFL seasons from '51-'62 (mostly as a Colt), playing 115 total games and was an accomplished kick returner and DB (18 career INT's).

Kenyon: Fay Abbott played nine seasons ('21-'29) and played in 55 games for the Dayton Triangles.


Pretty cool stuff.  Or maybe I'm just weird.

....back to packing.

[runk]

I wish UWW's coach Leipold would make a comment like BU's coach.. something like" mount hasn't been punched in the mouth.".. anything to heat up the raiders. I wonder if BU's coach regrets those remarks?

[Mr. Ypsi]

I've gone on record on pickems with MUC winning by 10-17.  If Mount wins by a 'monkey stomp' (or more), I believe they would probably have had the most dominant season of any collegiate team in football or basketball (I suspect some team in some other sport may have had an even more dominant season, but not sure), for at least a hundred years (Fielding Yost's 'point-a-minute' teams at Michigan from 1901-1905 might beat them (particularly 1902 (3?) when they went something like 502-3).

While that would be an incredible achievement for the Raiders, I'm not sure it would be good for d3 football.  I'm rooting for a close game, or even for (don't smite me ) a Warhawk victory.  Dominating is one thing; making a season irrelevant due to a foregone conclusion is another.