FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[JK]

Looks like they are doing an autopsy to determine cause of death of 18 yr old Huntingdon College freshman Sam Collins.  What a tragedy.  From linked story below, they are reporting temp was 85 degrees with relative humidity of 68%.  (They don't say what field temp was.  I hope it wasn't old Astroturf.)  The players were wearing shorts, t-shirts, helmets, but no pads.
http://www.huntingdon.edu/athletics/athletics_news/aug_08/08_16_08_fb

Purely speculation, but with weather that "mild," in that uniform, it sounds like there was something else at work there.  Nothing insidious, but 18 year old kids who have been playing football for at least a few years... it doesn't add up to me.

Again, purely speculation, but the supplements these kids take these days are relatively untested and no one knows what they might do or how they might interact with other things.  It's gotten to the point that the Army has forbidden those in initial entry training (Basic) from taking them and strongly discourages others in "high activity" areas from using them as well.  There just haven't been enough tests over a long enough period of time to know what they do.

I'm not saying supplements are "bad," or that they don't have good effects in a lot of cases, but there have been several  deaths where the interaction of supplements seems to have been a factor.  That's what got the "weight loss" supplements with ephedra pulled from the shelves, but you can still get it other places.

I have no idea if the kid was on supplements, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was.

Regardless, it's a huge tragedy.  My thoughts are with his family and teammates and coaches.

[wrighthall220]

Pierre with another solid showing tonight

3 REC 41 YDS
1 KR 27 YDS
4 PR 22 YDS/ Long of 15 yds

Saw Pierre play in person tonight,  I'm a Falcons season ticket holder and he played quite well in a game that was played pretty lousy by both teams.  He did get smacked around a few times and drew one flag but overall he held his own and looks like a solid candidate to make the Colts squad.

[HScoach]

Has anyone else caught wind that the Mount intrasquad scrimmage is tomorrow at 7 pm?

[HScoach]

From the OAC site:


OAC Football Preview TV Show on SportsTime Ohio

(AUSTINTOWN, OH)--Fans will get a first look at the Ohio Athletic Conference football season on television with the 2008 OAC Football Preview show Thursday, August 21, at 11:30 p.m. on SportsTime Ohio.

The 30-minute show, hosted by Adam Mendoza, will kickoff the OAC's 106th football season with a look at all 10 teams featuring interviews with head coaches and players along with highlights.

Additional broadcasts of the show will be August 22 at noon, August 23 at 6:00 p.m. and August 24 at 2:30 p.m.  SportsTime Ohio is on Mount Union campus TV (channel 84), Time Warner Northeast Ohio (channel 76), DirecTV (channel 657), Dish Network (channel 431) and Massillon Cable (channel 32).  Go to www.sportstimeohio.com to find the complete channel listings.

Purple Raider head coach Larry Kehres and All-American senior running back Nate Kmic (Delta/Delta) will be featured on the show.

[Knightstalker]

RIP Gene Upshaw

[raiderpa]

when and where  is the MUC/WJ scrimmage this year?  I always look forward to it....

[Blutarsky]

when and where  is the MUC/WJ scrimmage this year?  I always look forward to it....

I believe it is next Thursday (28th) at W/J.

[HScoach]

when and where  is the MUC/WJ scrimmage this year?  I always look forward to it....

I believe it is next Thursday (28th) at W/J.

Yup, Thursday at 6:00 pm.


Here's my observations from the intrasquad scrimmage. 

OFFENSE:
1.  Micheli looked in mid-season form.  Decisions were quick and the ball delivered on time.
2.  Kmic didn't carry the much, but looks a little leaner than last year.
3.  Cecil Shorts is starting at split end and looks blazing fast.  Not sure how good his hands are, but there is no doubt that the boy can fly.
4.  Scott Panchik was starting at RB besides Kmic due to minor injuries to Scott Thomas and Trevor Bruney.
5.  O-line is undersized compared to previous years , but looks reasonably athletic.  Was pushed around quite a bit by the D-line, but overall didn't look terrible considering it's 5 new starters.  O-line will likely determine how good this team will be.
6.  A young WR wearing #8 was also running with the 1st team and looked very good.  No idea who he was, but the kid showed a good burst and crisp breaks out of his routes. 

DEFENSE:
1.  James Herbert and Joe Millings are going to be holy terrors at DE his season when it comes to rushing the QB.  Both looked a little bigger than last year and still had their tremendous burst off the line of scrimmage.  Their rush D was average, but they get up the field in a hurry.
2.  Matt Williamson looked very good at DT, but the other DT's didn't doing anything of note.
3.  LB's (Yoder and Chaffin) didn't stand out as good or bad.  They just were kind of there .
4.  Secondary looked very athletic.  Tons of speed.  Blew some coverages and let TE Reynolds and Shorts behind them a couple times, but the athletic potential is there.


Overall, the scrimmage was very spirited.  Good effort on both sides of the ball and from the veterans and youngsters alike.

[Blutarsky]

hscoach.......thanks for the update.  Were there any standout freshmen?  Any injuries??  At this point, you want to keep everyone healthy, while still encouraging "live" competition!

[Pat Coleman]

Similar to last year. I watched a game or two on STO on the dish but between the production values, the uninteresting lineup and the ugly old turf (I know, no longer a factor) I couldn't bring myself to watch any more.

And I love watching Division III football. So that says something.

[seventiesraider]

If the rest of the JCU recruiting class is of the same caliber as the two young men I know, Ryan Brodie and Casey Schwing, then watch out. They were two of the fastest sprinters in the Portage Trail Conference last spring. I see Tom Arth is new assistant coach.

[HScoach]

The one thing that I did not like was the fall lineup for the OAC telecasts on STO.  BW had something like 4 or 5 games on there. Are you kidding me? Outside of Berea, I can't imagine anyone would want to watch their anemic offense.

You mean there are people inside Berea that enjoy watching that offense?  Really?  Wow.

[HScoach]

hscoach.......thanks for the update.  Were there any standout freshmen?  Any injuries??  At this point, you want to keep everyone healthy, while still encouraging "live" competition!

I don't have anything on specific freshman.  I have heard that they're very happy with the freshmen QB's as a group though.

[Pat Coleman]

The QB from Muskingum will not play this year due to a heart condition, although he was on the show. Unfortunate for him and the Muskies.

Is this Nash you're referring to?

[reality check]

The one thing that I did not like was the fall lineup for the OAC telecasts on STO.  BW had something like 4 or 5 games on there. Are you kidding me? Outside of Berea, I can't imagine anyone would want to watch their anemic offense.

You mean there are people inside Berea that enjoy watching that offense?  Really?  Wow.

I don't know about liking that offense but I mean hey, some of us think so highly of BW we painted our guest bathrooms to honor them...



Finally a fitting place for the beloved YELLOW and BROWN.