FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[mr_mom]

ah, Praiderguy ... you beat me by 11 seconds!   

[reality check]

One of the Fantasy Leagues I am in this year has an unexpected heavy emphasis on return yardage.  And I am proud to say that I have not only UWW's Derek Stanley but also Pierre Garcon on my starting roster for fantasy football. 

[pradierguy]

One of the Fantasy Leagues I am in this year has an unexpected heavy emphasis on return yardage.  And I am proud to say that I have not only UWW's Derek Stanley but also Pierre Garcon on my starting roster for fantasy football. 

haha thats pretty cool

[OldOtter]

that's funny... i picked Pierre up in my initial draft. Looked kinda funny because i drafted the 1,596th ranked player. Thought he was going to be my sleeper. Had to drop him after the first game.

[HScoach]

say hscoach when is the pod-cast going to be up?

No idea.  Usually up by now.

http://www2.muc.edu/athletics/broadcasts/broadcast-center.aspx

[seventiesraider]

OldOtter-You've been great to have on the board. Hopefully your boys rebound next week and you can stick around for the playoff ride.

[OldOtter]

70's... I hope so too. The guys took the loss pretty hard. They did everything the could do to prepare for the game but like coach loth said, it's tough to beat a team who has All-OAC players across the board at every position. Mount is a program that every team in the OAC strives to be like. OTT is working on getting there, but as Saturday showed, they still have a longgggg way to go.

JCU will be tough. In my four years we only beat them once. I know from expereince how difficult it is to go up there and play in November. Terrible weather is almost a given. Snowed both times i played in University Heights. The Cards need to realize that not beating JCU could end their great season prematurely. Even at 8-2 and second in the OAC isn't a given for getting into the playoffs. Especially if they drop the last two games of the season. I'm oretty sure 9-1 will get them in. But, it's up to the guys. I know they want it, they just have to make it happen this week. JCU beat us last year in double OT. I hope that game is still in the back of the returning guys minds.

[HScoach]

The first round of the playoffs for Otterbein is Saturday in U Heights.  Win and they play again.  Lose and they're done.

9-1 in the OAC is an absolute lock for a Pool C bid.

8-2 itself isn't the problem, it's losing the last two.  You can ask Wheaton about that scenario.

Personally, I hope they play well and beat JCU.  Their running game could cause someone fits in the playoffs with the likely crappy weather you get in the playoffs.    Go Otters!

[reality check]

Otterbein has almost zero playoff chances if they lose to JCU.  Going 9-1 I'd say they're a near-lock.  If OTT went 8-2 and the loss came to a top-tier team, then we could argue for them but losing to JCU would be a deal-breaker.  JCU's not horrible but they're not the old JCU and one could argue that the OAC is not the old OAC we are all so used to.  If OTT and MUC take care of business, we'll have two top-tier teams this season with a logjam of mediocre teams and two or three poor teams.  That's not the normal OAC where even a third or fourth place school could win some of the other regional conferences.  ONU, CAP, JCU and BW are all basically .500 teams and that never happens (with those four schools) in the same season.

Take care of business Otterbein.  No excuses.  Get yourselves another shot at Mount or whomever is thrown at you.

(hscoach beat me to it but I'm posting this anyways)

[HScoach]

Otterbein has almost zero playoff chances if they lose to JCU.  Going 9-1 I'd say they're a near-lock.  If OTT went 8-2 and the loss came to a top-tier team, then we could argue for them but losing to JCU would be a deal-breaker.  JCU's not horrible but they're not the old JCU and one could argue that the OAC is not the old OAC we are all so used to.  If OTT and MUC take care of business, we'll have two top-tier teams this season with a logjam of mediocre teams and two or three poor teams.  That's not the normal OAC where even a third or fourth place school could win some of the other regional conferences.  ONU, CAP, JCU and BW are all basically .500 teams and that never happens (with those four schools) in the same season.

Take care of business Otterbein.  No excuses.  Get yourselves another shot at Mount or whomever is thrown at you.

(hscoach beat me to it but I'm posting this anyways)

Unfortunately I agree.  Mount is still very good, but the eroding of the OAC is making them look better than they are. 

With the post-Rocky Crusaders finishing in 2nd last year, and if Otterbein can finish business at JCU, that's two pretty weak 2nd place OAC teams making the playoffs.  Neither of them would be within 20 points of the Robertson led ONU teams, or Arth's JCU, or Rocky's Capital.

Assuming the Norht Region shakes out with normal teams, all I ask of Otterbein if they make it is to not lose in the first round or against an NCAC team.  There's no shame in losing to a CCIW squad.

[raiderpa]

I saw some really good stuff from Otterbein and see why they were unbeaten coming in against Mount.  I think they will beat JCU and get a playoff bid... I am rooting for the Otters as I want to see two OAC teams in the playoffs, and I think they are good enough to win a first round game.....Unfortunately, they will most likely be placed in the Mount bracket and would see the Raiders in round two, assuming the Raiders get to round two...(cough cough)
I think I will head to the JCU-Ott game Saturday...should be fun to watch....

[ADL70]

Heaven forbid Otterbein should lose to Wabash or CWRU! 

I see no shame in losing a game as long as you give your best effort, regardless of the conference that team is from.

[usee]

Heaven forbid Otterbein should lose to Wabash or CWRU! 

I see no shame in losing a game as long as you give your best effort, regardless of the conference that team is from.

You may have to read back several hundred pages to really understand the history behind HSC comments. 

[Toph]

Schmiddy-

Just wanted to let you know that I'll be in U Heights to watch the Blue Streaks take on your Cards.  I'll be an "independent observer" as well.

As much as I'd love to see two OAC schools in the playoffs, I hope JCU plays the spoiler on Saturday.

[HScoach]

Heaven forbid Otterbein should lose to Wabash or CWRU! 

I see no shame in losing a game as long as you give your best effort, regardless of the conference that team is from.

I hate to sound like such a prick on this subject, but for an OAC team to lose to Case would be a HUGE disgrace for the conference.  Case has had a nice run the last couple years, but they're not at the same level physically.

Wabash is pretty good and would probably be a great test for the 2nd OAC team, if not favored over them, but their team and fans are way beyond annoying.  And the NCAC as a whole is made up of teams that left the OAC because they were sick of losing.....oops, 'wanted to focus on academics".....  Hence the "don't lose to a NCAC team" sentiment.