FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[OU#25]

seventies,
re: your last Nate yardage comment
Don't get me wrong, I genuflect at The Altar of Nate (TAN), sure he didn't play much his freshman regular season (26 carries in 6 games), but he's had 5 playoffs games each of the last three seasons and one so far this year running behind Mount Union's offense to make up for it.  A lot of good backs would love to trade places with Nate! 

Maybe..but technically he should have faced "tougher" competition in the playoffs then he would have during the regular season?  It's one thing to run over a bottom tier team and another to run over a top 10??

[pumkinattack]

That's Ryan Aruck.  He's a four year starter and a very good athlete (6'2", 295).  One of our best on D along with the ILB's (Hager and Sanders).  The other top defensemen are Drake Woodard (CB - FY) and Lance Boyington (FS - 5'4", but one hell of a player, you kind of have to be to start for a playoff team with that size).

Hobart's gotten burned on the rush, but for the most part its been on stretches to the weak side where the DE and OLB can get overmatched.  Only in one game were holes created up the middle.  

[reality check]

I had the fortune of covering Hobart when they travelled to Delaware Valley in the 2005 playoffs for D3football.com/ncaasports.com.  The fans that made the trip were spirited and impressed me in the fact that I can't recall any of them doing anything foolish or distasteful.  The game itself was a classic and cold.  There were ugly field conditions as Del Val had torn their field to shreds in the previous weeks and this game was played just above freezing so the ground was soft.  It was a scoreless game until both teams went for 5 total TD's in the fourth quarter.  It was an incredible game to cover and Hobart fought to the last second as they tried to tie the game missing on a pass inside the Del Val 20 yard line as time expired.

I remember Aruck being an impact guy even in 2005 as a freshman.  Jimmy Gradis was all over the field in that game with 15 or more tackles.  RB Hobaica and LB Hager played a good deal in that game as freshmen as well.  

Hobart has a strong alumni base from what I remember so hopefully they travel well to Alliance.

[reality check]

We talked a while back about University of New Haven starting back up with football and my wife just got her alumni magazine.  Thought I'd share the new field they put in.  Boise State has some company.

[seventiesraider]

Hobart's gotten burned on the rush, but for the most part its been on stretches to the weak side where the DE and OLB can get overmatched.  Only in one game were holes created up the middle.  

Hopefully we have Cecil Shorts back to keep the strong side occupied but we have enough quality recievers to flood that side and let Kmic pick his holes. Nate has a tendency to make people look silly but 265 pounders just get to stand and watch if he gets the first step. Not worried until I hear about lightening fast corners who can change direction in midair like Shorts.
Fake to Kmic and pass to Shorts or fake to Shorts and handle off to Kmic, either way you freeze the defense while two all-american quality players get at least two steps.

How you'll know there is a blowout going on: Mount is killing the clock by running up the middle.

RC: Gag, vomit. Nice soccer field. Didn't know there was any group with that poor of taste on the East Coact. Idaho yes

[seventiesraider]

Fake to Kmic and pass to Shorts or fake to Shorts and handle off to Kmic, either way you freeze the defense while two all-american quality players get at least two steps.

Oops, make that three all-american caliber players when you include Micheli, who s/b the All-Time leader in passing-efficency and a more than crediable running threat.

[labart96]

all our db's are fast - ball hawks too.  ultimately hobart's "best case scenario" is to mitigate kmic to the extent possible and "force" micheli to beat them since our CB and FS have 15 INTs total (both in the top 5 in d3), but micheli clearly has the arm (and the legs) to TCB.

[OU#25]

One more thing...I understand that  it's that time again (playoffs) where we get to be critical of every team including our own.  As MUC supporters we like turning over every stone in our backyard in order to keep the discussion boards lively.  I know a little about football and about reality... and the reality is that Mount won 56-0 on Saturday.  I also understand that their performance was probably against the #32 best team in the playoffs.  That being said...Mount could have scored 100 points in that game...and without hurting feelings...could have scored nearly 100 points every week this season.  I don't mean to insult anyone...but let's be honest.  They dominate nationally in every statistical category known to mankind and to the NCAA...and they have a history of this year in and year out.  Who kicks field goals or punts on 1st down...seriously???  Now...I have not drank the kool-aide and I do believe the OAC is down from last year... as is the rest of the D3 landscape (please note the #1 seeds this season).  That being said...Why is Mount's defensive quality seriously being questioned???  It's not like they lost or came within a hail mary short of losing?

Everyone not named Mount Union would consider a 2 touchdown victory a dominant win and I believe a 3 td margin is known as a "monkey stomp" in the WIAC and throughout this great country.  I think we've lost a little bit of reality when you look at the team Kehres has assembled on the field this year.  Even during the great years of Ballard or Borchert...Mount was tested continually with tight games...giving up loads of real estate to running backs and qb's throughout the season and playoffs.  This has not happened and will not happen this season.  I know this could have been said last season as well...and Mount lost in the Stagg....however Mount is not going to face someone this year named Beaver...during a torrential storm (Whitewater MVP=Global Warming) which eliminated Mount's passing game....but WWW won and they should be commended. 

Now onto this year...

No one runs on Mount and as far as the passing game goes...RMC had ONE long gain on the day...and without that play...they would have been well under 160 yards of total offense on Saturday.  Mount continued to put on film that they can run or pass on anyone at anytime.  No one is going to outscore Mount...Micheli and Kmic are seniors and have a chip on their shoulders which is a huge advantage...and who can cover Shorts...the best receiver in the country?  Defensively...a team might make a big play on Mount once every 2-3 quarters but that's not going to win someone a game.  I guess...I'm not understanding where all these doomsayers are coming from...saying Mount will not be able to make a crucial stop at somepoint during this season which will cost them a game???  Has anyone kept Mount from sacking their QB? or from a turnover or from a negative play...I mean let's get serious...the 1st team offense rarely even punts during a game.

I think Mount will make it to the Stagg and weather permitting score at least their average...(50 points) and as much as everyone would like to see it...I don't think anyone will be putting up 51 or more on them.  In fact, I think Kehres will make a statement and if things break right they could score more than the 61 they put on Lyco in the '98 Stagg...regardless of who they play this year.

[Li'l Giant]

We talked a while back about University of New Haven starting back up with football and my wife just got her alumni magazine.  Thought I'd share the new field they put in.  Boise State has some company.

Why does it have two sets of yardline numbers? And not on all, just some of the yardlines.

[seventiesraider]

Well, the book on Micheli is: Passing Efficency Rating of 217.7, 2 int's on the year, completion % of 77.1, 2791 yards passing, 29 passing touchdowns, 322 net yards rushing, tackled for a loss of 3 yards.

Be carefull what you force him to do. 8)

[MUfan_72]

Nice post OU#25.

Hobart plays with 3 in the defensive back field. No offense to Hobart's backs, but I havent seen anyone that can single cover Shorts. With 3 legitimate receivers on the field, how do you expect to stop the passing game? Linebacker on the tightend? I can only hope so, as he watches Reynolds run right past him. If that wasn't enough, we may not only see Kmic break the D3 runninng record this weekend, but possibly as he sets a mark for all purpose yards as he takes a screen/flare for a TD.

[reality check]

We talked a while back about University of New Haven starting back up with football and my wife just got her alumni magazine.  Thought I'd share the new field they put in.  Boise State has some company.

Why does it have two sets of yardline numbers? And not on all, just some of the yardlines.

I had to go back to the school site but the second set of numbers look upside down and may actually be stencils for painting the numbers themselves because the numbers on the 50 are tilted and backwards.  It's hard to tell but I'd guess it isn't permanent.

[TooForRaider]

I think the offensive weaknesses are the same as last year (evident in the Stagg).  Take away #1 WR (I think the O coordinator did this by not calling many plays to him), and make Mount run the ball between the tackles. The wet field (and ball) didn't help much either.  Micheli had butterfingers out there, but its hard to imagine another QB faring better in that weather. 

[bambord]

Many here have the utmost respect and admiration for Coach Larry Kehres.  If you are one, you may appreciate a find I stumbled on - an interesting read on Coach Kehres on the Law Pundit - Inveterate Blogging via a Seamless Web in a Ubiquitous World.  Yes, Law Pundit - ya da ya da.  I kid you not, I mean it, check it out:

http://www.lawpundit.com/blog/2008_11_01_lawpunditarchive.htm.

Search the page for Kehres.

Enjoy

[OU#25]

I think when you take all things into consideration...there's a different vibe when you're the defending national champion as compared to when you're the team that got beat in the national champonship game.

I'm saying Mount is better because Mount has something to prove this year as compared to a year ago at this time...

Micheli and Kmic are seniors who know they let one get away last season.  I don't see anyway possible that happens 2 years in a row...regardless of who they play.  In fact I hope it's Whitewater.