FB: Empire 8

[not so rowdy bomber]

..well you'll get shown interest if you are not:

Name:  Mike Smith
Hometown: Anytown Central/Upstate NY
Grades: B
Nationality: American
Race: White
Religion: Christian/ Non denominational
Political: Conservative Moderate
Music: Country and Rock
Interest: Football,baseball, drinking PBR, girlfriend
Family affiliation with school: none
need for financial aid to cover $39,000 IC Bill:  High demand

[Toph]

+k from me too.

MUC fans shouldn't think the game is going to be close.  But they should know we are going to play.  And they should know we aren't some patsy.  At the very least, we can all agree that IC isn't going to just lose, they will have to be beaten.

You're absolutely right about that.  I think pretty much everyone (besides TheeBuffaloSabres) realizes that to make it to the playoffs you have to have a pretty good football team.  I think, however, that those who have seen MUC this year have a hard time seeing them get beat.

And Rowdy- the last time Mount had a rebuilding season...well, they didn't win it in '04 

[realistic]

Rowdy - I think you are spot on with a lot of that.  The new Athletic Center should be a help to recruiting, but while the increased standards and prestige of the school looks great for us (alums) it makes it a lot harder to get people in.  And, of course, the $40 grand price tag isn't helping either.

Tags - the more I hear (for a lot of sports) you are right too.

[Toph]

I meant to add this to my last post for you, Rowdy.  How do you want to define "rebuilding?"

MUC went 11-1 in 1986 (Kehres' first year) and followed it up by going 6-4, 6-3-1, 7-2-1.  Then 10-1 in 1990.

[er1948]

Rowdy- the PBR explains a lot, we have to get you some of 91's UC

[fisheralum91]

ER- You mean i have to share uc with a .........gulp.............IC fan?
ouch
ok
but i dont want to see any bad faces while drinking mothers milk!

[not so rowdy bomber]

Well Rowdy is off to Albany for a Happy Hour... for work of course.  Looks like this'll be the last post till Sunday when Rowdy returns.

Give 'em Hell! in Alliance-  Despite the fact Rowdy's voice will not be heard screaming "WHERES HE GOING!?!" at pre-pubescent levels, or shouting out when we have acheived 10 yards or more, holding up the spirit fingers, or calling out the cheerleaders for toe-touches and herkies and we battle it out with the Grimace and his purple friends... Rowdy would like each of the Bombers to know that the FDC and Rowdy Rowdy will be there in spirit cheering and jeering accordingly for a big Bomber "W."

Make some big plays, seniors lead the way, and younger guys, its time to step up and make things happen.  MUC.  good luck.  the Men in Blue are coming for you!


Go Bombers!

[HScoach]

MUC survives the rebuilding years by having great depth and playing a ton of guys in the regular season to get them as much experience as possible so that when it's their turn, they're not scared.  Especially at the skill positions.  4 different QB's have seen meaningful minutes this season.  Just last week, sophomore back-up QB Cecil Shorts (who is either 3rd or 4th string depending on who you believe), led a TD drive in the 1st quarter with the #1 offense.  Various RB's and WR's have seen action with the #1 offense too. 

Not sure if the eastern schools have a JV team, but most of the midwest teams play JV games on either Sunday afternoons or Monday nights and therefore the young guys are getting a chance to play and make name for themselves.  Even though it's only JV, getting a freshman or sophomore some early playing time is often crucial in his development both physically and mentally as he fights his way up the depth chart.

The biggest "rebuilding" year for MUC was 1998 after they lost something like 17 starters including Gagliardi award winner Bill Borchert at QB.  The '98 season was a real battle as numerous regular season wins were come-from-behind and miracle victories.  Playoffs were more of the same with Albion missing a chip shot FG that would have won it.  In all honesty, we figured MUC would finish about 3rd in the OAC that year, and probably should have just simply based on talent, but they continually found ways to win.  Mainly because Kehres keeps them so even keeled.  Never too high, never too low.

Next year looks to be another huge rebuilding year as this team is VERY senior dominated.  The offense will return only 4 starters next year (Kmic at TB, Micheli at QB, Morring at RB and Reynolds at TE) and the defense is even worse with only 2 returning starters (Millings at DE and Ely at CB).  What often gets over looked in Mount's success is their dominance on the line of scrimmage.  Which really puts a ? into '08 as they lose all 5 O-linemen and 3 D-linemen. 

There have been other years where they've had to replace the majority of the starters, but nothing quite as bad as '98 and what '08 looks to be. 

Which brings me to thinking of the '08 opener versus SJF.  If you're a Fisher fan, you couldn't have picked a better year to be opening with Mount because they'll be as young and inexperienced as they've ever been.

[superman57]

I hope that Mount has to play fisher twice in a row

[BuckeyeRaider]

Rowdy would like to know, when was the last "rebuilding season" at MUC.  There has been much talk about rebuilding and reloading on the East board throughout the year and for a team who has been so good for so long, it puzzles Rowdy how they continue to do it.

Also, what will it take for other teams to build up such dominance in DIII as MUC has done over the last 10 years.  Whatever the recepie, do share.  Bombers have been a good team for a very long time, and have had some excellent teams along the way, some making it to the big game others have come close which we all wonder "what if's" things had worked out differently.  It is my hope that Ithaca can shake off the woes of "good" seasons with tough breaks and return to their former excellence in having great seasons.  

What will this take?  Despite Peggy Williams support of athletics I think her kick on diversifying Ithaca and projecting Ithaca as a very diverse campus has drivin many a good athlete away.  Their incredible expectations for admission are only getting harder and harder...  (average SAT is closer to 1250 now) and their ever increasing tuition is going up like gas prices.  For a few dollars more, why not go across the street to Cornell?  As for Football specifically, lets hope the new Athletics Center and expansion of campus can draw more of the NY, PA, OH, and FL prospects up to Gorges Ithaca.  

I apologize for appearing to be a rookie on the board.  I had a computer crash earlier in the fall and had to reregister as my username and password were forgotten.

One of the big factors is that I'm not sure that people outside of our region understand how good Ohio high school football really is.  When you look at Big Ten rosters you see that many teams focus their recruiting in Ohio.  Michigan (who traditionally is pretty good) usually has many Ohio players on the roster for one.

Ohio currently has the fourth most NFL players of any state trailing only California, Texas and Florida which are all states which much larger populations.  So, the talent is certainly there to support successful programs (most notably Ohio State, Youngstown State and MUC).

Mount Union obviously has a proven recipe for success.  It has to be pretty easy to get the younger players to buy into the program and the way it is run given the past successes.  The other factors are the Mount Union mystique and the fact that the program has already done this so many times that their preparation for the playoffs and championship games in leagues ahead of most of the competition.  It's an easy thing before the game to pound ones chest and proclaim that you're ready and won't be intimidated or fall apart when a couple of breaks go the wrong way.  It's much more difficult once you're there and you are playing an opponent that is at least as good as you at every single position.

Anyway, best of luck to Ithaca this weekend.  I'm hoping that Mount can have some stern tests as the true mark of a championship team is how they perform under adversity.

Safe travels to all.

[skunks_sidekick]

Hello All You E8 Shills!   

Just wanted to let you know that one of the local newspapers here gave some love to the Bombers today.  LK had high praise for the program.  I don't know how to post links.....but go to cantonrep.com/sports and you can find the article.

Jose...you headed up this way?  If you are, and are taking the "Airtran Express" from the Florida west coast (I thought I read on here that you are in FL), give me a shout and I will be happy to show you all the glory that is Canton/Stark County, OH.   

As for all the back and forth and hype for the game......isn't that what this board is for?  Here's thanking the football gods (the NCAA committee) Mount isn't playing the 6-4 MIAA rep this year.  Last year's first round game was sad.  I hope for a challenging game, with Mount "squeaking out" a 42-14 win.   

One thing to keep in mind (or not).....LK is big on the theory that "it's all about moving on".  There are no style points in this tournament.  If he thinks that they can win a game 14-7 by running the ball 80 times, he would not be adverse to doing so. 

I for one am really looking forward to Saturday's game.  Here's hoping Ithaca brings their best game so all of us can really see how good Mount Union is this year.

[realistic]

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=386620&Category=17&subCategoryID=30

not even through the link to the story and 2 things jump out.

1)  IC needs to take a new pic of Mike Welch

2)  IthAca, not Ithica

[realistic]

otherwise, very nice article.

[JT]

Cecil Shorts.  Funny name. 

[er1948]

91- I thought a few UC's might mellow him out, I know the sacrifice !!!