East Region Playoff Discussion

[Dr. Acula]

Hey, no diminishing this potential Statesmen win, the Raiders do hold the trophy, although when I look at the stats from UMU's only competitive opponents Ohio Northern and JCU, it is encouraging. The size of the teams are comparable, Hobart's average Offensive Lineman is 6'3.5" and 287 pounds, while Mount's is 6'2" 288 pounds, Hobart's 4 DLs are 6'1" 264 and Mount's front 3 are 6'1" and 258 pounds, Hobart's LB's average is 6'0" 220 and Mount's are 5'11" /226 , the defensive backfields are similarly sized as are the running backs and receivers with the exception of Shed who is 6'4"....  I hear the speed and quickness is the essential difference between the LL and the top 10 programs and  we will see whether this is proven on Saturday.

Rarely is size where Mount's advantage comes from.  It's nearly always speed.  But as HScoach said, this isn't your typical Mount team.  They have weaknesses that can be exploited (namely defending the pass).  If Hobart is proficient throwing the ball then they absolutely can win.

[HScoach]

Damn, did Hobart get punished for getting in, and for MUC losing?  Instantly, the season went from a possible final 8-or-better run, to a let's-try-not-to-get-blasted-by-50-in-the-first-round campaign.  Mount will be an angry hive of hornets.   F*ck.

Take advantage of the opportunity of facing the least talented Mount team in 25 years.   The helmets will say "Raiders", but this isn't your daddy's Mount.

Then how far have all of the teams fallen in the OAC outside of UMU and JCU?  You guys still murdered the rest of them.

The OAC as a whole stinks.  There was a time, like the late 1990s and early 00s, where the conference was fighting like mad to catch Mount.   The last decade has been more like most of the schools have just given up.

[Bartman]

Hey, no diminishing this potential Statesmen win, the Raiders do hold the trophy, although when I look at the stats from UMU's only competitive opponents Ohio Northern and JCU, it is encouraging. The size of the teams are comparable, Hobart's average Offensive Lineman is 6'3.5" and 287 pounds, while Mount's is 6'2" 288 pounds, Hobart's 4 DLs are 6'1" 264 and Mount's front 3 are 6'1" and 258 pounds, Hobart's LB's average is 6'0" 220 and Mount's are 5'11" /226 , the defensive backfields are similarly sized as are the running backs and receivers with the exception of Shed who is 6'4"....  I hear the speed and quickness is the essential difference between the LL and the top 10 programs and  we will see whether this is proven on Saturday.

Rarely is size where Mount's advantage comes from.  It's nearly always speed.  But as HScoach said, this isn't your typical Mount team.  They have weaknesses that can be exploited (namely defending the pass).  If Hobart is proficient throwing the ball then they absolutely can win.

Well then  , this could be our dream Mount Union matchup because this is the best passing attack in the history of the Hobart program...and certainly the best passing team the Mount has seen this season.We will see how  the speed, skill and coaching separates these teams...the $8 admission price should be well worth it

[ITH radio]

I wish I could see it in person. Made some reco's on the OAC board for those visiting Geneva for the first time. Doesn't look to be too cold this wkd but maybe wet.

[AUKaz00]

I know the game in Mayberry doesn't hold the same drama (on paper) as a few other matchups, but for anyone heading this way for saterday's game you can stock up on soup and pie at the Montessori School Bazaar before kickoff.

On Saxon Warriors!!!

[fisheralum91]

Silly question- Who will announce the ECAC games?
Do they have a team of announcers that will call all of the games?

[AUPepBand]

I know the game in Mayberry doesn't hold the same drama (on paper) as a few other matchups, but for anyone heading this way for saterday's game you can stock up on soup and pie at the Montessori School Bazaar before kickoff.

On Saxon Warriors!!!


Pep just hijacked KaZoo's post and fixed the link. Hehe. Hope this works.

[Bartman]

I wish I could see it in person. Made some reco's on the OAC board for those visiting Geneva for the first time. Doesn't look to be too cold this wkd but maybe wet.

I am hoping for a dry day, but current forecast is rain...as I am afraid the run game of Mount Union will have the edge....although, it looks to be in the mid 50's. I still can't believe we are playing Mount Union at the Boz

[ITH radio]

Silly question- Who will announce the ECAC games?
Do they have a team of announcers that will call all of the games?

Yes, Seth Kantor (former USMMA PBP guy, now voice of various NY college and AAA type programs) and Emory Hunt (aka @FootballGamePlan) will announce all the ECAC games.

[fisheralum91]

Thank you!
Looking forward to the broadcast!

[wesleydad]

Well the East has a chance to make a statement this week and next if the match up happens.  Hobart gets a shot at Mount this week, and even if they lose but make the game respectable that will show better than most of the OAC did.  Next week either Wesley ( I think they win this game) or Stevenson will likely play John Carroll, the team that beat Mount.  Again, a win would be great but a strong showing in a tough loss will prove that the top of the East is competitive with the top of the OAC.  Time for the East teams to put up or we will just have to shut up about the East being the weak link in D3.

[Bartman]

Well the East has a chance to make a statement this week and next if the match up happens.  Hobart gets a shot at Mount this week, and even if they lose but make the game respectable that will show better than most of the OAC did.  Next week either Wesley ( I think they win this game) or Stevenson will likely play John Carroll, the team that beat Mount.  Again, a win would be great but a strong showing in a tough loss will prove that the top of the East is competitive with the top of the OAC.  Time for the East teams to put up or we will just have to shut up about the East being the weak link in D3.

All true Wesleydad.....but we MUST bring down at least one of the OAC teams...no one remembers close games.....heck Hobart played Wesley close in 2011 with our second string QB the last time we got a tough matchup in the first round and no one cared.......2 wins and it is epic in changing perceptions

[boobyhasgameyo]

Well the East has a chance to make a statement this week and next if the match up happens.  Hobart gets a shot at Mount this week, and even if they lose but make the game respectable that will show better than most of the OAC did.  Next week either Wesley ( I think they win this game) or Stevenson will likely play John Carroll, the team that beat Mount.  Again, a win would be great but a strong showing in a tough loss will prove that the top of the East is competitive with the top of the OAC.  Time for the East teams to put up or we will just have to shut up about the East being the weak link in D3.

All true Wesleydad.....but we MUST bring down at least one of the OAC teams...no one remembers close games.....heck Hobart played Wesley close in 2011 with our second string QB the last time we got a tough matchup in the first round and no one cared.......2 wins and it is epic in changing perceptions

The same year Fisher beat JCU at JCU they were also in a one possession game with Mary-Hardin Baylor at their palace in Texas until midway through the 4th quarter.  Then a Fisher DB dropped a sure interception right through his hands on what turned out to be a UMHB scoring drive to go up 2 scores.  Fisher gambled with a couple minutes to go on 4th down deep in their territory (because they had to) and failed to convert.  UMHB punched in a garbage score for good measure with a minute and a half to go to win by 3 scores.  It was so disappointing to me because that was a competitive, back and forth game with Fisher having huge momentum when they brought it back to a one score game in the 4th.  The final score didn't reflect how close it was and it just seemed like a convincing loss.  But Fisher was close to being an east team that beat a mighty foe from the OAC and then a top purple power all on the road, with an undefeated Hobart team sandwiched in between. 

As mentioned last night in the LL board - nobody even really talks about it outside of Fisher folks when it comes to the east proving itself in recent years.  But it's cool.  Our region's time is coming.  Here is to hoping Hobart takes the conversation to a whole new level this Saturday. 

[Pat Coleman]

Well the East has a chance to make a statement this week and next if the match up happens.  Hobart gets a shot at Mount this week, and even if they lose but make the game respectable that will show better than most of the OAC did.  Next week either Wesley ( I think they win this game) or Stevenson will likely play John Carroll, the team that beat Mount.  Again, a win would be great but a strong showing in a tough loss will prove that the top of the East is competitive with the top of the OAC.  Time for the East teams to put up or we will just have to shut up about the East being the weak link in D3.

All true Wesleydad.....but we MUST bring down at least one of the OAC teams...no one remembers close games.....heck Hobart played Wesley close in 2011 with our second string QB the last time we got a tough matchup in the first round and no one cared.......2 wins and it is epic in changing perceptions

The same year Fisher beat JCU at JCU they were also in a one possession game with Mary-Hardin Baylor at their palace in Texas until midway through the 4th quarter.  Then a Fisher DB dropped a sure interception right through his hands on what turned out to be a UMHB scoring drive to go up 2 scores.  Fisher gambled with a couple minutes to go on 4th down deep in their territory (because they had to) and failed to convert.  UMHB punched in a garbage score for good measure with a minute and a half to go to win by 3 scores.  It was so disappointing to me because that was a competitive, back and forth game with Fisher having huge momentum when they brought it back to a one score game in the 4th.  The final score didn't reflect how close it was and it just seemed like a convincing loss.  But Fisher was close to being an east team that beat a mighty foe from the OAC and then a top purple power all on the road, with an undefeated Hobart team sandwiched in between. 

In reality, this was a 60-minute game and it was only a one-possession score for the first 11:27, three and a half minutes in the second quarter and 2:10 in the fourth. Fisher did get back into it after being down 29-6, for sure. But is a score with 97 seconds left a garbage-time score when you're up by 15?

[boobyhasgameyo]

Yeah I suppose framing it as an insurance touchdown would be more appropriate.  I thought they could just take knees and run out the clock at that point, but I just looked back and I see Fisber was calling timeouts even with under 2 minutes to go.  So it's clear they weren't giving up and UMHB obliged them by continuing to play and scoring that final touchdown. 

Also, my memory failed me on that last Fisher drive.  It was a sack/forced fumble that ended the drive and not a failed 4th down conversion.  Moved the ball to near midfield and UMHB took over at the Fisher 49 after the fumble recovery.  So it wasn't "deep in Fisher territory" so much as it being as close to the edge of Fisher territory as humanly possible