FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Adam Sayer]

Someone say a prayer for me. It's round 1 with the parents for conferences 

[Most Known, Unknown.]

!Ok, lets talk MSJ and FC, both teams are going to face some good quality teams, but I truly believe that both can come out with a win, they both just have to remember what got them to this point, and take their games up to the next level. There is a vast difference between regular season games and post season games, everyone is taking their level of play up a notch, and I hope both MSJ and FC can do that!! It should be rocking at FC stadium on Sat hosting a post season game is a great accomplishment

[altor]

question for anybody who has seen mount union play:

how far above are they in terms of talent from the rest of DIII? do they just run a more sound program? do they they just have better schemes? or can they compete against the nationally rated DII teams? or is it a case of a philosophy that works and everybody buys in?

I don't recall if we came down to Defiance to watch MUC when I was a child.  I half remember sitting in the stands for that game (the old bleacher stands...before they built Corressel Stadium), but I don't know if it is actual memories or what people who played on that DC team later told me about the game.  I've been to DC games since I was about 6 years old, so a lot of those games kinda run together anymore.  In any case, it was long enough ago that it probably wouldn't have anything to do with this MUC team.

Here's something to chew on.  David Rothman's FACT ranking:

 89 San Diego St         I-A    4  5 
 90 Houston              I-A    6  4 
 91 NW Missouri St       II     9  1 
 92 Central Washington   II     8  2 
 93 Mount Union          III   10  0 
 94 Massachusetts        I-AA   8  2 
 95 Miami OH             I-A    5  5 
 96 James Madison        I-AA   7  3 
 97 Bowling Green        I-A    6  4 
100 Notre Dame           I-A    1  9 
217 Central IA           III   10  0 

Better than all but 6 D-II schools and 7 DI-FCS schools.

Or, perhaps you prefer Massey instead (using his MOV ratings, not the politically correct BCS ratings).

 71 Tulsa            FBS   7  3
 72 C Michigan       FBS   6  4
 73 Fresno St        FBS   6  4
 74 Richmond         FCS   8  2
 75 Mt Union         III  10  0
 76 Pittsburgh       FBS   4  5
 77 Appalachian St   FCS   8  2
 78 S Illinois       FCS   9  1
 79 Navy             FBS   6  4
111 Notre Dame       FBS   1  9
192 WI Whitewater    III   9  1

He has them behind only 3 D-II and 4 DI-FCS schools.

Both of these also rate MUC better than every school in Ohio except Ohio State and Cincinnati.  They also have them rated better than Notre Dame.

[dc_has_been]

Sayer- Watch our for those parent who try to bully you & make it your fault their "wonderful" child is failing.

[Most Known, Unknown.]

That's some great information. I don't think that anyone on here doubts Mount U talent, and supreme dominance above all the rest, wow above some d-1 schools huh! Do you think Mount U could defeat ND???

[dc_has_been]

Mount Union is a great program, but if they were to play Notre Dame or even Bowling Green or possibly Central Washigton they would lose those games.  I do not want to take anything from them, but it is the difference of having a few guys running a 4.3 40 to a bunch of guys in DI & DII.

[wally_wabash]

I don't think Notre Dame could beat a dirty rug right now.  That team is awful. 

The Wabash crowd has been quiet on the playoff front so far...it takes a few days to get the wind back in the sails after losing to DPU (which is actually something that I think could be a big factor...I'm hoping not, but it could be).  I'm curious to hear from the Franklin crowd how they think the two teams (MSJ and Wabash) match up. 

[Most Known, Unknown.]

Wally Wabash, being MSJ alum. I have not had the pleasure of seeing the team play this year, but what I have heard is they have a solid team, with solid role players. They have had some key injury this year to their star RB, I don't know his status, and what's going on with Mike Jones, and he has been non-existent, is he hurt? MSJ has a tough defense, and a solid offense, so it should be an interesting game. I'm still gathering some information about you guys. I know you have a solid Linebacker up there, and some good players should be a nice test, for both teams, not much scoring, but I predict that MSJ will win 17-14!

[victorybell_57]

and as pat coleman would say, a few good qb's.

i've seen them on film a lot, and i noticed one thing. they all know what they are doing on each play, and they all try to do it to the best of their ability. if something goes wrong, they go back and try again. by that i mean, they go full speed on every play. i'm sure we played with guys who couldn't do that everyplay for whatever reason.

i met a guy who played at mount union and said kehres has an interesting way of motivating his players. he agreed with his style, just said it puts a lot of pressure on them during practice. everything was demanded  to the enth degree, and nothing went unnoticed. it was like the play had to be perfect or they were penalized 5 yards and had to go 15 to get the first. everybody knew it was your fault, and you got another chance to get it right or you were bumped out. he also said when guys didn't go full speed in team situations, they were yanked out and a coach made them do up/downs, run steps, run a gasser, or something to annoy them so they didn't go half speed again. oh, he said he one guy talk once during practice, just once.

he may actually be the modern day bear bryant!!

as strict as that seems, he also did say they didn't practice on fridays his senior year because kehres told them they looked faster on saturday when they just watched film for an hour on friday. he also said kehres is revered like the god father, and that every player would eat a brick for him. while he is tough, he said he never heard him say stuff like "hey you fat sob, or are you stupid, or anything like that." and one more thing he thinks the guys respected was that kehres would walk by a lowly 4th stringer sometimes and say "hey, that was a good catch two weeks in 7 on 7's, i'd like to see you keep improving."

it may sound trite, but i loved hearing how the program operated from one of the former players. 

[Adam Sayer]

I know it's wrong...but the thing that sticks out most from conferences is how many hot moms there were. I thought I was teaching in Beverly Hills for a second.

Basically MUC is the way they are because in a nutshell, they do one thing...pay attention to detail.

[wabashcpa]

Adam,

MILF's are never wrong!!!

[DEACONBLUE]

It was a 90 degree September Saturday when we were introduced to a definite playoff football team.  The Griz were in mid-season form on both sides of the ball.  What amazed me the most about Franklin was their almost perfect play calling.  If this is the Franklin you guys know better than I, they will be a dangerous playoff opponent.

Franklin's campus was like a rock concert for that home-opener, I can't imagine what it will be like this Saturday.  Truely enjoyed the HCAC football atmosphere at both Manchester and Franklin...classic college football.

Bring it Grizzlies!

[victorybell_57]

leonard is all about the atmosphere

[M and L]

MKU: Mike Jones is out for the season, but I'm not sure for what injury.

Going back to the MUC topic because having played against them that the calibar of athletes that they do bring in is definelty up the level than most other players in DIII.  Then when a team adds all those other intangibles that have been brought up.  As it was already said, it makes for  one extrodinary team.  Just think about that 05 team of MSJ.  How many of those players could have seen playing time, not even being ligt starts?  Maybe half a dozen or so?

Looking back on that game I can honestly say that I have never played against a O-Line that a) was so well coached in Tech, never made a mistake to captilize on as well the blocking shcemes b) a line with such good feet that run laterially on toss plays and run period to cut LB's like Volker, Ackerman, and Hogel (mostley b/c they would cutblock though).  And a line that had such feet to pass block and get their hips in front of a defender.  c) then combine all that with the power to blow guys off the ball in the second half to pound the rock down your throat.

Now I don't wont to seem like I'm jumping on the band wagon either, but far they were the best football that I have every played against.  Maybe that was because we never played teams other HCAC compition, and getting a taste of OAC was a rud awaking.  A topic that has been discused here before

[M and L]

Does any one know anything about Wabash and their O?