The chance the Raiders win another Stagg Bowl with the current coaching staff is highly unlikely.
One major aspect of having a championship program is recruiting and except for a few key players,
the star performers are no longer coming to Mount.

Just saw that Jason Candle is leaving Toledo for UMass and a new HC was announced. Apparently, Toledo did not want VK as a HC.
Hope he moves on from Toledo in a bigger assignment. Is he still a candidate for Nebraska DC?

Quote from: D3fanboy on December 08, 2025, 09:16:30 AM

Quote from: pradierguy on December 08, 2025, 08:03:10 AMI think Mount's decline is largely due to coaching and the university itself.

That being said, there is something about this generation of players that plays a part. No longer are extremely talented kids choosing to come to Mount knowing they might not play until their Junior or Senior years. Kids would rather take the "easier" route to playing time a join programs like BW, Wittenberg, etc. so they can play immediately. This era of youth sports with the incredibly insane parenting has caused a paradigm shift where little Johnny has to continue being the star of the show, and team results be dammed. It used to be a honor to wait your turn at Mount Union, but now that is just an insult to the player and their families if they aren't starting.

In the golden era, the OAC was:
#1 - Mount Union
#2 - Mount Union 2nd Unit
# 3- Maybe a Capital/BW/Heidelberg mixed in
#4 - Mount Union 3rd Unit

Those days are long gone. And I think its a function of the NCAA landscape these days, but also the reasons I mentioned above. That competitive edge and depth is completely absent at Mount.

like you said that is a college sports problem at every level, however Mount has always had kids leaving after a year or two.  They'd bring in 100+ freshman but less than a quarter of that would still be around as seniors.  Maybe if the Raiders would blow out a bottom feeder OAC program every once in a while, and get the starters out at the half, some of the underclassmen would get a little PT.

The current culture of the Mount Union program is just off.  You hear the successful LK disciples (Campbell, Candle, Sirianni, Elder, etc) talk about their programs and culture and you notice a big difference between that and what's going on in Alliance these days

Agree,

There are a multitude of issues that have affected the Raiders over the last five years, but the decline will continue unless the University wakes up to the fact that a new direction is solely needed. Could Mount be moving to a Capital attitude where the football program is fine as long as you can win a consistently weaker conference? I believe that the program has relied on its
former reputation as a top program in D3. At this point, Mount is lucky to be a top five football contender. As many have posted, Mount is no longer a team that most other schools fear.

Unless there are changes at the top, the University, the AD will just go on thinking everything is great. The attendance will continue to shrink and even the most loyal fans and alums will consider other teams to follow on Saturdays. Only playing one or two competitive games will not maintain much interest.

As a former player, active alum, I beginning to question if I want to remain a season ticket holder.

The Raiders had the talent to make a run at a title this year. The concern this year
was the defense and yet the defense played very well yesterday. Maloney is and will be a
good QB in the next few years.

However, the Raiders will not win the title again until there is a new HC. We have all seen
it several times in the past few years, why won't the University see it. Winning percentage
means nothing if the ultimate goals are not met.

After attending the Raider game last Saturday, a few thoughts:

- Mahoney was outstanding
- running game very quick and aggressive
- defense against the run, much improved
- good play call mix

JCU will have their hands full on Saturday!

Saturday's win against Muskingum was the most complete game the Raiders have had
in several weeks. They were sharp and where they need to be heading into the playoffs.
Let's see who comes to Alliance on the 29th?

Quote from: D3fanboy on November 06, 2025, 01:46:00 PMSaturday should be telling for the Purple Raiders.  If you are planning on playing in the Stagg Bowl, then we are at the midway point of the season.  I might not agree with the slow-down, conservative style over the past couple of weeks but I can see the value in trying to limit injuries, etc.  But now is the time to ramp things up. 

We'll know by the middle of the first quarter just how serious this Mount Union squad is.  Will they sleep walk through the first quarter or two again and let an inferior opponent gain confidence?  Is this team capable of putting together two good halves of football?  might need to do that at some point this season

If "the standard is the standard" then they really need to light up a Marietta team that is scuffling to even be .500.  Will the Raiders play up to their "standard"?  I wish there was more evidence to point that way, but right now I guess I just have to hope that they put it all together for 60 mins

It is time to get playoff ready, play the whole game not just part of it. Coaching is needed to
get ready. Coach L Kehres always had his team ready regardless of the opponent, but not these days
unfortunately.

The Raiders have enough talent to go deep in the playoff, maybe even a trip to Canton. It starts NOW!

I expect the Mount/ONU to be competitive. ONU is much better than recent years. My concern this year is the Raider defense. Just not as strong as recent years, and if they win the conference the offense will have to carry them in the playoffs. I remember how Wartburg just shredded the Mount defense two years ago. The defensive talent and size this year is limited. IMHO

I hear that Rocky Pentello still has a year of eligibility at Capital!  

Quote from: Dr. Acula on September 28, 2025, 11:13:08 PM

Quote from: purple on September 28, 2025, 09:11:27 AMBW played with great pride and dominated the line of scrimmage the first half. However, once again,Bw's  secondary was simply no match for the passing offense of the Purples. We have too many fast guys, a sophisticated attack, led by Coach Collins, and super skilled players. Obviously BW got outcoached in the halftime locker rooms. Coach Dartt has blasted three good teams and put together a Championship team. We're Number One.

We aren't #1.  They have beaten 3 good teams, but I'm w Desertraider, Dartt needs a title.  Until that happens or you beat NCC you aren't #1.  To be fair here, that's not about him.  If VK was the HC and hadn't won a title the peanut gallery would be even louder right now.  You've beaten 3 teams that won't see the semis.  That's expected TBH.  They have 2 months to tighten things up because they won't be challenged again in any real sense (sorry Etta). 

Agree, I do not see the Raiders being challenged by the rest of the OAC this season. Use the upcoming games to prepare for the playoffs. Need to win a title and in Canton would be nice.  Did not see the BW game, but I find it a bit strange that the Raider run defense was not there in the first half.

Did not hear for see the game, but based upon other posts and the box score, Grove City was not
as formable as many believed. I applaud them for scheduling an elite opponent, but they recognize
there is much to achieve to be competitive with top programs.

Although B-W won big over Wilmington, the game in two weeks will a good one in Berea.
The Raiders really do not have any other challenges until Marietta, IMHO.
QB Maloney is off to a great start, but he will need a championship
under his belt to be regarded as other Great QB's at Mount. 

Quote from: Dr. Acula on September 09, 2025, 06:16:34 PMGrove City game notes already up?  Now the sports info department is just trolling!

I didn't see any changes to the 2 deep.  GCC has some big boys up front on the OL and the starting FB and RB both checking in at 225 lbs.  Should be a physical game for the D.

The O-line for Wheaton was huge especially their tackles. Big receivers as well.

Raider game on Saturday 1:00 PM or 1:30 PM, there are conflicting starting times?

Quote from: Dr. Acula on August 24, 2025, 10:41:55 AM

Quote from: D3fanboy on August 23, 2025, 02:06:25 PM

Quote from: theaprof on August 23, 2025, 01:36:40 PMI miss Lenny and the info he used to supply.

two weeks away from toe meeting leather and who is actually on the Mount Union team is anybody's guess...it almost seems like more work to be so bad at social media, transparency, engagement, etc than what Mount does these days

Quote from: D3fanboy on August 23, 2025, 02:33:27 PM

Quote from: hsbsballcoach7 on August 23, 2025, 02:27:19 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on August 23, 2025, 02:06:25 PM

Quote from: theaprof on August 23, 2025, 01:36:40 PMI miss Lenny and the info he used to supply.

two weeks away from toe meeting leather and who is actually on the Mount Union team is anybody's guess...it almost seems like more work to be so bad at social media, transparency, engagement, etc than what Mount does these days

THIS... TRULY! When you're a program of this standard, you expect all areas to follow suit.  It's not like we expect them to share practice film, but things I've noticed other D3 programs sharing include:
Returning starters/key players
Key transfers
Highlight some freshmen (UMU Wrestling as already done this)
Countdown to Kickoff
Highlights from last year or practice this year
Stats from last year to note
Connect with the local newspaper

Those are all basic things that high school programs do.... create some excitement or hype!

Speaking of transfer, I had a friend tell me that Carson Dyrlund, a former local HS (Hoover) QB who went D2 (Northwood) is now at Mount. I think he was an athletic QB with a decent arm.

If you asked Dartt/his handlers...The Standard is The Standard.  No need for any excitement, or hype in Alliance.  Despite not winning a title for nearly a decade, all is well in the boring, unimaginative land of Mount football.  I mean he's won 94% of his games!! 

ughh

I can only speak for myself, but every year my interest in the football program fades a little.  If you go back to the LK/VK days I was watching everything I could to try to learn about the next group of studs coming.  I would go to JV games LOL.  One year I was in PA for work and stopped at W&J and watched the scrimmage in a suit (sweating my a$$ off).  Now I watch all the games, but I don't have the passion I used to.  And it's not an aging thing because my passion is still there it has just migrated over to the men's hoops program.  Baseball will always be my first love, but hoops is easily my #2 now.  That bums me out a little.

While I remain interested and a season ticket holder, my enthusiasm and expectations have diminished. I closely follow the Buckeyes as I always have, but more so than 10 years ago. No interest in the Browns. Mount does not have an inspirational HC and I am being kind. Wonder how the recruiting is really going in the last several years. My guess is that those players are motivated to come to Mount for the reputation not really the leadership. So many little things we are used to from prior years are not there any longer.

Quote from: D3fanboy on August 19, 2025, 10:34:59 AM

Quote from: hsbsballcoach7 on August 18, 2025, 07:32:39 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on August 18, 2025, 01:50:54 PMMount's running a really tight-lipped camp...pretty much zero social media stuff coming out.  Miss you Lenny

I was just coming here to say this. It's just odd, especially this day and age where you want your brand out there for recruiting and hyping up your fan base for the season!

I think expecting a program ran by Dartt to have any personality or creativity or fun is asking an awful lot.  I'm sure that the Mount Union brass would say that they are focused on only football, building grit, toughness, other lip service coach speak, etc

Can't agree more!