Quote from: Captainred81 on September 24, 2025, 02:18:45 PMI think you're right on the Columbus area schools having a huge HS football field*** of recruits, but there is a ton of schools recruiting the area too.  I'm guessing every D3 school in Ohio is spending umpteen days/weeks at the area high schools.  Its probably hard to get the top recruits.  I think if they could some how find a bit of success, maybe even in the transfer portal, they could convince some of the better local talent to sign on
 

I've mentioned this before but in suburban Columbus there is a scholarship mentality.  Its's hard to sell D3 sports to the kids in Dublin, Gahanna, Hilliard, Westerville, Pickerington, etc.  Parents are paying thousands for travel sports when kids are in elementary school with the goal that some day their kid is going to get an athletic scholarship (that math doesn't always math because they spend more on travel sports and personal trainers than they get in scholarship money).

D2 schools like Ohio Dominican, Ashland, Tiffin, etc. come in offering any amount of money and they instantly jump ahead of the D3 schools.  Even when in many cases the kid will end up paying more (with the athletic scholarship) at the D2 than the would have at some of the local D3 schools.

I've been involved with high school sports here for over 20 years and I've seen it happen time after time.  Kids want to sign a LOI on signing day even if they're only getting a $500 "athletic scholarship."

Just took a look at Cap's & Otterbein's rosters.  Not sure how up to date they are but Cap is showing almost 90 incoming freshmen and most of them are from out of state (FL, TX, GA, etc).  Otterbein is only showing 20-25 freshmen and most are from Ohio.  I'm shocked to see so many out-of-state kids for Capital. Don't remember them having that many in previous years.

I agree...location should be a major selling point for Capital recruiting, and to a lesser extent Otterbein.  Capital's close proximity to downtown Columbus and OSU campus should make it attractive.

However, being involved in high school football in Central Ohio over the last 20+ years, I think most of the kids playing for the large suburban schools in Central Ohio look down on D3. They all want to sign a LOI. They'll accept a $1,000 "scholarship" from a crappy D2 program just to say they got an athletic scholarship over a chance to start and maybe be a star at the D3 level. 

Quote from: D3fanboy on September 12, 2022, 03:26:49 PM
I'd agree with that. The weird thing is Mount isn't region centric in recruiting.  It'd be one thing if Mount was scooping up every decent D3 recruit in OH, IN, MI, etc but Mount pretty much recruits nationally.  It'd be great in another "local" D3 program built themselves up and wasn't all talk (i.e. BW)

I haven't paid close attention lately but 10-15 years ago the perception (and seemed to be true) was that Mount would get all the good "recruitable" kids in Ohio AND recruit nationally.    They would bring in 150 kids and didn't really care if the Ohio kids panned out or not or ever got to play, but if they came to Mount that meant that they didn't go to the other OAC schools.

This is similar to the tactic Woody used at Ohio State back in the days before scholarship limits.  He'd take all the Ohio D1 talent knowing that more than half of them would never see the field for him but they'd also not play against him.

Another factor is that there are more D2 schools in Ohio now and it seems that a lot of kids who in the past would have ended up at Cap, Otterbein, H-berg, ONU, etc are looking at Ohio Dominican, Ashland, Tiffin, etc.   They all want to be able to say they're "on scholarship" even if they're just getting $500 or their books covered.  They want that photo of them signing their LOI to post on social media. 

Quote from: formerd3db on October 17, 2019, 10:02:55 AM
Not knowing the full inside story at the school, your points make sense and, actually, in general, are applicable to many schools. I agree that when you have a the "academics" i.e. a president and administrators who simply don't like football or athletics in general, that is destructive to a school.  We've seen that at many places.  As far as the coach, while I realize you are being truthful about your opinion and "calling it like it is" as you see it, you could be a little nicer..."a glorified water boy at OSU? Diplomatic discussion can still have the desired effect.

You're right.  That wasn't cool.  I apologize and have edited my original post.  My post was written in frustration with the state of the program and the decisions that have been made the last few years.   

Quote from: formerd3db on October 13, 2019, 04:45:46 PM

Quote from: Dr. Acula on October 13, 2019, 01:27:52 PM

Quote from: e_lee on October 13, 2019, 12:19:48 PM
As a Cap alum/former player under Jim Collins, yesterday is embarrassing.  Taking a look at stats, it seems JCU did their part as far as not passing.  But as mentioned earlier when on the road you can can only unload benches so much.

If Cap is going to try to be an Oberlin, Dennison, Amherst, Kenyon et al. they need to get in a conference with them.

I can't even imagine how upset you guys that played under Collins must be.  That Collins era transformed Cap and to see it all undone has to be frustrating.  Dr. Bowman made no secret of his indifference towards athletics.  Dr. Paul seemed to be in the same mold.  It's tough to have that attitude in this conference.  With Dr. Paul leaving in 2020 maybe the next president will be more supportive of athletics.

Quote from: e_lee on October 13, 2019, 04:02:10 PM

Quote from: formerd3db on October 13, 2019, 12:50:04 PM

Quote from: e_lee on October 13, 2019, 12:19:48 PM
As a Cap alum/former player under Jim Collins, yesterday is embarrassing.  Taking a look at stats, it seems JCU did their part as far as not passing.  But as mentioned earlier when on the road you can can only unload benches so much.

If Cap is going to try to be an Oberlin, Dennison, Amherst, Kenyon et al. they need to get in a conference with them.

e_lee:

Haven't seen you posting much recently, however, glad to see you back.

So, what is your assessment as to why the current dismal status of your alma mater's football program?  Multiple reasons?

Biggest thing to me is the university's identity.  When i played there(98-01), most of my teammates were from Ohio, and middle class public education kids.  We got a pretty good private school education.  Now while Ohio is still the primary base of student body it seems they are going after the same students as the aforementioned schools which are often from elite private high schools, in the Midwest and nationally.  And I get it, there were budget issues for years, probably still are.  Wealthier, higher academically achieving students are likely to need less aid, more likely to contribute to the school.

That being said, get into the NCAC, PAC or some other more appropriate conference. I'm okay with that if that's where the university wants.

As far as internal problems.  I think President Paul and the current AD are doing the right things, with the resources available. Hate to see her go.

President Bowman seemed interested in destroying athletics and Steve Bruning was a speech professor who they decided to make AD.  In over his head.  Screwed up hiring Candeto.  He changed
Personnel to fit his offense and got out as soon as he could, leaving Rogo with bad personnel. He's got a tough job ahead of him.

Plus it's my belief that a certain tenured women's coach worked actively against football.  This person in my opinion was jealous of Collins success.  But I think current admin won't let her get more power than she should have, which is over her once great program.

For sure, there are a number of problems and challenges all these DIII schools have been facing in recent years and will continue to face with regard to financial aspects and maintaining enrollment, the football programs notwithstanding (Grinnell, Beloit recent examoles, we can add Finlandia in there as well.). However, it also doesn't help when opposing factions i.e. administration, faculty, etc., versus the athletic administrators is going on. Such subterfuge is more than frustrating.

I hope things will improve for Capital both on football and the other areas as you mention.

I don't think hiring Candeto was the problem.  Candeo wasn't a great fit for D3 b/c he came from a D1 background but he wasn't destroying the program.  I think hiring Rogo was a mistake.  They hired a guy whose resume was being a GA Ohio State under Tressel and then being a HC at a D3 school in Minnesota where he had 3-4 consecutive losing seasons.  He "turned the program around" in Minn b/c they had only won one game in like 3 years and he got them up to 2 or 3 wins a year.   

He was 4-6 here his first year (with Candeto's guys) and has gotten progressively worse each season as Candeto's guys have left/graduated and his own recruits have taken over.  This is his 4th season meaning he has all of "his guys" and he's taken them from the 7th best team in a 10 team conference to 10th. 

They need to get rid of him ASAP.  And it's going to take a few years to undo the damage he's done. 

But that aside, it seems to me from what I hear Capital's president and prior president do not care about sports and maybe even dislike sports. 

I don't understand that mentality at the D3 level.   It's hard enough for small private schools to compete with the state schools for students, especially in Ohio where there is so much competition.   Sports bring in kids who otherwise probably wouldn't be there.   Of the 75 to 100 kids on a football team there are maybe 10 who would have attended that school if they didn't have a football team.   Same with basketball, lacrosse, soccer, etc.   Why do you think all the Ohio schools added lacrosse in the past 10 years.   High school lacrosse is growing and that gives them a new group to go after.   Capital has 40+ kids on their men's lacrosse team.  I doubt any of them would be at Capital if it weren't for lacrosse.     

And it's not like D3 schools are giving athletic scholarships.  There are a couple hundred student athletes at Capital who are paying to play sports.  Get rid of or cut sports and watch enrollment drop like a rock.

Quote from: WRMUalum13 on November 12, 2017, 08:09:20 PM

Quote from: jknezek on November 12, 2017, 07:58:28 PM

Quote from: Kira & Jaxon's Dad on November 12, 2017, 07:53:17 PM
Saw on Twitter they run triple option

Not just the triple. Every form of option you can think of. That being said, and as much as I love my Generals, they aren't national players.

Interesting, I can't remember Mount ever playing a triple option team so it should be a fun matchup to watch. I'd think Mounts team speed on D will make it tough sledding for the generals though

Capital ran the triple option from 2013-2015.  The last year they ran it they rushed for 393 yards against Mount's defense which allowed an average of 47 rush yds/game vs the other 14 teams they played on their way to the national championship.  Cap rushed for more yards against Mount than Whitewater and St. Thomas combined.  And Cap's leading rusher individually had more yards (83) than any back against Mount until the semi-finals, and the second longest run from scrimmage (36) allowed by Mount all year.  It allowed Cap to keep it close for a half...only down 21-7 which was probably the closest Cap was to Mount at half in the last 10 years.  But Cap got away from the game plan in the 2nd half and like usual things snow-balled and mount ripped off 34 unanswered points in the 3rd Q.

Quote from: desertraider on October 14, 2016, 12:06:55 PM

Quote from: raiderpa on October 14, 2016, 11:54:02 AM
I missed the Capital coaching change.  What happened to the Naval Academy guy that was coaching them?

I heard he left under "less than honorable" (not dishonorable mind you) conditions - but couldn't find anything on it. Not saying he did anything illegal or immoral but it appears he pissed off some boosters/alums. If anybody knows more - do tell.

He left to take an assistant job at Ga Tech.  I don't think he did anything wrong or dishonorable... he went to work for the coach he played for, he got a pay raise, he GA'ed at Tech so he was familiar with the school, and he is from Florida so he's a lot closer to home and family than he was in Ohio.  I can't fault him...however I think the issue (as I've heard through the grapevine) is that he didn't tell Cap he was looking, and didn't give them much notice when he left, and the timing was horrible was it was right at the peak of D3 recruiting season.  Several commits backed out and during the lag while looking for a new coach most good prospects were scooped up by other teams, hence the extremely small freshman class this year.

OAC officials are horrible.  That is all.

Quote from: desertraider on November 05, 2015, 12:32:37 PM
I have not seen BW or JCU and stats can be so misleading (like Walton not playing against JCU).

He was injured in the first quarter of the Otterbein game, and hasn't played since. He has missed three straight games ( JCU, ONU, and BW).

No offense to ONU, but having seen them both in back to back weeks, JCU appeared to be a much better team.  I can't figure out how ONU beat them.  Cap put up over 500 yds of offense on ONU and the score was 38-31 to start the 4th quarter.  JCU's defense dominated Cap more than Mount Union did.

Also, for the Mount fans asking about BW.  From my observation, BW's offense is better than JCU but their defense was a distant 3rd to Mount and JCU.  Having seen them, JCU and ONU back to back to back, I think they'll give Mount more of a challenge than ONU did, but JCU will give Mount more of a challenge than BW will.  I don't see JCU's offense having much success against Mount, but their defense will make Mount work harder than they have had to work all season.

Honestly...it turned out to be a beat down, but to this point in the season Capital's offense had the most success against Mount in the first half of any of their opponents.  If you recall Cap only trailed 14-7 in the 2nd Q and 21-7 at half.  Cap was running the ball between the tackles, not for huge chunks but enough to keep the sticks moving and enough to keep the ball out of mount's offense's hands to keep the score down the first half.  Cap's B-back rushed for more yards than anyone else has against Mount this year and had the longest run of anyone against Mount.  I know Mount adjusted at half time, but Cap got away from what was working in the first half and tried to get outside in the 2nd half and that's when the game got completely out of hand.

Quote from: bluestreak66 on October 23, 2015, 05:11:00 PM
While we're on the subject of uniforms, what is everyone's opinion of these awful things?

https://www.google.com/search?q=wilmington+college+football+helmets&biw=975&bih=408&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMImZPw18DZyAIVTJyICh15KAPB#imgrc=0W-Sb7NusS5AQM%3A

And wait until you see them in person.  They are even worse live, especially when you see them all wearing neon green socks to match. 

ONU fans... A month or two ago I offended some of you by saying I thought it would be challenging to recruit city kids to ONU because of Ada being in the middle of BFE.  I made my first ever trip to Ada this past weekend...and while it is smack dab in the middle of BFE, I must admit the campus is very nice and the athletic facilities are arguably the best in the OAC.  I know it's a good school, but it takes a little more than that to persuade a lot of 18 yr old boys.  I see how the facilities can help the cause. I was very impressed. 

FYI for those making picks...

2/3 of Cap's starting offensive backfield is out this week.  Actually they were out last week too.  One was a late scratch and the other was injured in the first quarter.