So the new 5 in 5 role is going to take place. Does this help Mount Union in any way (it looks like it's approved for D3)? For those of you that don't know, this means all athletes can play 5 seasons within 5 years....period. No more redshirts...

Brandon Bowden shared info here, but not sure that means he's coming back or not.
https://x.com/i/status/2069930617156849718

Quote from: Dr. Acula on May 22, 2026, 09:48:39 AMNon-football update:  Congrats to the Raider softball team.  Not only did they win three elimination games in the regional to advance to their first ever super regional, but yesterday they swept UMass-Dartmouth in the super regional to advance to the women's college world series.  CWS starts Thursday in Salem.  I've watched probably half a dozen of their games this season and they're a fun group.

p.s. I had the game on one of my screens yesterday and it's always great to have Sam Bourquin on the call for anything.  I'm thankful he calls Mount sports beyond football because he does a great job.

Agree on all accounts!

It's great to see the softball team continue their great season with their backs against the wall... They've continued to play good defense and timely hitting. They are playing at a high level of consistency right now. Keep it going!!!

Sam Bourquin's voice on Mount Union sports is awesome! I'm glad he began covering the Purple Raiders!

Quote from: D3fanboy on May 14, 2026, 09:50:35 AMMount WR Davion Grant has once again entered the transfer portal.  I highly doubt that he would be accepted back a second time.  Good Lord this kid is getting some pretty bad advice from his "agent"

Very odd indeed. It's not like if he were to "ball out" at UMU, he wouldn't get noticed. I wouldn't consider last year a great year for him. If Mount ends up with a top tier WR1 (speed, hands, routes), they should easily end up over 1200 yards. If they have a bunch of good receivers, I see 3-4 guys at 700 or more yards.

I wonder if he doesn't feel like he fits with the program after spring ball and a possible change with Kappas as OC. If that's the case, best of luck.

Anyone have any names on possible spring standouts? I'm betting on a very balanced offense next year who can churn out 6-8 yards per play by running or throwing.

Quote from: purple on April 05, 2026, 11:01:32 AMI'm getting tired of these cheap shots at Coach Dartt. He's won the OAC every year he's been there. Gone undefeated,10-0. He is at the big table. He is highly respected. The Administration of any small college would love, love, love to have a program that brings in 100 freshmen every year. Ask Wittenberg and about twenty other small colleges in Ohio what they'd give for that kind of consistency in their freshmen classes over the past 10 years. Coach Dartt heads up the program. He has held up the standard and enhanced the brand name.

Just because a couple of posters make the "kid table" comment doesn't mean it's a majority mindset here. I feel that Dartt has made several subtle changes each year, but you're also only as good as those around you (players, assistant coaches, training/support staff, administration, community) and the relationships you make. One of the hardest things that LK had to do was make the tough decisions with hiring new staff or even harder, saying NO or not retaining staff members for the benefit of the program. He constantly had assistant coaches who stayed, got developed and moved on to different coaching goals. Any time you lead any group, let alone a top performing organization, you will be sure to get criticized. Some will be fair and some is not.

Dartt went from a good offensive coordinator to being the head man without experience in the position (which I can't imagine is easy). He had to learn game management while being a coordinator at the same time because of timing of his hire (eventually trusted staff to give this up), program recruiting, salesman (figuring out fundraising and NIL), constant transferring, and managing staff at once.

He just lost some coaches this off season who have been around the program for a long time, and made great hires that aren't easy (big names). If you listen to the Burke interview, Dartt went out and recruited him back from California where he (and his wife) was happy. These type of hires force you to drop your ego and go get the best that you can, at that time...credit to GD

It's impossible to believe that the program was going to continue winning Stagg Bowls at the previous pace because of humans being human (rise and fall of Rome and all...), but he has kept the program at the top. NCC is a monster right now with all of the former mentioned things going in their favor and other programs (Cortland and UWRF) having magical seasons. The other two season ending games by Alma and JCU had many things go against the Purple Raiders and that's where I feel GD has tried to improve.

All that to say this....GD is doing well and has the current team positioned for another fun season with positives trending with a tougher OOC schedule, staff hires, recruiting and PR for the program....all to his credit.

Anyway, Go Purple Raiders... And go everybody! (RIP MUC57)

I feel like since the Kappas and Burke hires, Mount has added some needed online presence with podcast interviews, a spring alumni day, Mount Union coaches clinic, and spring announcements (online clothing store and student intern graphic). Just feels like there's more energy around the program! Seems like some good recruiting momentum with incoming freshmen and guys returning. It'll be interesting to see if there are any bigger impact transfers.

Here's what I find for Mount Union recruits so far.

HS Recruits
Matt Bodnar QB Easton, PA (Notre Dame HS)
Logan Schmittle LB Dekalb, IL
Grady Fast DE Alliance, OH
Tyson Hunka QB Green, OH
Noah Kacimi DL Bradenton, FL
Michael Hatfield OL/DL Grove City, OH
Keshan Talbert RB Kent, OH
Marcus McMahon RB Grafton, OH
Cooper Gray RB Wadsworth, OH
Hendrix Sickels LB Copley, OH
Joseph Mahoney CB Lamar, TX
Landon Gilmore OLB Canton, OH (GlenOak)
Brennan Funyak RB/DB Hudson, OH
JJ Holloway LB Heath, OH
Michael Rogers WR Melbourne, FL
Wesley Lundell LB Orange, CA
Cole Cook OL Conroe, TX
Markese Wise S/QB Painesville, OH
Austyn Benton OL Carlisle, OH
Charlie Levak QB CVCA
Chris Burt RB/WR Painesville, OH
Deven Smith DT Mentor, OH (Elyria Catholic)
Jeremiah Thomas WR/RB West Branch, OH


Transfers
Jaedon Alston RB Charleston, SC (West Liberty)
William Anglen WR Cleveland, OH (Ohio Valley CCC)
Colson Conrad LB Byron Center, MI (Trine)

Quote from: raiderpa on February 19, 2026, 04:36:15 PMThe week off will give Hamilton time to heal. He is key, IMO, for a tourney run.  Allows for Casenheiser to roam and get shots.  Dunbar has proven to be a beast when he is in there and provides some "juice" as he calls it.  Fuline has definitely made himself a near legend in the basketball history of Mount, I only hope we can keep him for years to come.  Perhaps he should receive some NIL funds...hah

The current rotations they are running  are smooth. Both the first and second groups, variety, tempo, and juice are awesome to watch! A different guy steps up each game lately and you can't stop them all right now.

Quote from: D3fanboy on February 12, 2026, 10:17:33 AMRick Hairston is going to be the first Women's flag football coach at Mount.  The HOF MUC alum is a former great Timken and McK basketball coach, and I thought currently at GlenOak?  He's a pretty top notch coach with lots of ties to the local Stark County high schools.  Not a bad selection

I don't see how this is anything other than positive with his experience and relationships around the county. I wonder if he'll dabble with the men's team too?

Quote from: Dr. Acula on February 07, 2026, 03:51:56 PMI'm sure it's not even on his radar, but congrats to Coach Fuline on notching another 20 win season.  That's now 6 of the last 7 full seasons with 20+ wins.  The program is 130 years old.  It has nine 20 win seasons ever.  Fuline has eight of them.

Wow... Great stat to share! I know one thing... They didn't win 20 games when I was in school at Mount... To be fair, those 1920's and 30's teams were barn burners with great records, but didn't get a chance to win 20 games bc they never played 20 games

Quote from: raiderpa on February 01, 2026, 11:09:47 AMA classic in Westerville. A defensive masterpiece.  Both teams were aggressive, physical and left it all out on the court.  When the Raiders play this defense, they are tough to beat, but Otterbein was up to it. Refs let them play and the guards got mauled all day, but stayed strong.  I thought Ott did a fantastic job of taking away the "3" and we struggled to get an open trifecta. This kept them in the game. Not many subs for Mount, but those who played were excellent. Taylor is and will become more special in the future. His quickness is like a cobra, and he gets off the floor faster than anyone, with an amazing vertical. Collier has shown his value, Vaden makes a difference, and Dunbar plays his rear off with some amazing assists as well as a fine shot. I was remarking to one in the know about Mount's strong season and roster, and he said, "Just wait til next year."  WOW! The future is bright. I hope we are paying Fuline enough to keep him from looking bigger.

I feel like enjoy every year because you never know what happens with rosters and coaches each year... The starters have improved and their defense is what gets them going. The ball movement is so much better this year than last and different guys can hit a big shot. Vaden, Taylor and Collier (they butchered his name all game) have really stepped up this year into their roles and play those roles well. Taylor and Vaden make teams change their offense with how they affect shots. I'm other for Laurich to be effective on the floor, he HAS to keep his hands off guys and keep improving that mid range bunny shot (4-8 feet) bc teams will leave him open. Ball handling and free throws are noticeably better this year and all great teams must have those skills to go far.

What a nice, gutsy win for the Purple Raiders! With a tough environment, bad turnovers, and Hamilton being held all day, they pulled it out! Keep it up, earn the top seed for the conference tournament, and hopefully prepare for the NCAA tournament.

Louisville HS chose Matt Furino from Field HS to take over the Leopard program. Kyle Miller did not get the job, but I'm sure he'll still be looking for the right ones to apply for.

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 28, 2026, 12:37:36 PM

Quote from: Dr. Acula on January 28, 2026, 11:28:08 AMListening to Zac Jackson's podcast from the Senior Bowl.  He said there was buzz of "who is this kid from JCU?"  Sounds like Montgomery is opening some eyes down there.  Also saw on Daniel Jeremiah's draft top 100 that the safety from Toledo is #19.  I'm curious what type of talent VK is going to be able to get to Cuse and develop.

boy are the Polian's taking a beating in the social media world the past week or so, hopefully the JCU WR can get drafted.  He is the type of athlete that can break the D3FB draft dry spell.

VK is one of the top DC in all of college football.  His 'Cuse defenses will be absolutely nasty within a couple of years.  VK is a leader of men to a tee

Haven't seen the Polian stuff. What do you mean?

Quote from: Dr. Acula on January 21, 2026, 06:46:57 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 21, 2026, 02:05:58 PMa very tall member of the Mount Union coaching staff, who may or may not have played in the NFL has applied and is actively going after the Louisville HS coaching job that Kappas just left...at least that's what sources have said

Probably a safer option than bringing back Farrah since DeMarco has a good thing going at NW.  And yes, I know this is a total Stark county lifer post LOL.

Lol... As good as the teams were with Farrah, I'm not sure he'd be welcomed back and Demarco was passed over so many times in Louisville, so I doubt he'd go back. Louisville is a different place....

Does Miller feel passed over or looking for an opportunity to lead his own program?

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 19, 2026, 06:27:30 PMI know it's not OAC anymore, but JCU AD Brian Polian hiring...Brian Polian as head football coach is pretty good

Kind of odd, but I get it...I bet they were tired of being a stepping stone for someone to move up. Right now, he keeps the staff stable from just having their best season and continue recruiting. IF he's not THE guy moving forward, it gives them time to find the right person.