I tired to watch JCU as much as I could during the season and I watched the game against Randolph Macon.  I cant say that the Streaks are any different this year, than any other year.  They are talented and play fundamentally sound football, but the game plan, players and strategies seem the same.  Obviously, Montgomery is a major talent, and catches a ton of passes, but I'm not sure it will be enough.  I think JCU's running game will be almost non-existent, after the first quarter.  I think our defense is maturing and coming together at the right time. 

Mount will bring a level of speed and consistency they have not faced since Johns Hopkins.  I expect a tight first quarter, maybe something like 7-7, then I expect the Mount offense to take advantage of some field position set up by the defense.  I look for a 28-7 halftime, and a 49-21 final.  With JCU's last 7 coming with under a minute left.

I'm not sure anyone is underestimating the MIAA, although, they are not to be feared as the WIAC schools or NCC.  Hope did score with 15 seconds left last year to make it make a 3 score game, but mostly they were manhandled by NCC just like every other team.  That is not to say that Mount was ever going to win the Stagg bowl, although, they had their opportunities.  I'm not sure Hope ever had the same opportunities. 

Moving on, I think Hope has a great shot a getting past a very inconsistent LAX team.  With or without their #1 QB.  However, they have size and speed that is probably a step up from Olivet.  Assuming that happens, I give them a very real shot against NCC.  I think watching this years Wheaton game is imperative. 

On the other side of that bracket, I think Platteville will be there. 

I like this years bracket more than I thought I would.  There is a lot of geography but it's not all geography. 

I love the LaGrange and Framingham matchup... Hope and LaCrosse, Endicott-Salisbury, UWW-DePauw, Susqu - W&J. 

I think we all got so used to the Mount Union v Whitewater Stagg Bowls.  I think it was necessary to keep them on opposite sides of the bracket.  While these teams are ranked 1 and 2, there are cases to be made for some other teams to be ranked at #2. 

I appreciate how NPI takes creates the field of 40 so instantly.  I think we have the most fair, and best possible field we could, without eliminating AQ.  I think we have a ton of h 2 h matchups to compare.  I wonder how many matchups are the first time ever.  I assume LaGrange has not Framingham, and Eastern has not played F&M, W&J v CNU?  Those are the things about D3 that I love. 

I think Berry has a shot to make it to the quarterfinals this year. potentially getting a shot at Mount.  I think Hardin Simmons could do the same.  I'm sure they have ever played Mount. 

I'm still filling out my bracket, so no predictions yet. 

A lot of the feelings i have about this game have already been said. 

I think this was completely uninspired football.  They played flat almost the whole.  It was very cliche, like they were expecting Marietta to lay down and let them win.  Don't get me wrong, I think the coaching has responsibility to create inspiration and motivation, but if not for their coaching and talent, they lose that game.  Between drops, bad passes, bad play calling, missed blocks, penalties, penalties, penalties, missed tackled, missed coverages.. They scored 30 points in 2 quarters (2nd and 3rd).  The best teams find a way to win, even when it seems like they shouldn't.  Maybe this team thought they were going to have to grind to get through games 1 and 2, and when they didn't they thought, hmmm maybe we are the best. 

My hope is that, this team will watch this tape, and these coaches will see this as an area of need.  Come into Muskingum, knowing that they could lose and playing like it needs to be their best game.  I would love to see them win that game 50+ to 0.  If Cap held them to 7, Mount should be able to do better.  Like their season depends on it. 

NCC is still on their way up.  7 years at the top is different than 30+.  They are not taking any wins for granted.  I think this team at Mount is...  Should Mount be beating Otterbein and Capital and Marietta by 50+... yes... But they still have to play hard and try hard, they don't just give it to you

T

I think the major issue (besides needing more passes to the TE) is tackling.  Someone else said it, that they get to the ball carrier, but they don't bring him down. Berg, BW, ONU, these guys can play.  We need more gang tackling, and  less misses.  I do appreciate the turnovers though.  The linebackers are fast, and they can tackle, but they need get to the gap sooner.  They wait for the back to get through the hole at top speed, and thats a much tougher tackle.

I often try to defend some of the things the team and coach do, but this week....the team that came out in the 2nd half was ready and prepared and played well.  The team in the 1st quarter was lights out.  The team in the 2nd quarter and especially at the end of the 2nd quarter... I dont know them.  It seems that many times that they have these points in a game where they just dont execute.  Offense, defense, special teams.  They get penalties, and blocked punts, dropped balls, missed tackles.  Then they snap out of it.  It sometimes feels like its on purpose.  I get very frustrated. 
Moving on... 
I really like Minner. He looks fast and strong.  I think we have a nice headed monster in the backfield. 
I like the receiving corps very much.  I think we could help ourselves by throwing to the TE a few more times..  It may open things up a bit for those slants and deep routes
The defense really needs to tighten up.  Against a good run team, they could find themselves in a tough spot.  Linebackers especially need to fill gaps and be more aggressive.  Also, they need to complete the tackle.  To many missed TFL, and short gains. 

I 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 think best case...
BW goes 9-1
Mareitta goes 8-2 with losses obviously to Mount and BDub

BW gets in for sure and Marietta gets on SOS blah blah blah

So is your point that losing to a team that they beat last year by 12, shouldn't count because that school gives out scholarships?  And all this to say you don't like polls because their is more to each game than the final result? 

I'm not quite following. 

A 30 point lead is definitely a lot (enough as it turned out to be), and against ONU, Muskingum, Otterbein, absolutely pull the starters early.  However, this was not that game.  I think 1st year freshman QB needs to be in that game, until it becomes clockwork.  I think shuffling in #2's with #'1s in the skill positions, or O-line is good.  12 mins on the clock against a seasoned QB/Coach and top end defense... mistake. 

All that said, I agree with all of the other comments.  The team looked ready, and prepared.  They looked extremely fast.  I liked the play calling.  Beyond receivers, they're are to really goo tight ends out there, that are capable of making some noise. 

The defense looked fast.  I think the number 1 take away for me, which is to be expected in the 1st game, is tackling.  In the 4th quarter, with the foot off the gas and feeling a little tired, missed tackles were the key.  A few TFL's were missed and of course the QB scrambling for 22 yards for a score. 

Wheaton had some good receivers that made good catches in the 4th.  FWIW, wheaton scored 13 in the 4th qtr against NCC last year.  Onside kicks are soooo uncommon.  It's hard to prepare for and perform when given the chance.  Wheaton has a tremendous set of D-Lineman and line backers, and to hang 37 in 3 qtrs is pretty impressive. 


Moving on to GCC.  I watched about 2/3rds of that game.  GCC was disciplined and deliberate in their game plan.  Cortland had some explosiveness, but not enough consistency.  GCC will come out hard and jacked up.  I think the difference for GCC in this game is the in trenches.  Mount will prove to be superior in size and strength, and with speed they just displayed will be too much.  Defensively, GCC might be better than Wheaton, but not by much, and offensively, GCC will not be nearly as good.

A) I think we should table the criticism and wait for the season to start.  We were in the Stagg Bowl last year, and had a solid chance to win the game.

B)  110 Incoming freshman in this day and age is amazing.  He must be doing something right to get that amount of players. 

C)  I will be thoroughly let down if Mount is not in this years Canton Stagg Bowl.  Not by players or coaches, just in general.

D)  I skimmed through the roster and the QB and RB rooms are gonna be full.  Good to see Leibler on the list.  Also, looking forward to seeing what Jerry Copper Jr. can do this year.  I think he really started to turn it on last year at the end of the season

Totally get the hard read and the past playoff results.  I think though that we have an educated opinion about who is going to sit atop the leader board in November, and that team (LaCrosse) should be in the top 10, because they definitely will be in November.  And if there are two or more teams that have a chance to win that league playing in week 9, 10 or 11 its likely that all 3 will be top 10 teams. 

Definitely the points you are making 'hold water', but my opinion is that UW schools have a longer rep of reloading rather than re building.  Many of the schools in the top 10 currently have had great success in the recent and deserve consideration, however, they will likely begin to fade as their coaches have moved on their QB's have graduated etc... The UW schools, seem to show out year after year, and I think with the limited information that we have, if I were a voter, I would be likely to put UW schools in the top 10.

My opinion is that these UW schools have more pedigree year over than some of the schools that are in this top 10.  I think Hardin Simmons finishing the season with 2 wins over UMHB and then losing the one that matters in the playoffs takes them out for me.  Maybe UMHB should be in, but I'm not sure.  If some these matchups were to happen today, I'd bet on Lacrosse and Platteville to beat Cortland or Wartburg, or even Susquehanna

I haven't decided if I'm gonna pay or not.  I feel like I want to because it must benefit the college in someway, and  if I don't pay well, it detracts.  Plus, I do pay for Hulu live to watch other football, so I suppose its not insane that I would pay for this, also, I like this better.  Maybe, I've just decided.