FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

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...

That is a huge part of the problem.  Mount hasn't been at the top in 7+ years.  There is nobody in their program that has won anything other than an OAC title.  Mount should be grinding to get back on top, but they use lame sayings like "1-0 each week" and "the standard...". 

Mount "won" a semifinal 🏆 last year.

[D3fanboy]

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...

That is a huge part of the problem.  Mount hasn't been at the top in 7+ years.  There is nobody in their program that has won anything other than an OAC title.  Mount should be grinding to get back on top, but they use lame sayings like "1-0 each week" and "the standard...". 

Mount "won" a semifinal 🏆 last year.

we're a year or so away from pulling all of those trophies out of the closet, dusting off the cobwebs and putting them up for display

[D3fanboy]

enough about Mount Union, they look to be locked into the #2 overall NPI spot.  Lets take a stroll through the final week of OAC football.

ONU @ Ott - ONU still has a glimmer of hope at a playoff spot.  The Polar Bears should take care of Ott and end the regular season at a very respectable 8-2.  ONU fans will be scoreboard watching for an upset here or there to snag one of the final playoff spots.  Other than that, the Bears will be looking at a bowl game in a week.

Cap @ Wilma - Wilma going for 4 wins, I'm guessing that hasnt happened in quite some time. 

Berg @ BW - The Yellow Jackets really BW'd their season away last week.  Can they bounce back to finish strong?  If ONU can sneak into the playoff, the winner of this game will get to play one more game in Canton for the bowl game

Bluffton @ Etta - The Pios need a W to finish off a disappointing year at .500.  Etta should get this one.

[Fido0650]

Just got an on line only sale ad from the green big box store.  Padded folding chairs on sale for a cheap price.  I figure coach has pretty much worn the padding out on the one he has been sitting on for the
last 5 years.  This way, he will have a new chair for this Thanksgiving and next Thanksgiving, and the year after that, and the year after that and so on and so forth.  Maybe I can find a deal on a new folding card table for him and all the kids because it looks like he will be sitting with them for a good loooong time.

[WRMUalum13]

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...

That is a huge part of the problem.  Mount hasn't been at the top in 7+ years.  There is nobody in their program that has won anything other than an OAC title.  Mount should be grinding to get back on top, but they use lame sayings like "1-0 each week" and "the standard...". 

Mount "won" a semifinal 🏆 last year.

Semifinal champs 2022, 2024!

[Fido0650]

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...

That is a huge part of the problem.  Mount hasn't been at the top in 7+ years.  There is nobody in their program that has won anything other than an OAC title.  Mount should be grinding to get back on top, but they use lame sayings like "1-0 each week" and "the standard...". 

Mount "won" a semifinal 🏆 last year.

Semifinal champs 2022, 2024!

In other words, a participation 🏆

[D3fanboy]

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...

That is a huge part of the problem.  Mount hasn't been at the top in 7+ years.  There is nobody in their program that has won anything other than an OAC title.  Mount should be grinding to get back on top, but they use lame sayings like "1-0 each week" and "the standard...". 

Mount "won" a semifinal 🏆 last year.

Semifinal champs 2022, 2024!

In other words, a participation 🏆

no, no, no.  at 99% of D3 programs, reaching the semifinals is an incredible achievement.  a program changing year even.  It's funny to me that JCU's president was parading around with a 3rd/4th place trophy, but I get it. 

however, Mount Union football is (was?) different.  I don't know that I can recall seeing a semifinalist or runner-up trophy in my years around the athletic offices. 

a game against Muskingum hasn't been this important in a long, long time.  The Raiders need to look like a completely different team than what showed up in Marietta if they want to even sniff a semifinalist trophy this year

[WRMUalum13]

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...

That is a huge part of the problem.  Mount hasn't been at the top in 7+ years.  There is nobody in their program that has won anything other than an OAC title.  Mount should be grinding to get back on top, but they use lame sayings like "1-0 each week" and "the standard...". 

Mount "won" a semifinal 🏆 last year.

Semifinal champs 2022, 2024!

In other words, a participation 🏆

no, no, no.  at 99% of D3 programs, reaching the semifinals is an incredible achievement.  a program changing year even.  It's funny to me that JCU's president was parading around with a 3rd/4th place trophy, but I get it. 

however, Mount Union football is (was?) different.  I don't know that I can recall seeing a semifinalist or runner-up trophy in my years around the athletic offices. 

a game against Muskingum hasn't been this important in a long, long time.  The Raiders need to look like a completely different team than what showed up in Marietta if they want to even sniff a semifinalist trophy this year

I mean seriously, just making the playoffs is a major achievement for 99% of programs. About 84% of the division does not make the playoffs each year, and a lot of those are the usual suspects, I'd be curious to see what % of the division has never made the playoffs OR has made it only once.

I don't want to downplay the major achievement playoff wins are... but like others have said, our standard is different .

[WRMUalum13]

Okay, I don't want to overly pile on coach Dartt. His teams typically outperform my expectations in the post-season (minus 2023). I truly didn't think  the 2022 or 2024 team had much of a shot to make it to the Stagg Bowl. So with that being said I'm hoping I'm once again underestimating them.

HOWEVER, his comments on Sam Bourquin today blew my mind

"I know it's crazy to say, but I don't think we've played a complete game yet this year" (this is probably slightly paraphrased)

IT'S NOT CRAZY TO SAY THAT AT ALL, Are we watching the same team? Not playing a complete game is like the theme of the season so far.

Just bizarre, I thought he would have said something like "As everyone can tell, we're not really playing all four quarters" but him saying "I know it sounds crazy" as if we've been blowing the doors off every opponent makes me feel like we're watching different teams.

Anyway like I said he's proven me wrong before, when we nearly lost to BW in 2022, I figured we were headed towards an early playoff exit, but that team played a competitive Stagg Bowl, so I'm hoping that the fact that Coach isn't worried is actually a good thing
 

[D3fanboy]

Okay, I don't want to overly pile on coach Dartt. His teams typically outperform my expectations in the post-season (minus 2023). I truly didn't think  the 2022 or 2024 team had much of a shot to make it to the Stagg Bowl. So with that being said I'm hoping I'm once again underestimating them.

HOWEVER, his comments on Sam Bourquin today blew my mind

"I know it's crazy to say, but I don't think we've played a complete game yet this year" (this is probably slightly paraphrased)

IT'S NOT CRAZY TO SAY THAT AT ALL, Are we watching the same team? Not playing a complete game is like the theme of the season so far.

Just bizarre, I thought he would have said something like "As everyone can tell, we're not really playing all four quarters" but him saying "I know it sounds crazy" as if we've been blowing the doors off every opponent makes me feel like we're watching different teams.

Anyway like I said he's proven me wrong before, when we nearly lost to BW in 2022, I figured we were headed towards an early playoff exit, but that team played a competitive Stagg Bowl, so I'm hoping that the fact that Coach isn't worried is actually a good thing
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n466SBWZtM

he said that Mount "self-evaluates, usually every three weeks".  Hopefully the Raiders bumped that up a bit

[WRMUalum13]

Okay, I don't want to overly pile on coach Dartt. His teams typically outperform my expectations in the post-season (minus 2023). I truly didn't think  the 2022 or 2024 team had much of a shot to make it to the Stagg Bowl. So with that being said I'm hoping I'm once again underestimating them.

HOWEVER, his comments on Sam Bourquin today blew my mind

"I know it's crazy to say, but I don't think we've played a complete game yet this year" (this is probably slightly paraphrased)

IT'S NOT CRAZY TO SAY THAT AT ALL, Are we watching the same team? Not playing a complete game is like the theme of the season so far.

Just bizarre, I thought he would have said something like "As everyone can tell, we're not really playing all four quarters" but him saying "I know it sounds crazy" as if we've been blowing the doors off every opponent makes me feel like we're watching different teams.

Anyway like I said he's proven me wrong before, when we nearly lost to BW in 2022, I figured we were headed towards an early playoff exit, but that team played a competitive Stagg Bowl, so I'm hoping that the fact that Coach isn't worried is actually a good thing
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n466SBWZtM

he said that Mount "self-evaluates, usually every three weeks".  Hopefully the Raiders bumped that up a bit

I'm cautiously optimistic that he's seeing something I'm not. In 2022 and 2024 I saw Mount barely survive OAC opponents late in the season,  never thought they'd put together championship level playoff runs. I'm going to choose to be optimistic! 

[mucgrad06]

What a defense. This needs to be figured out ASAP

[BillyRayJimBob]

So embarrassing.
I blame it on the new sally-@$$ed logo!

[Fido0650]

Like a hot knife through Mount Union butter. 
Must not have been the week to
self evaluate everything.
Let's hope that the bye week is the week to do so.

Big Muskie's Bucket up 7-0.
Mount is playing the soft marshmallow defense again. They don't even deserve to be called Purple Raiders.

[mucgrad06]

Like a hot knife through Mount Union butter. 
Must not have been the week to
re-evaluate everything.
Let's hope that the bye week is the week to re-evaluate.

Big Muskie's Bucket up 7-0.
Mount is playing the soft marshmallow defense again.

Agree. I remember years they didn't give up 6 first downs in a game to Muskie, let alone the opening drive