FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[blue_jays]

Weakest dynasty is still a pretty decent place to be. 240 Division III schools would be happy for three national titles in the past six years.

you're right, champs are champs. crazy program accomplishment!

but there's no denying that D3FB is at a pretty low point with the portal and coaches jumping left and right. certain D3FB media has pretty much called NCC unbeatable, or the greatest team of all time...but no other "dynasty" has had such rough losses in the Stagg. 

I guess at least NCC hasn't had one taken away by cheating.  Second worst dynasty

Imagine if you used all that pent-up energy on something productive in life.

[D3fanboy]

Weakest dynasty is still a pretty decent place to be. 240 Division III schools would be happy for three national titles in the past six years.

you're right, champs are champs. crazy program accomplishment!

but there's no denying that D3FB is at a pretty low point with the portal and coaches jumping left and right. certain D3FB media has pretty much called NCC unbeatable, or the greatest team of all time...but no other "dynasty" has had such rough losses in the Stagg. 

I guess at least NCC hasn't had one taken away by cheating.  Second worst dynasty

Imagine if you used all that pent-up energy on something productive in life.

you hurt my feelings

[NCC2010]

Weakest dynasty is still a pretty decent place to be. 240 Division III schools would be happy for three national titles in the past six years.

you're right, champs are champs. crazy program accomplishment!

but there's no denying that D3FB is at a pretty low point with the portal and coaches jumping left and right. certain D3FB media has pretty much called NCC unbeatable, or the greatest team of all time...but no other "dynasty" has had such rough losses in the Stagg. 

I guess at least NCC hasn't had one taken away by cheating.  Second worst dynasty

I think part of what makes the losses look so rough is during this run NCC basically hasn't had close games, and when they do, they lose in the Stagg.  They had a 20 point lead in 55/59 games Lehnen started, and lost 2/4 games they didn't get the 20 point lead. They had a few "closer" games on the scoreboard in the playoffs this year, but none of those games were in question at any point in the 2nd half.

For as great as the coaching staff has been since Spencer took over, they simply do not have a lot of experience with handling close games late and it is has shown on the biggest stage twice now.  Spencer's record is 58-2 overall but its really 1-2 in games decided by less than 2 scores.

[WRMUalum13]

Weakest dynasty is still a pretty decent place to be. 240 Division III schools would be happy for three national titles in the past six years.

you're right, champs are champs. crazy program accomplishment!

but there's no denying that D3FB is at a pretty low point with the portal and coaches jumping left and right. certain D3FB media has pretty much called NCC unbeatable, or the greatest team of all time...but no other "dynasty" has had such rough losses in the Stagg. 

I guess at least NCC hasn't had one taken away by cheating.  Second worst dynasty

I think part of what makes the losses look so rough is during this run NCC basically hasn't had close games, and when they do, they lose in the Stagg.  They had a 20 point lead in 55/59 games Lehnen started, and lost 2/4 games they didn't get the 20 point lead. They had a few "closer" games on the scoreboard in the playoffs this year, but none of those games were in question at any point in the 2nd half.

For as great as the coaching staff has been since Spencer took over, they simply do not have a lot of experience with handling close games late and it is has shown on the biggest stage twice now.  Spencer's record is 58-2 overall but its really 1-2 in games decided by less than 2 scores.

I think we're just in a new D3 paradigm where the top 1-2 teams might not be traditional blue chip programs anymore. Sure in 2011 it would seem bizarre for Mount Union or UWW to get knocked off by a team that's never made the playoffs, but with the transfer portal and weird eligibility sometimes the best team in the country is going to come seemingly out of nowhere. UWRF and Cortland state were both extremely talented teams playing very well at the right time. Would we really feel any different if it was UMHB or Mount Union who beat NCC in 2023 and 2026? IDK, doesn't really change my perspective much.

Also it's NEVER a bad loss to lose to the WIAC champs.

[D3fanboy]

Weakest dynasty is still a pretty decent place to be. 240 Division III schools would be happy for three national titles in the past six years.

you're right, champs are champs. crazy program accomplishment!

but there's no denying that D3FB is at a pretty low point with the portal and coaches jumping left and right. certain D3FB media has pretty much called NCC unbeatable, or the greatest team of all time...but no other "dynasty" has had such rough losses in the Stagg. 

I guess at least NCC hasn't had one taken away by cheating.  Second worst dynasty

I think part of what makes the losses look so rough is during this run NCC basically hasn't had close games, and when they do, they lose in the Stagg.  They had a 20 point lead in 55/59 games Lehnen started, and lost 2/4 games they didn't get the 20 point lead. They had a few "closer" games on the scoreboard in the playoffs this year, but none of those games were in question at any point in the 2nd half.

For as great as the coaching staff has been since Spencer took over, they simply do not have a lot of experience with handling close games late and it is has shown on the biggest stage twice now.  Spencer's record is 58-2 overall but its really 1-2 in games decided by less than 2 scores.

I think we're just in a new D3 paradigm where the top 1-2 teams might not be traditional blue chip programs anymore. Sure in 2011 it would seem bizarre for Mount Union or UWW to get knocked off by a team that's never made the playoffs, but with the transfer portal and weird eligibility sometimes the best team in the country is going to come seemingly out of nowhere. UWRF and Cortland state were both extremely talented teams playing very well at the right time. Would we really feel any different if it was UMHB or Mount Union who beat NCC in 2023 and 2026? IDK, doesn't really change my perspective much.

Also it's NEVER a bad loss to lose to the WIAC champs.

the 1 or 2 programs in D3FB have been Mount Union and someone else since the early 90's.  Those programs used to have incredible coaching and talent that shouldn't be at the D3FB level.

Now we have players moving to and from the transfer portal at crazy levels. D3FB coaches making career jumps up to higher divisions.  It's sad, D3FB shouldn't be a jumping off point.  It's the perfect place for college football.

But then at then end of the day, we have Mount coached by a nepo baby and NCC coached by a guy scared to take the jump. 

[pradierguy]

Mount picks up a local recruit with Jeremiah Thomas from nearby West Branch. While undersized, he was a dynamic playmaker over the years for West Branch. I will be interested to see where he lands positionally. Assuming he could be a Tim Kennedy-esque Slot and KR guy.

From the press release:

Jeremiah Thomas leaves West Branch as one of the most accomplished players in program history. During his career, Thomas earned First Team All-Ohio honors at two different positions, quarterback and wide receiver, and was named the Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year twice. He was also selected to the WKBN Big 22 Team, recognizing him as one of the top high school football players in the Mahoning Valley. Thomas also etched his name into the West Branch record books, setting the school record with 241 receiving yards in a single game, while tying program records with 15 receptions and four receiving touchdowns in a game.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Mount picks up a local recruit with Jeremiah Thomas from nearby West Branch. While undersized, he was a dynamic playmaker over the years for West Branch. I will be interested to see where he lands positionally. Assuming he could be a Tim Kennedy-esque Slot and KR guy.

From the press release:

Jeremiah Thomas leaves West Branch as one of the most accomplished players in program history. During his career, Thomas earned First Team All-Ohio honors at two different positions, quarterback and wide receiver, and was named the Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year twice. He was also selected to the WKBN Big 22 Team, recognizing him as one of the top high school football players in the Mahoning Valley. Thomas also etched his name into the West Branch record books, setting the school record with 241 receiving yards in a single game, while tying program records with 15 receptions and four receiving touchdowns in a game.

Here's and interview I found on Jeremiah:  https://youtu.be/E5c2F7n-S-E?si=uhMddWPoMlTpRIXj

[D3fanboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ahmOWsnF14

Mount picks up a transfer from Trine, LB Colson Conrad.  The last Trine transfer worked out pretty well

[hsbsballcoach7]

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)