Since
l had to be in Alliance for a meeting by nine, it was necessary for Mom and me to leave
Cleveland in the early morning darkness. After the previous week's perfect 70's, it
was raining mixed with spitting snow when we loaded up the Buick for this trip. Gray
skies and rain followed us all the way to Stark County, but just after we crossed the
tracks, on Ohio 183, we left the rain behind, for the rest of the day, and found blue
skies and sunshine in Limaville, as we came into Alliance the "back way."
In our morning meeting, the
Alumni Council heard from new President Jack Ewing, who told us of projects underway at
Mount. After all the construction of the Kolenbrander era, he had excepted a period
of rest, as he began his presidency; instead, construction is already underway on the new
Gulling Training and Conditioning center. The new facility, west of the covered
stands on the old Lamborn property, was donated by the family of Paul Gulling, a standout
"wide out" for the Raiders 1977-1979, and current
Assistant Coach for Receivers, will be used by team members as a conditioning center, but
will benefit non-athletes by returning time and space in the Timken and McPherson
buildings to the general student population. Planning is well under way for the
50,000 square foot science building you've already heard about and the new President's
home. That decision was made before the new president was hired; the old President's
home is now a vacant lot on Union Ave. Other changes I noticed on campus, were
considerable fixing up of the stadium area; repair/rebuilding of the brick fence
along Hartshorn Street; Repainting/reroofing of the Covered stands with elimination of the
old coaches' "crow's nest" and restoration/relocation of the Class of '66
Victory Bell to a small "Victory garden" against the brickwork inside the
Southeast corner of the stadium. As a member of the class that bought the bell, I
was thrilled to see that it had not been discarded, when it was removed from the Campus
Center patio. I recall that we had to have the clapper removed, to prevent
unauthorized ringing. If anyone has any idea where it is 34 years later, it probably
should be turned over to someone for game day use, perhaps something for the band to do
during the Cheerleader's pushups...
The Community Day Cookout got
moved inside and became the standard Saturday buffet, due to the weather forecast.
Although Lloyd Davidson is officially retired, he was in evidence in the dining
hall, as usual, before the game.
PIONEERS AND MOORE:
After so many "full house" games recently, the College
staff was having a tough time giving away the Community Day seats in the East stands.
I'm not sure whether it was the cold weather, the 20 MPH wind out of the West, Fall
Break, the opponent, or some other excitement in Alliance. If Marietta brought a
crowd they were hard to spot, I didn't even see Cheerleaders on their side.
Attendance was listed at just over 3,000, but it didn't look like that many and a
large percentage headed for home or the post-game reception long before the final gun.
I'd have to say that the crowd was reminiscent of the not so good ol' days, when we
bought the Victory bell and didn't really need it.
The City of Marietta was named
for Marie Antoinette, the beautiful queen of France who died on the Guillotine during the
French Revolution. Marietta College was founded as Muskingum Academy in 1797 and
became Marietta College in 1835; it lays claim to being the oldest College in the
Northwest
Territories of the U.S. The Muskingum River empties into the Ohio just west of the
College. Today the Pioneers arrived in white, with a dark blue stripe down the seam
of their trousers; jerseys based on a classic Dallas Cowboys design with serif M's in
place of the stars on the upper corners of the shoulders. The Raiders filled all of
their uniforms, arriving through the South Portal in solid Purple, while the 136 member
Band played "On Mount to Victory," at least three times. Kick off temperature
was a crisp, but bright 46 degrees, with big fluffy clouds showing over Chapman Hall.
Marietta held the ball for
five plays in their first possession, Mount took over and went 72 yards in three plays
capped by a 37 yard TD run by # 31 Soph RB Dan Pugh of Norwalk/St Paul; looks like he has
a younger brother too, # 32 RB Jason Pugh, an inch taller and 36 pounds heavier, of the
same school.
I looked for but didn't see their sister Liz - the red headed cheerleader of a few years
ago. Extra point by # 1 Jr. Rodney Chenos, of Galloway/Hilliard Davidson.
Marietta held the ball for
three plays before Mount scored again: 71 yards in 6 plays, including a 29 yarder to # 81
Sr. TE Adam Irgang of Girard. The TD pass from # 16 Sr. QB Gary Smeck, of Lancaster,
to # 2 Sr. WR Adam Marino of Cuyahoga Falls, covered the last three yards. Still
looking for a First Down, the Pioneers gave the ball back three plays later, allowing # 10
Dir RB Chuck Moore of Mogadore to break loose for a 32 yard TD run, upping the count to
21, before the end of the Quarter. For Moore, it was to be the First of four, on the
day.
FIRST PERIOD SCORE: MOUNT UNION 21,
MARIETTA 0
As the first period closed Marietta made their first First Down,
as the second period opened Marietta made their first TD on a 13 yard pass play, Mount
answered with one to Marino and two to Moore, one by Land and one in the air, to up the
half time count to six TD's and 5 conversions. Moore's one running TD came after a
fantastic punt return by Adam Marino. Looking like he was stopped at his own 40,
Marino spun free and circled before covering 56 yards to the Pioneer 5.
HALF TIME SCORE: MOUNT UNION 41, MARIETTA 7
Starting the second half, # 13 Soph. DB Mike Miller of Cuyahoga
Falls gave the Raider "O" a short field possession, from their own 43, four
plays later Chuck Moore went 35 yards for # 4 on the day and becoming Mount's all time
leading scorer, with 288, breaking Kicker Ken Edelman's 1987-1990 Career
record of 274. As the quarter ended Marino's new "running mate" # 9 Jr.
Jason Candle of Salem/West Branch caught a 25 yarder for Mount's eight score of the
afternoon.
THIRD QUARTER SCORE: MOUNT UNION 54,
MARIETTA 7
By now most of the small crowd had moved indoors to the coffee,
cider and doughnuts in the campus center leaving the second and third teams and their
parents to finish things off. For the third week in a row an "oh by the
way" TD at the end, by Marietta Scatback Kenny Sasu, made the game look closer than
it really was.
FINAL: MOUNT UNION 54, MARIETTA 14
GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS:
The good news, for Mount fans, is that John Carroll lost to
Wilmington 24 - 19. The bad news is that the Quakers, a surprising 4 - 0 in the OAC
are due in Alliance next Saturday. Last year at this time Hiram was feeling good
about leaving the OAC and joining the NCAC, where all schools have Phi Beta Kappa
Chapters. I predicted that they might regret their new frat brothers - particularly
the 'Gheny Gators. Yesterday Allegheny pasted a 70 - 7 shellacking on the Terriers, only
good news for Hiram is that next week's opponent is Oberlin: winless in several years.
The victory over Marietta was Coach Kehres' 155th, a new record for the most wins
by any OAC coach. His overall record is now 155-17-3 for a winning percentage of
.885% the highest of any College Coach, at any level.
Next Week Wilmington College @ Mount Union
College, 1:3O P.M. See you there !
