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August 2000 News
Posted by Ric 8/31/00
I've posted our first pictures of the 2000 football team. They were taken by Bill Gough during the scrimmage with Washington & Jefferson last Saturday evening at Mount Union Stadium.
Posted by Ric 8/29/00
The Mount Union Sports Information Department has released the official game preview for the opener against Allegheny. You can read it here. I have also posted the Mount Union football team roster. You can get to it here or over in the left menu.
Posted by Ric 8/28/00
Tailgate Party Info...
Jackie Rychel would like everyone to know there is an open invitation to join the Purple Raider's tailgate party before the game this Saturday against Allegheny College. It will be held in the field behind the stadium beginning at 11:00 a.m. She says to look for the cheerleaders! It's pot luck as usual and the more the merrier, so be sure to make plans to stop by. I'm not completely sure what my schedule will be yet before the game, but once we get everything setup I'm going to do my best to swing in.
Posted by Ric 8/27/00
I was surprised to hear that a very good friend of mine, and a true friend of many with ties to Mount Union College, Dick Ross, had cardiac bypass surgery recently. He won't be able to attend the opener this Saturday at Allegheny, but should be back on his feet in time for the Otterbein game in a few weeks.
You can email Dick at Raider66@mtunionfootball.com if you'd like to send him your thoughts. I hope to see you soon Dick!
Posted by Ric 8/26/00
To describe Mount Union in it's scrimmage with Washington & Jefferson tonight at Mount Union Stadium in one word, it would have to be... Dominant!
The Purple Raiders pretty much moved the ball as we have seen them do in the past with the first team ten play drills, scoring two touchdowns on it's first possession and one more on it's second. Meanwhile, the defense was just as impressive, allowing one first down on the Presidents first attempt and two on it's second, and no points either time.
You also have to think W & J must consider themselves fortunate they do not open the season for two weeks, because they resembled a mash unit by the latter part of the night with numerous players hobbling around or on crutches.
And this is a W & J squad picked as a top twenty team in most preseason Division III football polls.
The depth the Raiders possess at the skill positions is remarkable. Sophomore wideout Jason Candle seemed to get the bulk of the snaps opposite Adam Marino with the first team and junior Dan Pugh looked like a Chuck Moore clone carrying the football.
Another back that impressed was sophomore running back Vince Ilacqua, the brother of JCU running back Carmen Ilacqua, an All-OAC selection following the 1995 and 1996 seasons.
Also, it was great meeting all the nice people I met tonight. Mount Union has a wonderful following. Now, bring on Allegheny!
Posted by Ric 8/23/00
Mount Union Head Football Coach Larry Kehres spoke at our weekly Rotary luncheon today. He had many interesting things to say, such as the fact that he thinks this years football squad will be good, but he feels teams in the OAC like Baldwin-Wallace, John Carroll and Ohio Northern have gotten better and closed the gap. With the addition of Wilmington to the OAC, and a non-conference game to open the season vs. Allegheny, he said going through the season unbeaten will be a very difficult task.
He also said the coaches were very selective this year in recruiting freshmen. Kehres said he viewed film of each and every young man before pursuing him for the team. There are less freshman this year than in years past and this was by design.
You get the feeling from the way he talked about the incoming class today, and by things other coaches have said in the past month, that they are extremely happy with the group of freshman at Mount Union this season.
Posted by Ric 8/21/00
I had a chance to stop by the Purple Raiders practice this evening and watch for a while. It's great to see the team preparing for what will be another exciting season!
Football officially kicks off in Alliance this weekend with the Aviators high school squad opening it's season Friday evening and then the Mount Union - Washington & Jefferson scrimmage Saturday, both at Mount Union Stadium.
Posted by Ric 8/17/00
The annual Purple and White scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday the 19th at 7:00 p.m. at Mount Union Stadium. The first team usually goes for one series and then the younger guys get a chance to get noticed.
Unfortunately, my wife has me roped into this wedding we have to attend between two people I have never met in my life, but alas, she tells me it will be a beautiful experience.
Thanks to Carp for getting me the scrimmage info.
Posted by Ric 8/15/00
The theme for the 2000 football season... RAIDER FOOTBALL... HERE WE GO AGAIN ! will be in full force Saturday, August 26th, as Purple Raider fans will get their first taste of Mount Union Football with a full fledge of activities during the Pigskin Preview at Mount Union College. The activities planned include:
5:00 p.m. ~ Picnic at Hoover-Price Campus Center Patio. Cost: Adults $4.00 Children $2.00
5:45 p.m. ~ Program: Remarks by Head Coach Larry Kehres and others.
6:30 p.m. ~ Mount Union vs. Washington & Jefferson scrimmage at Mount Union Stadium.
The bookstore will also be open from 4:30 to 6:30.
Posted by Ric 8/10/00
The players have been in for tests and physicals and two-a-days begin tomorrow on the Mount Union campus and will run through the 19th, in preparation of the scrimmage on the 26th and the opener one week earlier than normal this season at Allegheny on September 2nd.
Posted by Ric 8/8/00
The annual Ohio Athletic Conference Football Media Preview was held today at the Cleveland South Hilton in Cleveland, Ohio. Mount Union was selected as favorites to win the school's 11th overall and ninth straight OAC Football Championship in 2000.
The Purple Raiders received eight of ten first-place votes in the coaches poll and 30 of 34 first-place tabs in the media poll. Coaches cannot vote for their own team. You can read the entire poll results here or in the Headlines section.
Posted by Ric 8/7/00
Your first chance to the see the 2000 edition of Mount Union Football will be Saturday, August 26th, when the Purple Raiders entertain Washington & Jefferson in a controlled scrimmage at Mount Union Stadium. Things are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
An interesting side note... Mount Union opens it's season one week later, on September 2nd, at Allegheny, while the Presidents will wait two weeks for their season to begin, on September 9th.... yep, at Allegheny.
Posted by Ric 8/6/00
I've added five new names to the 2000 Raider Recruits page, running the total to 26 incoming freshman we now know something about.
We've also added the link to the 1992 playoff season recap, so you can now go back eight years and read about maybe the best Purple Raider team not to win the national championship.
Posted by Ric 8/3/00
The long awaited Mount Union Preseason Roster is here! You can get to it by clicking here or in the 2000 Season section. Please remember this is only the preseason roster and does not include any incoming freshman. Also remember that this roster is subject to change.
Posted by Ric 8/2/00
I have completed the 2000 Mount Union Coaching Staff page so you can now go there to find out all you would like to know about the men that will be in charge of the Purple Raider Football Program this fall. You can get to it here or in the 2000 Season section.
Posted by Ric 8/1/00
The 2000 Mount Union Football Media Guides arrived today and I have now posted the long awaited (by some) 2000 junior varsity schedule. You can get to it here or in the 2000 Season section. Please remember that junior varsity schedules very often change and Mount Union's JV Football Schedule is no exception. If you plan on attending any of these games, especially if you are from out of town, you may want to call ahead to make sure there have been no changes to the schedule.
Soon to follow will be the 2000 Coaching Staff and the 2000 Preseason Roster... promise!