Week 0 Game Day Thread

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well Millersville is back to being among the worst. It makes no sense based on their location.

East Dennyburg didn’t win as big as I thought….

This is Year 3 of the new Clarion regime. They are starting to actually 'look' like a college football team (physically). Remember, they did a total rebuild when this new staff arrived -- heavy freshmen classes. To their credit, they've actually done a good job holding on to them. They looked like a high school team two years ago (and basically were). Those kids are growing up and have developed.

I get the opponent was Millersville (which looked God Awful). Point is Clarion has made some strides. Obviously the Golden Eagles won't be competing for the West title, but I don't think they'll finish in the basement, either.

[EastStroud13]

I was blown away that was THE Trey Staunch on the broadcast tonight. I couldn’t believe it. He sounded like he was 52 years old.

Thought the Boro D played pretty well throughout the game. Also very impressed with their special teams play. I was looking for more out of East Stroud to be honest. I thought they would be clicking a little bit more on offense, but it was their first game.

First game on the road always seems to be tough. Overall, I would say the defense performed better than I expected, and the offense performed worse than I expected, so I give it mostly a wash. I would expect the offense to perform better next week at Pace.

[Ship69]

This is Year 3 of the new Clarion regime. They are starting to actually 'look' like a college football team (physically). Remember, they did a total rebuild when this new staff arrived -- heavy freshmen classes. To their credit, they've actually done a good job holding on to them. They looked like a high school team two years ago (and basically were). Those kids are growing up and have developed.

I get the opponent was Millersville (which looked God Awful). Point is Clarion has made some strides. Obviously the Golden Eagles won't be competing for the West title, but I don't think they'll finish in the basement, either.

Although I don't think we had fallen quite as far as Clarion, Ship might be in a somewhat similar situation this season as half of of the team (not an exaggeration) is freshmen and transfers. And the important aspect of it will be if Mac can hang on to good players who develop out of the class. In today's atmosphere, that obviously isn't as easy to do as it used to be. Looking at the team roster, they're almost sure to be playing some frosh on the lines this year, which especially on OL is not usually a good thing. The early schedule isn't going to help much, either, as after an away opener against American International they run into Slippery Rock, Shepherd, and West Chester the next three weeks.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

First game on the road always seems to be tough. Overall, I would say the defense performed better than I expected, and the offense performed worse than I expected, so I give it mostly a wash. I would expect the offense to perform better next week at Pace.

Edinboro's defense is pretty good, too. I just don't think they have the offense to go with it this year.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Although I don't think we had fallen quite as far as Clarion, Ship might be in a somewhat similar situation this season as half of of the team (not an exaggeration) is freshmen and transfers. And the important aspect of it will be if Mac can hang on to good players who develop out of the class. In today's atmosphere, that obviously isn't as easy to do as it used to be. Looking at the team roster, they're almost sure to be playing some frosh on the lines this year, which especially on OL is not usually a good thing. The early schedule isn't going to help much, either, as after an away opener against American International they run into Slippery Rock, Shepherd, and West Chester the next three weeks.

Those three teams are not a good 'welcome to college football' for true freshmen OL. Talk about trial by fire.

[Ram040506]

Although I don't think we had fallen quite as far as Clarion, Ship might be in a somewhat similar situation this season as half of of the team (not an exaggeration) is freshmen and transfers. And the important aspect of it will be if Mac can hang on to good players who develop out of the class. In today's atmosphere, that obviously isn't as easy to do as it used to be. Looking at the team roster, they're almost sure to be playing some frosh on the lines this year, which especially on OL is not usually a good thing. The early schedule isn't going to help much, either, as after an away opener against American International they run into Slippery Rock, Shepherd, and West Chester the next three weeks.

Shepherd OL has 4 returning starters (5th left in the portal for Colorado State) and the new starter got a fair amount of experience last year as well. Should be a strength of the team this year. DL is very strong at DT, and very green at DE. It does help to have some vets up front for sure.

[Ship69]

Shepherd OL has 4 returning starters (5th left in the portal for Colorado State) and the new starter got a fair amount of experience last year as well. Should be a strength of the team this year. DL is very strong at DT, and very green at DE. It does help to have some vets up front for sure.

That's why the teams like Shepherd and the Rock have stayed near the top of the conference in recent years. They've had a regular rotation of good o-linemen through their program and at worst generally field a respectable o-line. Ship has fallen into a pattern where they seem to be constantly fielding a line of frosh and sophomores, and when a good one emerges they're gone in the portal. It builds upon itself as when your line isn't clicking the skill players start getting beat up, which makes them want to leave. and you start losing good skill players such as Khalid Dorsey and Redd Douglas.

And Mac is going to have to play young guys again this year. I went through the 2024 roster, looking at every o-lineman listed, and there were 10 freshmen, one redshirt freshman, two redshirt sophomores, and a junior. Only redshirt soph Robert Chetirkin and junior Riley Curtin have significant playing experience with Ship. Obviously Mac knew what he needed and went out to recruit for it. There are a lof of young d-linemen as well, although at least we have Jeremiah Carothers, whom I felt was one of the better young linemen in the league last season, returning there.

Most mid-state media observers and local coaches seem to think Mac has brought in a good class, but it's obviously going to be a trial by fire this season. The key will be keeping the group together and breaking the pattern Ship has fallen into. Easier said than done these days.

[CUlater]

Some takeaways from the Clarion/Ville matchup last night

Ville looks to have taken a significant step back which is a little surprising to me given they still have a veteran group that have been in their program for a while... unfortunately could be a long year for them
Clarion looks different, physically they look like a D2 college football team
a lot of speed and athleticism on the field across the board. lots of talent at WR and everywhere on defense
the QB is a dynamic play maker, if they can continue to develop the passing game that offense can put a lot of stress on a defense
they seem to have finally built some solid depth across the board, they've recruited well, retained and developed their roster and it looks like are starting to see the benefits of that
they look like a well coached group overall

what does all that amount to in the win column, who knows. They certainly still have an up hill climb but they appear to be a significantly improved group overall. Not a surprising as Ray Monica is a hell of a coach and it was only a matter of time to see that reflected in his football team.

one other huge take away is that these early season games are ugly with the current rules around practices, ect. When I played we had 15 practices in after our first week of camp. nowadays, you get about 16-18 practices total before your first game. that and the roster turnover seen with the current transfer rules make for some messy football for the first few weeks of the season. I see that as a huge benefit for those that played a week zero game moving forward....

[Ship69]

Some takeaways from the Clarion/Ville matchup last night

Ville looks to have taken a significant step back which is a little surprising to me given they still have a veteran group that have been in their program for a while... unfortunately could be a long year for them
Clarion looks different, physically they look like a D2 college football team
a lot of speed and athleticism on the field across the board. lots of talent at WR and everywhere on defense
the QB is a dynamic play maker, if they can continue to develop the passing game that offense can put a lot of stress on a defense
they seem to have finally built some solid depth across the board, they've recruited well, retained and developed their roster and it looks like are starting to see the benefits of that
they look like a well coached group overall

what does all that amount to in the win column, who knows. They certainly still have an up hill climb but they appear to be a significantly improved group overall. Not a surprising as Ray Monica is a hell of a coach and it was only a matter of time to see that reflected in his football team.

one other huge take away is that these early season games are ugly with the current rules around practices, ect. When I played we had 15 practices in after our first week of camp. nowadays, you get about 16-18 practices total before your first game. that and the roster turnover seen with the current transfer rules make for some messy football for the first few weeks of the season. I see that as a huge benefit for those that played a week zero game moving forward....

Yeah, Clarion appears to be improved, and I had overlooked that they're actually Ship's first home game before the Slippery Rock-Shepherd-West Chester gauntlet. Then after Millersville we still have Kutztown, an improved East Stroud, and Cal (unless they win the West) on the schedule. And Lock Haven beat us for the first time in many years last season. With Rock and Cal as the crossovers along with a better Clarion team, it's not the greatest of schedules for a green Ship team.

[Ship69]

That soon-to-be (allegedly) elite Seton Hill defense is getting absolutely toasted down in WV.

It never fails. You're a small school that finally gets a sports write-up for doing something that appears to be innovative, and then you get pounded.

[WarriorVoice]

First game on the road always seems to be tough. Overall, I would say the defense performed better than I expected, and the offense performed worse than I expected, so I give it mostly a wash. I would expect the offense to perform better next week at Pace.

McTaggart overthrew his receivers most of the night. The OLine opened holes for Lewis and Mills all night. The defense needs to shore up defending the middle screen.