I was intrigued by the young Kehres, until 45 checked in. As a player on one of our National Championship teams, his credentials at football analysis exceed those of anybody else on this site.
When you are looking at Mt. Union's accomplishments, staggering as they are, remember one thing. Unlike the scholarship divisions, there is no limit to the number of players that can try out for that team. They start with some ridiculous figure like 200 players and go from there. Every high school player in Ohio that is not good enough to acquire a scholarship would have Mt. Union first on his wish list. Kehres also benefits from a handful of players who could make it on the D2 or even D1 levels but, for whatever reason, choose to be a whale in a small swimming pool. So in every game that Mt. Union plays until the championship, they have an enormous talent advantage. That edge disappears against Whitewater who seems to corner the market on non-scholarship Wisconsin/Minnesota players. Bottom line is that it is somewhat dangerous to expect that coaching excellence at Mt. Union would translate to the scholarship divisions where the advantages in player procurement evaporate.
Interesting comment. And I agree with the premise.
Just to argue for the sake of talking football,.......let's ask ourselves a question or two. At one point in time, not every D1/D2 hopeful "wanted" to go to Mount Union after they got shunned by D1 programs. Something had to happen there prior......to make them all desire to go to Alliance. A few National Titles in a row created that yearly desire. Kehres created that.
And I too find it amazing that 200 freshman kids will try out for football. They don't get scholarships, some/many get 1/2 of a $35K/yr tuition covered. That still leaves paying more tuition than at YSU.
But Mount does get kids there regularly. And attracting great athletes....recruiting.....makes bad coaches look good. It's easy to go 8-3 or 9-2 at Ohio State.....isn't it?
It's Jimmies and Joes vs X's and O's........I'll take the athletes. That's why you see major college coaches recruiting convicted felons.
If you want to find a truly great Coach like Kehres, find the guy that turns around Hiram football. Then follow him when the get's the Head job at New Mexico State and turns them around. Then he'll get the job at Georgia State....(a new program in a more desirable location/Atlanta). Then when he wins their and upsets Alabama, Ga Tech or Georgia in a week #1 "money game".........Hire HIM!!!
Hire Him!!!......Because he won....playing with crappy players.