It's Time!

After what was surely the longest offseason in history, we finally play some college football today as the Yeomen open the 2007 season at Savage Stadium against the Case Spartans.

For months, the Oberlin coaching staff has been keeping track of the days, hours, minutes and seconds leading up to kickoff with a countdown clock hanging above the office. For weeks, it seemed like the clock was locked at 100 days, but finally...we're here.

There's never been the anticipation for a season quite like there is for 2007. Having 20 starters returning will do that for you. As will having a talented corps of players including R.V. Carroll, Chase Palmer, Chris Pisani, Greg Mangan, Chris Schubert, and on and on. Bringing in 21 freshman will help the optimism as well.

Now all that's left for Oberlin to do is win. Simple as that.No one should be content for the Yeomen to simply be 'the best of the rest' in the NCAC. They've been there and done that. Twice. The next step in the process is beating the Wabashes, the Wittenbergs, and the Alleghenys. And then this team becomes legitimate conference title contenders.

As I look at this season, it comes down to two keys: First, be able to run the football against everyone on the schedule, not just against half the teams. R. V. Carroll had a record setting 2006 and looks in great shape for this fall. But if you look closely at his stats, it brings up a glaring point:

Against Case, Heidelberg, Hiram, Earlham, and Kenyon: 1,083 yds (217 per game)
Oberlin's Record: 4-1

Against W&J, Denison, Wabash, Wittenberg, and Allegheny: 197 yds (39.4 per game)
Oberlin's Record: 1-4

The other key for the Yeomen is stopping 'the big play' on the defensive side of the ball. In 2006, Oberlin allowed eight passing touchdowns of 30 yards or more plus another three scoring runs in excess of 30 yards. Now, as Don Vincent likes to remind me, during the course of a season...you'll have occasional breakdowns. The trick is to contain the damage and not let it become a recurring issue.

One way or the other, this promises to be a memorable season. It's an honor to return for my sixth season as the Voice of Oberlin College football. I hope you'll tune in either on the radio or on the web throughout the season for all the action with yours truly, Don Vincent and Jason Gibbs.

It all starts today! See you at Savage Stadium.