Welcome back to Salem, Virginia. I’ll be your online tour guide, Frank Rossi, the “Sideline Guy†for the third year for D3football.com’s Stagg Bowl coverage. When last I left you last year, I told you of my experiences during my return flight immediately following Stagg Bowl XXXVI, as I flew with the Iona Men’s Basketball team on a snowy night back to New York. Ironically, on my way through JFK Airport Wednesday to head to this year’s game, I ran into the CW Post Men’s Basketball team on their way to the Desert Classic in Las Vegas, NV. While Vegas may be warm and exciting, it’s not where I want to be right now.
It’s great to be back in Salem — it’s sunny and bright with temperatures in the mid-40s. Those are the current condition of course — in less than 48 hours, that will likely all change. As of this writing, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Watch — the current forecast models show Salem being in the “bull’s eye†of weather, with 8 to 12 inches of snow likely from late Friday into Saturday. With temperatures likely to remain in the low- to mid-30s and some sort of precipitation almost a guarantee, weather will undoubtedly play some level of factor for all those involved.
For your broadcasters, it poses huge challenges. This year, we will be videocasting the pregame show for the first time ever from 9:00am EST until kickoff at 11:00am EST. We want everyone that can’t make it to Salem this year to see the fun we all have before even walking into the stadium, courtesy of Bridgewater’s “Stone Station†and the fine folks on the ground in Salem working on Carey Harveycutter’s crew. This year, that work on the ground may take a whole new meaning with the forecast, and we’ll keep you posted on exactly what precautions are taken should the storm pan out the way things look right now. As long as the snow stops by game time, the effects on the game will be minimalized, as the field is made up of high quality field turf. Stay tuned for more on that.
How is the forecast affecting the teams and their preparations? So far, it’s not. Pat Coleman and I attended the initial interview sessions earlier in the day, and neither Coach Kehres or Leipold indicated that the forecast is affecting their playbooks until the day of the event. The players are in good spirits, with Mount Union’s defense razzing last year’s defensive star, Drew McClain, for doing some quick pushups for a local television crew. Even Coach Kehres is looking like the Maytag repairman during his team’s practice, standing alone and waiting for something to break (haven’t seen anything in need of repair yet).
One thing is for sure this week: no matter how many times these teams have appeared in this game and no matter what the weather may bring, everyone is appreciative to be here, be it the players, the coaches, the broadcasters or the fans. It’s something nobody takes for granted, regardless of the outside elements that may affect the game itself. Stagg Bowl week isn’t just a game — it’s a three-day event full of memories. Tonight, it’s Gagliardi Trophy night — more from that event later. Until then, I’m curious about your initial thoughts about this year’s game.
And the Mount Union practice is just wrapping up here from Salem Stadium. Kurt Rocco dressed and got what seemed to me to be a normal amount of reps with the offense. Cecil Shorts did take some snaps and threw passes with the first string. Rocco seemed fine.
Mount Union also has about the most talented possible scout team this time of year. With teams limited to 52 players suited up for practice, the assistant coaches run some of the scout team stuff — in this case, former Mount Union players such as Nate Kmic and Matt Kostelnik.
Enjoy Salem guys. Keep the updates coming.
so about the weather.. 10-16 inches of snow……………..winter storm warning
In the last four years, it seems as though at least one of UW-Whitewater’s playoff games has been affected by weather in some way (be it snowstorm, sleet or ice). All of the games in WW this year had near-perfect weather on game day.
Seems we have to travel all the way to Virginia to get our fix of snowy football for the year! Looking forward to hopping on the UWW band bus tomorrow and trying to keep my trombone slide from freezing on Saturday!
great holiday song “let it snow let it snow let it snow” just like upstate NY
and let the good times roll
GO GETTEM UWWW!!
I’m still in we-just-let-Vinny-Cerrato-go world up here, and no hint of snow yet … but I should be able to beat the storm to Salem.
‘preciate the updates.
How was Westemeyer?
I really don’t think weather will play a huge difference in the game. mostly it will impact the travel and volume of adult beverages consumed in the parking lot prior to kickoff. I have one comment to the D3 staff, and I make this with the full understanding that you are diligent on all stories related to d3 athletics, as of 11:50 Thursday night the “Road to Salem” feature on MUC hasn’t been posted. With most people traveling tomorrow I feel like it will mostly go unread. Not a huge deal but to me this is the Mount team with the most intriguing story lines of their decade of dominance, e.g. Rocco a first time stater as a senior, Morring having started over Kmic in early 05, Shorts being as potentially game changing as Garcon. Again i appreciate all that you guys do, and perhaps this story wasn’t available. But i will be traveling 8 hours tomorrow and won’t have internet access until Sunday. Just on observation.
Cheers for being able to rewatch on DVR with sound because ESPN didn’t send Pam Ward!!!
Posted at 11:58, however.
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2009/12/18/1812/whatever-it-takes.html
haha my apologies Pat. Working through the night to be able to make the trip is paying off two-fold tonight!
Yeah — sorry it wasn’t done earlier. I got it this afternoon while at practice and it got buried in my inbox.
No its completely understandable, I just became cognizant to the fact that it was late, I hadn’t seen it and realized it might go unnoticed. Good piece. With the Gagliardi presentation and other preparations being made, coupled with the amount of press MUC has received over the years I’m sure even the most die-hard Raider fans would have excused no article at all. I only pointed it out because, for lack of a better word, transition years for MUC are more intriguing to me.