Matt Piloto looked strong at quarterback for Mount Union. Photo by Dan Poel for d3photography.com

The now-familiar cries come out again this time of year. No, not the misguided calls for UW-Whitewater and Mount Union to move to Division II — not that that’s easy to do, since the whole athletic department would have to go at once. We’re talking about whether UW-Whitewater and Mount Union’s dual dominance is bad for Division III football.

Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan discuss in this week’s Around the Nation podcast.

Plus, they break down the two national semifinals — the return of Jasper Collins, the emergence of Matt Piloto for Mount Union … the defensive performance by UW-Whitewater and more. And the first preview of Stagg Bowl XXXIX and all that goes on in Salem.

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Mount Union · St. Thomas · UW-Whitewater · Wesley

Jeremy Murray returned and got 25 carries for Mount Union. Photo by JT Higgins for d3photography.com

Now that we’ve reached the semifinals, will someone challenge UW-Whitewater and Mount Union? St. Thomas and Wesley will get their chance this week, and meanwhile, Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan take a first look at the upcoming games in this week’s Around the Nation podcast.

You’ll also hear another coach’s assessment of one of our semifinal teams, plus Gagliardi Trophy talk and more. Don’t forget to vote for the Gagliardi Trophy, through noon EST Monday.

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ESPN3 · Gagliardi Trophy · Mary Hardin-Baylor · Mount Union · Salisbury · St. John Fisher · St. Thomas · UW-Whitewater · Wabash · Wesley

Sean McAndrew brought down two big fourth-quarter touchdowns against Linfield. Wesley athletics photo

Two big comebacks and another that nearly went all the way back. Two prolific passing games bounced. Three if you count Franklin. Some stout run defense. And a family connection coming up.

Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan talk about all eight second-round games and the four upcoming quarterfinals, but give special attention to Wabash-North Central, Wesley-Linfield and Kean-Salisbury in this week’s Around the Nation podcast.

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Alex Tanney · Centre · Delaware Valley · Franklin · Jeremy Murray · Kean · Levell Coppage · Linfield · Mary Hardin-Baylor · McMurry · Monmouth · Mount Union · North Central (Ill.) · Salisbury · Shane McSweeny · St. John Fisher · St. Thomas · UW-Whitewater · Wabash · Wesley

UW-Whitewater was opportunistic on defense, to say the least. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com

Four backup quarterbacks, a wide receiver at corner, a triple-overtime game, an “upset” that all three Triple Take predictors got right and a lot more happened in the first round of the 2011 Division III NCAA playoffs.

Best game? Check. Biggest surprise? We cover that. Best performance by a quarterback off the bench? Best time to turn off the cameras? Most surprising stat? Best defensive effort? Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan cover that and more in the Around the Nation podcast.

Plus Pat gets on his soapbox for a minute or two. But it’s quick.

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Plus, here’s this week’s D3football.com reports, with eight of them, seven of which are mostly understandable. Keep your camera’s back to the wind!

Albion · Benedictine · Cal Lutheran · Centre · Christopher Newport · Delaware Valley · Dubuque · Franklin · Hampden-Sydney · Hobart · Illinois College · Illinois Wesleyan · Jake Mullin · John Gagliardi · Johns Hopkins · Kean · Linfield · Mary Hardin-Baylor · McMurry · Mike Zweifel · Monmouth · Mount Union · North Central (Ill.) · Norwich · Redlands · Salisbury · St. John Fisher · St. Scholastica · St. Thomas · Thomas More · Trinity (Texas) · UW-Whitewater · Wabash · Wesley · Western New England

Linfield has gone 9-0 with Mickey Inns at quarterback this season. Photo by Rusty Rae

Usually we have some complaints about the bracket, so much so that there’s a category in the annual predictions column asking what the committee blew.

It’s not so much this time. There are a couple things that would have been better if fixed, and we’ll touch on those, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Unless, say, you’re Hobart.

Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan run down the brackets, give their surprises, look at some of the great matchups potentially ahead in the second and third weekends and have just a word of warning for UW-Whitewater fans. That and much more in this week’s Around the Nation Podcast. Scroll to the bottom and read the tags to see which teams are mentioned in this week’s show.

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Plus, here’s this week’s D3football.com reports. Keith checks in from Randolph-Macon, Ryan Tipps from Wabash-DePauw and more.

Albion · Baldwin-Wallace · Benedictine · Cal Lutheran · Case Western Reserve · Centre · Christopher Newport · Delaware Valley · Dubuque · Endicott · Franklin · Hampden-Sydney · Heidelberg · Hobart · Illinois College · Illinois Wesleyan · Johns Hopkins · Kean · Linfield · Mary Hardin-Baylor · McMurry · Monmouth · Montclair State · Mount Union · North Central (Ill.) · Norwich · podcast · Randolph-Macon · Redlands · Salisbury · St. John Fisher · St. Olaf · St. Scholastica · St. Thomas · Thomas More · Trinity (Texas) · UW-Whitewater · Wabash · Wesley · Western New England · Wheaton (Ill.)