Wow, what a day of football. And the day ended for us a lot like the Miracle in the Mud day ended. In this case, it was with both Pat Cummings and Keith McMillan driving home glued to their cellphones as I had two phones, one to each of them, sitting on the speakers of my laptop.
That’s how it came down in 2000: Keith and I were driving back from a game at Widener and my wife set up a phone next to the computer speaker, allowing me to listen and relay the play by play to Keith.
I hope this wasn’t the de facto national championship game in McMinnville, today. I have to believe Mount Union is going to have something to say about it. But kudos to UW-Whitewater for carrying the WIAC flag into the semifinals and not just phoning it in.
Kudos also to Wesley, for taking its Cinderella run to the semis as well. I don’t know if they’ve got much of a chance at Whitewater, but not sure how many gave them a chance at UMHB either. This is a great run for that program.
Capital put on a good show as well in falling short. Lewis Howes, who set a Division III single-game receiving record a few years back at Principia, wanted to see what he could do at a higher level. Today we found out (12 catches, 245 yards, four TDs).
What’s left of Rowan makes the trip to Alliance, Ohio. The two haven’t met since Dec. 11, 1999, when Rowan upset Mount Union and ended the Purple Raiders’ then-record win streak.
Should be an interesting week.
pakownr97,
The best team did not win. Why was it on ESPN about the last play that shouldn’t have happened. On ESPN it was stated that Bridgewater should concede the loss allowing Rowan to go to the Stagg bowl. Also they said that they hope that the head coach from bridgewater never gets a position in anything more than D3 football.
The best team won. Live with it.
Its ALL in fun….Good Luck Saturday dirtycheme…..BIGMUCFAN !!
I can almost hear the surging flow of testosterone and the chest pounding….gorilla warfare (pun intended)…
pakownr, I have lived with it for the last few years and don’t dwell on it either. I was just making a point.
bigmucfan,
The reason that rowan fans don’t make the voyage out to ohio is because it is Ohio. Who really wants to go there? When I went in 99 they had billboards of how they now have atm machines. Do they have internet yet or are they still 5 years behind. (I don’t know if anyone else is laughing but I crack myself up) Don’t worry it is all in good fun. Good luck. See you next year. Rowan conisders you our rival not anyone in the NJAC, as far as football is concered.
One thing that bugs me is that no one gives Rowan any credit when we are always one of the top teams in the country.
THE BEAST OF THE EAST IS BACK!!! (and out for blood)
lg1970, what’s your predictions.
I hope people aren’t taking me too seriously, except the fact that Rowan will beat the “Purple Raiders” (yeah that sounds manly)
As per what’s the record between rowan/mt. union. Please correct me if I am wrong but Mt. Union leads 5-1? not sure but think that is correct.
Judging from my performance in the pick em contest, my predictions won’t carry much weight, but…..here goes…..
Mount Union over Rowan
W-W over Wesley (closer than most people might think)
I had to ask. Is there anyone else out there that thinks Rowan will win?
I hope wesley wins and we can have a delaware valley (that is the area where both schools are from, not the school itself) Stagg Bowl.
dirtycheme,
If Rowan does win, then they win my “overachiever” award. I say that not because they don’t have the talent but only because of all the injuries they have suffered.
My Little Giants bowed out last week, so I’m just enjoying the survivors play some great football. Good luck to the Profs…..and the Wolverines, Warhawks, and Purple Raiders.
I keep seeing all these scores for the Stagg bowl. You people keep thinking that way!!! BUT if your teams think that way it may be the score for the consolation bowl… You underestimate Wesley and Rowan shame on you…. All you are doing is feeding the fire at Wesley.. I don’t know about Rowan but the Wesley players are feeding off your disrepecting them. I won’t sit here and predict a Wesley romp. I think they will play better than some of you are thinking. Just read what the fans from their last three games have said and take heed..
I agree with you PA_wesleyfan. Wesley has done an outstanding job this year. Nobody, even the so called experts, didn’t think they’d get this far…but I’m sure Wesley themselves thought they would. No reason why they can’t produce another upset special in beating WW. I’m really not sure that it would be considered an upset at this point. Good luck….if they were to win, make it to the Stagg Bowl and win it….that would be a great story in Div III Football this year. Again, good luck !! Wouldn’t it be something to see Wesley and Rowan….two teams that haven’t really been given alot of respect, by me included……..maybe its — shame on me !! Later…..
PA-Wesleyfan
Wesley’s recent run has been nothing short of amazing and unexpected. No disrespect intended, but people’s doubts about this team are based on both its lack of any credible playoff history and the team’s 47-0 loss at the hands of a mediocre Brockport St. team late in the season. I think most people are wondering when they’re going to lay that egg again, expecially since it appears W-W has an offense that can’t be stopped.
As for unstoppable offenses, a classic battle of titans is shaping up in Alliance this weekend, as the prolific MU “O”, takes on Rowan’s vaunted “D”, which has, through turnovers and second-half stinginess in the last two weeks, kept them alive. Can they pull another rabbit out of their hat? We’ll see.
My prediction – and I’ll step out on a limb here. Either MU wins, perpetuating the preceptive demise of the East, or Rowan wins, and the trash spewed on these threads will reach an all-time high. In any event, and notwithstanding the banter, I hope the young men on both sides put on a memorable show.
dirtycheme
It is a good thing you didn’t make it to the Stagg in 2001. To suffer another loss at the hands of the Raiders and a record of 1-6 ytd. Oh the shame.
dutchman89
I am confused. Your prediction????? You picked both schools to win. No chance to miss on that prediction.
I hope UWW isnt riding too high off of this weeks win over Linfield. They do need to take this game as seriously as the last one. If they do, and have a good game, it will be a complete blowout. Again, that is confidence in my team, and my thinking that the only other good team in d-3 was linfield. If they have a poor game on offense, only then will it be close. Go Warhawks!
UWW wins by 14
Mt. Union wins by 10
UWW-fan5,
Are you serious? If you truly think that Linfield and Whitewater are the only two good teams in DIII then you are truly an idiot. Whitewater and Linfield are both strong teams, no doubt about it. The confidence in your team seems to influenced by ignorance as well.
GO Wesley and GO Raiders!
I knew UW Whitewater was going to win that game. They are the toughest team from the toughest conference, and they are going to win it all. Has anyone in the playoffs this year had to play the kind of competition they have? NO!
UW Whitewater 44 – Wesley 27
Mt Onion 35 – Rowan 21
UW Whitewater 35 – Mt Onion 21
Mt Onion is clearly one of the best teams in the country – no doubt abaout that (every year for that matter), but this year is the year that UW Whitewater wins it all, and does it by having the toughest road to the Championship!
I think you are downplaying the complete dominance of those two teams. No one has or will come close to either of those schools, except for when they played each other. mlusk, tell me what team could hang with those two schools. You can tell me your opinion without me calling you an “idiot,” so you dont have to worry about that. I’ll just think your wrong.
SeanGOP,
We all will find out soon enough. I’m not bringing my Mount Union bias into this discussion. The earlier comment about there being only two good teams in DIII was borderline insane.
Then who are the other teams that can compete with those guys?
I have not seen Whitewater play this year. I am not sying that they are going to lose. Maybe they are unbeatable this year, I doubt it. I hope that Mount Union gets a chance to play Whitewater. I’m just hoping that Mount and Whitewater make it to Salem, that is where the Stagg Bowl is played.
There were a lot of people who thought Linfield was unbeatable also. I am not knocking Whitewater. I would just like to see how Mount Union does against them if the earn the opportunity.
Ralph Turner
How many D3 players do the Texas schools have or have they had in the NFL-
WSUC/WIAC-in the past 20 years has had more than the rest of D3 schools, not in just Texas, but in the country. One of which, Tom Newberry UW LaCrosse ’85, went to more NFL Pro Bowls than any D3 player in history. If your Texas schools had to run the gauntlet that is the WIAC they’d be lucky to win 7 games every year.
Ralph,
Don’t you just love this “my state can beat up your state” mentality?
Too much cheese makes you……(fill in the blank)
The best team won Bridgewater-Rowan game in 2001. The other team went home to New Jersey
pakownr97,
I am an ODAC fan, and the Eagles had an outstanding team in 2001. They demonstrated that on the field all year long. Even though I admit that I am an H-SC fan, once it gets past conf. play my philosophy is lets keep it in the family. BUT, you have to admit BC got a HUGE break in that ballgame. Perhaps they were the “better” team that day. I don’t know. It is a shame that something the Eagle players had nothing to do with will keep popping up as a jab to a great team that had a great run.
dirty,
As I mentioned above, no question BC got a huge break that day. I don’t know about what ESPN said but I doubt there are many coaches in the entire country on any level that would concede the game. It may sound good to talk about doing that but I’m not certain it is fair to make Coach Clark the villain. Unfortunately, it is one of those bad deals in life that you have to chalk up to “character building”. Playing on a D3 team with an under 50% winning record, I have lots of extra character if anyone needs to borrow any. ๐ I do remember that day well and even though I am not a Rowan fan, I did feel for them that day.
“Go Wesley! Carry the South Region banner. (After all, Delaware is on our side of the Mason-Dixon line! ) ”
Ralph if you go to this link you will find that Delaware is actually on the North side of the Mason-Dixon line, they made us take Delaware, but I will sell it to you cheap. I can package it with the Brooklyn Bridge for a great deal.
http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa041999.htm
Thanks, Knight! I will bookmark that reference! ๐
bvboom-
re”One of which, Tom Newberry UW LaCrosse รขโฌห85, went to more NFL Pro Bowls than any D3 player in history.”
Chris Warren (Ferrum College) went to the pro-bowl in 93,94, and 95.
Tom Newberry went to 2- 88 and 89 ??
That Rowan team in ’01 had the most explosive offensive I have ever seen (in person, yes Linefield is great)in D-III. It’s not fair to call Clark a villian, but Rowan was better. In my opinion, they would have beat Mount that year. But the more talented team doesn’t always win. That’s what’s so great about any playoff system from D-III to March Madness—-upsets!
Ya’ll forget the gift call that Rowan got early in the fourth quater of the 2001 final four game. BC running back Devon Cruz broke the plane of the goal to score, but no wait the refs failed to give it to him. With that call, BC would have been up 30-24 going into the final two minutes when the clock came into question. The calls and clock evened out and the better team went to Salem.
To all the People who are comparing the great Division3 teams. None compare to The Mt. Union Team that beat Lycoming. Borchert had QB Ratings higher than the Heisman Trophy winner that year. Anyhow, Until you Appear in 8 Games in a 12 year span. Just root hard for your team and hope they don’t play The Raiders.
Have Mt.Union fans always been this cocky? You all better pray that Rowan does not beat you this weekend! Pray hard because if Rowan wins all you Mt.Union fans will look stupid. Best of all you will deserve it! I also bet Mt.Unions players are not underestimating Rowan. As a matter of fact I bet they are working extra hard in their preparation. Why? because they know the truth, that Rowan is a solid, top, national program that deserves respect. People should stop putting them down becasue their line up is missing key players but praising them because they are still winning without them. Mt.Union and Rowan are great teams with great great players and whomever wins they will both continue to be top DIII programs. With that said LETS GO ROWAN! You are being trash talked left and right. Use this as motivation and go out there and take your respect.
Before the discussion continues about Wisconson-Whitewater being the
dominant team from the dominant conference..you need to know that the number one ranked team in D-3 as far as strength of schedule was Wesley. If the field conditions are decent and they are able to showcase Larry Beavers and Marcus Lee in the passing game..I think you guys are in for a ballgame..but hey congrats to all of the final 4 teams..no matter who wins..we the fans win by watching three more great games..
For what it’s worth, the late Sam Mills (Montclair State alum) went to five Pro Bowls.
Dutchman
I am not going to beat a dead horse here again about the Brockport game. It has been rehashed many times on the boards. Wesley has had good teams for years so that argument is null. In fact they have not had a losing season in years. It also appears that WW didn’t stop Linfield from passing much either so maybe the score will be 100-99!!!! LIKe I have stated before keep believing that wesley has no D !!!!
RIGG0123-
Chris Warren was a transfer from D1 UVA, nice try knucklehead.
WIAC has and always will have the best players in D3.
p.s. WIAC is toughest and best D3 conference.
Yaโll forget the gift call that Rowan got early in the fourth quater of the 2001 final four game. BC running back Devon Cruz broke the plane of the goal to score, but no wait the refs failed to give it to him. With that call, BC would have been up 30-24 going into the final two minutes when the clock came into question. The calls and clock evened out and the better team went to Salem.
Religion,
I wasn’t at that ballgame so I take your word for it. That’s the problem with saying one particular play, bad call, etc. cost a team the ballgame. The timekeeper mistake was huge, should have never happened, and stood out because it was near the end of the game. That is what most people (especially Rowan faithful) will remember. Did it cost them the ball game? Who knows. I’ll bet in that game as in most, there were many key plays and close calls that could have swung the tide one way or the other. That debate could go on forever. Whatever the case may be, both programs have demonstrated since then that they are class programs and continue to be successful.
Speaking of debates, I’ll bet the farm that no matter who wins in Salem, this blog will be full of post claiming their team is better giving all kinds of reasons why. Funny thing, they could be right because as Conrad already said, the best team doesn’t always win. I’m sure that W-W, Rowan, MUC, or Wesley will have a terrible trip home from Salem with the Nat’l Championship trophy on board wondering if they are really the best team. ๐
Rowan continues to get trashed because they continue to choke in the playoffs. Until you’ve won it all you’re going to continue to get trashed upon. Your teams get close and choke…thats been their MO. They’re like the Buffalo Bills of years ago. Go to the Super Bowl, only TO LOSE !! Respect is earned and Mount Union has (7)……count them, seven National Championship banners….when Rowan gets just one….I’ll admit it…I’ll give them respect…but NOT until. New coach….but same old Rowan. OUT !!
Ya…the WIAC is the toughest conference in D3. That’s why their record in D3 playoffs is what….6-7. Give me a break !!
PA-Wesleyfan,
Anyone that is willing to fault WW for not stopping Linfields passing game has not had the pleasure of watching Brett Elliot toss the pigskin!! He is amazing with the football. Incredibly quick and accurate release! The ball is gone before you blink! Timing with WR’s was outstanding. I thank God he only had 42 seconds to win the game and the WW defense stood firm! The only way to beat that team was to match them offensively point fot point and get a few more which WW was able to do!! As for WW’s defense, remember there was one defensive touchdown and another was set up by a defensive play. Now for the first time in 2 weeks, WW is not considered the underdog. I don’t think we want to give up that role!!! It has been working for us!! LOL
Oh baby! I knew it wouldn’t take long for someone to bring up the fact that Chris Warren was a UVA transfer. I’m not even getting into that debate. That whole D1 transfer thing has been debated enough in recent weeks. I will say this though. That Ferrum backfield with Warren, Stoval, and I believe Coles was the third was the best D3 (or should I say non D3)backfield I have ever seen by far. And wasn’t Coles a VT transfer? The poor Ferrum QB couldn’t hold on to the ball that year and Union “upsets” them in the playoffs.
Mt. Union fans can afford to be COCKY. Remember, its their program who has WON the last (7) out of (11) National Titles. Until you can get your first….BACK OFF !!
Ahh, well, you heard it straight from the horse’s (big) mouth. Nobody is allowed to talk without Walnut and Bronze.
… gonna get awful quiet around here.
Seriously, though, when you’re in brackets with Linfield, St. John’s and Mount Union the past few years, what else do you expect from the WIAC? It’s almost as if you didn’t read that story I wrote that was linked off the front page last week.
I wouldn’t say Mount Union can be cocky, but what they have done is pretty amazing. It’s right up there with Kalamazoo tennis in the MIAA and Kenyon swimming.
Don’t blame Mt. Union for the brackets….they have NO CONTROL on where they’re put. They only CONTROL what they can control…that is who they are playing that particular week. I’m not saying that the WIAC is not a good conference, I just don’t think that its the BEST D3 has to offer. If Capital was in another bracket….maybe they would be in the National Championship with Mount. This would prove my point that the OAC is the strongest conference in D3…..just my opinion of course !!
Hey pcole….when you’re in a bracket with Linfield, Mount or St Johns, you’re supposed to try and WIN !! If the competition is too tough, then get out of the kitchen. Just face the facts,…you couldn’t compete back then…period !! Is the Dynasty over at Mount, only time will tell. We’ll all just have to see in the next (2) weeks. Good luck !!!!!
I competed just fine. I’m not a WIAC fan, I’m just the publisher of the site.
Dutchman you have’t seen Warrick to Beavers or Lee or Gore or Nelson or Barnes or or or .. Me thinks you protest to much!!!!
What fun! My best to all fans of all these four great teams. But I think I may have the best reason of all for wanting a Mount Union vs. Whitewater Stagg Bowl. My wife and I are both graduates of Mount Union (’63 and ’64) and our son is a graduate of UW-Whitewater (’92). We think it is possible that we’re the only parent/child combination of these two wonderful schools, and thus our family cannot lose in a Purple Raider/Warhawk game. So we’re hoping for the matchup. And yes, we Raider fans are rather cocky. But remember, when my wife and I were in school, the Raiders were snuggly nestled right smack down a the bottom of the conference, keeping Hiram good company. So what the hell! Go Raiders; Go Warhawks! In other words, GO PURPLE!
raiderwarhawk….that is really cool. Do you, your wife and son have an wagers???? How about one does the others laundry for a week or month (lol).