It’s nine and a half hours to kickoff as I write this. And as the painful memory of nearly seven hours’ drive time on I-80 alone melts from my eyes, it’s time to throw out my predictions. I have Keith’s predictions in my inbox and have tried not to read them so far.
What will we see tomorrow? I hope we’ll see two good games. I fear we’ll see two blowouts. So maybe we’ll get something in between.
Mount Union 35, St. John Fisher 17
There’s been some question as to which players will be available and play for Mount Union tomorrow. In the end, it’s not going to matter. As long as Nate Kmic can play, this is going to be a quick game and a Purple Raider win.
UW-Whitewater 35, Wesley 17
Is Justin Beaver 100%? Can Mario Harris, et al, shut down Derek Stanley and Neil Mrkvicka? Will receiver Michael Clarke be able to get open and pull away for his yardage after the catch? Can either team stop Ryan Kleppe or Bryan Robinson?
Hmm, that’s a lot of questions.
Here’s Keith’s take.
Mount Union 28, St. John Fisher 14: If the Cardinals score more than 17 against the Purple Raiders, they’d be the first to do so this season.
UW-Whitewater 28, Wesley 21: The Wolverines keep it much closer this year, but the Warhawks find a way to win again, preserving a chance to send coach Bob Berezowitz off into retirement with a championship.
Check for updates on the Scoreboard, not to mention our live broadcasts.
OK, so I only picked one score for both games. So sue me. 🙂
Picture says it all in Whitewater. Wesley, after an interception of Justin Jacobs, just walks to the locker room and does not elect to run a play with about :15 seconds to play in the first half. Running time expires.
Half – Whitewater 38 Wesley 0
Final
Mount Union 26 St. John Fisher 14
Final for Kmic, about 370 yds on the day.
SJF played a really great game.
The blocked FG just seemed to turn the game. It could have been 19-17 with SJF still having the wind and plenty of time. MUC took the ball and drove for a TD, 26-14. Final.
Thanks Pat and Keith.
So… let the discussion of MUC-UWW begin….
I thought Wesley was supposed to have a good offense… LOL
Neither Kmic or Beaver will get drafted. Lets be real. Mel Kiper was just saying yesterday that Nate Wolfe from NIU might not even get picked this year. He is the same size as Beaver and Kmic with much better speed and a D-I resume.
370, nuff said.
Two more years left for Kmic. No, he won’t be drafted but will he rewrite the record books for D3?
St. John Fisher played a GREAT game. In the end, their defense simply got manhandled and the offense was too inconsistent to win but the effort was outstanding.
Oh and Wesley is overrated again. What is there excuse this year? They wouldn’t finish top 3 in the WIAC. They are quick but small at every position. This is the second year in a row that they have come to town with this supposed great passing game and game breaking WR and QB. Guess what? They aren’t any good against a good team.
How many teams from the West could be pounding Wesley right now?
Last year it was the shoes . . . this year?
Truly enjoyed the Pat and Keith combo — sounded like a couple of guy who know the play and video sells itself and no need to overhype. I have a feeling that if they are watching that other game on Sundays, they are calling BS on bad announcers constantly. Thanks.
Meanwhile, the Gordon and the other guy are solid, but I got a little tired of hearing how Wesley starts slow and recovers. Or how they are so much better than they appear. Still, they are far better than a little of “big timers” out there. Appreciate the coverage.
Stanley is getting a lot more open than he did last week when the Johnnies held him to under 25 yards.
WarhawkBadger – I’m not a Wesley alum or anything but give it a rest about the “overrated” and the “LOL”. These are student athletes paying their way to play football and their success in graduate school and in their chosen field will not be impacted by any Division III loss in the semifinals of the national championship!!
Enjoy it for what it is (it doesn’t even register on the minds of 99.99% of the general populace…….it does matter to us fellow former student athletes) and go beat Mount Union and then you’ll show me something by winning a championship with one of the smallest enrollments in DIII!!
By the way, what words would you use to describe Mary Hardin-Baylor (ranked #5 before the playoffs) and Hardin-Simmons (ranked #6) if Wesley is overrated? I shudder to think what those words might be!!
final game should be a great one. mount has a great defense, UWW obviously is a very good team. i worry about mount’s reluctance to throw the ball.
My Top 5 comments thus far thru the half at UWW and Final at MUC.
1.Keith: “Robinson was like an old Atari 2600 with the joystick on stuck”. Hilarious throwback.
2.Pat Cummings: “It’s the Wesley Wolverines vs. the Whitewater Warhawks, a sesame street nightmare.” Funny childrens throwback.
3.Pat Coleman: As Kimic is finishing a run, “he has 298, 299, 300, 302 yards on the day.”
4.Gordon: “That 49yrd fieldgoal would have been good from … well 49yrds as it hit and bounced over the crossbar.”
5.Pat Cummings: “It’s a 30-0 Whitewater lead, I’m Shocked!!!”
*honorable mention: Pat Cumminings: On the progress of the game in the second quarter. “We haven’t had a fumble recovery for a TD yet, or a safety”…. Gordon:”Hey we haven’t had a Wesley score yet either.”
Honorable #2: After discussing a face mask penalty, Pat Cummings says: “We will continue this discussion tonight over dinner.” Classssic. LOL
I can’t get on the live video link. Help
UWW-WESLEY VIDEO LINK
Set your default player as Windows Media Player then click the link. SHould come right up.
I have no idea how Wesley beat MHB…. MHB gave Whitewater a great game … but perhaps that was the result of Beaver being out.
I respect every student athlete for their passion and respect for the game, but to say even NCAA Div III athletes don’t get atleast some perks in college would be wrong.
These guys are great Division III backs but compare them to Chris Wells at Ohio State who btw is a freshman. He’s 6’2″, 230lbs and is faster than Beavers or Kmic. Or the kid at Wisconsin who’s also a freshman. The talent at Division I is just too far ahead in size and speed.
They simply can’t compete with that type of talent to get to the next level.
Congrats to SFJ and Wesley for their great seasons…. i’m looking forward to a classic MUC-UWW matchup. I was hoping for some close matchups today, but we did have some outstanding games in the elite eight.
I show that Nate Kmic needs 130 yards next week to break Justin Beavers record from last year. Is this correct?
BucksFan – I’m not comparing them to future NFL first round draft picks like you mention. I think back to a guy like Keith Elias who played at Princeton (who most on this board believe would get crushed by UWWW or MUC!!) and enjoyed a 6 or 7 year career with the Giants. Same basic size and speed characteristics. 53rd guy on the roster……special teams stud type. Colston is a 7th round pick from Hofstra who may be the NFC Rookie of the Year.
The Saints have a rookie from D II Bloomsburg State (Pennsylvania state school system). The Eagles start a 5’8″ running back from Villanova University. East Stroudsburg and Kutztown (PA state schools as well) also have or have had running backs enjoy nice careers in the NFL.
If you’re good enough (and I believe that Kmic and Beaver both just might be), the NFL will find you. Each NFL team has a roster spot or two for a low paid (in the NFL world!!), kamikaze-type, who can pitch in at another position in an emergency.
Let me ask it another way…….if it is one of them, is it Kmic or Beaver?
It appears that the video feed links were backwards (at least for me). I had to click on the WWW game to get the Mount Union feed. It appears that the WWW feed is now gone since I cannot click on the Mount Union feed link which was linking me the the WWW game.
its gotta be close. To bad Beaver missed those 4 or 5 games in the middle of the year otherwise we could have a championship game with 2- 2000 yard backs.
Bucksfan,
How do you set the default player to windows media player? I’m not that good on a computer.
Duke,
Good points. As a role player or specialist it has happened in the past.
They’re both great backs and I’m not sure I’d want to pick between them. I grew up near Alliance so my loyalties would be to Kmic but I certainly recognize the talent and determination of Beavers.
I would say Beaver but then again im probably biased. It has just always been a matter of size for him.
The way some of you all talk…you’d think MUC had never won a thing in DIII….its almost funny…even the guys on the mount webcast are throwing out predictions already…
The game isnt even over yet, and you’ve already got the warhawks crowned..the warhawks beat wesley 58-6 last year, and MUC won…
as far as Im concerned, another trouncing of Wesley doesnt prove much…this time last year all the talk was about how Mount was going down, and we all know how that turned out…
and im gonna go out on a limb here and say kehres knows more about coahing than he’s getting credit for…
I’ll be the first to admit that Mount didnt look dominant today…but you dont declare the champ dead til he’s dead guys…
great game for Kmic…370 is impressive, I dont care who its against…
see ya in Salem..
Open Windows Media Player and select Tools, then Options, then File Types tab. You can choose which types of files that the Player will be selected as the default player.
UWW holds onto the ball and potential interceptions, it could be 60-0 easy. They are playing very nice in Brez’s final at Perkins.
MUCnash,
With the success that Mount Union has achieved it only makes sense that EVERYBODY and I mean EVERYBODY else will root against them.
No matter what happens next week they’ve had yet another great season.
Nice job Fisher. I know how much it hurts to have your season ended, especially when you were right there in the 4th quarter. But in a few weeks you guys are really gonna appreciate what you did for your program, and even for the respect of Eastern Region.
You guys are the upstate blueprint for how to build a football program. Keep it rollin’, and hopefully we’ll both be in the dance next season.
Well,
I’m just baffled by Wesley completely not being able to match up agiainst UWW. It only takes one comparative score triangle to make no sense of it (UMHB).
So how rare is it you go to Mount Union and get the better of two semifinals?
Fisher played pretty well today. I don’t think this is an MUC team without holes, but they are pretty darn good on defense, and this Kmic guy and his O-Line ain’t half bad.
The initial thought from the D3football.com corner of the press box in Alliance. Beaver + Kmic back in the Stagg Bowl = 500 rushing yards, 90-minute game with the new rules. 🙂
So now I have to decide between Capital, SJF and Wesley for No. 3 overall?
“2.Pat Cummings: “It’s the Wesley Wolverines vs. the Whitewater Warhawks, a sesame street nightmare.” Funny childrens throwback.”
Just be glad Barbara Wawa wasn’t doing color …
Good job crews. Congrats to UWW and MUC.
d3keith…i would say that st. johns is number 3 overall
MUCNash,
You’re way overreacting.
Most everyone assumes Mount Union will win it all until someone beats them.
I said there’s a possibility UW-Whitewater comes into next week as the “favorite,” although there’s no real way to tell that … But that’s what you do when a game is over to the point that the play-by-play is meaningless, you find something else to talk about.
I think it’s worth discussing. Obviously Mount won last time they played, but I wonder if public opinion will be swayed by another Wesley blowout … or will they just say “eh, another Wesley blowout!”
An MUC fan here has compared UWW going into next week off a big blowout to MUC coming off the 66-0 win here and losing the Stagg to SJU. … Wishfully, I think. We all know both teams earned each other’s respect last season.
St. John’s can be in the discussion, depending on what UWW does.
Right now I’d probably be leaning Capital, but I guess that’s why we wait for all the information to be in before we vote, huh?
Yeah, Keith, a Wesley-St. Norbert’s semi might have been closer … 102-13 over two years is fairly nasty.
I’d say UW-Lacrosse deserves to be top 5 as well…. Their only losses were to Whitewater, and UW-L almost beat UWW in the Sweet Sixteen…
IMHO…. St Johns/UW-Lacrosse are about equal and BOTH should be ahead of Wesley….
I’d rank em like this right now
#1a MUC
#1b UWW
#3 St. Johns
#4 UW-La Crosse
#5 St. John Fisher
#6 Capital
#7 Wesley
#8 Mary Hardin-Baylor
Its Garrett Wolfe not Nate Wolfe. I would take him over Kmic or Beaver at the next level. He’s played against more talented defenses, and had quite a game against OSU this year. I just cant believe Kmic or Beaver could put together a game like that against the #1 D-1 team. And PLEASE stop calling him Justin Beavers!
Happy MUC got through. To be the best, we want a shot to beat the best.
I hope UW Whitewater kicks the crap out of Mount Union.
To Pat and Keith, I want to thank you so much for putting the games on the net today. It was great to watch the MUC SJF game. I wanted to be there so badly but just could not make it happen. You guys are the best. This D3 football fan is thankful and appreciative of this site. Thanks guys. By the way SJF great job today. You really hung with a great team, even having the potential to beat them. You have represented the East well! You should hold your heads up very high, just impressive effort out there today. MUC is a great team. Good luck to MUC and UWW next week. I cannot wait to see the upcoming discussions about this rematch.
BCLlamaGuy,
We loved your top 5.
I think I might have been able to make your list again, if not for this weird thing I have called “my better judgement.”
Pat describes a play by saying “he knocks him back.”
And I follow with dead silence. Because in my head, all I could think of was “Aaaaaaaalll the way to Hackensack.” And there was no logical way to fit the old school cheer or Bud Light commercial in there and save the broadcast.
It’s definitely very different with a TV replay monitor … we’ve become so used to relying on what we see and overdescribing everything that it took Pat and I awhile to scale our descripitions back, and talk along with the replays.
Hope it turned out OK. I hear someone was able to watch them both at the same time.
Dreamy.
Rig0123 wrote,
“wjbtms-
How about this?
I predict MU will score at least 50 points. I also predict SJFC will score no more than 10 points.
If those 2 predictions come true, I get to stencil your car, at no charge to you, and I’ll bring the stencil, which will read “Deez Nutzz”.
If those 2 predictions don’t come true, stencil whatever you want on my green Bronco. In any event, come on by for a tasty beverage.”
I like the sound of that!!!!!
At least Rig offered a drink – that’s cool. I wonder what Rig is going to have stenciled on his white Bronco?
Dlippiel,
Thanks, we enjoyed doing it … I hope there’s more in the future, although it’s possible it’s a special case b/c it was a semifinal and there were already going to be cameras here.
Well, looks like we’re going to have that Mount Union/UW Whitewater rematch we’ve all talked about. If this continues, the Stagg Bowl may have to be renamed the Purple & Black Bowl or the Bruise Bowl. Plus, Prince will eventually be doing the halftime show. Sorry I can’t make it to Stone Station, but drink one at “Communion” for me.
I’d agree with some posts about MU – having some holes. This team is not the same as its more balanced and explosive predecessors. But does it have to be? I mean, with a front as big and athletic as they are, with a a small explosive back with terrific vision, do they need anymore? Reminds me of “just win baby”. The only thing that can stop the offense is either (i) mud or (ii) scholarship talent. UWW – you have your rematch opportunity.
I hate to admit it, but this championship game was predicted long ago and materialized. East coast football, while balanced, simply can’t compete at the highest level of D III. Regrettably, our schools compete for talent with many I-AA scholarship and non-scholarship programs in the Northeast. Maybe next year. Thanks guys for the webcast, and for the forum you provide. Its top shelf in production, and the class of regular bloggers is refreshing. See you next year. Enjoy Salem.
You all did a great job with both the games. I got to watch them both. Too bad they can’t be done like that every year.
Boy that Kmic kid can run!
Good luck to both teams at the Stagg Bowl.
SeanGOP here in MUC country we are happy your hopes get dashed on a regular basis.
I only heard a small portion of todays game but Pat Cummings and Gordon
were so much better than alot of idiots that are employed to do college and pro games. I did not here Pat and Keith but I would think they were also very good.
As for Wesley, You can’t make those early mistakes against a bad team let alone a good one. And I still say they are a top five team.
You guys did a great job on the games today. way better than the clowns they had on the Montana/UMass game last night on ESPN2. Hopefully it leads to bigger and better things, you deserve it.
SJF Fans
Hell of a game today. Robinson was as good as billed. Congrats on a great season. For those that made the trip I hope you enjoyed A-town.
SeanGOP
Tell us how you really feel?
Top 5 for Wesley? Can’t put them in front of MUC, UWW.
Probably shouldn’t put them in front of SJF.
Are you putting them in front of SJU, UWLX or Capital?
For the second year in a row, Wesley wasn’t competitive. They could have lost much, much worse. They beat one top 20 team in the playoffs … doesn’t really make a strong top-five case. Especially when UWLX and SJU took UWW to the wire.
I was at the UWW/Wesley game, and honestly I have to question the way Wesley approached this game defensively. They had 8 men up almost the entire first half and Jacobs absolutely picked them apart. The receivers were WIDE open all half long. I have been at every home game for the past two years, and IMO Jacobs is a much bigger threat than Beaver. If you stop Jacobs, UWW’s offense struggles. You allow him to throw, he will make the good throw every…single…time…
And I had heard about Wesley’s speed advantage all week. I think UWW was not only bigger, but faster as well.