Anticipation of Stagg Bowl XXXIV

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So I’m at my real job on Sunday, on the sports copy desk at USA Today, sitting not far from a Wisconsin native. Another editor stops by his desk. The Wisconsin native asks the other if he saw that UW-Whitewater won and would be headed back to the Stagg Bowl.

Some people here know me as a Division III football geek/guru (you make the call), but in this case, I was like a fly on the wall, listening to two casual fans’ honest opinions about Division III football.

“You see who won?”
“No, who?”
“Wisconsin-Whitewater. They’re going back to the championship to play Mount Union.”
“Oh. Now they’ll get killed.”

Normally, I’d butt in there, as most of us expect a pretty tight rematch between the Warhawks and Purple Raiders. But for some reason I kept listening.

“You’ll never guess who scored three touchdowns?”
“Who?”
“Derek Stanley. The guy who used to be a running back at Wisconsin (Madison), and beat up his girl and got kicked off the team. He must’ve ended up at Whitewater.”

‘Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?’ I thought to myself. ‘I didn’t know that. I’m supposed to know stuff like that about D3. I’ve never heard anyone say a negative word about Derek Stanley. And Whitewater doesn’t really seem like it would need to build with transfers with questionable pasts. And he’s a receiver, not a running back. I’m so confused.”

So eventually I spoke up. And we determined that it was BOOKER Stanley who was convicted in July of beating and choking a woman in his off-campus apartment. The running back was kicked off the team this offseason by new UW coach Bret Bielema, and according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in April, inquired about enrolling and playing for Whitewater.

The Warhawks already had a Stanley, thank you very much (not to mention some running back that appears to be holding down the starting job). As far as I know, DEREK is a model citizen.

A journalist always gets his facts straight … eventually.

The moral of the story, kids, is: You might learn a lot more about Mount Union and UW-Whitewater this week than you ever thought you would. But don’t believe everything you hear, and always consider your source.

Definitely keep this in mind as you read fans’ chit-chat about Saturday’s national championship game. 🙂

Have at it everybody:

186 thoughts on “Anticipation of Stagg Bowl XXXIV”

  1. I can’t even begin to explain how much anticipation is leading up to Saturday for us here at UWW. Since last year in Salem the team and the fans have waited to get back to Salem Stadium and get their second chance at Mount Union. All respect to the other teams that saw their season end in Alliance this year but it wouldn’t mean as much if we didn’t have a chance to win a championship against the Raiders.

    I will be there on Saturday even though I have finals until 3 on Friday and more on Monday. I cannot wait for the rematch and this time the trip home will not be as long because we will be riding a national championship home. Good luck to all of those in the game and a safe drive to all of the fans, this will be a great match-up, this ones for Brez!

  2. Definitely drive safely.

    Here are some starter questions, like last week:

    1. No, we do not advocate betting, and neither does the NCAA, but if there were a line on this game, what would it open up at? No more than 2.5 for the Purple Raiders, I think, but you can make an argument for UWW having a tougher road, being a more complete team or whatever.

    2. Kmic or Beaver? Who will rush for more yards, and how many? And will the guy that rushes for the most necessarily be on the team that wins?

    3. Throw out the star backs, WRs and QBs. Give me one difference-maker who will make his presence felt Saturday. (Kleppe and Stickley might be too obvious too)

    That’ll do for now.

  4. I went to the game last year. It was awesome, so much purple in the parking lot when we were tailgating. I was supposed to go this year, but took a trip to Notre Dame instead to see the UNC/ND game. I’m probably missing out on the lady that was giving out free Krispy Kremes haha, but it was definately a great time with two great teams. I was surprised to see Mt. Union with the win last year, this year they’re expected to win, but I think UW-Whitewater’s gonna pull it off. Good Luck to both teams.

  5. Pete Schmitt was mine too, and I thought about the kickers. The UWW kid can hit from 50, can he not?

    The OL … individual defensive players … so many ways you can go with it.

  6. 1) No idea

    2) Kmic because he’ll get more carries. Let’s say 150 yards on Sunday. And, yes, I think Mount Union will win.

    3) Matt Kostelnik who may be the best individual defender on Mount Union and will have to play as such if the Warhawks try to air it out.

    A.J. Raebel who was everywhere last week for Whitewater. LBs for both teams will have plenty of chances to make tackles with Kmic and Beaver carrying the ball. Whether they do or not is the difference between 8 yard pick ups and 3 yard pick ups.

  7. I think that Ryan and the defensive line will be one factor in the Warhawks success and the special teams will be another. I have said all along that there will be a game that will be decided by our kickers, and since this is the last for the season it must be this one.

  9. MU has got to be favored- but not by more than a few points.

    Stating the obvious here, but I think turnovers will be the key. Which team has the better turnover margin? Which qb is likely to throw a pick? Which rb is likely to fumble?

    Personally, I’d like to see MU take a whoopin’ – when was the last time MU got beat by 21 points?

  11. Pat,

    Sorry for drifting off subject, but I thought you left USA Today for nbcsports.com this past fall……well, it’s not quite winter yet, but you get my drift….

  14. OK, back on task.

    1. IF I were a betting man, I’d take WW plus 3.
    2. Kmic will probably outgain Beaver, but I think that’s paritally a result of the injury to Garcon. WW is more balanced in their offensive attack.
    3. The kickers.

  15. 1. If I were a betting man (which I’m not, mom) I’d put MU plus 2.5 then bet Whitewater to beat that, that way I’d win money.
    2.I agree with lg1970, that Kmic will probably outgain Beaver if only for the injury to Garcon and the balance in Whitewater’s offensive attack.
    3. I’d say kickers, but I think that special teams is a bit of an obvious answer, I am going to go with the other WR’s from Whitewater, Douglas, Gifford, and Mrkvicka, I just think that these three combined with Beaver and Pittz running the ball may be too much for MUC.
    3b. I’d also say that the play of the linebackers will be huge in this game. They came up big last week here in Whitewater when there seemed to be some uncertainty with Wesley’s explosive offense. This is all from my standpoint as a UWW fan, so don’t take anything personal MUC fans, just my personal view points from watching all the Whitewater games.

  16. 1. I’d say UWW +6

    2. Kmic will likely have more yards, especially if LK goes one dimensional to try to keep the UWW offense off the field.

    3. For UWW, the kicker could definitely be the difference. Keith, he hit from 49 last weekend (barely scraped through, but good nonetheless). Linebackers for UWW will also be big. For Mount Union, Zimmerman could be a difference maker, and Micheli (sp) at punter makes me a little nervous because you never know when that fake might come into play.

  18. I hate to say this, but if Coach Bob would have been ok with Booker Stanley on the team, i would have been cool with it. As great as Underwood and Pittz did without Beaver, it would have been nice to have a guy with some D-1 experience. He probably would have done very well in those games.

    Kmic will rush for more yards. I hope he gets more carries than Beaver. Justin Jacobs has only had a couple off games this year, and I love to watch his throw the ball. Which leads me to my difference maker……

    I know you said throw out WR’s, but im taking Neil Mrkvicka. He plays #2 WR and hes the punt and kick returner. Hopefully he can put a couple BIG drops last week behind him, and have a huge game this week. We all know what Stanley can do, hopefully Mrkvicka can show us a thing or two as well.

    Keith! u need to get those facts straight!!! he hit from 49 yards!!!!! Hit the bottom crossbar and barely got in. haha just kidding……..being serious, he did have a strong wind at his back, so im not expecting that everytime.

  20. Posted this elsewhere, but I’ll post it here too………………I heard a rumor about a new rule that evens the playing field in terms of where a team can stay, and something to the effect of no more than an $8 difference between each player per team per hotel room. Does anyone know what im talking about or does anyone have any additional information about this rule change, or do I need to quit believing evrything I hear?

  21. I may be going to generic with who will be a difference maker…but I really just think that the MUC Defense as a unit is going to have to deliver a stellar performance this saturday…and they have been doing it all year…
    so I say that if MUC is to bring home another title, it will be because the MUC D brought the A game…pressure on the Qb, which I really didnt think they established last year until later in the game,will be a big key…shut down Beaver as much as is possible, and keep UWW one-dimensional..a turnover or two, maybe a score, from the D would go a long way in allowing MUC to rely on the power game that has gotten them through the playoffs…

    I think this game is just going to be so good…lots of storylines…a coach on the way out, two great running backs….the fact that its a rematch of last year….which hasnt ever happened in DIII right…same two teams in consecutive years? I think both teams are hungry…I hope that MUC can bring the intensity that makes MUC football what it is, and match the intensity that UWW is going to bring to this game…if they do, we are going to see a doosy ya’ll…

  22. The NCAA uses the same hotels for the teams every year. I would probably put that in the “don’t believe everything you hear” category.

  23. 1 – I say the odds maker would list this one as EVEN.

    2 – I say Kmic will outgain Beaver since Kmic has a bad habit of gaining 1000+ yards in the playoffs alone. Beaver will throw down as well.

    3 – Special Teams will be the difference maker for someone. Why not.

    Whoever makes the least number of mistakes will win, and I HOPE THAT IS UW WHITEWATER!!!

  24. I know that they have always used the Wyndham hotel in the past, or atleast MUC has. The basis for this rule, I guess, is because of team’s followings. I know that many, many MUC fans stay in the Wyndham because the team traditionally stays there, and the NCAA is disputing that this is an unfair advantage for teams such as MUC, being as though Raider fans occupy all of the open rooms. Therfore, it becomes an “advantage” to teams such as MUC. This year, I heard, they were trying to level that playing field with some sort of rule adaptation pertaining to hotels and only allowing an even amount of fans in the team hotels, or disallowing the fans to stay in the same hotels, or something to that effect. It makes sense to me, because as a MUC alum, ex-player, and fan, I have had my room booked for weeks, something that many MUC fans do around the playoff time. Then, when the Stagg Bowl comes around, no more rooms are left in the Wyndham, and fans of the opposing team are forced to stay in additional hotels, while all the Raider fans get to stay with their team. Thus, making for some unfair adavantage of sorts to MUC. Sorry, to be so long winded, but I am really curious about this rule change, if it does indeed exist.

  27. I saw the game last year and thought WW had superior talent but was out coached. This year MUC has better team speed and will stop the run.

    They appear vulnerable to the pass especially in man to man. If Kmic can’t run, Garson is nicked up (finger), and another MUC receiver doesn’t step up, it could be WW year.

  28. Raider,

    Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me. Maybe I am missing something here but how does MU fans staying in the same hotel, give you an advantage? Also…how on earth can the NCAA regulate who is a fan of what team? On second thought…sounds like a case of double hooey!! 🙂
    But then again, on third thought… if the NCAA is involved…anything is possible. 🙂 🙂

  30. allsky7- I guess they say it provides an unfair atmosphere to teams such as ours, but they’re not trying to regulate who you root for, just where you stay.

    Pat – Didn’t ask for anyone to investiagte, I was just curious if anyone had heard the same thing that I had, per se…

  33. When we first started going to Salem there weren’t many hotels to choose from. The Wyndham has always been very accomodating, so why would we want to stay somewhere else? If that rule change is true, it seems the NCAA could spend its time on something more constructive.

  34. yeah…but the whole canon guy thing at wesley/uww seemed just as rediculous to me and that was true…as if a guy shooting a canon is going to change the outcome of the game…

  35. Ahhh….yes. I will admit my mistake regarding Booker and Derek Stanley. When Booker was talking about transfering here, it was reported that his cousin goes to school at UWW. While that might be the case, that cousin isn’t Derek Stanley. I must have jumped to that conclusion in my mind.

    Sorry about that.

    As for the hotel issue, WW has moved their hotel this year to the Holiday Inn Tanglewood due to a lack of meeting space at their hotel last year.

  37. 1. Even

    2. Kmic will have more yards, but I feel that UWW’s passing game is it’s key to victory.

    3a. Jeff Schebler, the 49-yarder was in 20 degree weather, maybe he can go over in 50 degrees.
    3b. Nick Croak, he pinned Wesley inside the 5 twice last week, he could win the field position battle for UWW.
    3c. Pete Schmitt, if Jacobs can find Schmitt a couple times in the middle of the field, that really opens up the UWW offense

    Can’t wait until Saturday!!!

  38. Sorry Raider…didn’t word that very well. Meant that how can the NCAA regulate where people stay by whom they are a fan of. How would they even know. Unless the NCAA buys ALL the rooms in a certain hotel and then diveys them out, it is really none of their busness. (IMHO) As for a team gaining an advantage….I say horsefeathers!!
    And Sean…lurking up on that grassy knoll is a covert NCAA special opps guy tracking to make sure no guest are staying that are from teams with banned mascots. 🙂 🙂

  39. P.S. When the rumor went out about Booker Stanley coming to UWW came out, there was fantasies flying about who would play RB for UWW, Beaver or Stanley.. all dreams were dashed when we found he would be spending approximately the next 50 years in jail…

  40. just hoping to see a competitive game either way as it is pretty much the only showcase for d3 football on the national stage.

    just out of curiosity….have the ratings for the stagg bowl been affected since the coverage of d3football.com started back in 99?

  41. Word from Alliance is Garcon will start and play the usual minutes as long as the finger holds out…….Ultimately, he is the difference maker in the game! Hope he’s ready to go, and its a high of 62 degrees this weekend in Salem, which is good. Being from FL, you know he likes the warmer weather. Not only that, but it benefits both kickers in ideal conditions.

  42. One of the other reasons the Raiders like the Wyndham is the meeting space and rooms for a pregame party. Sounds like WW had the same issues last year and moved.

    Looking forward to a great game from both teams having seen both of them play this year. Be careful as you enter the KMIC Zone. Ask SJF.

    Visions of Garcon & Kmic dancing in your head. It’s a nightmare to most.

    I have to crank up my copy of last years game tonight.

  43. Why is there so much talk about MU team and fans staying at the Wyndham? The Stagg Bowl Schedule of Events states MU is staying at the Holiday Inn-Roanoke.

  44. A realistic line on this game is probably MU -4 with the O/U at 48.

    Kmic will get more carries. Both backs will have a tough time gaining 100 yards. If I had to flip a coin I would say Kmic will get more yards because MU is gonna try run UWW out of the stadium.

    Garcon will still be able to catch the ball with a broken hand. So not considering that being the difference, Im gonna say the difference is gonna be which team gets more pressure out of their front 4.

    Winner: UWW-31 MU-28
    I could very easily see this score flipped.

  45. In regards to the “KMIC ZONE”.

    If Kleppe and friends can get in the back field like they have all year. UWW’s linebackers and safeties are good enough to contain him to 3-6 yard runs. I don’t see him ripping off 30+ yard runs like he has against lesser defenses.

  46. Many of these MU fans seem to forget that this defense has plenty of starters that have seen the elusiveness of both Kmic and Garcon. This defense is much better than last year and will not be wide eyed with the speed of Garcon. This is about containing the big play and that will happen.

  47. Not only is the defense better than last year, but I believe that they are also faster. Given I don’t know any defensive backs that can run with Garcon, but I don’t think Jorris will have enough time for Garcon to utilize that speed. I look for UWW to get good pressure on Jorris (assuming he’s playing) for the majority of the game. If Jorris is not in, then I look for UWW to put at least eight guys in the box, maybe more. Kmic is a great back, but I think he will have a tough time getting to 100 yards. People seem to forget that the UWW defense has only allowed over 100 yards rushing to an entire team once this year (arguably their worst game of the year). UWW will look to contain the big plays and force turnovers. Whether or not they are able to will be the key to the game.

  48. UWWRUNNER, I sure hope you are right, but If Kmic gets anywhere near 25-30 carries, there is no way he doesn’t get 100 yards. You also have to take into account that this is probably the best offensive line that Whitewater is going to face all season long.

    My personal belief is that Kehres is going to surprise WW and toss it up a bit, just to make the defense back off. When Whitewater’s defense has been at its worst (which hasn’t been often), is when they are facing a balanced attack who can play-action. I think Kmic will be used as a decoy to start and then he’ll pound later on.

    I think a player who can make an impact for Whitewater is safety Andy Murray on defense and on offense, the offensive line – namely center Brent Allen. Allen is the smallest guy on the line and has often been troubled with holding penalties this year. If he can stay on his feet and elminate those penalties, it only helps the offensive momentum for UW-W.

    But then again, what do I know?

  49. How many yards did Kmic get last year as a Freshman? My guess is he has improved also with his line. I think the game key is the control of the line bet UWW defense and MUC offense.

    Low scoring game in my estimation MUC 20 UWW 14

  50. Re: the Stanleys … I didn’t want to insult Booker if he was related to Derek, so I Googled everything that I could and looked to see if where they went to high school was the same or similar.

    I’m sure Booker’s a good kid at heart who has had a lot of time to reflect and might be able to go somewhere and help someone for a season or get an NFL look when he gets out. His sentence was only a year, not 50, from what I read.

    As far as UWW, though, transfers can be helpful (coughBorzickcough), but you didn’t need to take that risk on offense.

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