While Pat and Gordon were pretty darn close in their predictions, nailing 31 of 32 teams and missing on Whitworth (UW-Eau Claire made it instead), it’s clear we’d grown accustomed to the committee being fairly predictable.
Perhaps it’s because there was only one West Coast team in the field, but whatever the reason, they were anything but this time around. The bracket has been revealed, and some curveballs have been thrown.
Ithaca at Mount Union, Redlands at St. John’s and Widener at Case Western Reserve were among the matchups we did not see coming. You can throw Olivet at Central in there too. With the proximity of so many of the teams, the committee’s matchups did not hold to the regions. For years they have not had to, but often they simply shake out that way. In Saturday’s first round, we’ll have an East Region team at a North, a North at a West in two different brackets and two South Region teams who could have been moved to the East playing each other. And then Redlands flying halfway across the country … but still Texas vs. Texas.
Without further ado, the floor is open for your reactions.
Keith, Fisher / MUC – 2006… Any chance we might give just a little credit to All-American Steve Stepnik, who held All-American Pierre Garcon to just one catch (out of the 14 thrown by MUC that day)…
You’ve got an offensive line like MUC has, and a Running Back like Nate Kmic, certainly you’re going to run, and run, and run. We could not stop him period… We tried… We played our hearts out… They were just too good… And, they’re even better this year… Hopefully we’ll be traveling back to Alliance again in a few weeks, and ya know what, we’ll try again if we get that chance…
Folks, lets everyone realize that Mount Union is the top dog; they are simply awesome! In my mind, if we can get there, we’ve had a heck of a season… One other thing, MUC & Larry Kehres show a lot of class, and the fans were super…
I shoud have said that the schools have to have a football program no lower than D1-aa I remember G-town starting at DIII and moving up over a four yr period
We gave him All-American credit, SJFCard — is that enough?
Please keep in mind, though, that Garcon was playing hurt and was often not even on the field in the second half.
SJF,
If I recall correctly Garcon was injured. And from what I saw on the sidelines at the game he was trying to avoid using his injured hand as much as possible.
That said, SJF did play their hearts out in the game and I applaud them.
Yeah, What Pat said. He beat me to it.
Garcon seemed Ok in the Stagg Bowl…
Please don’t take my comments regarding MUC as criticism of the institution. The type of success that they have enjoyed serves as a magnet to any student-athlete who is seriously interested in playing D-3 football. Just like a Broadway curtain call brings out 500 actors for maybe 5 roles, their success attracts a lot of attention. The non-players will eventually transfer to another D3 school or will give up their hope to play football in college. (Personally, I don’t see how student athletes can afford to play a sport with the cost of education but that is another topic.)
Any claim that the OAC is “MUC and the nine dwarfs” is not credible. if MUC would move on, there would probably be two playoff teams among the remaining institutions each and every year. OAC teams, in my opinion, have two large benefits over other D3 leagues. First, the level of high school football in Ohio is pretty high and unlike other football states (like TX or CA), and there are a lot of football schools throughout Ohio. Second, it seems to me that the OAC colleges have a good record of coaches like Trassel at Baldwin-Wallace and Kehres at MUC that are willing to stay and develop a program.
As a fan, I would rather see MUC schedule a game against a Dayton or a Drake than have a 50-0 romp over a lesser team. The biggest weakness of the D3 system is the number of one sided blowouts. If I look at the Chicago Tribune sports page, as many as 60% of the NAIA and D3 games are settles by 30+ points.
And I was walking around in a short-sleeved shirt while working the sidelines. Adrenaline can mask some pain, but not all and I am sure that he was far more healthy after a week from that game than he was in the SJF game. And then there’s the “hide the major weapon” shell game that might have been played in order to psych out whoever MUC was going to face in the Stagg Bowl.
PA_wesleyfan … it isn’t actually a requirement that D-1 schools have a football team at any level. Two programs that I can cite are UNC-Charlotte (Atlantic 10 in all sports) which has never had football, and East Tennessee State, which dropped football a few years ago and had to switch affiliation from the Southern Conference to the Atlantic Sun. I’m sure there are probably others, but those are the two I definitely know of.
I’m happy to see my Tigers in the playoffs after being close for several years and I’m hopeful that we make a good showing in Dover on Saturday. I think the offense has proven that they can hold their own in most games, but the defense is really going to have to step up beyond anything they’ve shown so far this season and I’m not sure the playoffs are the place to expect it. Still, it will be fun to see how they do.
SJFCard — if you remember the Stagg Bowl itself and not just the highlights you’d recall how they used him a lot differently than in previous weeks. They retailored their passing game to minimize his injury.
Bottom line on the Mount Union playoff run last year was that the Raiders starting senior QB and a guy that played great against Whitewater in the previous Stagg Bowl, Mike Jorris, was playing with an injury and was not going to be healthy for the rest of the playoffs. Micheli, who had split time with Jorris throughout the year, had become known as the running QB, because when he was in there that’s what he did. He could throw the ball, which Whitewater found out, but they just hadn’t shown that side of him all year.
Against Whitewater, Micheli was 18 of 22 for 202 yards, three throwing and one rushing TD and no int’s. He was the game’s MVP. In the regular season his complete stats in 10 games: 62 of 82 for 785 yards, 6 TD’s and no int’s. He took probably 35 to 40% of the regular season snaps and averaged 6 of 8 passes for 78 yds per game.
In the playoffs prior to Whitewater, and now he is taking 70% of the snaps, especially after week one when Jorris re-injured himself, he completed 15 of 24 passes for 169 in FOUR playoff games! Wins of 49-0 over Hope, 35-3 over Wheaton, 17-14 over Capital and 26-14 over St. John Fisher. And in the first game he was 8 of 11 for 108 yds, then 2 of 6, 3 of 4 and 2 of 3 before a 18 for 22 performance in the Stagg.
On top of that, Pierre Garcon, as already talked about, was playing with a broken hand and they did not know how effective he would be in the Stagg Bowl right up until pre-game warm-ups.
No one is saying Mount couldn’t throw against them except for Fisher when the stats clearly show they didn’t try to throw the ball for three games, all tough games, especially the last two, against quality opponents, before the championship game.
Does anyone really think the kid couldn’t throw the ball all year and particularly in the four playoff wins and then all of a sudden go 18 of 22 for 202 yards, a nearly perfect performance, against arguably the best defense he’d faced?
The Raiders ran the ball for 302 yds and passed it for 28 against Capital in a three point win in the Regional Final but Capital knows enough to not say Mount couldn’t throw the ball.
The bottom line is Fisher was a great team and they played a great, great game. Especially for their first trip to Alliance, you have to credit the coaching staff for having them focused on the task and being able to push all the other stuff aside. He did that better than most have.
But Mount Union, knowing Whitewater was probably looming for the championship, and knowing what Kmic did against them the prior year, wanted the Warhawks to believe if they shut down Kmic they would shut down the offense. And that’s what the films showed them. They hid the fact Micheli could throw the football. Against Fisher, as was the case during the playoff run, they did not throw the ball because they didn’t want to, not because they couldn’t. Here is there paragraph’s from my game story on the Fisher game:
”Up 19-14 with 8:04 to play, the Raiders marched for a touchdown on a nine-play, 80-yard drive, each play a run by Kmic. His carries broke down like this: 5, 33, 8, 1, 8, 8, 7, 5, and 5. The final five yards gave Kmic his third touchdown and gave the Purple & White a 12 point lead with 5:56 remaining. Mount Union needed only to convert one third down on the drive and that was for one yard. The Cardinals knew Kmic was getting the ball, they just couldn’t stop him.
Fisher could not get a first down after the kick and when Mount Union’s offense went back onto the field with 3:56 remaining, it did not come off until the handshakes were done and plans were being made for a trip to the national championship game next week. The final drive consisted of seven more plays, all runs by Kmic.
All told, the Raiders had the ball twice in the fourth quarter. All 16 plays were rushes by Kmic, producing 109 yards, 8:23 off the clock and a touchdown.”
So what do you think Whitewater thought they had to do to stop Mount Union? Again, Fisher gave the Raiders a great ball game. No question about that and no debating that. But the reason they did not throw the ball was more about them than anyone else. Sorry this was so long.
Look people! Regardless if Mount Union wins everything this year or not. You can’t say anything if they do. If you want the trophy? Then beat the Big Dog on the block. St. Johns did! They are a well oiled machine and win in all different ways. But they are beatable. Just need to out coack Larry and out play his players.
Now as far as the OAC being weak. If they are Mount Union still has to play them. Now take this stat for example of how weak the OAC is as a conference. There have been 35 Stagg Bowls and the OAC has been represented 15 times by teams from that conference and one year they had two. Yes Mount Union has been there 10 times, but how can anyone say this is a weak conference?
Good Luck to all teams in the tournament
Grizfan – Yes you lost to Wabash by a 2 point conversion, but if (and that is a big IF) you would have made that and, if it would have been tied, then Franklin would NOT have tried an onsides kick and the LG would not have lost their QB, that was “Having a career day” your quote not mine. We at Wabash think it might have been an Average Day. And whos to say Franklin would have won in OT. That is “Why you play the game” – Herm Edwards. As it turns out, we are not as bad off as it seems with missing Huff, now we know who our QB will be for the next 2 years. Lets hope that the re-match can happen at the Regional Finals @ C’ville. But first we both need to be 1-0 on Sunday.
blah blah blah Mt Union wins again. It’s always the same debate this time of year. Is there a point when the Mt Union dynasty is NOT a good thing for D3 football? And if so how many more consecutive chanmpionships before we reach that point?
Just think, this coming Sunday we will lose half the posters.
If Mt Union has built such a strong program why don’t other teams try to duplicate the system. Sure, some schools want to stress academics more so than sports, but if a school and it’s Alumni want what Mt. Union has, work to get it. Don’t complain about them go out and beat them.
Hey guys, I am attempting to find a discussion somewhere on the internet that has to do with Mt. Union football. Preferably, it would have 200+ responses, most of which discussed the Purple Raiders. Any suggestions?
Ric: You need to post that on the East Region page. That was a perfect explanation of what the SJF folks can’t seem to see.
jimjearsa–
I think you’re missing the point of the debate regarding MUC. There are plenty of teams who WANT the trophy, but no-one seems to be ABLE to beat them, as the 4 losses in 13 years would point out.
The basic question isn;t whether or not MUC is doing anything wrong or if it’s unfair–because I don’t think anyone here could say that. The question is, on the whole, for D-III football, is one team winning year after year a good thing? If MUC wins this year, that’s nine titles in 12 years. For a sport that functions on the outside of most sports’ fans minds, the Stagg Bowl is the only D-III game to get press (This year’s Williams’ game nonwithstanding) If that game almost always features the same team, at what point do you risk sending a message of “The rest of our teams aren’t good enough to compete?” Sure, most of us onthis board know of all the talent at schools like St. John’s, etc. But the general public and media at large don’t because pretty much every year, MUC is polishing off another 14-0 or 15-0 season with a championship. At some point, it reaches a stage where the story is the same each year and people can lose interest
BRIGHTGUY:
Cool … someone that posts something BESIDES a Mount Union / SJF debate !! It’s been the same stuff from the same 5 people for 5 days !! Give it a rest !! You are correct … who’s to say Franklin wins in OT. But after coming from two scores down in the final minutes there was some FC momentum. I, of course, would have loved to have had the opportunity to play extra. Kudos to the Little Giants for a great season that might have been spoiled on that one on-sde kick. What’s Huff doing in there anyway ? The Wabash fans that day were great … best we saw all year — even in the rain. I do have to question the “average day” by Huff …. he set the Wabash records that day that Jake Knott had owned for both passing yards and total yards. That my friend is NOT just an “average day” for anyone !! Let’s take care of business and I’ll be looking forward to seeing the red and white again — hopefully in a few weeks !! Until then – Wabash Always Fights … and GO GRIZ !
Grizfan – Yes you lost to Wabash by a 2 point conversion, but if (and that is a big IF) you would have made that and, if it would have been tied, then Franklin would NOT have tried an onsides kick and the LG would not have lost their QB, that was “Having a career day” your quote not mine. We at Wabash think it might have been an Average Day. And whos to say Franklin would have won in OT. That is “Why you play the game” – Herm Edwards. As it turns out, we are not as bad off as it seems with missing Huff, now we know who our QB will be for the next 2 years. Lets hope that the re-match can happen at the Regional Finals @ C’ville. But first we both need to be 1-0 on Sunday.
vhwon,
You are right. We are all just expressing our opinions. That is what is fun about this forum. I love that it all gets played out on Saturdays. Good luck to UMHB! I have no doubt that they can play much better than they did against UWW. I will be rooting for UMHB to win Saturday. It will be fun to see how all the games turn out.
bleedpurple,
I concur. This is fun….cheering on your favorite school while having the utmost respect for all those in the playoffs and the fans that support them. These great teams are there for a reason. Good luck as well kind sir.
It is kind of funny, I “bleedpurple” as well, but with a little bit of Gold in there. It will be a great Saturday. I look forward to cheering on my Crusaders live against Trinity and coming home to check the scores on D3Football.com afterwards. Gotta love it!!!!!
Ric,
That was about the most well articulated and accurate description of MUC that I’ve read-thank you. Micelli played like Steve Young and Garcon was unstoppable. As for somebody beating MUC, I’ve posted before that they just seem to play almost mistake free in the big game. Take last year’s championship, if you saw the game, you have to agree that UWW had their chances, despite the offensive balance of MUC. UWW simply didn’t convert the plays-the made the Mistakes that MUC didn’t. Their QB-Jacobs, had recievers open and simply missed them, which is too bad because he did have a great career. I don’t think MUC held the advantage on talent, they held the advantage on execution. UWW had the players to beat them last year, but couldn’t execute MUC-like. Bottom line is, MUC can be beaten, but it takes more than skilled players and X’s and O’s, it requires the team to match MUC’s ability to execute.
It is great to see all this debate – that is what makes D3 football so great! D3 football.com is awesome – wish they had it when I was playing.
I am surprised to see the lack of respect for MUC and the overall lack of D3 football knowledge from many of the east fans. History is a great teacher, and some of you seem to already forget the accomplishments of MUC. When I think of a D3 football dynasty – there are only a few: The Augustana teams of the mid 80’s is one, and the incredible run MUC is on right now is another. It is great to be gung-ho about the playoffs and your team, but I wouldn’t talk trash about MUC or their conference, until you go into Alliance and beat them.
I am a former IC Bomber player from the mid 80’s and I bleed Bomber blue. I said OH NO when I saw the brackets, but then I said, if you want to be the best, then you have to play the best. What a great test for IC to have to travel and play MUC. Coach Welch will have the bombers ready – they will have to play a perfect game to win, but they are hot right now. I will be rooting very hard for them Saturday. In my days, we played 2 x D2 games each year, to make us better and to keep us successful in the playoffs. If you look at the current non-conference schedules for the teams in the east, it is not impressive at all. The only way to get better is to play better competition. Why couldn’t the east teams schedule W&J, Trinity, MHB, UWW, Central, Salisbury….& there are many more to choose from. This would help the east in the later rounds of the playoffs. At least from what I read SJF is doing a home and home with MUC over the next 2 years – right? If this is true, nice job.
SJF has made alot of progress in the east in a short period of time (awesome facilities too), but they need to first take care of their first round game (another hot team). And if you get the chance to go play MUC, then let’s see how that game turns out, before you start talking trash. You have a really good program and I hope you get a chance to revenge your loss to MUC, but let’s at least try to act like you have been there before – with some class. Nothing personal….
I congratulate all of you for your D3 football passion. Good luck this week.
Bombers798891: Nice insight on the blog, you know your history.
Go Bombers!!!!!
I don’t put much into the brackets because. Sure we may have questions answered and besides it boils down to two winning teams playing each other with the winner moving on. Beat up on the guy in your face and perform your job and the winner will come out at the end. Enjoy the games and share in the fun that they have just from playing the game they love for the sake of the game.
Go Raiders.