Alright, so here we are, at the culmination of more than 1,100 games and after 236 teams have been eliminated from contention for the 2007 Division III football national championship, with Mount Union and UW-Whitewater. The fans are already tailgating in the parking lot, getting ready for our 4 p.m. kickoff. We’ll keep you updated here throughout the day on all the goings-on and help you follow along.
Don’t forget to turn down the audio on ESPN (Pam Ward on play by play) and turn up our audio broadcast. Those of you with a DVR may find the delay is manageable by pausing the television. We’ll pronounce names correctly, etc. 🙂
Join Gordon Mann, Frank Rossi and Ryan Tipps on our game day show starting at 2 p.m. Keith McMillan and I will take over leading up to the 4 p.m. kickoff, with Frank on the sidelines.
Some more audio to tide you over until we hit the air at 2 — I was interviewed on Western Wisconsin Sports Saturday this morning about the Stagg Bowl and recorded most of it for the audience here.
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R24aider,
Perhaps you are a sore loser! I know one thing though, UMHB beat MUC in Alliance in 04, so shut your pie hole.
I am a Mt. union Fan. I would like to first off say Congrats to the Best team of that day in the Stagg Bowl. Lots of trash talking going on. Not all Mt. Union fans need to be slammed on here. UWW whipped us end of the story. They will be the team to beat for the next year. Hate to say but now you get to defend. Great teams win one here and there. Great programs keep winning. I will say this. Even had Mt. Union won that game, nobody on here can say anything bad about UWW because they and the Rowan teams of the 90’s are great programs. You have to be to get back to the Stagg Bowl year after year. All of you know that Mt. Union will be back and hopefully so will UWW. Again, Congrats on being the National Champs. Will be very interesting to see the picture at the top this year. D3 posted a good one from last year with Coach K walking off with the Retiring Coach of UWW. Coach K himself has stated that last year was one game he didn’t care losing if he had to lose one because of his respect for him.
Well, All I can say is “UWW is the King of D3 football this year”
I was at last years game and this years game and on the field taking pictures.
UWW Defense dominated the game from the start to the end. They made plays when then had to.
The game was determinded by fumbles. UWW had a few that were costly – MUC took advantages of them and kept them in the game, but UWW forces MUC in to mistakes and that cost them the game.
Being on the field and close to the action – I thought the officials were poor.
All kinds of holding and pushing — I guess they were determined to let the players play and not call anything. Both sides had to deal with it and I would have to say – UWW handled it much better than MUC. Coach on the field — lost it guy — not cool and it cost your team big time.
Mr Garsone — just stupid — no class – no sportsmanship – you got beat and you were shut down — how many yards with catches — around 30 yards in the entire game– the helmet and actions – cost you a big time 15 yards. I guess you can do that and get away with it in Ohio. Classless – it was proven your not as good as you think you are — hats off to you last year but you added nothing to the game this year – not a factor.
MUC attitude by all players and fans – I thought you all thought you couldn’t get beat – you just had to show up for the game and roll over UWW– well as I say above – A NEW KING OF D3 Football has been named this year – UWW-Warhawks. Your team run by the UWW side of the field – with your yelling and had justers — was not cool – I guess you try to say your too good — well not this year fellows – you got beat from the opening series and at the end of the game when it counted. Being shut out at half time must have felt different for you — haven’t had to play for behind — sure was fun for us to see how you all reacted to being down. You were respected but not feared — you faced a better team and got beat –
I am sure the MUC people all good people but I would have to say you have an elitest attitude and very over confident this weekend. Comments to me personally near your hotel were – well not cool –
I felt UWW would beat you but we had to play the game to prove your not as good as you think you are
I didn’t respond other than give you a “look back”. No words needed to be spoken – The game is won on the field on not with my looks and words and attitudes. 31 to 21 – it was proven on the field on Sat that your not the king of D3 football this year — Next year is next year and I expect you will be right back at the Stagg Bowl — but you have to be able to say – your not the king this year.
MUC has been and is the top program – Your record over the years speaks for itself. It is the gold standard — just maybe UWW is getting to you level year in and year out.
MHB- a good team – UWW players felt your speed and quickness was a challenge in both games – felt you had a better defense than MUC- sorry to say that – wasn’t as fast and didn’t cause concern to UWW offense — Next year is next year- but this year – UWW beat the best in the country – MHB 2 times, beat Capital – the so called second best in the Ohio conference– you got beat by UWW- and last – MUC- you got beat by the better team this year — for the first Quarter to the end of the game – UWW rose to the challenge —
Last three years – MUC and UWW in the final – wow – that was a first
I got to take photos and be with all of the UWW player again this fall. the world needs to know this UWW Team was on a mission this year. Sat game proved it. No question in my mind who was the best team in the USA this year – UWW Warhawks. Defense was solid and offense was peaked at the right time in the year. Watch out next year– we have some good running backs and wide receivers and some QBs that will fill in for our seniors players — UWW will be right back in the hunt for a return to the Stagg Bowl again next year.
Danny Jones our QB was a key factor this year — he gave UWW the extra skills to put MUC between a Rock and a hard spot – what I mean is Danny can run and pass . He has the skills to puts the pressure on the defense — do they defend the pass or do they defend the running of Danny– He is a cool guy under pressure. Nice young man and he wanted to win — well he did – Thank you Danny for coming to Whitewater. You were one of the difference makers.
Justin Beaver — got the chance to work with him — great attitude and a great leader by example. It hasn’t been easy for him – had many hard times in his life but he has the heart to overcome life’s challenges. He is the best — – a great person, very respectful to all that he meets — He is a great competitor – 249 yards in the championship game says it all. He always gives credit to his linemen.
The Warhawk players to a man are all very close and understand their roles — if your a back up you are ready to step in when your called on.
Brady Pittz is a great example of a “Back up to a Back up”
When Beaver went down- Brady stepped in and did an outstanding job each and every time. MUC would have had their hands full if Brady was in the game — he would have run 200 yards also. He is that good — great specal teams player — relentless — Well loved by all of his team mates. PS – your speaking presentation was great — one of the best-great humor and very witty- MUC guy – you were doomed – hard act to follow – pregame victory by UWW- thanks Brady — was a contributing factor – yes – you help set the stage this year. I was fired up and I am an old man now-
Line backers for Whitewater — best set of players – A.J Raebel — heart of a lion — love you attitude and skills – you will be missed — Tristan Borzick — what a great sense for the ball and when shoot the gap — the goal line stop – you did a great job.
Jac Rendell — awsome game and you have been doing a great job all year — You had the game of your life on Sat. Just saw the ESPN – announcers were prasing you for the stops. Picture perfect tackles. Your speed as a group of LB was a key difference this year — never gave up any big plays. Great job
Defensive Secondary — have been great all year — #10 – Gab Schultz your play this year was outstanding — made big plays — the strip of the ball and recovery by #24 Andy Murray — difference maker — UWW defense forces other teams to make mistakes– Secondary has had many turn overs during the playoff — this wasn’t by accident — they were good all year — Andy – had his standard intereption each and every game– Blaz #6 – just shut down #1 of MUC — GREAT JOB — You have done it all year — you too will be missed —
Ben Farley — what a hitter – great tackler– has been a key leader on the team all year — nice job of being an All American – well deserved.
Other defensive player I really want to thank – #99 the Griz — outstanding year- great leader – great person – well respected by his team mates and competitors — 2 TD’s this year for a defensive end — you made the big plays when they were needed — your last game was one of the best — you were all over the field —
Offensive Line — Bent Allen, – now an All American – congradulations — your quickness and ability to make 2 blocks on a play were noticed.
Danny Ansette, Cal Schmidt, Brady Ramseier and Mike Shurman dominated the offensive line all year — Beaver get’s 2600+ yards this year – your one of the best lines ever at UWW- You played the best in the country – MHB, Capital, North Central, Wabash LaCrosse, Eau Claire, Stevens Point and MUC and you won the match ups every time. You beat every defensive you played against. You are one of the best in the country.
Receivers at Whitewater are outstanding —
Neil Mrkvicka — the go to guy each game — best hands — great return specialist — very few mistakes — thanks for coming back for your last year – well worth the effort – National Champion – you will keep that one for your entire life- Thanks you for being a Warhawk
Rising stars receivers– Matt and Arron — you had great seaons but you will have bigger games in the next few years. you will cause defenses problems with you moves and speed and concentration catching the ball.
Tight ends — we have some great ones’ Nick and John — they can block and catch the ball — Nick – you work this summer payed off this fall — your a winner and national champion — Now get ready to have a bigger year in 2008.
Well, I can go on and on – and will spend more words on giving you all a fell for the people at UWW– Guys having fun playing football at a high level- they are National Champions – on and off the field.
They all come from great parents – got the opportunity to get to know them — we have become close — I will miss the seniors — being a former player (40+ year ago) and having played in the bowl game I realized when driving home – that this was the end of the best season ever at UWW — Many highs but I realized the seaons was over and the seniors will now move on in their life — all I can say is – you all will go well in life – football does teach you how to work together — that is a skill you need to keep developing. Be it as an accountant, a teacher, a business man, or a sales rep — your UWW Football days will help you make a living and help you be the best in business or teaching. Best wished to all of you seniors.
One of your best fans
Congrats to UWW for a great season and a well earned national championship. As a Mount Union alum, I am very proud of our football program and all that it has accomplished. The program has won with class and lost with dignity over the years. It was unfortunate that the actions of a few members of the program did not hold up to MUC’s traditional standards. Those actions reflect poorly on our school and community. However, I hope the d3 community will judge us by our body of work and not the actions of a few individuals.
The Warhawks came in with a great gameplan and they won the battle at the line of scrimmage all day. UWW capitalized on Mount Union’s mistakes and they kept MUC from breaking the big play. The past three Stagg Bowls have all been closely contested ball games. The team that made the most plays, won those games. Justin Beaver is a great ballplayer and a class act…a special congratulations to him.
Good luck to UWW next year, winning the second is even more difficult than winning the first. I think 2008 will be an exciting season in d3, because it will be a wide open race. Great work Pat, Keith and the rest of d3football.com!
After being a part of this game from the band section for the past three years, and a part of this University for 5, I’m happy to see our team bring this one home.
I’ll be the first one to say I was afraid. Yeah, I had heard and seen what Mount Union had done to their opponents, and I was afraid that through the bad weather, that it was going to be yet another long 13 hour bus ride home.
I did all I could to keep the band in the game each year. We cheered, we played, and we had a fun time. But in the end, it really doesn’t matter how the band does, it’s how the team does.
This year, at least on this day, Whitewater got the edge. Everything was going right for us. Beaver found the right holes, Jones threw the right passes, our D came up big for us as they have all year against some other very tough opponents, and we were able to win this one.
Honestly, looking back at it, what’s bigger to me is NOT winning the National Championship, but it was finally taking down the Raiders, which is a testimony to their fantastic program. Part of me hopes to see them again next year because the game on Saturday night was just amazing beyond words for me, and that was some good football.
Now yes, I could go on and on about bad refs, and antics by other fans and players, but why? If others have bad actions, why let that get to you? That’s what will define their character later on in life, and frankly, I just don’t care.
Again, it was great to be on the winning side of this one. MUC fans have nothing to be ashamed of, because you never let us get comfortable until there was about a minute or two left in the game, and your team fought valiantly. I know our 5th year seniors in the band (myself included) were happy to escape this one with a win, and I think we’re still elated about it (going right into finals week, no less).
Great season. Great football. I hope we can all meet again next year in Salem to see who will win it this time. But for now, it’s our time.
Thanks to Hal for the great seats. With the lighting and the brand new fieldturf the way they were it was like watching it ona flat screen TV in your living room. Now for game comments. I was VERY impressed with UWW’s defense. Miceli seemed to be on the run all the time as he had trouble finding anyone open. Beaver had a great game as well. That run at the end of the game was very reminiscent of Chuck Moore’s big run against BC in 2001. MUC kept trying to “raise the roof” on the sidelines throughout the game but they couldn’t seem to really get going. Kmic played well; Garcon wasn’t a factor: was more impressed with Shorts & Justin Wray. Could it be that MUC just isn’t that intimidating when they aren’t wearing the purple & black? Didn’t see Garcon’s lack of respect act after the game, but he did show a bad attitude while on the sidelines. As far as things like the asst. coach losing his cool and MUC’s struggle throughout the game are concerned, I attribute that to the fact that this was the first time MUC really got “hit in the mouth” at the beginning ofa game this season and they seemed unsure of themselves. However, MUC fought back valiantly in the second half and those of us who were there were treated to a great game. As Ric Flair sez, “In order to be the best, you gotta BEAT the best!” UWW did just that at the Stagg Bowl.
Also major props to UWW’s pep band. They sounded great across the field from us.
Thank you mpEagle, for all of us in the band!
Thanks a bunch Eagle! Means a lot. MUC’s band didn’t sound half bad as well…
I have to throw in some “props” as well. I was a bit skeptical about Salem due to the difficulty in getting there. Throw that out the window- what a great host and venue. I truly enjoyed the stadium, atmoshpere and warm welcome. I would love to go again.
Also, I was able to talk with a few MUC fans in the parking lot and I have nothing but good things to say about them. Granted, they were a bit confident, and understandably so.
This was one of the greatest football experiences of my life. Thanks to all, including the guys at D3 football.com.
Hooper73 and MPeagle
What do we have to do to give the UWW team credit. They won and were the better team that day. This makes them the 2007 National Champions. Enjoy your piece of cake. You won. Not all players or fans are like Garcon. Some of us and most of us have class. Just remember. You are the ones to carry the title of the Hunted. Mt. Union is and has carried it for longer than your team will ever do so. stop the trash talk and remember this game was played by the students athletes of both teams, not us fans who think we know football. Once again, Great game, congrats to UWW ( great TEAM) Even siad great program even though you have lost twice to Mt Union. You still got there. See ya all next year. Now it’s time for the other Team in OHIO to play for a National Championship
Looks like UMHB will be the team to beat next year. We will be in the title hunt once again. Too bad the NCAA is biased and cheap. We will probably be a 4 seed once again just because of money. Wesley will be tougher next year with a lot of folks coming back. UWW and MUC will be in the thick of things again as well. I hate to say it but MUC will most likely be in the Stagg again with a lot of their folks returning, mainly the QB and RB. I think we have a chance for an all purple matchup in the Stagg again, this time MUC and UMHB.
As I said before my opinion of MUC has changed. I thought they were a class act but after what many of us witnessed on Saturday that is no longer the case for me anyway. That does not mean jack squat though because MUC will be hard to beat once again.
UMHB needs a QB who can pass and run, we have some great high school players around the area, just maybe we can get lucky like UWW and land a Danny Jones or close to it anyway.
I want to say thank you to all the D3 staff. You guys are awesome. I went and surfed DII football.com and their site can’t even compare to D3’s.Thanks again D3 football.com. Now time to work on my yahoo fantasy championship.
Peace!!
Man, some of you guys need to understand this is not a competition to see who can write the longer version of War and Peace.
jimjearsa – your comments seemed to be veiled slaps more than compliments – your whole “best team on that day” thing is wrong and not very respectful. UWW is a top program and the best D3 team in 2007 – not just the day the Stagg was played.
SJF Fan,
I called you out once before, now I owe you some props. I agree with the posting of term papers. Brief and succinct is the way to go-and UWW was the team of 2007.