Isn’t this bad for Division III?

This question pops up like clockwork this time of year, as fans who are tired of seeing the same teams in the Stagg Bowl every year campaign to get either Mount Union or UW-Whitewater out of Division III, if not both. But my message now is the same as it always has been: no.

For 15 years, Mount Union has been the single team on top of the Division III world. In some years, the Purple Raiders have come into the season as the foregone conclusion favorite to win the national championship, without any reasonable hope for any other team.

Is that what we want?

I think the dynastic duo is better for Division III than the alternative. Those who remember when Rowan was that second team in position to challenge for the title know that the Profs gave the Purple Raiders some tests, even if they didn’t finish it off. But since then, teams have come and gone. St. John’s is the only other team to beat Mount Union in Salem, but has lost its last three playoff games by an average of three touchdowns. Bridgewater challenged Mount Union once, then lost 66-0 in the semifinals. Mary Hardin-Baylor beat the Purple Raiders in Alliance but wasn’t able to live up to its “program No. 3” status this season. Linfield could get itself onto that list but has never played Mount Union.

I would much, much rather have UW-Whitewater and Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl every year than have one of those two teams dominate all comers and roll over someone in Salem. I have personally seen enough teams lay eggs in the Stagg Bowl.

All I ask is the same thing every year: I don’t care who wins the national title, as long as there’s some doubt when the season starts. If it’s a foregone conclusion for one team or the other every single year, that’s a problem.

What we have is not a problem.

What the other 236 programs need to do is step up. Good luck this offseason.

First off, just as a reminder: The Gagliardi Trophy is not the Division III equivalent of the Heisman.

The award doesn’t always go to the best player in Division III. The mission of the award is different than the Heisman’s, or, at least, the end results are. The instructions to voters say it all: “The winner of the award should exhibit excellence in three areas: football, academics and service/leadership on campus and/or in his community.”

It goes on to give the most salient point, one which I think should be emphasized. “First and foremost, however, it is a football award; you should consider the candidate’s scholastic and extra-curricular records to help you break a tie.”

With that reminder out of the way, I have to say, this is about as wide open a final four as I remember.

• Blaine Westemeyer, Sr., Tackle, Augustana
• Spud Dick, Sr., Quarterback, DePauw
• Alex Tanney, Jr., Quarterback, Monmouth
• John Peters, Sr., Linebacker, Union

No Mount Union players, no UW-Whitewater players. Two quarterbacks, a defensive player and an offensive lineman. Only one defensive player has ever won the award and no offensive linemen have.

Sometimes I look at the final four and I have a pretty good idea who is going to be on the podium in Salem. But I don’t this year.

This is going to be pretty interesting.