The announcements of the departure of Vince Kehres and Larry Kehres from the Mount Union football program and athletic department are easily the most impactful news stories of the young 2020 season. And depending on how the season ends, those twin departures may well be the most impactful news story of the entire year.

Who might replace Vince Kehres as head coach? Pat and Keith are joined by Adam Turer, and they look at some of the possible names — Mount Union alumni who could well be the next Purple Raider head coach. Plus, we’ll also talk about what sort of Purple Raider program that person will inherit.

In addition, we start our offseason podcasts as we always do, with long-form interviews of Division III coaches. This month, we caught up with Aaron Keen, the new head coach of Washington University in St. Louis — literally on his first day on the job in mid-January. What is on the to-do list for the man replacing another LK — Larry Kindbom? Plus, what did he forget to do on Day 1? And why would a man who could be an offensive coordinator in a power conference, or perhaps a Group of Five head coach, want to come back to Division III? We hear his take.

We also chat with McMurry head coach Jordan Neal. He enters his second year with the program, one which can seemingly only go up after an 0-10 finish in 2019. We talk with Neal about his career on the opposite side of town, as a quarterback at Hardin-Simmons, plus his time as an assistant coach and how he found all of the people who are now on his staff. And then, how do the War Hawks get the program turned around?

And we take your questions: If we could wave a magic wand, where would we put the Stagg Bowl? Who will be the next coach at Wheaton? And who won the decade?

Pat and Keith discuss that and more in Podcast 271. It’s the first podcast of 2020.

Pat and Keith talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

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You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

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Theme music: DJmentos. d3photography.com photos by Ryan Coleman (Larry Kehres), Robert B. Forbes (Vince Kehres); McMurry athletics; Eastern Michigan athletics.

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This was the scene on Thursday afternoon as they were still painting the end zones in advance of Friday night’s Stagg Bowl. Pat and Keith are here to get you ready for the game as well, and they’re joined by Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas to get you an around-the-horn style view of what to expect from North Central and UW-Whitewater.

Plus, we’ll hear from Whitewater guard Quinn Meinerz and North Central linebacker Brian Beauchamp about their thoughts on their team’s season so far, and what they’ll be up against on Friday night.

Will Andrew Kamienski get to 2,000 yards receiving for the season? Will Broc Rutter break the all-time Division III passing career mark? (It’s within reach.) Will the vaunted UW-Whitewater defense keep Ethan Greenfield under 75 yards rushing? How many passes will Max Meylor throw?

How do Jeff Thorne and Kevin Bullis, each a head coach in the Stagg Bowl for the first time, handle the spotlight? And what do we have to look forward to on Friday? (For example, will any fans show up?)

Pat and Keith and Frank and Greg have that and more in Podcast 269.

This edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast is sponsored by Gotta Have It: 3D Fan Foam Wall Signs for the D-III fan in your life.

Pat and Keith talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

• Show link: Playoff headlines
• Show link: 2019 playoff bracket

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

Full episode: [display_podcast]

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Here’s how to find us on some of the major podcasting apps:

• Apple Podcasts: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast
• Google Podcasts: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast
• iHeart Radio: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast
  Stitcher: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast
• Spotify: D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast

Theme music: DJmentos. d3photography.com photos by Caleb Williams, Doug Sasse, Tom Nettleton, d3photography.com file.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download