FB: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

onearmedscot · October 23, 2005, 10:12:07 AM

Man, I hate such senseless tragedy. Why on Earth would goal posts be torn down between UMM and Crown? Just inexplainable.

Nonetheless, the world lost a fine student athlete. Thoughts and prayers with the Rose family.

OneArmedScot

tbcfootball · October 23, 2005, 11:09:28 AM

They tore it down because it was the last game ever played at that field, probably would have tore it down had it been a blowout. But still, a completely avoidable accident. The entire Trinity campus weeps for Morris and will keep the young man, his family, and his team in our prayers.

AnotherJohnnie · October 24, 2005, 04:33:55 PM

I would like to add my thoughs and prayers for the whole UM-M community. There is really not much that I can add to the words already expressed in various places on the board about the senselessness of the incident.

Quote from: tbcfootball on October 20, 2005, 11:46:19 PM

Through several season ending injuries and many dismissals from the team, the lions are now suiting up 16 players. Of the 16, Trinity only has 5 original starters on offense and 4 original starters on defense. Almost every single player is going both ways and many are having to play out of position (including a 165 lb. d-back turned starting center) but our players and coaches are doing the best they can to represent the school in the best way possible.

I wish TBC well as they finish their season. Having guys play out of position like that can be dangerous. I hope the 16 guys playing all finish the season healthy and that TCB is able to improve their numbers for next year.

Luke · October 25, 2005, 04:57:12 PM

I am a Morris alumnus who also played football (93-98). I was at the game and witnessed the tragedy. I don't know how to describe it other than to say that it will haunt me for quite some time. However, my feelings are nothing compared to what Rick Rose's family and friends are going through.

First, I want to thank the Crown players and coaches for their prayers on the field. I'd also like to thank Johnnie, tbcfootball, scott, coekohawk, Ralph, and others for their prayers.

I want to address the report in some articles that it was a "rowdy" crowd. Some folks might have negative connotations with that description. These kids weren't drunk or out of control. I also don't think that reflects well on Rick's character.

Rick was hanging on the goalpost when the support snapped at the bottom. If it's any consolation, I believe he didn't suffer. I know a lot of people out there probably thought to themselves "what a stupid thing to be doing." However, I would've been doing the same thing, just like most other college-aged males.

I never met him, but I understand Rick was well-liked and a good student who hoped to attend medical school. He played on the basketball team and had battled cancer. This alone speaks to his character.

In other words, he was a lot like you and me and our friends in college. He was also a student at my alma mater, which attracts a certain kind of person. In that way, I feel like I knew him, and I mourn his death as a friend. I hope that doesn't sound overly dramatic, but I only say that here because the members of this board (I've been lurking for years) understand the tight-knit communities of small colleges, especially small college athletics.

Please keep up your prayers for Rick's family and the Morris community. Rick is missed by many.

Retired Old Rat · October 25, 2005, 05:07:08 PM

Luke,

Thanks much for the post. Very thoughtful of you.

Prayers for Rick's parents and the rest of his family. I cannot
imagine the anguish.

johnnie_esq · October 25, 2005, 05:30:22 PM

Luke-- prayers to you and the entire UMM community, along with the Rose family. The shock of something so devasting occurring in such an innocent collegiate environment continues to be beyond me. It was so random as to happen in Morris, but it just as easily could have been Collegeville or even Minneapolis.

I couldn't even imagine being there and watching it happen first hand.

UMAC_Commish · October 26, 2005, 02:22:03 PM

The Upper Midwest Conference football family was shocked and saddened to hear about the tragedy at Morris. Mr. Rose deomonstrated what small college sports and life are about - have fun playing collegiate athletics, but more importantly, earn a degree that will carry you through life.

There is no time to point fingers or blame, this could happen at any campus. If Division I schools with hundreds of security gaurds can't stop the goal posts from coming down, we certainly at the DIII are not prepared for this.

Our conference is not made up of superstars, a few exceptional athletes on each team each year, but it is made up of hard working students that, according to PLU's Frosty W., "make the big time where you are." What little I know about him, it sounds like Mr. Rose was an example of this philosophy.

We mourn for his family, friends, campus, and the concerned and supportive athletes at Crown, who also witnessed the tragedy and immediately went to prayer for the situation.

Life does not have a clock that we can look at, it can be here for 50 more years or gone today. We need to value life, value how we treat each other, and make a difference in this world.

God bless the community of Minnesota Morris and the family of Mr. Rose.

Luke · October 28, 2005, 02:29:46 PM

Dome Day:

UM - Morris 41
Maranatha 12

That's the only score I've heard.

Pat Coleman · October 28, 2005, 02:31:27 PM

We're posting scores on the Scoreboard. We have a Morris/Maranatha final (which is different than yours) and we have halftime of the second game.

Ryan Coleman · October 29, 2005, 05:05:37 AM

For those of you who were at the game or heard from family and friends, D3football.com and Pictureprints.net have photos available for sale online right now!

The first three games are currently available and may be accessed through the D3football.com Schedule or by going to the UMAC Dome Day page on Pictureprints.net.

Thank you for your support and attendance! Please pass the word on to anyone that was unable to attend these games that there are photos available online.

I will get the final two games posted as soon as I am able to tomorrow. Between our two photographers at the final two games I have over 3600 photos to edit!

repete · November 03, 2005, 12:13:06 AM

Gotta put in a plug for sfury's book, Keeping the Faith. I won't post my review here, but here's
the link. I started a thread on the general board. Finished it the other day and it's a solid bit of reporting and nicely written -- a fun read.

The timing was pretty cool -- I finished it on Dome Day.

AnotherJohnnie · November 09, 2005, 02:26:33 AM

Is Northwestern going to get another victory bowl bid this year? It would seem like they are more than deserving.

AO · November 09, 2005, 03:15:06 PM

Yes, Northwestern is going to be playing at Olivet Nazarene in the Victory Bowl.

Should be another good game for the NCCAA National Title.

AnotherJohnnie · November 12, 2005, 11:22:24 AM

Any idea how the $$ work out for the NCCAA? Do the 2 teams have to foot the bill for the Victory bowl? Does the host team have to pay a bunch of money to host? Would they consider flying the visiting team in? It would be interesting to know how a small body of schools operates (other than the NAIA which we have learned is a financial mess).

UMAC_Commish · November 15, 2005, 10:18:44 PM

The NCCAA does not fund the Victory Bowl beyond awards. The host school (which Northwestern declined to Olivet so they could travel to the college football hall of fame and Olivet traveled to Northwestern last year) picks up the game costs, a banquet, and all the basics that go with having a home game.

The game used to be held in Canton, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, when Malone College would host. They decided to let the contract run out and now the top seeded NCCAA teams that do not advance to either the NAIA or NCAA playoffs get to participate.