FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

Kind of like 07, but the long run this year wasn't a "sealing" score...it broke a tie.  MUC still had the ball with a chance to tie with 1:17 left, but turned it over again.

Great game overall.  Disappointed with the D in the 1st half, but they came back strong.  O looked pretty good as Cecil was clearly the best player on the field again.  Some of those catches were ridiculous! 

Congrats to UWW!  Excellent all around effort from a great team.

[pradierguy]

Congrats to the 2009 National Champion Warhawks. They deserve to hold the trophy and should be proud.

Our Mount Union boys should hold their heads high. They played unreal football these last couple weeks and showed some great fortitude to come back against a team like UWW. Thanks for a great season and another Stagg filled with memories.

Thanks, once again, to head coach "LK". We realize none of this would be possible without you. Let this loss fuel the hunger for next year.

Bring on the 2010 Squad!!

[usee]

What a great game to watch. I thought the coaching adjustments on both sides were keys to the game. MUC was getting gouged by Donavon in the 1st half while sitting in their 4-3 cover 4. The out cuts and curls are hard to cover without pressure on the QB (insert sad face for no Millings). They went to a 3 man front with man under 2 deep coverage and that really gave donovon trouble. I kept sitting there saying "why won't UWW go back to the run" because that's what that defense gives you and the last couple drives you saw the draw/delay plays by UWW which was a great adjustment by UWW.

Well played, well coached game. I was really impressed with the fight and resiliency of both teams. I really don't see any teams on this level anywhere else in D3.

[formerd3db]

Interesting decision here on 4th down though for the Warhawks.  I can't believe they risked a FG block on a 44 yard FG.

I was thinking the same thing, but when you have a kicker like that the decision is a little easier.

Yeah but we'd all be saying something completely different if MUC blocked it and went the other way with the football.  I think one thing that helped was that the Raiders were almost as shocked as I was and didn't really believe they were going to kick it until the snap went back.  It's not like it was a gimme.  44 yards in freezing temps is a sketchy proposition.

Bottom line is it went through (by about 3-5 yards from the looks of it) and it put the game out of reach but if he missed or it was blocked, we might all be going nuts over that decision.  I just think the importance of that result can't be overlooked.  Ballsy if nothing else.

Yeah, just like Coach Andy Tally's "ballsy" calls to go for it on 4th and 1 late in the game during both the FCS Championship game last night and the semi-final game last week.  You live or die with calls like these and as Tally said, he made his mind up long ago that Villanova was going to "play for the win".  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and obviously it is great when it does yet is so disappointing when it doesn't.  I guess those situations make great discussion "fodder" for us "arm chair coaches and quarterbacks" (i.e. "formers and has beens" ), and, of course, all other fans of the teams. 

I, unfortunately, did not see the game (couldn't get access to ESPN Classic or otherwise), however, from all the posts and D3fb.com descriptions, it looked like a fantastic game to watch.  Congratulations to both teams, Mount for a great season despite the season ending loss and prevention of regaining their crown and to Wis-Whitewater for another national championship added to their record.  Great posting with all of you here this season - I will look forward to the same in the off-season.  Best wishes for safe travels to those who have to now return home from Salem and best wishes also to everyone here for blessed and enjoyable upcoming holidays with your families.

   

[Raider 68]

First thoughts:

A great job by the Salem Civic group on the field, it was great!

These announcers did a pretty good job vs. past years!

Congrats to the Whitewater Warhawks, great year, great game.

Congrats to the Raider, great comeback a few opportunities missed, still
a great year. Let's get back in 2010!

[mr_mom]

I second Raider68's comments ...

Salem, you guys are insane.  Watched the video of you plowing all night long to get the field ready.  I wish the NCAA would just make this the permanent home for the Stagg without you guys bidding every three.

UWW.  Fabulous game.  Great talent on both sides, great coaching.  So much fun to watch [without my HD, dammit]

MUC.  Great season.  Reload, reload, reload!

See you next year!
Mom

[rscl70]

All I can do is echo what others have said.  A great game today from two great teams!!  Glad we made the trip despite the weather problems.

Thanks to the Purple Raiders for another great season full of wonderful memories.  All these guys played with great heart today.  To go down 14 to a great team like Whitewater and comeback to tie with a chance to win was a huge effort.  Love our Raiders.

Congratulations to the 2009 National Champion Warhawks!  You deserve the title.

2010, let's do it again.

[02 Warhawk]

Another great game in Salem! God is Shorts good, he can't be stopped, luckily Shumpert and company were able to bat down Rocco's passes late to put it away.

What-do-yah say...same time, same place next year?!?!?!?!

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Congrats to UWW, Great Game!

Ditto for everyone who made the field/stadium/parking lot ready for the game.

Was surprised that MUC didn't adjust their defense earlier than the second half.  One stop in the first half could have made a difference.

Thought the momentum change came on UWW first drive in second half.  4-1 at the 50, MUC couldn't stop you all day, and a 14 point lead.  I thought UWW would have gone for that.  21 point lead at that time could have been the game.  Instead UWW decides to punt, MUC offense goes down and scores.  Not a great punt there either so why not go for it?  After that it was pretty much all MUC until the fumbles tuned momentum back to UWW.  UWW prevailed in the end, but that really turned the game for a while.  Kehres went for it on 4th later in the 3rd Quarter, MUC didn't get it, but it showed confidence in the MUC D who played tons better in the second half.

Usee, were you at the game?  Great analysis of the MUC Defense today.

Again, Congrats to UWW and hope to see you back here in about a year!

[usee]

Kirasdad, no I just watched on TV. Muc really missed millings today I thought.

[bleedpurple]

Congratulations to the Purple Raiders and Warhawks on a great season and a great game!

According to the stats on ESPN.com, when the snow settled after this epic, there was a 2 YARD difference in total offense between the teams. 470-468. Wow!

Great football game. Great heart and character shown by both teams. As much as many vent about the five consecutive Stagg Bowl appearances by these two programs, the players from BOTH teams today represented D3 as well it could possibly be represented.

[Barber Greene]

Just wanted to say how impressed I was with Kurt Rocco's performance after his injury last week. I just re-watched the fourth quarter on ESPN360 and heck, even as a Warhawk fan, I could see the disappointment in his eyes and felt some emotion for the kid. He really played his heart out.

[runyr]

The two teams seemed well matched.  Winning went to the team that had the least turnovers.
Congratulations go to Wisconsin-Whitewater on their 2nd national championship in football!

[purple]

 The outstanding player in yesterdays Stagg Bowl was Kurt Rocco.  His great play nearly brought the Raiders all the way back.

[Jonny Utah]

That was a great game to watch and every player on that field played their hearts out.

But I noticed a few things. WW had the ball right before the half with about a minute left, and they got a first down around the MUC 40.  Then the refs go to spot the ball and the play clock started to roll but the game clock didnt start up.  Then finally the refs spotted the ball (and I assumed blew the whistle) and WW broke the huddle but only had like 10 seconds on the play clock to get a play off.  They had an illegal shift or something and seemed rushed because of that.  I always thought both game and play clocks started when the refs spot the ball and blow that whistle?  I could be wrong.

On WWs fourth TD in the first half, the contain man for MUC was held bad inside the 5.  As a HS coach, that always pisses me the hell off when refs don't see that hold.  Its the most important hold to call.  Granted it was 1st down I think inside the 5 but that still pisses me off.

If it weren't for Rocco, MUC wouldnt have came back, but I did think he looked kind of akward out there at times and it seemed to me anyway that MUCs WRs had to wait for the ball to get there at certain points throuought the game. 

I did not think that was Pass inteference by MUC in the endzone on that big pass play.  And isn't it only an NFL rule that you cant 'play the man'?  I thought as long as there wasn't any contact, you can face guard in the NCAA?