D3football Daily Dose

Just a heads-up, D3hoops.com and D3football.com will be moving to a new server tonight. The plan is to get started around 9 p.m. ET. If successful, the sites would be down for about a half-hour. After the move, some items might not function correctly, but we will do our best to track those things down and fix them.

If you see anything out of the ordinary, e-mail pat@d3football.com.

The message board will not be affected.

In an attempt to keep the Division III football season going, I looked around for a couple of 2006 schedules. I know they’re out there, but I didn’t stumble across any. (For those eager to get their 2006 schedule posted, I need game times, not just all TBAs.)

Instead, here’s my hopes for the new year and the next football season:

May everyone have a happy holiday season and a prosperous 2006. And here’s hoping everyone goes 10-0. OK, maybe 5-5!

Congrats to Mount Union. Nice to have a different champion for once. But seriously, I don’t mind if the same team wins a couple titles in a row, as long as the season is competitive and the title isn’t a forgone conclusion.

We’ve had years like that.

First thought goes out to the johnny-come-lately Whitewater posters on this blog. Welcome to Division III reality. It takes more than one hand to count the number of schools’ posters who have come in, talked a big game, then had to either slink away or eat crow. But don’t worry, there’s a long list: Wheaton, Wabash, Widener, Rowan, St. John’s (though that one goes both ways).

Second to those who insisted the national title game was played two weeks ago. ‘Nuff said. Don’t count your chickens before the eggs are laid. This is exactly why covering Division III and ranking teams is so difficult.

Third: Can you imagine this team with two more years of Pierre Garcon and three more of Nate Kmic? In our pregame interview I asked coach Larry Kehres if we were seeing the emergence of the next Chuck Moore or Dan Pugh and he pointed out, of course, that those guys did it for four years. In retrospect, however, I think we’ll be able to look back in a couple years and agree about the breakout.

Fourth: Still thinking about the chicken, Stone Station! Yum!

Also, I enjoyed covering sideline reports for the broadcast today (archive links on the front for those who want to listen in). Good perspective on the game. Thanks to Matt Barnhart of Bridgewaterfootball.com for covering the opposite sideline for me so we could get the latest on both sides.

Good to see the NCAA’s chief executive, Dr. Myles Brand, watching the game from the sidelines. We were able to interview him early in the third quarter for those who want to check it out.

As always, play in the Stagg Bowl would have changed our All-American team. But like everyone else, we lock them in and release them beforehand.

Our broadcasters upstairs correctly noted the downfield blocking by the offensive line on Kmic’s 15-yard touchdown run But I feel I should point out that Garcon was down there as well paving the way.

It was great to see officiating not be an issue. The officials clearly got the three calls right that resulted in the game being stopped for review. But it was fun from the field to see the video board and how the replays shown affected the fans, especially on the non-touchdown catch by Garcon — the play was called out of bounds. First replay comes up and is not particularly conclusive to the layman, Mount Union fans roar. Play is stopped. I call upstairs to Gordon Mann, our producer, and let him know it is absolutely out of bounds. Second replay comes up and shows us nothing new. Finally, the definitive replay shows Garcon indeed got his foot down out of bounds and the Whitewater side roars. I enjoyed the element added to the game and hope fans did too.

Now, on to the Aztec Bowl. Thanks to Wes Hostetler for making us look good with his performance as both a defensive back and a return man, echoing our naming him an All-American at both spots earlier in the day. Elsewhere, lots of good performances came from our picks … just not from the quarterbacks. Ouch.

We throw it open, but don’t forget to come back for more coverage this week and in future weeks as we continue to wrap up the Stagg Bowl and the 2005 Division III football season with Keith McMillan’s year in review column.

D3football.com here hours before kickoff as usual, which leaves plenty of time to kick off a new blog.

Gordon and Pat Coleman are to my left right now, on the air announcing the all-Americans. If you aren’t listening, you should be … if you’re interested in hearing about four or five different pre-game interviews. I know Brett Elliott’s interview already aired … good stuff. Very humble, honest about his NFL future and bashing the lack of a playoff in D-I. Loving that!

Mount Union’s specialists have just taken the field.

The weather here tends to be cold and windy … Salem is the championship site because they make D3 feel big time and have gathered a great volunteer base to support the game, but we could do without the weather.

The field is a fast track, but probably not the same as the turf at Mount Union. Both teams are used to/OK with cold weather, and UW-W played in the snow last week, so this should be nothing new. There is snow around the field from Thursday night, but the field was taken care of yesterday, and even spray painted green (I believe) to make it look good for TV.

We’ll be posting from time to time today, and we’ve seen you go crazy on the predictions thread … but if you’re not here and your TV is close to your computer, pump up the sound from the webcast. We’re pretty sure the D3 die-hards will enjoy it.

We’ll be glad to hear your thoughts pre-game and during. Should be fun to look back at after the fact. Take it away…

‘Twas the night before Stagg Bowl and all through the site
Not a creature was stirring, ‘cept for us, up all night.

The stockings were hanging, all purple of course,
For Warhawks and Raiders, not Wildcats or Norse.

The Warhawks, Wisconsin: Respect they have earned.
The WIAC’s no pushover, Linfield learned.

The Raiders, Mount Union: They’ve been here before
With fans by the busload at the stadium’s door.

Two teams, highly ranked, No. 2, No. 5
The fans all a-waiting kickoff to arrive

With Walnut and Bronze and a title at stake
The players, they rested. The fans, still awake.

The party could last till the tailgate at dawn
Some camped by their trailers, some sat on the lawn.

This, Division III’s Titletown comes alive twice a year
For football and hoops, which already draws near.

The gates, they all opened, the fans poured inside.
They all took their seats with their eyes opened wide.

When at once, from the stadium there arose such a sound
That flew through the air as it rattled the ground

The teams, they both entered to the fireworks and bands.
Even those from Alliance couldn’t sit on their hands.

The players warming up for their moments of fame
Heard quarterbacks bark signals and call out their names.

On Beaver, on Stanley! On Schmitt and Lescyznski!
On Garcon, on Casto, on Kmic, Antonucci!

The game moves too quickly, the season’s near done
And someone in purple has come through and won.

The trophy awarded, the interviews heard
Leaves just the committee to have the last word.

So I shouted at them as the group left my sights:
Happy Stagg Bowl to all! Next year pay for more flights!

We keep meaning to mention that the Aztec Bowl is at 2 p.m. on Saturday. You can get more information at the Aztec Bowl’s web site. They also do preview shows talking with the seniors who comprise the team, and the final one runs tonight from 7:30-9 ET.

Tune over for the end of the Aztec Bowl after we leave the air on Saturday.

Stagg Bowl XXXIII will have video replay to review officials’ calls, sources tell D3football.com.

The Division III football national championship will be governed by the same instant replay rules used in the Southeastern Conference, which deal with the following plays:

Reviewable
1. Plays governed by Sideline, Goal Line, End Zone, and End Line:
a. Scoring Plays, including a runner breaking the plane of the goal line.
b. Pass complete/incomplete/intercepted at sideline, goal line and end line.
c. Runner/receiver in or out of bounds.
d. Recovery of loose ball in and out of bounds.

2. Passing Plays:
a. Pass ruled complete/incomplete/intercepted in the field of play and end zones.
b. Touching of a forward pass by an ineligible receiver.
c. Touching of a forward pass by a defensive player.
d. Quarterback (Passer) forward pass or fumble (if ruled incomplete, play is finalized).
e. Illegal forward pass or illegal handing off beyond the line of scrimmage.
f. Illegal forward pass or illegal handing off after change of possession.
g. Forward or backward pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.

3. Other Detectable Infractions:
a. Runner ruled not down.
b. Forward progress with respect to first down.
c. Touching of a kick.
d. Number of players on field.
e. Clock adjustments (in conjunction with overturned plays).
f. Fourth-down/try fumble plays.

Not Reviewable
1. Holding.
2. Off-sides/Encroachment.
3. Pass interference.
4. Personal fouls (e.g., late hits).
5. Illegal blocks.
6. Illegal formations.
7. Face mask.
8. Taunting/excessive celebration.
9. False starts.
10. Roughing passer/kicker.
11. Fighting participants.

The SEC guidelines note that the technology allows the official to review plays without stopping the game, so just because play is not halted does not mean a play was not reviewed.

More from the SEC’s replay policy:

While most plays can be reviewed between the dead ball and the beginning of the next play, the Replay Official can stop play on the field by using a pager system:
a. Replay Official communicates via vibrating pager to field officials that a play is under review.
In the event of a pager system failure, the Communicator shall immediately notify the Alternate Official by walkie-talkie. The Alternate Official shall then notify the nearest official, who will stop play.
b. Referee announces via Stadium PA, “The previous play is under review.”
c. Communicator begins timing the replay. When play is stopped, a minimum of 45-seconds will be used. Replays should not exceed two-minutes.

… as in I-81, for us. If you drive that route to the Salem/Roanoke area, watch out for law enforcement. They patrol that in force, usually.

D3football.com has landed in Salem, Ryan Coleman and I left D.C. early because of the snow/ice forecast for Thursday morning. Didn’t want to get stuck in it. Safe travels to all.

Thursday’s itinerary: Gagliardi Trophy ceremony, team practices and interviews.

We’ve predicted every Stagg Bowl since Stagg Bowl XXVII, and that year we were one of the few groups east of the Rockies to correctly predict Pacific Lutheran would beat Rowan.

We’re going to rest on those laurels … well, basically forever. We’ve been right every year except 2003, when St. John’s got it done against Mount Union against very long odds. Here’s what our assorted staff and contributors see happening Saturday in Stagg Bowl XXXIII:
(more…)

It’s hard to keep from pondering that if the NCAA had put UW-Whitewater in the North and Lakeland in the West (remember, Whitewater is closer geographically to the rest of the North bracket than Lakeland is!) then we could have seen UW-Whitewater/Mount Union today and UW-Whitewater/Linfield next week.

Thank goodness there was a competitive game today. Rowan did alright by the East in this one. Should be a good crowd in Salem. Looking forward to that one.

Congrats to Mount Union and UW-Whitewater. Fans, you should know that the Stagg Bowl organizing committee is sponsoring giveaway of a free hotel night and admission to the game. On Friday there’s a luncheon for the teams at the Salem Civic Center that you can purchase tickets to. You should find out which team is in which hotel if you are traveling so you can figure out whether you want to stay in the Clarion or the Wyndham (one team will stay in each, though there are many other hotels to choose from as well, check the Stagg Bowl Web site).

Pat Cummings, Keith McMillan and I will have a live audio broadcast of the game, with Gordon Mann and I handling pregame, halftime and postgame festivities. We start two hours before the game kicks off, and our pregame show will include the first announcement of the D3football.com All-America team. We’ll also carry it through the postgame news conferences and give you our final thoughts on the 2005 season, probably running at least an hour after the games end. So if you want to hear what your team and coaches have to say, tune to us.

We’ll also do photo galleries from the week, including the luncheon and team activities, as well as the game.

Enjoy the week. Post responsibly.