D3football Daily Dose

[Note: This is an entry of an ongoing Stagg Bowl blog by sideline commentator Frank Rossi. To read his previous entries, click the following links:

1) 12/17/08 - The Road (Sky) to Salem;
2) 12/18/08 - Cold Weather, Warm Reception; or
3) 12/19/08 - A Night of Celebrations.]

Quick update direct from the Press Box overlooking Willis White Field, home of the Stagg Bowl. I’m going through a post-lunch lull right now after a great lunch reception put together by Salem and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference that introduced the teams, coaches and members of the NCAA inside the Salem Convention Center’s basketball arena. It was a great setup and really good food – I certainly haven’t gone hungry since arriving on Wednesday night.

While I’d love to go on and on about the teams and coaches and that part of the program, I have a story that tops all of that. When we walked into the arena for lunch, Miss Virginia 2008, Tara Wheeler, was there to meet and greet the participants. She seemed sweet, but we continued on toward the table area. Since we were a little later than we had hoped (my bad), we had to push toward the front tables and found a table with five empty chairs (we had three people from D3Football.com). As Pat Coleman reached to pull out a chair, I noted to him that a chair that is leaning on the table generally denotes a “saved” seat. There were only two of those, though, so we sat in the remaining three chairs. The program began and Miss Virginia did a great job singing the National Anthem. Next thing we know, she and one of the executive directors made their way to the saved chairs at our table! Yes, I stopped Pat from stealing the chair from Miss Virginia – a former Penn State ice hockey goalie who might have beaten him up for that chair. Yes, I saved Pat from certain destruction – and ensured that Ryan Tipps and I had a very pleasant lunch guest with whom we could discuss sports and pageants. I now have a new favorite for the 2009 Miss America Pageant – and I have the picture to prove it (click here).

Oh, wait, there’s a football game tomorrow! I almost forgot. Keegan Brennan, UW-Whitewater linebacker, spoke on behalf of his team and knocked the ball out of the park with his remarks – a great mixture of comedy, modesty and thanks. Greg Micheli spoke on behalf of Mount Union. After my interview with him last night, I knew that he would keep his comments poignant but brief – and he didn’t disappoint. It was a great job done by both guys.

The honest impression you come up with when you see both sets of starters lined up in front of you is that both of these teams look very young. That’s a credit to these teams because remember, we’re at the championship game right now. That’s a word of warning to the other couple hundred teams in Division III, as these teams may be around for some time to come. Work hard in the offseason, guys.

It’s time to break my lull and help Pat, Gordon Mann and Keith McMillan get the shows (pregame and actual NCAA.com broadcast) together for tomorrow (Pat’s beginning to wonder why I’m hiding in the corner, typing like a madman). So, hopefully I’ll update you once more tonight before we go on the air at 9am EST tomorrow with our pregame show. We all hope you can listen.