By Keith McMillan
D3sports.com
Given a few days to reflect on Stagg Bowl XXXI, the best thing about it is still easy to pinpoint.
It wasn’t that the St. John’s win opened the door for other teams to possibly beat Mount Union, or that the Purple Raiders will no doubt have their fire rekindled and come back more determined to win next year. It wasn’t the TV exposure, the tailgates or the City of Salem continuing to do a wonderful job as hosts.
It was, and always has been, the people.
Each year, if we’re lucky, on the way to and at the Stagg Bowl we get to meet a few more people from a few more schools, teams and cities around the country. Aside from loving the game itself, that’s what we enjoy most, and that’s what fans who travel say they enjoy most as well.
So it may seem like piling on, and it’s certainly unoriginal to have nice things to say about John Gagliardi, Blake Elliott, Cam McCambridge and the crew from St. John’s following the Stagg Bowl, but those are the most important memories.
Elliott, who had an extraordinary season as the Gagliardi Trophy winner, Stagg Bowl MVP and best player on the nation’s best team, still signified the best things about Division III players after the game. He had time for everyone that came up to talk to him. He was part cool and confident, part in awe of the whole thing. And he played the game with grit, like it should be played.
Elliot, primarily a wide receiver, had 161 yards from scrimmage in the Stagg Bowl, including 110 rushing. He did it all with a pulled hamstring in his leg.
“The hamstring’s always there,” he said. “You get to a point where … I’ve got a lot of time off in my football career now, so you have to play through it.”
“You’ve also got to remember,” said quarterback Ryan Keating, “that Blake’s 90% is better than most people’s 100.”
Elliott dedicated the game to his younger brother Adam, who was badly injured in a car accident last May. Elliott spends much of his free time helping his brother rehabilitate from a brain injury. Adam, in a wheelchair, watched Elliot play against Linfield in the playoffs, though Blake didn’t find out he was there until afterward.
Besides having a heart and playing with heart, Elliott also exemplified a Division III football player in another way during Stagg Bowl week. He showed how smart he was, telling the Associated Press this about Mount Union before the game: “We might not beat them five out of six times or nine out of 10 times, but all we’ve got to do is beat them one out of one times,” he said. “That’s the great thing about football.”
After the game, Elliott talked about no one believing in St. John’s but the team. A few thousand Johnnie fans believed too, but we get the point. If the team thinks it’s already beaten deep down inside, it’s going to be a lot harder to believe it can win when it gets on the field.
Before you get sick of praise heaped on Elliott, just one more story, courtesy of John Gagliardi. The coach told a little tale after the game about how snow needed to be shoveled off the practice field one day, and Elliott, the team’s superstar, was the first to start shoveling, without being asked. Gagliardi watched that rub off on his team. A leader with enthusiasm for shoveling can certainly get the guys pumped for a Stagg Bowl.
No story about St. John’s and personality is complete without Gagliardi. He saved some of his best one-liners — his press conferences can seem like stand-up comedy — for the Stagg Bowl.
Witness:
His opening remark at the indoor press conference was “This is the warmest I’ve been all day. I’ve got to go back to Minnesota to warm up? I thought this was the South.”
Asked if he planned to ride off into the sunset (retire) after this all-too-perfect season, Gagliardi said: “I don’t even know where the hell the sunset is.”
Later he said: “I’m not going to go into the sunset because I’ll miss all these guys,” referring to his players. “What am I going to do? Sit on a park bench and play checkers with some guy who can’t hear me?”
Gagliardi, in victory no less, remarked that he was lucky he didn’t have access to a gun during one call he thought the officials blew.
“I might be in jail right now,” he said.
Asked if it was his biggest win, he said, “It’s going to rank right up there until I win the lottery.”
Since McCambridge was sick the week before the game and hardly practiced, and Johnny cornerback Nick Thielman went to hospital the night before the Stagg Bowl and both had good games, Gagliardi said: “Maybe we shouldn’t have practiced at all this year.”
One final note from Salem which says a lot about how strong the sentiment is for Gagliardi around the country. Mount Union coach Larry Kehres, classy in defeat, said: “I can find some happiness for Coach Gagliardi today even though I’m disappointed at the loss we suffered.”
Press coverage
A sampling of what media outlets had to say about the Stagg Bowl:
“This program has reached the point where we’re not allowed to enjoy our victories for very long, so let’s leave this loss at the door,” [Mount Union defensive coordinator Don] Montgomery told his defensive players.
That’s an excellent point.
Mount Union has been so good for so long, that some of those who follow the team just assume an undefeated season and a national title come along this time of year, just like Christmas.
But every season is different. Every year, the players change.”
— Terry Pluto, Akron Beacon-Journal
[Cam McCambridge] said, “We can beat these guys,” [Defensive assistant coach Gary] Fasching said, “And they believed it from the start, which makes a big difference.”
The Johnnies defense believed it — and played like it — from the opening kickoff.
“They did everything we asked of them,” St. John’s defensive coordinator Jerry Haugen said. “One of the keys was that we took away the run. We’ve done that in all our playoff games. I just didn’t think we could do it as well as we did against these guys.”
— Dean Spiros, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Three years ago, [Johnnies quarterback Ryan] Keating was an unhappy walk-on point guard for the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team. Saturday, he won a national championship.
Keating transferred to St. John’s in the spring of 2000 and tried out for football. He was a quarterback at Minnetonka High School.
“One of the best decisions I ever made,” Keating said. “I’ve had a lot of fun these three years. It wasn’t like in D-I, where sports was like a job.”
— Ray Richardson, St. Paul Pioneer Press
For longtime coach John Gagliardi, asking him to choose his favorite national championship is like asking him which is his favorite child. He has four of each — and can’t decide.
Gagliardi, 77, … has won two NAIA titles and two in NCAA Division III. The first was a 33-27 win against heavily favored Prairie View A&M for the 1963 NAIA title.
“The first win is awfully special, especially as the years went by and we saw how great Prairie View was,” said Gagliardi. “They were an incredible team, maybe the best we ever played.
“But the last one is awfully nice too, especially with Mount Union having a 55-game win streak, plus 54 before that. Man, that's pretty incredible, too. I'm sure they don't have as many guys go on to be pro players, like Prairie View did, but they're a great college football team. They're both right up there.”
— Pat Coleman, USA Today
Stagg feedback
Our prognosticators took it on the chin regarding our picks for the Stagg Bowl, so we have to be men and admit how wrong we were. My response to most has been ‘if I had to make that bad a pick to get that good a game in the Stagg Bowl, it was a small price to pay.”
Here are some of the things readers said about the picks and the game:
“Your ‘matter-of-fact’ tone regarding Mt. Union’s inevitable win over St. John’s now seems a bit silly. Maybe we all get lost in the familiar at times, and as a result only expect ‘the familiar.” Maybe we all owe it to Gagliardi for breaking us out of seeing and thinking about ‘the familiar,’ and instead reaching for the unfamiliar both within ourselves and others. This has been an emotional year for all those who have been, and currently are, a part of St. John’s. I am touched most, not by the wins, but by the sense of overwhelming support and camaraderie that inspires individuals to acheive their potential.
— John Putzke, Jacksonville, Fla.
“WOW, were you ever wrong!”
— Matt Larson, Alliance, Ohio
“Interesting that the majority of your editors picked Mount Union to win , the safe bet. Only one picked St. John’s. Mount Union had everything to lose and St. John’s had nothing to lose. On any given day, anyone can be beat. Today was Mount Union’s turn … St. John’s speed beat Mount Union’s size. Mount Union’s had a lot going against them. The best player in D3, a legendary coach and determination to overcome the odds. Never beating Mount Union . It was David against Goliath.”
— Jeff Schroeder
“I grew up in Redlands Calif., but now live in St. Cloud, Minn., and I have enjoyed your commentary on D3 Football over the past 2-3 seasons. I know that most of you football prognosticators played it safe in picking the Purple Raiders to win the Stagg Bowl, once again.
However, what you all didn’t realize was that here in Johnnie Country, this season was destined to finish the way it did. This season, everything went on schedule, beat St. Thomas to tie the record, beat Bethel to break the record, Blake wins the Gagliardi, and then to the Stagg Bowl.
With John becoming college football’s all-time winning coach, the season could not end in any but one way. By beating the unbeatable defending champion.
It was destiny.”
— Bob Ramos, St. Cloud, Minn.
Purple Playoff results
Mount Union’s loss certainly put a dent in the 2003 team’s chances at becoming crowned the best Mount Union team of all time in our imaginary tournament. But the reader feedback was still too interesting not to share with you. Here’s what we got:
“Which Mount team is the greatest of all time? Excellent question. In my opinion, the ’97 and ’03 teams are the best ever. ’97 had more individual star power, but ’03 is the best collection of quality and depth.
Looking through your second bracket:
1st Round:
2003 over 1996 — Best O and D lines ever
1993 over 2000 — I’d have seeded ‘93 as 3rd
1997 over 1998 — Not even close. The ‘98 team was young and over-acheived
2002 over 2001 — Very even on O, but the ‘02 D was better
2nd Round:
2003 over 1993 — ‘03’s superior line play downs Ballard and Co.
1997 over 2002 — Not enough firepower in ’02 to hang with Borchert, Knestrick and Gollate.
Finals:
2003 over 1997 — Very hard to pick because of contrasting styles, but D wins championships and ’03’s D is better.
Doing a statisical comparison of the’97 and’03 teams might not do proper justice to ’03 because I believe the ’03 team will have a MUCH tougher Stagg opponent than ‘97. Lycoming and Trinity would battle it out for worst Stagg opponent.’93 Rowan and one of the SJU teams as the toughest.
Win or lose Saturday, this Mount team should be no worse than 3rd behind ’97 and ’93.
Sincerely,
— Mark Grossman
“I’ve watched every Raider game for the last 4 years. I watched a few games here and there in the seasons prior so I have a pretty good idea of which team would be the ultimate.
I believe that 1993 would play 2003 in the final. 1993 had an unstoppable offense. Every time they got on the field it wasn’t a matter of whether they would score or not, but rather how long they would wait to score. 2003 has an unbeatable defense. 6 shutouts and several other low scoring games make them quite intimidating. Let me just say that I would pay a great deal of money to get a ticket to such a game. It would be an amazing matchup. Here is how it would turn out:
If there is to be one weakness in the 2003 team it would be the size of their secondary. I’ve seen several long passes be completed by the opposition by simply out jumping the MUC secondary. This is a weakness that the 1993 team could exploit and I believe that they would be successful passing the ball down the field. Another thing the 2003 team isn’t ready for is a close game. I think they could be stunned by a challenging opponent that held them close late into a game. 1993 could be that team.
The only downside to 1993 is their defense, but I think it would perform well enough to keep them in the game.
Final score: 1993 38, 2003 31
— Eric Blinn
“Being a former Mount Union student and member of the team two years (basically as a member of the scout team during these glory days of Mount Union football) I thought that would help provide an answer about the best Mount Union team of the bunch. As Coach Kehres has said many times, all the teams are very different. I completely believe this. The teams started out as smaller/faster teams and have evolved into bigger/more powerful teams. One thing for sure is that the coaching staff has remained rock solid to all players on the team and have helped produce countless memories for fans and former players. With all of this being said it would be very interesting to see Coach Kehres try and outcoach himself on the opposite sideline. Maybe this whole thing would end up in a bunch of ties.
However since rules do not allow that, I believe the best team of the bunch was the team that won the championship in 1997. This was the team from my freshman year. Going against those guys in practice on a daily basis was in a word an experience. They had countless athletic abilities and football instinct. I will never forget standing on the sideline the first game and watching them roll over Defiance 58-0. Granted this was not the toughest opponent but going through practice you would never know it. Each game is played like it is for a championship. The 1997 team came in with a mark on their heads as the best and they lived up to it. The offensive and defensive lines on this team would not allow other year’s teams to beat them. The skilled players on this team have to be a collection of some of the best in school history. They set an example to many players who helped win future championships (don’t forget this was the freshman year for Gary Smeck, Adam Marino, Chuck Moore, etc.) This was by far the most talented team of the group (from the varsity through the JV).
I just felt I needed to share my point of view with you! Go Purple Raiders!
P.S. As for your comment about what is said behind closed doors the week before a 40-point whooping is doled out, the answer is nothing different than the week a one-point victory is obtained. There is no talk about going and winning a game, it is just understood that when you prepare all week, execute the game plan, and play your hardest good things will happen
— Chriss Pogorelc
MUC class of 2001
“I was just reading your Around the Nation article. In regards to your question as to which Mt. Union team was the best all time, perhaps I could offer just a few humble thoughts, having two consecutive seasons (and now a career) terminated in Alliance.
In 2002, we came in ranked outside the top ten, with a 10-1 record, and, I believe, would have won the game barring special teams miscues. With two special teams touchdowns (blocked punt and kickoff return), as well as a punt return taken back inside the 10, and we didn’t really give ourselves a chance. Add to that a fumble deep in our own territory, and it will always feel like we gave the game away.
In 2003, we came in ranked No. 4 in the country (AFCA) with a 12-0 record and, having beaten “the-next-best-thing-to-Mount” in Baldwin Wallace, got PASTED.
As I watch T.V. recordings for each game, my stomach gets sick for two different reasons. After watching 2002, I felt the sickness of “what should have been.” I watch us move the ball and not finish. I watch us allow one drive all day over 40 yards on defense. I watch four or five mistakes cost us it all (granted, one of the reasons Mt. is so good is they don’t make those kind of mistakes).
As I watch this year’s game, I have similar feelings for the first quarter. In fact, after watching the first quarter, I almost thought to myself “man, we had a chance.” By the end of the game, my only thought was “never mind.”
Of course, other factors are involved. Perhaps Coach Kehres needed to see us once in order to figure us out (though, admittedly, our first half performance could be attributed to similar things — “Mt. Mystique” and what-not).
Perhaps last year they we rusty off a bye week and complacent against an comparative unknown. Perhaps we/they had worse or better performances in either of the last two years.
However, in my estimation, judging simply on the level of play brought to the field on the given day that I saw the two teams, if the 2002 team was 724 votes better than any other Mt. team, the 2003 team has taken it to a whole new level.
A couple of thoughts as to why:
They returned all their linemen. Though I had faced better than Momirovic (in Alma’s Josh Peters, and equal talent Carthage’s Jon Binish and Augie’s Travis Tate), Larry Kinnard should not be playing on this level. Good luck to him in the Sunday league.
The loss of Pugh was no loss. And if Ciccone is truly better than Strauch, I would argue that Ciccone is better than Pugh as well With the backs that they had, the O-line barely needed to block. They didn’t have to block — just wall off. All they had to do was get their bodies in front of you long enough create the smallest of cracks. If a defensive lineman ever tried to cross face, they’d just use his own momentum and collapse on top of them in the hole, and the backs would just scoot outside for the T.D.
As great as they were are the quarterback position last year, Burghardt and Bruney made the biggest difference. To have the country’s two highest rated passers (coupled with the best receivers in the nation) is one thing. But when you would rather them throw than run, that completely changes the game. Their ability to scramble for 20-plus adds an element to their offense that makes them veritably undefendable.
Their defense. Unreal.
My prediction if this year’s Mount team played last year’s Raiders (granted this is impossible): 2003 Raiders 45, 2002 Raiders 21
Honestly. They were at least three scores better. Makes me wonder if Grand Valley State isn’t happy that Mount likes where they’re at in DIII.
Mount will only get better.”
-- Because of Him
Nathaniel Lee
Phil. 1:21”
“There is no question, the 1993 team had it all.”
-- Greg Huss
And for the record, no one suggested D-III bowls (maybe because we like the playoffs the way they are) except for one fan who asked to remain nameless. His suggestion was the Utica Plymouth State Toilet Bowl. That’s just wrong, man.
Just asking
When is EA sports going to add Division III football to its top-of-the-line NCAA football video game? We know it’d be nearly impossible to add 227 more team rosters and stadiums, and who knows if the added sales it would generate would be worth the EA programmers’ time? But it would still be nice to have the team names and uniforms in the game. How about 10 generic rosters and game fields, and then the correct uniforms and helmets? Maybe you could play all of the games in Salem.
Until the day comes when there’s a D-III add-on, or some game that recognizes how much ground Division III football covers, we’re stuck kicking teams out of the power conferences (Randolph-Macon has definitely replaced Duke in the ACC before) and creating our own rosters.
And if you don’t play football video games, please pardon the aside.
Stat of the week
We mentioned it as a possibility last week, but who knew it would happen? Both times St. John’s has played Mount Union in the Stagg, the Johnnies have held Mount Union to 60 points fewer than it scores the week before. In 2000, the Purple Raiders hung 70 on Widener and scored 10 in the Stagg Bowl. This year they scored 66 against Bridgewater and 6 against St. John’s.
Can we get some props over here for coach John Gagliardi, defensive coordinator Jerry Haugen, defensive assistant Gary Fasching and the rest of the Johnnies’ staff?
We’re not done yet
Check back in a week or so for our year in review, brought to you by Around the Nation with assists from some of the Around the Region writers. We’ll take a look back at the best players, plays and teams from 2003, plus our best and worst moments, things that need to change in 2004 and offer a few players who have a shot at playing at the next level.
