By Keith McMillan
D3sports.com
Loosely inspired by football phenomena such as the Madden Cruiser, Athlon's imaginary Division I road trip and Austin Murphy's book The Sweet Season, I wondered what it would be like to pack up for one fall, despite the objections of the girlfriend and devoid of budgetary limitations, and hit the road for the best Division III football this country has to offer.
So if I could do this, this would be my fantasy schedule, assembled with assists from Around the Nation readers:
Sept. 6, Salve Regina at Springfield: Any season-long trip has to begin with a game on the first night of action.
Sept. 7, Bridgewater at McDaniel: Hindsight being 20/20, this would have been a good choice, since the Eagles escaped with a 23-20 win. Since I've been to the college formerly known as Western Maryland, I know that Westminster is a quiet town as you roll in, but when you get onto campus, it's a different story. The Baltimore Ravens train on "The Hill" for a reason.
The school is no longer called Western Maryland, but the railroad which inspired the name is still represented on The Hill. |
Sept. 13, Wesley at Rowan: The facilities at Rowan aren't pretty, and neither are the surroundings. But that just lets you focus on the football. A Friday night game with New Jersey fans populating the stands makes for a good football atmosphere.
Sept. 14, Washington & Jefferson at Allegheny: Hindsight again being the tiebreaker, I opt to go to for some Pennsylvania power football, instead of UW-Stout at Ohio Northern in Ada. The Gators pull off a stunner, and word is there's enough pizza and golf in Crawford County to warrant an extra day's stay.
Sept. 21, Whitworth at Menlo: I chose this game over Hartwick at Ithaca and several other solid games this week. My first of two trips to California would take me to the Bay Area, just north of Stanford University and Palo Alto, and east of the San Francisco Bay. And it should be a good game too.
Sept. 27, Utica at Hartwick: Though it wouldn't be much of a contest, I at least could experience football in upstate New York. Oneonta is mid-state, on I-88 between Binghamton and Albany, and north of the Catskills.
Sept. 28, Augustana at UW-Platteville: Though John Carroll is at Ohio Northern on this day, I chose the trek into southwestern Wisconsin to see how the CCIW's best stacks up against a WIAC unit. Augustana won 23-0 last season, but the field isn't far from the Mississippi River. Who knew it flowed so far north?
Oct. 4 Gettysburg at Johns Hopkins: Under the lights on Friday night, one can see classic football in Gettysburg's version of the Wing-T, and then hit one of the nation's classic cities in Baltimore. There's all kinds of fun on Friday night at the Inner Harbor.
Oct. 5 Linfield at PLU: If feasibility were being taken into account, I might have gone with next-day games in Hampden-Sydney at Bridgewater (Va.) or Lycoming at Widener. But since I've seen all of those teams and fields plenty, and though the foliage in that part of the country is beautiful as the fall progresses, I couldn't resist a red-eye flight to Pacific Northwest. Although Linfield gets a hearty recommendation, from a Lute, later in the column, I'll settle for Tacoma, a short drive from character-heavy Seattle, and I'm sure a wonderful city itself.
Oct. 12, Hardin-Simmons at Howard Payne: I considered Wabash at Wittenberg for this weekend, but no college football tour would be complete without Texas. A couple of the state's best programs get together here, and if I can't find a good place to eat after the game, I've been lied to about the Lone Star State.
Oct 19, Occidental at Pomona-Pitzer: This is a road trip after all, so I have to go back to Cali. SCIAC football seems so tucked away from the rest of Division III, so let's get on out to the L.A. area and find out what it's all about. The trip would be more tourist friendly if it were at Occidental, which is near both Burbank and Pasadena, but we'll live. Plus, this is one of the season's earliest rivalry games, as these two teams have been going at it since 1895.
Oct. 26, Central at Wartburg: I was hoping to catch a game in Illinois or Michigan here, and this is also homecoming day this year at my alma mater. But I'll take the best game I can find in a place I've never been. That means a trip to Iowa to see IIAC rivals clash. My second choice would be Ripon at St. Norbert.
Nov. 2 St. Thomas at St. John's: If Division III lore holds true, this is a can't-miss game in Minnesota, played in the Natural Bowl, one of the most beautiful settings in football, turf or no turf. (It's also one of the most-noted by Sports Illustrated, which never seems to mention any other Division III school).
Nov. 7 Gustavus Adolphus vs. St. Olaf: We can spend Thursday and Friday night at the Metrodome and catch four MIAC games, including this one and Augsburg vs. Hamline on Thursday, then St. Thomas vs. Concordia-Moorhead and St. John's vs. Bethel on Friday.
Nov. 9 Mount Union at Ohio Northern: Though Wesleyan-Trinity gets a heavy recommendation from a reader (below), the OAC is simply the division's best football right now, and these are the conference's two best teams. 'Nuff said.
Nov. 16, DePauw at Wabash: Choosing between Randolph-Macon/Hampden-Sydney, Knox/Monmouth, Cortland/Ithaca, Rowan/Montclair State and the dozens of other rivalries on this weekend is a no-win (or no-lose) situation. But they say there's no game like the Monon Bell Game.
Alliance, Ohio? We can always get there in December.
Readers recommend
Here are some of the best places to watch Division III games, as suggested by Around the Nation readers:
Kelley House says it's Wabash: "Hands down ... the best place to watch a D3 football game is at Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Ind.) every other year on the second Saturday in November! 10,000 fans fenced off to avoid fights amongst the crowd, stellar tailgates, red-brick backdrop of the campus, and one end enclosed by the new $20 million athletic center. This year's game will be the 109th meeting and only one game separates the overall series 49-50-9 dating back to 1890."
Note that because of the late Thanksgiving, this game is actually on the third Saturday in November in 2002.
Al Shibley says it's Coast Guard: "One great place to watch a football game is the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. The stadium is on the banks of the Thames River, looking down the hill to the dock where the Academy's Tall Ship "The Eagle" is moored. You might also see a submarine on its way in or out of the electric boat site across the river, and the foliage in late September is breathtaking.
Gradeigh Lowe says it's during the Soup Bowl: I know some people may laugh at the matchup and I know many, including some of you at D3.com, believe the Dixie Conference to be weak. However, I sincerely believe that one of the best and most anticipated matchups (especially for the city of Greensboro, N.C.) is the annual meeting between my own and favorite school Greensboro College (of the Dixie Conference), and crosstown rival Guilford College (of the ODAC) in the "Soup Bowl."
Despite this game's [lack of] national attention, it is covered quite well here by the local newspaper and TV … Greensboro has won the last two meetings in some thrilling contests including last year's ESPN Classic-quality 15-14 come-from-behind victory. Now don't get me wrong, even though I live every day disliking our crosstown rival and dreaming of more defeats of the Quakers I give them the credit they deserve. Even though we have won the last two, everyone knows the matchup, no matter the conference, the talent, the record, the talk, one thing remains — the game is going to be a close, hard-earned victory where one of us takes the trophy off the field in victory, claiming not only the glory of triumph, but recruiting rights, and more importantly bragging rights.
Because Greensboro College and the rivalry are relatively new to Division III football most fans across the nation think of Alabama vs. Auburn, Army vs. Navy or other big time games when 'rivalry' is mentioned, not knowing that this game is growing each year (especially since our former coach is now
their athletic director) and is without a doubt one of college football's greatest experiences."
Rick Ashner, a 1981 Muhlenberg graduate, recommended a few stops in Pennsylvania:
Cal Lutheran fans made the trip to Muhlenberg earlier this season. We're not sure where they ate dinner. Pboto by Pat Coleman, D3sports.com |
1. Scotty Wood Stadium/Frank Marino Field at Muhlenberg College. Afterward, have dinner at either The Shanty or Bennigans (owned by a Muhlenberg alumnus). If you just want a few beers and a good sandwich or pizza, George's Hoagie Shop.
2. Cameron Stadium at Washington and Jefferson, Washington Pennsylvania.
3. Tech Field at Carnegie Mellon University. Afterward have dinner and great fun with Pitt fans at The Original Hotdog Shop or to locals The Dirty "O."
This question drew a ton of feedback, which left a lot for me to go through, and I wish I could respond to you all … If I have not yet, I am sorry. These two responses were the most convincing:
Robby Larson recommends catching a game at Linfield:"I have traveled all around watching D3 games, mainly watching my Lutes through the playoffs the past few years. I've seen games in the IIAC, MIAC, SCAC, NWC (every school), SCIAC (every school), and I've even been to the little big show in Salem, Va.
My vote, although I am sure that there are others just as, or more, qualified, would be Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. Let me begin by saying that I am a PLU Lute, through and through, always have been, always will be. As such, I am a sworn enemy of the Wildcats of Linfield. However, I must say that Linfield is an incredible location to watch a college football game.
Everything about this venue is special, and not just the stadium or the campus ... but all of McMinnville. It is the quintessential small college town. There is such a strong air of excitement on game day, it is difficult to describe. Walking through campus to the stadium on those crisp fall Saturdays which give way to winter rains, the steam rising from the underground heat of the buildings, you can't help but feel that this place is the epitome of what college football is all about.
The boys on the [message] board call it the CatDome, and although not physically true, it does have a very special feel to it. So much history has occurred on that field. Three or four NAIA national championships, a number of national runner-up finishes, countless PLU/Linfield games between the wise one, Frosty Westering, and a man almost his equal in former Linfield coach Ad Rutschman. And need I even bring up the Miracle in the Mud from two years back? This stadium has seen it all.
If that isn't enough, how about the fact that underneath the home grandstand is the college's only true frat house, built into the stadium? That place has seen many a postgame celebration. How about the pep band, which will rival any in the nation, or the countless number of couches sitting directly beyond the end line in the back of the end zone with carved pumpkins that say "Luck the Futes?" (That pumpkin appeared in '99 when the Lutes handed Linfield one of its most lopsided home losses ever!)
The entire experience is great, and you know that you will always, without a doubt, see an incredible football team and game.
To make the day complete, start with breakfast at John's on highway 99, for one of the largest platters of chicken-fried steak you have ever seen. Right before going into the stadium, swing by the Hawaiian Club barbecue, as they are always there (rain or shine) and get some of the best kabobs that you have ever tasted. After the game, top of the evening at the historic Hotel Oregon with dinner, drinks at the rooftop bar, and lodging. You will never experience such an full football experience."
Dan Genck, a Connecticut native now attending St. John's in Minnesota, recommended the Wesleyan-Trinity game: "I dare say, you have guts for asking people to write in about their favorite places to watch a college football game. You really are going to get more e-mails then you can shake a fist at!
Being a Connecticut native, I feel I must support the tradition of the Wesleyan vs. Trinity football game which roars into Middletown, Conn., this November 9th. By this time of the year, the weather will no doubt remind us all of London, but that's half of the charm of a Connecticut fall. As you sit in beautiful Middletown at Andrus Field and watch the game, you can't help but marvel at the teams playing. There's no hope for postseason for these teams, and usually Williams has all but locked up the NESCAC championship by this time of year, but try telling that to either Trinity or Wesleyan. A win over your hated rival can easily erase anything else that happened in the rest of the season.
After the game, I would suggest one of two options. 1) Jump on highway 84 and head up to Windsor, Conn., to catch the last half of the Prep School game between Kent School and The Loomis Chaffee School at Loomis Chaffee. The historic "Spoon Game" is one of the most hated rivalries in high school football, and always has an amazing showing. Watching Kent vs. Loomis Chaffee and Trinity vs. Wesleyan in one day is just about all the modest football a person could handle.
2) Hit the back roads to New Milford, Connecticut which is just north of Danbury. On Route 7 you'll find a fantastic restaurant called "The Cookhouse" which always has families from Connecticut prep school football and small college football enjoying a good pork sandwich and some buffalo wings. A great place to warm up after a game day and enjoy some wonderful barbecue. Let's be honest, ending a day with good buffalo wings is the only way to live."
Around the Nation readers also recommended: Wooster, Bridgewater (Va.), RPI, Texas Lutheran, Mary Hardin-Baylor, and St. John's.
Better places?
We'll keep the inbox open for those of you who can't get over the fact that we skipped your school. Depending on what kind of responses come in, we'll keep the best places discussion going.
We want to know where the best places to watch a Division III football game are. Where are the best places to play? Where are the best places to go after the game? Which games are the most exciting? In all, we want to know where the most unique Division III football experience can be had.
When you write in, please include your name, hometown, age, favorite Division III football team and whether or not you'd like your remarks attributed to you. Also, due to the amount of junk and virus-tainted mail we get, please include the words "best places" in your subject line.
Comic Relief
In response to last week's call for out-of-conference games that need to be played, beyond the ones suggested in Around the Nation on Sept. 12, two of our quick-witted readers sent their responses. I asked each of them if I could share their remarks with the rest of you. Here are their ideas:
From Gordon Mann, who broadcasts games based out of Upstate New York for D3football.com and others: "I enjoyed your '10 games we'd like to see' section. However, Pat probably should've warned you about opening yourself up to the puns of the comedically challenged.
Hamline versus Salisbury Steak (er, State): Vegetarians boycott game.
That 70's game: LaVerne (& Shirley) versus Carroll (Burnett Show).
Delaware Valley (Pennsylvania) versus Washington University (Missouri):
Winner gets a map.
Washington & Jefferson versus Washington & Lee: Loser has to surrender the name of the first President.
Hobart versus Simpson: D'oh!
The Natural Phenomenon Bowl: UW-River Falls versus Lake Forest.
Virtue Tournament: Kean versus Hope; Defiance versus Union."
Al Shibley, a fan of upstate New York football, sent these suggestions:
"If there is a Division III school named Martin; Rowan should play them. It's likely to be a Laugh-in. How about a round-robin matchup between Washington & Jefferson, Washington & Lee and Washington University? The Rose-Hulman Engineers, who were the Rose Polytechnic Institute Engineers (RPI) until 1971 against the Rensselaer (RPI) Engineers? A Martin Luther-King's matchup might be interesting."
This week's games to watch
Frostburg State at Montclair State: Red Hawks have had two weeks to think about 31-7 loss to Wilkes. Now the Bobcats come to town.
Hartwick at Ithaca: This Empire 8 game between consistent winners is actually the Bombers' homecoming. We're sure Hartwick would love to spoil the big day for the top team in the Upstate New York poll.
Rowan at Christopher Newport: Time for Captains, who have won six of seven regular-season games, to show us they belong among east coast's elite. Early indication is that all is not well in Glassboro, but it's early still.
Cornell at Wartburg: Rams won big in their debut under Ray Reasland. Wartburg, coached by a Cornell grad in Rick Willis, is traditionally one of the IIAC's best and is probably still smarting from last year's 26-13 Cornell win.
Ohio Northern at Capital: We want to see how Polar Bears rebound from rare loss, especially against OAC foe that went 7-3 last season (its best record in 14 years).
UW-Whitewater at St. John's: Warhawks eked out a 9-7 win at Eastern Oregon, now they get to visit another 1-1 team in the Johnnies.
Hanover at DePauw: The Panthers (of the Heartland) are scoring 41 points per game, Tigers (of the SCAC) 31. Can we all say shootout?
St. Norbert at Monmouth: Fighting Scots, in coach Steve Bell's third year, still looking for a win over Midwest conference's big dogs, the Green Knights. Weekend NWC action also includes Ripon at Grinnell.
Whitworth at Menlo: The Oaks, coming off an eight-point loss to Hardin-Simmons, continue their ambitious schedule against the comeback kids of Spokane, Wash.
Mount Union at Baldwin-Wallace: I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard this stat: The Yellow Jackets are the last OAC team to beat the Purple Raiders. In 1994. But how will Rob Adamson's hand injury affect Mount Union?
UW-Eau Claire at UW-Stout: The wild WIAC slate begins with the Blugolds (8-2 last year) visiting the 2000 conference champions.
Notable
If you were awake Thursday morning (Sept. 19), perhaps you caught St. John's appearance on NBC's The Today Show. I didn't, but I wish I had. A correspondent and his crew spent three days in Collegeville last week working on the feature.
You've got to support Division III programs wherever they pop up. Especially since The Today Show might be the only time some of those players get on TV.
UW-Stevens Point has a wrinkle in its offensive attack you'll never see anywhere else. In the Pointers' first two games this season, they've scored following their own blocked field goal attempts.
Here's how SID Jim Strick tells it: "Against Augustana, Cory Kahl had a 20-yard field goal blocked, but picked up the loose ball and passed to lineman Luke Hilgeman for an apparent touchdown. However, illegal touching was ruled and the Pointers were forced to line up for another field goal, which Kahl made to tie the game 3-3. Last week at Ohio Northern, Kahl had a 30-yard field goal blocked and the ball flew high into the air. Lineman Nick Haffele grabbed the loose ball and scrambled 14 yards into the end zone to cut the Polar Bears' lead to 14-6 during the second quarter."
It's in the genes: Ben Wry, a junior wideout from Western New England College, is the grandson of former Heisman Trophy winner and Notre Dame great Angelo Bertelli. Cortland wide receiver Neal Heaton Jr., grew up as his father pitched in the big leagues, from 1982 to 1993, mostly with the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Here's another one of the nation's least enviable schedules, at least for the opening weeks: Texas Lutheran, which kicked off with Trinity (Texas) last weekend, heads to Hardin-Simmons this Saturday, then comes home to face Mary Hardin-Baylor next weekend. The combined 2001 record of the Bulldogs' first three opponents is 25-6. Looks like a great way for new head coach Tom Mueller to start his time at Texas Lutheran.
