As you probably know by now, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford won the Heisman trophy Saturday night in one of closest races in recent memory. Bradford, who becomes the fifth Sooner in history to win the award, totaled 1,724 total points in the voting, edging out Colt McCoy’s 1,604 points and Tim Tebow’s 1,575 points. While all three candidates seemed more than deserving to win the award, what was most interesting about this year’s voting process was that it was actually Florida’s Tebow - not Bradford - who received the most first place votes.
As our good friend Chris Huston of Heismanpundit tells us, Tebow’s third place finish is the first by a leading first-place vote getter since Oklahoma’s Tommy McDonald in 1956. As always Heismanpundit.com has the historic presentation covered from all angles, as Chris continues to recap Saturday night’s events and their implications for next year at his site.
While Bradford’s Heisman triumph was the college football story of the day it was by no means the only one, as the FCS, Division II, and Division III playoffs all rolled on, with the game of the day taking place in Cedar Falls, Iowa. After building a 20-7 lead in the fourth quarter the Northern Iowa Panthers looked poised to head to Chattanooga to face off against Montana in the FCS Title game, but a late-game surge by Richmond quarterback Eric Ward and the Spider offense ultimately put Richmond on top 21-20.
While it may have been tough to top Friday night’s Montana-James Madison finish the Spiders and Panthers did just that, with Ward’s touchdown pass to Joe Stewart with fourteen seconds left to go in the game completing Richmond’s comeback. It’s been an improbable run to the FCS Championship game for the Spiders, who weren’t on anyone’s radar to make the playoffs after starting the year at 4-3.
The stage is set for yet another Mt Union-Wisconsin Whitewater showdown in the Division III National Championship next week, as both the Purple Raiders and Warharks won their semifinal games to advance to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. For the Purple Raiders is was all about senior running back Nate Kmic, who broke Danny Woodhead’s one year old NCAA rushing record with a 310-yard day against Wheaton College. Kmic, who we told you about last week, surpassed Woodhead’s mark by 24 yards in the win, boosting his career rushing total to 7,986 yards.
He currently holds the all-division NCAA mark for touchdowns and career points as well, with 129 scores and 774 total points in his illustrious career. Saturday’s game will mark the fourth straight meeting between Wisconsin Whitewater and Mt. Union for the Division III National Title, with the Purple Raiders looking to avenge last year’s upset loss.
In coaching news, Iowa State’s now-former headman Gene Chizek took the Auburn head coaching job, while Army, fresh off a seventh consecutive loss to Navy in the annual Army-Navy game, canned second year man Stan Brock. Yet with a defensive pedigree and a 5-19 career record as a head coach Chizek was not the answer Auburn fans were hoping for, writes SI.com’s Andy Staples. As far as Brock goes, his 0-2 record against Navy (losing the ‘07 and ‘08 games by a combined 78-3 margin) speaks for itself, but it was ultimatly his incompatability with coaching option football that doomed him. Who is next for the Black Knights?
My guess is they take a long look at Wake Forest offensive coordinator Steed Lobotzke. And how about Ball State’s Brady Hoke? After leading the Cardinals to a 13-1 regular season he’ll be taking hs services to San Diego State. Hard to imagine that being a step up, but when you’re offered a raise of nearly three times what you’re currently making in this economy I don’t blame him. Look for Ball State offensive coordinator Stan Parish to replace him in Muncie.
Finally, I’d like to direct you’re attention to a fantastic article about Navy senior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada. Bill Wagner of the Annapolis Capital says that a lingering hamstring injury nearly led the signal caller to quit the team with a month left to go in the season, but that Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper talked him into sticking the year out. It proved to be the best advice Kaipo received all season, as the Hawaii native returned against Army last week to give Navy’s offense a much needed spark in the 34-0 win.
I bring all of this up because I actually had a fairly awkward elevator ride with Kaipo coming out of the Navy-Notre Dame game a month ago in which you could pretty much tell the usually incredibly upbeat Kaipo wasn’t himself. After the game a couple of the other Navy beat writers and I had a conversation about it, and we all pretty much concluded that we wouldn’t likely be seeing Kaipo on the field for the rest of the season. Just goes to show how a little determination can go a long way, and how a determined and motivated college athlete can prove a group nosy sportswriters (and I include myself here) wrong any day.
One of the great things about this time of year for the true college football fan is the increase in exposure for teams that play outside of the usual confines of our network lineups. Sure, Florida’s ascension to the BCS title game is great and all, but give me a bleacher capacity crowd overlooking a wind-swept field under a darkened afternoon any day and the true football fan in me will be right at home.
And while it’s true that not many people are ditching conference championship games or bowl season extravaganzas for the snowy gridiron of places like Alliance, Ohio or Maryville, Missouri; the few tidbits of the lower division games we do catch on our lazy Saturday afternoon channel-flipping odysseys are more than enough to alert us to life outside of the FBS.
Case in point, the continuing dominance of the Mount Union Purple Raiders in the Division III Playoffs. Mount Union is one of those teams that even casual fans inevitably hear something about each year, although most would be hard pressed to find the tiny Ohio school on the map.
Yet despite its small size Mount Union has become a dominant fixture in the small school college football landscape, reaching the national semifinal game in the Division III playoffs for a mind-boggling 14 consecutive years. With nine national championships in the span of fifteen seasons (including titles in 2005 and 2006) the Purple Raiders have reached a level of prefecture that is virtually unmatched in all of sport, while finding themselves in perfect position to continue their legacy after a 41-14 victory of Cortland State in the quarterfinals last weekend.
Instrumental to the success of the Purple Raiders both this year and during their most recent title runs (including last year’s Championship finals loss at the hands of Wisconsin-Whitewater) has been the play of senior tailback Nate Kmic. At 5’9, 196 pounds he may not “look” like a record setting tailback when in his two point stance in the Purple Raider backfield, but once the pads get to popping this guy is nothing short of the best running back in Division III history.
An explosive back with a great first step and very good speed, it is Kmic’s blend of balance, strength, and quick feet which make him so effective as a rusher and have vaulted him to the top of the NCAA record books. Last month Kmic broke RJ Bowers’ all-time Division III record of 7,353 yards, and with his most recent performance against Cortland State (227 yards and four touchdowns) he remains just 287 yards shy of Danny Woodhead’s all-time NCAA rushing record. With at least one more game to go and seven career 200+ yard rushing games in the playoffs, Kmic has an excellent opportunity over the next two weeks to break and perhaps surpass Woodhead’s one-year old mark.
To put Kmic’s production in perspective, consider that the senior running back from Delta, Ohio has 3,488 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns in his playoff career alone. That’s a mind-boggling average of 193.7 yards and two and a half touchdowns per contest against the best competition from around the country at the Division III level! No wonder the Purple Raiders have been so dominant in recent years, with the team losing only twice in Kmic’s four seasons in Alliance.
As for Kmic’s NFL chances, I will say that from everything I’ve seen this young man deserves a shot. You can’t argue with his production, and when you watch the young man on film you can’t help but be impressed with his ability.
This isn’t just a kid who is the product of great blocking or awesome coaching (although that does figure into play) but a unique athlete with a tremendous combination of power and speed despite his 5’9 frame. I like his first step and acceleration into the hole, while his toughness and tackle-breaking ability rivals that of much bigger backs. While some may scoff at comparisons to NFL players like Maurice-Jones Drew, Kmic’s style of running and his stature more than support even the rough analogy.
Making it to the next level won’t be easy though. NFLDraftScout.com – a leading source for information of small school prospects – currently ranks Kmic 59th out of 169 senior running backs from across college football. Justin Beaver, who graduated from Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater last season and was granted a tryout by the Green Bay Packers, was ranked 49th out of 181 running backs by the same source in last year’s class.
Both backs display similar size and speed, while Beaver was considered the best back in Division III last year – a distinction many have given to Kmic this year. For Kmic to make it where Beaver did not the Delta product will need to dismiss the usual scouting stereotypes of size, competition level, and even race to get his shot at an NFL preseason camp.
Fortunately another recent Mount Union product may have paved the way for him. Last year the Colts selected former Mount Union wide receiver Pierre Garcon with the 206th draft pick, two months after the 6’0 wideout participated in the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
That Garcon could use production alone to garner an invite to the combine gives Kmic hope for a similar invitation this year, while the Colts’ drafting of Garcon based on good but not great combine numbers shows some NFL front offices may finally “get it” when it comes to small school players.
NFL future or not, Kmic and his growing legend will live on for at least another week, as the Purple Raiders continue their march towards yet another Stagg Bowl and Division III title. Mount Union will be back on their home field this Saturday to take on Wheaton (Ill) in the National semifinal game. The Purple Raiders are 5-0 all-time against the Thunder, including a 35-3 victory over Wheaton in the playoffs two seasons ago.
Should the Purple Raiders advance, they will play in the Stagg Bowl for the Division III National Championship on Saturday, December 20th in a game to be televised nationally on ESPN 2.
The 2008 Division III playoffs kick off Saturday November 22nd and will finish off on December 20th in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem Virginia. 32 teams make the playoffs and below are the first round match-ups.
Randolph-Macon (6-4) at Mount Union (10-0)
Lycoming (7-3) at Hobart (8-1)
Plymouth State (10-1) at Cortland State (9-1)
Curry (9-1) at Ithaca (9-1)
Thomas More (8-2) at North Central (Ill.) (10-0)
Franklin (9-1) at Otterbein (9-1)
Wabash (9-1) at Case Reserve (10-0)
Wheaton (Ill.) (8-2) at Trine (10-0)
Occidental (9-0) at Willamette (10-0)
St. John’s (Minn.) (8-2) at Wisconsin Whitewater (9-1)
Wartburg (8-2) at Wisconsin Stevens Point (9-1)
Aurora (9-1) at Monmouth (Ill.) (10-0)
LaGrange (9-1) at Millsaps (10-0)
Chris. Newport (8-1) at Washington & Jefferson (9-1)
Wesley (8-1) at Muhlenberg (9-1)
Hardin-Simmons (9-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-1)
1 Grand Valley State 5-0
2 North Alabama 6-0
3 Abilene Christian 5-0
4 West Texas A&M 6-0
5 Northwest Missouri 5-1
6 Central Washington 5-1
7 Bloomsburg 6-0
8 Valdosta State 4-1
9 Minnesota-Duluth 6-0
10 Delta State 4-1
11 Tuskegee 5-0
12 California 5-1
13 Chadron State 4-1
14 Pittsburg State 5-1
15 IUP 4-1
16 Carson-Newman 3-2
17 Wingate 6-0
18 Edinboro 5-1
19 West Virginia State 5-0
20 Central Missouri 5-1
21 Tarleton State 5-1
22 Newberry 3-2
23 Seton Hill 6-0
24 Midwestern State 4-1
25 Nebraska-Omaha 3-2
Division III Poll
1 Mount Union (21) 4-0
2 UW-Whitewater (4) 4-0
3 Mary Hardin-Baylor 4-0
4 Capital 4-0
5 Muhlenberg 4-0
6 Wheaton (Ill.) 4-0
7 Wabash 4-0
8 UW-Eau Claire 3-1
9 North Central (Ill.) 4-0
10 Washington and Jefferson 5-0
11 Wesley 2-1
12 Millsaps 5-0
13 Delaware Valley 3-1
14 Cortland State 4-0
15 Case Western Reserve 4-0
16 Hardin-Simmons 4-1
17 Salisbury 4-1
18 Redlands 3-0
19 Trinity (Texas) 4-0
20 St. John Fisher 3-2
21 Willamette 5-0
22 Augsburg 4-0
23 Concordia-Moorhead 3-1
24 Hampden-Sydney 5-0
25 Otterbein 4-0
As we all know Appalachian State started the season by shocking everyone in the college football world when they upset Michigan, but they wanted to finish the season winning their third straight FCS Division championship. Delaware, led by two former University of Pittsburgh players, tried to put a stop to it, but could not do it. ASU had control of the entire game to win their third title in 3 years, 49-21.
The Division II game was probably the best game of the weekend. Valdosta State scored with under 30 seconds to go in the game to win the championship over Northwest Missouri State 25-20.
For the third time in 3 years, Mount Union played UW-Whitewater in the Division III championship. But for the first time in that time frame UW-Whitewater came out on top. The Raiders made a game of it in the second half, but UW-Whitewater pulled away to win 31-21.
Congratulations to Appalachian State, Valdosta State, and UW-Whitewater.
For the first time in three seasons, the Division II Championship will not include Grand Valley State. Northwest Missouri used its homefield advantage to beat GVSU 34-16. That loss snapped the Lakers’ 40 game winning streak. In the other semifinal, California (PA) had a chance to win the game late, but threw an interception in the endzone which sealed the victory for Valdosta State, 28-24. Valdosta State will face Northwest Missouri, kickoff for Saturday’s Championship Game is set for 11:00 AM at Braly Municipal Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
In the one Division III semifinal, the Purple Raiders of Mt. Union continued their reign of dominance by beating Bethel 62-14. Mt Union was leading at the half, 41-0. Standing in the way of the Purple Raiders’ third consecutive title will be their familiar foe, UW-Whitewater. They held on to beat Mary Hardin-Baylor 16-7. The game between Mt. Union and UW-Whitewater will be a rematch of the 2005 and 2006 game where Mt. Union won them both. The 35th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl is set for Saturday, December 15, at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN.
Mary Hardin-Baylor continues their improbably run with a victory over Wesley. Number one overall seed Mount Union dispatches St John Fisher easy. The semifinals are next week
Mount Union Bracket
St John Fisher 10 at Mount Union 52
Central Bracket
Bethel 27 at Central 13
Washington and Jefferson Bracket
Mary Hardin-Baylor 27 at Wesley 10
UW-Whitewater Bracket
Wabash 7 at UW-Whitewater 47
Semifinals
Bethel at Mount Union
Mary Hardin-Baylor at UW-Whitewater
If you missed a show or you want the latest In The Bleachers Podcast click on the player below.
In the Bleachers podcasts are one of the Equatorial Republic of Blogfrica’s best-kept secrets - EDSBS
Doing on-air at a Top 40 station, you want to put a hole in your head listening to the same song 3x a day. ITB's podcasts probably save my life. - MizzouRAH
In The Bleachers produces a truly excellent podcast week in, week out, and without fail. Congratulations, guys. Keep it up. - Rocky Top Talk
Where To Find Us
Use the RSS Feeds to subscribe to the blog and the Feedburner to subscribe to the podcast.
Interested in finding the best sports betting sportsbooks online? Try out Sportsbetting3.com. For NFL football, the best NFL betting can be found at Bet-on-the-NFL.com. Fans of Blackjack and Slots will love the selection of online casinos at Jaxcasinos.com
Brian Sakowski is a college football nut. He is a Penn State fan, but loves to talk about college football with anyone and everyone! This blog is the home of the longest running general college football podcast on the internet.
As you probably know by now, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford won the Heisman trophy Saturday night in one of closest races in recent memory. Bradford, who becomes the fifth Sooner in history to win the award, totaled 1,724 total points in the voting, edging out Colt McCoy’s 1,604 points and Tim Tebow’s 1,575 points. While all three candidates seemed more than deserving to win the award, what was most interesting about this year’s voting process was that it was actually Florida’s Tebow - not Bradford - who received the most first place votes. 
Finally, I’d like to direct you’re attention to a fantastic article about Navy senior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada. Bill Wagner of the Annapolis Capital says that a lingering hamstring injury nearly led the signal caller to quit the team with a month left to go in the season, but that Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper talked him into sticking the year out. It proved to be the best advice Kaipo received all season, as the Hawaii native returned against Army last week to give Navy’s offense a much needed spark in the 34-0 win. 
