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5 years ago
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
National champs crowned
The 2008 small college football season ended this past weekend, with one national champion crowned Friday night, and two others on Saturday. Here's what happened...
FCS Championship--at Chattanooga, Tenn.
Richmond 24, Montana 7
The University of Richmond Spiders completed one of the greatest Cinderella stories in all of sports Friday, as the knocked off the University of Montana Grizzlies for their first-ever NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) title.
Complete coverage...
Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch
Billings (Mont.) Gazette
Chattanooga Times Free Press
NCAA Division III Championship--at Salem, Va.
Mount Union 31, Wisconsin-Whitewater 26
One year after being denied a three-peat, the Purple Raiders of Mount Union College won their 10th national championship in the last 16 years by dethroning the defending national champion Warhawks Saturday.
Article courtesy of Mount Union College Sports Information
NAIA Championship--at Rome, Ga.
Sioux Falls 24, Carroll (Mont.) 7
The Cougars win their second national championship in three years, and deny the Saints their sixth title in seven years, in convincing fashion.
Article courtesy of naia.cstv.com
FCS Championship--at Chattanooga, Tenn.
Richmond 24, Montana 7
The University of Richmond Spiders completed one of the greatest Cinderella stories in all of sports Friday, as the knocked off the University of Montana Grizzlies for their first-ever NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) title.
Complete coverage...
Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch
Billings (Mont.) Gazette
Chattanooga Times Free Press
NCAA Division III Championship--at Salem, Va.
Mount Union 31, Wisconsin-Whitewater 26
One year after being denied a three-peat, the Purple Raiders of Mount Union College won their 10th national championship in the last 16 years by dethroning the defending national champion Warhawks Saturday.
Article courtesy of Mount Union College Sports Information
NAIA Championship--at Rome, Ga.
Sioux Falls 24, Carroll (Mont.) 7
The Cougars win their second national championship in three years, and deny the Saints their sixth title in seven years, in convincing fashion.
Article courtesy of naia.cstv.com
Friday, December 19, 2008
National title games end 2008 season
It may hard to believe, but this is the last weekend of the 2008 small college football season, as three games will decide national championships in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formeryly NCAA Division I-AA), NCAA Division III, and the NAIA. Here's a quick look at each of those contests.
FCS Championship (Tonight [Friday] at Chattanooga, Tenn.)--Montana vs. Richmond
Probably one of the most unlikely title game pairings in FCS history will take place between the No. 4 seeded Grizzlies, and the unseeded Spiders. Montana upset No. 1 seed James Madison, 35-27, in a national semifinal game last week, while Richmond rallied to stun No. 3 seed Northern Iowa on the road in the other semifinal contest.
NCAA Division III Championship (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl)--(Saturday at Salem, Va.)
For the fourth straight year, it's Mount Union vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater for all of the marbles in D-III. The defending national champion Warhawks will look to make it back-to-back titles, while the Purple Raiders hope to take back the title that Whitewater took away last year. Should be yet another hard-fought, down-to-the-wire game.
NAIA Championship (Saturday at Rome, Ga.)
In a battle of 13-0 teams, Carroll (Mont.) hopes to win an unprecedented sixth national championship in seven years, while Sioux Falls hopes to win a second title in three teams. The Cougars won the crown in 2006.
FCS Championship (Tonight [Friday] at Chattanooga, Tenn.)--Montana vs. Richmond
Probably one of the most unlikely title game pairings in FCS history will take place between the No. 4 seeded Grizzlies, and the unseeded Spiders. Montana upset No. 1 seed James Madison, 35-27, in a national semifinal game last week, while Richmond rallied to stun No. 3 seed Northern Iowa on the road in the other semifinal contest.
NCAA Division III Championship (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl)--(Saturday at Salem, Va.)
For the fourth straight year, it's Mount Union vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater for all of the marbles in D-III. The defending national champion Warhawks will look to make it back-to-back titles, while the Purple Raiders hope to take back the title that Whitewater took away last year. Should be yet another hard-fought, down-to-the-wire game.
NAIA Championship (Saturday at Rome, Ga.)
In a battle of 13-0 teams, Carroll (Mont.) hopes to win an unprecedented sixth national championship in seven years, while Sioux Falls hopes to win a second title in three teams. The Cougars won the crown in 2006.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
THE LIGHTNING ROUND--WEEK 17 (THE SEASON FINALE)
Last Week: 2-4 (.333)
Year To Date: 304-161 (.654)
KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.
FCS CHAMPIONSHIP--at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Friday)
Montana (14-1) vs. Richmond (12-3)
NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl)--at Salem, Va. (Saturday)
Mount Union (14-0) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-1)
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP--at Rome, Ga. (Saturday)
Carroll (Mont.)--(13-0) vs. Sioux Falls (13-0)
Year To Date: 304-161 (.654)
KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.
FCS CHAMPIONSHIP--at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Friday)
Montana (14-1) vs. Richmond (12-3)
NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl)--at Salem, Va. (Saturday)
Mount Union (14-0) vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-1)
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP--at Rome, Ga. (Saturday)
Carroll (Mont.)--(13-0) vs. Sioux Falls (13-0)
Monday, December 15, 2008
PLAYOFF RECAP--Minnesota-Duluth wins first-ever D-II title
After having no postseason wins prior to this year, the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs won four such contests en route to their first-ever NCAA Division II national championship. UMD handed Northwest Missouri State its fourth straight title game loss in a 21-14 win at Florence, Ala. Saturday.
Article courtesy of the Florence (Ala.) Times-Daily (click on title above)
Article courtesy of the Florence (Ala.) Times-Daily (click on title above)
Saturday, December 13, 2008
A little late...
but better late than never...as Minnesota-Duluth and Northwest Missouri State prepare to play for an NCAA Division II football national championship today. Therefore, there's some catching up to do.
FCS
James Madison won its first two playoff games in close fashion (Wofford 38-35 and Villanova 31-27). But Friday night, the No. 1 seeded Dukes finally ran out of luck, as they were upset by No. 4 seed Montana, 35-27. The Grizzlies now await the winner of Saturday's Northern Iowa-Richmond contest in next week's title game at Chattanooga, Tenn.
As for how the Grizzlies got to the FCS finals, they defeated Texas State, 31-13, then avenged their lone regular season loss to Weber State by knocking off the Wildcats, 24-13. UNI earned its way into the national semifinals with a thrilling 36-34 win over New Hampshire at home in the quarterfinals last Saturday.
NCAA Division II
No contest in either national semifinal game last weekend. Really.
Northwest Missouri State 41, North Alabama 7
Minnesota-Duluth 45, California (Pa.) 7
Enough said.
NCAA Division III
Mount Union advanced to yet another national semifinal game with a convincing 41-14 win over Cortland State. The 13-0 Purple Raiders face the upstart Thunder from Wheaton, who downed Franklin 45-28 to advance to the D-III semis.
On the other side of the bracket, defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater outlasted Wartburg 34-17, while Mary Hardin-Baylor crushed Washington & Jefferson 63-7 to set up the other national semifinal contest.
NAIA
It will be a battle of 13-0 teams in next week's NAIA championship game at Rome, Ga. on Dec. 20, as defending national champion Carroll (Mont.) facing Sioux Falls (S.D.). The Saints edged Lindenwood (Mo.) 38-37 in one national semifinal game last weekend, while the Cougars rolled past St. Francis (Ind.) 24-6 in the other semifinal match-up.
FCS
James Madison won its first two playoff games in close fashion (Wofford 38-35 and Villanova 31-27). But Friday night, the No. 1 seeded Dukes finally ran out of luck, as they were upset by No. 4 seed Montana, 35-27. The Grizzlies now await the winner of Saturday's Northern Iowa-Richmond contest in next week's title game at Chattanooga, Tenn.
As for how the Grizzlies got to the FCS finals, they defeated Texas State, 31-13, then avenged their lone regular season loss to Weber State by knocking off the Wildcats, 24-13. UNI earned its way into the national semifinals with a thrilling 36-34 win over New Hampshire at home in the quarterfinals last Saturday.
NCAA Division II
No contest in either national semifinal game last weekend. Really.
Northwest Missouri State 41, North Alabama 7
Minnesota-Duluth 45, California (Pa.) 7
Enough said.
NCAA Division III
Mount Union advanced to yet another national semifinal game with a convincing 41-14 win over Cortland State. The 13-0 Purple Raiders face the upstart Thunder from Wheaton, who downed Franklin 45-28 to advance to the D-III semis.
On the other side of the bracket, defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater outlasted Wartburg 34-17, while Mary Hardin-Baylor crushed Washington & Jefferson 63-7 to set up the other national semifinal contest.
NAIA
It will be a battle of 13-0 teams in next week's NAIA championship game at Rome, Ga. on Dec. 20, as defending national champion Carroll (Mont.) facing Sioux Falls (S.D.). The Saints edged Lindenwood (Mo.) 38-37 in one national semifinal game last weekend, while the Cougars rolled past St. Francis (Ind.) 24-6 in the other semifinal match-up.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
THE LIGHTNING ROUND--WEEK 16
Last Week: 6-6 (.500)
Year To Date: 302-157 (.658)
KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.
FCS PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALS
Montana (13-1) at James Madison (12-1)
Richmond (11-3) at Northern Iowa (12-2)
NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP--at Florence, Ala.
Minnesota-Duluth (14-0) vs. Northwest Missouri State (13-1)
NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALS
Wheaton (11-2) at Mount Union (13-0)
Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-1)
SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP--at Birmingham, Ala.
Grambling State (10-2) vs. Jackson State (7-4)
Year To Date: 302-157 (.658)
KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.
FCS PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALS
Montana (13-1) at James Madison (12-1)
Richmond (11-3) at Northern Iowa (12-2)
NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP--at Florence, Ala.
Minnesota-Duluth (14-0) vs. Northwest Missouri State (13-1)
NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALS
Wheaton (11-2) at Mount Union (13-0)
Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-1)
SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP--at Birmingham, Ala.
Grambling State (10-2) vs. Jackson State (7-4)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Minnesota-Duluth football grabs attention of locals
As they prepare to play in their first-ever NCAA Division II championship game at Florence, Ala., the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs football program is narrowing the gap between it and its more successful hockey program.
Article courtesy of the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune
Article courtesy of the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune
What went wrong for Appalachian State?
Last weekend, Appalachian State was on the march for a fourth straight NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision national championship. This weekend, the Mountaineers find themselves watching from the sidelines, as Richmond pulled off the improbable upset in the second round of the FCS playoffs. College Sporting News explores what went wrong in this article listed below.
FULL STORY
FULL STORY
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Richmond derails App State bid for four-peat
So much for trying to win a fourth straight national championship. The University of Richmond Spiders denied three-time defending NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision national champion Appalachian State's bid for a four-peat with a 33-13 upset win over the Mountaineers at Boone, N.C. Saturday.
Article courtesy of the Sports Network
Article courtesy of the Sports Network
Thursday, December 04, 2008
THE LIGHTNING ROUND--WEEK 15
Last Week: 15-9 (.625)
Year To Date: 296-151 (.662)
KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.
FCS PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALS
Villanova (10-2) at James Madison (11-1)
Weber State (10-3) at Montana (12-1)
Richmond (10-3) at Appalachian State (11-2)
New Hampshire (10-2) at Northern Iowa (11-2)
NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALS
North Alabama (12-1) at Northwest Missouri State (12-1)
Minnesota-Duluth (13-0) at California (Pa.)--(12-1)
NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALS
Cortland State (11-1) at Mount Union (12-0)
Wheaton (10-2) at Wabash (11-1)
Washington & Jefferson (11-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (11-1)
Wartburg (10-2) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (11-1)
NAIA PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALS
Lindenwood (11-1) at Carroll (Mont.)--(12-0)
St. Francis (Ind.)--(12-0) at Sioux Falls (12-0)
Year To Date: 296-151 (.662)
KEY: Projected winners highlighted in RED.
FCS PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALS
Villanova (10-2) at James Madison (11-1)
Weber State (10-3) at Montana (12-1)
Richmond (10-3) at Appalachian State (11-2)
New Hampshire (10-2) at Northern Iowa (11-2)
NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALS
North Alabama (12-1) at Northwest Missouri State (12-1)
Minnesota-Duluth (13-0) at California (Pa.)--(12-1)
NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALS
Cortland State (11-1) at Mount Union (12-0)
Wheaton (10-2) at Wabash (11-1)
Washington & Jefferson (11-1) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (11-1)
Wartburg (10-2) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (11-1)
NAIA PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALS
Lindenwood (11-1) at Carroll (Mont.)--(12-0)
St. Francis (Ind.)--(12-0) at Sioux Falls (12-0)
BREAKDOWN--Playoff Preview
Well, the final month of the 2008 football season, December, has arrived, and the road to a national championship in each of the four divisions RFC covers (FCS, NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA) is nearing the end. Here's a quick preview of each division going into this weekend.
NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Quarterfinals
The "Elite Eight" of the subdivision formerly known as "NCAA Division I-AA" features several re-matches, including Montana hoping to avenge its lone loss to Weber State, Richmond looking to derail Appalachian State's hopes of a "four-peat", not to mention Villanova trying to put their memory of a last-second loss to James Madison out of their minds, with a win. Oh, and there's a mouth-watering fourth match-up between a team in the Colonial Athletic Association (New Hampshire) and the Missouri Valley Conference (Northern Iowa) too.
Updated bracket
NCAA Division II Semifinals
The "Final Four" of the D-II dance might as well be dubbed the "Two-fer" round. That's because all four national semifinalists are No. 2 seeds, and both games are interesting to boot. Northwest Missouri State plays host to North Alabama in one semifinal, while 13-0 upstart travels to Pennsylvania to face the Vulcans of California University, who fell to eventual national champion Valdosta State in last year's semis.
Updated bracket
NCAA Division III Quarterfinals
Only one No. 1 seed remains in Mount Union, whose Purple Raiders play host to No. 3 Cortland State in the East Regional final. On the other hand, No. 5 Franklin hosts No. 7 Wabash in the North, No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor takes on No. 5 Washington & Jefferson at home in the South, and defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater hosts Wartburg in another No. 5 vs. No. 7 match-up in the West region.
Updated bracket
NAIA Semifinals
After an unexpected bye week due to Northwestern Oklahoma State's forfeiture of its playoff win, defending champion Carroll (Mont.) hopes to move one step closer towards a sixth title by facing Lindenwood (Mo.), while St. Francis (Ind.) travels to South Dakota to face Sioux Falls in a battle of 12-0 teams.
NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Quarterfinals
The "Elite Eight" of the subdivision formerly known as "NCAA Division I-AA" features several re-matches, including Montana hoping to avenge its lone loss to Weber State, Richmond looking to derail Appalachian State's hopes of a "four-peat", not to mention Villanova trying to put their memory of a last-second loss to James Madison out of their minds, with a win. Oh, and there's a mouth-watering fourth match-up between a team in the Colonial Athletic Association (New Hampshire) and the Missouri Valley Conference (Northern Iowa) too.
Updated bracket
NCAA Division II Semifinals
The "Final Four" of the D-II dance might as well be dubbed the "Two-fer" round. That's because all four national semifinalists are No. 2 seeds, and both games are interesting to boot. Northwest Missouri State plays host to North Alabama in one semifinal, while 13-0 upstart travels to Pennsylvania to face the Vulcans of California University, who fell to eventual national champion Valdosta State in last year's semis.
Updated bracket
NCAA Division III Quarterfinals
Only one No. 1 seed remains in Mount Union, whose Purple Raiders play host to No. 3 Cortland State in the East Regional final. On the other hand, No. 5 Franklin hosts No. 7 Wabash in the North, No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor takes on No. 5 Washington & Jefferson at home in the South, and defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater hosts Wartburg in another No. 5 vs. No. 7 match-up in the West region.
Updated bracket
NAIA Semifinals
After an unexpected bye week due to Northwestern Oklahoma State's forfeiture of its playoff win, defending champion Carroll (Mont.) hopes to move one step closer towards a sixth title by facing Lindenwood (Mo.), while St. Francis (Ind.) travels to South Dakota to face Sioux Falls in a battle of 12-0 teams.
Please, Mr. Brand, Don't Change the FBS
With the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) playoffs entering the quarterfinals this weekend, one columnist states his case for not having a playoff in the current NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-A).
Article courtesy of College Sporting News
Article courtesy of College Sporting News
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