Congrats to Kaleb Brown on his commitment to Tarleton State (FCS).  The Texans just ended the season ranked 6th.  Damn good program, hopefully he gets the playing time and shows out.

Things don't seem to be going as well for the other Mount guys in the portal.  Nick Turner is participating in "All Star" combines and all quiet on the Davion Grant front.  I bet that his "agents" are just working really hard behind the scenes.....

Quote from: emma17 on January 09, 2026, 03:54:55 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 08, 2026, 03:23:49 PM

Quote from: wally_wabash on January 07, 2026, 06:14:54 PM

Quote from: emma17 on January 07, 2026, 05:51:36 PMAnyone catch the FCS championship game? IL State vs. Montana State. What a game. I won't spoil the outcome in case you recorded. ISU had one heck of a run in the playoffs (4 loss team) and MT St has some real playmakers.

Two comments regarding the game:
1. How about the Stagg in Nashville/Vanderbilt? The FCS championship was held there. It's not any farther to travel for midwest teams.
2. The FCS championship game further cements my position on kicking and American football- they don't belong together. If kicking must be a part of the game- I believe the kicker (all kickers) must be either a starter on offense or defense and not a specialist.

In addition to eliminating clean/dry/non-bruised players from playing a critical role in a game of physicality, it would also greatly impact play calling to the betterment of the game imo.

I'm all for the Stagg Bowl going to any city/venue that is committed to providing a great experience for the student-athletes.  By accounts I've read, Nashville/Vandy did great by the FCS game. It seems people didn't exactly leave there pining for a return to Frisco. 

The next two Stagg Bowls are in Salem and back to Canton. After that, we don't know!  Here's hoping that there have been some good bids in this cycle. 

Canton is the most central location for D3FB (other than Columbus), and probably the best venue.  Salem is by far the best host and should be the permanent Stagg Bowl (imo) but I'm willing to bet that they've never hosted a January football game at Salem Stadium either.   

All of the Stagg Bowl bids were made prior to the 40 team expansion.  I wonder how that will change things?  I can't imagine that the sub 2500 attendance will draw the Nashville/Vanderbilt's of the world to bid. 

Regarding "central location" of Canton. Going all the way back to Stagg Bowl 2000, what team other than Mt Union would have had to travel further if the game were held in Nashville (or somewhere in that vicinity)? For 25+ years centrally located has applied to MT.
Not picking on MT, just saying.

I thought there was a D3FB map that was around at some point.  Columbus was pretty much the center of the D3FB world.  Mount just happens to be in the middle-ish.  As the biggest Mount homer, I'd rather the Stagg be in a place that handles the Stagg well (Salem) over a centrally located place.  Just dont put it in Texas again or Florida or whatever imo

Quote from: Dr. Acula on January 08, 2026, 10:38:47 PMAfter I congratulated Vaden on his single game block record I feel bad that I totally missed this, but Taylor set the single game steals record against Etta with 8.  IN 17 MINUTES!!  That's equally absurd.

good guard play, great length on defense and 78+% FT shooting....sounds like a recipe for a tournament run

Chris Kappas on the Kenny Roda Show after making the move back to Mount

https://post.futurimedia.com/whbcam/playlist/23/listen-12910.html?cb=1767905884.845856

CK bleeds purple and white man, love that he's back in Alliance 

Quote from: Pat Coleman on January 08, 2026, 05:39:13 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 08, 2026, 05:00:31 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on January 08, 2026, 04:21:02 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 08, 2026, 03:23:49 PMSalem is by far the best host and should be the permanent Stagg Bowl (imo) but I'm willing to bet that they've never hosted a January football game at Salem Stadium either.   

You'd actually lose that bet. Salem Stadium has hosted the Dream Bowl, which is an all-star game played in January. It's been held there at least twice.

I can't believe that I forgot about the...uhh...Dream Bowl. 

We also know from 2009 that Salem knows how to mobilize people to get a field in shape. Also, the big flaw in Canton is that because of the design of the stadium with a big grandstand on the south side, the sun rarely falls on the field. (Even more true on the third week of December.) That field needs to be covered if there is snow/ice coming down.

Salem is the best for sure.  The big flaw in Canton is the charlatans in charge of the HOF Village.  It could have been 60 and sunny and the HOF Village would have screwed things up.  D3FB should run far and fast from this Canton crew. 

at least we'll have the D3sports guys "fully funding" the pregame show

Quote from: Pat Coleman on January 08, 2026, 04:21:02 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 08, 2026, 03:23:49 PMSalem is by far the best host and should be the permanent Stagg Bowl (imo) but I'm willing to bet that they've never hosted a January football game at Salem Stadium either.   

You'd actually lose that bet. Salem Stadium has hosted the Dream Bowl, which is an all-star game played in January. It's been held there at least twice.

I can't believe that I forgot about the...uhh...Dream Bowl. 

Quote from: wally_wabash on January 07, 2026, 06:14:54 PM

Quote from: emma17 on January 07, 2026, 05:51:36 PMAnyone catch the FCS championship game? IL State vs. Montana State. What a game. I won't spoil the outcome in case you recorded. ISU had one heck of a run in the playoffs (4 loss team) and MT St has some real playmakers.

Two comments regarding the game:
1. How about the Stagg in Nashville/Vanderbilt? The FCS championship was held there. It's not any farther to travel for midwest teams.
2. The FCS championship game further cements my position on kicking and American football- they don't belong together. If kicking must be a part of the game- I believe the kicker (all kickers) must be either a starter on offense or defense and not a specialist.

In addition to eliminating clean/dry/non-bruised players from playing a critical role in a game of physicality, it would also greatly impact play calling to the betterment of the game imo.

I'm all for the Stagg Bowl going to any city/venue that is committed to providing a great experience for the student-athletes.  By accounts I've read, Nashville/Vandy did great by the FCS game. It seems people didn't exactly leave there pining for a return to Frisco. 

The next two Stagg Bowls are in Salem and back to Canton. After that, we don't know!  Here's hoping that there have been some good bids in this cycle. 

Canton is the most central location for D3FB (other than Columbus), and probably the best venue.  Salem is by far the best host and should be the permanent Stagg Bowl (imo) but I'm willing to bet that they've never hosted a January football game at Salem Stadium either.   

All of the Stagg Bowl bids were made prior to the 40 team expansion.  I wonder how that will change things?  I can't imagine that the sub 2500 attendance will draw the Nashville/Vanderbilt's of the world to bid. 

Quote from: Kira & Jaxon's Dad on January 08, 2026, 10:15:37 AMI have no insider information, but I could see Coach Dartt taking over the OC position moving forward.  Just a gut feeling.  They'll still need a QB Coach.

I think Dartt or maybe Kyle Miller to OC is the likely outcome, but I really hope that isn't the case.  The AFCA convention is going on right now, I hope Mount is searching for a young, dynamic play caller who wants to lead an offense at the top D3FB program and has an AA type QB in place.

Quote from: raiderpa on January 08, 2026, 12:27:16 PMI would love to see if Mike Elder at Avon is close to retirement from the school system, and perhaps we could lure him back to Mount Union.  He is a super coach and great guy.  He or Kappas would be perfect Head Coach material in the future.

Kappas is the next guy once Dartt moves along.  I don't think that the current climate of college football sets up for long term D3 football coaches, there is only one LK, but the days of his style of coach sticking around in D3 for 20-30 years are long gone

Quote from: Dr. Acula on January 08, 2026, 10:59:34 AMPeople who don't obsessively follow the program like some of us on here have no appreciation for the difference between Vaden now and Vaden a year or two years ago.  The fact that he's been developed into valuable bench player this year and is trending towards being a key player next year is crazy.  Hell of a job by the staff and Shaun for putting in the work.

you hate to look forward, and there is no reason to do so...but only 3 seniors (and Laurich I think would be in line to get an extra year).  Fuline has the Raiders rolling

I was watching last night and the same thing happened over and over, went to commercial in the middle of a play.  Very frustrating.  The Raiders looked pretty good for the first game in a week. 

I am so happy to see the progress made by Shaun Vaden. With his limited background in competitive basketball, he has the upside as one of the top-top defensive players in D3 hoops.  He's a shot-altering machine right now, and he is still so raw.  Mount Union is truly lucky to have Coach Fuline and his staff

Canton resident here, the HOF Village in Canton could screw up...well use whatever saying that you want.  In their defense, the Stagg was awarded to Canton prior to the 40 team expansion that pushed the Stagg into January.  Would that have made a difference? maybe, but the HOF Village folks would have still found a way to screw things up. 

Put the Stagg Bowl back in Salem and leave it alone

Kappas is exactly the type of coach that Mount needs.  He 100% brings the juice.  I'm looking forward to the defense in '26

Quote from: wally_wabash on January 06, 2026, 05:06:23 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 05, 2026, 12:19:14 PMI dont think Mount needs to run 80+ plays a game, but I really hope Jeff with a G was watching last night.  UWRF used  an athletic QB's legs and arm to get the ball to their playmakers in space and the greatest defense that D3FB has ever seen was visibly frustrated and could not stop it. 

Mount has ran the "top gun" type offense in the past when Burke was in Alliance.  They used to run it pretty damn fast, it was the "Oregon" offense back then.  I believe Dartt was on the offensive staff back then as well. Only a blind man would not have seen how much better the 2025 Raiders offense was when they played with pace instead of running the play clock down to 5 or less seconds

OC job is open now.  I trust you're applying as you've got all the answers, yes?

Is there a job posting up?  My NCAA Football dynasty has a dynamic offense.  I might even be able to luck into one TD play during 60 mins a la the current administration

hearing rumors of a stark county HS coach leaving his position for a stark county college job....Kappas is the new DC

Quote from: WRMUalum13 on January 06, 2026, 01:47:10 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 05, 2026, 03:38:08 AM

Quote from: Nate Riley on January 05, 2026, 03:27:44 AM

Quote from: D3fanboy on January 04, 2026, 10:43:49 PMIf NCC doesn't pull off the comeback, I really don't want to hear their "dynasty" compared to Mount or even UWW. 

I certainly wouldn't compare Mount or UWW of yester year to current NCC.
IMHO, dynasties repeat as champions during their reign. Unfortunately, on the national level, NCC does not qualify as "dynastic" for that reason. CCIW dynasty? Yes. D3 National dynasty? Not yet. Until NCC has an uninterrupted succession of championships, they can not be considered "dynastic" by definition. Congrats to RF on an outstanding effort all around, players and coaches. Congrats to NCC on their run this year. I feel for those players and coaches.

It is shocking that despite how much the D3 media entities slob all over NCC, that the Cards have never won back to back titles.  Especially in this era of D3FB...

NCC isn't as dominant as Mount or UWW were back in the day, but I think reaching 6 straight titles and winning 3 Stagg Bowls qualifies as some type of dynasty. It's definitely NOT NOT a dynasty of some sorts lol

NCC is on a historically great run, 99.9% of programs would kill for their type of success.  However, when you get into the rarified air of dynasty talk...I think not being able to go back-to-back, especially with no other super power at the top, is pretty damning. 

Mount's in the Dartt ages, UWW is no longer a thing, UMHB is an old Subaru running on fumes, Linfield has disappeared into the Oregon fog, St Thomas was ran out of D3 by a jealous rival, RIP Wesley....and still NCC can't win two in a row?