Hi, everyone.

I don't have any details beyond what is in the post, but I ask that you please keep Coach Jeff and the Thorne family in your prayers. His faith is as strong as any person I've ever met, and the power of prayer is real.

https://x.com/coachjeffthorne/status/1923144175727624206?s=46&t=fP006Hfqvj-sJCZ_1UUZ9Q

Quote from: WRMUalum13 on January 07, 2025, 04:37:56 PMHonestly any semi-finals win is a signature win in my book. Not sure why you're discounting Wartburg, did you forget the they had NCC on the ropes in 2023?

Talking to some prominent player's families in Houston over the weekend, they said that the thought among the team was that Wartburg was the toughest, most physical team they played last year.  Absolutely championship caliber. 

Quote from: robertgoulet on January 06, 2025, 10:41:39 PM

Quote from: USee on January 06, 2025, 10:37:47 PM2019 NCC won their first Stagg and Gagliardi QB Broc Rutter was done and Cardinal fans were crying about the next year, which was Luke Lehnens freshman year. Boo hoo.....

NCC just got a commit from Ferris St QB Demir Ashiru. Maybe he can continue the run I'm sure you'd love that USee 😂

I think I've seen 2 transfers and 2 high school commits entering the derby on X.

Quote from: Pat Coleman on January 06, 2025, 02:36:21 PM

Quote from: Kira & Jaxon's Dad on January 05, 2025, 11:50:56 AMKeith picking NCC with a triple monkey stomp.

Late to reading this, but to be fair, 21 points is only one monkey stomp.

I've never gotten a clear explanation of monkey stomp math.

I wouldn't expect to see Quick Hits until tomorrow--it's usually day before.  There's also usually a pre-Stagg Bowl podcast in there with a musical number I'm hoping we get to hear before the game Sunday, too!

Quote from: WRMUalum13 on December 29, 2024, 07:53:46 PM

Quote from: MUC 2008 on December 29, 2024, 05:29:18 PM

Quote from: BillyRayJimBob on December 29, 2024, 03:19:37 PM

Quote from: purple on December 29, 2024, 12:56:48 PMGreat Bowl season for Purple Raiders. Vince and Jason win a six overtime game against Pittsburgh and Matt Campbell's guys beat the mighty Hurricanes.

Yes! ... Wish I could have seen the first game, but certainly adored the second.
Really proud of the showing of these "Purple Raider coached" teams.
Watching another right now (Nick Sirianni's Eagles).

Not sure the game announcers could pronounce "Heacock" correctly in the Iowa State Pop Tarts Bowl.  Growing up in nearby Sebring, it was always "HAY-cock" vice the game announcer's "HEE-cock."
Sorry ... Just little things that annoy old curmudgeons like me ... LOL!

I'll join your ranks. Last week I grew tired very quickly of the ESPN crew saying "John" Hopkins and coach Daryl "Early." Lot of preparation and care from the Worldwide Leader in hype.

If anyone is as weirdly curious as me I looked up the origin of the name. I always thought it was two last names like a guy named Johns and a guy named Hopkins but no, the school is named after just one dude with the name Johns Hopkins. Apparently Johns was his mother's maiden name or something so that's what he was named after. Now you know!

 

You know I used to hang out with Johnny Hopkins and Sloan Kettering.

Quote from: MUC 2008 on December 23, 2024, 07:00:38 PMNew, I'm sure you have thought of this - no one in the program can help you get new copies? I know it's not the same but that's such a cool duo of mementos - you deserve to have such inspiration in your wallet.

You know, I never thought to ask!  I wonder who I could bug about it...

Quote from: NCC2010 on December 23, 2024, 01:04:28 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on December 22, 2024, 02:17:24 PM

Quote from: raiderpa on December 21, 2024, 11:43:37 PMIf Mount Defense plays Jan 5 like they did today, they may need 72 to win...

well, they scored at will on what the D3 "analytics" told me was one of the greatest D3 defenses of the modern era. "rarified air" and "best in a decade" I believe were thrown around.

Play with poise, limit negative plays and turnovers and don't piss down your leg at the start of the game a la Susquehanna and '22 Stagg Bowl will be key.  Can't get into a big hole against NCC.  Make it a physical game, drag them out into deeper waters and see if they can swim.  This Mount squad has a knack for not flinching in big moments. 

There is literally next to zero pressure on the Raiders in Houston. NCC is the greatest superpower ever seen in D3 led by the quarterback who invented college football.  Their five year stretch is something that has never been seen before and definitely was not aided a great deal by a pandemic.  Five straight Stagg Bowls?!?!? I mean come on, that's unheard of.  They will probably keep that up for 10, maybe 11 straight years. "Red is the new Purple"

No question from my perspective that the timing of the pandemic was fortunate for NCC. We were afforded the opportunity of recruiting for 2 "off-seasons" as the reigning national champs and luckily the coaches were able to take advantage and bring in an immense amount of talent. Add in the fact that the current class of 5th year seniors got to be on a campus and in the weight room for an entire year before stepping foot on the field and it allowed Lehnen among others to start as freshman and hit the ground running.

Our obnoxious social media fanbase aside, everyone who was been through the program since the Thorne era started in 2003 has the utmost respect for Mount Union and all that they have accomplished. When I got there in 2006, the goal was to not only win a national championship, but to reach the level that Mount had taken D3 football too.  Thorne frequently talked about Mount/Larry Kehres and what it would take to get the program to that level.  It has taken 20 years to build up the program to what it is and the accomplishments still pale in comparison to 13 national titles and 23 appearances in the Stagg that Mount has. Even at our current pace it would still be another 20 years before we are sniffing those accomplishments.

Next year will be a huge year for the program to either keep the success going and continue to build towards those goals or take a step back following the most talent the program will ever lose in one offseason.

Looking forward to watching the 2 best teams in D3 this season down in Houston on January 5th, I think it will be a great gamem as the other 4 matchups between Mount and NCC have been. 

Very well said!  A slight correction--Thorne took over in 2002.  During the 2002 season, in spite of the fact that we managed a 6-4 record (our first winning record in many years), we still took a 65-0 drubbing from Augustana on family night under the lights.  After the season, Coach Thorne presented us with laminated cards to keep in our wallet that said "What have you done today to beat Augie?" 

During the 2003 season, we still lost to Augie, although not as badly.  Still, Coach Thorne encouraged us to set our sights higher.  Our laminated card that year said "What have you done to catch Mount Union and St. John's?" 

Point of the story is--we know that you guys are the standard and have been for a very long time. We still have a lot of work to do to "catch" you.

I kept those cards in my wallet long after I graduated (until my wallet got snatched...ugh).  There are lots of Augies, St. Johns, and Mount Unions in all phases of life that need catching and I always like the reminder. 

I'll be there. I actually get to go and be a fan!

Quote from: Cardinal773 on December 16, 2024, 09:59:16 AMPat and Greg,

Just listened to your podcast.  Always fun to get my D3football fix on a Monday morning!

Regarding the announcers, my sentiments exactly.  It's a shame that we D3 fans have knowledgeable announcers pulled away from us just to have some dispassionate underling from ESPN Ocho stand in their rightful place.  Then, for the next three hours we get to listen on as they mispronounce everything - players and school names alike - and blurt out the one stat that they learned Saturday morning, over and over and over...  Thankfully I will be at the game.  For the rest of you, think fondly of Alex and Grant.

Greg and 773—you are too kind. We have a lot of fun doing it and have an awesome football team to broadcast for. That makes our job both much easier and more exciting! The role of the production and camera crew also can't be understated. They work their tails off before, during, and after the game to make sure everything looks and sounds great. We're glad you enjoy it!

Quote from: USee on December 14, 2024, 04:41:19 PMI didn't think the refs were nearly as bad as the announcers made them out to be.

Dang announcers 

Quote from: CarollFan on December 13, 2024, 03:47:40 PMNCC's Zack Orr was interviewed on In The D3FB Huddle podcast.
Interview starts at 9:50 mark. Guys gave their breakdown of the Springfield vs. NCC game for a couple minutes before the interview.

https://www.facebook.com/D3Huddle/videos/1100884765062142/

Yeah, absolutely.  Fun interview!

Quote from: GusD on December 09, 2024, 12:41:28 AM

Quote from: CarollFan on December 07, 2024, 04:03:27 PMI don't know anything about Springfield but they sure looked one dimensional (running) on offense this week.

In their game vs Cortland Sat, Springfield ran 75 plays. FOUR of them were passing plays. FOUR! Never heard of anything like that. 
Sacre bleu!

All the old Augie alumni are smiling ear to ear.

Quote from: SpartanHouse4 on November 26, 2024, 04:07:57 PMNCC fans. What's the deal with Trey Madsen? He been hurt all year?

Honestly was wondering this myself.  He's been like the 5th WR.  I expected him to have a huge impact when I heard he was coming.  He's seen the field, but sparingly.  Couple catches in the games vs. Aurora and Carthage, then  1-2 every other game except Wheaton and Wash U, where he had zero. 

Quote from: CarollFan on November 15, 2024, 11:38:27 AMFrank in the podcast today picks St. John's to win the national championship.

It's as good a pick as any.  I don't see any team being unbeatable this year.  I wouldn't be shocked if it were them or Bethel or NCC or Cortland, or a UW team, or HS, or...