It's another year for Carroll ((MT)) College head coach Mike Van Diest to go ahead and chase the record for NAIA titles...
If he gets past St. Xavier ((IL)), as the Fighting Saints did last year in the playoffs, 27-5, it'll be another title for the kid raised in Helena...
He was, understandably, calm two days out... and, as most head coaches are in press conference situations, complimentary about his opponent. Saint X head coach Mike Feminis was the same way...
But the one thing you take away from the NAIA and their title games- they genuinely mean it. The whole hook for the national governing body is showcasing the schools and their "Champions of Character." There are kids who do blood drives, raise funds and materials for the less-fortunate, all those items that you think are cliches everywhere else...???
They're legit here...whether they're talking about their own kids... or someone else's...
Van Diest: "It's like our first time here. We have 25 players that weren't with us last year. They're a fun group to be around."
Feminis: "We try to emulate what they (Carroll) do. Don't get me wrong. We're going to try and beat their brains in Saturday, but there's no one we respect more."
Saint X has never made it to the final game- having lost three times in the semis. A lot of them (whoever the "them" actually is) thought the Cougars would be a little down this season, but Feminis admitted he felt in his heart that his team could make it this far. It took some freshmen stepping up and some second-stringers last year moving up to make it happen- that and getting a revenge win over Marion ((IN)) to get there.
What was it like for the Saints to get here...???
Check out the charter flights, thanks to our friends at KXLH-TV in Helena...
It's about kids like Saint X linebacker Michael Prosser...
Prosser is the only kid Coach Fem can recall that turned down a D1 scholarship to play at SXU. He's SGA president and looks like he could run a big busines flush out of college at 6-3, 235...
Saint X QB Jimmy Coy is at his third school after tours at Valdosta State and El Camino Junior. Has he found a home...?
The night before the title game was the Banquet of Champions at the Forum. It's where the two sides exchange gifts, pleasantries, and compliments one more time... and see Chance Demarais of Carroll get the Player of the Year award over Faulkner QB Josh Hollingsworth...
We all know Chance is taking his linemen out for a meal to celebrate this one...
The Carroll brigade gave matching pictures of Montana and an autographed book from the Governor to the president, AD, and head coach. The Saint X staff gave a really cool crystal skyline to the Carroll president, a Bears pullover for the Caroll AD, and a Jonathan Toews Blackhawks sweater and hat.
How cool is that...???
But the lines of the day...???
Apparently, Dr. Paula McNutt (the interim president at Carroll), had only two days on the job before she found out she was going to a title game. Robert Tenczar, SXU VP of Alumni Relations, subbing for university president Chris Wiseman relayed the quote that gave folks pause...
After finding out the Cougs were heading to a title game, she told Tenczar: "Maybe the Provost can handle graduation..."
Which is game day...
One last thing before tomorrow...
CEO of the NAIA Jim Carr isn't worried about any kind of social media policy on the sidelines. He knows his guys won't channel their inner Ocho-Cinco, but Coach Van took it one step further:
"My players can't do anything I don't do, and I just learned how to text."
But he did get emotional on the dais when thinking about his players that are taking the field Saturday... there are some that could play somewhere at the next level, but for most of the Fighting Saints it's over after tomorrow save the football banquet...
More after the game...
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