• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Warhawks get set for an early day

Saturday’s 36th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl will kick off at 11:01 a.m. Eastern time. That’s 10:01 Central time.

The early start time did not sit well with Stagg Bowl tournament officials, or with Mount Union (Ohio) coach Larry Kehres.

But when parent company ESPN/ABC tells you what time you’re going to play, that’s what time you play. The Division III national championship game between Mount Union and UW-Whitewater will be televised by ESPN2.

“I’m really not sure why it is so early,” Kehres said. “No one has explained that to me, yet.

“There’s obviously going to have to be a little adjustment to our routine and our schedule. But we better get over it and get ready to play a very good football team.”

One of the biggest hurdles facing Division III football is a lack of exposure. This year’s Stagg Bowl will butt heads with the EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C., featuring Wake Forest and Navy. That game is also scheduled for 10 a.m. (CST) and will be televised by ESPN.

R. Carey Harveycutter, the Stagg Bowl tournament director, said the early start will have an impact on more than just the game.

“I’m hoping that our attendance is still good because Mount Union and Whitewater both travel well,” Harveycutter said. “But you have to wonder what type of a walk-up crowd we’ll get from our local fan base at that time of day.

“We would much rather be playing a late afternoon, early evening game. That gives fans a chance to enjoy our great city, come to the stadium and tailgate, and enjoy the experience of the Stagg Bowl, which will be celebrating 16 great years here.”

Whitewater coach Lance Leipold took the high road in talking about the mid-morning kickoff. Although the defending Stagg Bowl champion Warhawks will have to change their routine from the previous three trips to Salem, Leipold wasn’t about to complain.

“I haven’t given it much thought or analyzed it that much,” Leipold said of the early kickoff. “We’re just happy to be playing a football game on Saturday.

“We’ve played quite a few games that started at noon (Central time) during the year, so I’m hoping that starting what amounts to an hour earlier won’t be an issue.”

About the only reservation Leipold had was how it would affect the team’s routine this week. Because of final exams, and Stagg Bowl commitments once the team gets to Salem, the Warhawks won’t be able to practice in the morning.

“You’d like to be able to acclimate yourself to that time frame, but we won’t be able to do that because there are so many other things going on,” Leipold said. “But you take the good with the bad.

“The bottom line is that we’re going out there to play a football game. We’re not too concerned with what time.”

The Warhawks aren’t, but can the same be said for a national television audience?