Dec. 13, 2005

by Staci Schottman, Director of Media Relations and Client Services -

Rumble on the River X - 2005 NAIA Football Championship

#1 Carroll (Mont.) vs. #2 St. Francis (Ind.)

Saturday, December 17th, Kickoff 12:05 p.m. CT

Jim Carroll Stadium in Hardin County, Tenn.

LIVE on CSTV and www.cstv.com

University of Saint Francis is hoping History Won't Repeat Itself

The match-up is the same but the Cougars are hoping history will not repeat itself.

#1 ranked Carroll has won the last two times when paired up against #2 ranked Saint Francis. The first was a semifinal loss and the other was last season's championship game. The Cougars are on a mission this season to seize the championship title the team narrowly missed in 2005. The Cougars record of 13-0 proves the team is on a mission to capture something that Saint Francis has never experienced. Head Coach Kevin Donley, who led Georgetown to the national title in 1991, hopes that team chemistry and motivation will make a difference in this year's Rumble on the River showdown.

            "It should be a great game," Donley said. "You have the two best teams back in the same place a year later, I'm sure it will be another great game. I'm sure they are a better football team. I know we are."

            The senior class, led by quarterback and Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Player of the Year, Chris Bramell and running back Cory Jacquay have accomplished so much in their four years including four consecutive unbeaten regular seasons.

            The Cougars have prepared all season long and produced competitive results on all levels including beating NCAA Division I-AA Indiana State in early September. The remainder of the season the University of Saint Francis football team didn't let down, gaining ground and maintaining poise for their ultimate goal of another chance at the championship.

Donley at the Helm: Kevin Donley, who established himself as one of the most successful small college football coaches in the country, has taken two different programs to national prominence, won a national championship in 1991and was awarded national coach of the year honors in 2004. The 2005 campaign began his eighth season as head football coach at the University of Saint Francis.

In 2005 Donley led the high-powered Cougars to their seventh straight Mid-States Football Association Mideast League championship and their seventh consecutive NAIA Playoff berth. In 2004 his Cougars advanced to the NAIA National Championship Game in just the seventh season for the program.

Donley, who has been named Mid-States Football Association Coach-of-the-Year five of the last six years, was head coach at Georgetown College for 11 seasons from 1982-92. While at Georgetown, Donley led the Tigers to the 1991 NAIA national championship with a 13-1 record, a season in which he earned NAIA National Coach of the Year honors. Faced with a monumental building process during his tenure with the Tigers, Donley's record was an impressive 77-42 (.647) at Georgetown.

Succeeding with programs that had previously suffered through hard times is nothing new for the Springfield, Ohio native. Prior to taking the head-coaching job at Georgetown, he had four successful seasons at Anderson College (Ind.). In 1981, he led the Ravens to a 9-2 record and a berth in the NAIA Division II playoffs and Hoosier-Buckeye Collegiate Conference championships in 1980 and 1981.

While at Anderson, Donley's teams compiled a 28-9 (.757) overall record during his four-year stay. He was named conference coach of the year while at Anderson and Georgetown nine times and is a four-time MSFA Coach-of-the-Year (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003).

Donley-coached teams have had an impressive track record for moving the football through the air and scoring points.  His offensive teams have averaged 40.8 points per game. He owns the title of most points scored in a season (744) by any college team in the 20th century at all collegiate levels and earned a display in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Donley was a linebacker and fullback at Anderson College. He is a 1973 graduate of Anderson College with a Bachelor's Degree in physical education. In 1976, Donley returned to his alma mater, where he spent the first two seasons as offensive coordinator for the Ravens, and at the age of 26 he was named the youngest head coach in the country while at Anderson.

Donley earned his Master's Degree in education from Ball State in 1980.

Donley has two children, son Pat (23), and daughter Megan (22). Pat joined the USF staff in 2004 as wide receivers coach. 

Carroll College has three in the bag and going for its fourth consecutive NAIA national championship

In 2004 the Carroll College Saints captured its third consecutive NAIA national championship in the final seconds of the game, narrowly passing the University of Saint Francis Cougars, 15-13 in front of 5,000 plus fans at Jim Carroll Stadium in Hardin County, Tenn. With numerous accolades and a talented player pool and coaching staff, the Saints are hoping to make a mark in the NAIA history books this Saturday in the Rumble on the River X.

Saints Head Coach Mike Van Diest knows that experience will help steady his players and set the pace for the title game. No one can talk about Carroll and not mention one of the best quarterbacks, Tyler Emmert, to ever play in the NAIA. Emmert, a Draddy Trophy finalist, is compared to the likeness of former NAIA standout Jon Kitna who went on to have a triumphant career in the National Football League. Emmert downplays his success and attributes Carroll's accomplishments to that of his coaches and teammates. Quite possibly what makes this team tick is that it is a team effort, what the NAIA often refers to as servant leadership.

"Success is hard to measure. I don't think success can be measured with only wins and losses," said Emmert. "Success is a function of effort, dedication and commitment where you can only get out what you have put in."

Van Diest at the Helm: 2005 marks Coach Mike Van Diest's seventh season as the head coach of the Fighting Saints football team. The Fighting Saints have earned six straight Final Four appearances in the NAIA national playoffs.

This past season the Fighting Saints were the NAIA national champions for the third year in a row with a 15-13 victory over St. Francis in Savannah, Tennessee. In 2003, the Saints were national champions with a perfect 15-0 record by defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State 41-28. In 2002, the Saints won their first national championship with a 28-7 victory over Georgetown College (Ky.). In 2000 and 2001, Carroll finished with the final #3 national ranking. During this time the defense has been ranked #11 in 2000, #4 in 2001, #6 in 2002, and #5 in 2003. In 2003 the Saints finished #2 nationally in scoring defense giving up just 12.6 points per game and this past season they were ranked #3 nationally giving up just 9.9 points per game.

Van Diest is a 1970 graduate of Helena High School. His career has included stops at his alma mater, the University of Wyoming, the University of Montana, the University of Massachusetts, and Big Ten representative Northwestern University as an assistant coach. Van Diest has won titles at Montana (Big Sky Conference Champions, 1982), Wyoming (Two Western Athletic Conference Championships and one Pacific Division Championship), Massachusetts (Yankee Conference Champions, 1986) and now six Frontier Conference Championships at Carroll, as well as the 2002, 2003, and 2004 NAIA National Championships.

He and his wife Heidi have two sons, Shane and Clay. Shane is a freshmen football player at Carroll.

             Get in the Game: Teams will arrive in Hardin County, Tenn. on Wednesday, December 14th. On Thursday, December 15th at 9 a.m. (CT) both teams will present the NAIA "Character Counts" program at local elementary schools. University of Saint Francis will be guests at North Elementary School (200 Tennessee Street) and Carroll College will meet with students at Walker Elementary School (9380 Hwy. 128) and Pickwick Southside Elementary School (Rt. 1 Hwy. 57).  The visits are a long-standing tradition for the qualifiers.  The school children cheer their visiting team during the visit and at the game. 

            On Friday, December 16th, both teams will tour the Shiloh National Military Park before participating in the "Banquet of Champions" held at Pickwick Landing State Park Inn and Conference Center. The banquet will begin at 6:30 pm (CT) and will recognize the Rawlings-NAIA Football National Player of the Year.

Game ticket can be purchased in advance for $12 up until 5 pm (CT) on Friday December 16th, by calling the Championship Hotline at 1-800-552-3866. Game tickets can also be purchased on the day of game for $15. For fans and parents interested in attending the banquet please call the Championship Hotline, 1-800-552-3866, for additional ticket information.

To learn more call the Championship Hotline at 1-800-552-3866.