It was a game that will be remembered by the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø community for years to come. A Raiders team that refused to quit. A raucous crowd that refused to let the cold, wind, and snow chill its enthusiasm. The result: A 28-27 victory over Western Illinois that propelled the Raiders into the semifinals of the NCAA Division I-AA football playoffs.
Here’s what some 51³Ô¹ÏÍø supporters had to say about the win.
I had planned to joined fellow alums in Boston to watch the game in a local pub but could not get out of the driveway because of the massive storm. Luckily, I was able to see it on pay-per-view. It was the best $14.95 ever spent! Bad weather at the game may have been a blessing, as bad footing made Russ Michna less of a running threat. We must admit he was impressive. The fact that both quarterbacks passed for over 200 yards was amazing.
Arnold Koch ’49
Melrose, Mass.
It’s worth recording and thinking about this sporting event because I believe it represents what 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is really all about. We take marvelous people, meld them together, they develop and expand upon the character they arrived with, and use intelligence, humor, wit, leadership and mutual respect and mutual appreciation, set goals and then achieve them. Those are lifetime traits and they were shown over and over again on this field. We won the game and are now going to the final four for the first time ever in the history of the Patriot League and in the history of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s wonderful football. Thus it’s time to reflect and enjoy and move on to Florida.
Tony Whaling ’59
Rye, N.Y.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø Trustee
In the stands, I was overcome with pride as the goalpost came tumbling down. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, a school that has been the underdog far too long, gets the recognition and rewards it so richly deserves. And my fifth-graders are cheering, too! Sun or snow, let’s go ‘gGate!
Good luck from Mr. Simmonds’s fifth-grade class, Poughkeepsie, NY
I couldn’t get to the game from Connecticut, where we got about 12 inches from the storm. Thankfully, MSG was carrying the game! I’ve never been more emotional about a game in my life, even as a player at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. I exchanged gametime comments with CU alums by phone and with Debbie Rhyde from the CU football office, who was in Andy Kerr Stadium. What a great, great day for us all, but especially this great team and program. I got a midnight phone call from Michael Hand ’94, who was in tears after watching the TIVO recording of the game. He’d missed the live broadcast because of his MBA exams at Michigan State. Thank you Raiders this is very special and we’re very proud of what you’ve done and about to do. Go ‘gate!
Paul Verbitsky ’94
Congratulations on your great season. I have followed your school for 30 years and am so very proud of you guys. Good luck Saturday and if you make it, my wife and I will be in Chattanooga to see the championship.
Steve Love
Huntsville, Ala..
I attended the game with my son and a friend, and we were treated to a game I will never forget. The Raiders proved their championship character by coming back time and again against a very formidable foe. It was great to be back in Hamilton and to witness a game for the ages, and I was very proud to be part of a crowd that, despite the chill of the snow and wind, was relentless in cheering their team on to victory. My congratulations to Coach Biddle and to every member of this great team for their unbelievable accomplishments this season, and the very best of luck this Saturday in Florida. We will be watching!
Dave Fahrner ’75
Manlius, NY
My name is Peter Gasparini, and I watched the game Saturday, and I thought the game was truly a game of courage. The Raiders never gave up and I just had the feeling that 51³Ô¹ÏÍø could score anytime they really needed to in the past three weeks. I think the snow propelled the Raiders to victory. It’s too bad we have to travel to Florida this Saturday, hopefully it will rain. I hope Luke Graham is feeling all right after his shoulder injury on that great 24-yard catch down to the one. I thought carrying off and dumping the goalpost in Taylor Lake by shirtless students was the perfect ending to the game. Let’s go ‘gate, beat Florida Atlantic!
Watched 51³Ô¹ÏÍø win on a beautiful 42-inch plasma TV via the ESPN Game Plan Broadcast at McGee’s Bar in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Game was so good and so snowy that most of the crowd ended up watching 51³Ô¹ÏÍø instead of Notre Dame and Syracuse!
Paul Dillon
My name is Ronald Dery, Class of 1964. Currently, I am working in Rome, Italy, for a United Nations agency. For the past several weeks I have spent enjoyable Saturday evenings (6 hours time difference) listening and watching 51³Ô¹ÏÍø football over the Internet. The accomplishments of this team are amazing. I recall very vividly the last time 51³Ô¹ÏÍø enjoyed an undefeated record late in the season only to lose to Delaware. I was at that game. Perhaps this year ‘gate will have a chance for a measure of retribution on the 19th of December in Chattanooga against Delaware (‘). The way the Raiders are playing, I might just get on a plane and fly over for that game. Go ‘gate!
My wife and I watched the game at a local establishment after cajoling the staff there to put the game on one of their four big screen TVs. By the end of the game, our rather boisterous cheering had most of the other patrons and staff cheering along with us and asking us lots of questions about 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Did I mention we did this in Ann Arbor, Mich., where following anything other than University of Michigan football is virtually unheard of’ It was a great day for ‘gate football and I was proud to have witnessed 51³Ô¹ÏÍø history in the making. Go ‘gate!
Brad Smith ’94
Ann Arbor, MI
I was at the game against Western Illinois, and was so elated! That’s the most excitement I’ve ever experienced at a football game. I was among the masses that stormed the field, and joined in the celebration. I got some great pics of the celebration that I’ll cherish. Go ‘gate!!!!!
Fritz Scherz