FB prepares for national semifinal showdown

12/05/07

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Belton, TX - For the second time in the last four years, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team is preparing for a trip to the NCAA Division III National Semifinals. The Cru will travel to Whitewater, Wisconsin to take on 2nd-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater in a 12:00 PM kickoff this Saturday. The winner of that game will advance to Stagg Bowl XXXV to take on the winner of the Mount Union/Bethel semifinal game. UMHB and UWW have combined for three straight national runner-up finishes with the Cru advancing to the 2004 Stagg Bowl and the Warhawks claiming berths in 2005 and 2006. UMHB is also making its second trip to Whitewater this season, after falling to the Warhawks 41-14 in a regular season meeting back on October 27th. The Cru is looking back at that game, but did learn some lessons the team hopes can help carry it forward.

"We felt like they played at a championship level and we just didn't," Cru head coach Pete Fredenburg said. "When we got back, the players got together and really talked about commitment and where they wanted this team to be. They've really played at a fever pitch and have taken that commitment to the practice field and it's been a lot of fun for us to see how this team has responded."

Tickets will be available at the gate on Saturday. Ticket windows will open at 10:00 AM and tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for seniors and students. The game will also be available through an audio stream on the UMHB web site. Just click on the Athletics Online Radio button on the Athletic Department Home Page. The NCAA is also offering video streaming of the national semifinal games at the following link: http://all-access.cstv.com/cstv/player/player.html?code=ncaa&sport=m-footbl&category=live&media=54305 .