Grizzlies add football powerhouse to 2012 schedule
By Matt Muncy, April 29, 2010
All it took was a website posting for the Franklin football team to be playing the best Division III school in the nation.
“We put out something on a football website about our open game and their coach called us,” said Franklin coach Mike Leonard.
And by “their coach” he is talking about Larry Kehres, the head coach of Mount Union College.
“I felt like Rocky Balboa when Apollo Creed called,” Leonard said.
Mount Union is considered the best D-III football program in the nation with their record 10 national championships. Since 2000, they have won six championships and played in nine championship games, including the last five.
Franklin will play Mount Union at home in 2012 and on the road in 2013.
Athletic Director Kerry Prather does not see this game as a typical match up.
“We typically look at schools that we should play from an institutional standpoint,” Prather said. “Mount Union is not one of those, but it was from a unique standpoint.”
That means only sophomores or freshman will get the opportunity to play against the Purple Raiders.
“The upperclassmen looked like, man these younger guys are lucky,” Leonard said.
Sophomore quarterback Nathan Ellis will be looking to lead the Grizzlies against Mount Union and is looking forward to the opportunity to play them.
“Playing Mount Union is a great opportunity for us to see how we compare to the best team in D-III football over the recent years,” Ellis said.
He also believes this game may not be an everyday matchup, but at gametime it will be all about taking care of business.
“They put their pants on the same way we do and once the game starts it doesn’t matter what the name on the front of your jersey says, you have to go out and play the game,” he said.
Sophomore Mitch Deffner will also be on the squad that faces Mount Union and thinks it is a great chance to play with the best but also knows that the season is 10 games, not one.
“The team will be pumped to play them, but we know our season can’t be wrapped around one game,” Deffner said. “Winning conference is always our first goal, but beating Mount would be a tremendous achievement.”
The Grizzlies have two seasons to prepare for the Purple Raiders and Leonard has them in the back of his mind all the time.
“It raises the bar,” he said. “We have to step up to it.”
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