The U-N-I football team leaves for Chattanooga, Tennessee, tonight for Friday’s 1-AA national championship game against Appalachian State. The Panthers advanced to the title game for the first time after last week’s victory at Texas State.
Panther coach Mark Farley says he told the players they have to enjoy this as he had to wait 20 years to get there. Farley who played at UNI back in the mid 80s, and was on their first semifinal team. He says he’s excited to hear about the number of people who’re going to the game and says, “Man, you’re playing for the title, what better deal.”
Appalachian State will also be making its first trip to the title game. Farley says they’re a mirror of his team, as they’re a traditionally strong team that’s never won a title. Farley says that’ll make it a great game.
U-N-I athletic director Rick Hartzell says there will be a sendoff for the team at the Waterloo airport. U-N-I has won seven straight games and six of those were against a team ranked in the nation’s top 15.
Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore says he doubts senior quarterback Richie Williams will play Friday night. The Southern Conference player of the year was injured in the first quarter of A-S-U’s semifinal win over Furman Saturday. He sat out the remainder of the game, while back-up signal-called Trey Elder led the Mountaineers to victory.
Coach Jerry Moore says Williams did not practice Monday, and will likely sit out of drills again today. Williams says he doesn’t want to play anyone who isn’t effective. Moore says he is not sure that Williams will be able to practice this week. He says he’s been getting treatment about five times a day. Moore says his ankle is improving, and says the ankle is almost back to a normal size..
Elwin Huffman KOEL Oelwein
