Not normally one to be surfing the Web for scores, head coach Mike Grossner made an exception Saturday fervently searching for up-to-the-minute results.
In fact, as his team was trouncing the Avila University Eagles at Liston Stadium, the sideline computer couldn’t quite get the information to him fast enough.
“The computer was running a little slow, so I couldn’t get a final score of the Lindenwood-Missouri Valley game,” Grossner said. “So I called my dad who was listening to the radio broadcast in Arizona to find out the final score.”
The Lindenwood University (9-1) vs. Missouri Valley College (7-3) matchup was pivotal for the Wildcats, as a Lindenwood win propelled the Wildcats into a tie with Missouri Valley in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head result, which gave the nod to Baker for its 26-22 victory over the Vikings earlier this season.
“That is definitely the only time I have ever cheered for Lindenwood,” junior Brad Fawcett said. “Never will that ever happen again.”
The rooting for other teams continued into the night as the team watched four teams ranked ahead of them in the polls get upset on the final Saturday of the regular season.
“After I saw that No.’s 11, 12, 13 and 14 all lost, I knew we were in,” Grossner said. “That’s when I went to celebrate with my staff.”
The excitement of the team’s virtual lockdown of an at-large berth Saturday quickly transformed into anxious curiosity regarding who the Wildcats would meet in the opening round.
People close to the program gathered in Mabee Hall, room 100 for the radio broadcast of Selection Sunday.
“It was kind of funny,” Grossner said. “We sat in there and ordered pizza and as soon as we assembled, about five minutes after we got there, it came off nationally but unofficially that Baker would be going to Morningside. So I played the unofficial card so we could eat our pizza and not end the meeting.”
The weekend’s fun was justified as this year marks the first season since 1993 that Baker football has made the playoffs.
Understanding, however, potentially a full quarter of their season is left to be played, the men immediately ventured to practice following the celebration.
“Once we knew we were in, we were excited,” senior Kendall Bradley said. “But it went away pretty quickly. We realized we have a tough game coming up and that we should go out and get started with our routine.”
That attitude, Grossner believes, will take his veteran-stocked team to the top.
“(The seniors) on this team are my first full recruiting class,” Grossner said. “We knew two years ago these guys would be special. We’ve done it with high school guys that we’ve developed.”
Grossner said it’s been a long but enjoyable 4 1/2 years and that he couldn’t imagine this team’s season ending any other way. While the team is unproven in the playoffs, one thing is certain – there will be no more Web searching for other scores.
“If we’re going to win a national title, we’ve got to beat everybody,” Grossner said. “So I don’t care where we play or who we play.”
