Thank-you to a number of people...

     Firstly, my wife, Kim.  She recognizes the enjoyment I get from Purple Raider Football and not only allows me the freedom to attend all the games, but encourages it.  I don't know what I did to be granted her love, but I am truly blessed!  The two most beautiful people in this world are my mom and my wife.  I surely walk amongst angels.

     Secondly, my parents, I am what I am because of them.  I look up to my father in a way he'll never know.

     Thirdly, my uncle.  Every time Mount Union accomplishes something on the football field, I am happy for him, because he was there when very  few were.

     There have been many that have helped make this site what it is today.  Bill Gough, Gary & Carol McDonald and Gayle Stickley have made the pages come alive with their game photos.  Without their talents, this site would not be nearly as pleasing to the eye as it is.  Also, Dick Ross.  Dick had a uniquely special way of writing a game story that is unlike any I have ever read.  I think his thoughts fit perfectly with what I have tried to accomplish here.  And my uncle, Larry Faith, who devoted a lot of his time on game stories and also on a number of pages that report on past Raider teams. 

     I'd also like to thank Harry Paidas, Vice President for Public Affairs and Marketing at Mount Union College.  His help and support has been tremendous.  And also Michael DeMatteis, the Director of Sports Information at Mount Union College.  I would not have been able to gather a lot of the current information if not for his help.

     And last but definitely not least, Ross Clem from Alliance Link.  He was a strong supporter of this site from the beginning.  If not for his words of encouragement, this site might never have materialized!

     The sole purpose behind this site is my love for Mount Union College Football.

     This is the unofficial home of Purple Raiders Football.  The thoughts and opinions on this site are my own, and in no way should I be viewed as acting as an agent for Mount Union College or its football team.

     The last time the Cleveland Browns won the NFL championship, I was still nearly a year away from being born.  My parents were infants when the Cleveland Indians last won the World Series.

     My point is, my only claim to Mount Union is the fact that I was born and raised less than a mile from the campus and lived within a stones throw of the stadium for most of my life. 

     In a lifetime of not seeing any of my favorite major sports franchises win a championship, I have been fortunate enough to have been dropped into the world at this exact spot, and have been able to witness one of the most impressive runs of excellence ever to be performed by a college football team.

     I watched throughout the 1990's as Mount Union won game after game, OAC title after OAC title, and National Championship after National Championship.

     It is from that decade of dominance that this site has arisen.  I hope it does justice.

     My first Mount Union game was the opener of the 1973 season, a 21-17 victory over Ohio Northern.  I had just turned eight years old and attended the game with my flag football team.  Our coach was a student at the college and we got in free.  We watched the game from the then south end zone bleachers. 

     A lot has changed since then...

     No more bleachers; I doubt these days many parents would let their eight-year-old son go to a football game being supervised only by a college student they don't even know; and there were lots of places to sit... and today, Mount Union not only wins games, it wins conference titles and playoff games and national championships!

     Oh how fun it is to watch the "Purple Machine" on Saturday afternoons!

     Some of the information on this site was obtained through material from the Mount Union Sports Information Department, the OAC Football Media Guide, the Official NCAA Record Book and The Alliance Review.

     Email me with your thoughts.  If there's something you'd like to see, please let me know.