American college football season
The2003 NCAA Division III football season , part of thecollege football season organized by theNCAA at theDivision III level in the United States, began in August 2003, and concluded with theNCAA Division III Football Championship , also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 2003 atSalem Football Stadium inSalem, Virginia . TheSaint John's (MN) Johnnies won their second Division III championship by defeating the three-time defending national championMount Union Purple Raiders , 24−6.
TheGagliardi Trophy , given to the most outstanding player in Division III football, was awarded toBlake Elliott , wide receiver, punter, and kick returner fromSaint John's (MN) .[ 1]
Conference changes and new programs [ edit ] Conference standings [ edit ] Conference champions [ edit ] The2003 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs were the 31st annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men'sNCAA Division III college football. The championship Stagg Bowl game was held atSalem Football Stadium inSalem, Virginia for the 11th time. This was the fifth bracket to feature 28 teams since last expanding in 1999.[ 2]
First Round Campus Sites Second Round Campus Sites Quarterfinals Campus Sites Semifinals Campus Sites National Championship Game Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia Mount Union 39 UW–La Crosse 52 UW–La Crosse 14 Concordia Wisconsin 13 Mount Union 56 Wheaton (IL) 55 Wheaton (IL) 10 Hope 45 Wheaton (IL) 16 Baldwin Wallace 54 Baldwin Wallace 12 Hanover 32 Mount Union 66 Bridgewater (VA) 0 Lycoming 16* East Texas Baptist 42 East Texas Baptist 15 Trinity (TX) 41 Lycoming 9 Bridgewater (VA) 28 Bridgewater (VA) 13 Waynesburg 24 Bridgewater (VA) 26 Christopher Newport 24 Christopher Newport 3 Muhlenberg 20 Mount Union 6 Saint John's (MN) 24 Springfield 34 RPI 34 RPI 40 Curry 20 RPI 21 Ithaca 14 Ithaca 16 Brockport 9 Ithaca 33 Montclair State 20 Montclair State 13 Allegheny 19 RPI 10 Saint John's (MN) 38 Saint John's (MN) 38 St. Norbert 26** St. Norbert 13 Simpson 20 Saint John's (MN) 31 Wartburg 21 Linfield 25 Bethel (MN) 7 Wartburg 20 Linfield 31 Linfield 23 Redlands 23
* Overtime
Final D3football.com Poll [ edit ] Team Final Record Points 1. St. John's (MN) (25) 14–0 625 2. Mount Union 13–1 595 3. Linfield 11–1 575 4. Wartburg 11–1 489 5. RPI 11–2 483 6. Wheaton (IL) 12–1 475 7. Bridgewater 12–2 453 8. Wisconsin–La Crosse 10–2 441 9. Baldwin–Wallace 10–2 399 10. Ithaca 10–3 355 11. Lycoming 9–2 353 12. Bethel (MN) 9–2 342 13. Springfield 10–1 336 14. East Texas Baptist 9–3 259 15. Mary Hardin–Baylor 9–1 234 16. St. Norbert 11–1 218 17. Montclair State 9–2 189 18. Wisconsin–Stevens Point 8–2 176 19. Christopher Newport 8–3 175 20. Brockport 9–2 163 21. Hampden–Sydney 9–1 140 22. Waynesburg 9–2 103 23. Simpson (IA) 9–2 81 24. Trinity (TX) 8–3 66 25. Johns Hopkins 10–1 60
Others receiving votes: 26. Capital 50, 27. Hardin–Simmons 47, 28. Allegheny 42, 29. Trinity (CT) 38, 30. Redlands 22, 31. Hope 21, 32. Wisconsin–Whitewater 19, 32. Hanover 19, 34. Curry 18, 35. Concordia (WI) 16, 36. Washington & Jefferson 12, 37. Muhlenberg 9, 38. Rowan 7, 38. Augustana (IL) 7, 40. Delaware Valley 6, 41. Menlo 3, 42. Willamette 2, 43. New Jersey State 1, 43. Shenandoah 1.[ 3]
Gagliardi Trophy :Blake Elliott
AFCA Coach of the Year :John Gagliardi
AFCA Regional Coach of the Year:Region 1 :Mike DeLong , Springfield CollegeRegion 2 :Jeff Hand , Waynesburg CollegeRegion 3 :Ralph Harris , East Texas Baptist UniversityRegion 4 :Mike Swider , Wheaton CollegeRegion 5 : John Gagliardi, St. John’s University (Minn.)[ 4]
