ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 16, 1996 TAG: 9612170018
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
You could barely see it on ESPN.
The shirt Mount Union coach Larry Kehres wore on the sideline Saturday at Salem Stadium recalled one of his greatest achievements in 11 years as the Purple Raiders' head coach. Embroidered on the right breast of his black pullover were the words ``1993 National Champions 14-0.''
Kehres won his second Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, and his second in Salem, as Mount Union blew past Rowan 56-24. Which championship meant more to him? Kehres said they were ``equally good,'' and explained that this victory was more of a team victory than the 1993 edition. As shocking as it may be to those who saw Saturday's game, Kehres said the 1993 team had more individual stars.
If there is one factor that could make the 1996 title more satisfying, it would be that Kehres got to share this one with his son, Vince, a junior defensive end for the Raiders.
``I think that's very significant,'' Larry Kehres said. ``Me and Vince felt real good today, all things considered.''
Kehres was considering his father, Bob, who is gravely ill back in Alliance, Ohio. Bob Kehres has suffered a series of strokes since Halloween and is not expected to live much longer. The Mount Union team prayed for him Friday night in its final pregame meetings. Vince Kehres' defensive teammates were particularly moved. Their coordinator, Don Montgomery, lost his father shortly before the 1993 Stagg Bowl.
The last game Bob Kehres saw in person was the Purple Raiders' first-round matchup with Allegheny on Nov.23. Bob Kehres reclined in a van that was parked close to the sideline.
``Hopefully, this wasn't his last game,'' said Bill Borchert, Mount Union's junior quarterback.
It was the last game of a somewhat surprising season for Rowan. After going 3-2, the Profs won seven of their next eight games. Despite starting only three seniors, they traded the lead seven times in the first half and amassed 423 yards of offense in the game. The only problem was Mount Union had 682 yards.
``We lost to a better football team,'' said K.C. Keeler, Rowan's coach. ``I talked to our assistants and said we could have played them 10 different ways and I don't know how much different it would have been.''
Keeler and the Profs could very well make their fourth trip to Salem next season. He said his plans after this weekend's game were to go home, find some more opponents for next season's schedule (Rowan has only eight games set) and start recruiting.
Keeler works constantly at bringing in new and better talent. Late one night last year, his wife came downstairs in their house with their son, who woke up thirsty. When she went to the sink to get him a glass of water, she noticed her husband sitting at the kitchen table in the dark, talking on the telephone.
It was 1 a.m. She mouthed the words to K.C., ``Who in the world could you be talking to?'' Then she paused. ``Oh, don't tell me. You're recruiting California, aren't you?''
Keeler will look anywhere for players who want to join him for his next Stagg Bowl trip.
The way both teams recruit and play, it probably won't be long before they're back together again.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 linesby CNB