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FIRST PERSON SOU football earns fans respect Comment By Eli Stillman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Eli Stillman For the Tidings Posted Dec. 21, 2015 at 8:21 PM By Eli Stillman For the Tidings Posted Dec. 21, 2015 at 8:21 PM » Social News The hardest place to fall from is the very top, and when the Southern Oregon University Red Raiders, the 2014 national champs, fell Saturday to Marian University of Indiana in a rematch of last year’s title game, the tumble sure did hurt. Last year, the Raiders smashed the Knights 55-31 in the title game, but those expecting a replay of last year's championship in Daytona, Fla., were left dismayed, as the Raiders were handed their third loss of this season and had to hand over their trophy. Anyone who had watched an SOU game this season was in a fury this weekend as the Raiders bread-and-butter plays were shut down before they could even gain momentum. The offensive machine that ran, passed and scored all over opponents this fall failed to shift into top gear as the Knights overcame the Raiders 31-14. During the game, fans, players and coaches alike were shaking their heads at the lack of yards produced by the team that had had no problem finding the endzone in this same match up the year before. This couldn’t be the same team that broke 30 yard rushes seemingly whenever the running back desired. The team that put up over 50 points in multiple games last year. And the team that was still riding the success of its program's first national title, earned exactly one ago on the same field, against the same opponents. I know I’m not the first one to admit it, but it’s not that same team. While last year's success attracted a large number of young recruits, the players that had grown together in order to help SOU become a high scoring aerial force faced the dreaded but unavoidable time in all collegiate athlete’s careers: Graduation. Two receivers, who found the end zone for 57 touchdowns in their combined careers, did not return to defend their championship. And Austin Dodge, the most dangerous passer in the history of NAIA football, hung up his Raider’s jersey to pursue a post-collegiate career. Even with these losses, among others, Southern Oregon was still ranked at the top in early pre-season polls. Young players who had made noise, but remained in the shadows of their senior teammates, were ready to emerge and prove that despite awards and accolades, it was SOU as a unit, and not individuals, who were responsible for the program's success. What the box scores won’t tell you is how far the program has come in the community and the adversity it has overcome. The Southern Oregon Red Raiders might be returning to Ashland without their national championship trophy, but all the players will be coming home as champions. Having no professional teams in the state, Oregon takes its collegiate football very, very seriously. But for one second, set aside Autzen and Reeser. The historic stadiums that fill with students and fans every fall to watch hard-hitting gridiron. Ashland isn’t Eugene. It’s not Corvallis and it’s not the PAC-12. First and foremost: This is the NAIA. If you ask any high school athlete where they aim to compete, I can promise you that most won’t answer, “The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.” Stigmas about NAIA competition, due to size, financial backing and publicity, are founded but exaggerated. But when attending a packed game in Raider stadium, there are a few things to remember: Few players, if any, have their full tuition paid for. Of the 127 on the roster, 57 hail from Oregon. A majority of the others come from neighboring California and Washington. Reasons for athletes attending an NAIA school vary. Natives of the Rogue Valley grew up in the area watching the Raiders and caught Southern Oregon coaches' attention while still at the prep level. Also, player transfer rules in NAIA differ from that of NCAA. While difficult to place a number on the amount of players who have received disciplinary sentences for criminal behavior or scholastic shortcomings, those who transfer from the NCAA to the NAIA don’t need to serve suspensions handed down in their previous affiliation. NCAA players can transfer to an NAIA school and, with the coach's discretion, be suited up for the first game of the season. However, these cases aren’t the common cause for NAIA athletes of any sport and at the end of the day, it’s incorrect to generalize the Raiders as locals, NCAA bounce backs or athletes of a lower caliber. To classify the team under an umbrella of explanation, and overlook what the program that has overcome in order to bring gridiron excitement back to the southern part of the state, would be to sell these young men short. On a scale equivalent to the student population and slightly different in particulars then seen in Eugene or Corvallis, a fan stepping into Raider Stadium on a Saturday is met with customs familiar to those steeped in sacred Oregon collegiate football traditions. The defending NAIA champions began the season with a loss to Carroll College of Montana, an opponent that’s proved difficult to beat in Helena, where they have a home record of 62-5 over the last nine seasons. Carroll would be just as difficult a team to host, but fortune favored the Raiders, as they came out on top 28-27 against the Saints in a redemption matchup this year. Fueled with emotions and the hunger for second national championship, the Raiders overcame another loss which hand been dealt to them at home, before beginning the post-season run. In the Raider fashion, the trail to Daytona was difficult and exciting as the team traveled to Iowa as well as Kansas and beat higher-ranked teams. The chase across the country came to an end with the dethroning of Southern Oregon as Marian got their revenge. However, Raider players, fans, families and friends alike that are disappointed with the final result, need not hang their heads. The adversity that faced this team from day one and continued to resurface throughout the season was greeted with a buckled chinstrap and hard-hitting blows by Coach Craig Howard's players that proved that they are more than just athletic individuals. And the Rogue Valley couldn’t be more supportive. There are still many U of O and OSU sweatshirts worn around the Ashland campus, but in the last few years, there’s also an increasing amount of pride in being a Raider. Tickets for this year’s reserved seating sold out and members of towns in surrounding areas flocked, with Raider flags flying on their trucks, to tailgate in preparation for match-ups. Students sections were more populated than before and spilled into the stadium’s stairways. Whether up by 40 or down by seven, members of the student body stayed standing and cheering until the end of the match. Sometimes we pass for over 350 yards and sometimes the sound system doesn’t work. But this is Raider football, a program that’s shown that it belongs in the top tier of it’s competition and, despite not leaving Daytona this season with a championship trophy, it has proved that it still breeds champions. Ashland freelance writer Eli Stillman is editor-in-chief of The Siskiyou, the student-produced Southern Oregon University newspaper. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @eliment13. By Eli Stillman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Eli Stillman For the Tidings Posted Dec. 21, 2015 at 8:21 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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