The Thunder football team to face Trine Saturday in the NCAA Playoffs

COMPLETE PLAYOFF BRACKET

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton College football team has earned an at-large bid to the 2008 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. Wheaton (8-2) will travel to Trine University (formerly know as Tri-State University) in Angola, Indiana on Saturday, November 22 in a noon (EST) kickoff.

Wheaton is making its sixth appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs and the program's fifth postseason berth in the past seven seasons. Wheaton has a 6-5 all-time record in the postseason and perfect 5-0 record in the first round. The winner of next Saturday's Wheaton-Trine game will advance to face the winner of another first round game between Case Western and Franklin on November 29.

Wheaton finished the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and a 5-2 record in CCIW play to finish second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).

Trine enters the playoffs with a record of 10-0 this season and earned its trip to the NCAA Division III Playoffs by winning the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the league's automatic qualifier to the postseason.

Wheaton head coach Mike Swider knew his team could possibly make the playoffs, however, he had to wait until Sunday afternoon to hear the NCAA selection committee's announcement. Swider noted, “Heading into Saturday's game [against Carthage] I thought our chances were slim, but we defeated Carthage on Saturday and a lot of other games went our way to help our chances.” He added, “The fact that we won our last two games and we play in a very difficult conference, I think helped us.” Swider included, “I am very happy for our seniors.” He concluded, “This is a great opportunity for us. We have been given a second chance to continue our season and hopefully our kids will respond and go out and play Wheaton football for several more weeks.”

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2008/11/16/fb-annc.aspx