Random thoughts in the aftermath of John Carroll’s dramatic 10-7 double-overtime win at Mount Union on Dec. 6 in Round 3 of the NCAA Division III playoffs: • Depending on which side of the aisle you are sitting — meaning either you are a John Carroll graduate or supporter or a Mount Union grad or supporter — it’s been a back-and-forth between the two institutions for more than a year as it pertains to football. When JCU officials announced in early 2024 that the university was leaving the Ohio Athletic Conference for the North Coast Athletic Conference, a narrative was quickly created. That being the Blue Streaks football program was leaving to duck Mount Union. John Carroll's Shane Lindstrom make a one-handed catch for a touchdown vs. Mount Union Dec. 6. (Lianna Holub - For The News-Herald) JCU athletic director Brian Polian and head coach Jeff Behrman — behind closed doors and publicly, it didn’t matter the forum — tried when asked to put an end to that narrative. Related Articles John Carroll football beats Mount Union in two OTs in NCAA D-III playoff thriller It didn’t matter. It didn’t go away. Maybe after the Blue Streaks’ dramatic playoff win at Mount Union on Dec. 6 it will, but it’s doubtful. Fans will be fans, and even with the victory that sent the Purple Raiders home and advanced JCU to quarterfinal round, narratives seem to stick, and perception becomes reality. That narrative clearly bothers the folks at JCU, and rightfully so. Athletics at the Division III level are important, but obviously not nearly as important as at the FBS level for football. JCU officials have said on numerous occasions that the decision to switch conferences was not based on athletics. The institution wanted to align itself with others that shared the same vision going forward, with academics at the forefront. After his team’s second-round playoff win over Randolph Macon, Behrman was asked about playing Mount Union in Round 3. The narrative about JCU leaving the OAC was not brought up in the question. Behrman’s response: “It’s what everyone wants to talk about,” said Behrman. “… The decision for our university to move to the NCAC — for the strength and future of this university — was the right move. That’s something that is important to understand and know. We weren’t running from competition. I know a lot of people want to make the narrative.” For 18-months, I’ve listened to people tell me we were running from something. Mount Union has been the standard for three decades. We have never been afraid of the challenge, most years we simply weren’t up to it. Today we were! I love this group of men and I am so proud of… pic.twitter.com/asEag8Ewy0 — Brian Polian (@BrianPolian) December 7, 2025 Polian went to Twitter following the Dec. 7 victory at Mount, and posted this: “For 18 months, I’ve listened to people tell me we were running from something. Mount Union has been the standard for three decades. We have never been afraid of the challenge, most years we simply weren’t up for it. Today we were …” Polian knows the difference between the FBS level and D-III in football. He had stints in FBS as the head coach at Nevada and as an assistant at LSU and Notre Dame. His father Bill was a Pro Football Hall of Fame executive with the Bills and Colts. Polian has said many times that the decision by JCU to switch conferences had little to do with athletics. So many times, words fail to convince. Actions do, and the JCU football program proved it wasn’t ducking Mount Union with its win Dec. 7 in Alliance. • It’s a rare group among D-III football coaches that can boast they have the experience of being on the winning side of a Mount Union game multiple times. JCU defensive coordinator Dean Paul can say that. His unit held Mount’s powerful offense (which entered Dec. 7 averaging almost 50 points per game) to seven points, the program’s lowest point total in a game since 1986. After allowing an 85-yard touchdown on Mount’s first play from scrimmage Dec. 7, Paul’s defense put the clamps down and allowed just 250 yards on the next 62 plays — an average of 4.03 yards per play. Paul was the longtime coach at Ohio Northern for 20 years from 2004 to 2023. In 2005, his Polar Bears defeated Mount, 21-14. It’s one of two times Mount lost a regular-season game this century. The other was in 2016 by JCU. Paul understands how special these moments are because of the opponent on the other sideline. “There’s so much respect for them … they make you earn it,” said Paul after JCU’s win over Mount Dec. 7. “They will never give you a game. You will absolutely have to earn it, and take it.” • Mount Union will be back with quarterback Mikey Maloney leading to way. The Riverside graduate started with a bang after throwing an 85-yard TD pass on his team’s first play from scrimmage. From there, it was a grind-it-out, tough game that belonged to the defenses. Maloney’s great strength is extending plays outside the pocket, and he has his moments, but for the most part, the JCU defense did a solid job containing him. Maloney was a redshirt freshman, and he has three years of eligibility remaining. So don’t count out the Purple Raiders in 2026 and beyond. The experience of playing in a game such as Dec. 7 will help Maloney’s growth as a college QB. • Kenny Grobolsek’s tackle of Maloney inside the 5-yard line on the final play of the second overtime will go down in JCU football history. It might have never happened had Scott O’Donnell not been Grobolsek’s high school coach at Brookside in Lorain County. John Caroll's Kenny Grobolsek celebrates after making the game-winning tackle against Mount Union on Dec. 6. (Courtesy John Carroll University) When Grobolsek graduated from high school, he attended and played at FCS Robert Morris in Pittsburgh. Looking for a new fit, Grobolsek reached out to O’Donnell, a graduate of Lake Catholic and former coach of the Cougars, to help with his second round of the recruiting process. O’Donnell played at JCU in the 1990s, was an All-America defensive end for the Blue Streaks, and was teammates with Behrman, also a JCU grad. When Grobolsek reached out to O’Donnell, his former coach followed up with Behrman. A connection was made, and Grobolsek’s transfer to JCU was complete. “I jumped on the bandwagon and tried to help him get there,” said O’Donnell about helping Grobolsek get to transfer. “Jeff reached out and asked me to help as well. It was a no-brainer.” • This is proof that a playoff is always the best way to show who the best team is and not analytics, metrics, polls, sports writers or selection committees: On Dec. 6, 13-time D-III national champion Mount Union and eight-time FCS national champion North Dakota State all lost on the same day, and a round before their quarterfinal round. One never knows what will happen when teams play it off on the field. ...read more read less