St. John's welcomes 'great opportunity'

The Johnnies are trying to avoid intimidation against Mount Union.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL STAR TRIBUNE
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- Sometime this week St. John's wide receiver Blake Elliott will sit down at his computer for a little reassurance.
He'll log on to the Internet and call up the Web site of Mount Union, the Johnnies' opponent in Saturday's NCAA Division III national championship game in Salem, Va.
Once there, Elliott will find the Purple Raiders' football roster and click on the name of one of their top players.
"I like to look at their bio pictures," Elliott said. "They're normal-looking guys. Just like [coach] John [Gagliardi] says, they're normal guys doing things extraordinarily well."
Juggernaut
Indeed.
Mount Union has a 109-1 record in its past 110 games, the only loss coming in the national semifinals in 1999.
The Purple Raiders' seniors will line up Saturday having never lost a game in college; Mount Union has won 55 games in a row, an NCAA record.
Said Gagliardi: "I didn't think we'd get a chance to play them. I thought they'd be in the Big Ten by now."
The Purple Raiders have had to settle for having players who could play in the Big Ten.
Mount Union defensive end Antoine Dillard, who had to pass on a scholarship to Ohio State when he didn't qualify academically, has become the face of the monumental task the Johnnies have ahead of them.
"We have a great opportunity to beat one of the best college football teams in history," Elliott said. "I think this team felt the ideal situation would be to play Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl. They've had our number the last couple years, and we feel like we just want that opportunity. It wouldn't be a Stagg Bowl without Mount Union."
The Johnnies have been right behind Mount Union in the national polls all season.
The question to be answered is how big of a gap -- if any -- exists between No. 1 and No. 2. The numbers suggest the Purple Raiders are in a class by themselves.
Finding confidence
The Johnnies know any sign of intimidation on their part will deflate any chance of pulling off the upset.
"We've all played sports all our lives," St. John's quarterback Ryan Keating said, "and you always line up against teams that supposedly are better than you. You're supposed to be intimidated or whatnot, but myself, I got that out at a young age. And I think a lot of our guys did that. If we go out and do what we can do, we'll be just fine.
"We're always confident in what we are going to do. You can't be intimidated by anyone you are playing against. Every week is a step up, and Mount Union is a step up from anyone. We just have to do our job. Just play the game and have fun."
Having Elliott at less than full speed will not help. After aggravating a hamstring injury last Saturday, he is downcast over his plight.
"I love big games," Elliott said. "That's when I think I play my best. Now I'm looking at a week of hard rehab in hopes of being able to play."