Post by MizzouTiger on Dec 7, 2007 14:29:32 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/393428.html
Northwest Missouri’s Omon craves national championship
By DAVID BOYCE
The Kansas City Star
MARYVILLE, Mo. | As Northwest Missouri was preparing for Chadron State last week, senior running back Xavier Omon heard a few playful digs from coach Mel Tjeerdsma.
Despite Omon’s prolific rushing numbers throughout his four seasons with the Bearcats, he has never been a Harlon Hill finalist, an award given to the best football player in Division II.
Chadron State is home of senior Danny Woodhead, who won the Harlon Hill trophy last year and is again a finalist.
Two weeks ago, Abilene Christian junior running back Bernard Scott, another finalist for the Harlon Hill, played at Chadron State in a second-round playoff game.
“I reminded him that he would be the third-best running back to play on that field in the last two weeks,” Tjeerdsma said.
Omon’s response? He simply rushed for 309 yards, helping Northwest Missouri knock off previously undefeated Chadron State.
“Last week was about running hard to advance in the playoffs,” Omon said. “People made it out to be the Danny Woodhead vs. Omon show. I understood why people did that. But it was more to it than that. It was Northwest Missouri vs. Chadron State and I was going to do whatever it took to help us win.”
Omon turned in a performance that will be placed near the top in Northwest Missouri’s ever-growing playoff highlights.
“The effort he put in was special,” Tjeerdsma said. “Our team doctor made the comment to me that it was a privilege to be on the sidelines and witness it. That really says it all.
“He just never let up. He plays hard all the time, but it seemed like there was a little extra there.”
Omon will carry his 1,982 yards and 33 touchdowns this season into Saturday’s semifinal showdown with two-time defending champion Grand Valley State at 8 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium.
The only thing going through Omon’s mind will be Florence, Ala., site of the NCAA Division II title game.
Grand Valley has beaten Northwest Missouri the last two years in the D-II championship.
The day before the championship game, the Harlon Hill ceremony takes place in Florence, Ala.
Throughout the playoffs, Omon has said he would rather be in Alabama with his teammates playing for a national title than being like Woodhead and the other two finalists, whose teammates will be at home.
“I would hope I would have said that as a freshman, but I probably wouldn’t. I probably would be a little irritated,” Omon said. “That’s what coach T has done for me. He’s helped me mature into the man I am today.”
From the start, Omon has been an impact player on the field. He’s the only Division II running back to rush for at least 1,500 yards in all four seasons.
If Northwest Missouri reaches the championship game, Omon has a good chance of finishing his career as the all-time leading rusher in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
His 6,718 career yards currently place him third behind Pittsburg State’s Germaine Race at 6,985 and Emporia State’s Brian Shay at 6,958.
Off the field is where Omon’s impact has steadily grown. His teammates know and understand him much better now than they did in 2004.
“He’s grown tremendously. It’s hard to explain,” Northwest Missouri senior linebacker Jared Erspamer said. “He’s grown up through the years. It’s pretty cool to see that.
“I never really talked to him much before this year. This year I got to be pretty good friends with him. He’s definitely a leader. He does a great job.”
There’s only one thing left for Omon to accomplish on the football field before he leaves.
“Hopefully, win a championship,” he said. “It’s been a long ride, and it has been worth it. Back in my freshman and sophomore years I was just a running back. I just ran the ball.
“Now, I’m playing the game. I’ve learned what it takes. It takes more than your ability to play. There are things you can do as a leader that can affect your teammates.”
Northwest Missouri’s Omon craves national championship
By DAVID BOYCE
The Kansas City Star
MARYVILLE, Mo. | As Northwest Missouri was preparing for Chadron State last week, senior running back Xavier Omon heard a few playful digs from coach Mel Tjeerdsma.
Despite Omon’s prolific rushing numbers throughout his four seasons with the Bearcats, he has never been a Harlon Hill finalist, an award given to the best football player in Division II.
Chadron State is home of senior Danny Woodhead, who won the Harlon Hill trophy last year and is again a finalist.
Two weeks ago, Abilene Christian junior running back Bernard Scott, another finalist for the Harlon Hill, played at Chadron State in a second-round playoff game.
“I reminded him that he would be the third-best running back to play on that field in the last two weeks,” Tjeerdsma said.
Omon’s response? He simply rushed for 309 yards, helping Northwest Missouri knock off previously undefeated Chadron State.
“Last week was about running hard to advance in the playoffs,” Omon said. “People made it out to be the Danny Woodhead vs. Omon show. I understood why people did that. But it was more to it than that. It was Northwest Missouri vs. Chadron State and I was going to do whatever it took to help us win.”
Omon turned in a performance that will be placed near the top in Northwest Missouri’s ever-growing playoff highlights.
“The effort he put in was special,” Tjeerdsma said. “Our team doctor made the comment to me that it was a privilege to be on the sidelines and witness it. That really says it all.
“He just never let up. He plays hard all the time, but it seemed like there was a little extra there.”
Omon will carry his 1,982 yards and 33 touchdowns this season into Saturday’s semifinal showdown with two-time defending champion Grand Valley State at 8 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium.
The only thing going through Omon’s mind will be Florence, Ala., site of the NCAA Division II title game.
Grand Valley has beaten Northwest Missouri the last two years in the D-II championship.
The day before the championship game, the Harlon Hill ceremony takes place in Florence, Ala.
Throughout the playoffs, Omon has said he would rather be in Alabama with his teammates playing for a national title than being like Woodhead and the other two finalists, whose teammates will be at home.
“I would hope I would have said that as a freshman, but I probably wouldn’t. I probably would be a little irritated,” Omon said. “That’s what coach T has done for me. He’s helped me mature into the man I am today.”
From the start, Omon has been an impact player on the field. He’s the only Division II running back to rush for at least 1,500 yards in all four seasons.
If Northwest Missouri reaches the championship game, Omon has a good chance of finishing his career as the all-time leading rusher in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
His 6,718 career yards currently place him third behind Pittsburg State’s Germaine Race at 6,985 and Emporia State’s Brian Shay at 6,958.
Off the field is where Omon’s impact has steadily grown. His teammates know and understand him much better now than they did in 2004.
“He’s grown tremendously. It’s hard to explain,” Northwest Missouri senior linebacker Jared Erspamer said. “He’s grown up through the years. It’s pretty cool to see that.
“I never really talked to him much before this year. This year I got to be pretty good friends with him. He’s definitely a leader. He does a great job.”
There’s only one thing left for Omon to accomplish on the football field before he leaves.
“Hopefully, win a championship,” he said. “It’s been a long ride, and it has been worth it. Back in my freshman and sophomore years I was just a running back. I just ran the ball.
“Now, I’m playing the game. I’ve learned what it takes. It takes more than your ability to play. There are things you can do as a leader that can affect your teammates.”