CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Bears may be out of contention for a playoff spot this season, but one Chicago-area football team is playing for a national title.
Naperville's North Central College Cardinals play Friday night against the UW-Whitewater in the NCAA Division III football championship, the 47th annual Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Shenandoah, TX in Houston's northern suburbs.
"To get this team to that point and on the cusp of bringing home the walnut and bronze, it's really, it's pretty exciting," said head coach Jeff Thorne, who came to North Central in 2002 as offensive coordinator when his dad, John Thorne became head coach.
Jeff Thorne adopted his father's philosophy of developing good men and putting football second.
"He's been the main influence in my life, as far as a coach, and certainly my mom. But, things weren't broken here. I took over a pretty good situation that he set up so I've been doing everything I can just to not screw it up," he said.
"They play the game, because they love the game. It's really, it's a beautiful thing," Throne said.
Most players are from the Chicago area. Others are from places like Florida and Ohio.
What will Thorne tell players in the locker room before kick-off?
"Have fun, enjoy the moment. Be where your feet are, because you only get this opportunity, maybe once in your lifetime," he said.
North Central is 13-1 this season, it's only loss coming in October to Wheaton College. Thorne says "this group has taken it to another level."
