Kirk, Baucus Make Friendly Wager on NAIA Football National Championship

Loser to Display Winning Team’s Memorabilia in Senate Office

“I’m confident that St. Xavier can knock off the defending champs and bring a championship to the city of Chicago.”

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–December 16, 2011. Illinois Senator Mark Kirk joined Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today in a friendly wager over Saturday’s NAIA National Championship football game, where the current champions, the Carroll College Saints of Helena, Montana, will defend their title against the St. Xavier Cougars of Chicago, Illinois. The losing team’s Senator will display the winning team’s memorabilia in his front office for one week while the Senate is in session.

“I congratulate both the Carroll College Saints and the St. Xavier Cougars on outstanding seasons and making the NAIA National Championship game,” Senator Kirk said. “I’m confident that St. Xavier can knock off the defending champs and bring a championship to the city of Chicago.”

“It’s great to see the fighting Saints back to defend their NAIA National Championship. This is a great team with an excellent bunch of student-athletes,” said Baucus, who grew up in Helena. “I couldn’t be more proud of their determination and good, old-fashioned Montana work ethic. It’s going to be a great game, and I look forward to cheering them on to victory Saturday. Go Saints!”

Carroll has won 6 national titles since 2002, and both teams have been dominant figures in NAIA football in recent years. There last match up came in the semifinals of the 2010 NAIA FCS, with Carroll emerging victorious. If Carroll wins its seventh national title victory on Saturday, it will tie the record for the most NAIA National Championships.

Source: kirk.senate.gov