This is the first time in a long time that neither the University of Montana Grizzlies or the Carroll College Fighting Saints have made it to the national championship in their respective divisions. The Grizz lost to UMass at Washington Grizzly Stadium two weekends ago in a 19-17 heartbreaker. Carroll lost out a week beforehand at Nelson Stadium in Helena to St. Xavier, halting their streak of four consecutive national championships (the only scholarship level football program ever to do so). I take solace in two facts:

First, UMass lost to Appalachian State in the Division I Championship Division of Champions on Friday. Minuteman fans back in Amherst reacted with a riot. Classy.

Second, St. Francis, the team that lost to Carroll in the previous two NAIA national championships, fell again in the title game, this time to the University of Sioux Falls Cougars. That officially makes them the Buffalo Bills of NAIA. Massive gag...And they still have yet to beat Carroll.

And, on an unrelated note, Carmelo Anthony hits like a girl. Bad form. That shot was more of an openhanded slap than a punch. And then he runs away? I hope Stern hits him with an extra game for that alone.