By Colleen Kane
Enquirer staff writer

Amid the blue and white chaos that will surround Mount St. Joseph's first Homecoming at a real home field, amid the buzz of a top-25 national ranking and an undefeated football season, amid the electricity of the best team in school history, Lions coach Rod Huber wants his players to pause this weekend.

"I know the pressure and intensity that's involved, but just take a minute to step back. Look into the bleachers, look at the setting, listen to the band and enjoy the moment," Huber said.

"Every now and then we get wrapped up in win, win, win. But it's important to me that we enjoy it. Let it all in and relish in the moment because I can't promise this next year."

If there's one thing Huber and the Mount St. Joseph coaches and players know besides football, it's how life can change in a year.

"This is a different team. A different game. A different situation. A different year," Huber yelled at the 90-plus towering football players who surrounded him Wednesday afternoon at practice.

He was preparing them for today's eighth game of the season, against Bluffton, a homecoming game they hope is their eighth straight win. Last year, the Mount lost its last three games of the season and, with them, what would have been the Lions' first conference title. That was the closest the team had come to a title in the program's 14-year history.

School records mount

But this year is another story. The Lions have set a school record for wins with seven, including a defeat of perennial contender Hanover, a team they hadn't beaten in 12 tries. They're ranked for the first time at No. 25 in the AFCA Division III coaches' poll. They're ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense, 13th in scoring defense.

Their offense is led by receiver Andy Wellendorf, who is ranked sixth in the country in receiving yards. For one of the first years, there are enough players that freshmen don't start.

And two more conference wins would earn the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title and NCAA playoff berth the Lions have coveted so long.

"It's just the attitude about the team is a whole lot different," defensive lineman Eric Schneider said. "You can tell people actually want to come out to practice and get a whole lot better."

Schneider is one of six seniors who remain at the Mount from his 40-player freshman class that went 0-10 its first year and was forced to play at high school stadiums until the Mount's sports complex was built for this season.

He stayed because of Huber and defensive coordinator Jim Hilvert, because he believed in the plan they started when they took over the program five years ago. When Schneider and the other seniors take a moment, it'll be to realize their work paying off.

"Those six or seven guys that stayed, their day has come, and that makes me feel so good," Huber said.

Dealing with tragedy

Good is a feeling that comes in increments these days for Huber.

Every morning, on the 40-minute car ride from his home in Amelia to the Mount, Huber - the former Army soldier, the football coach - cries thinking about his son, Jake.

"Mornings are my bad time," Huber said. "That's the tough time, when I'm alone in my car and I have nothing but time on my hands to think about Jake. That's all I do. I miss him bad."

In March, Huber and his wife suffered a parent's worst nightmare - 12-year-old Jake committed suicide. Seven months later, there are only two times a day when the tragedy isn't on Huber's mind every minute. The first is when he eats breakfast with his two youngest daughters and drops them off at school. The second is from 3-6 p.m., when he's on the football field.

In the worst of times, Huber has found the support from the Mount is his rock. He's overwhelmed by e-mails and prayers from people who have heard his story. More than 130 people have donated thousands of dollars to the college in the name of his son, and Huber doesn't know half of them. And this unprecedented football season has given a reason for Huber, his wife and his three daughters to smile.

"For my wife, it makes me feel good, that she can go to work and despite our tragedy, people can feel good for us," Huber said.

Taking it all in

Huber and his wife will focus their efforts in the offseason on the Jason Foundation, a program that educates about youth suicide.

In the meantime, Huber has this football season to keep his mind on the positives. The Mount has won two close games, and a friend pointed out that maybe Huber has a guardian angel. When Huber takes a moment, perhaps it will be to feel that presence.

Of healing, Huber said, it's "one day at a time."

It's a coaching clichÈ, but here, it's the truth.

The Mount is still three wins from realizing its dream season, but maybe just getting to this point is what matters.

"I want this run to last as long as it can," Huber said. "And when it's over, we'll celebrate."

MSJ schedule

Date	Opponent	Res./Time
Sept. 4	Wilmington	W, 2-10
Sept. 11	Rose-Hulman	W, 21-3
Sept. 18	at Kalamazoo	W, 21-19
Oct. 2	at Hanover	W, 29-10
Oct. 9	at Franklin	W, 34-30
Oct. 16	Manchester	W, 37-0
Oct. 23	at Defiance	W, 41-10
Today	Bluffton	1:30 p.m.
Nov. 6	Anderson	1 p.m.
Nov. 13	at Thomas More	1:30 p.m.

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E-mail ckane@enquirer.com