St. Xavier University Plays For NAIA Football Championship Saturday

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Prospects for the Bears winding up in the Super Bowl this season grow dimmer by the week, but there's one Chicago football team that's one game away from a national championship.

The St. Xavier University Cougars (13-1) will leave the city's Southwest Side tonight by bus for Rome, Ga., to play in Saturday's NAIA championship game against Carroll College.

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Coach Mike Feminis says the team is not going "just happy to be there." He says his Cougars intend to play to win.

According to Feminis, SXU has "won more football games than any other collegiate program in Illinois" in the past 10 years.

Coincidentally, Saturday is the winter commencement at St. Xavier University and a few seniors on the team will miss graduation.

"There's a couple of seniors missing graduation, but they have quite an excuse to do it," said Cougars junior quarterback Jimmy Coy.

Students are excited. Senior Brittany Jones calls it "amazing" the Cougars will be playing for the national championship. She says the team has been great for student morale.

Her friend, Marissa Young says, "It's phenomenal what they've accomplished."

Senior Nick Hastings says "everybody talks about" the team and loves that the Cougars were "blowing teams out" during the regular season.

Carroll (9-1) is the defending national champion and ranked No. 2 in NAIA, while St. Xavier is ranked No. 5. The Cougars knocked off the top-ranked team, Marian (Ind.) University, 30-27, to get to the title game.

Carroll, which is located in Helena, Mont., is seeking its seventh championship, while the Cougars are appearing in their first-ever title game.

Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and will be televised live on CBS Sports Television Network. Check your local listings for availability.