Let’s take a look at the report card for some of the major highlights and lowlights of NAIA football at the midterm.

Lindenwood: People seemed to have forgotten about how good of students the Lions could be. They’re undefeated and looking for a chance to play in Savannah. Hopefully this student doesn’t decide to coast and forget to show up for the final.

Jamestown: This student lost a lot of experience over the last year but must have done some key studying last spring and summer to be ready for this season. Their definitely the best student in their class but we’ll have to wait and see what will happen if they make it to a regional “Quiz Bowl”.

Urbana: We thought this student was all but headed out of the door but they decided to come back one more year and show us they can be very good in this class. Their win over Walsh put them up a little closer to the top of their class’ honor roll but will need to hit the books hard until they take their final

Montana Western: This professor expected this student to sit in the back of the class and not pay attention. By the end of the school year I figured they’d be causing trouble but not enough to be a distraction. Never doubt a good student! The Bulldogs are in the front of the class and paying attention to every lesson!

Doane College: Matt Franzen took over a program that had fewer than 40 guys finish the season in 2006. This student worked hard in the off season and when everyone else (including this professor) counted them out, they got something done. Doane has already won two games this year … that’s two more than anyone thought they would win this season. Gold star for Doane! (Okay, that was cheesy)

MidAmerica Nazarene, Northwestern IA, Graceland, MSU-Northern, Shorter, Malone, Morningside, and U-Cumberlands are off to a great start this semester but they need to keep their nose in the books.

Now before anyone takes offense to the following list I should give my criteria for the grading because it is pretty simple. Just imagine if at the beginning of the season I guessed at what everyone’s grade would be at this time of the season? Well the following report shows whether I feel like those teams are up, down or holding steady! Pretty simple … but I’m sure I’ll still get some hate mail. Just remember that a down isn’t necessarily a bad thing … it just means this professor thought you would be a little further a long with your homework.

Here’s our progress report of the Ups, Downs and Holding Steady’s in the NAIA.

UP -Nebraska Wesleyan

UP – Rocky Mountain – MT

UP – Ottawa – KS

UP – Bethany – KS

UP – Southern Oregon

UP – Bacone – KS

UP – Concordia – NE

UP – Peru State – NE

UP – Minot State – ND

UP – Baker – KS

UP – Texas College

UP – Evangel – MO

UP – South Dakota Mines

UP – Dakota State – SD

DWN – William Penn – IA

DWN – Kansas Wesleyan

DWN -Georgetown – KY

DWN – Lambuth – TN

DWN – McKendree – IL

DWN -Trinity International – IL

DWN -Haskell Indian Nations – KS

DWN – Iowa Wesleyan

DWN – Valley City State – ND

DWN – Dickinson State – ND

DWN – Black Hills – SD

HS – Southwest Assemblies of God – TX

HS – Belhaven – MS

HS – West Virginia Tech

HS – Avila – MO

HS – Azusa Pacific – CA

HS – Dana – NE

HS – Midland Lutheran – NE

HS – Webber International – FL

HS – Cumberland – TN

HS – Union – KY

HS – Edward Waters – FL

HS – St. Francis– IL

HS – Sterling – KS

HS – Mayville State – ND

HS – William Jewell – MO

HS – Quincy – IL

HS – Olivet Nazarene – IL

Especially if you start the season 0-4, 1-3 or something like that. There are not a lot of chances for you to still win a conference or make the postseason, but you keep plugging away for pride. I envy those players too. This is when you find out what you will be made of in the real world.

Just think being in a job and three weeks into the fourth quarter of the business year and your boss says there is no way the sales team is going to make the quarterly goals. Do you keep plugging away for pride or cash it in and just do enough to get by for the rest of the year? It’s the same scenario from football to the business world.

In all honesty if I could bring on employees right now I would hire the guys that I see major improvement from this day forward instead of the ones who have had it good for them since the beginning of the season. I want to see an 0-3 finish 7-3 because those are my type of guys. I want an 0-4 to go 6-4 and working for me in the future because in the end that is why 95% of us are here. To get an education and learn skills that will help us in the real world.

I do not care about 40 times or how many times you can bench 225. I want to know you never gave up when you were 0-4. I want to know that you didn’t skip class. That’s what I want.

Montana Western has been a great surprise in the conference. I do not think that anyone except the backers in Dillon were thinking the Bulldogs would be off to this good of a start this season. In fact most of the estimates I saw from people in Big Sky country were for the Dawgs to finish last or near last in the conference.

Well so far Montana Western has proved most of those naysayer’s plus myself wrong and has won every one of their conference games going into this week’s battle in Helena. The only loss the Dawgs have this season is to IAA Big Sky member Eastern Washington, who is currently undefeated heading into this weekend.

Growing up in Nebraska it’s almost scary to when the Huskers had their dominance in the mid-nineties. From week to week fans lived and died with the QB play of Scott Frost. Touchdown Tommie Frazier won two titles for Nebraska. He then handed the program over to Scott Frost who didn’t win a national title in 1996. So for two years it seemed as if the vaunted Husker offense was the worse in the country despite the fact they kept winning and winning and winning with only one or two slips along the way. When they won the title in 1997, Scott Frost was anointed a Husker hero and all was right in the world. Hmm, Carroll fans … or should I say certain Carroll fans … sound familiar?

The coaches didn’t become stupid overnight, the playbook didn’t lose half of their pages and the field didn’t suddenly tilt 20 yards into the earth making it harder to move the ball up field. Carroll College is making the most out of what they have on this squad. They have a good team, great coaches and are good enough to win a national title.

Guess what … they might lose a game in the regular season. It happens. It doesn’t mean it is the end of the world. Let me play this weeks game out for you on paper… .

Montana-Western is going to get a lead in this football game. Heck they might even win this football game. I do not think they will but it is a distinct possibility given the “no fear” attitude in Dillon.

Carroll College will not get into a football game where the final score is 42-35 with the Bulldogs. It might be 21-10, or 17-3, or another 10-3 game with them coming out on top. If that’s the case I am sure on Monday the message board will be filled with “thank God for a great defense” posts.

And at the end of the day no one within the Carroll College football team will care … because they won. They will move on and they will get prepared for the next week of football. If they lose … they will move on and they will get prepared for the next week of football. That is just how the program works.

Western can beat Carroll, but I do not see it happening in Helena.

By the looks of things, that day might have come last year too as the Panthers lost in the final minutes in Fort Wayne, IN. But this season ODU will have USF on their home field in a game that could determine the road to the national championship.

Obviously each team has to play out the season, but look at what weighs on this game. The winner is in the driver’s seat to winning the MSFA league title. They still have to get past great teams like SXU, Malone and Walsh but they at least control their own destiny.

The winner will likely draw the 2nd or 3rd best team from an opposing conference in the first round of the playoffs making for a more manageable match up in the first round.

These two teams could likely win out through the playoffs and match up in the semifinals with the game being played at the higher seed IF the higher seed reaches the minimum to bid for the game. ODU could take some major advantages away from the Cougars if they were to do so.

The “what ifs” are endless with this one.

I really think ODU is a great football team and I am looking forward to flying into Columbus for the game this week. It will be a tremendous opportunity to see two of the best teams in the country going up against one another as well as two of the best coaches in the country.

The game? I think it goes to St. Francis. The aura around the Cougar football program just feels different this year and I think it leads them to a national title. It’s not a revenge thing anymore and it doesn’t seem like it is all about pride. I just get the feeling from USF that it is “what they are suppose to do” this season. There are no excuses … it is just about winning the games each week and bringing home a title.

ODU may surprise some people and get a win this week and I would be one of them. But I think at the end of the weekend we will find out the Panthers are still one of the top five in the country regardless if they lose to USF. They might have a blemish on their record but they will still be better than 86 other teams in the NAIA.

Jamestown College @ Valley City State University: The PAINT BUCKET game! One of the best rivalries in college football regardless of division. JC is the better team on paper. But the game is in Valley and the Vikes need a win to turn around the season. This game will get CRAZY.

Lindenwood University @ Georgetown College: Name the last time GT lost two in a row in the same season? Name the last time they started 1-3? I cannot do it, which is why I think they win this week. LU can prove they are one of the best in the country with this victory. I haven’t seen the Ross era at LU have that “program defining win”. This is their chance.

MidAmerica Nazarene University @ Evangel University: So is MNU second best in the HAAC or can Evangel mix up the conference standing? The clouds are starting clear on the HAAC race but Evangel could bring in a storm front if they win this week.

Morningside College @ Concordia Univ: Hey Concordia … you lost …sorry … it was a heartbreaker … get over it. Because if you do not Morningside will beat you by thirty this week. I think CU shakes the heartbreak and gets the victory this week but they had better come prepared to play and not be reviewing any more game film of “the block”. If they have a college football mentality CU will come to play this week. If they do not … U-G-L-Y this week in Seward.

Northwestern College (IA) @ Hastings College: Okay Hastings, you have beaten everyone you are supposed to beat … now try to beat someone that you are not supposed to beat. This is the game that will make the Broncos a postseason contender or pretender. Broncos are greatly improved now they just have to believe they can do it.

<?xml:namespace prefix = st2 /><st2:sn w:st=”on”>Saint</SN> <st2:middlename w:st=”on”>Xavier</MIDDLENAME> <st2:sn w:st=”on”>University</SN> @ Walsh University: Walsh has been seen as #2 in their league for quite some time. But with SXU coming over and ODU improving again the Cavs have the chance to go from one of the best in the NAIA to a distant memory unless they can get some wins against some of the best in the NAIA. They are yet to beat St. Francis … can they get one against SXU? The home field will help but SXU looks really good this season.

Southern Nazarene University @ Azusa Pacific University: Great to see SNU making the trip to LA to play APU. This game will help me to judge how much APU has improved since week one. They have beaten a good Malone team, hung with one of the best in DIII and were two points from beating IAA Nichols State. SNU is a top 25 team in the NAIA and APU can help their cause for postseason if they get a win this week. SNU needs a big win after tripping up two weeks ago to Peru State.

Sterling College @ Northwestern Oklahoma State: This is awesome that the KCAC is scheduling NWOSU. The Rangers need more NAIA opponents so they can get a fair shake in the ratings. Sterling is an improved football team and will give NWOSU everything they want this week. But the Rangers are just more talented and will get the win.

University of Virginia’s College at Wise @ Bethel College: I said it in my picks this week and I will say it again. WISE NEEDS TO BE READY. They say last week was a programming defining win. Well this week they could get a programming defining loss on the road if they aren’t ready. I am not sure how good Bethel (TN) is right now. A win this week has me thinking late rounds of the NAIA post season. A loss has me thinking they might struggle down the stretch. I think Wise is the better team but don’t be surprised to see a huge crowd in McKenzie this week for one of the best games in the country!

That’s it for this week folks! Drive safe and enjoy your NAIA football!

The first question I received from about ten different people on my cell phone on Saturday evening focused around one subject. “Are they good enough to do it again?”

I had two answers, one was a long drawn out analysis of an offense and defense revolving around the ins and outs of football and improvements that have been made over the last year.

The other was the simpler of the two: Yes.

The difference in the Saints from 06 to 07 is also very simple, experience. The Saints are deep on the offensive line and the group they have back on defense is nasty. Eastern Oregon’s Ian Shields felt the Saints just play at a totally different speed than everyone else they have faced.

You cannot see it on film but in person it is apparent. The Saints defense swarms opponents. The first guy is always there to slow up the play and there are six or seven other guys closing in fast to finish off the opponent. It is kind of like sending missiles into a battle zone. The first one catches everyone’s attention and the other six or seven do the damage.

But everyone knows that the Saints defense is going to be good. They are typically every year. The question mark last year and this year were if the offense would be good enough to carry this team through a tough postseason run.

This year’s offense just looks to be more in sync than last seasons. QB John Barnett still has a cannon but his throws look more relaxed and less forced than last year. Last year was kind of like that scene out of the movie “The Program” where the Heisman Trophy candidate Joe Kane is over and under throwing passes in fall camp and James Caan’s character says “Joe’s got too much pressure on him; he’s trying to win the Heisman on every pass.”

That’s what Barnett looked like to me last year at Carroll. This season he looks like a guy who’s just out throwing the ball around to his buddies. And his “buddies” have yet another year of experience.

Speaking of “buddies” I do have to mention my time away from football at Carroll College. Through the years and the annual visits to Nelson Stadium I find myself running into a lot of the same people. From that I have made quite a few good friends which goes to show you the welcoming environment at Carroll College.

Most of the people I have chummed around with were on the first national championship team in 2002. They are definitely a good group of guys and I have no problems sitting back and listening to them tell stories from back in the day. It is just fun to hear from them plus see how much their lives have changed from the championship in 2002 until the present day as they all work “real jobs” and get on with life after football. I heard plenty of stories from Shane Larson, Nick Porrini and Matt Vantresca this past weekend. I also learned from them that library’s are “intense”. (Yes, we’ll go ahead and reference that line as “inside joke” … glad you could play along.)

I’ll see you this week at homecoming in Peru, Nebraska as Iowa Wesleyan takes on the Bobcats!

The first that comes to mind is Saint Xavier. Mike Feminis’ squad was an NAIA semifinalist last season in what proved to be a remarkable and historic run through the NAIA postseason. This year’s team makes me believe they have the same swagger as last year’s squad.

The key will be how they handle the new conference schedule and their move to the Mideast side of the league. Now they have to battle St. Francis (IN) and Walsh (OH) in the regular season as well as face off with Ohio Dominican for the first time this season. Also keep in mind that one of their regular season losses last season came against Mideast opponent Malone, who just got back from California after putting up a great fight against Azusa Pacific.

QB Bill Yeo of SXU is a gamer. He is not going to be an NFL Draft pick but he will be able to put together one of the best seasons ever for Saint Xavier. Yeo reminds me of Chad Cavender from Sioux Falls in about every sense of his play. They just seem to both made good decisions and by the end of the day they will put their team in position to win football games.

But I digress, SXU is just one of many teams in the NAIA that feel have a great opportunity to win a national championship this season. Carroll College, Bethel TN, Ohio Dominican … the list goes on because it is that early in the season and we cannot even begin to see these conference races taking shape.

MNU looked like a championship caliber team in week one with a big win over Azusa Pacific then lost the second week to Lindenwood before eking out a victory over Benedictine last week. This week the ‘Neers will play Graceland, who looked average in a week one win over Central Methodist but then turned it on against the nation’s #3 team Missouri Valley. Valley was thought to be one of the best in the country but went to 3OTs with Benedictine in week one to get a win previous to their loss to the Jackets.

Oh yeah, William Jewell is 2-0 facing MoVal Saturday and Baker is 1-1 with undefeated Lindenwood on the schedule. My head is spinning … I’m going to take a nap now.

So if ANYONE tries to say “you can start to see the shape of …” then those people need to be shaken violently because they are not watching the same conference or NAIA division as us. Graceland and Lindenwood hold the keys right now with both having a chance at unbeaten seasons. But the way the conference has gone this season I would not count on any of that.

Seemingly LU and Graceland have remedied any offensive woes that people expected in 2007. They’ve both looked very good through two weeks and will be tested in their games this week.

Just a little side note; If Baker were allowed to go all orange, then the Lindenwood/Baker game this week in St. Charles would not be attended by any fashion experts. I think the new uni’s at LU look good, but the message boards may not think so. You may also go blind if Baker were allowed to play in the orange uniforms from watching them and the gold and black all over the field.

Ever eat a banana and an orange on an upset stomach? Yep … kinda like that.

From eating 2lbs of steak at the Marysville House to getting to know a bunch of the alumni off the first national championship team, I have always enjoyed my visit to Montana’s Capitol City. Heck, while going to these games I’ve also gotten a chance to visit Butte, MT and see the home of the Orediggers. I just made sure I wore my VSN gear and not anything gold while visiting.

There is just something about the state of Montana that I look forward to every year whether it’s seeing the Saints play football or getting to meet huge fans of NAIA sports.

I am not sure what is in store for me on this trip to Helena but I certainly plan on seeing some great football in the Frontier.

It should be a great game because the opponent, Eastern Oregon, needs this win or at least a great performance to begin their climb in the Frontier and NAIA standings. This is a football team that I felt coming into the season showed great promise. They still do but they have to start turning the corner this week because right now it appears to be Montana Tech and the Mountaineers of EOU for third in the Frontier.

Ahh yes, there I go with a “taking shape” comment. I’m sure I’ll be proven wrong!

Rivalry in Sioux Falls
The Cougars play host to the one of the higher rated teams in the NAIA this week, the Northwestern College Red Raiders. This game is always well played, hard fought and often times go down to the wire.

But much to the displeasure of Red Raider backers, I do not see it that way this season. Two things have happened in the last 365 days: Sioux Falls got better and Northwestern’s offense took a step back.

Yes, I know Northwestern just came off a 44 point performance last week over Dakota Wesleyan. But let’s not use that as the measuring stick for the success of the Red Raider “O”. The team I saw week one in Lincoln, Nebraska had big problems moving the football against a decent defense. I do not believe last week’s defense from the Tigers in Mitchell, South Dakota should be compared to the ‘85 Bears either even though they appear to be improved. When tested this season, the Red Raiders “O” did not perform well.

So I firmly stand behind my pick of 42-7. I think Sioux Falls is that good on both sides of the ball. Maybe the 42 is a bit high, but I also calculated in a defensive and special teams score as well. Northwestern’s fate will lie on their first drive of the game. If they can get a score early then they may be able to hang with USF. I just do not see it happening.

Baker – KS @ Lindenwood – MO: If Baker can upset Lindenwood this week on the road they too can throw their name in the HAAC title hunt as nearly everything will be up in the air. Baker needs a breakout game and there is no better set up than this week.

Bethany (Kan.) – KS @ Briar Cliff – IA: GPAC vs. KCAC. Bethany is young and will struggle against Briar Cliff. The Cliffies need this non-conference win as they struggle with where they will land in the conference this season.

Doane – NE @ Nebraska Wesleyan – NE: Rivalry!!!! But … don’t expect much yet. Doane is young and inexperienced. Look for improvement from the Tigers but NWU should handle them.

Haskell Indian Nations – KS @ University of Redlands: Haskell gets a great opportunity from their school leadership to travel across the country to play in what will be one of the more memorable weekends in their recent football history. But do not go looking for Haskell to come back with a “W” as Redlands is a quality D3.

MayvilleState – ND @ South Dakota Mines: Mines could seriously start the season 3-0? Wow. It has been awhile since Mines has had the ability to do this. Mayville State needs a win this week to show they are improved over last season but Mines will not go down easy.

MidAmerica Nazarene – KS @ Graceland – IA: GU can take hold of their destiny this week with a win over MNU but I get the feeling that the HAAC is just going to get crazier and crazier by the week. It’s just so wide open right now that you might as well throw darts to pick the winner.

MinotState – ND @ Jamestown – ND: I think Jamestown proves this week they are one of the top two in the conference with a win. I think BHSU has a lot of improving to do since they started 0-2 but the Jimmies can turn heads with a win this week and a perfect start to their season. Minot State needs a “W” to get the monkey off their back and get the Rudolph era started with a bang. Minot will be good under Rudolph but it is going to take a while.

MissouriValley@ William Jewell – MO: I nearly forgot about this game since there are so many good ones in the HAAC. MoVal needs a strong offensive performance to stay in the upper tier of the conference while Jewell is chomping at the bit for a chance to be considered one of the best in the conference. This might end out being the best game of the week.

Northwestern Oklahoma State – OK @ Southwestern – KS: The KCAC has started scheduling NWOSU … this could be ugly this week if the Rangers start to roll.

OhioDominican @ Tiffin University: The best overall football game of the week. Tiffin is proving to be a very tough DII football team as the Dragons are currently undefeated. ODU needs this win to prove to me they are a national championship caliber football team. Sure it may seem unfair to say that since this is a good DII school, but when St. Francis and Carroll were making their runs to the title game they were beating good DII schools. ODU needs this to prove to me they stand chance to beat St. Francis (IN) this season.

Olivet Nazarene – IL @ St. Xavier – IL: Nice little Chicago area rivalry. ONU is the team everyone forgets about because they are just “there”. They are not the top, they are not the bottom. They are just there. SXU’s plans should prove to leave them “there” with a convincing win.

Quincy – IL @ Culver-Stockton – MO: The Pepsi Great River Bowl should be a great game as well. I think that CSC is improved this season and Quincy is still a quality team. Should go to the wire with this one.

Saint Francis – IN @ Pikeville – KY: I think USF continues their run to start the season. After a 71-7 game last week I think the Cougars will scare the Bears into the gigantic hill on the West side of their football field. Pikeville is getting better but they are not on the same level as the Cougars yet.

Union (Ky.) – KY @ Malone – OH: MSC vs. MSFA. I think Malone is the better overall team and should win this game but it’s nice to see two conferences locking up in a non-conference battle.

Urbana– OH @ McKendree – IL: McKendree loses to Urbana last season. That was the point that I knew McKendree wasn’t the same power that they had been in previous seasons. A win this week will prove to me they are back in the running for the NAIA postseason.

ValleyCity State– ND @ Black Hills – SD: No wins between these two schools that were near and at the top of the conference last season. The outcome of this game will help me to draw a conclusion if BHSU will be strong enough in all areas to win the DAC. The same can be said about VCSU. For whatever reason, people seem to be writing off VCSU as a team that could win this conference. A strong performance this week can have people thinking differently.

That’s it for this week folks. Enjoy your NAIA football and I’m sure I’ll be hearing from you on email or the message boards!

Most notably the stadium needs some improvements on and around the stands. Most construction managers would look at the stadium as a nice “shell” to start with. Some fresh paint and a power washer would go along ways. Also, some turf or a reseeding of the field would make the game play even better.

Right now the playing surface has a lot of crabgrass on it. Okay … maybe the surface is all crabgrass, but I digress. I am not trying to put down the efforts of Haskell because they already do more than expected as a football staff and school. What I am trying to do is point out the potential this school has to become something really special to Native American students across the country.

In my opinion this is a school that should receive a lot more federal funding than what they get because of what and who they represent. You have to be of Native American decent to go to this school. Period. Because of that I think it makes them special and unique to a culture that is slowly being forgotten. By preserving the values of their culture and working to improve this school I really think that the Midwest and the entire country could enjoy this little “gem” tucked away in Lawrence.

As for the football between Haskell and SD Mines … it was sloppy but it was a competitive game. It just seemed to me like there were a lot of penalties that will hurt both of these schools in bigger games. False starts, off sides, illegal substitutions, etc. There seemed to be no real flow in this game.

At first I thought Mines was going to blow out Haskell as they marched down the field and kicked a field goal on their opening possesion. But that would be all that we would see for a while as they two teams just could not move the ball.

SD Mines is improved and their 2-0 record reflects that. They might end the season with four wins this season, maybe five, if they can capture lightening in a bottle. But in my opinion they did not look like a team that I would consider being in the top of the DAC quite yet. Things are heading the right direction but Mines is still young.

Haskell just does not have the ability to bring in athletes to really make them into a team that can compete with the best in the country. They have good ball players and they play with a lot of heart and pride. But at the end of the day I was not looking at a team that was all that athletic. They have some good ball players and a solid coaching staff but just do not have the “oomph” needed to win 6-7 games.

Haskell is an Independent, but in watching them and knowing the restrictions they have with admissions and scholarships I really believe this school would be a nice addition to the KCAC. It would give them a solid schedule each season and allow them to start some real rivalries within the state of Kansas. Right now it just seems like they are a program that is looking for an identity. Of course that decision is up to the Presidents of the KCAC. If they were to admit them to the conference I would give them a big thumb up.

After the clock hit zero I escaped to make it to I-70 so I could watch Kansas Wesleyan and Bethel in Salina. When I arrived I saw a great small college atmosphere; tailgaters on the grass, plenty of fans, a hot sweaty press box and a beautiful facility.

This season while KWU starts to remodel their football stadium the Coyotes will be playing their home games at Salina Central HS. The facility has turf and great seating for fans. It is also very easy to find if you are an out of towner trying to get to the game.

I came away from KWU/Bethel with two things:

#1 Bethel College is better than I thought they would be.

#2 Kansas Wesleyan’s offense is not as far along as I thought it would be.

Typically KWU can reload at certain positions and be just fine but this year’s offense just seemed out of sync.  That is bound to happen with 8 new offensive starters. The Coyotes are known as a run style football team but that may have to change if they do not improve in the trenches. KWU provided little running room for their backs. The longest running play from scrimmage was nine yards for Valliere. That’s just not enough to get the job done.

I did think when given time QB Drew Dallas looked good throwing the football. His completion percentage was below what most football coaches would want it to be (10-26) but he certainly throws a good ball.

As for Bethel, I really liked the way they moved the football. With a few improvements this offense will be very tough to stop. The Threshers ran the option quite well and I felt their QBs made good decisions when to keep and when to pitch the ball. The tandem of Clow and Rogers proved to be a deadly one as the two QBs combined for 216 yards from behind center.

All-American running back Beau Cox did what I expected. He busted some nice runs and kept the offense moving along. The issue Cox will have this year is that teams are really going to key on him knowing what he can do. He has to avoid contact in the backfield or else he is done. The second back for Bethel, Melton, is a bigger stronger back which will provide Bethel with a guy who can get it done between the tackles.

Keeping these two guys on the field as much as possible will help the Threshers to have opponents guessing at what is next.

Bethel’s defense looked really good in the victory but I am not going to pass judgment on them until they are tested a few more times. The jury is still out in my opinion if Saturday was Bethel being that good on D or KWU being that out of sync.

Bethel can win a conference title if their defense comes to play every week. They have a good offense that provides the balance needed to win the KCAC. But they have to be able to stop teams like Friends from physically dominating them or Sterling from running all over them.

In the end there was a lot of excitement when KWU picked up a fumble and got the score to 13-8. But I just got the feeling from the fans that no one was expecting the Coyotes to pull off the victory. I never heard anyone say it but I felt as if fans of K-dub were thinking “we don’t deserve to win this.”

But what they do deserve is to improve this week and get ready for another game. The season is far from over and I think with some improvements on offense KWU can still be a postseason team.

Next weekend will be a lot of fun for me as I will be in Helena, Montana to watch Carroll College take on Eastern Oregon. Between the football, alums, facilities and fantastic support for VSN I know I will have a GREAT time.

Then you look at the Frontier Conference who already has Montana-Northern and Montana Tech vying for the early frontrunner position to win a conference title. Tech and Northern played great non-conference teams in their opening weeks which have allowed them to fine tune things before conference play.

Then you have a great non-conference match up with Evangel facing off with Langston. Langston was a team that last season a lot of people felt made a nice run towards the postseason until slipping up late in their schedule. Evangel was defeated in week one by William Jewell, 21-10, but I would expect a better overall game from the Crusaders this week as a second loss early will put their backs against the wall as they head into their conference run.

In my opinion I am going to what looks to be the best NAIA game on paper this week in Salina, Kansas. KWU rolled through the early portion of their KCAC schedule last season starting the year 7-0 before losing in North Newton, Kansas to the Threshers 10-3. That win propelled Bethel into the postseason as they rose in the ratings above KWU the following week after the Coyotes stubbed their postseason toe on Sterling College.

KWU is a bit of an enigma this season. Head Coach Dave Dallas is always competitive in the KCAC and his teams have been competing for conference titles as of late. This team seems to have all the pieces in place for greatness this season but the KCAC is such a temperamental league that the slightest shift could upset the applecart for the entire season.

I would bet my opening week predictions for the KCAC for the last six years are close to morbid when I think about it. You can never get a decent gauge on this league early in the season.

Bethel College has one of the country’s leading rushers back in Beau Cox. The shifty back broke out of nowhere last season as he took All-American honors from VSN. Now whether or not he can repeat the performance of 2006 is yet to be seen as he will have a tough go this week against a usually stingy Coyote defense.

I think Kansas Wesleyan is the better team this week, especially at home. But that does not mean that Bethel can’t run the table the rest of the season in the KCAC. I like what Mike Moore has done with the Threshers and respect him a lot as a coach.

The other game in the KCAC this week with Friends and Sterling is a game I wish I could make it to as well. First off, I love Sterling Coach Andy Lambert and Friends Coach Monty Lewis. I think they are two of the best in small college football.

Secondly I am a “run the football” sort of guy. I’m sure if the referees came to Lewis and Lambert before the game and said “Fellas, there’s a new rule for tonight that says you cannot throw the football” both of these guys would probably smile and likely change nothing in their game plan.

So in hindsight maybe I should have headed off to this game since I love smash mouth football. You will see the teams run some option in this game, a lot of powers and some big collisions between the big uglies on the line … . man I love football.

Friends is the better squad but that does not mean I don’t think Sterling can pull the upset because they can. It just seems to me that going into the season that Friends is a little bit ahead of the rest of the KCAC.

First year quarterback Adam Mares was adequate in his first week as a starter for Missouri Valley. Now that he has gotten the quote “butterflies out of his stomach” he will have to improve this week if the Vikings are to get past Graceland. Graceland is the team that everyone in the HAAC has seemed to forgot about and have the ability to get the upset this week.

GU starts quite a few new faces offensive including their first year starter in Garrett Graves. Last week Graves was 20-33 for 135 yards in an effective debut as signal caller for the Jackets. Jerome Messam carried the load in the backfield with 26 carried for 110 yards in the win.

MoVal and GU are a lot a like in the fact that they have key positions being occupied by inexperienced players. This week will either be about which one of those newcomers can step up and be a superstar or not do anything to lose it for their team. I still like MoVal in a close one.

Belhaven – MS @ Southern Nazarene: SNU can prove to me this week that they are a postseason contender with a win. This is a program that has been average for a long time, which is fine, but I think the Crimson Storm can achieve more. Belhaven is a quality opponent and a win over the Blazers will mean something to the raters.

Benedictine – KS @ MidAmerica Nazarene: Okay boys, who wants it? The HAAC race is on fire in the second week in the winner of this once will likely stay up in the ratings and be in the drivers seat the rest of the season. MNU has got to stop someone on defense if they are truly one of the best in the HAAC.

Carroll – MT @ Rocky Mountain: This game will be closer than you expect. Rocky is much improved this season. Carroll should get a “W” but when the score is only 14-0 could the “our offense sucks” crew stay off the message board?

Dakota Wesleyan – SD @ Northwestern (IA): I’m not saying much … all I am saying is keep an eye on this game.

Iowa Wesleyan @ Ohio Dominican: ODU hung 70 plus on Campbellsville last week. IWC better come to play or the Panthers will do it again.

Malone – OH @ Azusa Pacific: Should be a battle. Either Malone will position themselves in the Top 25 to stay or APU will start to climb out of their 0-2 start and rip through the rest of their NAIA schedule.

Montana State-Northern @ Montana Tech: Wish I could see it on TV. Second best game in the NAIA this week behind Bethel/Kansas Wesleyan.

Nebraska Wesleyan – NE @ Morningside: NWU went 0-3 vs. the best in the GPAC last season scoring zero points in those games. They lost 13-12 to Northwestern last week, can they turn the corner against the ‘Stangs?

Sioux Falls – SD @ Midland Lutheran: Midland lost big on the road last week by turning the ball over and not executing. They face the #1 team in the country this week. Check please …

South Dakota Mines @ Haskell Indian Nations: My first trip to Lawrence to see Haskell. Not often the DAC gets this far south for a football game so I figure WHY NOT! It is only gas money! Might not be a pretty game, but it will be competitive until the very end.  Heck, I even get SD Mines to visit me in Grand Island on Thursday!

Southern Oregon @ Idaho State University: IAA vs. NAIA. SOU is much improved … but a patsy on the schedule would have been a better choice. Go get ‘em Raiders! May the Appalachian State force be with you!

Southwest State University @ Jamestown: DII vs. NAIA. Jimmies look like the better team on paper, but that’s why they play the games.

St. Xavier – IL @ St. Francis (IL): Coach Mike Feminis against the school where he is in the hall of fame as a player. Former USF head coach Mike Slovick is also on staff with SXU. Fem and company should get the win.

Webber International – FL @ The Citadel: IAA vs. NAIA. If Webber could play more NAIA teams I think they would earn more national respect. Lost last week on a blocked punt, this week they can be competitive but they are just outmanned.

William Penn – IA @ Saint Francis: The last three times these teams have played has been in Oskaloosa, Iowa. USF is just happy they get it at home this year. Cougars may be rusty in week one but I still like them over the Statesmen.

Last year Carroll defeated the Yellow Jackets 28-3 in Spearfish SD but this year’s Yellow Jacket team has the ability to make sure that doesn’t happen again. I think John Scott’s program is ready to make some noise and be seen as the dominant DAC team much like the Dickinson State’s from the early part of this decade. DSU won or tied for four straight titles and I think BHSU’s program can get to that same level this year.

Black Hills’ starting QB Erik Osborne has another year under his belt and his experience in last year’s game against Carroll as well as the playoffs gives him the ability to try to pick apart a tough Saints defense.

And the Saints defense will be the major story of this game. Carroll College has always been tough on defense much because of head coach Mike Van Diest also coordinating that side of the ball. BHSU’s offense improved all of last season and should be solid against Carroll. Linebacker Owen Koeppen leads the Saints defense along with defensive back Nick Milodragovich. Overall the Saints return 7 starters to their vaunted defense.

As good as that defense is Carroll cannot wins games with a lack of offense. The offense of the Saints really struggled at times last season. Jon Barnett may feel less pressure this season as he goes under center for his second season as a starter. Without the four year streak of a national title looming over his head I think he will play more loosely and the offense will be more open than it seemed last season.

Game time is Saturday at 1:00 p.m. MDT at Nelson Stadium where a crowd of over 5000 is expected for the Saints home opener. I think it’s the Saints game to lose but believe the Jackets will be right with them every step of the way.

Junior Adam Mares was named the starter this fall in Marshall and I seem to think he is going to be the type of guy that can get the job done for the Vikings. He has the pedigree that I like to see in a kid who is taking over a program that is seen as one of the best in the NAIA.

That pedigree follows this line of thinking:  He is a local kid who has been in the system. No one expects him to be the Joe Montana of the program and he has enough weapons around him where he can worry about two things: Make the right decision when going through your progressions and do not turn the ball over.

Troth is a smart coach and will bring Mares along and instill confidence in him throughout the first game. He is not going to have him sling it 60 yards down field and then chew him out when he throws an interception on the play. Mares will hit the short passes and get the ball to Holmes for 4 yards a pop. The returning weapons for MoVal need to perform in week one and Mares will follow suite.

The Vikings posses two of the NAIA’s most exciting defensive football players in Larry Wentzel on the d-line and Reggie Singletary at defensive back. These two players are cornerstones to a solid Viking defense that should be able to limit the Benedictine offense in week one.

Benedictine has a shot to knock off the #3 team in the country this week, mostly due to the fact they have 7 returning starters on offense themselves. Add in the home field advantage and the Ravens will give MoVal all they want and more. I think Jesse Thomas is a quality running back that can get the Raven’s 100 plus yards a game.

The Ravens and Vikings are probably the game of the week in the NAIA.

Nebraska Wesleyan has been fourth best in the GPAC for years and if they want to get among the nation’s elite, they have to beat the highly rated Red Raiders from Orange City.

It will not be an easy task as the Red Raiders are one of the more efficient teams in the NAIA. They will not wow you with big plays and 90 yard bombs to score touchdowns but they will impress the football purists with great defense, discipline and an offense that makes you say “Man, how can they beat us.”

What I mean by “Man, how can they beat us” is this: I cannot tell you how many times I have stood in a coach’s office or talked to a coach at the conclusion of a football game and they have said those very words to me. You look at the offense, scout all the plays and think “we’ve got this team beat.”

Then you play them … 3 yards, 4 yards, 4 yards and repeat … . all the way down the field for the score. Craig Hector has the needed experience to lead the Red Raiders to a conference title if their young running backs can carry the load left by the departing Keith Sietstra.

If Wesleyan wants to get into the playoffs they have just got to get it done this week. No excuses. None of this “Well, it was a tough draw out of the gate” or “We just need to instill confidence in our team.” Bull … if you want it, go win it. It’s yours for the taking. Northwestern in Lincoln … week one … and they are replacing several All-Americans. Hey P-Wolves, it’s on the table … come get it if you want it.

And after all that inspiration and motivation for Wesleyan … I still think Northwestern wins this game.

Led by 16 returning starters the Lights are the odds on favorite against Dickinson State, but the Hawks have been known to surprise people from season to season. Dickinson State returns 12 starters, but anyone that knows this football program knows that DSU has the ability to beat anyone from week to week because they will not beat themselves. Head Coach Hank Biesiot enters his 31^st year at Dickinson State and his teams are known for efficiency as well as hard nosed play. The scheme may stay the same but everyone knows that you have to BEAT Dickinson because they will not beat themselves.

Important note in this game is that it is the return of Don Saisbury to the Lights backfield. Technically he never left as he started every game last season. But for those of you who forgot, Saisbury underwent treatment for cancer last spring.

Since the treatments he has been declared free of cancer and ready to play for the Lights while also getting married last summer. Truly an inspiring story. I had a chance to talk with Saisbury on the phone and I can do nothing but wish great things for this man.

Southern Oregon travels to Eastern Oregon for an interstate non-conference event. Coming into the season Eastern Oregon holds high hopes for their shot at Frontier Conference crown but they have to get by Southern Oregon first. SOU gave Montana Tech everything they wanted last week in Ashland but the Red Raiders came up on the losing end, 32-30.

EOU is seen as a dark horse in the Frontier to win the title. With Carroll being knocked off last season I get this unexplainable sense of confidence from the rest of the conference as if it is anyone’s title to win. People look at Montana-Northern or Montana Tech as the likely candidates. I feel like EOU has the best possibility of all of them to take the title from Carroll College because of their talent. There is no doubt that Southern Oregon and Eastern Oregon will be a great game this weekend in LaGrande, Oregon.

Bob Young is the recently retired football coach that led the Cougars to national prominence. He is absolutely one of the best people I have ever worked with let alone what he has accomplished as a coach. For those with short term memory you may remember Coach Young won the 1996 NAIA national title and played for another in 2001. Young will be on hand for the field dedication on Saturday as will the Victory Sports Network as we begin our fall tour of football games. Look for photos and highlights next week.

Sioux Falls returns All-American QB Chad Cavender as their offensive leader after he threw for just under 3700 yards in last year’s championship season. Josiah Fenceroy returns as an All-American tight end to lead a solid wide receiver core while Trey Erickson will continue to play Mr. Everything as a wide receiver, slot back, kick returner and sometimes even a running back.

The Dana Vikings offense will be led by Marcus Sladek at QB who enters his third season as the Vikings’ starter. Dana is coming off of their first winning season since 1996 as they went 6-5 last season. The Vikes could repeat that performance again this season but I do not expect them to knock off the Cougars this Saturday. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Sioux Falls.

I have had a few Bethel Wildcat fans email me to tell me how I am giving their team no respect, even though I picked them to win in round one. I feel Bethel is a quality football team that has done everything they have been asked to do this season with exception to their Cumberlands loss. I think Dino Kaklis is one of the brightest NAIA coaches in the country and I have no doubt that every coverage, every assignment and every inch of the USF playbook will be gone through with a fine tooth comb. I have all the respect in the world for this group of young men who have helped to take a program from nothing to the top of the NAIA.

But even with that said, you are playing the #1 team in the country this week. St. Francis has been to this dance before. In fact, they’ve been to the dance, ate the finger sandwiches, danced the hokey-pokey, drank the punch, danced with the hot prom queen and made it to the end of the dance only to watch the prom queen go home with the clean cut kid with the crew cut from Helena.

Right now you are standing in the corner wondering if people will notice your new slacks. This is the breakout game Bethel. If you get the win you will earn a lot of respect from a lot of people. If you lose you get to take dance lessons for the next year and show up as the schools bad boy next year. Maybe you are ready to do that Saturday. Time will tell.

The purist football game of the week will be in Marshall, Missouri between MoVal and Northwestern. Both teams are tremendously disciplined football teams with two of the best football coaches in the country heading them up. This game almost seems like a flashback game to the early 1980’s when Larry Korver was coaching the Raiders and Ken Gibler was at the helm of the Vikings. While those two coaching greats never met in a game we might be seeing history in the making with Troth and Otten facing off this week.

These squads might not have a bunch of NFL football prospect s playing for them, but they do have some of the most talented and hardest working kids in all of the NAIA. I think Northwestern has an edge offensively but Missouri Valley probably can cancel that slight edge out with the home field. From top to bottom this is the best game of the week.

Then we come down to the game that no one can get a feel for, Carroll and Saint Xavier. Based upon history and the team profiles for this season I will say this game is going to go one of two ways. Carroll will win this game handily with their defense offering no bend for the Cougars and the Saints offense getting on track. Or this will be a dogfight to the very end.

Even though Saint Xavier has an offense on paper that looks to be able to put up the points and cause match up problems the Saints D will have every step of the Cougar offense mapped out. Carroll’s D will not break in this game so the Cougars will need to find a way to maintain long drives and not turn the ball over. Even though people point to Carroll’s offense as their weakness this season there is no doubt that if the defense makes a big play the Carroll O will be ready to capitalize.

The Saints will not be able to score at will on SXU’s defense. But if they grind on the Cougars like they have done to so many teams this season they will be able to open up two or three shots to score in this game. In all honesty, the first team to 21 points will likely win this game.

So there are a few deeper thoughts on this week’s quarterfinal games. I’m just one guy following NAIA football. The important thing to remember is this season has been one of the most competitive seasons in NAIA football in recent history.

Enjoy