Tuesday, July 13, 2010

RFC Summer Semester--Northern Athletics Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

What it is: In operation since 2006, the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) traces its origins to now defunct non-football leagues such as the Lake Michigan and Northern Illinois-Iowa Conferences. Its football membership currently totals eight schools, with locations in Illinois and Wisconsin. Football, though, didn't become an official league sport until 2008.

Website: http://northernac.org/

Predicted order of finish (2009 order of finish, projected champion in BOLD type)

1. Concordia (Chicago)--(8-2): The Cougars found themselves just one win away from making postseason play for the first time ever, only to be denied in their final regular season game of 2009, losing 15-14 to Benedictine (Ill.). They hope 2010 will be the year they finally get into the playoffs.

2. Lakeland (6-5): The Muskies to hope to win their fifth conference title in seven years. That run dates back to when they won the then Illini-Badger Conference championship in 2004.

3. Concordia (Wis.)--(5-5): The Falcons enter the 2010 campaign with high hopes, and high expectations, after finishing the 2009 campaign with a 5-2 mark, and a three-way tie for second place in the NAC.

4. Benedictine (6-4): The Eagles will play all but two of their games in or near the Chicago suburbs in 2010.

5. Wisconsin Lutheran (5-5): The Warriors enter this season hoping to finish above .500 for the first time in their football program's history. They won five games only one other time, in 2003.

6. Aurora (4-6): After winning the NAC title in 2008, the Spartans didn't live up to preseason expectations in 2009, and finished with a disappointing 2-5 mark in conference games. The Spartan faithful hope the 2010 season will mark a return to the top of the NAC standings.

7. Rockford (1-9): The Regents hope to move forward after a dismal 2009 season.

8. Maranatha (0-10): The Crusaders were outscored 378-64 in going winless last season. They were also shutout in three of those games in 2009.

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