What it is: Thanks to a split by its original members from the non-football playing Pacific West Conference, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) was launched in 2001. Entering the 2010 season, the GNAC will have five schools playing American college football, consisting of four U.S. institutions (California, Oregon, Utah, and Washington State), and one Canadian institution (British Columbia). Simon Fraser University became the first Canadian university to be accepted into the NCAA fold as a Division II member in 2009. The Clan will officially join the GNAC in time for the 2011 season.
Since its formation of the GNAC nine years ago, Central Washington has established itself as the premier program in the league, winning five conference championships (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009), while advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs four times (2004, 2007, 2008, and 2009). The GNAC did not sponsor football during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. During that time, both CWU and Western Washington played in the now-defunct North Central Conference. Western Washington dropped its football program after the 2008 season.
Perhaps the most notable alumni to have played for Central Washington is journeyman NFL quarterback Jon Kitna. Undrafted in 1997, Kitna goes into the 2010 season playing for a fourth different NFL franchise, as he spent with the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and currently, the Dallas Cowboys.
Website: http://www.gnacsports.com/
Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)
1. Central Washington (12-1): Expectations once again are high for the Wildcats, as seven returning starters, as well as 32 returning lettermen, hope to put them back in the playoffs for the fourth straight season. To get back to postseason play, though, CWU must replace 16 starters lost due to graduation.
2. Western Oregon (5-5): Head Coach Arne Ferguson welcomes back 11 starters from the squad that finished second in the GNAC at 3-3. They hope to earn their first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance, with their last trip to postseason play coming in 2007. The Wolves defeated Colorado Mines, 26-12, in the Dixie Rotary Bowl that season.
3. Humboldt State (5-5): The Lumberjacks struggled to a last place finish in the GNAC at 1-5 last season. It won't get any easier for them in 2010, as they face non-conference road trips to NCAA FCS Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, as well as NAIA Azusa Pacific.
4. Dixie State (4-7): The Red Storm will face D-II Adams State to open the season (August 28), and pay a visit to FCS Southern Utah to close it (November 6).
5. Simon Fraser (1-7): The Clan will find out quickly just what NCAA college football is all about, as they face all but one team from the U.S. this season.
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5 years ago
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