Editor's Note: Our coverage of the independent programs in small college football continues with an inside look at the squads at the NCAA Division III level. The six teams being profiled are located in the following states: Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, and Minnesota.
Looking back: Of the four teams that didn't have a conference home in 2010, none of them reached the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Looking ahead: Two teams that did reach the D-III dance last season, DePauw and Wesley, will join the independent ranks in 2011. DePauw's independence, though, will only be temporary, as the Tigers will join the North Coast Athletic Conference in 2012. Also, LaGrange College in Georgia will join the USA South Athletic Conference next season.
2010 overall record in parentheses
Chapman (4-5): The Panthers will have back-to-back bye weeks after their season opener at home against Whitworth on September 3.
DePauw (9-2): The Tigers have advanced to the D-III playoffs the last two seasons, in 2009 and 2010, respectively. If they're to advance to postseason play for the third straight year, they'll have to do as an independent, as they play just three home games in 2011, including the season-ending Monon Bell rivalry contest against Wabash on November 12.
Huntingdon (6-4): The Hawks started the 2010 season 3-0, then went on a four-game slide, only to end it with a four-game winning streak.
LaGrange (3-7): The Panthers have made the NCAA playoffs just once in their five seasons of football (2008). They hope to return to postseason play after missing out the last two years.
Macalester (6-3): The Scots hope to accomplish rare feat in 2011: putting together back-to-back winning seasons.
Wesley (12-1): The Wolverines enter the 2011 season ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation by the Lindy's Sports and Sporting News magazines, respectively. After compiling a combined record of 70-9 (.886) over the last six years, which includes six straight NCAA playoff appearances, six straight championships in the now-defunct Atlantic Central Football Conference, not to mention advancing to the national semifinals four times during that span, here's the big question: Can the Wolverines finally get over the hump, and into the Stagg Bowl? They'll face an uphill battle just to make the playoffs, as they play just four games at home, including an October 29 contest against former ACFC rival Salisbury.
4 years ago
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