RFC Summer Semester--Mid-South Conference (MSC) Preview (NAIA)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Georgetown (Ky.) had another banner season on the gridiron in 2011, advancing to the national semifinals of the NAIA playoffs, before being crushed by eventual national runner-up, Carroll (Mont.), 35-3.  The only other Mid-South Conference team to reach postseason play was Bethel (Tenn.).  Unlike the Tigers, though, the Wildcats were "one and done" after round one, as they were eliminated by eventual national champion St. Xavier in convincing fashion, 51-13.

Looking ahead: With the elimination of West Virginia University Tech's football program, as well as the departure of Shorter University of Rome, Georgia, to the NCAA Division II level, the MSC will have a new look in 2012, operating with 13 schools, six in the East Division, seven in the West.  Additonally, Bluefield College will have a team take the field for the first time since 1941, while another Georgia institution, Reinhardt University, will join the MSC in 2013.

2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

East Division

1. Georgetown (Ky.)--(12-1):  After the magical carpet ride that was the 2011 season, the Tigers hope to have an encore performance for the 2012 season.  Their schedule will consist almost entirely of teams within the MSC this year.

2. Cumberlands (Ky.)--(7-3): The Patriots make the move to the East Division after finishing tied for second place in the West Division with archrival Cumberland (Tenn.) at 4-2 last season.  A season-ending five-game winning streak has the faithful in Williamsburg, Kentucky hopeful for a strong performance this season.  Still, they must pay a visit to Georgetown on October 6.


3. Kentucky Christian (4-7):  The Knights will try to improve on last year's 2-3 mark in MSC East Division play.


4. Virginia-Wise (5-6):  The Highland Cavaliers hope for a better ending to 2012 after finishing 2011 with three straight losses.  In those final three games, they were outscored 140-28.


5. Pikeville (4-6):  The Bears saw a promising 4-1 start fizzle to a season-ending five game skid last season.  They were held to 28 points or less in each of those contests.


6. Union (Ky.)--(2-9):  The Bulldogs and their faithful will be more than glad to welcome 2012 after a miserable 2011 season.  Six of their games this season, though, will be on the road.


West Division 

1. Cumberland (Tenn.)--(7-3):  The Bulldogs hope to re-group after losing their last two games of last season.  That came after a 7-1 start.

2. Bethel (Tenn.)--(8-3):  The Wildcats have a tough row to hoe in 2012 after winning the West at 5-1 in conference games in 2011.


3. Campbellsville (7-5):  The Tigers hope to take the next step towards the NAIA playoffs in 2012 after ending 2011 with five straight wins, including a 21-7 victory over Greenville in the NCCAA Victory Bowl.

4. Belhaven (5-6):  The Blazers have just one non-NAIA opponent to play against this season: NCAA Division III Louisiana College at home on September 8.

5. Lindsey Wilson (7-3):  The Blue Raiders might be hard pressed to get above the seven-win mark in 2012.  All three of their losses in 2011 came against ranked teams.


6. Faulkner (3-7):  A season-ending, high scoring, triple overtime win over Union (Ky.) ended an otherwise disappointing 2011 season for the Eagles.  That victory is something that will hopefully carry over into the 2012 season.


7. Bluefield (n/a):  As the Rams take the field for the first time in more than 70 years this year, they hope to give it their best effort.