RFC Summer Semester: Pioneer Football League (PFL) Preview (FCS)

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2012 Final Standings

Looking back:  The 2012 Pioneer Football League season was probably the most competitive in its 20-year history, with three teams: Butler, Drake, and San Diego all sharing the conference title with a 7-1 mark in league games.


Looking ahead: The PFL will look to the South for its newest members in 2013, as it adds Mercer University out of Macon, Georgia, and Stetson University out of DeLand, Florida.  That brings the league's membership to 12 teams for this season. By 2014, however, Mercer will move to the Southern Conference.
 
Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. San Diego (8-3):  The Toreros are perhaps the hottest team in the PFL heading into the 2013 season, winning six straight games to close out the 2012 campaign.  But if they're to contend for another conference crown this year, they must do it under new head coach Dale Lindsey, who's beginning his third season at USD.  He'll be blessed with tons of talent, with 47 players returning, including 11 starters.

2. Drake (8-3):  Bulldogs welcome back 29 letterwinners from last season, in hopes of winning at least a share of their third straight PFL title this season.

3. Butler (8-3):  The PFL's other Bulldogs, the ones from Indianapolis, hope to mount a serious challenge for the league title as well.

4. Jacksonville (7-4):  The Dolphins hope to build on the 32-8 mark that they've compiled in PFL play over the last five years.  Their last league title came in 2010.

5. Dayton (6-5):  The Flyers hope that the back-to-back wins they posted at the end of 2012 will carry over into 2013.

6. Marist (4-7):  Red Foxes look to improve on last year's 3-5 mark in conference play, while also looking to win their first conference title since 2007.

7. Morehead State (4-7):  Eagles look to start a new era under head coach Rob Tenyer.

8. Davidson (2-9):  The Wildcats are also hoping to start anew under rookie head coach Paul Nichols.

9. Valparaiso (1-10):  The Crusaders will have their work cut out for them if they're win their first PFL title in 10 years (2003).   

10. Campbell (1-10):  The Fighting Camels will have former Nebraska standout and NFL start Mike Minter as their new head coach.

11. Mercer (n/a):  The newbie Bears will have their first football season since 1941. They'll play just one season in the PFL before joining the Southern Conference in 2014.

12. Stetson (n/a):  The Hatters will take to the football field for the first time since 1956.


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