RFC Summer Semester: The Sun Conference Preview (NAIA)

The Sun Conference (NAIA)

Football Launch Press Release (Courtesy of The Sun Conference)

Overview: Founded in 1990 as the Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, later the Florida Sun Conference, the Sun Conference will sponsor football at the NAIA level for the first time in 2014. Six schools will play in the Sun's first football season: Ave Maria, Edward Waters, Southeastern, Warner, and Webber International, all in Florida, plus Point in Georgia.

Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):

1. Webber International (5-5):  The Warriors were beasts at home, going 4-1 in their backyard last season, but struggled mightily on the road, finishing just 1-4 in away games.  Winning on the road will be a must if they're to finish above .500 this season.


2. Ave Maria (8-2):  A funny (but good) thing happened on the way to the end of the Gyrenes 2013 football season. They actually won eight straight games after an 0-2 start. That's a remarkable improvement from the combined 1-16 mark they had stretching into the 2011 and 2012 seasons, respectively.  Now, the challenge heading into the 2014 campaign is this: can the Gyrenes carry over that momentum from last season?  Three straight road games against NCAA Division II North Greenville and Florida Tech, as well as FCS Mercer, will provide some very stiff tests.

3. Warner (1-10):  The Royals will have a lot of room for improvement between year one and year two.  Their only win of 2013 came in the last game of their inaugural season: a low-scoring 13-7 win over Concordia (Ala.) on November 16.

4. Point (3-7):  The Skyhawks struggled to score in 2013, as they were held to under 20 points in all of their losses.  The schedule doesn't get any easier in 2014, as they play just three home games this fall.

5. Edward Waters (n/a):  The Tigers enter the 2014 season with a new head coach in Alvin Wyatt.

6. Southeastern (n/a):  The inaugural season for the Fire includes games against another newcomer in NCAA Division II Limestone (S.C.), as well as second-year NCAA Division III program Berry (Ga.).

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