RFC Summer Semester: NCAA Division II Independents

Editor's Note: We're taking another brief break from our conference previews to take a brief look at the six NCAA Division II schools who will take the field as independents in 2014. An "independent" is simply a school that currently has no conference affiliation.  With that said, let's get started.

2013 overall record in parentheses (in alphabetical order):

Alderson-Broaddus (4-7):  Going into their third full season of football, the Battlers hope to go back on the winning track after a disappointing 2013 campaign.

Kentucky Wesleyan (0-11):  Coming off of a winless season as an associate member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), the Panthers will start over as independent for 2014.  There are just four home games on this year's schedule, with a slate of opponents ranging from Arizona Christian to Warner.

Limestone (n/a):  The Gaffney, South Carolina-based Saints will begin their inaugural football season with an almost large roster of student-athletes, who come mostly from the Palmetto State. Their first-ever game will be played on September 6, when they play host to Wingate. 

North Greenville (5-6):  After getting off to a fast start at 4-0, the Crusaders crashed and burned down the stretch, losing six of their last seven games to finish the 2013 season below .500. It will be up to head coach Jeff Farrington to ensure that a similar late-season collapse doesn't happen again during the 2014 campaign.

Oklahoma Panhandle State (4-7):  Had it not been for a couple of close losses near the end of the season, the Aggies could have finished 2013 on a winning note. Instead, the focus for 2014 will be on actually finishing above .500, something that the faithful in Goodwell, Oklahoma haven't seen very often.

UNC Pembroke (9-2):  As the only team from this group to post a winning record, the Braves also advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2013, losing to eventual national semifinalist North Alabama, 37-13, in the first round. Believe it or not, UNCP will play host to UNA in re-match of that playoff contest on October 11. Having said that, if the Braves are to get another taste of postseason play in 2014, they must do it under new head coach Shane Richardson. He replaces Pete Shinnick, who resigned to take over the reins at the University of West Florida, whose Argonauts won't take the field until 2016.

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