RFC Summer Semester: NCAA Division III Independents

Editor's Note: We're taking a brief break from our conference previews to take a brief at the five NCAA Division III 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):

Alfred State (4-6):  The Pioneers hope to take the next step, and post a winning record in 2014.

Chicago (6-4):  After finishing 1-2 in their final University Athletic Association season, the Maroons will spend one year as an independent before joining the Southern Athletic Association as an associate member in 2015. Head Coach Chris Wilkerson welcomes back first-team all-UAA cornerback Vincent Beltrano for his junior season, among other players.

Marantha Baptist (1-9):  New Head Coach Nathan Spate takes over a Crusaders program that's hungry for wins, winning just one game over the last two years, and only four overall over the last three years.

Washington (Mo.)--(8-3):  The Bears finished unbeaten at 4-0 as a member of the UAA in 2013, taking Franklin to the limit before falling 17-10 in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.  Now, as 2014 approaches, they must adjust to life as an independent before transitioning to the SAA in 2015. 

Wesley (10-3):  They've won at least 10 or more games in eight of the last 10 years--and five years in a row dating back to 2009--last missing the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2004, when they finished 8-2 overall.  As they head into 2014, the Wolverines hope to extend that hat trick to six straight double-digit win seasons before joining the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) as an associate member in 2015. Oh, and did we mention that the Wolverines will begin this season nationally ranked in the Top 5 in D-III? That's according to the Lindy's Sports and Sporting News preseason magazines.

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