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Canadian football fans witnessed history being made in Montreal Friday night. Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo set a new record for touchdown passes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with 396 for his career in his team's 40-17 win over the Toronto Argonauts. Calvillo is currently in his 18th season in the CFL.
Article courtesy of the Canadian Press
Looking back: Two teams from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2010. But it wasn't St. John's that reached postseason play. Instead, St. Thomas and Bethel (Minn.) found their way to the playoffs. And both of those teams managed to make a deep run in the playoffs, as the Tommies reached the quarterfinals, while the Royals reached the semifinals. The only negative for the MIAC in terms of its postseason was the fact that both Bethel and UST met in the quarterfinals, with the Royals shocking the Tommies in a low-scoring 12-7 contest. Bethel lost to eventual national runner-up Mount Union in the semifinal round.
Looking ahead: Bethel, St. John's, and St. Thomas go into this year highly ranked by two national sports publications. Also, St. John's head coach John Gagliardi enters his 59th season as the winningest head coach in college football history, at all levels. Gagliardi has 454 wins at St. John's all time, 478 all time, entering the 2011 season. He hopes to add more wins to that illustrious record this season.
Website: http://www.miac-online.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. St. Thomas (12-1): With 15 starters each returning on both sides of the football, expect the Tommies to at least stay near the top in the MIAC in 2011.
2. St. John's (7-3): After falling short of the NCAA playoffs last season, Gagliardi and the Johnnies hope to make a run not only at another MIAC title, but another postseason trip as well.
3. Bethel (Minn.)--(12-2): It'll be interesting to see if the Royals can outlast either of the "Saints" of the MIAC, and return to the playoffs.
4. St. Olaf (6-4): The Oles open MIAC play with a tough test against St. Thomas on September 17.
5. Concordia (Moorhead)--(5-5): An overtime win over St. Olaf capped up-and-down 2010 season for the Cobbers.
6. Gustavus Adolphus (4-6): The 2010 season was anything but golden for the Golden Gusties, as they lost four games by 20 or more points.
7. Carleton (3-7): The Knights struggled to a 2-6 record in MIAC match-ups last season.
8. Augsburg (4-6): The Auggies haven't won a MIAC title since 1997.
9. Hamline (1-9): The Pipers hope to put the misery of 2010 behind them.
Looking back: The University of Chicago Maroons not only ended the 38-game regular season winning streak of Case Western Reserve last year, they also ended the Spartans three-year reign as University Athletic Association champions.
The Maroons then went on to win a conference title of their own, as they finished unbeaten in UAA play at 3-0. No UAA team, however, advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Looking ahead: With Case, as well as Washington University from St. Louis looking to challenge Chicago for this year's title, don't expect the Maroons to sneak up on anybody.
Website: http://www.uaa.rochester.edu/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Chicago (8-2): The Maroons face two tough non-conference games long before they begin their defense of their UAA title; a September 10 contest at suburban archrival Concordia (Chicago), followed by a home game against Wabash two weeks later.
2. Case Western Reserve (8-2): The Spartans hope to bounce back, and return to the top of the UAA after finishing 1-2 in conference play last season.
3. Washington (Mo.)--(7-3): The Bears hope to win their first UAA title since 2004.
4. Carnegie Mellon (4-6): The Tartans and their faithful experienced something they hadn't experienced since the mid-1970's: a losing season. They hope to get back to their winning ways in 2011, but it won't be easy.
Looking back: Benedictine went undefeated at 7-0 in Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) play last season, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Their postseason run, though, was uneventful for the Eagles, as they were crushed by St. Thomas, 57-10, in the first round.
Looking ahead: Expect Benedictine, as well as archrival Concordia (Chicago) to challenge for the top spot in the NAC again this season.
Website: http://www.northernac.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Benedictine (Ill.)--(8-3): The Eagles enter 2011 primed for another potential postseason run.
2. Concordia (Chicago)--(8-2): The Cougars are a combined 16-4 over the past two seasons, with no NCAA playoff berth to show for those efforts. Could this be the year they finally get over the hump?
3. Aurora (7-3): All three of the Spartans losses in 2010 came by a combined 21 points. For those keeping score online, those setbacks came by exactly seven points in those three contests. If it weren't for those losses, the Spartans would not have only finished the regular season undefeated, they also would've landed in the NCAA playoffs.
4. Wisconsin Lutheran (6-4): Wins in six of their first eight games of 2010 gave the Warriors their first-ever winning season, only to have it end with back-to-back losses in their final two contests. It'll be interesting to see if WLC can that next step, and become a serious contender for the NAC title.
5. Lakeland (4-6): After winning the NAC title in 2009, the Muskies hope to bounce back after a disappointing 2010.
6. Concordia (Wis.)--(2-8): Both the Falcons wins in 2010 were back-to-back shutouts.
7. Maranatha Baptist (1-9): The Crusaders have a new head coach in Andy Peterson.
8. Rockford (0-10): Regents are in the "nowhere to go but up" category after going winless in 2010.
Looking back: North Central had its best season in school history; on the football field, as the Cardinals won a program record 12 games in 2010. Their season ended in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, losing to eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, 20-10. The only other CCIW postseason representative was suburban Chicago archrival Wheaton. The Thunder advanced to round two of the D-III playoffs before being defeated and eliminated by Bethel (Minn.), 15-10.
Looking ahead: Barring the unexpected, don't be surprised if both North Central and Wheaton are battling for more than just bragging rights again in 2011.
Website: http://www.cciw.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. North Central (12-1): Fresh off the best season in school history, the Cardinals begin the 2011 season ranked at No. 7 by the Sporting News. They were also ranked 17th by Lindy's Sports magazine. As for this year's schedule, their pre-conference games include a season opening trip to southern California to face Redlands on September 3, followed by their home opener against NAIA Bethel (Tenn.) a week later.
2. Wheaton (10-2): The Thunder hope to win their first CCIW championship since 2006, when it won a three-way share of the crown. Head Coach Mike Swider enters his 16th season at Wheaton trying to lead that program to its seventh playoff appearance under his direction. The Thunder travel to Naperville to face North Central in the next-to-last game of the 2011 season, on November 5.
3. Illinois Wesleyan (7-3): The Titans hope to return to the NCAA playoffs after slipping to a 4-3 mark in CCIW action last season.
4. Augustana (Ill.)--(6-4): The Vikings hope to be serious CCIW title contenders under new head coach Rob Cushman.
5. Elmhurst (6-4): The Blue Jays got off to a fast 4-0 start in 2010, but faltered down the stretch, losing four of their final six games. Their last conference title came in 1980.
6. Carthage (6-4): The Red Men finished the 2010 season with a 3-4 league mark.
7. Millikin (4-6): The Big Blue will play three straight road games to open the 2011 season. Their home opener won't be until October 1, against Augustana (Ill.).
8. North Park (2-8): The Vikings face an uphill battle after ending the 2010 season with seven straight losses.
Looking back: Wisconsin-Whitewater took home its third NCAA Division III national championship in the last four years, defeating Mount Union for the third time in as many tries in 2010. The Warhawks other national titles came in 2007 and 2009.
Looking ahead: UWW is looking for the rare "three-peat", as in winning a third straight national championship, as well as the fourth in the last five years, in 2011. In order to even have a shot at that, of course, the Warhawks would have to reach the national championship for an unprecedented seventh straight year. They're 3-3 against Mount Union in the previous six Stagg Bowls.
Website: http://www.wiacsports.com/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Wisconsin-Whitewater (15-0): Here's a quick math lesson: Since 2005, UWW has a combined overall record of 85-5 (.944). Only Mount Union has had a slightly better winning percentage during that span, at 86-4 (.950). Since 2007, both teams have compiled identical records of 57-3. However, the true tiebreaker is evident of terms of national championships, as the Warhawks have won three titles in four years, while the Purple Raiders have won one (2008). Also, head coach Lance Leipold enters his fifth season at the UWW helm, having lost three games, with the last loss coming in the 2008 Stagg Bowl to UMU. It'll be interesting to see if the Warhawks can win that third straight national championship.
2. Wisconsin-Stevens Point (7-3): A second place finisher in the WIAC at 5-2 a year ago, the Pointers lost two key games that kept them on outside looking in come playoff time: a 33-14 setback to Willamette in the season opener, followed by a tough 20-13 overtime loss to Wisconsin-Eau Claire on October 2. If they're to make an NCAA playoff run in 2011, they must win tough non-conference road tests against Willamette in the Pacific Northwest, as well as pick up a win in Michigan against Albion.
3. Wisconsin-Stout (6-4): The Blue Devils football program turns 100 years old in 2011. But if they're to going to be serious contenders for postseason play in this milestone season, they must overcome quite a few losses of players due to graduation.
4. Wisconsin-Oshkosh (4-6): The Titans have brutal back-to-best tests to open the 2011 season, as they get it underway against Central at home on September 3, followed by a road trip to Mount Union a week later.
5. Wisconsin-Platteville (5-5): The Pioneers will play a rare non-conference game, against a conference opponent, in UWSP, on September 10.
6. Wisconsin-LaCrosse (3-7): The Eagles also will play a non-conference contest against a WIAC foe; Wisconsin-Whitewater, at home, on September 3. If that wasn't enough, they must take a trip down south to Texas to face Mary Hardin-Baylor.
7. Wisconsin-Eau Claire (4-6): Even with the upset win over UWSP, the Blugolds and their fans still sung the blues by the end of the 2010 season, going winless in their four road games (0-4).
8. Wisconsin-River Falls (1-9): Falcons lone win of 2010 came in the final game of the season: a dramatic 45-42 victory over, you guessed it, Wisconsin-Eau Claire. That momentum could carry them to more wins in 2011.
Looking back: After a tight competitive, regular season, St. Norbert finally came out on top in the Midwest Conference, winning the league title with a 7-2 record in conference play in 2010. The Green Knights fell in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs to North Central, 57-7.
Looking ahead: Expect another close battle for the MWC title in 2011.
Website: http://www.midwestconference.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. St. Norbert (7-4): The Green Knights overcame an 0-2 start to win their fifth outright MWC title in the last eight years. They'll face a stiff test right out of the gate, as they open the 2011 season at defending Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion St. Thomas. Yes, that's the same Tommies team that trounced SNC in the 2010 season opener.
2. Monmouth (Ill.)--(6-4): The Scots have quietly built a winning tradition of their own under head coach Steve Bell, winning MWC championships in 2005, 2008, and 2009. Bell enters his 12th season needing just six wins to reach 90 victories for his coaching career. He has a career winning percentage of .737 going into the 2011 campaign.
3. Carroll (Wis.)--(7-3): The Pioneers finished in a three-way tie for second place in the MWC at 6-3 last season. If they're to make another run at a conference title this season, they must do it under a new head coach in Mark Krzykowski.
4. Ripon (7-3): The Red Hawks have 19 conference titles in program history, but haven't won any since 2001. They hope to add No. 20 in 2011.
5. Grinnell (6-4): The Pioneers finished the 2010 season with their first winning record since 2004, when they also finished 6-4.
6. Beloit (5-5): The Buccaneers open the 2011 campaign with back-to-back road against defending conference champions: defending University Athletic Association champion Chicago on September 3, followed by the MWC opener against St. Norbert the following week.
7. Illinois College (5-5): The Blueboys and their fans found themselves singing the blues at the end of the 2010 season, as they ended it with back-to-back losses after a 5-3 start. They hope to sing a different tune at the end of the 2011 season.
8. Lake Forest (2-8): The Foresters hope to post their first winning season since 2004, when they finished 8-2.
9. Lawrence (2-8): The Vikings hope to bounce back after a rough 2010 season.
10. Knox (1-9): The Prairie Fire is wiping the slate clean for 2011 as well.
Looking back: Franklin overcame losing its 2010 season opener to Carthage (Wis.), of all teams, to win nine straight games, and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Association title, the Grizzlies third in four years. They finished undefeated in HCAC action at 8-0, only to lose to eventual NCAA Division III national champion, Wisconsin-Whitewater, in the first round of the playoffs.
Looking ahead: Franklin has two tough tests to open the 2011 season. The Grizzlies will travel to northwestern Indiana to face Valparaiso from the NCAA Division I FCS non-scholarship Pioneer Football League on September 3. The following week, they'll play host to the same team that ended their season in round one of the D-III playoffs: Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Website: http://www.heartlandconf.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Franklin (9-2): Grizzlies will shoot for their fourth HCAC title in the last five years. Among other milestones, they'll also look to advance to the NCAA playoffs for the fourth time in five years. If that wasn't enough, the Grizzlies also want to win at least nine games in a season for the fifth time dating back to 2006. The last season they won fewer than nine games was in 2009 (7-3).
2. Defiance (6-4): The Yellow Jackets finished the 2010 season with their best record in about 10 years. After finishing tied for second in the HCAC at 6-2 in league games, it'll be interesting to see if they can take that next step, and advance to postseason play.
3. Hanover (7-3): The Panthers also enjoyed their best season in nearly eight years, coming within one win of a conference title before losing their finale to Franklin. Their early-season test will come on September 10, when they face three-time President's Athletic Conference champion Thomas More (Ky.) on the road.
4. Mount St. Joseph (5-5): The Lions hope to make their second postseason appearance in three years, after slumping to a 4-4 mark in HCAC action last year.
5. Anderson (Ind.)--(3-7): A season-ending, 37-34, overtime win over Manchester win gives the Ravens faithful some hope going into 2011.
6. Bluffton (4-6): Like Anderson, the Beavers also ended their season on a winning note, with a win over Defiance. They'll be shooting for at least a share of their first conference title since 2000.
7. Rose-Hulman (6-4): The Engineers won back-to-back games to end 2010 on a high note. They hope to continue that momentum in 2011.
8. Manchester (2-8): The Spartans ended the 2010 season with seven straight losses after a 2-1 start.
9. Earlham (0-10): Quakers look to bounce back after a winless season.
Looking back: The Mid-States Football Association sent multiple teams to the NAIA playoffs in 2010. In the Mideast League, St. Xavier, St. Francis (Ind.), and Marian, reached postseason play, while McKendree advanced out of the Midwest League. William Penn was passed over for a playoff berth despite a 10-1 overall record, as well as finishing the season with a Top 10 national ranking.
Looking ahead: Concordia (Mich.), Robert Morris (Ill.) and Siena Heights (Mich.) will debut their programs in the MSFA this season. On the flip side, because of their imminent transition to the NCAA Division II ranks in 2012 and beyond, Malone, McKendree, and Walsh are ineligible to compete for a conference crown in 2011. As a result, six teams will play for the Mideast League title, while eight squads will vie for top honors in the Midwest League.
Website: http://www.mid-statesfootball.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
Mideast League
1. St. Xavier (13-1): The Cougars from Chicago reached the NAIA playoff semifinals in 2010, losing to eventual national champion Carroll (Mont.). It'll be interesting to see if SXU can finally get over the hump, and win it all in 2011.
2. St. Francis (Ind.)--(10-2): The Cougars from Fort Wayne, Indiana also hope to make a serious run for the Mideast League championship this season. Last season for them ended in the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs, where they lost to none other than, St. Xavier. In order to return to postseason play once again, the Cougars must get through a tough schedule in which they'll play three teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll.
3. Marian (10-3): The Knights made the most of their first-ever postseason appearance a year ago, outlasting Ottawa (Kan.) in the first round, before bowing out against you guessed it, eventual national champion, Carroll (Mont.)., in the second round.
4. Taylor (6-5): The irony in the 2011 schedule for the Trojans? Two trips to Canton, Ohio in the final three weeks of the regular season.
5. Quincy (0-11): The Hawks make the move from the Midwest League, to the Mideast League, after a winless season. Their biggest move, however, will come in 2012, as they join the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference.
6. Concordia (Mich.): After a 2010 "trial season" in which they finished 5-2, the Cardinals hope to fly high in their first full varsity season.
Midwest League
1. William Penn (10-1): The Statesmen may have lost only one game in 2010. But that one defeat, to McKendree, cost them a postseason berth. If there's anything good about the 2011 season for them, it's that McKendree can't compete for the MSFA title.
2. St. Francis (Ill.)--(7-4): The Fighting Saints hope to find themselves in the fight for a conference/division title this season. Their lone game against a non-NAIA opponent is at NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State on November 5.
3. Grand View (6-4): The Vikings will open the season against NCAA Division II transition team Black Hills State (S.D.) on August 27, followed by a visit to NCAA Division I FCS Drake two weeks later.
4. St. Ambrose (5-5): The Fighting Bees look ahead to 2011 after a 3-4 finish in Midwest League action in 2010.
5. Iowa Wesleyan (3-8): The Tigers last winning season was in 1994, when they finished 8-3.
6. Waldorf (3-8): The Warriors were 1-6 in MSFA Midwest League play last season.
7. Trinity International (3-8): The Trojans are one of two teams jumping to the Midwest League after a 1-6 finish in the Mideast League a year ago.
8. Olivet Nazarene (0-11): The Tigers are the other team that's making the move to the Midwest League after a winless 2010 season.
Teams ineligible for MSFA title
Malone (3-7): The Pioneers hope to turn the corner after a disappointing 2010 season.
McKendree (9-3): After being eliminated by eventual NAIA national runner-up, now fellow NCAA Division II transition team Sioux Falls--in round two of the 2010 playoffs--the Bearcats begin their own transition this season, in D-II.
Robert Morris (Ill.)--(n/a): The Eagles inaugural season of football includes a September 24 home game against fellow gridiron newcomer Ave Maria (Fla.).
Siena Heights (n/a): First-ever football game is against Robert Morris (Ill.) on September 10.
Walsh (7-4): The Cardinals started the 2010 season 5-0, but struggled down the stretch, losing four of their final six games. The 2011 campaign includes games against the likes of future D-II member Urbana, as well as NCAA Division II Wesley.
Looking back: The team with the best combined overall record in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) over the last three years doesn't come from the state of Michigan, but about 10 miles south of the state line, in Indiana. Trine University has compiled a combined mark of 31-4 (.886) dating back to the start of the 2008 season. They've also won three straight MIAA titles during that span, winning 18 straight conference games going into this year. That's not to mention that the Thunder has advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs three straight years as well, winning one postseason game a piece the last two seasons. If that's not enough, Trine has also had two undefeated regular seasons in the last three years (2008, 2010).
Looking ahead: Trine enters the 2011 season hoping to win a fourth straight MIAA title. Meanwhile, the other six schools, all located within the state of Michigan, hope to break the three-year stranglehold the Thunder has had on the conference crown, as no other squad finished the 2010 season above .500 overall.
Website: http://www.miaa.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Trine (11-1): The 2011 schedule for the Thunder is not exactly the toughest, as the three-time defending MIAA champions will face teams that finished the 2010 campaign with a combined overall record of 29-71.
2. Adrian (5-5): The Bulldogs open the season with three straight road games, starting with the opener against Husson in Maine on September 2.
3. Albion (5-5): Despite a so-so 2010 campaign, the Britons still got some national recognition entering the 2011 season, earning the No. 23 preseason ranking from Lindy's Sports magazine.
4. Hope (3-7): The Flying Dutch hope to get to over the three-win hump in 2011. They've finished with exactly that same number the last the three years. Their last season of more than three wins came in 2008, when they finished 6-4.
5. Kalamazoo (3-7): The Hornets were held to exactly either 10 or 17 points, in four of their seven losses last season. No, that's not a misprint.
6. Alma (3-7): The Scots non-conference schedule includes a September 24 contest in Virginia against defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion Washington & Lee.
7. Olivet (0-10): It's been "long-time, no wins", for the Comets, whose last win came on September 20, 2008, a 59-0 rout of Concordia (Chicago). They've lost 27 straight games since then.
Editor's Note: Our series on independent programs in small college football wraps with a look at the teams competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The eight teams taking the field in 2011 have the following state breakdown; Florida (3), California (2), and Virginia, Kansas, and Oregon (1 each).
Looking back: Of the seven NAIA programs that weren't part of any conference in 2010, only Azusa Pacific from California advanced to postseason play. Not only that, APU was also one of only two squads to post winning records when the 2010 season ended, with Florida-based Webber International being the only other team to finish above .500. The Cougars were promptly ousted by eventual national champion Carroll (Mont.) in opening round playoff action, while the Warriors missed out on postseason play despite winning seven games.
Looking ahead: Ave Maria University, of Florida, will take the field for the first time in 2011. Meanwhile, the California-based Azusa Pacific University will spend one final season as an NAIA independent, before beginning the transition to the NCAA Division II ranks in 2012.
2010 overall record in parentheses (programs listed in alphabetical order)
Ave Maria (n/a): The Gyrenes will play against the following NCAA opponents during their inaugural season; Birmingham-Southern, Huntingdon, and LaGrange (Division III), as well as Notre Dame (Ohio)--(Division II).
Azusa Pacific (6-4): In their NAIA swansong, the Cougars will face the likes of San Diego from the FCS, as well as D-II foe Dixie State out of Utah, not to mention Chapman, LaVerne, and Whittier from the D-III ranks.
Edward Waters (1-10): Tigers hope to put a dismal 2010 campaign behind them.
Haskell Indian Nations (1-9): Lone win of last season was a 27-14 victory over Trinity Bible College on October 2.
Menlo (4-7): A dramatic 44-42 win over Pacific was the fitting end to an otherwise disappointing season for the Oaks, whose faithful hope to see a happier ending to the 2011 campaign.
Southern Oregon (3-7): The Raiders got off to a quick 2-0 start in 2010, but things quickly downhill for them down the stretch, losing seven of their last eight games. The 2011 schedule won't be any easier, as SOU opens the season with three straight road games, before finally playing their home opener on September 24.
Southern Virginia (4-7): The Knights scored at least 20 or more points in the four games they won last season.
Webber International (7-4): The Warriors will back-to-back trips to West Coast in consecutive weeks; a September 24 game at Southern Oregon, followed by a trip to California against Azusa Pacific the following weekend.
Editor's Note: Our coverage of the independent programs in small college football continues with an inside look at the squads at the NCAA Division III level. The six teams being profiled are located in the following states: Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, and Minnesota.
Looking back: Of the four teams that didn't have a conference home in 2010, none of them reached the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Looking ahead: Two teams that did reach the D-III dance last season, DePauw and Wesley, will join the independent ranks in 2011. DePauw's independence, though, will only be temporary, as the Tigers will join the North Coast Athletic Conference in 2012. Also, LaGrange College in Georgia will join the USA South Athletic Conference next season.
2010 overall record in parentheses
Chapman (4-5): The Panthers will have back-to-back bye weeks after their season opener at home against Whitworth on September 3.
DePauw (9-2): The Tigers have advanced to the D-III playoffs the last two seasons, in 2009 and 2010, respectively. If they're to advance to postseason play for the third straight year, they'll have to do as an independent, as they play just three home games in 2011, including the season-ending Monon Bell rivalry contest against Wabash on November 12.
Huntingdon (6-4): The Hawks started the 2010 season 3-0, then went on a four-game slide, only to end it with a four-game winning streak.
LaGrange (3-7): The Panthers have made the NCAA playoffs just once in their five seasons of football (2008). They hope to return to postseason play after missing out the last two years.
Macalester (6-3): The Scots hope to accomplish rare feat in 2011: putting together back-to-back winning seasons.
Wesley (12-1): The Wolverines enter the 2011 season ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation by the Lindy's Sports and Sporting News magazines, respectively. After compiling a combined record of 70-9 (.886) over the last six years, which includes six straight NCAA playoff appearances, six straight championships in the now-defunct Atlantic Central Football Conference, not to mention advancing to the national semifinals four times during that span, here's the big question: Can the Wolverines finally get over the hump, and into the Stagg Bowl? They'll face an uphill battle just to make the playoffs, as they play just four games at home, including an October 29 contest against former ACFC rival Salisbury.
Editor's Note: This is the finale of a two part series on the independent teams competing at the NCAA Division II level. Part 2 consists of teams listed in alphabetical order, from Oklahoma Panhandle State to William Jewell.
Looking back: Of the remaining seven teams profiled in this post, Sioux Falls has the most storied tradition of that "septet", as the Cougars won four NAIA national championships over a span of 15 years, dating back to 1996. Three of those titles, though, came over the last five years (2006, 2008, 2009). USF had a shot to make four crowns in five years, only to be denied by Carroll (Mont.) in last year's title game.
Looking ahead: After being one of the most dominant programs at the NAIA level for the better part of the last decade, Sioux Falls embarks on a new era in 2011, as the Cougars begin the transition to the NCAA Division II ranks. Also, programs such as St. Joseph's, Urbana, and William Jewell, among others, will join the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2012.
2010 overall record in parentheses
Oklahoma Panhandle State (6-5): Aggies signed multiple players from places as far as New Jersey, Chicago, and Sacramento, Calif., during the offseason. Yes, they even signed more than their fair share of players from Texas.
Sioux Falls (13-1): The Cougars first transitional season in the NCAA D-II ranks includes games against perennial powerhouse Northwest Missouri State, as well as games against McNeese State and North Dakota from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)--(formerly NCAA Division I-AA).
Southwest Baptist (7-4): A seven-game winning streak was sandwiched in between a pair of back-to-back losses to both start and end the 2010 season, respectively. As for 2011, the Bearcats will play their final three games at home, after playing six of their first games on the road.
St. Joseph's (5-5): Like Southwest Baptist, the Pumas also had a "Jekyll and Hyde" season in 2010, losing their first three games, followed by a five-game winning streak, and ending it with back-to-back losses.
UNC Pembroke (5-5): After a 2009 playoff season, the Braves fell back to earth in 2010, losing three straight games to end last year after starting it at 5-2. The most interesting fact about the 2011 schedule is that UNCP will play all but two of its games within the Carolinas; eight in North Carolina, and one in South Carolina.
Urbana (5-6): The Ohio-based Blue Knights hope a three-game winning streak to end 2010 will carry over into 2011.
William Jewell (4-7): The Missouri-based Cardinals are looking to get off to a fresh start as an NCAA Division II program, after years of competing at the NAIA level. They plan to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference by 2012.
Editor's Note: This is the first of a two part series on the independent teams competing at the NCAA Division II level. Part 1 consists of teams listed in alphabetical order, from Central Oklahoma, to Notre Dame College (Ohio).
Looking back: Of the first eight teams profiled in this post, North Greenville had the best record in that group, as the Crusaders finished the 2010 season with a school record nine wins, including a season-ending victory over Campbellsville, in the NCCAA Victory Bowl, among other games.
Looking ahead: In 2012, five of the first eight teams profiled will join the following conferences:
Central Oklahoma, Northeastern State (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
Central State, Kentucky Wesleyan, Missouri S&T (Great Lakes Valley Conference)
2010 overall record in parentheses
Central Oklahoma (2-9): The Bronchos hope to put a bad 2010 season behind them. But they'll have to play five of their six games, including their first four contests, on the road, in their transitional 2011 campaign.
Central State (Ohio)--(1-9): The Marauders find themselves in the same boat as the Bronchos, trying to put more games in the win column in 2011. Like UCO, they'll also be racking up the frequent flyer/rider miles this season, playing four of their first games on the road. Only three games will be at home.
Kentucky Wesleyan (5-6): The Panthers had a three-win improvement from 2009, when they finished 2-9. They open the season on September 1, against future GLVC member Indianapolis on the road.
Minot State (6-4): The Beavers schedule of away games will take them as far away as Texas and Montana, among other places.
Missouri S&T (3-8): Of the eight losses the Miners suffered in 2010, seven of them came by 10 or more points.
North Greenville (9-3): With eight games against teams from the South Atlantic Conference, the Crusaders might be hard pressed to match last year's record setting accomplishments.
Northeastern State (6-5): The Riverhawks are joining their Oklahoma rivals, the UCO Bronchos, in playing as and independent before transitioning to the MIAA in 2012.
Notre Dame College (2-9): The Falcons are looking to soar towards more wins in season two.
Looking back: Georgia State had a respectable inaugural season of football in 2010, as the Panthers finished 6-5 overall.
Looking ahead: GSU is one of three schools whose football programs are competing as NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) in 2011.
The other two institutions, South Alabama and Texas-San Antonio, will compete at the FCS level for just this season only, before moving up to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-A), within the next two seasons.
UTSA, whose Roadrunners program debuts this season, will join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2012, while South Alabama will move on to the Sun Belt Conference in 2013.
2010 overall record in parentheses
Georgia State (6-5): The Panthers will play one more season as an FCS independent before joining the Colonial Athletic Association in 2012.
South Alabama (10-0): The Jaguars were undefeated in 2010, but will face tougher tests in 2011.
Texas-San Antonio (n/a): Former Miami (Fla.) head coach Larry Coker will lead the first edition of the Roadrunners onto the field in 2011.
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Looking back: Grand Valley State has ruled not only the GLIAC, but also the NCAA Division II roost, over the previous decade, as the Lakers won four national championships during that span (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006).
Looking ahead: 2011 will mark the final season for Indianapolis as an associate member of the GLIAC in football, as the Greyhounds will join the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2012.
Website: http://www.gliac.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Grand Valley State (13-2): Is there room for another national championship trophy at GVSU? Hopefully, that will be the case in 2011, as the Lakers lost to Northwest Missouri State in the 2009 title game. One interesting note about this year's schedule is that GVSU will play just two games outside the state of Michigan, the September 17 game at Indianapolis, as well as the October 15 contest against Lake Erie in Ohio.
2. Wayne State (Mich.)--(9-2): With a preseason national Top 10 ranking by the Sporting News, expectations will be very high for the Warriors, who hope to fight their way to the top of the GLIAC standings this season. Of course, a four-game winning streak to end 2010 will do just that: raise those expectations.
3. Hillsdale (9-3): The Chargers will look to advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the third year in a row. In 2010, they were one and done, as St. Cloud State eliminated them, 42-28, in the first round. They also reached round two of the 2009 playoffs, before bowing to eventual national runner-up Grand Valley State.
4. Michigan Tech (8-2): Despite a four-game winning streak to end 2010, the Huskies found themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time. It's something that they hope to change in 2011, as their last playoff appearance came in 2004.
5. Ashland (8-3): The Golden Eagles overcame a 1-3 start to finish with a flourish, winning seven straight games. Hopefully, that momentum will propel head coach Lee Owens and his charges to another high finish in the GLIAC. Owens needs only one win to reach 50 career victories as a head coach. If that wasn't enough, the Golden Eagles will be tested sternly in their season opener at Bloomsburg on September 1.
6. Indianapolis (6-5): The Greyhounds hope that their "goodbye tour" of the GLIAC will result in a conference championship, which they haven't done since 1981.
7. Ferris State (5-6): A 5-1 start disintegrated into a season-ending five-game debacle for the Bulldogs. They hope 2011 will result in a different outcome.
8. Northern Michigan (5-6): The Huskies won their lone national championship in 1975, but haven't advanced to postseason play since 1987.
9. Saginaw Valley State (4-7): A 2009 D-II playoff appearance fizzled into a dismal 2010 season for the Cardinals, who hope to bounce back under third-year head coach Jim Collins.
10. Northwood (5-6): The Timberwolves hope to improve on last season's 5-5 finish in GLIAC action.
11. Findlay (1-10): The Oilers will try put the misery of 2010 behind them.
12. Lake Erie (3-7): The Storm hopes to see improvement in their second season in the GLIAC.
13. Ohio Dominican (2-8): The Panthers also hope to move up in the standings in year two.
14. Tiffin (1-10): The Dragons won their opener, but lost 10 straight games, all in GLIAC play, to end 2010.
Looking back: Wittenberg posted an undefeated record in NCAC play in 2010, going 6-0 (10-0 overall) en route to winning their conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Tigers were ousted after just one round of postseason play, though, as Ohio Northern won big, 37-14.
Looking ahead: DePauw University from Indiana officially joins the NCAC fold in 2011, although the Tigers won't play a full conference schedule in football until 2012.
Website: http://www.northcoast.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Wittenberg (10-1): Tigers need just one more win to join a rare but elite club: the 700-win club. They're also looking for an unprecedented 20th regular season in program history. Still, they hope to go deeper in the postseason, should they get there, in 2011.
2. Wabash (8-2): The Little Giants road schedule includes games against defending University Athletic Association (UAA) Chicago, as well as a season-ending road game against DePauw in the annual Monon Bell game, on November 12. The week before that, Wabash plays host to Wittenberg in a game that could decide the NCAC title.
3. Wooster (5-5): In their six NCAC games last season, the Scots scored at least 30 points in three of the four such contests they won.
4. Allegheny (7-3): Had it not been for two close losses, the Gators could have least finished the regular season with a mark of 9-1.
5. Denison (4-6): The Big Red hope to turn the corner under second year head coach Jack Hatem.
6. Oberlin (4-6): The Yeomen hope to get off to a rare 3-0 start, as their first three games of 2011 will all be played at home.
7. Ohio Wesleyan (2-8): The Battling Bishops hope to put another season of misery of behind them.
8. Hiram (1-9): The Terriers surrendered at least 30 or more points in eight of nine games, all losses, last season.
9. Kenyon (0-10): The Lords last win came on October 17, 2009, when they defeated Oberlin, 21-9. They've lost 13 straight games since then. It's a streak they finally hope to end in 2011.
