So we’re finally ready to kick off the Division III season!
What’s that? There were games already tonight? Three of them? Really?
Hm.
Well, here are my two-cents (plink, plink) on this week’s action any way.
Wish you were here: If I could be at any Division III game this week, it would be UW-Stevens Point versus No. 11 Hardin-Simmons.
Lots of interesting story lines here. It’s a measure of the West (Stevens Point) and South (HSU) Regions strength, as Keith McMillan points out. It’s the return of Cowboys QB Jordan Neal who missed most of last season for Hardin-Simmons.
Plus it’s a chance for Stevens Point to show 2006 will be better than 2005. On the third play from scrimmage last year HSU running back Quinton Jones ripped through the Pointers’ defense for a 61-yard touchdown. The Cowboys rolled to a 38-12 win and Stevens Point was headed toward a 1-4 start. This Saturday is a second chance for the Pointers to make a first impression.
Don’t sleep on this one: Wilmington finished ninth in the OAC last season. Mt. St. Joseph won the HCAC and its automatic bid to the playoffs. But Wilmington played the Lions tough last year, holding them to -21 yards rushing in a 21-17 loss. The Quakers could score a win in this Cincinnati area skirmish.
Looking ahead: No. 25 Thiel plays Geneva College. The Golden Tornados are slated to join Division III and the President’s Athletic Conference (PAC) in 2007. And, with this mascot, I’m already looking forward to it.
Open House: Minnesota-Morris opens Big Cat Stadium against Lawrence. Looking at the photos, the place looks pretty nice. Plus the Cougars already have a 14 point lead according to that one picture!
As we detailed this summer, lots of other schools will also get to show off their improvements over the next couple weeks.
Just throwing it out there: With Saturday’s game against UW-Eau Claire, St. John’s Head Coach John Gagliardi enter his 58th season and set a new record for most seasons as a college football head coach. He’s currently tied with Amos Alonzo Stagg, namesake for Division III’s championship game.
Speaking of which, would there be any interest in renaming the title game once Gagliardi retires? How about the Gagliardi-Stagg Bowl? Someone else may’ve suggested this before and I thought it merits consideration.
Most likely Top 25 team to lose: Could be No. 25 Thiel since Geneva hosts and is a solid program. Huntingdon might be a trendy pick, but winning at No. 24 Ithaca is a tall task. Yes, Huntingdon was one quarter away from beating SCAC-power Trinity (Texas) last season. They also lost to 3-7 Maryville (Tenn.).
Super ridiculous pick of the week: I do this every week and have never been right. But optimism abounds in Week 1. In fact, I’m feeling so good that I’m picking not just an upset, but predicting the score.
So let’s go with St. Thomas in a last minute victory over No. 18 Central. The Tommies narrowly missed beating Coe who beat Central last year. And everyone knows comparative scores are always accurate!
St. Thomas 21 No. 18 Central 17
And finally…
Brought to you by Mapquest: NAIA’s Valley City State, hosting St. Olaf.
As a Johnnie, as nice as it would be to have the Stagg renamed the Gagliardi-Stagg Bowl, I think the honor should go to Larry Kehres at Mt. Union (Stagg-Kehres Bowl, anyone?), as he has certainly been hoisting the walnut and bronze once…or twice..or eight times. Gagliardi has the D3 Heisman award, and that’s a wonderful honor as it is, especially since it has been awarded while he is still coaching.
But if it happens, I wouldn’t complain…
Gordon, the P in PAC is President’s.
Quite right.
Thanks for the correction.
The PAC is another conference, one that has more teams around me in Philadelphia.
My thought on Gagliardi-Stagg was ‘good idea, but he already has the most significant trophy in D3, so we’ve covered him. The ‘still alive’ point is very key, too.
Kehres has, what, another 15 years to coach, at least, if he wants to? Before it’s all said and done, we’ll have to name something after him.
otherwise, gordon, nice work.
Please Gordon that is the worst suggestion ever…the last thing you need to do is give the Johnnies something else to crow about! 🙂
However, maybe they can rename the Stagg Bowl runner-up trophy to the “K.C. Keeler Trophy”?
The Stagg Bowl should always remain the Stagg Bowl. Give the G-man another honor.
GO AUGUSTANA AND THE CCIW!! Thank God football is here again. Root for the WIAC too!
The G-Man gets Matt Lauer on Monday. A decent honor for coaching a kid and his grandfather all in the same career.
And when I say G-man I mean Gags, not Gordon!!
Nice post Mann!
Watching crappy Stevens Point getting smoked by Harden Simmons would be no fun. Trust me!! I predict UWW and Mount Union combine for over 100 points and cripple to crappy teams!
awesome spelling!
I’M BAAAAACK!!!! Nothin like that feeling in the air this time of the year. Feel sorry for those that don’t feel it. CUA and Shenandoah got the old blood pumpin Thursday night. Thanks d3f, not sure how we survived all the years before you came along.
Quick comment on 05. Had a great time at the Stagg Bowl in Salem. Totally electric atmosphere and what college athletics should be all about. I highly recommend the trip to all sports fans no matter who Mount Union plays this year. 🙂
Speaking of MU, big game for the Averett Cougars today. Talk about diving head first into the fire. My hats off to Coach Dunlevy and Co. for having the intestinal fortitude to take on such a task. Most coaches don’t go into games looking for moral victories (or at least won’t admit it) but I think today could be an exception if the Cougars can hang with MU. And what a huge step for their program if they can pull off the shocker.
GO ODAC & USA South!!!
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