If you’re new to Balladeer’s Blog let me start by telling you that I refer to the Mid-States Football Association as “The Association” just like Jim Rome does with the NBA. “Reee-DIK-ulous” I know, but what can I say?
Anyway, Saint Xavier University has been picked in the preseason MSFA poll to win the Mideast League, garnering 62 points and 6 first-place votes. In the national picture, the NAIA Football Coaches Poll was released and Saint Xavier was in the number four spot in the Top 25. Last year the Cougars had the best season in program history, going a perfect 11-0 in the regular season, winning their first MidEast League title in The Association and making it all the way to the quarter-finals in the playoffs, losing to eventual national champs the Sioux Falls Cougars.
Recently I interviewed St Xavier Head Football Coach Mike Feminis for my tell-all book about NAIA sports titled: Why Are Half The Teams In The Top 25 Called The Cougars? (NAIA fans will get it). Eventually, after the coach told me I represented the future of blogging (Or maybe I was the one who blurted that out. It’s all lost in a bourbon haze now) the conversation eventually turned to his team’s 2010 season:
“I know we will be the team that is circled on everyone’s schedule in the MSFA (AKA The Association) and that’s fine with us” Coach Feminis said.
I interrupted the coach with an observation that if his team ever felt the need to appeal to more female fans a good slogan would be “You can’t spell ‘feminist’ without ‘Feminis'” but he just ignored me and continued.
“I honestly believe we should be even better than last year but you don’t win a national championship on paper. The talent is definitely there and I really like what I’ve seen so far in camp…That game against Sioux Falls left a bitter taste in their mouths.”
I asked if that was a not-so-subtle jab at those so-called “Cougar Chips” that USF sells at their concession stand but he indicated that it was actually a reference to his players’ feelings about the playoff loss.
To take a look at the full NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 just read below:
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© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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