If one thing is certain about the 2018-19 version of the Alabama Crimson Tide, it’s that they will once again be contenders for yet another national championship. Four times under head coach Nick Saban, they have found themselves ranked as the top-ranked team preseason, and again boast that poll positioning entering into the upcoming college football season.
With a perennial embarrassment of 5-star riches, the Tide typically replace top-flight athlete with more of the same at each position, and the same is true of this season. College football spreads, while early, currently favor Alabama to repeat as national champions, led by what many assume to be a frontrunner for the Heisman after his dazzling performance in the title game, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Continue reading
As everyone knows, one of the main points of playing a sport at a 2-year college is to get prepped to sign with a 4 year college. Maybe your grades or certain mechanics of the game could use some adjusting, but after your 2 year stay it is huge to get signed by a 4-year college team. 
Balladeer’s Bowl always pits the NAIA football champs against the NCAA D3 football champs. The results are in, and for only THE SECOND TIME the Champions of NCAA D3 – this year the UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS – defeated the Champions of the NAIA – this year the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. 
Readers of Balladeer’s Blog get to vote on the winner over the next week, so NAIA and D3 boosters can begin their annual deluge of emails to me arguing for their choice.Email voting is the ONLY official way to let your decision be known, a procedure I implemented years ago to cut down on repeat voting by the same people. 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
December 16th, pitting the Defending Champs – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS against the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers). 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The Defending Champion FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS clashed with the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS for the CCCAA title. The Hornets led 7-2 in the 1st Quarter but the Bulldogs cut that to a 7-5 edge by Halftime. A 9-5 3rd Quarter Fullerton College advantage in this defensive epic became a 12-9 lead for the College of San Mateo in the 4th. The Hornets mustered that one final Touchdown to come back for a 16-12 victory. * THE HORNETS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CCCAA * 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 6th seeded UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS – in their very first post-season appearance for their two year old football program – have made history AGAIN! The Argonauts traveled to face the overall 1 seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS. West Florida actually shut out the Crimson Hawks in the 1st Half, leading them 17-0 at the break. From there IUP rallied but fell short as the Argonauts won the game 27-17. 