Yes, the divisions of college football covered here at Balladeer’s Blog get started earlier than the others. Next Thursday the 24th will be the kickoff for the 2017 season.
AUGUST 24th’s GAMES IN THE NAIA:
The 15th ranked DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS will host their Frontier Conference rivals the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS.
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The EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS take it on the road against the number 9 team in the nation – the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS.
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The WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS will likewise play Road Warriors as they travel to take on the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS.
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Meanwhile THE AG BOWL will pit the number 17 DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS against the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS in a North Star Athletic Association matchup.
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And the UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS will be on the road to take on their familiar foes the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS.
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AUGUST 24th’s GAMES IN THE NJCAA:
The Defending Champions – the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS – open the season hosting the ELLSWORTH COLLEGE PANTHERS.
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The HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES, meanwhile, will travel to face the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS to begin their 2017 campaign.
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The NAIA’s LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY BLUE DEVILS – after a seven decade hiatus – will be fielding a football team! 
Ragnar the Dog is a nut for college football!
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 1. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS ### 2. BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS 3. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS (Defending National Champions) ### 4. REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers) ### 5. EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS ### 
6. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM ### 7. LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS ### 8. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ### 9. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS ### 10. DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS ### 
NEW YORK JETS 
GREEN BAY PACKERS 
ARIZONA CARDINALS 
Balladeer’s Bowl always pits the NAIA football champs against the NCAA D3 football champs. The results are in, and for the VERY FIRST TIME the Champions of NCAA D3 – this year the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS – defeated the Champions of the NAIA – this year the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. 
The UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS are the NCAA Division Three champs for 2016, and the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS are the champs of the NAIA. 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The two winningest programs in D2 football history – the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS and the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS – faced each other in yesterday’s title tilt. Amid ample snowfall neither team scored in the 1st Quarter but the Bearcats – the defending champs – managed a 7-3 lead by Halftime. 
Comment: Why aren’t there more teams called Troopers?
Comment: There’s something about the stark simplicity of these helmets paired up with the unique name the Farmers. 
Comment: Yes, that’s Eisenhower as in General and President Dwight Eisenhower aka “Ike.” 
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