Category Archives: college football

August 21, 2010 · 12:36 am

THE COOLEST HELMET IN THE CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE

Team: Johns Hopkins Blue Jays

Site: http://www.hopkinssports.com/

Comment: I know Johns Hopkins is usually thought of as a Lacrosse power, but their football players are no slouches either. In last year’s NCAA Division 3 playoffs they were true Road Warriors, too, winning games at the Sydney-Hampden Tigers and the Thomas More Saints before falling to the Wesley Wolverines. Forget the Orioles and the Ravens, Baltimore needs to realize Blue Jays football is the best thing to happen to their city since John Waters and Divine!

As always, football helmets courtesy of The Helmet Project at: http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

And for more cool helmets plus cool logos and team names click here: https://glitternight.com/category/cool-names-and-cool-logos/

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or the NCAA or any of their member institutions. 

© 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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August 20, 2010 · 12:08 am

VICTORY SPORTS NETWORK’S NAIA GAME OF THE WEEK SCHEDULE IS OUT

The ninth season of Victory Sports Network‘s NAIA Game Of The Week will begin on Saturday August 28th with the “Rivalry Renewed” game between the Baker Wildcats and the Ottawa (KS) Braves. To get these games live on your personal computer click here: http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/

And here is the schedule for the games to be shown on VSN’s Game of the week this season:

AUG 28th – BAKER WILDCATS @ OTTAWA BRAVES

SEP 2nd   –  EVANGEL CRUSADERS @ LINDENWOOD LIONS

SEP 4th   –  SIOUX FALLS COUGARS @ NORTHWESTERN (IA) RED RAIDERS

SEP 11th – SOUTHERN VIRGINIA KNIGHTS @ LINDSEY WILSON BLUE RAIDERS

SEP 18th – MARIAN KNIGHTS @ GRAND VIEW VIKINGS

SEP 25th – LINDENWOOD LIONS @ MIDAMERICA NAZARENE PIONEERS

OCT 2nd  – UNION BULLDOGS @ CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS

OCT 7th  – GEORGETOWN TIGERS @ CAMPBELLSVILLE TIGERS

OCT 9th  – WALSH CAVALIERS @ SAINT FRANCIS COUGARS

OCT 16th – MORNINGSIDE MUSTANGS @ SIOUX FALLS COUGARS

OCT 23rd – EASTERN OREGON MOUNTAINEERS @ CARROLL (MT) FIGHTING SAINTS

OCT 30th – DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS @ MINOT STATE BEAVERS

NOV 6th  – To be determined

NOV 13th – SOUTHERN OREGON RAIDERS @ NW OKLAHOMA STATE RANGERS

Balladeer’s Blog will be giving extensive coverage to all these matchups as the season unfolds.

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August 16, 2010 · 1:14 am

THE COOLEST HELMET IN THE NORTH COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Team: Kenyon College Lords

Site: http://athletics.kenyon.edu/index.xml

Comment: Not to be confused with the Amherst Lord Jeffs, who play in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, the Kenyon Lords are named after Lord Kenyon (“It’s a switcheroo!”), an English Lord who was one of the first financiers of the school. An English Lord getting a mad posh to finance a school in Ohio, USA sounds like a premise for a new movie starring Hugh Grant as Lord Kenyon and Elizabeth Hurley as Bishop Philander Chase, founder of Kenyon College. Naaah. She doesn’t have enough range.

As always, football helmets courtesy of The Helmet Project at: http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or the NCAA or any of their member institutions. 

© 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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August 14, 2010 · 5:00 am

THE COOLEST HELMET IN THE MID-STATES FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION – MIDEAST DIVISION

Team: Malone University Pioneers

Site: http://www3.malone.edu/athletics 

Comment: Pioneers need to be made of hardy stock, and if the face on that helmet was any hardier opponents would get a bloody nose just looking at him! Malone University was named after Walter and Emma Malone, so maybe that picture is supposed to be Walter…or perhaps Emma after a LOT of surgery!  

As always, football helmets courtesy of The Helmet Project at: http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or the NCAA or any of their member institutions. 

© 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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August 13, 2010 · 12:07 am

THE COOLEST HELMET IN THE DAKOTA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Here’s a new feature to help all of us get in the mood for football season! I’ll be going through the NAIA and NCAA Division 3 conference by conference and looking at the coolest helmets in each. 

 

Team: Black Hills State Yellowjackets

Site: http://www.bhsu.edu/Athletics/tabid/82/Default.aspx

Comment: “Up and at’em….Atom Ant!” The Black Hills State helmet sports one of those mascots who are so cool-looking they should have their own cartoon series!

As always, football helmets courtesy of The Helmet Project at: http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

For some of NCAA Division 3′s Coolest-Named Teams click here: https://glitternight.com/d3-20-coolest/   

 For the NAIA edition of The 20 Coolest College Sports Teams You May Never Have Heard Of click here: https://glitternight.com/2010/06/21/the-20-coolest-named-college-sports-teams-you-may-have-never-heard-of-naia-edition/ 

And for The 20 Coolest College Sports Logos click here: https://glitternight.com/2010/07/20/the-20-coolest-college-sports-logos

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or the NCAA or any of their member institutions. 

© 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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August 11, 2010 · 12:29 am

SXU COUGARS PICKED TO WIN “THE ASSOCIATION’S” MIDEAST LEAGUE

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:

1. Sioux Falls Cougars
2. Lindenwood Lions
3. Carroll College (MT) Fighting Saints
4. Saint Xavier Cougars
5. Morningside Mustangs
T6. MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers
T6. Lambuth Eagles
8. McKendree Bearcats
9. Ottawa (KS) Braves
10. Missouri Valley Vikings
11. Cumberlands Patriots
12. McPherson Bulldogs
13. Hastings Broncos
14. Minot State Beavers
15. Friends Falcons
16. Walsh Cavaliers
17. Saint Francis Cougars
18. Dickinson State Blue Hawks
19. Langston Lions
20. Grand View Vikings
21. Eastern Oregon Mountaineers
22. Taylor Trojans
23. Northwestern (IA) Red Raiders
24. Baker Wildcats
25. Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers 
 
For the full text of Coach Feminis’ response to my suggestion that he change his team’s name to “The Saint Xavier Cougats” click here: http://www.sxu.edu/athletics/  

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or the NCAA or any of their member institutions. 

© 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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August 7, 2010 · 12:16 am

QUICK TAKES- GRIDIRON STYLE

St Ambrozzzzzzzzze Football Media Dayzzzzzzzz – The St Ambrose University Fighting Bees (Love that name!) announced they will be holding their football media day August 24th at SAU’s Lohman Arena. Head Coach Mike Magistrelli and several Fighting Bees football players will be available for questions.

Cumberlands Football Camp Anything But Bland – The University of the Cumberlands Patriots camp for High School football teams in Kentucky and Tennessee was held recently. Patriots Head Football Coach John Bland commented “The…Camp was a success in 2010. All of the coaches…were pleased with the progress their teams made during camp.”

You Say Cumberlands, I Say Cumberland, Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off – We move now from the University of the Cumberlands Patriots to the Cumberland University Bulldogs. The Bulldogs  football players report this weekend with meetings scheduled all day Saturday and camp beginning next week. CU starts its 2010 campaign at the Austin Peay Governors Sept 2nd.  

“Hello, I must be going!” – The South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology Hardrockers and the Black Hills State University Yellowjackets open camps this weekend for what will be their final football season in the Dakota Athletic Conference. The Yellowjackets went 6-4 last season and defeated the Dickinson State Blue Hawks, the conference champions, in The Dacotah Bowl to end the 2009 season.

Strengthen Your Corps, er, Core – Yes, that was another nod to the Marine Corps origins of the Gyrenes, the nickname of the Ave Maria University sports teams. The Gyrenes begin intercollegiate play in 2011 for football but recently held a football camp for 9 Florida High School teams. This four-day camp, whose theme was “Strengthen Your Core”, was held in partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“I Guess Everyone Loves Cougars” Dept – The Sioux Falls Cougars were picked to win the Great Plains Athletic Conference title yet again by the coaches and SID’s in that league, it was revealed at last week’s GPAC Media Day. The defending national champions in the NAIA were also ranked number one in various national preseason polls as well. Will it be a threepeat for USF football this season? Cougar lovers everywhere will be watching to find out! 

Get Your Grub On With The Rangers – The Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers have been picked to win the Central States Football League title this year by the coaches, SID’s and select media members. They’ve also got their football Media Day coming up August 14th and the First Annual Ranger Kickoff Barbecue set for August 21st.

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August 4, 2010 · 10:04 pm

“MITCHELL!” 5 NAIA KICKERS ON THE FRED MITCHELL AWARD WATCH LIST

Forget about the Gallano and Mistretta Awards Watch  Lists (bad movie buffs will get it), the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List is out and no less than 5 NAIA kickers made the list! As always all nicknames are purely my own demented creation and to the best of my knowledge have never been applied to these players in real life. Here they are in alphabetical order:

C.J. “Grady” Gradoville – Morningside Mustangs

Tom “Tommy The Linchpin” Lynch – St Xavier Cougars

Tyler “The Smiler” Padgett – Central Methodist Eagles

Andy “A-Smit” Smith – South Dakota Mines Hardrockers

“Brassy” Braden Wieking – Sioux Falls Cougars

The award is given based on accomplishments on the gridiron and in the community. Here’s hoping all 5 have a stellar season!

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August 4, 2010 · 8:13 pm

CUMBERLAND BULLDOGS FOOTBALL MAKES HOME GAMES EVEN MORE SPECIAL

The Cumberland University Bulldogs have got special events centered around 5 of their 6 home games this coming season. Director of Athletics Ron Pavan informed me of these activities recently when we were hang-gliding through the Grand Canyon. I suggested he call the events “Pavan-athon 2010” or maybe “Pavanapalooza” but he declined. 

***The first home game is September 11th against the Campbellsville Tigers. CU Athetics and Sherry’s Run are co-sponsors for the event and participants will get half-off admission price at the gate if they wear the 2010 T-shirt. Wearing the 2009 T-shirt gets you in for free! (I’m kidding!) There will also be an Area-Wide Tailgate Party for this home-opener, with a live band and free food from area vendors available beginning at 11AM.

***Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend are both scheduled for the game against the Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders October 2nd. In addition to inducting 6 former Bulldog coaches and players into the Hall Of Fame there will be the CU Alumni Department 5K Dawg Dash as well as a “Live On The Lawn Concert” in front of Memorial Hall. This event replaces last year’s “Ron On The Lawn Concert” which featured Ron Pavan and The Pavanes doing their covers of songs by The Red Elvises. The unfortunate guitar/watermelon/samurai sword incident during the song On My Way To Vegas is the reason behind the change.

***On October 9th Cumberland University and the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes will team up for FCA Day (they rejected my idea to call it “CU On FCA Day” as being “too childish”). Anyone wearing an FCA T-shirt will get free admission to that day’s game against the Shorter Hawks. (I know, you’re dying for a Taller Hawks joke but you’re not gonna get it!) 

***On October 30th, Cumberland University will host a canned food drive as the team takes on the Union Bulldogs, unless they’re on strike. All kidding aside, though, I once owned a non-union bulldog and it just wasn’t worth the hassle. (I named the dog “Scab” by the way) All CU fans attending the game will get $2.00 off admission if they donate at least one item of canned food.

***Senior Day will be November 6th when the Bulldogs go up against the Belhaven Blazers. There will also be a Chili Cook-Off sponsored by the Student Government Association so the fans can give a fond, if somewhat gassy, farewell to the seniors.

To buy a copy of Ron Pavan’s bestselling book titled You Mean This Guy Thinks He’s Funny? The Story Of Balladeer’s Blog click here: http://www.cumberland.edu/athletics 

As always football helmets courtesy of The Helmet Project at http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or any member institutions. 
© 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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August 2, 2010 · 11:22 pm

THE NAIA FOOTBALL REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED!

The Victory Sports Network will be televising the upcoming Football Media Days for the Great Plains Athletic Conference, Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

The GPAC event is tomorrow, August 3rd, at 1PM Central Time. It will be broadcast from the Cornhusker Marriott Downtown in Lincoln, NE.

This Friday, August 6th, you can spend part of your Frontierado by watching the KCAC Media Day. It will be coming to us from the Salina Country Club in Salina, KS beginning at 11:30AM  Central Time.

The 3rd Football Media Day to be broadcast will be for the HAAC on Monday August 9th at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City beginning at 12:30PM Central time.

All three media events will be archived on the Victory Sports Network’s Livestream page or by clicking here: http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/webcasts/webdownload.php/

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