Balladeer’s Blog is happy to announce that at least one of the many divisions of college football covered here has made an announcement about their 2020 season. The NJCAA will begin practices on August 1st and the opening night of the season will be Thursday, August 20th.
I will, as usual, talk up the opening night matchups as the great date approaches, and best of all, that date is now LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY!
As more divisions make their announcements I will keep pigskin fans updated.
Filed under college football
With too many sporting events getting canceled these days here’s a new Top Twenty List for 2020 here at Balladeer’s Blog. This one examines some neglected football helmets.
EASTWOOD TROOPERS 
Comment: Why aren’t there more teams called Troopers?
WEATHERFORD KANGAROOS
Comment: Awesome name and awesome lids.
LEWISVILLE FARMERS
Comment: There’s something about the stark simplicity of these helmets paired up with the unique name the Farmers.
EISENHOWER EAGLES
Comment: Yes, that’s Eisenhower as in General and President Dwight Eisenhower aka “Ike.” Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets
The NFL draft is just a few months away and the internet is in overdrive with speculation on how the draft could play out. Rather than bore readers with another of the countless mock drafts out there here is a more light-hearted item – a look at some of the worst draft picks ever made.
Here is our Top Five:
NUMBER 5 – CHARLES ROGERS
Rogers, who passed away in November, ended 2002 as a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award. That potential made the Michigan State Wide Receiver the second overall pick in the 2003 draft as the Detroit Lions scooped him up. Continue reading
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Balladeer’s Bowl always pits the NAIA football champs against the NCAA D3 football champs. The results are in, and the NAIA champs got the victory. The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS defeated the NORTH CENTRAL (IL) COLLEGE CARDINALS in Balladeer’s Bowl X.
The voting ended today and the Mustangs won it 124 to 93. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MUSTANGS, THE WINNERS OF BALLADEER’S BOWL X.
Here are the results of the 9 previous editions of Balladeer’s Bowl: Continue reading
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Balladeer’s Bowl always pits the National Champions of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) against the National Champions of the NCAA Division Three.
The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS are the NAIA Champions for 2019.
The NORTH CENTRAL (IL) CARDINALS are the NCAA Division Three Champions for 2019.
Readers of Balladeer’s Blog get to vote on the winner, to be announced on New Year’s Day, so NAIA and D3 boosters can begin their annual deluge of emails to me arguing for their choice. Continue reading
Filed under college football
Here’s one last round of congratulations to this year’s college football champions in the SEVEN divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
National Champions – MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS
Runners-Up – Marian University Knights
2018 Champions – Morningside College Mustangs
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
My National Champions – CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS
Runners-Up – Ottawa University (AZ) Spirit
2018 Champions – Olivet Nazarene University Tigers
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association)
My National Champions – NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS
Runners-Up – Williamson College of the Trades Mechanics
2018 Champions – Newport News Apprentice School Builders Continue reading
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NAIA
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The defending champions – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS – fought it out with the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS for the NAIA crown last night. This was a tale of two Halves, as the Mustangs led 21-7 by Halftime and threatened to run away with the game.
In the 3rd Quarter the Knights cut the Morningside lead to 33-21 and in an action-packed 4th pulled to within 33-31. From there the defending champs went up 40-31, with Marian then falling just short as MC won the game 40-38. * THE MUSTANGS ARE NAIA CHAMPIONS *
NCAA DIVISION TWO
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS were not only THE story of the D2 playoffs once again but this time they sealed the deal against their opponents the MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS! A 14-14 1st Quarter tie turned into a 38-21 Argonauts lead by the Half.
The 3rd Quarter ended with West Florida on top 45-29 and in the 4th the Mavericks pulled closer but not close enough as UWF won it 48-40. * THE ARGONAUTS ARE NCAA DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONS * Continue reading
Filed under college football
NAIA
The NAIA Championship Game is set for next weekend and will pit Morningside College (Defending Champs) against Marian University.
CCCAA
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE TIGERS battled the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS for the CCCAA title. The 1st Quarter ended with the Bulldogs up 7-3 before the Tigers grabbed a 24-7 lead by the Half. The College of San Mateo pulled to within 24-14 in the 3rd Quarter but Riverside won out 31-14. * THE TIGERS ARE CCCAA CHAMPIONS *
NCAA DIVISION TWO
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS are once again THE story of the D2 playoffs! Yesterday they took it on the road against the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie remained unchanged at Halftime but the 3rd Quarter ended in a 14-10 edge for the Bulldogs. In the 4th the Argonauts exploded for a 28-14 comeback victory. Continue reading
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NJCAA
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The number 1 team in the nation – the MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COLLEGE BULLDOGS – took on the 2nd ranked LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS for the NJCAA crown. A 7-0 Bulldogs lead in the 1st Quarter became a 13-10 advantage for the Falcons by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter but Mississippi Gulf Coast exploded in the 4th to win the game 24-13. * THE BULLDOGS ARE NJCAA CHAMPIONS *
NAIA
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS, the defending National Champions, hosted the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be the Zebras). The Mustangs were up 7-3 in the opening Quarter but trailed the Vikings 13-7 at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended in a 21-13 Morningside College lead and from there Grand View U mustered just a Field Goal as the Mustangs notched a 21-16 victory. Continue reading
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The 2019 college football postseason continues. Tonight the 
NJCAA National Championship Game will pit the top ranked MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COLLEGE BULLDOGS against the number 2 team in the nation – the LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS. Continue reading
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