The NAIA’s 4th-ranked Georgetown (KY) Tigers (helmet at left) will host the Faulkner Eagles in one of tonight’s college gridiron matchups. The game marks the dedication of Ihigh dot com stadium, the new home of the Tigers.
The Saint Joseph’s Pumas will be traveling to face the Charleston Golden Eagles, the Arkansas Tech Wonderboys host the Missouri S&T Miners and the Fairmont State Falcons are at the Glenville State Pioneers.
All this plus SIX Continue reading
Filed under college football
FROSTING FROSTY’S SHORTS – Kevin Donley, the Head Coach of the (6) ST FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS (helmet at left) tied the legendary Frosty Westering for the most wins in NAIA college football at 256.
The victory came in yet another NAIA victory over an NCAA Division 3 team as the Cougars defeated the STEVENS POINT POINTERS 39-31.
BIG RIVER BOWL – The NAIA’s football double-header event for the holiday weekend featured three ranked teams in action.
In the first game the (22) CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (helmet at left) routed the KANSAS WESLEYAN COYOTES by a score of 31-10. Game Two presented the spectacle of the (3) MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS (2011 semi- finalists) defeating the (11) BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS, with the only disappointing element being the fact that the game was called because of lightning after 3 quarters. The Knights won 31-7 and start the season at 2-0.
THE CONCORDIA (AL) HORNETS RULE THE WORLD – While mentioning NAIA football let me also point out that the CONCORDIA (AL) HORNETS (U) brought down DIVISION ONE’S MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE DELTA DEVILS, the alma mater of THE Jerry Rice. The Hornets emerged with a 20-19 win in this perfect example of college teams with heart toppling Division One schools with their enormous budgets.
TOP 25 UPSETS – NAIA – This Labor Day Saturday saw just one upset in the NAIA rankings.
The PIKEVILLE UNIVERSITY BEARS took it on the road and toppled the 25th- ranked CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS in a 14-7 epic that played as a celebration of Old School smash-mouth football with the defenses making the offenses pay for every yard and every point.
TOP 25 UPSETS – D3 – The ROWAN UNIVERSITY PROFS, the football pride of Glassboro, NJ, were unranked but upset the 9th- ranked DELAWARE VALLEY AGGIES by an Continue reading
Filed under college football
Balladeer’s Blog welcomes you to my continued coverage of this second week of college football action for the 2012 season. It’s Labor Day Weekend and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) is holding its gridiron double feature today: the Big River Bowl.
One game will feature the (3) Marian University Knights taking on the (11) Bethel (TN) Wildcats and the other will pit the Kansas Wesleyan College Coyotes against the (22) Cumberland University Bulldogs. Historic Dyersburg, TN is the site for this very special event.
Meanwhile, the race to reach the most wins in NAIA college football history continues between Coach Hank Biesiot of the Dickinson State Blue Hawks and Coach Kevin Donley of the St Francis (IN) Cougars. Both men are tied at 255 wins with Donley’s victory over the Texas College Steers last weekend.
And speaking of teams called Cougars, the Saint Xavier University Cougars begin their defense of their NAIA football championship today. After a bye last weekend Coach Mike Feminis’ boys take on the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers. All this plus college football games in NCAA Divisions 2 and 3, in the NJCAA and in the CCCAA! Keep checking Continue reading
Filed under college football
UVA-WISE PLAYS GIANT-KILLER – The NAIA’s UVA-WISE HIGHLAND CAVALIERS pulled off the upset of opening week yesterday! The unranked Highland Cavs took it on the road against the 11th- ranked BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS and, fighting with characteristic highland intensity, came out on top in the end! UVA-Wise brought the Wildcats crashing down in overtime by a score of 24-21 in this undisputed Instant Classic.
OTHER TOP 25 UPSETS – The number 11 spot was a dangerous place to be yesterday, as both teams tied for 11th in the rankings took a fall. In the 3rd edition of the Rivalry Renewed series between the OTTAWA (KS) BRAVES and the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS the number 11 Braves were upset at home by the 18th-ranked Wildcats in a bruising 27-20 epic. This puts Baker up 2 games to 1 since this series resumed in 2010.
MARATHON IN MICHIGAN – In the lengthiest game of Week One the SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAINTS (helmet at left) outlasted the visiting ROBERT MORRIS (IL) EAGLES.
It took double-overtime to accomplish it, but the Saints started the 2012 football season in the win column by a final score of 26-19. The Continue reading
Filed under college football
Welcome to the first Saturday of the 2012 college football season! We got to warm up with a few games during the week and now today will see a huge slate of games in two of the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
The NAIA’s Point University Skyhawks (logo above) are among the relative newcomers to intercollegiate football taking the field today. Teams like the Concordia (MI) Cardinals, Robert Morris (IL) Eagles and the Siena Heights Saints are still in the early years of their football programs, too. The Bluefield College Ramblin’ Rams are playing their first intercollegiate game in decades today.
The Texas College Steers, Ottawa (KS) Braves and the William Penn University Statesmen are also among the dozens of NAIA football teams seeing action today.
Meanwhile in the NJCAA some teams are starting the season with conference games. The Hutchinson Blue Dragons are hosting the Coffeyville Red Ravens, the Dodge City Conquistadors battle the Butler (KS) Grizzlies and the Garden City Broncbusters travel to take on the Independence Pirates.
Also among the dozens of NJCAA teams kicking off the 2012 season today are “all-nickname” programs like the Vermillion College Ironmen, the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters, the Iowa Western Reivers, the College of DuPage Chaparrals and the Scottsdale Fighting Artichokes! (really)
As always, Balladeer’s Blog will be offering a Continue reading
Filed under college football
Tonight the number 1 team in Balladeer’s Blog’s NAIA College Football Rankings, the CC Fighting Saints, will open their season on the road against the number 23 team, the MSU- Northern Lights!
Also on tap for this evening in NAIA football action will be the Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears (helmet above) as they host the Jamestown College Jimmies. Saturday will see a whole slate of NAIA football.
Other teams playing tonight will be the Continue reading
Filed under college football
THIS WEEK THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON KICKS OFF IN THE DIVISIONS COVERED BY BALLADEER’S BLOG!
Teams like the Hutchinson Blue Dragons (helmet at left), the Jamestown College Jimmies, the William Penn University Statesmen and the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters will all begin their season on various days throughout the coming week!
Not only that but the CC Fighting Saints, ranked Number 1 in Balladeer’s Blog’s NAIA College Football Rankings, will kickoff this Friday the 24th at the 23rd- ranked MSU-Northern Lights. The Pima Aztecs travel to face the Phoenix College Bears on Thursday night and the Continue reading
Filed under college football
With the NFL Draft coming up later this week it seemed like a perfect time for a college football piece! In the past Balladeer’s Blog has treated readers to lists of cool-named college sports teams or cool logos for such teams. I even ran a list of the Top 6 D2 College Football Stadiums last year. This new list will examine football helmets for Continue reading
Filed under college football, Cool Helmets
Location: Sioux Center, IA
Site: http://www.dordt.edu/athletics/
Comment: From the Great Plains Athletic Conference it’s the one and only Dordt Defenders! Yes, Defenders, just like the Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE ROME FOR THE HOLIDAYS – That’s Rome, GA, where the NAIA college football championship game is once again being played. I’ve taken to describing NAIA football as “a league full of Tim Tebows” to help appeal to people who are sick and tired of the cheaters, felons and alleged child- abusers of NCAA Division 1 football. Besides, anyone fed up with the NCAA’s endless power plays and the way it goes after the minnows while letting the sharks roam free should embrace this alternative brand of collegiate athletics.
Today’s championship game finds the Saint Xavier University Cougars making their first- ever appearance in the title matchup. Their opponents, the CC Fighting Saints, are the current ruling dynasty in NAIA football, having won 6 of the last 9 championships, and Continue reading
Filed under college football
