Tag Archives: NAIA sports

August 6, 2010 · 6:09 pm

BALLADEER’S BLOG IS EXPANDING ITS SCOPE

The reaction of the NCAA Division 3 schools’ administration and students to my D3 Edition of the 20 Coolest Named Sports Teams has been so overwhelming  I will now be covering Division 3 sports in addition to NAIA sports. I can be reached about stories in these sports at Thtcom15@aol.com . For links to my various Top 20 Lists click below:

For more of 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 5, 2010 · 9:19 pm

TODAY’S COOL-NAMED SPORTS TEAM: FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL

FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL DIPLOMATS

 

Location: Lancaster, PA

Division: NCAA Division 3

Conference Affiliation: Centennial Conference

Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer

Site: http://www.godiplomats.com/landing/index

Comment: The Diplomats (“Oh, that word”…Fans of the musical 1776 will get it.) is a pretty cool nickname for sports teams. I guess the only real downside would be people calling them “The Dips” for short. By the way, from now on I’ll be judging U.S. State Department Diplomats by whether or not they “give 110 percent” and if they “came to play”, just like I judge Franklin and Marshall Diplomats.

For more of 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 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 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 · 4:13 pm

THERE’S A NEW INTERIM TOP GUN FOR GRENADIER SPORTS

Assistant Athletic Director Joe Glover has been named Interim Athletic Director for the Indiana University Southeast Grenadiers following the resignation of Pat Mrozowski, who resigned to become the athletic director at Brescia University in Owensboro, KY.  

Glover is a native of the Grenadiers’ home of New Albany, IN (Shows you how out of touch I am. I’ve never even been to Albany, NY and already there’s a NEW Albany) and has been with the IUS athletic department since July of 2005. During his time with the Grenadiers he has been responsible for marketing, facility scheduling and media relations.

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August 1, 2010 · 12:42 am

TODAY’S COOL-NAMED SPORTS TEAM – SUNY-CANTON

SUNY-CANTON KANGAROOS

Canton KangaroosLocation: Canton, NY

Conference Affiliation: The Sunrise Conference

Site: http://www.rooathletics.com/

Comment: To cut the sports world’s equivalents of The Comic Book Guy on the Simpsons off at the pass, I’m aware that Continue reading →

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July 29, 2010 · 1:28 am

VIKINGS INVADE INDIAN FOOTHILLS PARK IN MARSHALL, MO

 

"We're tired of waiting for Brett Favre to make up his mind about joining us! We're cleaning up this park NOW!" (Oops! Wrong team of Vikings!)

 

Everyone remembers the Vikings…plundering, pillaging, picking up litter…wait, picking up litter?

Yes, picking up litter. The Missouri Valley College Vikings football team proved that doing good work in the community is every bit as manly as sacking and burning a village, and with only half the calories. (I don’t even know what that means.) The Vikings football players and their coaching staff volunteered at Continue reading →

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July 23, 2010 · 7:53 pm

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ ON SIOUX FALLS VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM’S RECENT HONOR

Q: What prestigious organization recently honored the University Of Sioux Falls‘ volleyball program with inclusion on its latest list?

 1. The National Egg Council

2. The League of Women Voters

3. Balladeer’s Blog with one of those lame Top 20 lists

4. American Volleyball Coaches Association  

The correct answer is “4”

Q: On what list did this prestigious organization include USF’s volleyball program?

1. The FBI’s Most Wanted

2. The Ten Commandments

3. AVCA Team Academic Award

4. 12 Dangerous Organizations And How They Threaten World Peace

The Correct answer is “3”

Q: How do you earn your way on to this exclusive list? 

1. By doing real well in the swimsuit and evening gown competition

2. Playing by your own set of rules but getting results

3. By whacking Paul Castellano outside Sparks’ Steak House

4. Maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.30 

The correct answer is “4”. John Gotti never played volleyball.

Q: How often has USF made this list?

1. Two years in a row

2. Once every Whitsuntide

3. As often as Lindsay Lohan gets arrested

4. Whenever a new Pope is elected

The correct answer is “1”

Q: USF volleyball starts their 2010 season on Sept 3rd against the Dakota State Trojans in what event? 

1. Woodstock 2010

2. Niagara Falls Splash Tournament

3. Lady Ga Ga‘s Christmas At Seaworld Special

4. The Latin Grammies 

The correct answer is “2”.

Your score: It doesn’t matter how many answers you got right. Everyone is a winner when USF volleyball takes the floor.

Which of the following is the USF athletics site:

1. Cougarscanplayvolleyball?.com

2. TheATeammovie.com

3. JustinBieberscholarshipfund.org

4.http://www.usfcougars.com/ 

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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July 22, 2010 · 2:33 pm

SAINT XAVIER COUGARS QUARTERBACK ANTHONY KROPP JOINS NEW SUPERHERO TEAM

Saint Xavier (IL) University senior quarterback Anthony Kropp will be appearing in the summer blockbuster The Super Six. More specifically the College Fanz Sports Network’s NAIA Super Six. In the tradition of the Squadron Supreme, the Teen Titans and the Fantastic Four this new alliterative superhero team assembles various super-powered individuals to perform various amazing feats. The unique twist with this super-team is that they are all NAIA college football players. Neat gimmick, eh?

It’s easy to see why Kropp was included. Last season he completed 62 percent of his passes for 4,425 yards and 43 touchdowns. He also rushed for 6 touchdowns and led the Cougars to a 13-1 record before losing in the playoffs to eventual national champion Sioux Falls.

Kropp’s character in the film is Crop-Man, who has all the powers and abilities of a harvested crop. (I’m no expert but shouldn’t your superhero name be at least a little more different from your real name? Not since Super President has an alias been more transparent.) This sure-fire hit premiers Thursday August 26th, the same night the SXU Cougars kick off their season at the Bethel (TN) Wildcats. 

Clearly the people behind The Super Six are already thinking sequel since the film includes some teasers implying that Anthony Kropp’s SXU teammate, senior wide receiver Mike Maher, will have a larger role in the second film. 

For highlights of Crop-Man’s superheroics in this film click here: http://www.sxu.edu/Administrative/Athletics/ 

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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July 20, 2010 · 12:11 am

THE 20 COOLEST COLLEGE SPORTS LOGOS

After the phenomenal reaction to my list of The 20 Coolest-Named College Sports Teams You May Never Have Heard Of I’ve put together another Top 20 list. (NOTE: THIS LIST WAS DONE BACK WHEN MY BLOG WAS ONLY COVERING NAIA TEAMS)

To be fair no schools listed in the initial Top 20 list are included, no matter how cool their logo is. Nor are any schools featured if they have been a Cool-Named Sports Team Of The Day. As before this list of 20 is in no particular order and I’ll record votes for the next 20 days for which school has THE coolest logo. You can cast your vote by contacting me at Thtcom15@aol.com .

20. WAYLAND BAPTIST PIONEERS/FLYING QUEENS

Location: Plainview, TX
Conference Affiliation: Sooner Athletic Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: Pioneers is a pretty spiffy name for your sports teams but when I first saw that logo I thought their teams might be called “The Flying W’s” as in a cattle brand. It would be a unique nickname and still have a connection to their Texas heritage.
19. LANGSTON LIONS
Location: Langston, OK
Conference Affiliation: Red River Athletic Conference
Major sports: football, basketball
Comment: I swear to you I have never before seen a lion this angry at the letters “L” and “U”! I thought lions were carnivores, not alphabetivores.
18. SIOUX FALLS COUGARS
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Conference Affiliation: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: No matter how many times I see it, there’s just something about this logo that reminds me of my local Lincoln Mercury Dealer. You know what I mean?
17.  WESTMINSTER GRIFFINS
Conference Affiliation: Frontier Conference
Major sports: basketball, soccer
Comment: No doubt about it! This Griffin looks like he could tear the more sedate Griffin in the Merv Griffin Productions logo limb from limb!
16. PARK (MO) PIRATES
Location: Parkville, MO
Conference Affiliation: American Midwest Conference
Major sports: basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: Now THIS is a swashbuckling logo that puts all other Pirates teams to shame! I always throw in the MO because if you run the words “Park” and “Pirates” together it sounds like they’re people who raid recreational areas. “They’re marauders of the monkey bars…plunderers of the playground…They’re PARK PIRATES, coming this fall on CBS!”   (This is the favorite of my good friend Rachel Laird, a big supporter of Balladeer’s Blog!)
15. CAL BAPTIST LANCERS
Location: Riverside, CA
Conference Affiliation: Golden State Athletic Conference
Major sports: basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: I really like this logo. It’s got kind of a Knights Of The Round Table In The 25th Century look. And that gives me a title for my next screenplay!
14. LSU-SHREVEPORT PILOTS
Location: Shreveport, LA
Conference Affiliation: Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
Major sports: basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: This institution’s teams are called pilots as in riverboat pilots. I’m sure we all remember a riverboat pilot who went on to become one of the most popular and beloved authors in American history. That author’s name, of course, is Tom Clancy, “and now you know the rest of the story.”
13. WALSH CAVALIERS
Location: North Canton, OH
Conference Affiliation: American Mideast Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: I don’t care which side of the English Civil War your sympathies are with, the Walsh University Roundheads just wouldn’t have the same pizzaz that Cavaliers does. (And Dan McCallion, Head Track Coach and Cross Country Coach at Walsh has informed me that the Walsh Cavaliers were around long before the Cleveland Cavaliers came along. And let me add that Walsh has never been jilted by a guy who wears short pants for a living.)
12. PERU STATE BOBCATS
Location: Peru, NE
Conference Affiliation: Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball
Comment: The lesser-know Peruvian toothless breed of Bobcat seen in this picture is every bit as deadly as the regular kind!

11. Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders

Location: Columbia, KY
Conference Affiliation: Mid-South Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: Not to be confused with the Orange Ravagers or the Maroon Invaders, this Kentucky school is launching football this fall.
10. VANGUARD LIONS
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Conference Affiliation: Golden State Athletic Conference
Major sports: basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: Do the mascots of other schools who use the name Lions for their sports teams ever say to the V.U. mascot, “Get a haircut, ya hippy!”
9. NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA RANGERS
Location: Alva, OK
Conference Affiliation: Sooner Athletic Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rodeo
Comment: That’s right, this school is one of the last few who still offer Rodeo as an intercollegiate sport. And that is one butt-kicking, bucking-bronco riding logo!
8. MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers
Location: Olathe, KS
Conference Affiliation: Heart of America Athletic Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: You have to love how the logo makes their mascot look like a superhero. “It’s Pioneer Man and his sidekick Scout Boy, blazing a trail toward Truth, Justice and The American Way!”
7. SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Conference Affiliation: Mid-Central Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: I looked it up and Saint Francis is indeed the Patron Saint of cougars. Also of ocelots and jaguars. Who knew?
6. SPRING HILL COLLEGE BADGERS
Location: Mobile, AL
Conference Affiliation: Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
Major sports: basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: This logo manages to be cool and menacing all at the same time. Do the fans of opposing teams hold up signs that say “Badgers? We don’t need no stinking Badgers!”
5. SOUTHERN POLYTECHNIC RUNNING HORNETS
Location: Marietta, GA
Conference Affiliation: Southern States Athletic Conference
Major sports: basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: Not only is this logo perfect for any sports team but it would also make a great calling card for the fictional hero The Green Hornet.
4. TABOR COLLEGE BLUEJAYS
Location: Hillsboro, KS
Conference Affiliation: Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: A version of this cool logo used to be on the Tabor College football helmets but recently they’ve changed their helmet decal to a less eye-catching “TC”. Bring back the bird! (I’ve been advised that the Bluejays may indeed return to the previous helmets! And they say you can’t fight city hall!)
3. OKLAHOMA BAPTIST BISON
Location: Shawnee, OK
Conference Affiliation: Sooner Athletic Conference
Major sports: basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: Love that logo! And rumor has it this team’s biggest in-state rival is that Oklahoma Presbyterian Pumas team you’ve heard so much about.
2. TEXAS COLLEGE STEERS
Location: Tyler, TX
Conference Affiliation: Red River Athletic Conference
Major sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer
Comment: T.C. can stand for Top Cat, Tim Cowlishaw, Tin Croissants but especially for Texas College. And that logo kicks tail plus those horns on the “T” would let you know where this school is from even without it being spelled out.
1. WARNER PACIFIC KNIGHTS
Location: Portland, OR
Conference Affiliation: Cascade Collegiate Conference
Major sports: basketball, soccer
Comment: From Merrye Olde Portlande comes this team of Knights.Given the team’s American Northwest location I’m wondering if their coat of arms has a Starbucks logo and a cloud with rain pouring out of it.
MORE COOL STUFF
For the 20 Coolest-Named JUCO Sports Teams click here: https://glitternight.com/2010/10/18/the-20-coolest-named-juco-sports-teams/

For more cool named teams that weren’t on the Top 20 List click here: https://glitternight.com/category/cool-names-and-cool-logos/

For the NCAA Division 2 Coolest-Named College Sports Teams click here: https://glitternight.com/d2-20-coolest/

For The 20 Coolest Football Helmets In NCAA Division 3 click here: https://glitternight.com/2010/08/23/the-20-coolest-football-helmets-in-ncaa-division-3/

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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July 19, 2010 · 2:27 pm

HOW SWEDE IT IS!

 Former Bethany Swedes head football coach Ted Kessinger was enshrined this past weekend in the College Football Hall Of Fame in South Bend, IN. During his tenure as Bethany College head football coach, Ted Kessinger had an overall record of 219-57-1 and led the Swedes into the NAIA top 25 poll 20 separate times. During his 28 seasons, Bethany College never had a losing season, making him one of the most successful coaches in NAIA history. Division 1 football has Joe Pa, NAIA football had “Teddy the K” (or if you prefer “Tedinger” or maybe “Teddy Kess”) who led the Swedes to 16 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference titles and 13 playoff appearances.   
 
Kessinger himself wasn’t short of personal distinction either, winning the Conference Coach of the Year honors 11 times and was the NAIA’s winningest active coach in both percentage of victories and total wins upon retiring in 2003. The former Swedes coach also coached the first American football team to play in Sweden. (I didn’t realize it worked that way! Does that mean if I coach a football team called The Tahitians I can get a head coaching gig in Tahiti? Sweet!) 
 
When talking about his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame Kessinger said, “I wasn’t aware this was coming down the road. It’s a lot to be thankful for.” Today, Kessinger works as a lay minister with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Kiwanis Club and has been honored by the Kansas branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also serves as a special consultant to the Bethany College president.
 
“The College Football Hall of Fame is honored to host so many notable contributors to the game in South Bend, celebrating this tremendous accolade,” said College Football Hall of Fame Executive Director Lisa Klunder. “Enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame is a rare distinction shared by only the most accomplished players, and our festival boasts a myriad of events to highlight this extraordinary achievement.”
 
To read this article in Swedish, click here: http://www.bethanyswedes.com/ 

 

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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