Tag Archives: sports

WEEK TWO OF THE 2018 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON STARTS TONIGHT

Last Thursday kicked off the 2018 college football season in the NAIA and the NJCAA. Tonight NCAA Divisions 2 and 3 join the action. Among tonight’s games are plenty of clashes between ranked teams.

NCAA DIVISION TWO

IUP Crimson HawksThe number 4 team in the nation – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS – will be on the road against the 16th ranked ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES.

This game has a 7:00pm Eastern Time kickoff. 

Central MissouriThe 19th ranked UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES travel to take on the number 9 FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS in a sure gridiron bloodbath.

Look for this game to kick off at 8:00pm Eastern Time. Continue reading

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ELEVEN MORE COOL FOOTBALL HELMETS

North East Grape PickersNORTH EAST GRAPEPICKERS

Comment: The stylish look of the N and the E sold me on these helmets immediately.

The unique team name “The Grapepickers” turned things up to eleven in terms of the coolness factor, making them a cinch for this list.

Northampton Konkrete KidsNORTHAMPTON KONKRETE KIDS

Comment: The Kids are far more than just “alright.”

And the spelling “Konkrete” to go with the “Kids” only adds to the already considerable charm of this entire setup. Ya gotta love the Konkrete Kids!

Danville IronmenDANVILLE IRONMEN

Comment: Instead of Boyz II Men we’ve just gone from (Konkrete) Kids II (Iron)men.

I know, that’s a pretty lame segue-way into what may be the coolest helmets on this latest examination of them.  Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM AUGUST 25th

*** NAIA ***

Marian Knights helmet newDOWN GOES NUMBER SIX – The 15th ranked MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS welcomed the number 6 team in the nation – the SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS. The Knights proceeded to annihilate the Cougars, leading them 17-0 in the 1st Quarter and 38-0 at Halftime. After the break Saint Xavier University mustered just 7 points in the 3rd Quarter while Marian University added 14 more in the 4th for a FIFTY-TWO to SEVEN blowout. 

Cumberlands_KYOTHER UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – The UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS were on the road against the 11th ranked SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE and slipped past them in a 27-26 Instant Classic   ###    And the number 24 FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES traveled to upset the 19th ranked CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS 16-10.

Southwestern CollegeLOVING THE SEVENTIES – The SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS hosted the GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS yesterday and eviscerated them SEVENTY-SIX to FOURTEEN   ###    And the 12th ranked BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS sent their guests the BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES back home reeling from a SEVENTY-FIVE to SEVEN beatdown. Just burn the game tape and deny the game ever happened, Bethany.   Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM AUGUST 23rd

The 2018 college football season kicked off last night in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog!

NAIA

Bethel (TN) WildcatsNUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – The number 2 team in the nation – the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers) – traveled to face the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS. The Wildcats put the Eagles on Upset Alert early on by seizing a 21-7 1st Quarter lead.

By Halftime Reinhardt University had pulled to within 24-21, calming their fans for a time. After the break Bethel University’s Defense stepped up big, shutting out the Eagles the entire 2nd Half while adding 7 more points of their own for a 31-21 shocker.

Evangel CrusadersCRUSADE IN MISSOURI – The EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS also knocked off a ranked visitor last night. They welcomed the 22nd ranked SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS and made their own case to be ranked. The Crusaders led the Lions 7-0 after 1 Quarter of play, then 21-3 at the Half. A scoreless 3rd Quarter was followed by an action-packed 4th to make the final score Evangel U 28  SAGU 9. 

Rocky Mountain CollegeROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH – The number 20 ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS hosted the CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS last night. After a scoreless opening Quarter the Battlin’ Bears took a 13-0 lead into the locker room at Halftime. Rocky Mountain College made it a 19-0 game to end the 3rd Quarter while the Defenses shone in the 4th to make 19-zip the final score as well. Continue reading

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BLUE DRAGONS FOOTBALL OPENS TONIGHT AGAINST ELLSWORTH

… And that’s just one of ELEVEN games tonight as the 2018 College Football season begins. KICKOFF FOR HUTCH VS ELLSWORTH WILL BE 8PM ET.

BlUE DRAGONSBIGGGGGGGGGThe Hutchinson College Football team opens its 87th season tonight as the Ellsworth Panthers come to Gowans Stadium. 

This will be Hutchinson’s fourth Thursday Night season opener, the first since 2015. 

The Blue Dragons have won 10-straight season openers and are 50-34-2 all-time in season openers.

Thursday night’s game with Ellsworth also kicks off the fifth season of the Jayhawk Conference-Iowa Conference scheduling alliance. Last season in a rain-soaked Iowa Falls, the Blue Dragons defeated Ellsworth 25-13. Hutch and Ellsworth are 2-2 in the first two seasons of the scheduling alliance.

Thursday’s game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister station KWBW-AM (1450) beginning at 6:30 p.m. with Countdown to Kickoff. Rusty Hilst (play-by-play), Rob Dreher (analysis) and Glen Grunwald (sidelines) will call the action. The game will also be videostreamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network with the link available at 6:50 p.m.

RENO COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS NIGHT

The Blue Dragons and Hutchinson Community College are honoring all Reno County first responders at Thursday’s game. All Reno County first responders Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: D2 RANKINGS

This Thursday the 2018 college football season kicks off in the NAIA and NJCAA. D2 kicks off the following week, so here’s Balladeer’s Blog’s preseason rankings in NCAA D2.

Texas A&M Commerce LionsRANKINGS: 1. TEXAS A&M AT COMMERCE LIONS (Defending National Champions)    ###     2. UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS    ###     3. INDIANA UNIVERSITY – PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS    ###     4. MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS    ###     5. FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS    ###    

Northwest Missouri Bearcats6. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS    ###     7. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS    ###     8. UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS    ###     9. GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS    ###     10. HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON    ###     Continue reading

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JUST ONE WEEK TILL 2018 COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEGINS!

One week from today the 2018 college football season kicks off in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. Some of the games scheduled for next Thursday night:

NAIA

Rocky Mountain CollegeThe 20th ranked ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS will be hosting the CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. It’s a risky opening week clash between two Frontier Conference teams.

southwestern assemblies of god helmetThe number 22 team in the nation, the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS, will take it on the road against the (RV) EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. Crucial early season positioning is on the line in this battle.

Dakota State Trojans helmet NEWAt number 25 are the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS, who travel to face the DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS (should be the Blue Tigers). This matchup will be the Midco Sports Network’s Game of the Week. Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: D3 PRESEASON RANKINGS FROM BALLADEER’S BLOG

Last week I posted Balladeer’s Blog’s Preseason rankings for the NAIA. Now here’s my early look at NCAA Division 3 for the 2018 season.

Mount Union Purple Raiders1. UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS (Defending Champions)    ###     2. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS    ###     3. UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS    ###     4. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS (MN) TOMMIES    ###     5. LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS    ###    

Frostburg State Bobcats6. FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS    ###     7. WARTBURG COLLEGE KNIGHTS    ###     8. WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE PRESIDENTS    ###     9. SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES    ###     10. DELAWARE VALLEY UNIVERSITY AGGIES    ###     Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: BALLADEER’S BLOG’S PRESEASON NAIA RANKINGS

Morningside MustangsNAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) – 1. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS    ###     2. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS (Defending Champions)    ###     3. REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES    ###     4. LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS    ###     5. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS    ###    

Southeastern Fire helmet REAL6. SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE    ###     7. DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS    ###      8. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM    ###     9. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS    ###     10. CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX    ###     Continue reading

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BLUE DRAGONS FOOTBALL PICKED FOURTH IN THE JAYHAWK CONFERENCE

Hutchinson Blue DragonsWICHITA – There was one overriding theme on Friday at the 2018 Jayhawk Conference Football Media Day at Newman University.

“The Jayhawk Conference is an elite conference. There are eight great teams,” Hutchinson College head coach Rion Rhoades said during his turn at the podium.

“The conference is a grind. You have to be on your A-game,” Butler coach Tim Schaffner said.

The other six coaches had similar feelings about the 2018 football season. With the new scholarship rules in place for one full recruiting cycle, all eight coaches agreed that the KJCCC has more talent on all eight teams top to bottom than at any time in the league’s storied history. Continue reading

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