Pigskin Preview College 2012 by NPG Newspapers

Pigskin Preview 2012 |

d section

| FRIDAY | AUGUST 24, 2012

Regional realignment MIAA, Super Region 3 changeups alter playoff landscape, forge

difficult path to prominence

see page D2-3

In-depth looks at both Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State

see Pages D4-5

New-era MIAA has new teams, new players to get familiar with for this season.

see Page D6-7

Big 12, SEC reshuffle leaves Missouri, Kansas and K-State with new opponents

see Page D9-10

MIDWESTERN MAMMOTH

Friday, August 24, 2012

Super-sized MIAA features bigger markets, longer excursions, complex paths to prominence By SAM ROBINSON St. Joseph News-Press

bserving by far the largest collection of midwestern Division II representatives at MIAA media day earlier this month, Michael Hill kept hearing an enticing sentence. The phrase “SEC of Division II” echoed throughout the day as coaches and players attempted to encapsulate the new reality of what was already arguably the nation’s premier D-II conference. It’s a fair comparison, albeit in a vastly different landscape. Division I’s elite league is home to the past six national champions; D-II’s placed its top team in the title game in eight of the past nine years. No other conference has appeared in more than three in that span. Only now that time-tested midwestern power endures its most significant makeover in more than two decades, which could make the conference’s near-annual road to Florence, Ala., tougher — or easier — depending on that particular season. If nothing else, it strengthens the league to the point that it might be an outdated argument over which conference sits at this level’s summit. “You can’t just sit around and do the same old thing. I actually like it,” said Hill, Missouri Western’s starting running back of the MIAA adding Nebraska-Kearney, Lindenwood, Northeastern State (Okla.), Central Oklahoma and former member Southwest Baptist. “I like a challenge. It could be a tougher road; it just depends on how you prepare.” Preparation produced consistent dividends in the past. In mostly a 10-team league during the recent reign, each school’s schedule contained no more than two disparities, depending on its nonconference opponents. Now, MIAA championship contenders must not only tussle with each other but do so while fighting an unbalanced battle in a 15-team league. For the fi rst time in the conference’s extensive history, its teams won’t decide everything on the field, which has become the new era’s chief concern. With 14 conference opponents, only 10 conference games and no divisions insituting yearly order, some programs are staring at gauntlets while others’ slates won’t be as grueling. But if squads fi nish as cochampions without facing off, their seasons should extend into a loaded Super Region 3 playoff sextet. Beyond that is where it becomes murky and where the unbalanced schedules has the potential to create the most chaos. “When there’s a tie with a couple of two-loss teams that haven’t played each other head to head, who’s going to the playoffs? Then I think you have to assess where you’re at a little bit,” Northwest Missouri State coach Adam Dorrel said. “Then you have potentially a flawed system because somebody can’t control their schedule if they’re not getting to play everybody in the conference.” The SEC usually sends its two best teams into the Bowl Championship Series, but the depth that shapes its invincible aura is relegated to the Cotton Bowl, Gator Bowl and other prominent-yet-ultimately inconsequential season-ending exhibitions. Last year, the SEC put three teams in the BCS Bowl, an unprecedented show of conference muscle. Division II’s depth vies for valuable spots in a 24-team playoffs where second-, third-, or fourth-place conference fi nishers can show up on a bracket line and make a title run. Only last season did Northwest, which lost twice in the regular season for the fi rst time since 2005, have to worry about playoff qualification. But this year, the Bearcats (11-3, 7-2 MIAA in 2011) might have to again with a daunting fall draw. Northwest plays the other five

2004 MIAA Conference

QUANTITY AND QUALITY Northwest Missouri State Maryville, Mo. Missouri Western St. Joseph, Mo.

KANSAS Washburn Topeka, Kan.

Central Missouri Warrensburg, Mo.

Emporia State Emporia, Kan.

Truman State Kirksville, Mo. University of Missouri Science and Technology Rolla, Mo.

Southwest Baptist Bolivar, Mo.

Pittsburg State Pittsburg, Kan.

Missouri Southern Joplin, Mo.

MISSOURI

2012 MIAA Conference

A perennial national title hub, the MIAA now ranks among Division II’s most populated conferences ❯ Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference: 16 teams ❯ Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference: 16 teams ❯ Great Lakes Valley Conference: 16 teams ❯ Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: 15 teams ❯ Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: 14 teams ❯ Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference: 14 teams

LONGEST TRIPS

Northwest and Western’s bus routes will extend Northwest Truman considerably Missouri State State Nebraska-Kearney in 2012 Maryville, Mo. Kirksville, Mo. Kearney, Neb. ❯ Northwest at Central Oklahoma (Edmond, NEBRASKA Okla.) — 553 miles, 6 Lindenwood hours, 10 minutes Missouri St. Charles, Mo. ❯ Western at NortheastWestern ern State (Tahlequah, St. Joseph, Mo. Washburn Okla.) — 321 miles; 5 Fort Hays State Topeka, Kan. hours, 21 minutes Hays, Kan. Lincoln ❯ Nebraska-Kearney at Jefferson Lindenwood (St. Charles, Central Missouri City, Mo. Mo.) — 553 miles; 8 Warrensburg, Mo. Emporia State hours, 29 minutes Emporia, Kan. ❯ Lindenwood at Fort Southwest Baptist Hays State (Hays, KANSAS Bolivar, Mo. Pittsburg State Kan.) — 495 miles; Pittsburg, Kan. 7 hours, MISSOURI 30 minutes Missouri Southern

OKLAHOMA

Northeastern State Tahlequah, Okla.

Joplin, Mo.

Central Oklahoma Edmond, Okla. teams in the MIAA preseason coaches’ poll’s top six — all of whom advanced to the playoffs in at least one of the past two years. Western garnered an even more pressure-packed task in New MIAA Year 1. Tabbed third behind defending national champion Pittsburg State and perpetual power Northwest, Western faces the top third only with road trips to Pittsburg, Kan., and Maryville, Mo. In a season where the Griffons (9-3, 7-2) carry legitimate MIAA title hopes, they look to have the toughest schedule in the conference. By contrast, Pitt State doesn’t play Washburn nor Kearney (which earned a fi rst-round playoff bye last season) and entertains hapless Lincoln. Washburn, which also advanced to the playoffs last year, avoids Kearney and Central Missouri. “Going in on paper, it looks like that would be the case, but you never know,” Western coach Jerry Partridge said of his team’s strong schedule. “One school of thought is the strength of schedule’s gonna be a lot better and help you get in. The other school of thought is we might have one extra loss. That’s gonna be the dilemma that you have. “Like most years, if we go 9-2, we’re gonna get in; 8-3, you might squeak in like in the past. I don’t think 8-3’s gonna get you in now.” The schedules’ jagged paths even out every two years, but in the process end storied regional rivalries. Northwest and Truman State’s clashes for the Old Hickory Stick, the oldest Division II traveling trophy, ceased this season when the Bulldogs, who will depart after this season for the lessheralded Great Lakes Valley Conference, began the new cycle off the Bearcats’ schedule. More so, next season could mark the last Fall Classic at Arrowhead; Pitt State and

Northwest won’t play in the regular season for two years beginning in 2014, which will cost both schools fi nancially and halt one of this strata’s showcase events. “That’s the most disappointing part of this process, but it’s not something other schools haven’t dealt with,” Northwest athletic director Wren Baker said. “When Oklahoma and Nebraska stopped playing, that was a real disappointing time. Our game with Pitt is one of the best-attended Division II games every single year with great competition. “If you look at who’s our No. 1 rival as an institution, you’d say Missouri Western. But if you ask our fans who our No. 1 rival in football is, just as many would say Pittsburg State.” Western’s next rotation won’t include Washburn, which joined the conference along with the Griffons and Pitt State in 1989. Baker would’ve preferred a 10-game conference slate going forward so Northwest could attempt to revive their longtime rivalries with Pitt State or Central in Week 1 — albeit in a special nonconference scenario — but Western first-year AD Kurt McGuffin had a hard enough time filling his schedule this year that he’s embracing the full-season conference campaign. Once the new schools officially joined in fall 2010, the goal as a then-16-team league was to have 11 MIAA games. But after Nebraska-Omaha and Truman’s departures, those dates have increased McGuffi n and Baker’s phone bills, conversing with teams as high as Division I-FCS to fi ll the open dates vacated. FCS playoff bastion Northern Iowa, which Western tried to schedule, pilfered Western’s Omaha replacement — Central State (Ohio) — after Florida State poached UNI’s. As a result, William Jewell is now the third team to occupy the

Griffons’ 2012 Week 2 spot in the last 1½ years. “It’s become very difficult to schedule Division II opponents out of the conference for us for many reasons. We’re obviously a very good football team. FCS schools don’t want to play us. They’re really leery of the top MIAA teams,” McGuffi n said. “(Having the schedule fi lled) helps so I don’t have to pull any more of my hair out.” But the phone-bill escalation could very well continue. Current D-I-FCS Summit Leaguer UNO and Truman have already reduced the new league to a 14-school arrangement starting next year, and simply using that elevated figure, it may be harder to stop programs from either jumping a level or fleeing for a more comfortable fit. That could cloud this experiment and inject a temporary feel, but considering the earthquake that’s been Division I athletics the past two years, the MIAA’s foundation appears sturdy. “We’re protecting ourselves a little bit because of the seismic activity that’s happening in Division I. I think Division II, the MIAA is just protecting itself just in case it happens,” Partridge said. “I think the schedule we set up two years from now won’t happen either. Stuff happens.” This protection of sorts will result in bloated travel budgets, but Kearney’s nine-plushour trek to St. Louis pales in comparison to some of D-II’s weekend-draining journeys. Great Northwest Athletic Conference member Simon Fraser (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) traverses nearly the entire pacific coast to play GNAC foe Azusa Pacific (San Bernadino, Calif.), while RMACers Black Hills (S.D.) and Western New Mexico circumnavigate the Midwest with their near-18-hour road trips to the other’s campus. For the MIAA holdovers, the longer trips allow them to

broaden their recruiting pipelines. Western already has 12 players — including five starters — from St. Louis, but an eastern border change should increase their exposure there. Northwest — currently no players from Oklahoma — will expand its reaches south with the additions of the Tulsa and Oklahoma City markets. “We’re going to start recruiting Oklahoma,” said Dorrel, who spent a year as a grad assistant at Northeastern. “Those kids are gonna get exposure to the MIAA. We’re gonna go down there and play a game and we can tell guys that, ‘Hey, we’re coming down; if you want to come over and check us out, then come on over.’” Northwest quarterback Trevor Adams expressed interest in playing new teams rather than going through the same schedule as recent Bearcats squads, but perhaps the lasting local impact of this system will be the rivalry that’s been preserved. Even though it will make Western and Northwest’s schedules more difficult, the Week 11 date in Maryville or St. Joseph will emerge as one of Division II’s marquee matchups. The region’s top collegiate rivalry perished after Missouri left the Big 12, taking its annual series against Kansas with it to the SEC. Amid all the shuffl ing and worries about how the current structure will affect the future of a once-stable conference, northwest Missouri’s next-best feud appears set to further intensify at its prestige peak. “It’s a win-win for fans in this part of the state,” McGuffi n said. “I wouldn’t want to see the schedule without (Northwest). MU’s gonna have to fi nd a new rival; KU’s gonna have to fi nd a new rival. I don’t want to fi nd a new rival.” Sam Robinson can be reached at sam.robinson@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Northern Exposure

Friday, August 24, 2012

Division II playoff berths could be harder to secure for MIAA teams with move to Super Region 3 By Cody Thorn St. Joseph News-Press

When Division II planned a shuffle in its playoff super regional alignment, MIAA Conference coaches might have smiled just a bit. The Lone Star Conference’s powers often kept a borderline MIAA school out of the 24-team playoff bracket in recent years, only to watch the Texas-based league fail to make much postseason noise. The MIAA moved from Super Region 4 to Super Region 3 this year — a separation from its southern foes — but might have ended up with an even bigger challenge. Region 3 now features the MIAA, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Great American Conference. The Northern Sun, a power conference in its own right, becomes the MIAA’s chief rival for playoff spots. A member of those two conferences has represented Division II in each of the past nine national championship games and won the past four titles — Minnesota-Duluth (2008), Northwest Missouri State (2009), Duluth (2010) and Pittsburg State (2011). Maybe Region 4 wasn’t so bad after all. “I think making the playoffs will be harder,” Missouri Western coach Jerry Partridge said. “The Northern Sun, with all their teams (16), this is the biggest region, as far as number of teams, in America. It will be more difficult to make the playoffs, really. I think it is more tough with more tough teams to go against.” MIAA members became accustomed to battling the Lone Star Conference for playoff berths in recent years. Seemingly every year, the two leagues’ teams jockeyed around the regional rankings for postseason bids — even more so the past seven years when Division II expanded its ledger of playoff teams to 24 in 2004. The bids have been nearly split the past eight seasons — a slight 21-20 advantage for the Lone Star — despite overwhelming evidence of the MIAA’s superiority once the playoffs begin. The MIAA held a 12-2 advantage in head-to-head playoff matchups during that span. “It will be different this year,” Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. “It seemed the Lone Star Conference always got their fair share in the playoffs. And the Northern Sun has some strong teams. Hopefully, our conference is more consistent in getting three or four teams going to the playoffs every year.” To maintain that dominance, a tougher gauntlet might now exist. This year’s AFCA preseason Division II poll features seven teams ranked in the top 25 among the four conferences in the new Region 3, including Northwest

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Northwest Missouri State running back LaRon Council eludes a tackle in the 2008 national championship game against Minnesota-Duluth. Part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference that joins the MIAA in Super Region 3 this season, Duluth has won two of the past four national championships.

Getting to know the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

The MIAA’s new regional rival brings additional playoff chops compared to Lone Star Conference. Here’s a look at the facts and figures that define the NSIC. ❯ 16 programs in 5 states: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota ❯ Began play in 1932 ❯ Teams totaled 13 playoff wins in past 5 years (Minnesota-Duluth responsible for 10 victories) ❯ Top teams: Duluth — 4-time reigning league champion, won 2 of past 4 national titles, defeated Northwest in playoffs en route to each. Saint Cloud State (Minn.) — Co-champion last season, 29-7 record last 4 years. Minnesota State — 2011 co-champion, 29-7 last 4 years. Augustana (S.D.) — 25-10 last 4 years, advanced to 2010 quarterfinals, split with Western in 2008, 2009 Mineral Water Bowls. Bemidji State (N.D.) — 2006 unbeaten conference champion. (3) and Western (18). The MIAA leads the way with four, but the NSIC features No. 2 Duluth and No. 16 St. Cloud State (S.D.). Humboldt State (Calif.), out of the GNAC, ranks No. 21. That means before the year even starts, Region 3 contains seven ranked teams battling for six playoff spots. That doesn’t take into account a

half-dozen other schools from the four conferences that received votes in the poll. Duluth has become the premier team in the NSIC, winning national titles in 2008 and 2010. Minnesota State-Mankato has been a playoff regular as well in recent years. During the 2010 season, Duluth (No. 1), Augustana (No. 2) and St. Cloud (No. 4) were all playoff qualifiers.

That season, Duluth defeated Northwest in the semifinals on the way to to a title. In 2008, Duluth defeated Northwest 21-14 in the championship game. The battles have already taken place in some cases between the NSIC and MIAA. They now become more regular. Depending on the season, the power at the top of Region 3 could become unrivaled in Division II’s annals. “We’ve seen first hand (the NSIC teams) have a distinct advantage when the weather turns,” Northwest coach Adam Dorrel said of the northern brethren. “Duluth, St. Cloud, and we had a chance to see Sioux Falls (S.D.) last year. That is a good league. “You can probably argue their league and the MIAA back and forth of who is better.” The arguments should now play out in the early rounds of the Super Region playoffs. Cody Thorn can be reached at cody.thorn@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

MIAA newcomers bring diverse winning backgrounds By Cody Thorn St. Joseph News-Press

The landscape of the MIAA Conference shifts again this season. This time, the league takes its most dramatic movement since 1989 with the addition of five new teams, taking the already expansive, powerful league to 15 members across four states. The five new teams bring big changes in many facets to a league looking to stabilize after years of changes. Lindenwood (St. Louis) and Central Oklahoma (Oklahoma City) add larger markets and stretch the MIAA’s geographic limit. Nebraska-Kearney owns a strong Division II pedigree. Northeastern boasts a powerful championship history. Southwest Baptist brings back a familiar name. “We haven’t brought in anyone in the league we don’t think will be competitive,” MIAA commissioner Bob Boerigter said during MIAA media day earlier this month. “They all have the commitment to win.” The MIAA must only reacquaint itself with Baptist. After originally joining the MIAA in 1988, the Bearcats left following the 2007 season after 21 years of mostly sub-.500 showings in football. Baptist remained in the conference for all other sports, but after posting only one winning league record in football (5-4, 1991), Baptist sought to resurrect its program by exiting the recruiting and competitive grind of perhaps Division II’s top league. Baptist compiled 24 wins the past four years, equaling the victory total from 1998-2008 combined, and seemingly leveled out its program. “I think our kids saw we had a lot of success. We were 6-1 going into final stretch of (last) season,” Baptist coach Keith Allen said. “I think it was a good eye-opener for our kids.” Lindenwood, Northeastern and Central Oklahoma also enter off of tenures as independents. The two former Lone Star Conference members — Central Oklahoma and Northeastern — sport a much longer Division II history. Central Oklahoma joined Division II following a decorated NAIA history, winning national titles in 1962 and 1982. Four years after the second title, the Bronchos joined Division II. In that span, Central Oklahoma made the Division II playoffs four times but not since 2003. The other three came in a four-year span (1996, 98-99). “I played Division II football at UCO, so I follow Division

Don Adams Jr. | Submit ted photo

Lindenwood running back Denodus O’Bryant stiff-arms Central Missouri linebacker Evan Knight in a nonconference game last season. A former HAAC member, Lindenwood is one of five MIAA newcomers. II football. I know how talented the teams are in this league. I know week-in and week-out we have to be strapped up and ready to go,” said Central coach Nick Bobeck, who hopes to shine up the luster on a program with 595 wins in its history — second among all colleges in Oklahoma. Northeastern moved to Division II in 1997 — just three years after winning it all in the NAIA (1994), the RiverHawks’ third national title at that level (1958, 1964). Success quickly followed with a trip to the national semifinals in 1999 where Northeastern lost to Carson-Newman, which went on to lose to MIAA member Northwest Missouri State in that year’s title tilt. The RiverHawks made the playoffs again in 2000, but last year’s Mineral Water Bowl berth represented their only postseason appearance since then. “For us we feel like we are going to the SEC of Division II football. We are excited and excited about possibilities,” Northeastern coach Kenny Evans said. Lindenwood hopes to follow those two’s early Division II success but then maintain it. Since Patrick Ross became the Lions’ coach in 2004, Lindenwood owns a 74-22 record, including an 8-3 season last year in its inaugural Division II schedule. That included wins over Division I Northern Colorado and Division II powerhouse Texas A&M-Kingsville but also a loss to MIAA member Central Missouri. Prior to that, Ross led Lindenwood to five playoff berths

in seven years at the NAIA level with only one losing season, advancing to the national title game in 2009. “The reality is the top 10 NAIA teams have to have Division I- and I-AA-caliber players to be good. I think, as we make this transition, the big question mark will be our depth. Can we hold up for 11 tough games in the MIAA Conference? Can we hold up for 60 minutes against these physical teams?” said Ross, who posted a 37-3 mark in his final four seasons of Heart of America Athletic Conference play. Kearney seemingly sits poised to make the biggest impact, picked sixth in both the media and coaches MIAA preseason polls. The Lopers developed into a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference power and a mainstay in the AFCA Division II national poll in recent years. Kearney rose to as high as No. 4 in the national poll last season and ended up earning a first-round Division II playoff bye. However, its playoff run ended in the second round to eventual national runner-up Wayne State (Mich.). Kearney earned each of its four playoff bids in history under current coach Darrell Morris (2002, ’05, ’09, ’11). “We are coming in from the RMAC and that doesn’t carry the same weight as the MIAA. They (other coaches) will have to do a sell job to their players that we can actually play football at UNK,” said Morris, who took over as Kearney’s head coach in 2000 and led the Lopers to a 92-39 record in that span with only one losing season (5-6, 2004). There is familiarity between the new teams and the 11 MIAA teams they join this season. Washburn and Fort Hays State played Central Oklahoma last fall; Central Missouri tangled with Lindenwood; Northeastern took on Kearney, which has the most extensive history with MIAA foes. As a previous member of the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (NAIA), the Lopers — then known as Kearney State — regularly played fellow members Missouri Western, Missouri Southern, Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Washburn and Fort Hays State. Those six teams all went on to join the MIAA well ahead of Kearney, and the formerly eight-team and now-defunct CSIC now has seven teams in the MIAA. Only Wayne State (Neb.) does not reside in the now 15team league, thanks to this most recent shift. Cody Thorn can be reached at cody.thorn@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Friday, August 24, 2012

northwest Scouting report

NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE | Bearcats

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Trevor Adams received plenty of high-pressure experience last season, starting 8 games — including all 3 playoff tilts. Constantly shoved into the fray due to bad-luck starter Blake Christopher’s injury habit, the 6-foot-1 Adams displayed talent that could turn him into a top MIAA QB. The junior comes off a 21-TD, 11-INT debut and enters as 1 of the league’s top QBs. Scrambling freshman Brady Bolles, former all-American Blake Bolles’ younger brother, and junior Tyler Seals are the backups.

RunninG back

By far Northwest’s strongest position. Senior Jordan Simmons and junior James Franklin III combined for nearly 3,000 yards from scrimmage in their 1st year together, and it’s safe to say that number should increase. Simmons will be relied upon as a receiver after recording 27, 46 and 30 receptions the past 3 years with stronger Northwest WR corps. Franklin remains in the backfield while Simmons splits out when the duo shares the field. Backing them up are Billy Creason, 2010’s opening-night starter who was relegated to special-teamer after Franklin’s arrival, speedster Kolhman Adema-Schulte and Denver Lohnes. Bryant Hummel (last year’s fullback of choice) and Kyle Kleeman will see time at FB.

WidE receiver

Luckily for Northwest, Tyler Shaw returns for his 4th year of regular duty. He’s the only proven target back — 112 catches, 2,064 yards, 18 receiving TDs in his career — in an otherwise-raw crew. Shaw’s repertoire — filled with seam and go routes — needs to include more chain-moving receptions this year if Northwest’s passing game is to be successful. No. 2 spot is still open. Bryce Young (Chillicothe) will have his role expand as a sophomore. Redshirt freshman Dearis Flint, a high school linebacker, is in line for plenty of playing time. Behind them are perennial backup Clint Utter, 2010 starter John Hinchey — who missed most of last year with injuries — and Jason Jozaites. Wyoming transfer David Tooley became discouraged with his progress post-ACL surgery and left the team in early August.

Tight end

An area more green than the wideouts. 2010 3rd-stringer Vincent Defeo, and Joel Gantz, who was set to be the Bearcats’ No. 2 man last year before an injury sidelined him for the season, are the top 2. Defeo and Gantz will see the field more for their blocking ability in what will be a more run-oriented attack. 6-7 Delaware transfer Mike Kastel and Alex Visk sit behind them. This group possesses a grand total of 2 collegiate catches coming in.

OffensivE line

Throughout last season, the Bearcats’ front developed into a top-flight group, particularly in run-blocking. Northwest rushed for 200-plus yards in 9 of its 14 games, including in both playoff wins. 3rd-year starter Rod Williams (all-American at left tackle) anchors the unit. Center Cole Chevalier, and Smithville alum C.J. Keeney return. Replacing all-American right guard and pulling specialist Cody Johnson is junior Cody Carlson, with juniors Cole Dafft and Nick Neitzel battling at left guard. Keeney (6-6, 280) opened the Bearcats’ 1st fall scrimmage at right tackle, which vacates the guard position he’d held for 1½ seasons. Injury-besieged John Petroff is likely the right tackle when Keeney plays guard. Jon Becklun did not return to the team, leaving Franklin as the only ex-Nebraska-Omaha import left.

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Northwest allowed more rushing yards per game (143.4) than it had since 2001, and it signed 4 JUCO transfers to attempt at reversing that for a unit that’s been among the nation’s best for many years. At present, the imports look to have ignited the incumbents. Burgeoning defensive end talent Matt Longacre’s spot is secure, but Matt Meinert, former Missouri State transfer Travis Chappelear and Ryan Meyer (DT) were the other starters in the fall scrimmage. Chappelear (6-5, 255) has been the Bearcats’ most consistent interior threat in camp after playing sparingly behind departed DTs Josh Lorenson and Aaron Terry last year. Ricky Bailey, a Week 1 starter last year, worked with the 2nd unit. 6-5, 268-pound Sony Theodate and Gary Brunt — both California JUCO signees — figure to be the 1st newbies to crack the 2-deep.

Linebackers

Toward the end of 2011, D.J. Gnader (100 tackles, 7 for loss) had climbed onto current Oakland Raiders linebacker Chad Kilgore’s level with 33 playoff tackles, by far the most on the team. 4thyear sophomore is a 1st-team All-MIAA candidate with sideline-to-sideline pursuit ability. Gnader shifted to Kilgore’s weak-side LB spot. Opposite him on the outside is senior Collin DeBuysere (73 tackles), and likely Matt Massey (52 stops off the bench) in the middle. Behind them are Eric Reimer, Landan Zaputil, last season’s opening-night starter at MLB before a lengthy injury battle, and Preston Bostwick.

Corners

The Bearcats lost 4 of their 5 rotation players here, including MIAA freshman of the year Bryce Enyard, who did not return to the team. So 2 new starters will take the field for the 2nd straight year. At 1 end, redshirt freshman Tyshaan Alleyne (Blue Springs High) snatched a starting job and has held it since spring ball. At the other is Joliet Junior College transfer Brandon Dixon, a physical 195-pounder who intercepted 5 passes last year. Brandon’s twin brother, Brian Dixon, started opposite him at Joliet and, once a Kansas State scholarship offer fell through, transferred to Northwest. He’s likely a key rotational member. All-MIAA hurdler Travis Manning (43 stops, 2 INTs, 2 forced fumbles in 2011) is the only member of last year’s top quintet back, and it looks like he’ll vacillate between CB and safety.

Safeties

Seniors Nate DeJong (3 fumble recoveries as a 1st-year starter in 2011) and longtime backup Clarke Snodgrass appear to be the back-end 1s, although Snodgrass should cede time to Manning in a rotation. Tarleton State sophomore import Stacy Whitaker, who displayed lockdown coverage as a CB in the spring game, and Central alum — and rare Missouri Western transfer — Jared Fox are likely the 1st backups. The Bearcats finished 2nd in MIAA in passing yards allowed per game last year.

Special teamS

Simmons (3 return TDs in all-American 2011) and Shaw (3 career return TDs) are the only position players who played key roles the 2009 national title season and are back deep for their 4th straight year. Todd Adolf (4-for-4 on 40-plusyarders last year) is back for his 4th season at kicker. Sophomore Kyle Goodburn will once again take deep snaps at punter.

— sam robinson

Mat t Reid | St. Joseph News-Press

Northwest Missouri State second-year coach Adam Dorrel directs players on Northwest’s first day of practice August 9. Northwest enters a season on the heels of a second-place MIAA Conference finish after winning the previous five titles.

finding their way again Northwest boasts less flash in 2012, but eyes return to peak

By Sam Robinson St. Joseph News-Press

MARYVILLE, Mo. — A sobering reality check via unthinkable margin easily shaped an odd offseason at Northwest Missouri State. “All we have to do is look up there to know that we didn’t bring it last year,” said sophomore linebacker D.J. Gnader, pointing to Bearcat Stadium’s west wall dedicated to conference and national championships. “That’s what we stress: bringing that title back.” Eventual national champion Pittsburg State throttled Northwest (11-3, 7-2 MIAA in 2011) in the Division II quarterfinals, and the MIAA coaches made the defending national champion Gorillas a nearunanimous pick to mount an encore performance. The Bearcats, the conference’s resident dynasty after winning the previous five league titles, enter the season at a crossroads of sorts. Did last season mark a one-year blip where everything crested for a rival, or did it represent the beginning of Northwest’s slide toward the pack as an improved contingent of challengers loom? This year’s venture into the supersized MIAA will prove pivotal from that standpoint. Orchestrating the quest at recapturing the throne is a Northwest team that resembles some of the Bearcats more hardened squads — built more on depth than sizzle, save for a few spots. At present, the Bearcats are devoid of a proven pass-rusher, a decorated quarterback or a double-team-drawing pass-catcher. “We’re not flashy or sexy at some spots or a lot of spots, but I just feel we’re solid,” Northwest second-year coach Adam Dorrel said. “After (a few players), I think it’s just a lot of unknown names, guys fighting to get back to where they want to get back to as a team.” This sort of makeup differs from most of the teams that voyaged to Alabama for national title games and secured MIAA championships. Vital bastions from the 2009’s national championship campaign like wideout Jake Soy or linebacker Chad Kilgore no longer reside on Northwest’s roster, leaving precious few who saw action in that transcendent year. But a collection of talent exists, recruited during an era of unprecedented dominance that longs for a chance to see it for themselves. “It was my redshirt year that they made it, so I haven’t been to Florence yet,” junior quarterback Trevor Adams said. “There’s a lot of guys like that, so we’re hoping that we can make it back this year.” The Bearcats bring back no MIAA firstteamers and again feature inexperience on defense. Last season’s defense sported a larger experience deficiency and had flaws — 143.4 rushing yards allowed per game, only 30 sacks in 14 games — but emerged late with stifling second halves in both Bearcat playoff triumphs, creating confidence they can pose a stronger unit. Northwest inked a cadre of JUCO defensive linemen in a girth-supplying attempt to restore the front to its title era’s run-stonewalling ways. But the Bearcats’ defense, buoyed by

Committee’s Credentials

In their 1st season as a pair, James Franklin III and Jordan Simmons became 1 of Division II’s elite tandems. ❯ 46 TDs (Franklin 25, Simmons 21) — 1st in Division II among teammates; next-closest duo : 33 (Midwestern State). Next-closest in MIAA: 32 (Washburn) ❯ 2,289 rushing yards (1,332: Franklin; 957: Simmons) — 4th among D-II duos; Next-closest in MIAA: Pittsburg State (2,032 yards) ❯ 6.7 yards per carry (6.8 ypc: Simmons, 4th; 6.6 ypc: Franklin, 6th) — next-closest in MIAA (minimum 100 carries): Sean McPherson (Washburn), 5.6 ❯ Franklin’s 25 TDs — 4th most in Northwest single-season history; only Xavier Omon (38, 2007), LaRon Council (36, 2008) Jake Soy (27, 2009) totaled more ❯ Simmons’ 2,109 all-purpose yards — trailed just 4 D-II athletes, including Pitt State WR John Brown’s 2,293

Mat t Reid | St. Joseph News-Press

Northwest Missouri State senior running back Jordan Simmons runs through a drill in practice earlier this month. Simmons is an all-American return man at Northwest.

playmaking underclassmen Gnader and defensive end Matt Longacre, will receive aid via running backs they face in practice. Northwest has more flash here than perhaps any team in Division II. Open-field phenoms James Franklin III and Jordan Simmons dizzied defenses for a combined 38 rushing touchdowns — 46 total TDs — in their timeshare debut. To put that figure in perspective, just four D-II teams amassed more rushing touchdowns than the Bearcats’ sub-200-pound pair. The Kansas City-bred duo compiled these numbers in a pass-first system that divvied throws to many targets. It might only be common sense Northwest redirect some of that balance to keep the ball in the hands of its biggest difference-makers. “Obviously, if you can run the football and score points and keep the chains moving, it makes your defense better,” Dorrel said. “We’re gonna place an emphasis on running the football this year. We do a good job of tailoring our offense to our strengths, and our strength this year is gonna be tailback.” That means more power sets and fewer

snazzy receiver-laden looks. Dorrel added that Franklin and Simmons, who shared the field for roughly nine snaps per game in 2011, will line up together more this year. Target redisribution or formation shifts can take a higher, more comfortable place in the Northwest coaches’ tasks now. Last season, they each occupied a new job after head coach Scott Bostwick died of a heart attack before the season. The players embraced the “Dream Season” mantra and took fields fueled with emotion. The Bearcats have no intention of distancing themselves from Bostwick’s memory, but a year removed, they feel less burdened by grief and can devote more attention to enjoying the game. “I wouldn’t say it was a distraction, but we had a lot on our plate,” Gnader said. “This year, we kind of get to relax. We’re not No. 1 anymore. It’s the first time since 2005 I believe. That’s just huge for us. It takes a lot of pressure off us. “Now it’s time to go knock somebody off.” Sam Robinson can be reached at sam.robinson@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Friday, August 24, 2012

MISSOURI Western | Griffons

western Scouting report OFFENSE

Quarterback

Travis Partridge proved many skeptics wrong by leading Western to a 9-3 mark in his 1st year under center. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder’s 520 rushing yards were 2nd-most among MIAA QBs. As a passer, Partridge struggled — 54 percent, 2nd-worst among MIAA starters. The junior looked poised in an accurate spring game, however, and having nearly his entire skill-position battery back will help as he prepares to lead Western back to the playoffs. QBs No. 2, 3 and 4 from 2011 — Jerrin Walton (who had moved to safety in the offseason), Cale Grauer and Tyler Harrison — all left the team, paving way to a hybrid role behind Partridge. Slot receiver Ty’ron Crockom, a high school QB who had 2 straight 2,000-yard, 20-TDpass seasons, is the backup quarterback and among the fastest D-IIers at that spot.

RunninG back

Western’s midseason shift to more ace sets — as opposed to the spread looks of the Griffons’ recent past — helped Partridge and might have helped RB Michael Hill. A physical, durable runner, Hill looked more natural taking handoffs in power looks, and he eclipsed his career high by more than 500 yards (MIAA regular-season high 1,305, including a 41-carry, 246-yard throwback game against Southwest Baptist) as a junior. Hill’s 31 catches were also a team high. The Central alum’s finale will likely put him atop Western’s career rushing yardage hierarchy, as his backfield stranglehold will continue. Dalton Krysa opens as the No. 2 but speedy underclassmen Dominic Thomas and Raphael Spencer are also lingering. Thomas was a garbage-time wonder last year, rushing for 374 yards — 6.8 per carry — and 6 TDs.

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Missouri Western defensive end Ben Pister records a sack against Langston quarterback Darrion Lewis during a game last year at Spratt Stadium.

facing the final test

Western’s experienced core has last chance to take program to new heights By Sam Robinson St. Joseph News-Press

Two tests determined whether this Missouri Western nucleus possessed ability to change a program. A hot start catapulted the Griffons into the top 10 two years ago, but three October blowouts threatened to reroute another season to the Mineral Water Bowl — Western’s perennial consolation prize that became not so consoling. Eleven months later, convincing losses to eventual playoff powers brought doubt back to St. Joseph despite increasing expectations. Only both times, Western, buoyed by a throng of talent that still lockers in the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex, proved skeptics wrong and advanced to the playoffs — its first back-to-back regional appearances ever. Each trip resulted in a deflating first-round defeat to archrival Northwest Missouri State, forming a new hurdle of sorts. However, Western’s best hope at negotiating this next barrier is a core that saw those November leads disappear against Northwest. Even in an expanded MIAA and a northern shift into Super Region 3, the Griffons are a threat to return to the playoffs thanks to 16 starters back on campus, including nine for at least their third year atop the depth chart. “Experience helps in anything you do,” Western 16th-year coach Jerry Partridge said. “I’m a Kansas City Royals fan; they lack experience. You see what’s going on now. Experience is everything in athletics.” Among that sizable contingent, all nine starting linemen are back — the first such instance in Partridge’s tenure — and no units know more about these clutch makeovers. Dubbed “Death Row” as a still-unproven group before last season, the Griffons’ front four on defense boasted athleticism but struggled mightily against the run in 2010. Western allowed nearly 180 rushing yards per game in the young quartet’s first season as starters. Western responded by collectively shifting the balance of power — literally — with a massive offseason weight-gain regimen, but in national champion Pittsburg State’s 34-7 openingnight romp, the Griffons again showed vulnerability. But spearheaded by first-team all-American and NFL prospect David Bass (14½ sacks), the Griffons (9-3, 7-2 MIAA) showed the protein shakes didn’t go to waste, becoming the top defensive front in the conference — 39 sacks, by far the best per-game total in the MIAA — and set the table for the league’s secondbest scoring defense (20.9 points allowed per game). By season’s end, teams mostly decided to double-team Bass and allow burgeoning power rushers Ben Pister (8½ sacks at defensive end) and Austin Baska (6½ from his tackle spot) oneon-one matchups. It’s a decision that will likely warrant further deliberation this year, as Pister and Baska return after their first full-time starting stints. “Toward the beginning of season, I expect them to slide toward David,” said Baska, the only junior left on Death Row. “But as the season goes on and they see what the rest of us can do, they’ll have to pay attention to the rest of us. Eventually, they’ll have to make a choice. “We want the weight of the team on our shoulders; we want to be the best that’s ever come through here.” Whether or not the defensive line realized its potential may have been a matter of time, but the offensive front’s questions centered around if it could keep quarterback Travis Partridge upright after allowing five sacks in the Gorillas’ physical statement to open the season. “I think the first game our quarterback just about got killed,” Jerry Partridge said. “Later in the year, our offensive staff did a great job of creating things we knew we could do, things we knew the O-line and quarterback could do, and they all started gaining some confidence.” A spread offense soon gave way to a powerful ground attack — program-best 5.4 yards-per-rush — tailored to brusing tailback Michael Hill and lifelong scrambler Travis Partridge’s skill sets. But an offensive front that showed little ability to runblock steadily out of the shotgun, atoned for a frightening Week 1 and paved the way for a seven-game win streak to close the regular season. As the bigs’ talent crested the past two years, the perception of Western football changed. The Griffons are in the regional and conference title conversation after years of settling for

Foundation set

One of deepest senior classes in program history leads Western into 2012’s heavily anticipated campaign. Here’s a look at the most experienced players at the Griffons core. ❯ Macon Allan — 4th-year starter at right tackle. One of MIAA’s top linemen after 1st-team all-conference campaign ❯ Shane Simpson — 4th-year starter at strong safety. 1st-team AllMIAA as junior. Has 12 career INTs. Made 68 tackles as sophomore. As experienced as MIAA safety can be, Simpson pairs solid awareness with ability to act as fourth linebacker in run game. ❯ David Bass — 4th-year starter at defensive end. 1st-team allAmerican, 27 career sacks. Emerged as one of D-II’s best players last season, commanding double-teams and notching 20 tackles for loss. Firmly on NFL radar. ❯ Brian Chiles — 3rd-year starter at right guard. Like Allan, improved last season to help Hill to career-best numbers as Griffons geared offense around Travis Partridge’s dual-threat ability and Hill’s bruising style. ❯ John Brown — 3rd-year starter at nose guard. Death Row’s second-longest inmate, Brown, barely 6-foot, is the strongest member of the Griffons’ defense. Occupies blockers as his 3 counterparts harrass ball-possessors. ❯ Ben Pister — 3rd-year starter at defensive end. Bulked up and benefited from Bass’ national breakout. A more powerful rusher, Pister has 13 career sacks and could force teams to stop doubling Bass this season. ❯ Tarrell Downing — 3rd-year starter at wide receiver. Numbers dipped a bit after Western went to more ground attacks, but Downing is integral as a downfield and run-after-catch threat. Scored 8 TDs last year — 2 on kick and punt returns against Lincoln. ❯ Colt Schulte — 3rd-year starter on offensive line. Started career at left guard but 6-6 Schulte shifted toward more natural left tackle position last season. After rough start against Pittsburg State, Schulte helped Hill soar to doorstep of school record books.

WidE receiver

Losing only possession man Adam Clausen, Western’s corps no longer has much height but speed is everywhere. No. 1 target Tarrell Downing (28/489/6), and slots Crockom and Derek Libby sport solid run-after-catch resumes. Their targets should go up with a more-seasoned Partridge. The other outside spot depends on T.J. Fannin’s health. Platte County alum Kyle Knox, a career backup, occupies the spot now but could be supplanted if Fannin (torn Achilles’ tendon last October) can return to his pre-injury form (429 receiving yards in ’10).

Tight end

Reggie Jordan’s apprenticeship is over. The 6-3, 235-pound junior receiving threat could provide matchup issues and give Travis Partridge a midrange target. Jordan will open as a starter after backing up block-1st man David Fowler previously. Freshman Alek Ferbet is the No. 2 here.

OffensivE line

5 returning starters — all seniors — here in what could be a strength after previously residing in the liability column. King City product Macon Allan (6-4, 310), has started every game since his freshman year at right tackle. Veterans Brian Chiles (right guard) and Colt Schulte (left tackle) provide additonal experience. Ex-Nebraska-Omaha center Michael Yardley took the starting reins early last year and had an impact on Western’s improved interior run game. Left guard Nick Clark beat out Jeremy Jacobsen (who doubles as the Griffons’ de facto fullback in short-yardage situations) and infamous JUCO transfer Kevin Hart to keep his job. Hart still has an uphill battle for playing time after reporting a bit heavy, coach Jerry Partridge said.

DEFENSE

Defensive line

One of the MIAA’s top position groups returns almost intact. David Bass removed the potential star label last year after 2 4-sack games when teams single-blocked the 6-5 speed rusher. Death Row’s 2 power rushers — 280-pound DE Ben Pister, 283-pound DT Austin Baska — would be top QB-harrassers on most MIAA teams but get to face single-teams again thanks to Bass. The line’s witness-protection program nose guard — stout 315-pound John Brown — played a key role in pushing Western from the league’s worst run defense to its 3rd-best (139.4 yards ceded per game, nearly 50 yards better than 2010). Former starter Sean Tray Bryson backs up Baska, while perhaps the next prominent Western DL, freshman Arbanas Elliot (6-4, 295), will spell Brown.

Linebackers

The least-experienced corps on the team, but it boasts 1 of its top pure talents. Middle linebacker Yomi Alli (53 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 blocked kicks) flashed star potential as the 4th LB last year and is the only locked-in starter. Alli compensates for his lack of size (210 pounds) with solid quickness. At OLB, the spots aren’t as certain. Lafayette alum Dan Ritter’s a career special-teamer who’s had a strong offseason, and Wallace Carter’s also a special teams mainstay. Stephen Juergens (18 stops, forced fumble, fumble recovery) and UNO transfer Nick Williams (19 tackles, 2 starts in 2010) have the most experience, but Central Florida import Ray Kottman carries the biggest pedigree. A former 2-star recruit, he had 80 tackles at Glendale (Ariz.) Junior College in ’10 but didn’t play much at UCF.

Corners File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Missouri Western wide receiver Tarrell Downing, right, scrambles with the ball in this News-Press file photo from a game against Lincoln last year. A senior, Downing returns as Western’s No. 1 receiver and top return man. Excelsior Springs, Mo., treks, and its seasoned battalion carries the knowledge of the ascension. Well, it should at least. “I’m not sure how it really changed, but we just put it all together somehow,” Hill said. Regardless of the blueprint’s details, another test awaits the Griffons’ developed foundation. For a senior class that’s logged enough snaps to rival any in the conference, another one-and-done November would be viewed as an unacceptable ending. “Hosting a playoff game was super-good for us and our program, but at the same time, it felt the same,” Hill said of Western’s 35-29 loss to Northwest at Spratt Stadium last year. “We don’t want to just stop at the first game in the playoffs. We’ve got to strive for more, and that’s our goal. “I like having that on our shoulders. It’s expected now. It’s not guaranteed, though.” Sam Robinson can be reached at sam.robinson@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Ben Jackson (67 stops, 3rd-most on the team — 3 INTs) emerged from 2 up-and-down reserve campaigns to become 1 of the league’s more dependable CBs as a starter last year. Chino Hills, Calif., senior native’s job is locked. The other spot may fluctuate. Jeremy Weston nabbed 5 INTs and broke up 9 passes in his 1st year as a starter but was indefinitely suspended following an April arrest. He recently rejoined the team after reduced charges but likely won’t reclaim job to start the year. Marcus Thompson (broken fibula, tibia as nickelback last year) and freshman Michael Jordan will be 1st in line to start and play behind Weston should he resume his previous post.

Safeties

Pretty cut and dry here. Sixth-year senior and career starter Shane Simpson (5 INTs including a pick-6 against Northwest Missouri State in the playoffs) leads with junior Marc Harrison replacing standout Jack Long. Kirk Resseguie is the top backup.

Special teamS

Taylor Anderson receives the honor and pressure of replacing current Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein. Anderson doesn’t have the leg the more famous ex-UNOer did, but few kickers ever have. Was MIAA player of the Week after 5-field goal game against Langston. All-MIAA punter Scott Groner (43.9 yards per punt in 1st football season) is back. Downing will return kicks and punts, with Fannin joining him on kickoffs. That duo led the nation in kick returns in 2010. Fannin returned a kick 100 yards for a score that year.

— Sam Robinson

Friday, August 24, 2012

MID-AMERICA INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC Central Missouri â?Żâ?Ż 2011 Record: 8-4 (6-3 MIAA, 5th) â?Żâ?Ż MIAA Preseason Rank: 5th, coaches; 5th, media â?Żâ?Ż Last Playoff Appearance: 2010 â?Żâ?Ż 2012 Outlook: The Mules return 5 starters on offense and 9 on defense including returning allAmerican offensive tackle Logan Freeman. â?Żâ?Ż Summary: Central qualified for back-to-back postseason berths for only the 2nd time in school history last year when it advanced to the Lower Kanza Bowl against West Texas A&M. In coach Jim Svobodaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3rd year, Central will be debuting a 3rd new starting quarterback following the graduation of Tommy Corwin. Junior Mike Peterson, who played in 5 games last year, is likely the favorite, but Snow Junior College transfer Colter Smith could also be a factor. Safety Patrick Smith was 7th in the MIAA in tackles last year with 104 stops. Senior kicker Aaron Jamieson, already a 2-time all-conference pick, made 7 field goals and set a school record with a 53-yarder last fall. â?Żâ?Ż Coach Speak: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knowing the mentality of our guys, being picked 5th will probably help them. They have a chip on their shoulders. They werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t real happy with how things finished up last year. I see a different level of focus and intensity with them. They will think of it as a challenge and be fired up about it.â&#x20AC;? â?Żâ?Ż One to Watch: David Cannon â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The 6-foot-3, 235-pound tight end hauled in 60 catches for 810 yards and 9 touchdowns last fall. The St. Louis native was a 1st-team All-MIAA selection last year.

Central Oklahoma â?Żâ?Ż 2011 Record: 2-9 (Independent) â?Żâ?Ż MIAA Preseason Rank: 12th, coaches; 14th, media â?Żâ?Ż Last Playoff Appearance: 2003 â?Żâ?Ż 2012 Outlook: The Bronchos start the season with a new coach in Nick Bobeck, who took over after the team sported the same record the past 2 years. UCO will have 5 starters back on offense and 6 on defense. â?Żâ?Ż Summary: Bobeck is rebuilding quickly after coming over from Navarro Junior College, the 2010 NJCAA champion. Although 50-plus players left after his arrival, the former Texas A&M assistant is loading up on players. Many of his former players at the Texas JUCO will be key starters this year. Quarterback Adrian Nelson was an all-American and enters as the starter, throwing for 3,754 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2011. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s starter, Ethan Sharp, is the the backup after he threw for a school-record 4,521 yards and 31 TDs last year. Junior safety Devoris Dozier had 5 interceptions and 38 tackles last year, while Central Florida transfer Toby Jackson is expected to play a big role on the defensive line.

â?Żâ?Ż Coach Speak: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The MIAA is not a ton different than where I came from at the junior college level down there in Texas. Three of the last 5 champions at the junior college level has came out of our conference. It is very similar.â&#x20AC;? â?Żâ?Ż One to Watch: Marquez Clark â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The wide receiver joined the team prior to fall camp after a short stint at Kansas State. Clark played for Bobeck at Navarro Junior College and racked up 98 catches for 1,639 yards and 15 touchdowns. Rivals.com ranked Clark as a fourstar recruit, and he became the highest signee for K-State earlier this year. Now, he will play with his JUCO coach and quarterback.

Emporia State â?Żâ?Ż 2011 Record: 5-6 (3-6 MIAA, t-6th) â?Żâ?Ż MIAA Preseason Rank: 7th, coaches; 7th, media â?Żâ?Ż Last Playoff Appearance: 2003 â?Żâ?Ż 2012 Outlook: Coach Garin Higginsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hornets return 8 starters on offense. The defense is headlined by all-American safety Derek Lohmann, who had 8 interceptions last year. â?Żâ?Ż Summary: The team was on the cusp of a possible bowl berth for the second straight year, but a loss to Northwest Missouri State ended those chances. Emporia narrowly scored more points on average (30.5) than its opposition (29.5) last season. The offense features a pair of key receivers in junior Ray Ray Davis (6th in the MIAA with 50 catches last year) and senior Shjuan Richardson (4th in the MIAA with 9 touchdowns). Senior Lance Uhles was a 2nd-team AllMIAA pick on the offensive line. â?Żâ?Ż Coach Speak: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be a middle-of-the-pack team. We want to be a team playing for a lot more. From a talent standpoint, I really do feel we are where we need to be matching up with other teams in the league. Unfortunately, we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been able to win some games we have led against top teams in the league.â&#x20AC;? â?Żâ?Ż One to Watch: Tyler Eckenrode â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Eckenrode, the most experienced quarterback in the conference, passed for 2,580 yards and 18 touchdowns last year and this fall will be the 3rd season as the starter. The 6-0, 195-pound senior is the top returner among total offense in the league. He finished 283 rushing yards shy of racking up 3,000 yards total last fall.

Fort Hays State â?Żâ?Ż 2011 Record: 4-7 (3-6 MIAA, t-6th) â?Żâ?Ż MIAA Preseason Rank: 11th, coaches; 9th, media â?Żâ?Ż Last Playoff Appearance: 1995 â?Żâ?Ż 2012 Outlook: Year 2 under coach Chris Brown should be another building block for the Tigers. After having a plethora of freshmen last year redshirt, depth should help

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Pittsburg State safety Jason Peete, shown running against Northwest Missouri State in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fall Classic, returns an interception for a touchdown. Peete returns for the defending national champions. a team that returns 7 starters on both sides of the ball. â?Żâ?Ż Summary: The Tigers added 1 more victory and 2 more league victories under Brown, the former Washburn defensive coordinator and a former player at Pittsburg State. Brown hired away Cooper Harris, Washburnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defensive coordinator, this season in efforts to help a unit that allowed 472.5 yards and 34.7 points per game. The offense and defense each return 2 players that earned All-MIAA accolades last year, led by 2nd-team offensive lineman John Rouse, a center. Running back Andre Smith (963 yards, 5 TDs) and Anthony Sheppard (889 yards passing, 6 TDs, 364 yards rushing, 4 TDs) also return. Senior defensive end Kyle Perry (honorable-mention All-MIAA) had a team-high 6Â˝ sacks last season. â?Żâ?Ż Coach Speak: â&#x20AC;&#x153;They battled all year long and fought all year long. They learned the system and learned what I expected from them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the mental toughness and being a very physical football team. They are starting to learn that and know what I want. They are tougher and know what they need to do to be ready for the season.â&#x20AC;?

â?Żâ?Ż One to Watch: Tarean Austin â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A newcomer to the roster, the New Mexico transfer could be the guy under center and unseat Sheppard, who became the starter midway through 2011. Austin quarterbacked 2 years for the Lobos and started 4 games in 2011, passing for 708 yards and 6 TDs. He started 2 games as a true freshman and played in a total of 13 games at the Division I level.

Lindenwood â?Żâ?Ż 2011 Record: 8-3 (Independent) â?Żâ?Ż MIAA Preseason Rank: 8th, coaches; 8th, media â?Żâ?Ż Last Playoff Appearance: 2010 (NAIA) â?Żâ?Ż 2012 Outlook: The Lions move to the MIAA after spending a year as independent in part of their transition from HAAC dynasty to the MIAA. Lindenwood was a power at the lower level, including advancing to the national title game in 2009 and losing to Sioux Falls. Coach Patrick Ross returns 7 starters on offense and 6 on defense but expects key transfers to help out this fall. â?Żâ?Ż Summary: The Lions return

standout senior wide receiver Andrew Helmick, a Winnetonka product, whose stat line read 56/901/12 last year on his way to being named the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offensive MVP. He set a school record for receiving yards per game and longest kickoff return with a 100-yard score against Central Oklahoma. Joining him in the WR corps is Iowa State transfer Donnie Jennert, who was a 3-star recruit coming out of high school in Florida in 2009. He played 6 games on special teams in 2010. Senior running back Deondus Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bryant is a 2-time NAIA all-American and is back after an injury-plagued 2011. Defensive back Cody Fogle recorded 65 tackles and had 2 fumble recoveries. Former Ohio offensive lineman Kadre Pinder (6-5, 320) is expected to start after redshirting last year. â?Żâ?Ż Coach Speak: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expecting to be so high (in the preseason poll) but I guess it says a lot about the program we built and the tradition we have. We are ready for (the MIAA). The only way to find out is to get out and do. We are confident in ourselves and confident in our team, and I think we will do just fine.â&#x20AC;? â?Żâ?Ż One to Watch: Pierre Desir â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The name may be familiar with some MIAA fans as the St. Charles, Mo., native made a mark at Washburn in 2009 and 2010. The father of 2 transferred closer to home prior to the start of fall practice last year for family reasons. While at Washburn, he was a 2-time all-American and a 1st-team All-MIAA selection. He enters with 79 tackles and 12 INTs in his first 2 years in the league and will be a junior in eligibility after sitting out last season.

Lincoln â?Żâ?Ż 2011 Record: 1-10 (0-9 MIAA, 10th) â?Żâ?Ż MIAA Preseason Rank: 15th, coaches; 15th, media â?Żâ?Ż Last Playoff Appearance: 1958 â?Żâ?Ż 2012 Outlook: The 1st year back in the MIAA after a long hiatus was a rough one for the Blue Tigers. Coach Mike Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; team gave up an MIAA-worst 54 points and 505 yards per game to opponents. Unlike last year, Lincoln doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have an NAIA team on the schedule so a win could tough to come by. Eight of the 9 MIAA foes scored at least 49 on Lincoln â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Western led all with an 81-point showing. Lincoln does return 14 starters (8 offense/6 defense) for the upcoming season. â?Żâ?Ż Summary: Four Lincoln players that garnered All-MIAA honorablemention status, including sophomore defensive lineman Vonques Knox and defensive back Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara Fluellen, redshirt senior. Fluellen was a preseason all-American last season and notched 6 interceptions and finished with 49 tackles. Secondary mate Herman Hopson had 75 tackles and 2 intercep-

tions. Sophomore quarterback Robert Redmon passed for 1,278 yards and 6 TDs but was intercepted 14 times last year. He was one of 4 QBs Lincoln had to use due to injuries. Running back Martee Tenner gained fame after the spring game with a flip over a teammate which was on SportsCenterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Plays. â?Żâ?Ż Coach Speak: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we have a better understanding of what the conference is about. When we walked in, everyone all talked about how good the conference is. Until you play a game, then you realize they are a whole lot better than people give them credit for. I think it was a great learning experience for our guys.â&#x20AC;? â?Żâ?Ż One to Watch: Deon Brock â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The junior from Commerce, Ga., was one of the bright spots in a rather forgetful season. He was the only running back to play all 11 games and led the team in carries (115), yards (509) and touchdowns (6). He scored a career-high 4 touchdowns and ran for 190 yards in a loss to then-No. 15-ranked Washburn. The 5-9, 175-pound back should expect to again be a focal point in Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; offense.

Missouri Southern â?Żâ?Ż 2011 Record: 3-7 (2-7 MIAA, t8th) â?Żâ?Ż MIAA Preseason Rank: 10th, coaches; 11th, media â?Żâ?Ż Last Playoff Appearance: 1993 â?Żâ?Ż 2012 Outlook: The Lions return defensive lineman Brandon Williams â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an All-American on 5 different teams â&#x20AC;&#x201D; among 8 starters on defense. The NFL draft prospect recorded 8 sacks and finished 13th in Division II in tackles for loss. The offense returns 6 starters, including All-MIAA WR Landon Zerkel, who was a Beyond Sports Network preseason all-American this fall. â?Żâ?Ż Summary: Bart Tatumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal was a playoff berth last season, but a 3-game losing streak to end the season spoiled any postseason hopes. Tatum resigned after the season. Former Southern defensive coordinator Daryl Daye was hired away from his job with the Buffalo Bills. A former head coach at FCS Nicholls State (1999-2003), Daye worked with Southern for 4 seasons, leaving in 2009. The new coach brought in a new optionoriented offense but expect Zerkel to still have a big role. The senior was 2nd in the MIAA in receptions and receiving yards per game last season and finished with 77 catches for 1,047 yards and 6 TDs. He is currently closing in on Colin Badoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career reception records previously held by Rod Smith. â?Żâ?Ż Coach Speak: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are a ways away. We have about 72 new players that never put the green and gold on. We still will be evaluating and there still will be new disciplines going in. We have to bond them and grow together and come together. We have 11 days to really do it. It is a tall order. A big

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Friday, August 24, 2012

CS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE CAPSULES challenge, but we will get it done.” ❯❯ One to Watch: Brandon Williams — The 6-3, 325-pound lineman is already a projected draft pick next year, and Daye said scouts visited during spring practice. The Kirkwood, Mo., native has 18½ career sacks, only 5 away from the school’s record. He broke up 5 passes last year. Aside from a medical-redshirt season in 2009, Williams has been a staple in the Lions’ defense since his freshman season in 2008.

Nebraska-Kearney ❯❯ 2011 Record: 10-2 (8-1 RMAC, 2nd) ❯❯ MIAA Preseason Rank: 6th, coaches; 6th, media ❯❯ Last Playoff Appearance: 2011, 2nd-round loss to Wayne State ❯❯ 2012 Outlook: Kearney was a long-standing power in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and coach Darrell Morris said his team has to learn what it is like to not be the favorite to win a championship. A top-10-ranked team most of 2011, the Lopers return 5 starters on offense and 8 on defense. ❯❯ Summary: The team is ranked No. 17 in the Lindy’s preseason Division II poll but will quickly see where it fits in the MIAA race with games against Washburn, Western and Northwest the 1st month in the league. The Lopers lost 11 starters from last year’s team, including two NFL talents — cornerback Arthur Hobbs (Chargers) and offensive lineman Stephen Goodin (Giants). Among those key players back is preseason all-American seniors Justin Thiel (defensive line) and Sam Kuck (safety). A 2-time AllRMAC pick, Thiel had 43 tackles and 5 tackles for losses last year, while Kuck had 76 tackles and 3 INTs. Defensive end Dex Schweiger notched 53 tackles and 7 tackles for losses after transferring from Nebraska-Omaha. Quarterback frontrunner Sam Hutsell, a JUCO signee, left after spring ball, opening up a competition for the spot that Morris thought was secured. Senior Kevin Romero, Arizona transfer Tyler D’Amore, a sophomore, and redshirt freshman Aric Kaiser are battling for the job. ❯❯ Coach Speak: “As an institution, it was smart to join the MIAA. Seven schools in this league are closer to use than our nearest

competitor in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. It will reduce time our student-athletes spend on a bus dramatically. And then in football, it is the SEC of Division II. Why not?” ❯❯ One to Watch: Tommy Flanagan — A Mr. Do-it-all, racked up 1,139 yards of total offense last year for the Lopers. The senior from Lakewood, Colo., is listed as a wide receiver/punter/kick returner and he does each pretty well. He had 45 catches for 704 yards and 8 TDs, while averaging 39.7 yards per punt. He gained 403 yards as a kick/punt returner. The former South Dakota WR led the FCS team in catches in 2009 and played a part in the Coyotes’ upset win over Minnesota in 2010.

Northeastern State ❯❯ 2011 Record: 7-5 (Independent) ❯❯ MIAA Preseason Rank: 9th, coaches; 10th, media ❯❯ Last Playoff Appearance: 2000 ❯❯ 2012 Outlook: The RiverHawks had 118 players at the 1st day of practice. Coach Kenny Evans has 14 returning starters — 6 on offense, 8 on defense — from a team that advanced to the Mineral Water Bowl against Minnesota State-Mankato. ❯❯ Summary: The RiverHawks broke 18 individual season or career marks and set 7 new marks on offense last season. Quarterback Johnny Deaton is a big reason. His top receiver Trey McVay graduated, as did all 5 starting linemen. Recent transfer Michael Bowie, a starting left tackle at Oklahoma State, will fill one of the open spots. The defense features junior linebacker Langston Jones, who had 93 tackles, and sophomore safety Cayle Shambaugh — a former Oklahoma Sooners righthanded pitcher — who had 50 tackles, an INT and a sack. ❯❯ Coach Speak: “We know we have to continue to build our program and our facilities and do things so we have a chance to compete in this league. Our administration isn’t afraid to put financial commitment behind that.” ❯❯ One to Watch: Johnny Deaton — The Sand Springs, Okla., native played in 2 games as a true freshman at Oklahoma State in 2010. He was ranked as the nation’s 6th-best dual-threat quarterback

in 2009 coming out of high school. Last year, he transferred to Northeastern and threw for 2,520 yards and 26 TDs. Brandon Weeden’s former backup averaged 229 yards per game after becoming the starter following the RiverHawks’ 65-10 loss to Nebraska-Kearney. Deaton led the team to 6 straight wins, before losses to then-No. 2-ranked Midwestern State and then to Mankato in the bowl game.

from Homestead, Fla., runs a 4.35 40-yard dash and made life tough for most teams in the MIAA last year. He earned all-American honors as both as a wide receiver and kick-return specialist last year. Along with his more than 1,200 yards receiving, he added 369 yards and 2 TDs returning punts, and 616 yards and a TD returning kickoffs. He led the MIAA in all-purpose yards and was 13th in Division II. Brown tied a program record with 5 TDs in a game last season and set a school mark for the first player to have 4 consecutive 100-yard receiving games.

Pittsburg State ❯❯ 2011 Record: 13-1 (8-1 MIAA, 1st) ❯❯ MIAA Preseason Rank: 1st, coaches; 1st, media ❯❯ Last Playoff Appearance: 2011, Division II national champions ❯❯ 2012 Outlook: A year after being picked fifth in the MIAA, the Gorillas climbed back into the top of the MIAA, ending Northwest’s run. Coach Tim Beck, the national and MIAA coach of the year, returns 5 starters on offense and defense this year, led by defensive standouts Nate Dreiling and Gus Toca — both preseason all-Americans. ❯❯ Summary: A junior, Dreiling followed up a stellar redshirtfreshman season by notching 139 tackles and grabbing 8 INTs on his way to earning the MIAA defensive player of the year award and being tabbed by The Don Hansen Gazette as the Division II defensive player of the year. Toca became one of the league’s best pass-rushers last year with 11 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 19 tackles for loss. The offense lost quarterback Zac Dickey to graduation but returns the services of WRs John Brown and Anthony Castaneda. Brown he had 61 catches for 1,216 yards with 12 TDs. A senior, Castaneda had 26 catches for 441 yards and 2 TDs. He is probably best remembered for his arm; he threw TDs on reverse-pass plays — against Northwest and Delta State (Miss.), respectively. ❯❯ Coach Speak: “It helps when you play longer and you do get those extra practices in the postseason and hope it carries over. You can’t put stock in the poll at all. It is an honor to be ranked No. 1. We have to get our players to understand what it took to get where we got last year. We have to go back to work and start at square one.” ❯❯ One to Watch: JOHN Brown — The speedster

Southwest Baptist ❯❯ 2011 Record: 6-5 ❯❯ MIAA Preseason Rank: 13th, coaches; 13th, media ❯❯ Last Playoff Appearance: none ❯❯ 2012 Outlook: Playing in its final season as an independent, Baptist raced out to 6-1 record and received votes in the Division II poll before a stretch of 4 straight losses to MIAA foes closed out the campaign. It was the 1st time the Bearcats had a winning record in 3 straight years since the program started. Keith Allen has 8 starters back on offense and 7 on defense. ❯❯ Summary: The Bearcats return to a conference where they haven’t had a lot of success in the past, winning only 14 of their final 81 games in the league — including a winless 0-11 campaign in Allen’s 1st season (2007). Senior quarterback Dan Connors returns after throwing for 2,179 yards and 14 TDs and running for 399 yards and 5 TDs. Two of his top 3 targets return in sophomores Derwyn Lauderdale (45/503/1) and Nathan Mourik (42/493/3). Senior defensive back/kick returner Chris Muhammad averaged 27.9 per kick off return and grabbed 2 interceptions and made 51 tackles on defense. Junior linebacker Zach Moore (96 tackles, 7 for loss) is also back. ❯❯ Coach Speak: “The biggest difference is the depth of the players. The MIAA teams all have quality guys. Assume everyone’s first team is the same — some better than others — but the thing is who has the better twos and the better backups? I think all the coaches are good coaches. You will win games because you have a got better depth and more fundamentally sound.”

3 forced fumbles. He returned 1 of his interceptions for a touchdown.

❯❯ One to Watch: dan Connors — the junior college transfer is a dualthreat quarterback that stands 6-6. The Marina, Calif., native led the team in rushing attempts with 152 — 20 more than the top running back had last season. He passed for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns in a near-upset of Western late in the season.

Washburn ❯❯ 2011 Record: 10-3 (7-2 MIAA, t2nd) ❯❯ MIAA Preseason Rank: 4th, coaches; 4th, media ❯❯ Last Playoff Appearance: 2011, lost to Pittsburg State in the 2nd round ❯❯ 2012 Outlook: The Ichabods built on a trip to the postseason in 2010 with a berth in the NCAA playoffs for the first time in six years. Coach Craig Schurig returns 14 starters (6 on offense, 8 on defense). The key player back is all-American wide receiver DaJuan Beard, a 2nd-team All-MIAA pick last year. Washburn hasn’t had a losing season since 2003 and has made the playoffs 3 times since and won 2 bowl games. ❯❯ Summary: For the 1st time since 2008, a new quarterback will be under center for the Ichabods after all-American Dane Simoneau graduated. The Harlon Hill finalist was the MIAA offensive player of the year after passing for more than 4,000 yards in 2011. It appears sophomore Mitch Buhler and Joel Piper — both pro-style quarterbacks — could share playing time this year. Junior defensive back Isaac Wright notched 35 tackles in 12 games playing for Kansas in 2011. FCS transfer T.J. Shine (Southern Illinois) is expected to play a big role in the secondary. Inside linebacker Jahmil Taylor and Bryce Atagi were both 2nd-team All-MIAA picks. ❯❯ Coach Speak: “It is different with a new quarterback. Dane played it about as well as you can play it. I think our offensive line will be strong. And we feel as a group at running back, receivers and tight end will take the pressure off of having a new quarterback.” ❯❯ One to Watch: DaJuan Beard — The Highland Community College transfer led the MIAA with 15 touchdown catches last year — the 2nd-best mark in school history. He grabbed 62 catches for 1,029 yards to earn honorable-mention all-American status. The 6-2 junior who prepped at Raytown South showed his versatility last year by throwing a 49-yard pass against Truman and while playing defense intercepted a pass against Abilene Christian and returned it 43 yards.

Truman State ❯❯ 2011 Record: 4-7 (2-7 MIAA, t-8th) ❯❯ MIAA Preseason Rank: 14th, coaches; 13th, media ❯❯ Last Playoff Appearance: 1994 ❯❯ 2012 Outlook: Gregg Nesbitt returns for his 3rd season at the helm, but it will be the last for the MIAA charter member in the league. The Bulldogs return 5 on offense and 10 on defense, including MIAA 2nd-team pick senior defensive back Richie Schumacher (130 tackles, 2 INTs). All-MIAA senior punter Eric Phillips is back after averaging 42.9 yards per punt. ❯❯ Summary: The Bulldogs won their first 2 games last year over Baptist and Lincoln before losing 4 straight and ultimately 7 of the last 9. The offense transitioned as the year went on and junior Conrad Schottel (Kearney, Mo.) ended up taking over as starter from FCS transfer J.B. Clark. Schottel, who signed as a tight end, threw for 347 yards and 3 TDs. Junior wide receiver Dallas Grier, a 2-time All-MIAA honorable-mention selection, is back after a 47/599/4 season last fall. Phillips helped the Bulldogs lead the MIAA in net punting average — yards on punt minus the return — and finish 7th in the nation. Junior defensive lineman Nick Abbatte had a team-high 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for losses last year. ❯❯ Coach Speak: “We think defensively we have 25 guys that played over 150 snaps of MIAA football. We had a rash of injuries on that unit last year and played kids that weren’t quite ready. That could turn into a positive for us this year with depth. We think our defense has a shot to be solid.” ❯❯ One to Watch: Michael Elliott — The senior defensive back redshirted last season, but if he’s healthy after sports hernia surgery, he could be a boost. The Texan was a 1st-team All-MIAA defensive back in 2010 after recording 91 tackles, 3 interceptions and an MIAA-leading

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Missouri set for new beginning

BENEDICTINE | Ravens

CONTINUED FROM page D10

File Photo | Atchison Globe

Benedictine wide receiver Jordan Jackson hauls in a touchdown catch against Evangel last season. Jackson returns after a first-team AllHeart of America Athletic Conference season.

atchison ascension Benedictine seeks back-to-back playoff berths

By Logan Jackson Atchison Globe

Benedictine put together a record-breaking season last year, and it helped end a lengthy playoff drought too. Not only did the Ravens advance to the NAIA Football Championship Series for the first time since 2003, they set team marks in touchdowns allowed during the regular season (12), first downs given up in a game (three), interceptions in a season (26) and single-game scoring (69). Benedictine finished 9-3. And the Ravens return enough firepower to be just as successful this season. “It’s encouraging that we do have quite a few players returning,” coach Larry Wilcox said. “The cupboard’s not bare. We’ve probably got more experience coming back on the offensive side, especially at our skill positions.” The Ravens return their quarterback, top two running backs, top two wide receivers and tight end. Five of those players — running backs Cameron Fore and Kevon McGrew, wide receivers Geoff Akpom and Jordan Jackson and tight end Alex Boyd — were All-HAAC selections last season. Fore led the team with 771 yards

and 12 touchdowns on the ground. He tied two single-game Raven records against Culver-Stockton last season as well, scoring five touchdowns and accounting for 30 points in the win. McGrew wasn’t too bad running the ball either, finishing with 662 yards. He found the end zone five times — just not all in one game. Akpom caught 51 passes for 724 yards and nine touchdowns. Three of those touchdown catches came against Peru State and tied a BC record. Jackson had 42 catches for 764 yards and eight touchdowns. Boyd made for a nice third receiver — catching the ball 25 times for 276 yards. He also scored three touchdowns. The one guy that didn’t receive All-HAAC honors but made the offense tick — quarterback Bill Noonan — also returns to lead one of the more potent offenses in the country. Noonan completed 51 percent of his passes a year ago and threw 16 interceptions — six coming in one game against Sterling. But he finished with 2,210 yards and 24 touchdown passes, the latter of which was a Ravens record. “Bill had a great year last year,” Wilcox said. “In reality, last season was his first in about three years, so he was a little rusty. He did a

e g a t i r He

nice job though. We anticipate that his confidence and knowledge will be ahead of where it was this time last year. We expect big things out of him.” The Ravens’ defense will see quite a few changes. Benedictine had more than a handful of defensive players graduate this year, however, they do return Heart of America Athletic Conference defensive player of the year Jordan Ancar. Ancar led the team with 64 tackles, 17 1/2 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks and helped create the chaos that benefited the defensive backs. The Benedictine defense gave up only 118 points all season. “There will be some new people, so there will be a different look in that regard,” Wilcox said. “We won’t do much differently, however. Our defense was so strong and so fun to watch last year. They were all over the place. It’s going to be a challenge for our defensive coaches to emulate that. They’re excited about it, though.” The Ravens begin their season Saturday at Concordia (Neb.) University. Benedictine’s first home game will be the following week against Sterling College. Logan Jackson can be reached at logan.jackson@npgco.com. Follow him on Twitter: @loganglobe.

Date 8/25 9/1 9/15 9/22 9/29 10/6 10/13 10/20 10/27 11/3 11/10

Missouri would rather Franklin not run so much, given he’s the lone quarterback on the roster with college game experience, but his legs might be needed. All-Big 12 tailback Henry Josey is likely to miss the season after requiring three surgeries, the last in May, for a ruptured patellar tendon sustained last fall. Junior Kendial Lawrence is likely to step in for Josey, who was among the national leaders with 1,168 yards and an 8.1-yard average before getting injured. One of Franklin’s targets figures to be heralded freshman Dorial Green-Beckham of Springfield, Mo., widely considered the top high school recruit in the country. Green-Beckham set national high school records with 6,353 yards receiving and 75 touchdowns, and because of all this Pinkel limited media access for the first time in his dozen years at the school. Pinkel said he won’t rush the kid, and won’t fast-track him on the depth chart. Pinkel said future NFL players like Jeremy Maclin, Sean Weatherspoon and Ziggy Hood got the same treatment.

“We’re going to wait, see where it goes and let him come around like anybody does and see what happens,” the coach said. “Like any freshman on our team, you start at the bottom. You’re not going to come in and start, you don’t do that.” Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, who was among the nation’s top recruits a few years ago, heads into his first season as a starter. Richardson played catch-up much of 2011 after getting academic clearance from the NCAA. “He has a chance to be an impact player,” Pinkel said. “It’s nice for the first time since he’s been here, he’s gotten to do the things our team does to get better. And that’s all summer long.” Linebackers Andrew Wilson, Luke Lambert and Zaviar Gooden are among the top returning starters on an underrated defense that allowed just 59 fourth-quarter points last season. The schedule includes a visit from Georgia in Game 2, on Sept. 8, and Alabama on Oct. 13. The season finale is Nov. 24 on the road at fellow SEC newcomer and old Big 12 foe Texas A&M.

Weis vows to restore pride to KU football CONTINUED FROM page D10 they just got the crap kicked out of them,” Weis said. “You want to know something? That just doesn’t cut it. “I understand about talent discrepancies. I got it. One team’s got a lot more talented guys,” he said. “But to have games get away from you that quickly and by that wide a margin — if I were one of those fans I would have left at halftime and not come back myself.” Weis spent a good chunk of the offseason working on the talent discrepancy. Dayne Crist, once a highly sought recruit Weis lured to Notre Dame, decided to reunite with his former coach. The senior quarterback is taking advantage of an NCAA rule that allows players who have graduated to transfer become immediately eligible to compete. Weis has lured several

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of the so-called “fifth-year transfers” to Lawrence. Crist is banking that he can be, but only if he’s able to get on the field. The Jayhawks’ defense was so poor last season — statistically among the worst in major college football in every significant category — that when they finally got on the field on offense, they were often playing from a hole too deep to dig out. Weis has hired former Dallas Cowboys coach Dave Campo, one of the top defensive minds in the sport, even though he’s long removed from the college game. While Weis talks in terms of wins and losses, Campo has a very different set of goals. “I want us to play from the snap to the whistle, no matter what the situation, no matter what the time, no matter what the score. That is what I’m looking for,” Campo said.

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Friday, August 24, 2012

kansas state | Wildcats

Expectations running high for Wildcats Pressure mounts on Kansas State entering 2012 season following 10-win season with Klein at QB

By DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State was picked to finish near the bottom of the Big 12 last year, and didn’t do anything to change expectations with a lastgasp win over Eastern Kentucky to open the season. By the end of it, the Wildcats were playing in the Cotton Bowl. Much of the praise for the success fell on Bill Snyder, the wizard of the Flint Hills, who returned a few years back from retirement to rescue a program that he built from dust. Just as much praise fell on Collin Klein, the Wildcats’ gritty run-first quarterback, who doesn’t seem to be truly in the game unless he has blood on his jersey, and whose late-game heroics led the program to more come-from-behind victories than could reasonably be expected. Both are back for another go-around, and expectations are far higher this season, even if the old coach and his veteran quarterback refuse to believe it. “I wouldn’t say there’s any kind of different feeling,” Snyder said. “It’s always improve day-in and day-out as a player, a teammate, an individual — across the board. “If you improve,” he said, “then you’ll

help us be a successful team.” Hard to argue with that after last season. After Klein rescued the Wildcats from a potentially embarrassing loss in Week 1, they just kept getting better — the dramatic win at Miami, when a video review gave Klein the winning touchdown run on the final play, and the comeback victory over Robert Griffin III and Baylor. The Wildcats would go on to win 10 games for the first time since claiming the Big 12 title in 2003, during Snyder’s first tenure as coach. “We were a better team at the end of last season than we were at the beginning,” Klein said, “a better team at the end of spring than we were at the beginning of spring, and we’ve just got to make sure we’re a better team at the end of camp than we were at the beginning.” Simple in theory, but many teams seem to struggle with it. Perhaps it’s Snyder’s exacting attention to detail, a by-the-book, old-school way of teaching the game that startled just about everyone in the program when he returned. Or maybe it’s the fabric of a team full of guys no other major programs wanted. Klein was recruited by a handful of schools when he decided on Kansas State, but he’s flourished into one of the most mesmerizing quarterbacks in

college football. He threw for 1,918 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, and had 1,141 yards and 27 TDs on the ground. Now, his picture is showing up on billboards along Interstate 70. “It’s a different dynamic,” Klein said. “Sometimes that exterior stuff just disappears, and it should, because it’s not what’s most important, and that’s just getting ourselves as well prepared as we possibly can.” On defense, linebacker Arthur Brown — another transfer, this time from Miami — put up one of the best statistical seasons in school history. Along with a slew of tackles, he also showed big-play ability when he picked off Griffin to rally Kansas State past Baylor. Brown could have declared early for the NFL draft, but he opted for one more season. “He’s come out of his shell a little bit,” defensive back Nigel Malone said of the team’s defensive wrecking ball. “It’s good for the team to see that, somebody who’s high-profile like that. The best thing about him is that he’s stayed the same even through all the success.” Malone was pretty successful, too. He picked off seven passes, broke up 10 more and has shown up on just about every All-American watch list this season. Kansas State opens the year against

2012 Kansas State football schedule Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24

Missouri State 6 p.m. Miami 11 a.m. North Texas 6 p.m. at Oklahoma TBA Kansas TBA at Iowa State TBA at West Virginia TBA Texas Tech TBA Oklahoma State TBA at TCU TBA at Baylor TBA Texas TBA Home games in bold

lower division Missouri State on Sept. 1, and then welcomes Miami in the return of their home-and-home series. The Wildcats’ final non-conference game is against North Texas before diving right into the Big 12 with a road trip to Oklahoma.

Big 12 conference capsules OKLAHOMA

KANSAS STATE

TEXAS

❯❯ Key players — QB Landry Jones, DB Demontre Hurst, OL Gabe Ikard. Returning starters — 7 offense, 8 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Heisman Trophy hopeful Jones has 93 career passing touchdowns, and has thrown for 9,181 yards the last two seasons. The Sooners also have shortyardage running quarterback Blake Bell, who ran for 13 TDs as a freshman last year. ... Coming off 33rd 10-win season, more than any other team.

❯❯ Key players — QB Collin Klein, LB Arthur Brown, LB Tre Walker, DB Ty Zimmerman. Returning starters — 8 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Klein matched Big 12 overall record and FBS mark for quarterbacks with 27 rushing TDs last season. ... Kansas State won 11 games six times during a seven-year span in coach Bill Snyder’s first tenure. They won 10 games last year, in Snyder’s third season back from his three-year retirement.

❯❯ Key Players — RB Malcolm Brown, DE Jackson Jeffcoat, DL Alex Okafor, DB Kenny Vaccaro, CB Carrington Byndom, LB Jordan Hicks. Returning starters — 9 offense, 7 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Since 13-1 record in 2009 season that ended with loss in BCS national championship game, Longhorns have won a combined 13 games the past two years. Before the recent slide, Texas had nine consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins and had never won fewer than nine games under coach Mack Brown.

WEST VIRGINIA

TCU

❯❯ Key players — QB Geno Smith, WR Tavon Austin, C Joe Madsen, DL Will Clarke. Returning starters — 9 offense, 7 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Mountaineers make Big 12 debut coming off first 10-win season since 2007. ... Before becoming West Virginia head coach last season, Dana Holgorsen spent nine of the previous 11 seasons as a Big 12 assistant coach, eight years at Texas Tech and one as Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator.

❯❯ Key players — QB Casey Pachall, OL Blaize Foltz, DE Stansly Maponga, WR Josh Boyce, LB Kenny Cain, CB Jason Verrett. Returning starters, 6 offense, 5 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Horned Frogs haven’t lost a conference game since November 2008, winning the last three Mountain West titles outright. ... Only FBS team to win at least 11 games in six of last seven seasons.

OKLAHOMA STATE ❯❯ Key players — OL Lane Taylor, RB Joseph Randle, DB Brodrick Brown, DE Cooper Bassett. Returning starters — 8 offense, 8 defense. ❯❯ Notes — After winning first Big 12 title, Cowboys have eight offensive starters back. But missing are two first-round picks, quarterback Brandon Weeden (4,727 yards passing and 37 TDs) and receiver Justin

Southeastern conference capsules East Division

West Division

GEORGIA

LSU

❯❯ Key players — QB Aaron Murray, WR Tavarres King, DB Bacarri Rambo, LB Jarvis Jones. Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense. ❯❯ Notes — RB Isaiah Crowell is gone. Cornerback Sanders Commings and cornerback Branden Smith — and perhaps Rambo — face suspensions. ... Malcolm Mitchell, last season’s No. 2 receiver, opens at cornerback and will likely play both positions.

❯❯ Key players — QB Zach Mettenberger, DE Sam Montgomery, DT Bennie Logan. Returning starters: 7 offense, 5 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Mettenberger, a former Georgia player, might represent a sizable upgrade at QB. ... Offense has runners galore, led by Spencer Ware and Michael Ford, and offensive line has five players who have logged 102 collective starts.

SOUTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

❯❯ Key players — QB Connor Shaw, RB Marcus Lattimore, DE Jadeveon Clowney, DE Devin Taylor. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — A second straight Top 10 finish seems possible. ... If Lattimore returns to pre-knee injury form, it could more than make up for the loss of WR Alshon Jeffery.

❯❯ Key players — QB AJ McCarron, C Barrett Jones, LB Nico Johnson, S Robert Lester. Returning starters: 6 offense, 4 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Quest for third national title in four years faces daunting scheduling, including opener with Michigan in Arlington, Texas, and visits to LSU and Arkansas. ... New offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier is unlikely to change pound-before-pass philosophy.

FLORIDA ❯❯ Key players — RB Mike Gillislee, WR Andre Dubose, LB Jon Bostic, DL Sharrif Floyd. Returning starters: 7 offense, 10 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Gators try to rebound from mediocre season. ... Brent Pease replaces offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, and has the personnel to mount a more physical running attack.

MISSOURI ❯❯ Key players — QB James Franklin, LT Elvis Fisher, WR Dorial Green-Beckham, CB E.J. Gaines. Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense. ❯❯ Notes — The SEC’s third group of Tigers enters the league hoping to prove skeptics wrong. ... Franklin is expected to be fully recovered from spring shoulder surgery after flirting with 3,000-yard passing, 1,000yard rushing season.

TENNESSEE

ARKANSAS ❯❯ Key players: QB Tyler Wilson, RB Knile Davis, WR Cobi Hamilton, LB Alonzo Highsmith. Returning starters: 8 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Coach John L. Smith trying to keep Bobby Petrino’s offseason ouster from slowing program’s momentum. ... All-SEC RB Knile Davis returns after ankle injury sidelined him in 2011.

AUBURN ❯❯ Key players — QB Kiehl Frazier, WR Emory Blake, DE Corey Lemonier, LB Daren Bates. Returning starters: 7 offense, 9 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Frazier is the odds-on favorite to claim starting job over Clint Moseley. ... Tigers have new coordinators in Scot Loeffler (offense) and Brian VanGorder (defense).

TEXAS A&M

Blackmon (122 catches, 1,522 yards, 18 TDs). ... Oklahoma State has won 41 games the past four years.

BAYLOR

TEXAS TECH

❯❯ Key Players — QB Nick Florence, OL Ivory Wade, NB Ahmad Dixon, WR Terrence Williams. Returning starters — 6 offense, 8 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Baylor enters the season with a six-game winning streak, third-longest among FBS teams (North Illinois 9, TCU 8). ... After winning 10 games to match a school record, the Bears lost some big playmakers — Heisman Trophy quarterback Robert Griffin III, receiver Kendall Wright and running back Terrance Ganaway.

❯❯ Key Players — QB Seth Doege, WR Eric Ward, S Terrance Bullitt. Returning starters — 8 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — After unexpected 41-38 win at Oklahoma to end the Sooners’ 39-game home winning streak, Red Raiders lost their last five games to finish 5-7. That ended a streak of 16 consecutive winning seasons. .... Texas Tech has third defensive coordinator, and third different scheme, in three seasons.

IOWA STATE ❯❯ Key Players — LB Jake Knott, LB A.J. Klein, RB James White. Returning starters — 7 offense, 5 defense ❯❯ Notes — Next win for Cyclones will be No. 500 in program history. There are also

Legends Division IOWA

ILLINOIS ❯❯ Key players — QB Nathan Scheelhaase, LB Jonathan Brown, DE Michael Buchanan, C Graham Pocic. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense. ❯❯ Notes — The Illini roared out of the gates with a 6-0 record last season only to lose six straight in a headshaking slide that cost Ron Zook his job. The Illini did win the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl over UCLA to finish 7-6. .... Scheelhaase has played in 26 games the last two seasons, passing for nearly 4,000 yards and rushing for another 1,492.

MICHIGAN

INDIANA

❯❯ Key players — QB Denard Robinson, WR Roy Roundtree, OT Taylor Lewan, S Jordan Kovacs, LB Kenny Demens. Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense ❯❯ Notes — Robinson has already set the NCAA singleseason record for rushing by a quarterback when he picked up 1,702 yards as a sophomore. His numbers dropped off a bit — as did his carries — a year ago but he still had 1,176 in Brady Hoke’s highly successful first season that ended in a Sugar Bowl victory.

❯❯ Key players — DT Adam Replogle, QB Tre Roberson, RB Stephen Houston, C Will Matte, DT Larry Black, Jr. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense. ❯❯ Notes — The Hoosiers won’t improve until their defense does. They gave up 459 yards per game last season and had trouble stopping the run during a 1-11 season. Indiana was winless in the Big Ten. ... Coach Kevin Wilson played 16 true freshmen and 16 redshirt freshmen last season. The Hoosiers started 46 different players in 12 games.

MICHIGAN STATE

OHIO STATE

❯❯ Key players — QB Andrew Maxwell, LB Max Bullough, DE William Gholston, DB Johnny Adams, S Isaiah Lewis, RB Le’Veon Bell. Returning starters: 5 offense, 8 defense ❯❯ Notes — Michigan State has had back-to-back 11-win seasons for the first time in school history. ... The Spartans have won more conference games (24) over the last four years than any other team in the league.

❯❯ Key players — QB Braxton Miller, WR Devin Smith, WR Corey Brown, DT Johnathan Hankings, DL John Simon. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Coming off a 6-7 season that followed the tattoos scandal, the Buckeyes turned to Meyer, who brought two titles to Florida before health issues sent him to the TV booth for a year. Meyer has been tested already.

MINNESOTA

❯❯ Key players — DT Jordan Hill, LB Gerald Hodges, QB Matt McGloin, LB Michael Matui, RB Silas Redd. Returning starters: 4 offense, 4 defense (as of July 31). ❯❯ Notes — First-year coach Bill O’Brien says he got a boost from a conversation with his former boss, Bill Belichick, when the New England Patriots coach told him he doesn’t buy the talk that Penn State football is dead.

❯❯ Key players — QB MarQueis Gray, LB Mike Rallis, WR Brandon Green, OL Ed Olson, LB Keanon Cooper. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Coach Jerry Kill thanked a reporter for asking him how his health was and then said he was feeling fantastic. Kill had a seizure on the sideline of a game against New Mexico State last season. ... Gray’s dual threat abilities and athleticism give the Golden Gophers hopes of improving on last year’s three-win season.

VANDERBILT

MISSISSIPPI STATE

❯❯ Key players — QB Jordan Rodgers, RB Zac Stacy, DT Rob Lohr, CB Trey Wilson. Returning starters: 9 offense, 8 defense. ❯❯ Notes — The Commodores have adopted coach James Franklin’s feisty attitude, but face uphill climb from 2-6 SEC mark that still marked solid progress. ... Rodgers, Aaron’s younger brother, seems to have regained Franklin’s confidence after bowl game benching.

❯❯ Key players — QB Tyler Russell, LG Gabe Jackson, CB Johnthan Banks, LB Cameron Lawrence. Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Bulldogs have won back-to-back bowl games for first time since 1999-2000 — not to mention three straight Egg Bowls with rival Mississippi. ... Coach Dan Mullen predicts “a huge year” from Russell.

❯❯ Key players — RB Rex Burkhead, QB Taylor Martinez, WR Kenny Bell, LB Will Compton, DE Cameron Meredith. Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense ❯❯ Notes — Nebraska’s Blackshirt defense lost two of its best in linebacker Lavonte David and Alfonzo Dennard, voted the league’s best cornerback. ... Burkhead had seven 100-yard rushing games last seaso.

MISSISSIPPI

NORTHWESTERN

❯❯ Key players — WR Donte Moncrief, RB Jeff Scott, DB Charles Sawyer, LB Mike Marry. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense. ❯❯ NOTES — Randall Mackey has moved from QB to WR with emergence of Barry Brunetti, JUCO transfer Bo Wallace. ... WR Nickolas Brassell has left the team because of academics, and four others had work this summer to assure eligibility.

Leaders Division

❯❯ Key players — DB Micah Hyde, QB James Vandenberg, C James Ferentz, LB James Morris, LB Christian Kirksey, WR Keenan Davis. Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, in his 14th season running the Hawkeyes, is the dean of conference coaches. He needs six more seasons to tie Hayden Fry for the longest tenure at Iowa. ... The Hawkeyes are 55-12 at home since the start of the 2002 season and were 6-1 a year ago at Kinnick Stadium.

❯❯ Key players — LT Luke Joeckel, RB Christine Michael, WR Ryan Swope, LB Sean Porter. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — QB Jameill Showers is apparent leader in race to replace Ryan Tannehill. ...Coach Kevin Sumlin, whose Houston offenses twice led the nation in total, passing and scoring, brings a fast-paced attack.

KENTUCKY

KANSAS ❯❯ Key Players — QB Dayne Crist, LT Tanner Hawkinson, DE Toben Opurum. Returning starters — 7 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Jayhawks have won only two Big 12 games the last three seasons. ... Charlie Weis takes over as head coach and brought NFL veteran coach Dave Campo.

BIG 10 conference capsules

❯❯ Key players — QB Tyler Bray, WR Da’Rick Rogers, LB A.J. Johnson, LB Herman Lathers. Returning starters: 10 offense, 7 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Derek Dooley’s rebuilding project continues after one SEC win last season. ... Tennessee reloaded with several JUCO transfers, including onetime Alabama defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore and WR Cordarrelle Patterson.

❯❯ Key players — QB Morgan Newton, OL Larry Warford, WR La’Rod King, S Martavius Neloms. Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Coach Joker Phillips might be on the hot seat after 4-12 SEC mark in first two seasons. ... QB Morgan Newton was held out of contact in spring after having surgery on his right shoulder.

595 losses and 46 ties. ... The Cyclones then lost their last three games, including their bowl game at Yankee Stadium.

NEBRASKA

❯❯ Key players — QB Kain Colter, S Ibraheim Campbell, LB David Nwabuisi, OL Brian Mulroe, WR Demetrius Fields. Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — The Wildcats must replace QB Dan Persa and the job will fall to Colter, who rushed for 654 yards and nine TDs a year ago. ... The winless bowl run continues for the Wildcats, something they hope to finally nix. They’re 1-9 in postseason games.

PENN STATE

PURDUE ❯❯ Key players — QB Caleb TerBush, RB Ralph Bolden, CB Ricardo Allen, LB Will Lucas, DT Kawann Short, KR/WR Raheem Mostert. Returning starters: 9 offense, 10 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Short made 17 tackles for losses last season and also had 6 1-2 sacks as Purdue registered its first winning season under Danny Hope, who is entering his fourth season. ... The Boilermakers improved to 7-6 by beating Western Michigan in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

WISCONSIN ❯❯ Key players — RB Montee Ball, QB Danny O’Brien, LB Mike Taylor, LB Chris Borland, OT Ricky Wagner. Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense. ❯❯ Notes — Ball has 61 career TDs, even though he has only started 18 games for the Badgers. ... Wisconsin has made four Rose Bowl appearances since 1998. ... O’Brien is a transfer from Maryland, hoping to repeat the success of Russell Wilson, who transferred to Madison from North Carolina State for one season.

D10

Friday, August 24, 2012

Associated Press

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel watches his team warm up prior to the start of last year’s season-opener against Miami (Ohio) in Columbia, Mo.

Missouri | Tigers

Tigers taking move by the tail

After hopping conferences, Missouri realizes it must earn its spurs in SEC By R.B. FALLSTROM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Gary Pinkel does his best to downplay the transition. Before the first day of fall camp, he didn’t mention the SEC to his players. Missouri is coming from a pretty strong conference in the Big 12 and has become a perennial bowl team. But his players don’t need to told about the challenge ahead. “We’re going to have to go out and earn respect, and we understand that,” Pinkel said. “I think you kind of figure that out. That’s OK, that’s good.” The preseason SEC poll drives home the point, with Missouri picked to finish fourth in the East behind Georgia, South Carolina and Florida even though the Tigers are coming off an 8-5 season and enter the Sept. 1 opener against

Southeastern Louisiana on a four-game winning streak. The lack of recognition has the Tigers burning to prove themselves worthy of membership in a conference that has produced the last six national champions. “I think it’s kind of odd that they would just ruin us out,” junior running back Kendial Lawrence said. “It’s still football.” During spring practice, they began wearing wristbands with the initials S.W.A.G. — sacrifice will achieve greatness — and during fall camp T-shirts around the practice field bear the word “respect.” “It’s kind of something for us to latch onto,” senior wide receiver T.J. Moe said. “I think it’s a good thing to have in your mind, it gives you something to work for every day. We’ve got all the pieces here to have a championship team, we’ve just got

to put it on the field.” In July, oddsmakers in Las Vegas had Missouri listed as the opponent in five high-profile games, and underdogs in all of them. “That’s OK,” Moe said. “By the time you get to Week 8, you’ll have a pretty good taste of what it’s like. They’re going to know how good we are and we’re going to do know how good they are. so we’ll see how it all shakes out.” Junior quarterback James Franklin returned from shoulder surgery in March in time for the first day of fall workouts and is expected to be full strength well before the opener. Besides throwing 21 touchdown passes in his first year as the starter, the elusive Franklin also led the Tigers with 15 rushing touchdowns and ran for 981 yards overall.

2012 Missouri football schedule Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24

SE Louisiana 6 p.m. Georgia 6:45 p.m. Arizona State 6 p.m. at South Carolina TBA at UCF TBA Vanderbilt TBA Alabama TBA Kentucky TBA at Florida TBA at Tennessee TBA Syracuse TBA at Texas A&M TBA Home games in bold

Please see Missouri/ Page D8

Kansas | Jayhawks

Kansas turns to rebuilding program Weis takes over reigns of struggling Jayhawk football program, instantly raises bar on expectations By DAVE SKRETTA

2012 Kansas football schedule

Associated Press

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The question posed to new Kansas coach Charlie Weis was simple and direct, and the answer he tossed back was just as blunt. After flaming out at Notre Dame, where resources are in abundance, and bouncing through stops in the NFL and as offensive coordinator at Florida, what could he reasonably expect to accomplish with the Jayhawks? “I want this team to win,” he said. “The more wins, the happier I am. I didn’t go to school here, but if you’re a student in the student body here, there is nothing better in the fall than a Saturday afternoon where your team goes out and wins a football game, and you go out on Saturday night and have a good time. “It’s part of college life,” Weis continued. “That’s what it’s supposed to be like. It puts a big damper on things when things don’t go well. I want to get this program where we are winning more than we are losing. When we get to that point, we’ll aim even higher.” Winning more than losing is already aiming plenty high. The Jayhawks are only a handful of years removed from the heady days of an Orange Bowl win under Mark Mangino, but the program regressed so far under the fired Turner Gill that it reverted to being the laughingstock of the Big 12. When athletic director Sheahon Zenger dumped Gill after a season-ending loss to

File photo | Associated Press

Kansas coach Charlie Weis answers questions at Big 12 Media Days in July in Dallas. Weis enters his first season at the Jayhawks’ helm, looking to rebuild a team that bottomed out last year. rival Missouri last year, he went searching for “the best coach I could find,” and he found Weis in Florida. Weis hadn’t been successful with the Gators, just as he hadn’t been successful in his first job as a college head coach with the Fighting Irish. But that didn’t stop Zenger from making a hire that made plenty of headlines, if not raise plenty of eyebrows. Weis came into his introductory press

conference with plenty of bravado, saying all the right things and putting weary fans at ease. Weis talked about winning games, and winning lots of them, even though he was inheriting a program that won just twice last season. Along the way was a 54-point loss to Texas A&M, a 43-point defeat by Texas, and 42-point drubbings from Georgia Tech and Oklahoma State. Even when the Jayhawks managed

Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Dec. 1

S. Dakota State 6 p.m. Rice 2:30 p.m. TCU 11 a.m. at Northern Illinois TBA at Kansas State TBA Oklahoma State TBA at Oklahoma TBA Texas TBA at Baylor TBA at Texas Tech TBA Iowa State TBA at West Virginia TBA Home games in bold

to jump out early, like the 24-3 lead on Baylor, the defense was so abysmal and the offense so inconsistent that Kansas failed to hold on. “I was really disappointed when I finally went back and watched the games from last year, the number of games that they just got the crap kicked out of them,” Weis said. “You want to know something? Please see weis/ Page D8