Division II Football

After the first full weekend of football, a familiar name appears at the top of the AFCA coaches poll.

The Lakers of Grand Valley State ascended to the top spot in the poll after previous No. 1 Northwest Missouri State dropped their season opener to then-No. 14 Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Grand Valley narrowly escaped West Texas A&M 34-31 on Thursday to reach the top of the coaches poll.

This marks the 80th time GVSU has been ranked the No. 1 team in the coaches poll since 2001 (80 out of 123 total polls released).

The only game this week featuring two teams in the Top 25 feature the Lakers and No. 11 Hillsdale.  The Chargers handed GVSU their first regular season loss in over five years in 2009 before losing to the Lakers in the regional playoffs.

Minnesota-Duluth moves up one spot to No. 2.  North Alabama, California (PA), and Abilene Christian round out the top five.

Here's the complete AFCA Coaches poll:

Dropped Out: Nebraska-Omaha (12), West Chester (Pa.) (21), Delta St. (Miss.) (22).

Others Receiving Votes: Valdosta St. (Ga.), 77; Nebraska-Omaha, 58; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 51; Central Missouri, 30; Augustana (S.D.), 24; West Chester (Pa.), 24; Delta St. (Miss.), 23; Ashland (Ohio), 22; Morehouse (Ga.), 18; Texas A&M-Commerce, 14; Colorado School of Mines, 11; Albany St. (Ga.), 10; Shepherd (W.Va.), 10; Tarleton St. (Texas), 10; Indiana (Pa.), 9; Tusculum (Tenn.), 6; Shaw (N.C.), 5; Wayne St. (Mich.), 5; C.W. Post (N.Y.), 4; Concord (W.Va.), 2; Colorado St.-Pueblo, 1; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 1; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 1; St. Augustine’s (N.C.), 1.

As I settled into my seat at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan, I was struck by how fast the offseason seemed to have flown by.

Could it already be September? Is this really the start of a new season?

Some years, the offseason is like watching paint dry. There's not much news. There's nothing exciting happening. But 2010 was different.

A bevy of big stories kept us writers busy and our readers engaged. Before we had even settled into the uncomfortable idleness of the offseason, it was time to paint the yard lines on the grass once more.

My trip to Allendale was two-fold. First, without question, this Week 1 matchup between No. 2 Grand Valley State and No. 8 West Texas A&M was the game of the week in Division II. The Lakers had traveled to West Texas last season, and came away with an impressive win. This time, the Buffaloes would be travelling to Laker Country to see if they could knock off one of the best teams in college football—at any level—in the season opener.

West Texas A&M certainly had a good shot at doing just that. Grand Valley was coming off of a 13-2 season, which ended with a NCAA Division II National Championship game loss, followed by the departure of head coach Chuck Martin to join former Grand Valley head coach Brian Kelly at Notre Dame. Martin took with him an astonishing 74-7 record, and left defensive coordinator Matt Mitchell to take over the reigns.

Grand Valley also had a number of holes to fill in its roster. Gone was three-year starter at quarterback Brad Iciek. Gone too was do-it-all wideout/running back/returner Blake Smolen. Grand Valley's all-time leading rusher, Jimmy Berezik, was also gone after being dismissed from the team following a second suspension.

If all of those factors weren't daunting enough for the Lakers, preseason consensus All-American senior defensive end Danny Richard was lost for the season due to a knee injury during training camp. Richard will undergo surgery this upcoming Tuesday.

If ever there was a time to beat the Lakers at home, it was now.

As I mentioned, there were two reasons for my trip to Allendale. The second reason is that Grand Valley State also happens to be my alma mater.

As I was waiting for the game to begin, I was nearly overcome with a strong sense of nostalgia for days gone by. What snapped me back to reality was the feeling that things had definitely shifted in Allendale. Something was different about this program. So much had changed.

Or so I thought...

Grand Valley State has had a history of slow starts to seasons in the past. That wasn't the case early in Thursday's game.

Grand Valley, led by senior QB transfer from Eastern Michigan Kyle McMahon, jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter. After a fumble recovery returned to the West Texas 13, the Lakers were poised to take a 17-0 lead, and the game teetered on the edge of becoming a blowout early.

The Buffaloes, however, were having none of that. Their defense stiffened, and held, forcing a field goal attempt which thudded against the upright, giving hope to the visitors from Texas. One the very next play, West Texas' standout senior running back ran 80 yards on his first carry for a touchdown, pulling the Buffs to within three (10-7) early in the second quarter.

That was just the start of a huge quarter for West Texas, which included 221 yards, 17 first downs, and 17 points.

The Lakers had run into a buzzsaw, and couldn't seem to recover. While having some success at moving the ball, the Lakers couldn't capitalize on big returns and steady play. Grand Valley entered the red zone six times in the first half, but came away with only 13 points (one TD and two FG's).

The half ended with West Texas A&M on top 17-13 after a last-second field goal by the Lakers.

The crowd of over 13,000 seemed a little stunned or confused. GVSU had been on the verge of blowing the game open, and instead went the locker room trailing.

To put this all in perspective, one must note that Grand Valley has not lost a regular season game at home since 2004, and hasn't lost their season opener since 2000. The Lakers also came into this game 115-9 since the start of the 2001 season. Laker fans just aren't accustomed to losing games—or even trailing in games.

The Lakers opened the second half with a drive that led to another field goal, pulling to within one, but West Texas answered right back with a touchdown drive, pushing their lead to eight.

Trailing 24-16, the Lakers were on the verge of checking out early in the fourth quarter. But just as the second quarter belonged to the Buffaloes, the fourth quarter belonged to the Lakers.

McMahon found Jovonne Augustus just 20 seconds into the final stanza, who raced up field for a 70-yard touchdown reception.. A failed two-point try left the Lakers trailing by two.

The Lakers forced a rare West Texas punt, and capitalized when McMahon connected with Greg Gay to give the Lakers a 28-24 lead after another failed two point conversion. Just a few plays later, Luther Ware intercepted a Taylor Harris pass (one of four interceptions thrown by Harris). Grand Valley took advantage of a tired-looking West Texas defense as McMahon called his own number and scampered 14 yards for a score, giving GVSU a 34-24 lead after the PAT missed wide left.

West Texas tried to answer, and Thompson raced untouched on a 15-yard run to put the Buffs without three with 1:53 to play. A perfectly placed on-side kick was barely recovered by the Lakers, and Grand Valley was able run out the clock, narrowly escaping the closest regular season game played at Lubbers Stadium in quite some time.

The game itself saw 48 first downs (26-22 in favor of WT) and over 1,000 yards of combined offense (567-475 in favor of WT), including an astonishing 421 yards passing for West Texas. The Buffaloes undoing, however, were their five turnovers (1 fumble, 4 interceptions).

Grand Valley, at times, looked a little rattled on defense. While long passes weren't common, the Laker secondary had trouble defending the short and intermediate slant routes as Harris went 37-for-53 passing with all 421 yards the Buffs gained in the air. Harris' long of the night, however, was only 38, compared to McMahon's long of 70.

While these two teams probably faced their toughest regular season opponent in Week 1, there are a couple of key things their future opponents can take away from this game.

First, if you can't stop the Buffaloes' passing game, you probably don't have a very good chance of winning the game.

Second, if you have the Lakers on the ropes and don't drive your knife into their hearts, it will come back to haunt you.

Third, you can throw for over 400 yards, but throwing four interceptions makes it hard to win any game.

Finally, the Lakers are young, talented, and their bench is deeper than the Mariana Trench. If you run out of gas at any point in the game, they'll blow right by you.

Don't be surprised if both of these teams blow through their conferences and enter the playoffs very highly ranked. It's noteworthy to see that with No. 1 Northwest Missouri State's loss on Thursday, Grand Valley State will undoubtedly ascend to their familiar top spot in the polls.

All in all, it was great to be back on the campus of my alma mater, and it's even more exciting to have a new college football season underway. This season is already shaping up to be a dandy, and I can't wait to see what's in store.

Coming off their 2009 National Championship, the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri were touted as likely to repeat as National Champions. The main power of the Bearcats was their prolific offense, and Northwest Missouri had many fans drooling over the offensive production that were to come.

The only problem is that someone forgot to tell the Javelinas from Texas A&M-Kingsville.

TAMUK held the Bearcats to a mind-boggling 189 yards in the No. 14 Javelinas' 16-7 upset win over No. 1 Northwest Missouri State.

This marks the fourth consecutive season-opening loss for NWMSU.

TAMUK quarterback Nate Poppell led the charge going 26-of-38 passing for 258 yards. Leading 10-7 at halftime, the Javelinas opened the second half with a touchdown drive, which was all they needed as they refused to allow a single Bearcat score after halftime.

Northwest may have exposed a weak spot in their armor, as they ran their ground attack by committee. An All-American back like LaRon Council isn't easy to replace, and the Bearcats anemic numbers (15 rushes for 63 yards) attest to that fact.

The Javelina defense also harassed Bearcat quarterback All-American Blake Bolles, accumulating seven sacks. Bolles was 17-of-29 for 140 yards. Bolles connected with Jake Soy for a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter, giving the Bearcats a 7-0 lead. Unfortunately for the top-ranked team in Division II, that would be all the scoring they could muster.

The Javelinas also controlled the ball for most of the game. Northwest Missouri State had 11 possessions—six of which were three-and-out. The Bearcats also had trouble keeping their hands on the ball. In addition to the one interception thrown by Bolles, the Bearcats had four fumbles, although only one was lost. Numerous big-play drops from Northwest wideouts only exacerbated the problems for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats look to recover next week on the road against Nebraska-Omaha in their conference opener. NWMSU is currently sporting a 37-game MIAA win streak. It's also important to note that even though the Bearcats have lost their last four season openers, they have gone on to win the rest of their regular season games, and have made the NCAA Division II National Championship game in each of those seasons, winning the title in 2009.

One of the great things about "small program" college football is the fact that opening week games can be just as important as some games down the stretch.

While the other divisions are certainly catching on to this trend (evidenced by this year's FBS opening week tilt between Boise State and Virginia Tech), it has always been a staple of Division II.

The opening barrage of games in D-II this year featured a titanic matchup of two top five teams: No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 5 Central Washington.

UMD, the 2008 Division II National Champion, was knocked off last season by eventual runners-up Grand Valley State. The opening game of 2010 for the Bulldogs showed that the playoff loss last year wouldn't prevent them from returning to championship form in 2010.

After trailing 3-0 in the first quarter, UMD rattled off 28 unanswered points (including 21 in the second quarter alone), forcing the crown in Ellensburg, Washington into a stunned silence en route to a 35-10 UMD victory in CWU's first-ever game on live television.

UMD sophomore quarterback Chase Volger completed none-of-18 for 183 yards and one touchdown while adding 69 yards and a score on the ground in the Bulldogs' win.

The loss for CWU snapped a 17-game regular-season win streak. Additionally, it was the largest defeat for Wildcats since 2007. CWU also gave up more points in this game that in any game in 2009.

Other Top 25 scores from Week 1:

(9) Carson-Newman 21—Winona State 24

(10) Washburn 34—Colorado School of Mines 29

(12) West Alabama 37—Shorter (GA) [NAIA] 7

(13) Nebraska-Kearney 17—Wayne State (NE) 24 (OT)

Games of Note for Week 2:

(14) Texas A&M-Kingsville @ (1) Northwest Missouri State

(8) West Texas A&M @ (2) Grand Valley State (MI)*

(5) California (PA) @ (11) Saginaw Valley State (MI)

(6) Abilene Christian (TX) @ (9) Washburn (KS)

*This game will be nationally televised live on CBS College Sports on September 2 at 8:00 pm EDT as CBS College Sports' "Division II Game of the Week."

It seems that the talk of realignment isn't confined to the ranks of FBS conferences.

Several Division II conferences are looking to expand their ranks, leaving some conferences scrambling to either keep current members in place or add new members.

Like Division I's Big 12, the Lone Star Conference has several teams that may very well be bolting the conference.

A report in the Amarillo (TX) Globe News states that current LSC members Central Oklahoma and Northeastern (Oklahoma) State are planning on leaving for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, according to "sources close to UCO."

That would boost the MIAA to 12 teams if the moves occur.  There was no information on when the transition may take place, but the LSC has a requirement that teams notify the conference at least one year in advance if they plan to leave the conference.  That would mean a departure of UCO and NSU for the 2011-12 academic year.

It is also rumored that Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and East Central (Oklahoma) University are also shopping for a new conference. 

Should all five Oklahoma schools leave the LSC, there would be nine remaining members spread across Texas and New Mexico, including the recently added University of the Incarnate Word (TX), which announced it would be joining the LSC on July 1 (UIW was a member of the non-football Heartland Conference, and competed as an independent in football since forming a program in 2009).

An article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette stated that six Arkansas schools, along with the three Oklahoma schools not joining the MIAA, are in talks to form a new D-II conference.

Joining SEOSU, SWOSU, and ECU would be Arkansas Tech, Arkansas-Monticello, Harding, Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, and Southern Arkansas.  All six Arkansas schools are currently members of the Gulf South Conference.

That would leave the GSC in a difficult position with only five remaining members—a number that is not high not enough to qualify for recognition from the NCAA as a conference when it comes to postseason play.

But for all of the movement in the GSC and LSC, the South isn't the only region in the country undergoing changes.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is entertaining requests from Minot (ND) State University and the University of Sioux Falls (SD) to join the conference. The conference voted to grant "site visits" to the two schools at its annual summer meeting.

Both schools are current members of the NAIA, where USF captured the last two NAIA championships and is tabbed as 2010's NAIA preseason No. 1.

The NSIC is also planning on adding Simon Fraser University (BC) as a full member. 

Simon Fraser was approved for NCAA Division II membership, and will be the first Canadian university in any of the NCAA's three divisions.  The addition of SFU, Sioux Falls, and Minot State would balloon the NSIC to 16 teams.

The GLIAC has also expanded for the 2010 season, adding Ohio Dominican University and Lake Erie College to move to 14 football-playing schools (Lake Superior State is the GLIAC's 15th member).

All of the conference expansion, as well as the formation of an entirely new conference, points to the overall expansion of Division II—a stated goal of the NCAA Division II's Presidents' Council.  Several NAIA schools (as well as Simon Fraser from the CIS) have recently applied for membership in NCAA Division II. 

While a number of schools had their applications denied, those who had a strong tradition of athletic support while maintaining the academic focus for which Division II is known were quickly approved.

The overall expansion and conference realignment means, however, that the Division II football world is in for yet another round of always controversial playoff realignment. The addition of a conference nestled between the LSC and GSC, as well as the addition of new teams in the NSIC and GLIAC, will give new voice to those calling for an expansion of the playoff system (from the current 24 to 32 teams).

Additionally, the NCAA will have to revisit the regional classification of various conferences based on the new number of teams competing in the region (particularly the Northwest Region, as both the GLIAC and NSIC have expanded).

Over the next 12 months, the NCAA will undoubtedly have to delve into the playoff selection process, and that process will be further influenced by the changes the LSC and GSC will be forced to make over the next several months as their membership dwindles.

Former Division II Bloomsburg standout Jahri Evans just inked a deal for $56.7 million with the New Orleans Saints. That makes him not only the highest-paid Division II player in the NFL, it makes him the highest-paid interior lineman in NFL history.

Of the huge contract, which spans seven years, $19 million is guaranteed according to the Associated Press.

Evans, who entered the NFL after being drafted in the fourth round, was all-pro last season. Evans was a restricted free agent following last season, and New Orleans apparent thought he was too valuable to let go.

Evans was originally a top Division I prospect in high school, but he injured himself playing basketball with some friends, and missed his entire senior season at Frankford (PA) High School. Evans instead wound up with only a partial scholarship at Division II Bloomsburg.

The size and length of Evans contract may serve as a boon to current and future Division II players. NFL teams are beginning to learn that the top talent in college football doesn't always rise to the top of the divisions.

Over the past several seasons, more and more Division I-FBS and Division II players have been drafted and signed as undrafted free agents. Increasingly, top D-I-FBS and D-II schools have been hosting the own "Pro Days" with several NFL teams in attendance.

In a quote to the AP, Saint's head coach Sean Payton said, "It's important to recognize, with what we do offensively, and the quarterback stepping up in the pocket, to have that size and talent inside the pocket is huge for Drew Brees, and I think Drew would say the same thing."

Payton went on to illustrate that he believed Evans' deal was well-earned. "He's played since his rookie season at an extremely high level and [with] what we've been able to accomplish as a team offensively, his impact inside of the pocket, what he does reflects a deal like this."

As Sean Payton and the Saints have discovered, there's more to college football talent than the big names in Division I—and the beneficiaries of that discovery may very well be spending their summers in places like Bloomsburg, Grand Valley, Northwest Missouri, or North Alabama.

The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced a timeline for football as a conference-sponsored sport. It targets 2012 as the first GLVC football season.

GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich said in a press release, "The addition of football as the 18th championship sponsored by the GLVC is a significant step for the league and our member institutions that sponsor the sport."

There are several GLVC member institutions that already sponsor football, and compete either as a Division II independent or as an associate member of another conference.

"The athletic directors from our football-playing institutions have all expressed their desire to compete in the GLVC and I am happy that we will be able to accommodate this request beginning in 2012," said Naumovich.

The NCAA required six participants in a conference to qualify for earned-access in the NCAA Division II Football Championship Tournament. William Jewell College has been accepted for GLVC membership, bringing the number of GLVC schools sponsoring football to six. There will be 10 GLVC schools that do not sponsor football, but with the conference adding it, this is hope that others may look to add the sport to their institution's offerings.

The other GLVC members that currently sponsor football include: Kentucky Wesleyan, Missouri S&T, St. Joseph's College, Quincy University, and the University of Indianapolis.

Kentucky Wesleyan, Missouri S&T, and St. Joseph's are Division II independents, while Indianapolis competes as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), and Quincy and William Jewell are both currently NAIA football schools.

"I think the addition of football will be a positive development for our league and will be well received by our football student-athletes, their coaches, and fans," said Naumovich. "We are excited to become a NCAA Division II football conference."

The GLVC's addition of football would most likely add them to the NCAA's Super Region Three in Division II football. That region includes the GLIAC, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and the Rocky Mountain Conference.

It is also possible that the NCAA may again re-adjust the regions following the addition of football by the GLVC.

Currently, Super Region One has four conferences, Super Regions Two and Three both have three conferences, and Super Region Four has three conferences, plus the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which is not recognized by the NCAA because the GNAC only has five football-playing schools (although the addition of the first-ever Canadian school in the NCAA, Simon Fraser, will bring the GNAC to six starting in 2011).

The addition of the GLVC is another positive step for Division II football, as it not only adds another conference, but it brings with it two new Division II football teams as Quincy and William Jewell will drop NAIA affiliation in favor of the NCAA. The addition of football will also help raise the quality of football currently being played by the GLVC schools.

The GLVC was founded in 1978, and currently sponsors championships in 17 sports. The last sport to be added by the GLVC was indoor track and field in 2000.

While many players invited to the Senior Bowl have spent time reacquainting themselves with teammates and familiar opposition, one athlete is unknown to many of the scouts and most of the invitees.

Joique Bell is a 5'10'', 223-lbs running back from Wayne State in Detroit, MI. Bell is the only player invited to Mobile, AL that is not from an FBS or FCS institution.

The word from the practice sessions is that Bell acts like he belongs with the other players from the bigger schools. In actuality, Bell should behave like he is just like the other running backs in Mobile because he has accomplished more in his career than all of them.

Bell was awarded the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, this past season. In both 2006 and 2007, he was a semifinalist for the same award.

Bell's 6,728 career rushing yards ranks him sixth in Division-II and eighth in NCAA history. He is 25th in the history of the NCAA with 152.91 rushing yards per game. He has joined Emporia State's Brian Shay, C.W. Post's Ian Smart, and Abilene Christian's Bernard Scott as the only Division II players to achieve two 2,000-yard seasons.

Bell's 8,055 all-purpose yards places him fourth in Division-II history and ninth in the history of the NCAA.

For now, Bell is protected to be picked somewhere between the fourth and sixth round of the NFL Draft. However, with a strong performance in the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine, he could move up significantly.

Bell's biggest strengths include his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and his powerful running style. At Wayne State, he caught at least one pass in 37 games and finished his college career with 918 receiving yards. This thick-framed runner gets his pads low for contact, making him tough to bring down in tight quarters and in the open field.

Other than the inferior competition Bell faced playing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, his biggest negative is his lack of speed. In an attempt to improve his burst, Bell has been working with a trainer in California, spending many hours running in the mountains and in sand.

Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado) and Pierre Garcon (Mount Union) are just two players that have proved that one does not have to come from a Division I school to be successful in the NFL.

While some scouts will be checking to see if Tim Tebow can take a snap from center without fumbling and wondering if LeGarrette Blount will punch anyone out when the game ends, those that pay close attention to Bell might enjoy the Senior Bowl the most.

Photo Credit: Mark Hicks/Wsuathletics.com

KINGSVILLE, TX - Tonight's 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl will feature some of the best players Division II has to offer.

Among the participants are six players from the two teams that met in the national championship. Northwest Missouri State's RB LaRon Council, DE Sean Paddock, and FS Myles Burnsides will play for the West, while Grand Valley State's QB Brad Iciek, WR Blake Smolen, and OT Nick McDonald will take the field for the East.

Other notable participants for the East are Carson-Newman's RB Buck Wakefield, Delta State's LB Lardester Hicks-Green, Saginaw Valley State's LB John Jacobs, and Shippensburg WR Mike Harris.

Players to watch from the West include host school Texas A&M-Kingsville's QB Billy Garza, Central Washington's WR Johnny Spevak, West Texas A&M's OT J'Marcus Webb, and Abilene Christian's SS Major Culbert.

Noticeably absent from the roster is 2009 Harlon Hill winner Joique Bell from Wayne State University. It is unclear whether Bell was invited and declined or was overlooked by the selection committee.

Bell will be playing in the 2010 Senior Bowl on January 30 in Mobile, Alabama. Although not listed on the Bowl's website roster, Senior Bowl staff confirmed his addition to the roster today. The Senior Bowl also confirmed that Bell is the only Division II player currently on the roster.

The nation's biggest player, Jerome Dunbar, a 350-pound guard from Virginia Union will anchor the East's offensive line, which averages 305 pounds.

The West's O-line averages a near identical 304 pounds, but the defensive lines are where the differences catch the eye. The West averages 285 versus the East's 267. That gives the West a decided advantage with a nearly 40-pound per player edge on opposing lines.

The East will have to compensate for the size disadvantage with their traditional power: speed.

Buck Wakefield is one of the fastest players in the nation, regardless of division. A true NFL prospect, his speed and elusiveness combined with the shifty moves provided by Grand Valley State's do-it-all player WR Blake Smolen should be an adequate equalizer for the East.

Additionally, Smolen will benefit from his long-established relationship with Grand Valley State's QB Brad Iciek, who joins Arkansas Tech's Nick Graziano as signal-caller for the East.

For most of these players, this will be the last time they put on a helmet and take the field. With a handful of exceptions, most of these players will not go on to the NFL or CFL.

That won't diminish the accomplishments they have achieved over their careers as the nation's elite Division II players.

The Cactus Bowl kickoff is set for 7:35 PM (EST).