GLVC Football Weekly Release - Sept. 3, 2013
GLVC Prepares to Kick Off Second Season
After a successful inaugural season where the University of Indianapolis earned the GLVC Championship with an 8-0 record and then advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoff, the GLVC returns to the gridiron for its second-ever campaign with a fresh look. The conference will field eight teams in 2013, compared to nine in 2012, however full-time membership remains constant at seven schools. Truman State University enters the league this season as a full-time member, while Kentucky Wesleyan College drops to associate member status. Central State University and Urbana University are no long associate members in the league. The 2013 season begins on Thursday, Sept. 5, with Kentucky Wesleyan (vs. Kentucky State), Missouri S&T (vs. No. 20 Chadron State), and William Jewell (vs. Concordia College-Neb.) opening the year at home. The five remaining GLVC squads will begin play on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Defending GLVC Champion Kicks Off With Top-20 Matchup
Defending GLVC Champion Indianapolis is set to kick off the 2013 season at home in a top-20 battle. The 19th-ranked Greyhounds will host No. 9 Ashland at 6 p.m. ET in Saturday’s marquee matchup. Elsewhere in the GLVC on Saturday, Saint Joseph’s hosts Valparaiso at 12 p.m. CT, which is a rematch of last year’s season opener when the Pumas came from behind to defeat Valpo, 36-34, to give the GLVC its first-ever football victory. Quincy hits the road to Western Illinois at 1 p.m. CT, McKendree hosts Tiffin at 1:30 p.m., while newcomer Truman State welcomes Southwest Baptist at 7 p.m. CT.
More Fresh Faces
In addition to Truman State, which is coached by fourth-year head coach Gregg Nesbitt, two other conference squads will be led by a new man on the sidelines this season. After finishing second in the league last year under the direction of David Brown, Missouri S&T will now be guided by first-year mentor Tyler Fenwick, who served as the offensive coordinator at Missouri Western State University the past six seasons. McKendree University will be led by Mike Babcock, after he spent the last five years as an assistant coach at Colorado State University-Pueblo, one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the country. Babcock replaces Carl Poelker, who retired from McKendree following a 17-year career with the Bearcats and a 31-year run as a collegiate head coach.
Look Who’s Back
A total of 36 of the 90 All-Conference honorees return to the gridiron this season, including 2012 GLVC Special Teams Player of the Year Scott Miller (K, Jr.) of Indianapolis and GLVC Freshman of the Year Thomas Cook, Jr. (RB/KR/PR, So.) of William Jewell. Ten first-team All-GLVC selections also return, including two unanimous picks from a year ago. UIndy running back Klay Fiechter returns for his senior campaign, while Saint Joseph’s Julian Walker also comes back after being a unanimous selection at wide receiver. Five of the 10 first-team All-Conference honorees hail from UIndy. In addition to Fiechter and placekicker Miller, the Greyhounds return first-team senior quarterback Chris Mills, sophomore offensive lineman Austin Vogt, and junior defensive back John Strickland. The remaining first-team All-GLVC honorees include William Jewell’s Cook, Saint Joseph’s Walker and sophomore linebacker Joel Wimbley, McKendree senior defensive back Jamison Wilson, and Missouri S&T senior defensive lineman Eddie Rascon.
Tough Start for GLVC’s Top-Two Teams
Indianapolis and Missouri S&T return in 2013 as the GLVC’s top-two teams in the conference, and both teams stand to face a tough test to start the season. The Greyhounds begin the year with three straight games versus 2012 conference champions (Ashland – GLIAC; Saint Xavier - MSFA Mideast League; Drake –Pioneer League), while S&T has a challenging opening to its 2013 slate with four of its first five games against teams that played in the postseason a year ago.
Indianapolis, Missouri S&T Recognized in AFCA Preseason Poll
Indianapolis and Missouri S&T concluded the 2012 season ranked in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Poll, and the two squads have retained that recognition in the 2013 preseason poll. UIndy will begin the season ranked 19th overall, while Missouri S&T is receiving votes outside the top 25. In the final poll of the 2012 season, the Greyhounds earned the No. 15 spot -- the highest ranking in school history -- while the Miners finished at No. 24. The release marked the Greyhounds’ first-ever appearance in the final AFCA poll, which was first published in 2000. S&T finished a season in the final national football rankings for just the second time in school history.
Several GLVC Standouts Named Preseason All-Americans
Throughout the preseason, several GLVC standouts have garnered All-America accolades, including 31 honorees who were named to the USA College Football Preseason All-America team. First-team honorees included UIndy senior running back Klay Fiechter, and Saint Joseph’s senior wideout Julian Walker and senior offensive lineman Jakob Styla, and William Jewell sophomore return specialist Thomas Cook, Jr. Cook was also named a first-team returner on the Beyond Sports Network Division II Preseason All-America list. Four other GLVC stars joined Cook on the BSN first-team list. A complete look at all GLVC Preseason All-Americans can be found in the weekly release.
UIndy Concludes Season in Second Round of NCAA Playoff
The Indianapolis football team’s historic 2012 season ended Nov. 24, with a 28-7 second-round loss at top-ranked Colorado State-Pueblo. After notching a conference championship, a double-digit win total and a Division II postseason berth, the then-18th-ranked Greyhounds finished the year with a 10-3 record. Indianapolis, the lone GLVC representative in the 24-team NCAA Division II Championship, earned its first-ever NCAA Division II playoff run and first postseason appearance since competing as a D-III team in 1975.
GLVC Well-Represented Among NCAA Stat Leaders
The GLVC finished the season well-represented among the nation’s top 25 in select statistical categories in a report released by the NCAA. Among the top returners in 2013, Saint Joseph’s Julian Walker (8.55) ranked fifth in receptions per game, while Missouri S&T’s Eddie Rascon was 10th in sacks per game (1.10), and UIndy’s Klay Fiecther was 10th in all-purpose running (172.08) and 24th in rushing (113.46). On the team side, Missouri S&T ranked first in turnover margin (2.00) and fifth in rushing defense (86.73), while Indianapolis was third in pass defense (152.00), fifth in punt returns (19.06), 11th in total defense (293.38), 15th in scoring defense (18.08), and 25th in passing efficiency (149.86).
Five Standouts Named BSN All-Americans
Three of the five GLVC players named Beyond Sports College Network Division II All-Americans return in 2013. William Jewell sophomore punt returner Thomas Cook was a second-team selection, while Missouri S&T senior defensive tackle Eddie Rascon and Saint Joseph’s senior wideout Julian Walker nabbed honorable mention distinction last year. Graduated UIndy stars Mar’Quone Edmonds (WR) and Max Davis (LB) garnered first- and third-team accolades, respectively.
UIndy’s Fiechter Recognized by Harlon Hill Trophy Voters
Indianapolis senior running back Klay Fiechter was one of six Super Region 4 players and one of just 24 student-athletes overall named last year as a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded annually to the NCAA Division II Football Player of the Year. He was just the sixth UIndy football player to be named a Harlon Hill candidate, including teammate and 2011 Hill candidate Chris Mills.
Five Players Named Capital One Academic All-Americans
Five GLVC football standouts were named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America® NCAA Division II Football team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). University of Indianapolis junior running back Klay Fiechter and senior offensive lineman Andrew Mansaray were named first-team selections, along with Missouri S&T senior offensive lineman Brian Peterson. Urbana University senior linebacker Drew Underwood and Quincy senior defensive lineman Tyler Reidl were tabbed as second-team honorees.
GLVC to Celebrate 35th Anniversary in 2013-14 Academic Year
While GLVC football is entering into just its second year of conference sponsorship, the GLVC will be celebrating its 35th Anniversary as a league over the course of the 2013-14 academic year. The GLVC was founded on July 7, 1978 by six charter members, which include three football-playing members Indianapolis, Kentucky Wesleyan and Saint Joseph’s.