INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) football coaches have unanimously picked the University of Indianapolis to win the GLVC Championship this fall, it was announced Friday at the seventh annual GLVC Football Kickoff in Lebanon, Illinois.
Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Bob Bartolomeo, the five-time and defending GLVC Champion Greyhounds earned 49 points in the poll and all seven first-place votes, given Conference bylaws state a coach cannot for his own team. Since the GLVC began sponsoring football in 2012, UIndy has compiled a 42-4 record in GLVC play and garnered NCAA DII playoff bids in four of the last five seasons. The Greyhounds are coming off a record-setting 2017 campaign in which they went 11-1 (7-0 GLVC) and ended the year with a program-best No. 13 national ranking. Fourteen starters return for UIndy this season, including the reigning GLVC Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Jake Purichia, as well as 2017 GLVC Freshman of the Year, running back Al McKeller.
McKendree University and Missouri S&T both brought in 37 total points in the poll to tie for second. Missouri S&T, which picked up the other first-place vote, returns the majority of its potent offense that helped guide the Miners to a 7-4 record last year, inclduing a 5-2 league mark that tied for second. Sixth-year head coach Tyler Fenwick welcomes back junior running back Deshawn Jones, who led the GLVC in rushing and was a second-team All-American last year, as well as senior quarterback Tyler Swart, the school record holder in passing yards (5,860) and total offense (5,538). On the defensive side of the ball, junior Tershawn Wharton and senior Roderick Chapman led the GLVC in sacks and interceptions, respectively, one year ago.
Similar to S&T, McKendree returns an impressive passing game led by senior quarterback Reece Metcalf. He enters his final season third on the Bearcats' career list with 2,532 passing yards and fourth in career total offense with 2,763 yards. Of its 15 returning starters from a 7-4 (5-2 GLVC) ballclub last year, just three will be a familiar face on defense – a unit that led the country with eight defensive touchdowns in 2017. Mike Babcock is back for his sixth season as head coach of the Bearcats.
Just two votes separated 2016 GLVC co-Champions Truman State University and Southwest Baptist University. The Bulldogs garnered 32 points in the poll to garner the fourth spot, following a 5-6 record (4-3 GLVC) in 2017. Ninth-year head coach Gregg Nesbitt welcomes back 16 starters, including first-team All-GLVC defender Sam Reeves, who racked up 16 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last season. At SBU, Robert Clardy returns for his fourth year with 13 starters off a 5-5 squad that tied for fourth at 4-3 in the league. Senior linebacker Tyler Curts and senior cornerback Cory Hanger both earned first-team All-GLVC honors last year.
Second-year head coach Gary Bass is back on the sidelines with Quincy University, which is picked to finish sixth this season. The Hawks recorded 17 points in the poll and are coming off 3-8 campaign, including a 1-7 mark in the GLVC action.
Rounding out the poll in the No. 7 position is William Jewell College (2-9, 2-5), which picked up 14 points overall and is mentored by fourth-year head man Shawn Weigel. The Cardinals were six markers better than No. 8 Lincoln University (1-9, 0-7), which competed last season under the direction of first-year head coach Steven A. Smith.
The 2018 season begins on Thursday, August 30, with four schools in action, including Indianapolis traveling to Grand Valley State, Missouri S&T hosting Eastern New Mexico, Quincy at Indiana State, and Truman State welcoming Michigan Tech. On Saturday, Sept. 1, Lincoln hits the road for a battle against Lane, McKendree is at home against Northern Michigan, Southwest Baptist heads to Houston Baptist, and William Jewell travels to Drake.
| 2018 |
GLVC Preseason Poll |
Points (1st) |
| 1. |
Indianapolis # |
49 (7) |
| 2. |
Missouri S&T |
37 (1) |
|
McKendree |
37 |
| 4. |
Truman State |
32 |
| 5. |
Southwest Baptist |
30 |
| 6. |
Quincy |
17 |
| 7. |
William Jewell |
14 |
| 8. |
Lincoln |
8 |
|
# Unanimous Selection |
|