An early post this week as your weekly authors are both heading to Chicago for the weekend.<\/p>\n
Author: <\/strong>Ryan<\/p>\n This week I am going closer to home for the preview with the big Doane-Dakota Wesleyan battle.<\/p>\n Mascots<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Doane<\/strong> \u2013 Tigers.\u00a0 Specifically Thomas the Tiger, named after school founder Thomas Doane.\u00a0 Check Thomas out here<\/a>, he looks like a lame tiger.<\/p>\n Dakota Wesleyan<\/strong> \u2013 In a shocker, Tigers.\u00a0 Unfortunately this is the only information on the DWU Tigers.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Doane.\u00a0 Thomas the Tiger is better than nothing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coaching Staff (Most Awesome Member)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Doane<\/strong> \u2013 Unfortunately my boy Tommie Frazier is no longer an option, as he would have dominated this category.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have to settle for Assistant Coach Rodney Boykin and his playing experience with both the Lincoln Lightning and Omaha Beef in arena ball.\u00a0 It has also been announced that Boykin will be the Special Teams Coordinator for the brand new Lincoln Haymakers indoor team, who will begin play next spring in the CPIFL<\/a>.\u00a0 See you in the spring.<\/p>\n [Ed. Note: The CPIFL is made up of several formers members of the APFL, which was in MB 2012 & 2013, as well as a few other teams. It will definitely be in MB. Also, the Lincoln Haymakers used to be the Council Bluffs Express, so they have that going for them. Which is nice.]<\/em><\/p>\n Dakota Wesleyan<\/strong> \u2013 Tie \u2013 Head Coach Ross Cimpl and Linebackers\/Special Teams Coach Jason Glasco are both former coaches and players at the University of Sioux Falls who were hired to make DWU a contender.\u00a0 Glasco was a three-year starter at Safety for USF, and also All-State First Team in High School playing for Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Alma Mater of the guy writing this.\u00a0 Cimpl was team captain at USF in 2005 and 2006 and was named NAIA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2005.\u00a0 In his time as an assistant coach at USF the team\u2019s record was 42-1.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Tie.\u00a0 The discovery of a brand new indoor football league is good enough to match up with my high school.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best Player Name<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Doane<\/strong> \u2013 DB Ben Muff, LB Brock Diffendaffer, and DB Franky Khanthavixay.\u00a0 Unfortunately Doane does not have any player photos.<\/p>\n Dakota Wesleyan<\/strong> \u2013 LB Francisco Rangel, OL and former New Kid on the Block Jonathan Knight.\u00a0 Logan Burwell<\/a> is gonna redshirt and try to put on a couple hundred pounds.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Doane.\u00a0 I always have a soft spot for Muff.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Location<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Doane<\/strong> \u2013 Crete, NE.\u00a0 Founded in 1871 and named after Crete, IL.\u00a0 I can tell you from experience they have a lovely collection of gas stations, bars and fast food restaurants (including an Amigos, Jimmy\u2019s favorite).\u00a0 Crete is mentioned in the song Tarkio Road (8 weeks on the charts in 1971) by Brewer and Shipley.\u00a0 Crete\u2019s notable resident is Oregon Basketball Head Coach Dana Altman, who was born and raised there.\u00a0 Almost all members of the Doane football coaching staff choose to live in Lincoln, about a 30 minute drive away, so it\u2019s got that going for it.\u00a0 Crete is also home to a Nestle\/Purina plant.<\/p>\n Dakota Wesleyan<\/strong> – Mitchell, SD.\u00a0 Incorporated in 1881 Mitchell was named for Alexander Mitchell, President of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Raildroad (also known as The Milwaukee Road).\u00a0 Mitchell is the home of the famous Corn Palace<\/a>, home to basketball games, a museum, community events and many Kenny Rogers concerts attended by my mom.\u00a0 According to Wikipedia, Mitchell is home to many state champion trees, whatever that means.\u00a0 Notable Mitchell residents include NBAer Mike Miller (he has his own energy shot now!)<\/a>, former Colt Defensive End Ordell Braase, former Democratic Presidential Nominee George McGovern, Gary Owens (the voice of Space Ghost, which is awesome, and many other things), and Jared Reiner (born in Mitchell but grew up in my parent\u2019s hometown of Tripp, SD \u2013 no way I was skipping a Tripp reference).<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Dakota Wesleyan.\u00a0 This one wasn\u2019t really fair.\u00a0 Space Ghost, Mike Miller\u2019s Hair, Corn Palace and prize winning trees were too much.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Notable Alumni<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Doane<\/strong> \u2013 As mentioned Tommie Frazier was once the head football coach; actual alumni include Zernon C.R. Hansen, former CEO of Mack Trucks, Poet\/Writer Weldon Kees, and J.R. Artozqui, QB for the Copenhagen Towers, who just entered his third season with the team and I quote is \u201cdetermined to lead the Towers to the Mermaid Bowl.\u201d\u00a0 Danish American Football Federation<\/a>.<\/p>\n [Ed. Note: If that site ever gets an English translation, we are absolutely picking the Mermaid Bowl.]<\/em><\/p>\n Dakota Wesleyan<\/strong> \u2013 Sticking with former famous coaches, Adam Morrison\u2019s dad John was basketball coach at DWU when Adam was young.\u00a0 Actual notable alumni include many South Dakota governors and congressmen and nobody very fun.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Mermaid Bowl.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Decision<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Doane takes this one in a close battle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two of my three previews once again highlight Battles of Defeateds.<\/p>\n Author: <\/strong>Bristol<\/p>\n Mascot<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Anderson (IN)<\/strong> \u2013 Ravens.\u00a0Formerly the Tigers, AU’s nickname was changed to the Ravens in 1937.The current mascot is Rodney the Raven. Rodney, normally portrayed by a costumed character, is usually represented as a stylized raven with black feathers, yellow legs, and an orange beak. Rodney has his own Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Earlham<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Hustlin’ Quakers.\u00a0They originally had been the Fightin’ Quakers; although the name was meant tongue-in-cheek, it was changed in the 1980s to the Hustlin’ Quakers after the college’s board of regents decided that it was inappropriate for Quakers to fight. Perhaps the Quakers’ most notable football game was against Japan’s Doshisha University Hamburgers in 1989. Here is a video<\/a> of the unveiling of the new mascot, Mr. Quaker, in 2011. The atmosphere in that gym is indescribable.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Hustlin’ Quakers. Sorry, Rodney, but you had not shot. Especially after learning the Hustlin’ Quakers played the Hamburgers in 1989.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best Player Name<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Anderson (IN)<\/strong> \u2013 Tie – sophomore LB Dominique Speed<\/a> and sophomore DL Hunter<\/a> Prol.<\/p>\n Earlham<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Tie – freshman OL Dooley Gabriel and senior DB Dakota McElley.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Anderson. Linking to Fred Dryer might be cheating, but it also makes you a winner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coaching Staff (Most Awesome Member)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Anderson (IN)<\/strong> \u00a0\u2013 Head Coach Bobby Ladner was recruited to LSU as a fullback before transferring to Belhaven. He was a four-year letterwinner at Belhaven, serving as a team captain twice and was named All-Conference twice. He is the school’s all-time sack leader with 36. He’s also looking awkwardly<\/a> at you. Assistant coach Jeff Maxwell was a four-year letterwinner at Belhaven as well, playing for Coach Ladner. He started two seasons at wide receiver and one at safety and looks a little bit<\/a> like Adrian Beltre.<\/p>\n Earlham<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Head coach Neil Kazmierczak played TE and LB at Michigan State from 1983-86. His collegiate coaching resume includes stops at Stanford, Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, St. Mary’s College (CA), DePauw, Butler and Marian in addition to Earlham. At a glance, he could pass as a goateed Will Ferrell<\/a>. Defensive line coach Mark Hoffman dares you<\/a> to fuck with him.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong> <\/span>\u2013 Earlham. I’m going to have night terrors about Coach Hoffman.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Location<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Anderson (IN)<\/strong> \u00a0– Anderson, IN. A city of just over 56,000, Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God (Anderson) and home of Anderson University, which is affiliated with that denomination. Highlights of the city include the historic Paramount Theatreand the Gruenewald Historic House. The city is named for Chief William Anderson, whose mother was a Delaware Indian (Lenape) and whose father was of Swedish descent. Anderson grew to such proportions that a Cincinnati newspaper editor labeled the city “The Pittsburgh on White River.” Other nicknames were “Queen City of the Gas Belt” and (because of the vulcanizing and the rubber tire manufacturing business) “Puncture Proof City.” Notables residents include MLB player Adam Lind, actor James Rebhorn <\/a>(Independence Day) and American pop punk band The Ataris.<\/p>\n Earlham<\/strong>\u2013 Richmond, IN. Richmond has a population of nearly 37,000 and is sometimes called the “cradle of recorded jazz” because some early jazz records were made here at the studio of Gennett Records, a division of the Starr Piano Company.\u00a0The city was connected to the National Road, the first road built by the federal government and a major route west for pioneers of the 19th century.It became part of the system of National Auto Trails. The highway is now known as\u00a0 U.S. Highway 40.\u00a0Also notable was the fact that Hoagy Carmichael recorded “Stardust” for the first time in Richmond at the Gennett recording studio.\u00a0On April 6, 1968, a natural gas explosion and fire destroyed or damaged several downtown blocks and killed 41 people; more than 150 were injured.The book Death in a Sunny Street<\/em> is about the event. Notables Richmondites include singer Baby Huey, former NFL running back Timmy Brown, 3-time NFL championship coach of the Baltimore Colts and New York Jets Weeb Ewbank, former NFL Rookie-of-the Year Paul Flatley, former NBA head coach Del Harris, award-winning sports reporter Mike Lopresti, cult leader Jim Jones, professional golfer Bo Van Pelt and aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Richmond. A more impressive list of natives gives Richmond the edge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Notable Alumni<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Anderson (IN)<\/strong> \u00a0\u2013 John Pistole, current director of TSA;\u00a0former Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodger Carl Erskine; John E. “Jumpin’ Johnny” Wilson, Negro Leagues baseball player and member of the Harlem Globetrotters; and Gary Gerould, play-by-play announcer for the Sacramento Kings.<\/p>\n Earlham<\/strong> \u2013 Rolin Roscoe James, founder of the Sigma Pi fraternity; author Marc Reisner; Ralph Waldo Trueblood, co-inventor of the telephotographer, the first device used by newspapers for sending pictures by wire; Zack Warren, who ran the Boston Marathon while juggling in 2 hours, fifty-eight minutes; Jim Fowler, star of Wild Kingdom; and actor Michael C. Hall (Dexter).<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Earlham. Too much random awesomeness to not win.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Decision<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Quakers hustle their way to a 4-1 win.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n More winless teams – and more Quakers.<\/p>\n Author: <\/strong>Bristol<\/p>\n Mascot<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Marietta <\/strong>\u2013 Pioneers. The earliest confirmed use of the nickname is from the College’s Blue and White<\/em> in October of 1927; a large headline announced that the “Pioneers” were able to break even in their league games for that season.<\/p>\n Wilmington (OH)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Fightin’ Quakers. That’s all I could find, but that’s all they need.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Fightin’ Quakers. If the Pioneers were not just ordinary pioneers maybe they would have a chance. But probably not.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best Player Name<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Marietta<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Tie – Freshman OL Mitch Smotherman and freshman DL Julio Fat<\/a>, who is incredible.<\/p>\n Wilmington (OH)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Tie – sophomore DB Joe Joe Knecht<\/a>, who is seducing you with his eyes, and senior WR Kostas Koyfis, who is half-Swedish and half-Greek.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Marietta. Fat Smotherman for the win.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coaching Staff (Most Awesome Member)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Marietta<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Head coach Jeff Filkovski led Allegheny College to the 1990 Division III National Championship and named both AP Little All-American at QB and Football Gazette’s Division III Offensive Player of the Year. He has coached at Holy Cross, Thomas More, Cincinnati, Heidelberg and with the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe. Honorable mention goes to defensive coordinator Randy Awrey who was MVP of the national title game in 1975 for Northern Michigan and is a member of the NMU Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n Wilmington (OH)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Offensive line coach Todd Murgatroyd<\/a>. He looks like a Murgatroyd. His coaching resume includes time at Tennessee, Hawaii, Kent State, Youngstown State, Urbana and Ohio State. Honorable mention to running backs coach Will Isaac, the 3rd all-time leading rusher in Wilmington College history (2,191 yards).<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Marietta. A couple of national titles beats the Murgatroyd.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Location<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Marietta<\/strong>\u00a0– Marietta, OH. The population was 14,085 at the 2010 census. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory.\u00a0It was a station on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. Between 100 BC and 500 AD, the Hopewell culture built the multi-earthwork complex on the terrace east of the Muskingum River near its mouth with the Ohio. It is now known as the Marietta Earthworks. Developed over many years, it had a large enclosed square, within which were four platform mounds, used for ceremonial purposes and elite residential; another square, and a larger conical mound used for burials. A walled, graded path led to the river’s edge. In 1860, oil was first drilled in the Marietta region. Oil booms in 1875 and 1910 made investors rich, leading to the construction of numerous lavish houses in the town, of which many still stand. Notable residents include Althea Flynt (wife of Larry Flynt), former MLB player (from 1884-1903) and manager Chief Zimmer and Charles Dawes, the 30th Vice President of the United States.<\/p>\n Wilmington (OH)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Wilmington, OH. The city slogan is “We Honor Our Champions” although no word on how the town of 12,520 honors its winless football team. In the early 1950s the city became home to a number of U.S. Department of Defense facilities, most notably the Clinton County Air Force Base. The city also serves as corporate home to R+L Carriers, a trucking and shipping company. In the mid 90’s, the annual Banana Split Festivalwas started, to commemorate the town’s alleged creation of the famous treat in Wilmington in 1907. In addition, each year the city hosts the Clinton County Corn Festival, an homage to the agricultural tradition of the county. Located in the downtown business district is the historic Murphy Theater, which can be seen in the film Lost In Yonkers, part of which was filmed in the city in the early 1990s.The theater saw the marriage of actor John Ritter and wife Amy Yasbeck on September 18, 1999, with the marquee simply stating “Congratulations John and Amy.” Notable residents include former Chicago Cubs owner Charles Murphy and General James W. Denver, founder and namesake of Denver, CO.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Wilmington. Marietta had this one right up until the wedding of John Ritter and Amy Yasbeck. It’s no wonder their chemistry was so good in Problem Child.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Notable Alumni<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Marietta<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 former MLB pitcher Matt DeSalvo; Ban Johnson, the founder of the American League in 1887; former MLB pitcher Terry Mulholland; former MLB pitcher Kent Tekulve; and former MLB manager Jim Tracy.<\/p>\n Wilmington (OH) \u2013 former MLB umpire Satch Davidson, who was behind the plate when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s career HR record; actor Gary Sandy (Andy Travis from WKRP in Cincinnati); novelist William Todhunter Ballard; and a crapload of state and national politicians.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Marietta. Pitchers > Umpires. Especially Kent Tekulve and his baseball cards<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Decision<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Marietta wins a close battle thanks to Kent Tekulve’s sunglasses.<\/p>\n “Cheese Bowl”<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cheese Bowl has been played since 1992 between these two schools. Concordia leads the all-time series 18-17 and won the Cheese Bowl 28-23 last season after losing the previous three contests to Lakeland.<\/p>\n Author: <\/strong>Bristol<\/p>\n Mascot<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Concordia (WI)<\/strong> \u2013 Falcons. Freddy the Falcon has his own LinkedIn<\/a> page.<\/p>\n Lakeland<\/strong> \u2013 Muskies. Become Musko the Muskie’s friend on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Musko.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best Player Name<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Concordia (WI)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Tie – sophomore DB Clerson Lalanne, junior DL Widchero Cherident and sophomore DL Uzziel McDermit.<\/p>\n Lakeland<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Tie – sophomore DB Yaphay Harvey, sophomore RB Todd Szymuszkiewicz, and sophomore DL Trevor Tanck.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Lakeland. A Tan(c)k beat an Uzzi(el) every time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coaching Staff (Most Awesome Member)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Concordia (WI)<\/strong><\/strong> <\/strong>\u2013 Defensive coordinator Adam Walker played QB at Carthage College before playing in 2 games as a replacement player for the Minnesota Vikings during the 1987 NFL strike. Walker had 5 carries for 24 yards and 2 receptions for 3 yards. He spent 13 season as a high school coach and spent time at Carthage before coming to Concordia. Assistant DL coach Arnie Garber<\/a> played Boss Hogg on the Dukes of Hazzard. Assistant OL coach Denny Galipo has a terrific mustache<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lakeland<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Another school with all the coaches on one page. The winner here is WR coach Eric Treske who spent two years playing in the CIFL. He was a four-time letterwinner at Wisconsin Lutheran and an all-conference pick at WR\/TE.<\/p>\n [Ed. Note: The CIFL had not previously been included in MB because their website was unusable. That problem seems to have been fixed, so welcome aboard, CIFL!]<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Concordia. Even though they were replacement games, the NFL trumps the CIFL. Plus, Boss Hogg.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Location<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Concordia (WI)<\/strong>\u00a0– Mequan, WI.\u00a0The name “Mequon” is thought to have come from the Native-American word “Emikwaan” or “Miguan,” meaning ladle.This refers to how the Milwaukee River curves like a ladle in the Mequon area.\u00a0The first Lutheran church in Wisconsin was built in the area in 1840. Mequon is located near Lake Michigan, approximately 20 miles north of Milwaukee. Notable natives and residents include current Milwaukee Bucks head coach Scott Skiles, NBA player Mike Dunleavy, Jr., actress Halle Barry, Marquette head men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams, and many other professional sports figures who spent time in Milwaukee including Hank Aaron, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, Ray Allen, Paul Molitor and George Karl.<\/p>\n Lakeland<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Sheboygan, WI. The city is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Sheboygan River, about 50\u00a0miles north of Milwaukee and 64\u00a0miles south of Green Bay. The city’s motto is “Spirit on the Lake” and nicknames include “The Bratwurst Capital of the World” and “The City of Cheese”. Sheboygan was founded in 1846. Since 1995 Sheboygan has been the site of 8-and-20-foot-tall (2.4 and 6.1 m) rocket launches for a local high school program called Rockets for Schools. The Sheboygan Jaycees have an annual fund-raising festival called Bratwurst Days, which includes the Johnsonville World Bratwurst Eating Championship. Sheboygan hosts the annual Dairyland Surf Classic, the largest lake surfing competition in the world. Notable natives and residents include comedian Jackie Mason, basketball coach Rick Majerus, former NFL player Bill Schroeder and two former governors of Wisconsin.<\/p>\n Advantage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Mequon. Two great city names, but all of the Milwaukee sports figures (barely) beat out the World Bratwurst Eating Championship.<\/p>\n Update:<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nAnderson (IN) @ Earlham – Saturday,\u00a0October 20<\/strong> @ 12:30 pm CDT<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Marietta @ Wilmington (OH) – Saturday,\u00a0October 20<\/strong> @ 1:00 pm CDT<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
Concordia (WI) @ Lakeland – Saturday, October 20 @ 2:00 pm CDT<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n