NAIA Fall 2020

[Tundra_Man]

You got me curious so I looked it up... They have never made the playoffs.

Their first season was in 2008. In that first decade of existence, they had a grand total of 8 GPAC wins. In 2018, they finally turned the corner and had their first winning season at 7-3 and finished ranked 23rd in the NAIA poll. They were 5-5 in 2017, so you could claim that was their first non-losing season.

Dordt started their program when I was with the Coo and in my entire time playing football, Dordt didn't win a single conference game. So to seem them winning and in the playoff hunt is crazy to me. Glad they got things turned around. Maybe there's hope for my Vanderbilt Commodores yet if Dordt can do it.

My favorite story from those days was my redshirt year. Johnny Carino's in Sioux Falls had a promo that season that for every USF TD scored, they would take a dollar off your tab. I don't think they envisioned the highest scoring NAIA offense in history however when they setup the promo. But it was awesome for poor hungry college kids. Even as redshirts, we made sure to get a ticket stub so we could hit up Johnny Carino's afterwards for basically a free meal. After a homecoming trouncing of the poor Defenders (77-0 I believe, $11 dollars off!), a group of us were waiting for a table. A poor Dordt football player comes walking up to the restaurant (has his team gear on) with his family and we couldn't help but wonder if he had a deal with his parents to throw the game to save them some money (Dutch things), or if his parents would have the heart to hang on to the ticket stub and not humiliate the kid again.

I was at Carino's that same weekend with my Dordt ticket stub!

[badboyblynn]

Barry, being an NAIA expert, do you know if the GPAC teams will play any games in the Spring (like 1 or 2) before playoffs begin....or are they going to just come in from outta the cold and have playoffs..? Weird situation obviously due to the COVID..

Witt, the coach I talked with is on a playoff-bound team and told me they planned to scrimmage a couple times in the spring with 'area' teams shortly before the April 17 first round. I should have asked if they'd play a NSIC team going thru spring practice, (unless you guys end up playing in the spring).

[laker]

Witt, the coach I talked with is on a playoff-bound team and told me they planned to scrimmage a couple times in the spring with 'area' teams shortly before the April 17 first round. I should have asked if they'd play a NSIC team going thru spring practice, (unless you guys end up playing in the spring).

What game are you covering this weekend?

[badboyblynn]

Just landed in Fredericksburg Tx for the winter. Everything I watch will be on webcast going forward. This week, Baker at Benedictine and Southwestern at Bethel Ks caught my eye. Three of the four are undefeated and the Ravens have just one loss.

[laker]

Watched Dordt jump to a 35-0 lead against Hastings, then left for Northwestern to see them give up two late TDs to Briar Cliff to make the game look far closer than what it was. Both of the home teams are pretty talented.

[laker]

Made my last trip of the football season to Mitchell SD. Drove past the Corn Palace on my way to see Dakota Wesleyan beat Concordia of Nebraska 28-17 in NAIA GPAC action. The only GPAC team that I didn't see play this fall was Jamestown and that is because they had games called off or moved.

[cougar1997]

The only GPAC team that I didn't see play this fall was Jamestown and that is because they had games called off or moved.

You still have a chance. It looks like Jamestown plays Northwestern in Orange City on Monday night...

[laker]

You still have a chance. It looks like Jamestown plays Northwestern in Orange City on Monday night...

I'll pass. This coach turns into a pumpkin at midnight.