12:01 p.m.: UNO has virtually everybody back on offense and many of its key defensive contributors returning from a team that went 7-5 overall (though not that far from 10-2) and tied for second place — and winning the tiebreaker — in the rugged MIAA.
Looks like a banner season ahead, right?
Maybe so, but maybe not. The MIAA is considered the gold standard of Division II football conferences — in my mind, and on paper, it appears better than the Gulf South Conference (North Alabama, Valdosta State, Delta State, etc.) right now.
Why? Everybody is loaded. No let's amend that: the best teams are loaded again. And there appears to be a widening gulf between the league's top-level teams and it's lower-division teams.
Northwest Missouri State, the defending national champion which has played in five straight championship games, has 10 starters — 10! — back on offense, and most of its defense. Missouri Western also has 10 starters back on offense. Washburn has eight back on both sides of the ball. Central Missouri has its key players back on offense. Northwest won the league last year, with UNO, Washburn, Western and Central in that four-way tie for second in the league.
MIAA teams will be hard-pressed to break into that top five. Fort Hays State has a shot with most of its key players back from an improving team. Pittsburg State has practically no starters back from the team's first losing season in 30 years. Will the Gorillas rebound? Maybe Missouri Southern can make a jump after being decimated by injuries.
Emporia State is still building and doesn't look ready. Same with Truman State.
The season starts Thursday, and seven of the league's 10 teams play their opener this weekend. It's the start of what should be a wild ride.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
RSS Feeds