The doldrums of the summer are over, I am settled into my new job in Aberdeen, and we are approaching what is sure to be an exciting football season in the GPAC with more questions than answers. Who will replace Sioux Falls at the top of the conference, Morningside, Northwestern, or a dark horse? Can Midland make the jump to the top tier? Can Dordt win a game? This and more later, but what better way to get ready for the season than with a new countdown from the GPAC’s resident historian, expert, and published author B. Lynn Fouts! He took on a daunting task, ranking the top 25 GPAC players of all time! So enough from me, take it over Fouts!

The 25 Best GPAC Football Players
By B. Lynn Fouts

Any time you select a “greatest of” article to write, you are sure to alienate a substantial portion of you audience. I accept that challenge; that’s just who I am. I preface this list with a few exceptions up front. I did not watch any GPAC games in either 2000 or 2001. My information on players for those two seasons comes from newspaper coverage, the GPAC website, individual school website archives, coaches and players I have talked to since and, of course, Jason Dannelly. None of the conversations with the above mentioned people centered on a “best of” list, so I solely am responsible for the rankings of the players. And for that reason, I’m not sharing any of the large retainer Logan has advanced me; (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Also, you will not see any one-year wonders on the list. Players that came into the GPAC as seniors, such as Trae Johnson WR Morningside in 2005 and Shawn Flanagan OL Sioux Falls 2008, although superlative players, were withheld from eligibility. Not because they weren’t good, but simply because they weren’t playing against GPAC players for the majority of their careers. On the other hand, a player like Noland Urban LB Nebraska Wesleyan in 2000 was eligible for the list, because even though he was in the GPAC for only one year, his career was against NIAC teams which later became part of the GPAC. If you cannot see the difference between the two examples, trust me; it’s my list.

This is also not an All-Star team like Baseball does. Each school was not guaranteed a representative. It was possible all 25 players could have been Morningsiders, if they were the 25 best. Although Logan and I hold Mustangs (and Chiefs) diplomas, that was not enough to bias the selection process (at least completely). Also, even though Dana and Sioux Falls are no longer in the GPAC that does not disqualify their players from consideration. And finally, I decided not to select any current players in the GPAC so there would be no chance of retribution during the season. On me that is, not the players. So for players who are going to be voted onto the 25 Best GPAC Players list in the near future, (and I think there are several playing this fall) you’ll just have to wait.

So without further disclaimers:
#25 through #23
#22 through #20
#19 through #17
#16 through #15
#14 through #13
#12 through #11
#10 through #9
#8 through #7
#6 through #5
#4 through #3
#2 and #1

Dear Readers,

I am in a position where I can do a better job covering the GPAC as well as branching out into covering the DII Northern Sun Conference. I feel it’s still mostly small college athletics and the geographic area fits with our Midwest theme. I also like the fact that it allows us to stay in touch with our friends in Sioux Falls. I am also considering bringing another writer into the fold to really focus on Northern Sun coverage. I’m really interested in your opinion, whether you like the idea of more Midwest coverage, want me to stick purely with GPAC, or any other feedback anyone may have. Please comment and let me know how you feel about these changes.

Thanks,
Logan Anderson

Todd Eisner- Midland University Men

Chris Yaw- Northwestern Women

Me and the Commish discuss coaching turnover, GPAC expansion, and spring sports.

A relatively stable landscape of GPAC coaches has experienced a seismic shift this summer. With the retirements of Briar Cliff Men’s Coach Todd Barry, Northwestern Women’s Coach Earl Woudstra, and Midland Men’s Coach Rich McGill the conference is losing 64 years of GPAC coaching experience, 1,014 overall wins, and 19 national tourney appearances. Each of these coaches has left a distinctive mark on his institution. Earl Woudstra, with his 4 championship rings has had the most postseason success; Todd Barry has a Final Four appearance as the Northwestern Men’s Coach and raised the Briar Cliff program out of the GPAC doldrums; and while rich McGill may not have been as successful in recent years, he still has been one of the iconic figures in the GPAC with a wide coaching tree (including my own high school coach Bill Morrison) beneath him.

The departure of these three GPAC pillars opens up an opportunity for some new head coaching blood, and in the case of the Briar Cliff men and the Northwestern women, they didn’t have to look far. Nic Nelson and Chris Yaw, each move into the position after holding assistant positions for several years that should result in smooth transitions. In the case of Yaw, he’s been in the program for seven years and has been the defensive coordinator of sorts for several years, and with the talent they have returning from last seasons national championship team, I wouldn’t expect them to miss a beat. I think Nelson and Briar Cliff will be the more intriguing of the two next season. Nelson has been the ace recruiter for the Chargers, and will need that to continue after graduating several linchpin seniors from last years national tourney team. Both have brought in new assistants, with Yaw making the big splash by getting former NWC star Deb Remmerde to once again join Raider Nation. Briar Cliff signed Mark Svagera from Dickinson State, who I quite frankly don’t know much about, but appears to be a quality up and comer.

With respect to Nic Nelson and Chris Yaw, the big splash hire still belongs to Midland University, by bringing in Todd Eisner. Eisner has been a bit of a job jumper but the guy flat out wins! He has experience as an assistant at the division I level, and his connections developed at Creighton and Bellevue will help in recruiting the rich talent pool in Omaha. It really seems that Midland is really intent on transferring the jolt of momentum received from all the Dana transfers, and becoming a player in the conference. It’s going to be really fun to watch this all shake out, can it be basketball season?

Well, it’s been a few months but I’m back and a lot has changed. I have been in the middle of: 1.) high school basketball playoffs which basically consume my life in February and early March. 2.) A somewhat complicated negotiation process in making a pretty major career move. I am proud to announce that I am now the College Sports Director at Dakota Broadcasting in Aberdeen, South Dakota and will be the lead play-by-play voice of Division III Presentation College in the UMAC Conference. Most of you probably are not aware that all of the podcasts for the last few years had to be recorded at strange hours, usually 6pm or later, and all the phone expenses came out of my own pocket. Along with a better job, I now have more freedom to track down coaches, and hopefully more time to write on my blog more frequently.
As a UMAC broadcaster, I may mix in a bit of coverage on the new conference, but the main portion of the information on this site will still revolve around the GPAC. It’s an exciting time and I look forward to really making this sucker go!

Thanks,
Logan Anderson

We discuss this years Morningside team, the GPAC in general, and the GPAC rating process.

Rioters,
I have not died, been abducted by aliens, or quit on this site! I have been extremely busy with my full time job at the radio station and that has kept me from dedicating the time necessary to post quality articles and podcasts. However, do not fret! I will be back with more podcasts and interviews in the next week and a half. I apologize for not providing anything new for the last month, but I look forward to following the Sioux Falls Cougars through the remainder of the playoffs and moving on to basketball as that conference race starts heating up!
Thanks for your patience!
Logan Anderson

The GPAC picture is starting to become clear. Sioux Falls is still better than everyone else, and looks like they are going to leave the conference having not been beat since Nam (or 2006). Morningside and Northwestern are both very good, but are a long way from the level of Sioux Falls. Midland is showing themselves as the clear favorite to be the best of the second tier teams, and could vault up to the top tier (and the playoffs) with a win over Northwestern. Hastings has been disappointing and Dakota Wesleyan’s hot start has shown to be a bit of a mirage. The other teams simply aren’t very good. Onto the power rankings!

1) #1 Sioux Falls (7-0) The more things change, the more things stay the same. USF beat down a very good Morningside College team, and barring a major let down, will run the table through the GPAC on their way out the door to DII.

2) #8 Morningside (6-1) Take their annual conference loss to USF, but they should be in excellent position to win a playoff game if they run the table against Concordia, Hastings, and Dakota Wesleyan. No easy task, but definitely doable.

3) #15 Northwestern (4-2) Lost close games to the two best teams in the conference and beat down everyone else. They are also in good shape to make the playoffs if they win out, but they do face tough opponents in Midland and Dakota Wesleyan in that span.

4) (receiving votes) Midland University 5-2 (4-2) Wins over Hastings and Dakota Wesleyan puts the Warriors squarely as the best team in the GPAC second tier. They could have an outside shot at making the playoffs if they run the table to end the year, which would include a win at home against Northwestern.

5) Dakota Wesleyan (4-2) Bounce back after two consecutive losses with a nice win over Hastings. Their reward? Sioux Falls comes into town!

6) Hastings (3-4) A bit of a disappointing season for the Broncos. They get a week off to get ready for Morningside.

7) Nebraska Wesleyan (2-4) Three of their four losses come against the top teams in the conference. There is potential for the P-Wolves to have a winning season if their offense can start helping out their defense a bit more.

8 ) Concordia 3-4 (2-4) They beat Briar Cliff after losing four straight games. Their defense better come to play against an angry Morningside squad this week!

9) Doane (2-3) Will get beat by Northwestern this week, before participating in the oldest and most bitter rivalry game in the GPAC against Nebraska Wesleyan.

10) Briar Cliff 2-5 (1-5) They need to beat someone besides Dordt or Waldorf to get the respect they are looking for.

11) Dordt (0-7) Looks like it’s going to be their second straight year without a conference win.

Preview with Morningside Head Coach Steve Ryan

Preview with Northwestern Head Coach Kyle Achterhoff