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