Five Minutes With ... Don Hunsinger

Former Oberlin College Football and Tennis coach Don Hunsinger

We recently sat down with former Oberlin College college football and tennis coach Don Hunsinger {right} for the NCAC's first video installment of "Five Minutes With ..."


The first portion of the two part interview can be found on the NCAC website at the address below. Part II of the interview will be posted on the same page on November 2nd.

http://www2.northcoast.org/fiveminuteswith/DonHunsinger

Five Minutes With ...

Name: Bret Billhardt

Institution: North Coast Athletic Conference

Title: Assistant Director

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management, Otterbein University


• Why did you choose to work at the NCAA Division III level?

BB: After competing and earning my undergraduate education at an NCAA Div. III institution, I immediately knew that I wanted to pursue a career at that level. The purity of the athletic competition combined with the academic excellence that so many of the student-athletes possess at this level is what drives me to continue to be a part of the division in my professional career.


• If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?

BB: Don Hunsinger… Is there really an explanation needed?


• How would you most accurately describe or define the ideals on which the NCAA Div. III was founded?

BB: The division provides student-athletes the ability to be just that, students first and athletes second. Often times the best stories connected to division III student-athletes have little to do with their achievements on the field, but rather their contributions and successes within the community and the academic world.


• People may be surprised to know that ……

BB: My favorite NFL team is the Miami Dolphins….Although born and raised in the Cleveland area, I have never been and will never be a fan of the Browns.


• Are there any major obstacles that you’ve had to overcome when dealing with Div. III athletics?

BB: I think one of the toughest challenges in working in division III athletics is educating the general public on how we are structured and operate. Instead of looking at Div. III as a well-balanced opportunity for recent high school graduates to continue their athletic and academic careers, many people view it as a “step down” from Div. I and II institutions.


• Do you have any hidden talents that very few people know about?

BB: If I had any unique talents, I surely wouldn’t keep them hidden. So, I guess the answer is NO.


• How did your collegiate experience help to prepare you to be an administrator at the Div. III level?

BB: Being a former Div. III student-athlete, I’m able to relate with the issues and concerns that many of our current student-athletes continue to face on a day-to-day basis.


• If you are stranded on an island, you would like to be with ……

BB: Don Hunsinger, Bear Grylls and Macgyver....I wouldn't have to do anything to contribute to the survival efforts.

• What has been your most memorable moment in your administrative career?

BB: Well it hasn’t been a very long administrative career, but it has been a rewarding experience to be accepted into an administrative role at the conference office at such a young age.


• What are the toughest issues facing Div. III athletes in today’s world?

BB: Athletic burnout. Children are being forced into competitive athletic environments at such a young age, and by the time they get to college they are burned out and have little desire to continue competing.


• What’s currently playing on your I-Pod?

BB: I have my “Walkman” tuned to country at all times!!!


• What are some of the life lessons that you believe student-athletes can learn by competing at the Div. III level?

BB: The ability to have balance in life is a valuable trait, and there is no doubt in my mind that Div. III student-athletes learn to develop this trait from the very first day they step foot on campus.


• What would be your advice for someone that is considering enrolling as a student-athlete at a NCAA Div. III institution?

BB: I would recommend that anyone with the opportunity to do so, DO IT.


• How would you best describe your normal day as an administrator at the Div. III level?

BB: I don’t think the word “normal day” and athletics administration really go hand-in-hand. Some days you can be staring at schedules for eight hours, while the very next day you're out at a field handing out a trophy at a championship game. The most normal part of my day-to-day work is that in some shape or form, no matter what I am doing, I am contributing to the numerous outstanding student-athletes that make up the NCAC.

Five Minutes With ...

Name: Keri Alexander Luchowski

Institution: North Coast Athletic Conference

Title: Executive Director

Education: Masters in Sport Management, Kent State University; Bachelors in Professional Writing, Wheeling Jesuit University


• Why did you choose to work in NCAA Division III?

KAL: I have worked in various levels of sport throughout my career, but have really chosen to make Division III my home because I identify with the ideas of balance and sportsmanship among others in the Division’s philosophy. I can relate to the passion our students bring to everything they fill their lives with, both academically and athletically.

• If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?

KAL: Mark Recchi, so I could know what it feels like to hoist a Stanley Cup.


• People may be surprised to know that ……

KAL: A lot of people probably know I played soccer in college, but most would be surprised that I was a swimmer and a soccer player when I was in high school.


• How has your experience been in making sure that student-athletes have a proper balance among athletics and academics in the Conference?

KAL: The idea of balance is one that, while not expressly stated in our philosophy, guides our every decision. We continually look to the experience students have and strive to allow them the most space to explore and learn both in academics and athletics. For me, it is a wonderful experience to see when we succeed in reaching that goal.

• Do you have any hidden talents that very few people know about?

KAL: I am an excellent cook, if I do say so myself!


• How did your collegiate experience help to prepare you to be an administrator at the Div. III level?

KAL: Without my experience as a student-athlete, I would not be nearly as effective an administrator today. I learned so much during those years, both in the classroom and in all of the different roles I was encouraged to try on. I learned how to better manage my time, how to prioritize, how to work well with others. I was incredibly lucky that my sport led me to the place that was a perfect fit for me. I would wish my experience for anyone hoping to get the most out of college.


• What’s currently playing on your I-Pod?

KAL: A random mix: Pink, Rod Stewart, Rick Springfield, Pete Townshend, Maroon 5, Simple Plan, Foo Fighters

• What do you feel are the most rewarding aspects of being a college administrator at the Div. III level, and what may be some of the least rewarding aspects of the job?

KAL: The absolute most rewarding thing about being at the NCAC is working with our student-athletes. Seeing how hard they work; seeing how gracefully they deal when things don’t quite go according to plan; seeing what they accomplish. It’s inspiring.


• What are some of the life lessons that you believe student athletes can learn by competing at the Div. III level?

KAL: How to prioritize, time management, teamwork, how to set goals and then how to plan to reach those goals successfully


• How would you best describe your normal day as an administrator at the Div. III level?

KAL: What I like best is that there is no “normal” day. As part of a conference office, I have different opportunities every day. I can work on a future schedule, help someone navigate NCAA legislation and hand out a trophy all in the same day! I spoke at a career day recently and some students were disappointed in how much of my job is done behind a desk. But what we do is so different every day that the “desk” part of the job is just as interesting and challenging as the “games” part of my job is fun.

Sundt's Scribes: Chris Broussard '90

In this edition of Sundt’s Scribes, Hal Sundt details the journey of how former Yeomen hoopster and currently NBA Analyst for ESPN Chris Broussard went from a young and aspiring journalist at Oberlin College to main the stage of ESPN’s studios.

“How long do you think you need?” asks Chris Broussard, his voice muffled from what I can only guess is the splatter of rain smacking against the windshield of his car as he makes his way to the ESPN Studios in Bristol, Connecticut.

“Let me call you back in about 10 or 15 minutes,” Broussard then casually says. “And then I’ll give you the time.”

On this day, Wednesday, April 27th, Chris Broussard is a busy man. The NBA Playoffs are in full force and over the ensuing hours, days and months he will break down the contenders and pretenders for the NBA Championship, debate if (or possibly when) All-Star center Dwight Howard will leave the Orlando Magic, and evaluate the prospects for the upcoming NBA draft, all while managing the constant flow of rumors about a potential (some say certain) NBA lockout.

Read full post

Sundt's Scribes: Marissa Clardy

Oberlin junior Hal Sundt sat down sophomore track star Marissa Clardy for this week’s edition of Sundt’s Scribes. While the NCAC Indoor Sprints/Hurdles Runner of the Year certainly performs well on the track, Sundt takes a look inside Clardy’s other performance domain – the Theatre.

Marissa Clardy sits on the opposite end from where I sit, in a small classroom on the third floor of the King Building of Oberlin College. We are both in the same English class, and the little that I know about her is based on this 50-minute class that we share three times per week. For the last two months I have fooled myself into thinking that I know her true personality, who she really is.

Who is she really? Click here to find out.

Sundt's Scribes: Ben Puterbaugh

Oberlin junior Hal Sundt sat down with 2010 First-Team All-NCAC Selection and Third-Team All-Regional selection Ben Puterbaugh to get an indepth look at what really makes Oberlin's all-time hits leader tick.

It is a Wednesday in late March, only two days until most of the students from Oberlin College will depart from this small pocket of solace tucked away in northeast Ohio. Along the sidewalk connecting Wilder Hall and Mudd Library some students lean against the cold metal bike racks taking long drags from Pall Malls and Marlboros, while others walk briskly to their next class, the former sucking down thick smoke deep into their lungs, the latter taking in the crisp March air as it rushes through their noses and clings to the back of their tongue. Along the paths the students are moving, gesturing, smoking, breathing, laughing, walking; but they are inside a bubble which remains still while the rest of the world violently spins.

Somewhere a man in this bubble is sifting through the smoke and the drizzle of rain. His 5-foot-11 frame does not draw attention to himself, but rather moves unassumingly, like everyone else. As he walks, missiles soar above Libya and weeping mothers, brothers, and children in Japan attempt to put the pieces of their lives back together. On this day thousands of pairs of bright, excited eyes will enter the world and thousands of others will leave it behind.

And on this day, and every other day just the same, the world does not revolve around the game of baseball. And Ben Puterbaugh knows it.

***

Click to read full story

Denison President Knobel on the value of independent colleges

Independent Colleges Need Support, too. That was the message by Denison President Dale Knobel in an op-ed piece in Sunday's Columbus Dispatch. Knobel discusses the importance of independent, nonprofit colleges, and offers up some statistics on the value of an education at NCAC schools that some may find surprising.

Read the full Dispatch article.

Wabash to Honor Petty

Long-time Wabash men's basketball coach Mac Petty announced he will be retiring at the end of the 2011-12 season. With his Little Giants in the hunt for playoff berths in the NCAC and NCAA Tournaments, that end could come much later than today's final regular season home game. Wabash will honor Mac today as the team hosts Oberlin.

Read more in today's papers:

The Paper of Montgomery County: WABASH BASKETBALL: Little Giants look to honor coach, seniors with win

Indy Star: On Campus: Wabash to honor basketball coach Petty

And here's a series on Mac from the Journal-Review - his memories and recollections of others from his 38-year career:

Thanks, Mac

Petty Recalls the Best of the Best

Petty's Former Players Share Thoughts

Other NCAC Coaches Talk About Petty

The Mac Petty Era

Five Minutes With ...

Throughout the 2010-11 academic year, the North Coast Athletic Conference will give you an in-depth look into the lives of the student-athletes, administrators and faculty members of the conference who epitomize what it means to compete, study and educate at the NCAA Div. III level. We hope that this feature will help people gain a better understanding of why individuals have decided to make NCAA Div. III a cornerstone of their life.

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Name/Institution: Joe Karlgaard/Oberlin College

Title: Director of Athletics and Physical Education

Education: B.A. at Stanford ’96; Ph.D. at University of Minnesota ‘05




• Why did you choose to work at a NCAA Division III institution?

JK: Almost by accident. My college track coach became the AD at Oberlin in 2003, and I came to Ohio to be his assistant in 2004. When he left to become the track coach at Oregon in 2005, I got his job as AD.

• If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?

JK: Kirk Herbstreit. I think he’s got one of the best jobs in sports … He gets to meet plenty of interesting people and see a bunch of great games and campuses.

• People may be surprised to know that ……

JK: After graduation from college, I got a job as a reporter and weekend sportscaster at KFYR-TV in Bismarck, North Dakota. I really enjoyed the job, but I thought coaching was a better fit for me.

• How has your experience been in making sure that student-athletes have a proper balance among athletics and academics at your institution?

JK: I don’t like the word “balance” when describing how the pieces of an education fit together. I think athletics, when coached and taught properly, has tremendous educational value. So athletics complements what occurs in the classroom and in many cases is just as valuable. If you don’t believe that athletics is educational in nature, then it’s a nuisance to the mission of the institution. Our students at Oberlin participate in many educational activities on campus, and athletics is an important component for many of them.

• If you are stranded on an island, you would like to be with ……

JK: Is this a trick question? My wife, of course! In a professional context, I’d really like to spend some time with Jeff Orleans, who was Executive Director of the Ivy League for more than 20 years.

• Are there any major obstacles that you’ve had to overcome when dealing with Div. III athletics?

JK: I’m not too pleased with where the Division is headed with respect to non-traditional seasons. Coming from Division I, where you have permissible year-round practice, I can understand why some Division III coaches want more time to work with their athletes. But what we have now in DIII is a hybrid … Division I lets you go year-round, and I think Division III should not do it at all, just to separate itself a bit. But since we embraced non-traditional seasons, we’ve consistently been chipping away at the restrictions, and I’m not fond of it. I think we should either allow all of it (year-round training), or get rid of all of it.

• How did your collegiate experience help to prepare you to be an administrator at the Div. III level?

JK: I ran track in college, and I think that perspective helped me understand why students compete at the Division III level. I didn’t run for anything other than a love for the sport. Not many people are going to get rich running track, so most athletes – whether DI, II, or III – run because they love the sport and the competition. I think that’s why most students at the DIII level choose to play … because they love the sport.

• What has been your most memorable moment in your administrative career at your institution?

JK: Probably Joanna Johnson finishing 5th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2009. The meet was in Cleveland, so we had a big contingent of fans at the race. And Joanna just looked great. She kicked home the last 400 meters or so to finish 5th and avenge a loss from earlier in the year. She’s the best runner in Oberlin history.

• What are the toughest issues facing Div. III athletes in today’s world?

JK: I think it’s tough, as a high school student looking to play DIII, to sort through the 450 or so schools in the division. How do you find the right school? We’ve had some great matches at Oberlin, students who really fit academically, athletically, and socially, and we’ve had others who would have been better off some place else. It’s tough to sift through all the information and figure out what’s best for you. The division is just so big right now, and many of the schools have vastly different philosophies.

• What’s currently playing on your I-Pod?

JK: I could DJ anything from a kid’s birthday party to a club on South Beach. I’ve got it all … from Carrie Underwood to Gorillaz to Marilyn Manson to Kings of Leon to Pink Floyd.

• What do you feel are the most rewarding aspects of being a college administrator at the Div. III level, and what may be some of the least rewarding aspects of the job?

JK: I love getting to know the athletes. We have some outstanding young adults on our teams, and I like to know what makes them tick. The hardest part is the helicopter parent. They want to be advocates for their children, but they often have difficulty letting them learn the lessons of adulthood on their own.

Five Minutes With ...

Throughout the 2010-11 academic year, the North Coast Athletic Conference will give you an in-depth look into the lives of the student-athletes, administrators and faculty members of the conference who epitomize what it means to compete, study and educate at the NCAA Div. III level. We hope that this feature will help people gain a better understanding of why individuals have decided to make NCAA Div. III a cornerstone of their life.

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Name: Kate Melanson

Hometown/High School: Jupiter FL/Suncoast Community High School

Institution: Oberlin College

Major (s): Biology, Rhetoric and Composition

Sport: Swimming


* Why did you choose to attend an NCAA Division III institution?

KM: Well I really enjoyed swimming and wanted to continue in college. But, I didn’t want it to be really hardcore with a focus on just getting faster. I visited Oberlin and there was instantly this team vibe that I never had in high school or on club teams.


* If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?

KM: Tina Fey. I love 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live and basically anything she has ever done. She’s not only hilarious, but is one of the leading women in entertainment and it would be so fun to be her.


* How would you most accurately describe or define the ideals on which the NCAA Div. III was founded?

KM: I would have to say it was founded on the idea of a balance between academics and athletics. NCAA DIII student-athletes are exactly that, students then athletes. DIII schools preserve amateurism in sports by having athletes who participate because they enjoy the sports, not because they’re paid or get scholarships, but for pure pleasure.


* People may be surprised to know that ……

KM: My full name is Kate, not Caitlin or Katherine. Just Kate.


* How has your experience been in balancing athletics and academics at your institution?

KM: It has been great. Swimming has provided a break and a way to let out steam so that stress doesn’t overwhelm me. If anything, athletics is the reason I feel well balanced.


* If you are stranded on an island, you would like to be with ……

KM: My puppy Sookie. I feel like I’d snap at someone else and then we wouldn’t talk, and then it’d just be an island of awkwardness. My dog will love me unconditionally.


* What is the life of a student-athlete studying biology like at Oberlin College?

KM: Life is pretty hectic studying biology and competing in Sports. Many times you have to leave your afternoon lab and go straight to practice, then back to the lab again after to finish things off. There’s no time to rest, but you learn very good time management.


* Do you have any hidden talents that very few people know about?

KM: My eye can tell the weather. My right eye puffs up when there is a high-pressure system. People usually think I got punched and I just say, “No, it’s just about to rain.”


* What aspect of being a student-athlete at the Div. III level, do you hope to take with you into your professional life?

KM: I hope to take my time management skills with me into my professional life. In order to get school work and athletics done, you have to manage time or fall behind and being a student-athlete has taught that very valuable lesson.


* What has been your most memorable moment in athletics during your collegiate career?

KM: My most memorable moment would probably have to be during my sophomore year at our conference championship. I had just earned my spot on the 800-freestyle relay and was very excited about swimming it. I was about to go up to the block with my teammates and my coach said, “There are 20 girls on that bench depending on you.” It freaked me out! But I went up to the blocks with my relay-mates, one from each class year, and I swam my heart out feeling like the whole team was swimming it with me. We broke the school record, got an NCAA B-cut and came in third for an All-Conference finish. It was really awesome.


* What would you like to accomplish, both in academics and athletics, before you graduate?

KM: In academics, I would like to participate in some important research in ecology and really find my niche. In athletics, I’d like to achieve my own national cut individually, A or B, just knowing that I could do it would be great.


* What’s currently playing on your I-Pod?

KM: Fame by David Bowie.


* Do you have one coach and or professor in mind that has impacted your career the most at Oberlin?

KM: My advisor Mary Garvin has been pretty great. She’s always insisted on doing what makes me happy, both in terms of athletics and academics, and I think that the most important thing that there is for anyone is to find something that makes them happy.


* What is your most prized possession?

KM: My friends, a.k.a. my teammates.


* What is the most important life lesson you learned while competing at the NCAA Div. III level?

KM: Do something you enjoy, not just something you’re good at.


* How many hours a week do you spend on Facebook?

KM: An unhealthy amount. Probably at least 7-10, but for some people it’s the only way I can keep in touch with them and see what they’re up to.


* What would be your advice for someone that is considering enrolling as a student-athlete at a NCAA Div. III institution?

KM: DO IT!!!


* How would you best describe your normal day as a student-athlete at the NCAA Div. III level?

KM: Crazy, just how I like it.

NCAC Basketball Team Previews

We're in the opening week of basketball season. Check out the prognosis of your favorite team (updated as available):

Allegheny: men - women

Denison: men - women

Hiram: men - women - winter sports video preview

Kenyon: men - women

Oberlin: men - women

Ohio Wesleyan: men - women

Wabash: men

Wittenberg: men - women

Wooster: men - women

NCAC Teams Amongst Best in Academics, Athletics

Several North Coast Conference Athletic departments earned recognition in the recent National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) Collegiate Power Rankings, which honor colleges for exceptional achievement in both athletics and academics. In the overall ranking of the NCSA's Top 100 schools, for which less than six percent of all colleges and universities nationwide qualified, Kenyon earned a spot at number 43, followed by Wooster at 54 and Denison at 60.

Six NCAC schools found a place in the eighth annual ranking of NCAA Division III institutions:

26. Kenyon

31. Wooster

35. Denison

64. Oberlin

65. Allegheny

82. Wabash

Click for the complete rankings or for the Division III listing.

From the Director's Chair

Oberlin Athletic Director Joe Karlgaard has been offering insight into Oberlin athletics with his From the Director's Chair series, for quite a while now. He's penned numerous informative pieces sharing what's special about his department. Now he's made the jump to video. Check out his first piece:




Catch up with Oberlin athletics videos you may have missed at their video archive.

Follow NCAC Basketball Tournament Action

The NCAC men's and women's basketball tournaments tip off with quarterfinal action tonight! If you can't make a game in person, follow your favorite teams online:

Women's Tournament
#8 Hiram at #1 Wittenberg, 8:00 p.m. - audio video live stats
#7 Oberlin at #2 Ohio Wesleyan, 7:30 p.m. - video live stats
#6 Allegheny at #3 Denison, 7:30 p.m. - audio live stats
#5 Wooster at #4 Kenyon, 7:30 p.m. - audio/video live stats

Men's Tournament
#8 Kenyon at #1 Wooster, 7:30 p.m. - audio video live stats
#7 Denison at #2 Wabash, 7:30 p.m. - audio video live stats
#6 Hiram at #3 Wittenberg, 6:00 p.m. - audio video live stats
#5 Ohio Wesleyan at #4 Allegheny, 7:30 p.m. - audio/video live stats

Oberlin SAAC Update

Oberlin SAAC member, and sophomore men's basketball player, Hal Sundt has posted an Oberlin update on the NCAC SAAC blog. He talks about the recent successes of men's and women's basketball and then returns to prepping for upcoming exams. See what Hal has to share.

Oberlin Athletics Lends a Helping Hand

The Oberlin College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) participated in a CHAMPS/LIFE SKILLS initiative to give back to the Oberlin community during this holiday season.

From the Oberlin Athletics website:

All 22 Oberlin athletics teams combined to purchase a total of 72 gifts for six different families, marking the largest amount of gifts and recipients in the history of the “Helping Hands” project.

In addition to providing gifts for select families, the athletics department combined with the rest of the campus to secure 80 pounds of nonperishable food items that were delivered to the Oberlin Community Services Center earlier this week. In the past, the canned food drive has been manly focused on student-athletes, but by reaching out to the rest of the campus it made for the most success food drive endeavor since its inception eight years ago.

“I am really proud of what we were able to achieve,” SAAC Co-Chair Tammela Platt said.

All of the efforts benefited the Oberlin Community Service Center. Oberlin Community Services is a responsive community organization that provides direct assistance, referrals and other services to Oberlin area residents and groups who need help meeting their basic needs.

Since 1955, Oberlin Community Services (OCS) has supported the community in sensitive and caring ways. The OCS staff, Oberlin College work-study students, and more than a hundred volunteers join forces with schools, churches, medical and social service providers, civic groups, businesses, and government to offer a wide array of services to low-income citizens of Oberlin and Southern Lorain County.

Note: Parts of this article were taken from OberlinCommunityservices.org

2009 Fall NCAC SAAC Meeting

In the Polls

Men's Cross Country

Allegheny moved into the fifth spot in the USTFCCCA national poll and tops the Mideast Region, while Denison is eighth and Oberlin 10th in the Great Lakes.

Women's Cross Country

Oberlin is 27th in the USTFCCCA national poll and is fourth in the Great Lakes Region, followed by Wittenberg in ninth and Denison in 10th. Allegheny is seventh in the Mideast Region.

Football

Wabash is ninth in the first AFCA Coaches poll of 2009. Wittenberg and Wooster also received votes, but did not crack the top 25. The Little Giants are 14th in the latest D3football.com Top 25.

Golf
Ohio Wesleyan is ranked 12th in the season's first Golf World Division III Coaches' Poll.

Men's Soccer

Ohio Wesleyan is third in the NSCAA national poll. The Battling Bishops top the Great Lakes Region, followed by Kenyon in fourth. OWU sits fourth in the D3soccer.com men's Top 25.

Women's Soccer

Wittenberg is third in the NSCAA Great Lakes Regional poll. Wooster is sixth and Denison is eighth. Denison and Wittenberg received votes in the latest D3soccer.com women's Top 25.

Volleyball

Wittenberg is ninth in the latest AVCA Top 25

In the Polls

The NCAC is represented on many of the national and regional sport polls conducted by media and coaching groups.

Cross Country
Allegheny is sixth in the USTFCCCA national poll, while Wabash received votes but didn't crack the top 25. The Gators also head up the Mideast Region. In the Great Lakes, Wabash is fifth, followed by Denison in sixth.

The Allegheny women are eighth in the Mideast Region, while Oberlin, Kenyon and Wittenberg hold sports five through seven in the Great Lakes. Ohio Wesleyan is 10th.

Football
Wabash is 13th in the D3football Top 25.

Soccer
Ohio Wesleyan men's soccer is ranked third in the NSCAA national poll and are second in the D3soccer.com Top 25, where Denison and Kenyon also received votes. The Battling Bishops top the NSCAA Great Lakes Region, while Oberlin is fifth, Denison is sixth and Kenyon is seventh.

Denison is tabbed 14th in the NSCAA women's national poll and 15th in the D3soccer.com Top 25. Ohio Wesleyan and Wittenberg also received votes in the D3soccer.com poll. The Big Red top the NSCAA Great Lakes Region, while Wittenberg is fifth, Wooster is seventh and Ohio Wesleyan 10th.

Volleyball
Wittenberg is tabbed 12th in the AVCA Top 25.

NCAC Football in the News

Short of a playoff run, this might be the most exciting time of the football season. Every team is full of promise and high hopes. Players are on pins and needles, anxious to get out on the field. Fans can't wait for the opener, they've gone a whole year without their fix.

Readers can get ready for opening day with some season previews:

NCAC
League preview in the Cleveland Plain Dealer
The three "Ws" listed in D3football's Around the Great Lakes column

Allegheny
Allegheny counting on healthy Tate via GoErie.com

Denison
Big Red not resting on their past via The Newark Advocate

Earlham
After strong finish, Quakers eager to prove winning's no fluke via the Richmond Palladium-Item

Hiram
2009 Preview

Kenyon
Lords revving up for 2009 season

Oberlin
Oberlin at Washington & Jefferson

Ohio Wesleyan
Bishops set to tackle challenging campaign via The Delaware Gazette (login required)

Wabash
The Indianapolis Star small-college football preview
Adjustments up front via The Paper of Montgomery County
Drive for five via The Paper of Montgomery County

Wittenberg (all from Springfield News-Sun)
Tigers Return 21 starters
Witt QB ready to return after missing most of 2008

Wooster (all from Wooster Daily Record)
DeGrand found niche as linebacker
His job is to twin the game
Capsule look at the Wooster Defense
Position-by-position look at the Scots Offense

NCAC football kicks off tomorrow with eight games across the league:
Kenyon at Case, 12:00
Juniata at Allegheny, 1:00
Kalamazoo at Denison, 1:00
Ohio Wesleyan at Carnegie Mellon, 1:00
Rose-Hulman at Earlham, 1:00
Waynesburg at Wooster, 1:00
Oberlin at Washington & Jefferson, 7:00
Wittenberg at Olivet, 7:00