Division differences fade away on the field
The NFL doesn't dare ignore NCAA Division II football programs. There's talent everywhere you look. If you don't think so, match the starting lineups of Division II Clarion and Division I-AA Youngstown State, when the two schools open their seasons Thursday night.
"We've got every NFL team parading through here," Clarion coach Malen Luke said.
More times than not, the depth charts tell the story. The second- and sometimes third-teamers at Division I-AA schools likely would be the starters at Division II schools.
"Division I-AA schools are a lot deeper," Luke said. Yet the frontline players at Division II schools can more than hold their own. Take Clarion offensive tackle Reggie Wells. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder from South Park returns for his senior year after being named a Division II Northeast Region first-teamer last season.
He's a "tweener," as Luke calls him. He easily could have been picked up by a Division I-AA school such as Youngstown State, the No. 8 I-AA team heading into the season.
"I have a lot of kids like that — kids who were good enough but didn't get offers because there wasn't room on those teams for them," Luke said.
Running back Robert Walker is another one of Luke's "tweeners." An explosive runner such as Walker, who gained 1,136 yards and scored 15 touchdowns on only 172 carries last season, might fit in nicely on Youngstown State's option offense. But the Penguins possess quite possibly the best running back in the division in senior P.J. Mays, a candidate for the Walter Payton Award signifying the top player in Division I-AA.
Tomorrow's game in Youngstown, Ohio, is one of eight such matchups in the district this season, pairing a Division II and Division I-AA school. The outcome is predictable. Clarion is a heavy underdog, as it has been every other time it recently has faced Youngstown State.
Consider that, in 1996, when Clarion reached the Division II semifinals, where it lost by a single point to Northern Colorado, the Golden Eagles were literally trounced in their opener against Youngstown State 51-16.
"The team speed we will see against Youngstown State is not like what we will see in any other game this year," Luke said. "The thing we need to do to have a chance to win is to keep the score close in the first 7-8 minutes. We can't turn the ball over and give up early scores."
It's not that easy, but it might be worth it.
The games these Division II schools play against the bigger programs lead to revenue for their athletic departments. Guaranteed money from the Youngstown States of the world goes to the Clarions, presumably for taking a beating — and infusions of money is always welcome.
What's not in the script is games such as Youngstown State's hard-fought 13-7 victory over Division II Indiana (Pa.) in 1999, or IUP's 23-7 victory at Liberty in 1993, the year the Indians lost to North Alabama in the Division II title game.
"We would love very much to be playing a Division I-AA school this season," IUP coach Frank Cignetti said. "It's good for the players, and it's good for the schools in our conference. We're very receptive to it."
IUP, once again a favorite to challenge for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division title, doesn't face a Division I-AA team this season. But, like Clarion, another PSAC West school, Slippery Rock, does. The Pride must open the season Sept. 7 at No. 14 Eastern Kentucky.
"It's something we're used to," Slippery Rock coach George Mihalik said. "You know going in what the challenge is. Until you win the first game, the monkey's on your back. To play a team like this in the opener is tough."
Slippery Rock, which defeated Division I-AA Florida Atlantic last season, must take a seven-hour bus ride to the Eastern Kentucky game, which Mihalik said can be a draining experience even before kickoff.
"It's a long shot to win a game like that, but each year there are upsets," he said.
That's why they play the games.
| District Matchups |
Each year, the college football schedule is dotted with matchups — predominantly in the early season — between NCAA Division I-AA and Division II schools. A look at such games this year involving district schools:
Aug. 29 Clarion at Youngstown State
Aug. 31 Lock Haven at Northeastern
Sept. 7 Slippery Rock at Eastern Kentucky
Sept. 7 West Liberty State at Liberty
Sept. 21 West Chester at Delaware
Sept. 28 West Liberty State at Charleston Southern
Oct. 5 Gannon x-at Central Connecticut State
Oct. 26 at Gannon x-Robert Morris
x-Non-scholarship program
