Northwest Missouri State is asking all Bearcat fans to "White Out" Bearcat Stadium for the opener tonight at 6 p.m. against Texas A&M Kingsville.
Bearcat head coach Mel Tjeerdsma is asking his team to avoid another week one "Black Out."
For all the success the Bearcats have had over the last three years — winning a national championship and finishing runner-up twice — one thing they've been unable to do is win their opener.
The 2007 season began with a 25-21 loss to No. 8 Nebraska-Omaha after the opener against Arkansas Tech was cancelled due to lightning. The Bearcats have dropped the last two openers to Abilene Christian, but went on to win a playoff rematch in both years.
Those three season opening losses account for Northwest's only regular season defeats in the last three years. Their only other two losses during that span have come in the national championship game.
That statistic begs the question if the Bearcats can play so well in weeks 2-10, why can't they do it week 1?
Even the players have a hard time coming up with a plausible response.
"The first game it doesn't count, but it goes on our record, so I don't know," said senior free safety Aldwin Foster-Rettig. "The first game is just the first game. I don't know what to say about that."
Instead of trying to explain their first week struggles, the Bearcats are ready to do something about it.
"We've talked about it some this year, but we want to be in a situation where we don't wanna lose that first game," said Tjeerdsma. "We want to get off on the right foot, and we think that maybe we can improve our preparation and so hopefully we've done that. Obviously, it's another tough opponent, so we're going to have our hands full."
In the last three openers, the Bearcats have gone against teams ranked eighth, eighth and fifth, respectively.
This year's week one opponent, Texas A&M Kingsville, is ranked No. 14 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll.
The Javelinas are the defending champions in the Lone Star Conference. They finished 9-3 last year and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Tarleton State.
The playoff appearance was their first since 2004 when they were defeated by Northwest 34-14. That was the last meeting between these two schools.
Kingsville lost record-setting quarterback Billy Garza but returns several of its other top playmakers from last year.
The headliner is senior running back Fred Winborn who is the reigning Player of the Year in the Lonestar Conference.
He rushed for 1,295 yards last year with an average of 6.6 yards per carry and reached the end zone 17 times.
His stellar junior season earned him a spot on the Second Team All-American squad in Lindy's Magazine and D2ProDay.com.
"He's an Xavier Omon, Laron Council-type running back," gushed Tjeerdsma.
Winborn's backfield mate, senior Connell Davis, is no slouch either.
Davis rushed for 491 yards last year and eight touchdowns last year, averaging over six yards a carry.
"We don't know about their quarterback, but we know their running backs are really good," said Foster-Rettig. "We gotta focus on them. That's the focal point right now."
Winborn and Davis may find the running lanes to be a little tighter than usual tonight.
Northwest has led the MIAA in rush defense in each of the last four seasons and has ranked in the top 10 nationally three times during that span.
The Bearcats are intent on upholding their standing as one of the top run-stopping teams in the country.
"I was telling someone earlier we had only two people in 15 games go over 100 yards, so our goal is to stop the run," said senior defensive tackle Shayne Shade.
Kingsville's aerial attack is a question mark after the departure of Garza, who threw for 2,711 yards and 17 touchdowns last year.
The new starter is junior Nate Poppell, a transfer from the University of Maryland. Poppell played sparingly last year as the back-up to Garza. He was awarded the starting job on Aug. 25 after beating out junior Daniel Ramirez.
Tjeerdsma is preparing as if both quarterbacks will play tonight.
"They'll probably play both of those guys the way it sounds," said Tjeerdsma.
For Northwest, a big key will be keeping the ball out of the hands of Kingsville's dangerous receiving corps.
Senior Ryan Lincoln led the Javelinas last year with 58 catches for 848 yards and was a second team all-conference selection. Junior Damian Couthren made honorable mention all-conference.
Kingsville's No. 1 target may end up being senior Delashaun Dean, a 6-4, 210-pound transfer from the University of Arizona. Dean was a three-year letter-winner at Arizona and had 132 career catches. Last year, he was Arizona's fourth-leading receiver with 42 catches for 396 yards.
In addition to their multitude of playmakers at the skill positions, Tjeerdsma says the Javelinas possess a bevy of 300-pound lineman.
On defense, the Javelinas are led by senior strong safety DeIra Glover. Last year, Glover showed a knack for making big plays, scoring four defensive touchdowns with three interceptions.
"They'll be real athletic on both sides of the ball, and they'll have good team speed at the skill positions," said Tjeerdsma.
It promises to be another great test for the Bearcats in week one on a truly momentous night at Bearcat Stadium.
Before the game, the 2009 Bearcat senior class will gather on the field to present the 2009 national championship trophy. Tjeerdsma will also be presented with the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.
On top of those two special moments, Governor Jay Nixon will be in attendance.
The Bearcats know all those emotions sure to be stirred up in the pre-game celebrations will quickly fade unless they find a way to cure their first game woes.
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Northwest Missouri State is asking all Bearcat fans to "White Out" Bearcat Stadium for the opener tonight at 6 p.m. against Texas A&M Kingsville.
Bearcat head coach Mel Tjeerdsma is asking his team to avoid another week one "Black Out."
For all the success the Bearcats have had over the last three years — winning a national championship and finishing runner-up twice — one thing they've been unable to do is win their opener.
The 2007 season began with a 25-21 loss to No. 8 Nebraska-Omaha after the opener against Arkansas Tech was cancelled due to lightning. The Bearcats have dropped the last two openers to Abilene Christian, but went on to win a playoff rematch in both years.
Those three season opening losses account for Northwest's only regular season defeats in the last three years. Their only other two losses during that span have come in the national championship game.
That statistic begs the question if the Bearcats can play so well in weeks 2-10, why can't they do it week 1?
Even the players have a hard time coming up with a plausible response.
"The first game it doesn't count, but it goes on our record, so I don't know," said senior free safety Aldwin Foster-Rettig. "The first game is just the first game. I don't know what to say about that."
Instead of trying to explain their first week struggles, the Bearcats are ready to do something about it.
"We've talked about it some this year, but we want to be in a situation where we don't wanna lose that first game," said Tjeerdsma. "We want to get off on the right foot, and we think that maybe we can improve our preparation and so hopefully we've done that. Obviously, it's another tough opponent, so we're going to have our hands full."
In the last three openers, the Bearcats have gone against teams ranked eighth, eighth and fifth, respectively.
This year's week one opponent, Texas A&M Kingsville, is ranked No. 14 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll.
The Javelinas are the defending champions in the Lone Star Conference. They finished 9-3 last year and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Tarleton State.
The playoff appearance was their first since 2004 when they were defeated by Northwest 34-14. That was the last meeting between these two schools.
Kingsville lost record-setting quarterback Billy Garza but returns several of its other top playmakers from last year.
The headliner is senior running back Fred Winborn who is the reigning Player of the Year in the Lonestar Conference.
He rushed for 1,295 yards last year with an average of 6.6 yards per carry and reached the end zone 17 times.
His stellar junior season earned him a spot on the Second Team All-American squad in Lindy's Magazine and D2ProDay.com.
"He's an Xavier Omon, Laron Council-type running back," gushed Tjeerdsma.
Winborn's backfield mate, senior Connell Davis, is no slouch either.
Davis rushed for 491 yards last year and eight touchdowns last year, averaging over six yards a carry.
"We don't know about their quarterback, but we know their running backs are really good," said Foster-Rettig. "We gotta focus on them. That's the focal point right now."
Winborn and Davis may find the running lanes to be a little tighter than usual tonight.
Northwest has led the MIAA in rush defense in each of the last four seasons and has ranked in the top 10 nationally three times during that span.
The Bearcats are intent on upholding their standing as one of the top run-stopping teams in the country.
"I was telling someone earlier we had only two people in 15 games go over 100 yards, so our goal is to stop the run," said senior defensive tackle Shayne Shade.
Kingsville's aerial attack is a question mark after the departure of Garza, who threw for 2,711 yards and 17 touchdowns last year.
The new starter is junior Nate Poppell, a transfer from the University of Maryland. Poppell played sparingly last year as the back-up to Garza. He was awarded the starting job on Aug. 25 after beating out junior Daniel Ramirez.
Tjeerdsma is preparing as if both quarterbacks will play tonight.
"They'll probably play both of those guys the way it sounds," said Tjeerdsma.
For Northwest, a big key will be keeping the ball out of the hands of Kingsville's dangerous receiving corps.
Senior Ryan Lincoln led the Javelinas last year with 58 catches for 848 yards and was a second team all-conference selection. Junior Damian Couthren made honorable mention all-conference.
Kingsville's No. 1 target may end up being senior Delashaun Dean, a 6-4, 210-pound transfer from the University of Arizona. Dean was a three-year letter-winner at Arizona and had 132 career catches. Last year, he was Arizona's fourth-leading receiver with 42 catches for 396 yards.
In addition to their multitude of playmakers at the skill positions, Tjeerdsma says the Javelinas possess a bevy of 300-pound lineman.
On defense, the Javelinas are led by senior strong safety DeIra Glover. Last year, Glover showed a knack for making big plays, scoring four defensive touchdowns with three interceptions.
"They'll be real athletic on both sides of the ball, and they'll have good team speed at the skill positions," said Tjeerdsma.
It promises to be another great test for the Bearcats in week one on a truly momentous night at Bearcat Stadium.
Before the game, the 2009 Bearcat senior class will gather on the field to present the 2009 national championship trophy. Tjeerdsma will also be presented with the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.
On top of those two special moments, Governor Jay Nixon will be in attendance.
The Bearcats know all those emotions sure to be stirred up in the pre-game celebrations will quickly fade unless they find a way to cure their first game woes.
