Plenty of New at Northwest
By: Lance Snow
Updated: August 11, 2011
Courtesy Northwest Missouri State:
MARYVILLE, Mo. - The 2011 football season kicked off for the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Thursday morning on Mel Tjeerdsma Field at Bearcat Stadium, and there was a definite air of excitement as the team went through workouts in unseasonable weather conditions.
MARYVILLE, Mo. - The 2011 football season kicked off for the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Thursday morning on Mel Tjeerdsma Field at Bearcat Stadium, and there was a definite air of excitement as the team went through workouts in unseasonable weather conditions.
Adam Dorrel begins his first season as head coach of the
Bearcats, who are looking to defend their MIAA crown for a sixth consecutive
year and enter the 2011 season ranked fourth in two preseason polls. The
Bearcats finished a perfect 9-0 run in MIAA play last year and 12-2 mark
overall, falling to eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth.
The Bearcats opened an up-tempo practice as 14 seniors
will try to help extend a 46-game conference winning streak. The streak dates
back to Nov. 5, 2005 and last year broke the old MIAA record of 41 games which
was also held by a Northwest squad from 1997-2001.
"Overall I was really pleased with the first practice,"
first year head coach Adam Dorrel said. "I felt like the offensive line lacked
some intensity, but the rest of the team had a good first day. There are some
exciting players helping make this an exciting team."
The Bearcats ran through drills early Thursday morning
in only helmets and will continue doing so into the weekend before adding
shoulder pads on Saturday. Monday will be the first time players will suit up
in full pads a day before beginning two-a-day practices. Northwest will
continue each morning at 9:15 a.m. through the weekend before starting night
practice at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
NOTABLES
Junior running back Billy Creason looked sharp and
injury free in Thursday's first practice. Creason was limp free after two
injuries limited the running back to sparse action in seven games. He worked
primarily with the No. 1 unit splitting time with transfer James Franklin ....
Franklin is cause for Bearcat fans to be excited about the trio that will
line-up in the backfield with senior quarterback Blake Christopher. Franklin is
experienced in the MIAA after earning All-MIAA honors a year ago as a part of
the Nebraska-Omaha backfield. He also got time with the first team on Thursday
and seemed to quickly pick up the new play book and teamed with Creason and
Jordan Simmons could arguably be the best backfield in the league ... speaking of
UNO transfers, John Becklun got split reps with the first and second teams and
looked impressive not only in football knowledge, but stature ... also on the
offensive side transfers Jon Gregg was got reps in at tight end. Gregg
transferred from Monterey Peninsula Junior Colllege where he played tight end,
after starting his college career as a basketball player ... adding to the
receiving corps of Jake Soy was returners Tyler Shaw, John Hinchey, and Kyle
Kilgore. Catching passes that were intentionally thrown his was and wearing No.
3 was Brian Miller a transfer from UNO who will play wide receiver. No. 3 was
previously occupied by corner back Ryan Jones who recently signed an NFL
contract with the Chicago Bears ... the defensive units were a few steps ahead on
the first day winning the competition portion of practice after batting down a
near interception ... a solid morning by the defensive line and linebacker corps
allowed the defensive backs to stand out. A pair of Derrick's in the secondary,
senior captain Derrick Hightower, and transfer Derrick Thomas had solid
practices. Thomas will suit up for his only season at Northwest, as the CB
transferred from Texas A&M-Kingsville, an opponent the Bearcats saw twice
last season ... also in the secondary with another solid practice was UNO transfer
Jerry Key ... several familiar faces were on the turf at Mel Tjeerdsma Field
including Chad Bostwick entering his first season coaching the linebackers and
graduated from Northwest in 2004. Ken Gordon also returns to Northwest to coach
the secondary and special teams after spending two stints at Northwest, one as a
player and one as a graduate assistant ... also returning as a full-time assistant
is Joel Osborn who was a graduate assistant. Shayne Shade was also on the field
as a student assistant coach as well.
