Missouri Valley ready for climb to the top

Missouri Valley Football Conference media day seemed to focus as much about the end of the upcoming season as the beginning.

Relatively early in the two-hour teleconference Tuesday, Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley was asked about the playoffs in regard to the conference's two clubs that qualified for an expanded field in 2013 – North Dakota State and South Dakota State, also projected as the top two in the conference this year – even though the league was ranked No. 1 in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Farley responded with a spitball that started a lively discussion: Should there be more conference games? Fewer? Could the 10-team conference divide into two five-team divisions in order to produce two champions?

"There's got to be a lot of research done before you can activate any of (the ideas)," he said.

That is, the comments were speculative – there's nothing in the works. In fact, Valley commissioner Patty Viverito said later in the call that, although open to all ideas, she's not sure that reducing the league docket would be beneficial. Rather, she wants to see conference squads play and win more non-conference games against top-25 foes.

"We're not doing a lot of that," she said. "The more challenging part is getting them on our schedules."

Youngstown State is a primary example. Last season, the Penguins became the first team in Valley history to win eight games against NCAA Division I teams and get left out of the postseason. Part of the problem was that YSU – in addition to getting clobbered at home by SDSU in its regular-season finale – beat three FCS non-scholarship programs.

Things don't look much different for the Penguins this year with two FCS non-scholarship foes and one partial-scholarship foe on their docket. Coach Eric Wolford noted that was set up years in advance.

"I know there's enough strength of schedule as far as who we play in conference that should merit a third and fourth team getting in," he said.

University of South Dakota coach Joe Glenn drew a comparison between the Valley and another FCS power league, the Big Sky Conference. He has worked in both, and last year led the Coyotes in close contests against two playoff qualifiers from the Big Sky – Montana and Northern Arizona.

"Both those teams are good football teams," Glenn said, "but they weren't as good as people in our league."

The next opportunity to earn more playoff bids is on the horizon: Teams start reporting for fall camp this week. Based on the league preseason poll that was released Tuesday, NDSU, SDSU and Northern Iowa are the best bets to make postseason pushes – they received all of the first-place votes.

The Bison were dubbed the favorites despite graduating 24 seniors and losing much of their coaching staff to Wyoming. That's what winning three consecutive national championships will do for you.

The Jackrabbits were tabbed second and with eight first-place votes – the most they've ever received. The placing was a nod to their recent history – they've reached the second round of the playoffs two years in a row – and returning senior skill players.

Quarterback Austin Sumner, running back Zach Zenner and receiver Jason Schneider were named preseason first-team all-league to go with previous postseason honors. They're among six SDSU all-Valley selections.

The Jacks had a bit of bad news Tuesday, as coach John Stiegelmeier revealed that returning starters linebacker Charles Elmore and right guard Mike Shoff have had season-ending surgeries to repair lingering injuries.

"I think we're a mature enough team to understand (the poll) doesn't matter at the start – it matters at the end," Stiegelmeier said. "That's what we've always preached."

USD was picked eighth after tying for seventh last season. Yet there's little doubt the Coyotes are better off than they were at this time last year, boasting three preseason all-league picks – including first-team defenders lineman Drew Iddings and linebacker Auston Johnson – and a stable of returning skill players.

That low placement is a testament to the depth and strength of the 30-year-old Valley. But there's no telling if that will be rewarded with additional playoff berths.

"We have playoff-caliber teams that aren't being selected – that's not OK," Viverito said. "I know the coaches are frustrated – rightfully so. We need to do everything we can to help the (selection) committee understand and respect our strength of schedule."

PRESEASON POLL

1. North Dakota St. (24)

Voting points: 370

Last year: 15-0

2. South Dakota St. (8)

Voting points: 330

Last year: 9-5

3. UNI (7)

Voting points: 324

Last year: 7-5

4. Youngstown St.

Voting points: 240

Last year: 8-4

5. Southern Illinois

Voting points: 237

Last year: 7-5

6. Illinois State

Voting points: 197

Last year: 5-6

7. Missouri State

Voting points: 180

Last year: 5-7

8. South Dakota

Voting points: 121

Last year: 4-8

9. Western Illinois

Voting points: 96

Last year: 4-8

10. Indiana State

Voting points: 50

Last year: 1-11