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UNC is ranked in the top 25 of I-AA in their first year of playing at the higher level. This speaks well for our decision to move up and be competitive. 
http://www.greeleytrib.com/apps/pbcs...FuHaZxOVHSptFq
UNC football team ranked in Division I-AA
Story by Sam Mustari
The University of Northern Colorado football team has cracked the Sports Network’s Top 25 poll for the first time in school history.
In their first year of competing in Division I-AA, the Bears were a bit unsure how they’d stack up to start the season. After a 7-2 record with their second victory over a Division I-AA opponent — 29-25 Saturday at Southern Utah University — the Bears are ranked No. 22 in this week’s poll. The Bears also beat Division I-AA Montana State University, 14-10 last month.
NCAA rules don’t allow the Bears to qualify for the postseason during their four-year transition period to Division I-AA, but the committee that decides the rankings considers Division I-AA Independent schools.
“We’re just out there having fun and showing our fans and everybody else that we can play at this level and belong at this level,” wide receiver Vincent Jackson said after a relatively easy victory over Minnesota State, Mankato.
Adam Matthews, the school’s all-time leading rusher, was more blunt after a loss to Idaho State University when he said: “People were saying that we couldn’t keep up with their speed, and we did. People were saying we wouldn’t be able to consistently play at this level, and I think you can see that we will.
“We’re every bit as good as teams at the Division I-AA level, and I think we’re starting to show it.”
Against Division I-AA opponents, the Bears are 2-2, losing to Idaho State University and Florida Atlantic University by a total of 11 points. Their victories have come on the road over Southern Utah University and nationally ranked Montana State.
“I’ve said it all along that we have a bunch of Division II players who are competing at the Division I-AA level,” UNC head coach Kay Dalton said after the Bears’ loss to Idaho State. “They can compete at this level pretty well.”
Idaho State dropped out of the Top 25 this week after Montana State slipped from the poll a week ago.
Joining the Bears in their first week in the poll are Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Jacksonville State (Ala). Northeastern University (Ma.), Georgia Southern and Furman (S.C.)
The Bears will play their final home game of the season at noon on Saturday against Division II North Central Conference foe Augustana College before finishing the season Nov. 22 at California-Davis.
• SECOND NIGHT GAME: Saturday’s game with Southern Utah University was the Bears’ second night game of the season. UNC played under the lights against Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. The second half of their Oct. 18 game at Florida Atlantic University was played under the lights in the gloam.
• ON THE BUS AGAIN: Just like the Montana State game, in which UNC’s team traveled by bus, the Bears left Cedar City, Utah, via bus immediately after Saturday night’s game, and arrived in Greeley about 10 hours later.
The Bears split the bus ride out to Cedar City, traveling to Grand Junction on Thursday, and then departed for Cedar City on Friday morning, arriving at 4 p.m. Friday for a walkthough workout.
The difference between the two bus trips was that the Bears had a bye week after their 14-10 victory over Montana State. The bus trips are results of athletic department budget cuts this season. The Bears last road game will be Nov. 22, at Calfifornia-Davis, in which they will fly commercially into Sacramento, Calif.
• TORCHED UP: SUU’s Eccles Stadium is one of two football stadiums in the world sporting the Olympic Rings and Olympic Cauldron Torch inside the stadium. The other venue which features both is the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Southern Utah’s Olympic Cauldron was donated by DCU Incorporated of Utah, and was lit by the Olympic Torch Feb. 5. 2002 during the Olympic Torch Relay on its way to Salt Lake City for the Winter Olympics.
• CONFERENCE CONNECTION: Like the Bears, Southern Utah is an independent member competing in Division I-AA in football. The Eagles are a member of the Division I MId-Continent Conference in all other sports except gymnastics, which competes in the Western Gymnastics Conference. UNC has explored interest in joining the MId-Continent Conference after completing its four-year transition period to Division I for all sports expect football, which is not offered by the Mid-Continent Conference.
There have been preliminary talks of forming a Division I-AA football conference which could include UNC, Southern Utah, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, St. Mary’s (Calif.) and California-Daivs.
• NEARING THE END: The Bears will return home and play host to former North Central Conference colleague Augustana College on Saturday at noon at Nottingham Field in their final home game of the season. Their season finale will be at 2 p.m., Nov. 22 at California-Davis.
Go Blue!
http://www.greeleytrib.com/apps/pbcs...FuHaZxOVHSptFq
UNC football team ranked in Division I-AA
Story by Sam Mustari
The University of Northern Colorado football team has cracked the Sports Network’s Top 25 poll for the first time in school history.
In their first year of competing in Division I-AA, the Bears were a bit unsure how they’d stack up to start the season. After a 7-2 record with their second victory over a Division I-AA opponent — 29-25 Saturday at Southern Utah University — the Bears are ranked No. 22 in this week’s poll. The Bears also beat Division I-AA Montana State University, 14-10 last month.
NCAA rules don’t allow the Bears to qualify for the postseason during their four-year transition period to Division I-AA, but the committee that decides the rankings considers Division I-AA Independent schools.
“We’re just out there having fun and showing our fans and everybody else that we can play at this level and belong at this level,” wide receiver Vincent Jackson said after a relatively easy victory over Minnesota State, Mankato.
Adam Matthews, the school’s all-time leading rusher, was more blunt after a loss to Idaho State University when he said: “People were saying that we couldn’t keep up with their speed, and we did. People were saying we wouldn’t be able to consistently play at this level, and I think you can see that we will.
“We’re every bit as good as teams at the Division I-AA level, and I think we’re starting to show it.”
Against Division I-AA opponents, the Bears are 2-2, losing to Idaho State University and Florida Atlantic University by a total of 11 points. Their victories have come on the road over Southern Utah University and nationally ranked Montana State.
“I’ve said it all along that we have a bunch of Division II players who are competing at the Division I-AA level,” UNC head coach Kay Dalton said after the Bears’ loss to Idaho State. “They can compete at this level pretty well.”
Idaho State dropped out of the Top 25 this week after Montana State slipped from the poll a week ago.
Joining the Bears in their first week in the poll are Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Jacksonville State (Ala). Northeastern University (Ma.), Georgia Southern and Furman (S.C.)
The Bears will play their final home game of the season at noon on Saturday against Division II North Central Conference foe Augustana College before finishing the season Nov. 22 at California-Davis.
• SECOND NIGHT GAME: Saturday’s game with Southern Utah University was the Bears’ second night game of the season. UNC played under the lights against Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. The second half of their Oct. 18 game at Florida Atlantic University was played under the lights in the gloam.
• ON THE BUS AGAIN: Just like the Montana State game, in which UNC’s team traveled by bus, the Bears left Cedar City, Utah, via bus immediately after Saturday night’s game, and arrived in Greeley about 10 hours later.
The Bears split the bus ride out to Cedar City, traveling to Grand Junction on Thursday, and then departed for Cedar City on Friday morning, arriving at 4 p.m. Friday for a walkthough workout.
The difference between the two bus trips was that the Bears had a bye week after their 14-10 victory over Montana State. The bus trips are results of athletic department budget cuts this season. The Bears last road game will be Nov. 22, at Calfifornia-Davis, in which they will fly commercially into Sacramento, Calif.
• TORCHED UP: SUU’s Eccles Stadium is one of two football stadiums in the world sporting the Olympic Rings and Olympic Cauldron Torch inside the stadium. The other venue which features both is the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Southern Utah’s Olympic Cauldron was donated by DCU Incorporated of Utah, and was lit by the Olympic Torch Feb. 5. 2002 during the Olympic Torch Relay on its way to Salt Lake City for the Winter Olympics.
• CONFERENCE CONNECTION: Like the Bears, Southern Utah is an independent member competing in Division I-AA in football. The Eagles are a member of the Division I MId-Continent Conference in all other sports except gymnastics, which competes in the Western Gymnastics Conference. UNC has explored interest in joining the MId-Continent Conference after completing its four-year transition period to Division I for all sports expect football, which is not offered by the Mid-Continent Conference.
There have been preliminary talks of forming a Division I-AA football conference which could include UNC, Southern Utah, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, St. Mary’s (Calif.) and California-Daivs.
• NEARING THE END: The Bears will return home and play host to former North Central Conference colleague Augustana College on Saturday at noon at Nottingham Field in their final home game of the season. Their season finale will be at 2 p.m., Nov. 22 at California-Davis.
Go Blue!
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