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If you haven't seen the Texas A&M-Commerce ALS Ice Bucket Challenge yet, click
HERE and check it out. Not only did they raise $1,000, it's probably the best one we've seen yet.
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and in one of the worst kept secrets in recent memory...
Caleb Slinkard, Greenville Herald Banner
COMMERCE — A Lions offense that scored 35 points per game last year will be even more potent in 2014, thanks to the addition of Division I transfer Joe Bergeron.
The former University of Texas running back will undoubtedly be the featured back on a Texas A&M University-Commerce football team that is looking to improve on last year’s breakout season. He said the team chemistry and quality coaching staff were the main reasons behind his decision to transfer to A&M-Commerce.
(for complete story, click headline)
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Northwest Missouri State Opens 2014 Season at No. 1
Northwest Missouri State, fresh off of their fourth Division II title in 2013, opens up 2014 as the preseason favorite to win the national championship. This is the third time since the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll started in 2000 that the Bearcats have begun the season ranked No. 1. Grand Valley State (Mich.) comes in at No. 2, followed by Minnesota-Duluth, Colorado State-Pueblo and North Alabama rounding out the Top 5.
There will be four Top 25 matchups in the first week of action, highlighted by No. 2 Grand Valley State traveling to No. 22 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) and No. 4 Colorado State-Pueblo hosting No. 11 West Texas A&M. The last two Top 25 matchups have No. 7 Minnesota State-Mankato hosting No. 15 St. Cloud State (Minn.) and No. 21 North Carolina-Pembroke traveling to No. 14 Winston-Salem State (N.C.).
2014 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll – August 18, 2014
| Rank | School (1st votes) | 2013 Rec. | Pts. | Prev.* | Season Opener | Head Coach |
|---|
| 1. | Northwest Missouri St. (31) | 15-0 | 799 | 1 | Sept. 4 vs. Nebraska-Kearney | Adam Dorrel |
| 2. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 12-3 | 725 | 3 | Sept. 4 at No. 22 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | Matt Mitchell |
| 3. | Minnesota-Duluth | 11-2 | 634 | 8 | Sept. 6 vs. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) | Curt Wiese |
| 4. | Colorado St.-Pueblo | 11-1 | 619 | 7 | Sept. 4 vs. No. 11 West Texas A&M | John Wristen |
| 5. | North Alabama | 10-3 | 589 | 10 | Sept. 13 at Mississippi College | Bobby Wallace |
| 6. | Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) | 13-2 | 538 | 2 | Sept. 6 vs. Point (Ga.) | Ian Shields |
| 7. | Minnesota St.-Mankato | 11-1 | 530 | 6 | Sept. 4 vs. No. 15 St. Cloud State (Minn.) | Todd Hoffner |
| 8. | Henderson St. (Ark.) (1) | 11-1 | 523 | 13 | Sept. 6 at Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | Scott Maxfield |
| 9. | Pittsburg St. (Kan.) | 10-2 | 522 | 19 | Sept. 6 vs. Northeastern St. (Okla.) | Tim Beck |
| 10. | West Chester (Pa.) | 13-2 | 477 | 4 | Sept. 6 at New Haven (Conn.) | Bill Zwaan |
| 11. | West Texas A&M | 11-3 | 407 | 11 | Sept. 4 at No. 4 Colorado St.-Pueblo | Mike Nesbitt |
| 12. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 11-1 | 393 | 9 | Sept. 6 at West Liberty (W.Va.) | Monte Cater |
| 13. | Ohio Dominican | 10-1 | 390 | 12 | Sept. 6 vs. Malone (Ohio) | Bill Conley |
| 14. | Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) | 10-2 | 389 | 14 | Sept. 6 vs. No. 21 North Carolina-Pembroke | Kienus Boulware |
| 15. | St. Cloud State (Minn.) | 12-2 | 350 | 5 | Sept. 4 at No. 7 Minnesota St.-Mankato | Scott Underwood |
| 16. | Carson-Newman (Tenn.) | 10-3 | 333 | 17 | Sept. 4 vs. Edinboro (Pa.) | Ken Sparks |
| 17. | Tarleton St. (Texas) | 7-3 | 266 | NR | Sept. 13 at No. 11 West Texas A&M | Cary Fowler |
| 18. | Indianapolis (Ind.) | 10-2 | 229 | 18 | Sept. 6 at Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.) | Bob Bartolomeo |
| 19. | Delta St. (Miss.) | 7-3 | 206 | NR | Sept. 6 at Fort Valley St. (Ga.) | Todd Cooley |
| 20. | Indiana (Pa.) | 9-2 | 167 | 24 | Sept. 6 vs. St. Augustine’s (N.C.) | Curt Cignetti |
| 21. | North Carolina-Pembroke | 9-2 | 140 | 15 | Sept. 6 at No. 14 Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) | Shane Richardson |
| 22t. | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | 10-2 | 133 | NR | Sept. 4 vs. No. 2 Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | Victor Santa Cruz |
| 22t. | Emporia St. (Kan.) | 9-2 | 133 | 20 | Sept. 4 vs. Missouri Southern St. | Garin Higgins |
| 24. | Bloomsburg (Pa.) | 10-2 | 103 | 16 | Sept. 6 at Stonehill (Mass.) | Paul Darragh |
| 25. | Tuskegee (Ala.) | 8-3 | 98 | 25 | Sept. 6 vs. Alabama A&M | Willie Slater |
*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2013
Others Receiving Votes: Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 87; Central Missouri, 82; West Alabama, 67; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 59; American International (Mass.), 51; Ferris St. (Mich.), 41; California (Pa.), 38; Missouri Western St., 38; Albany St. (Ga.), 32; Midwestern St. (Texas), 31; Harding (Ark.), 27; Colorado School of Mines, 20; Newberry (S.C.), 20; Concord (W.Va.), 19; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 19; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 13; Eastern New Mexico, 12; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 9; Winona St. (Minn.), 9; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 7; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 7; Truman St. (Mo.), 5; Findlay (Ohio), 3; Miles (Ala.), 3; Chadron St. (Neb.), 2; Michigan Tech, 2; Washburn (Kan.), 2; West Georgia, 2.
