Friday, September 19, 2008

Friday night update

Just wanted to check in with two big items before a busy day on Saturday.

I didn't want you to think I was forgetting to preview this weekend's football game at Dana, but I was working on a new feature for the football Web site, so I wanted to wait until that was up and running before I plugged it.

Each week I put together a DWU Football Gameday preview for the media to use in preparation for each game, and I wanted to make those available to everyone on the Web site. Our Web guru, Dave VerSteeg, has put a new graphic on the Tiger Football home page, and if you click on it, it will bring up the most recent Gameday preview. Click here to see the new feature. The document includes a look ahead at Saturday's game, complete two-deep rosters for each team, complete DWU stats and both team and individual stat comparisons with the opponent, news and notes, GPAC schedules, standings and results, and a look at the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll (which notably features the Tigers this week under "Also Receiving Votes").

Also, Dave will be adding a link for each preview to the schedule page (click here) so you can go back and look at all of them at any point during the season.

So for my take on tomorrow's big game at Dana, check out the new Gameday preview feature on our site, or click here to read my official release on the game. I really don't have any additional analysis other than what's in those two pieces, other than the Tigers have to approach this game with the same gusto as their home opener a week ago. Dana is coming off a 70-0 thrashing from Sioux Falls, so if DWU can get them down early, they might go in the tank again. This will be a good test for the Tiger secondary. Dana's QB, four-year starter Marcus Sladek, is one of the GPAC's most experienced signal callers, so DWU will need to bring some heat and blanket the Vikings' wideouts. Also, if Tiger junior QB Jon Doom (three-year starter) outplays Sladek, it will really tip the scales in DWU's favor. Look for the Tigers to also try to establish the run more than they have in either game thus far, largely due to the fact that Dana gave up over 350 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground last week. A little balance will go a long way...

DWU, Baseley win again

The Tiger women are victorious again after obliterating the field at the Briar Cliff Invite this week. DWU beat the runner up -- NCAA D1 South Dakota -- by 44 shots (658-702) this time for another convincing win.

DWU junior Kelli Baseley won medalist honors for the fourth time this season with a 154, and teammates Danielle Bellet (2nd, 160) and Carly Hayes (4th, 167) joined her in the top five. Click here to read my release, and click here to see the complete results.

This blog is barely a week old, and I feel like I've already written this a million times, but it's really amazing what Adam Anderson's teams are accomplishing this season. And next week I'll be doing some research to see if any DWU golfer has put together the kind of season Kelli Baseley is having. She's the Tiger Woods of small-college women's golf in the tri-state area, except without the knee problems.

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