College Football: Daniels, Wesleyan “Right on Track”:
As M.D. Daniels enters his first full season with Iowa Wesleyan, he believes the program he took over two years ago is “right on track.”
The Tigers take the field for the first fall season under Daniels on Saturday against St. Ambrose and Daniels says the plan has worked out in terms of the benchmarks he set forth two years ago.
“Our plan, I really believe we are right on track. We are hitting all the numbers. Academically, our team GPA is right there, numbers and retaining players and all of those things are going phenomenally.”
Still, coming into this year, expectations, Daniels says, are higher.
The Tigers brought in a handful of talented freshman and sought out experience on the transfer market which he believes will help Wesleyan compete on Saturday’s.
“Our schedule, it’s tough. Hopefully it will get us ready for our first year in the North Star.”
Wesleyan’s game can be heard on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Prep Football: Striegel Not Focusing on Wins, Losses This Year:
The Mount Pleasant football team is not putting pressure on wins and losses this year, per head coach Shawn Striegel.
Instead, the veteran head coach is aiming for creating a culture of togetherness.
The Panthers, who graduated several stalwarts from team’s of years past, will open the season Friday night at home against Fairfield with one goal in mind “play together.”
“If you put too much expectation on winning, I think that you fail. Even when you win you fail. My big focus is doing things together. It’s something that we started doing a while ago. Being a team, fighting for each other and being selfless, those are more important” Striegel told KILJ.
Striegel believes if his team can do that, they’ll be able to compete with anyone in a crowded — and new — 4A District.
They’ll turn the offensive keys over to incumbent senior Carson Coleman, who started one game last year at Fort Madison.
Coleman brings confidence, toughness and tenacity to the quarterback position.
“He believes in the team and he believes in the team more than himself and that works perfectly for his confidence. He demands that we all hold each other accountable and he’ll do the same for himself” said Striegel of Coleman.
Friday’s game will kick at 7:30 p.m., the Panther Tailgate Show will start at 7:00 p.m.
Mount Pleasant Schedule:
Friday, August 27th — Mount Pleasant vs. Fairfield (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
Friday, September 3rd — Mount Pleasant at Washington (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
Friday, September 10th — Mount Pleasant vs. Keokuk (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
Friday, September 17th — Mount Pleasant at West Burlington Notre Dame (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
Friday, September 24th — Mount Pleasant vs. Fort Madison (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
Friday, October 1st — Mount Pleasant at Iowa City Liberty (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
Friday, October 8th — Mount Pleasant at Burlington (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
Friday, October 15th — Mount Pleasant vs. Clinton (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
Friday, October 22nd — Mount Pleasant vs. North Scott (7:00 p.m. air, 7:30 p.m. kick) KILJ
College XC: Wesleyan Picked Third, Fourth Respectively:
The Iowa Wesleyan Tiger men’s and women’s cross country teams have been picked to finish third and fourth in their respective leagues this year.
Both clubs will compete in the Continental Athletic Conference under head coach Hunter Davis.
Florida College was given the top spot in both the men’s and women’s rankings.
Iowa Wesleyan will open up their 2021 season at the Luther All-American Invitational, hosted by Luther College.
The men’s race will begin at noon, while the women will race at 11:30, in Decorah, Iowa.
College Sports: Big Ten, PAC-12, ACC Agree on Alliance:
In news that will surely rock the college sports landscape, the Big Ten announced an alliance yesterday with the ACC and PAC-12.
All 41 institutions between the three leagues agreed in unanimous decision.
The alliance formed will mean the three conferences will be committed to a “collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling.”