Dynasty In The Making

The University of Northern Iowa will come into the 2009-10 FCS football season as one of the favorites. After last season’s late run into the FCS playoffs with UNI's loss coming to the eventual National Champions, you can’t help but have high expectations for this team. The Panthers of Northern Iowa will start the season off against what should be a top 25 ranked Iowa team. Most Iowa fans feel, as they probably should, that that game on September 5th is going to be a cake walk. However I’m going to pull out a Lee Corso "not so fast" on you. Northern Iowa may be one of those teams that are very quietly becoming a dynasty to be reckoned with. Over the last 7 seasons of Northern Iowa football the panthers have been ranked in the top 25 in the FCS polls, with their most notable season coming back in 2007 when the panthers were ranked #1 in the nation and out played a Big 12 team in Iowa State with a 24-14 victory. The panthers this last year were not as highly thought about as the 2007 team, but ended up one game away from Chattanooga, TN and a FCS national championship. If it weren’t for a late drive and score by Richmond with under a minute left in the game, many people believe this team would have won it all. However going into this season the team won’t look back. There is too much to gain for these Panthers. The Panthers have been ranked as high as 4th in the nation for this upcoming season. That high ranking comes for good reason. The panthers lost only a couple players from their high flying offense from last year. They return there leading receiver in now sophomore Josh Collins. the panthers also bring back WR Maurice Turner and TE's Ryan Mahaffey and Schuylar Oordt who were all big targets to returning QB Patrick Grace. Grace may be sleeper for national player of the year in the FCS this year. Grace has the arm to get the ball to his WR's but also has the ability to run the ball as well. The one major loss for the panthers came at running back. The panthers lost there all time leading rusher in Cory Lewis. Although they lost a great running back the Panthers have some experience and youth at that position. Running back Derrick Law will most likely be the starter for the panthers. Law saw action in every game this year for the panthers and is a big bruising back. Also in the fold at running back are junior Taylor Brookings and highly thought of freshmen Carlos Anderson. This offensive power is why Northern Iowa might have a crack at Iowa in September. Although the offense is looking good for the panthers. there start athlete sits on the other side of the ball. Defensive end James Ruffin is thought to be one of the best players in FCS football. The 6"4 Defensive end weighs in at 265 pounds and runs 4.6-40. after losing some big guys on the D-line including a DT to the NFL, Ruffin will be big for the defense. The panthers secondary will be tested this year as no Starters return to the field. The secondary may be a worry for the Panthers but the linebacker core will not. The panthers may put one of the best linebacker groups on the field this season. Leading the way will be last year’s leading tackler Josh Mahoney. A player to watch out for is Sophomore L.J. Fort, who saw action as a true freshmen at UNI. With this kind of talent you cant help but think maybe the Panthers have a shot at Iowa. If that doesn’t work out for them, They still have their season in the FCS where it looks like they just might have the team to bring it home this year. So dynasty in the making? In the making I would say yes but a true Dynasty, might be too early to tell, However with the schools first National championship coming this year the Panthers will cement them self’s as a FCS dynasty and a school to fear for years to come.