Fresh coach, minimal expectations for the Bluejays
Bluejays tabbed fifth in KCAC preseason poll; Friends tabbed favorite
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
For years, legendary Bluejay football coaches Tim McCarty and Mike Gardner were moving targets, leading Tabor to three straight KCAC football titles.
The hunt died down some last season after Gardner departed, passing the torch to Robert Rubel.
A controversial season filled with dissension among players and coaches both on and off the field lead to Rubel's contract not being renewed, despite a 6-4 finish.
Tabor reeled in a big one in February when former Bluejay quarterback Mike Gottsch decided to return to his alma mater. Luckily, Gottsch won't have the bullseye on him that McCarty and Gardner had.
Tabor was tabbed to finish in the middle of the pack out of the 10 teams by both the coaches and the media Friday at the KCAC media luncheon held at the Salina Country Club.
Friends was the only team in college football to pick up a victory during the off-season, after their 35-0 first-round loss to Bethel (Tenn.) in the playoffs was reversed after Bethel was forced to forfeit due to the use of an ineligible player.
Monty Lewis' Falcons were the odds-on preseason favorite to capture the league title. Kansas Wesleyan barely missed the playoffs a year ago, but the Coyotes were selected in both polls as the runner-up.
The Bethel Threshers finished 2006 in a two-way tie for first with the Falcons at 8-1 in conference play, and 9-2 on the season not counting the forfeit. The Threshers were projected third with the Sterling Warriors one spot behind.
In the media poll, the McPherson Bulldogs were picked sixth with the Ottawa Braves coming in at seventh, while the two were reversed in the coaches' poll. Ottawa finished the year last at 1-9 overall, and 1-8 in league play.
Both polls were the same at the bottom, rounding out the final 10 with Southwestern, St. Mary, and Bethany filling the final three spots, respectively.
The Gottsch era kicks off Sept. 1 when Tabor hosts McPherson for a scrimmage. The Bluejays officially open the season a week later, hosting Ottawa for a 7 p.m. start.
