MVFC loaded once again

Welcome to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, Mr. Nielson. Don't blink or flinch.

Bob Nielson, a 1978 Linn-Mar graduate who led Minnesota-Duluth to a pair of NCAA Division II championships, is about to embark on his first season at Western Illinois, taking over a proud Leatherneck program that hasn't been to the FCS playoffs since 2010.

And he'll have to rebuild in a league that boasts some of the best teams in the country, including two-time defending national champion North Dakota State and perennial power Northern Iowa.

"Now we're balanced ... with a lot of great teams," UNI Coach Mark Farley said Monday during an MVFC teleconference. "You look at the top of our league and you're looking at Top 10 teams.

"The power of the league is very, very good."

Nielson, named WIU coach in December, knows the Missouri Valley well. He said you can't be from the Midwest and not know the MVFC. He also knows all about winning. His two national championship teams were 15-0 and his 20-year record in Division II and III is 170-59-1.

The level changes, but not the coach.

"Coaching is coaching," said Nielson, who coached Wartburg to a 39-14 record and two NCAA III playoff appearances in five seasons. "I can't change who I am."

The Bison are tabbed to win the MVFC again this year in a league poll released today. Winners of 28 of its last 30 games, NDSU was a unanimous pick.

South Dakota State finished second in the poll and UNI third. Western Illinois is picked ninth, ahead of only South Dakota.

UNI has some work to do itself after last year's 5-6 campaign. Only two Panthers - running back David Johnson and offensive lineman Dan Kruger - were picked the preseason all-conference team. Four others were honorable mention.

"We have to define ourselves, what's important to UNI, and get those players on the football field," Farley said.

The Panthers will build their offense around Johnson and sophomore quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen. Johnson rushed for 1,021 yards and 13 touchdowns last year and Kollmorgen, the MVFC Newcomer and Freshman of the Year, averaged 228.4 yards per game and had a 141.88 rating.

"It's nice to know Kollmorgen and Johnson are in the backfield," Farley said. "But it's what you do with the other group on the field with them" that matters.

He wants opponents to have to "defend the field, not the personnel."

"We have to find some guys to step up (on the offensive line) ... and we have to do a better job at tight end," Farley said.

The key to defensive success is the cornerbacks.

"We'll be very similar to the past along the front and at linebacker," he said. "What we run on defense will be based on how good our corners are."

The Panthers open the season Aug. 31 at Iowa State.