No need to panic
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The most unlikely member of this dubious group is 2004 National Champion Linfield.
The team that has defined consistency, with an NCAA record 50 straight winning seasons has dropped two straight for the first time since losing to Southern Oregon and Pacific Lutheran early in the 2001 season. The Wildcats only lost three games from 2002-2005 so two straight to open the 2006 campaign has some prognosticators scratching their heads.
Is the streak over? Are the playoffs unattainable? Has the talent pool dried up?
Everyone knew the Wildcats had to replace several graduating players -- including five All-Americans and the 2005 D3football.com Offensive Player of the Year, Brett Elliott, who spent August in the San Diego Chargers training camp attempting to make a living throwing passes.
However, it was the departure of 2004 Division III Coach of the Year Jay Locey to Oregon State that really rocked McMinnville.
Locey's resume includes an 84-18 record, six consecutive NWC titles, five trips to the NCAA playoffs and the 2004 national championship. The fact that he was offered the assistant head coach position under his friend, Mike Riley, at Oregon State, his alma mater was an offer he couldn't refuse.
Locey announced his resignation from Linfield on June 14. Days later defensive coordinator Joe Smith was promoted to head coach and a new era was underway for the Wildcats.
The era started with a similar feel when the NWC coaches picked Linfield to win, or seven-peat, as NWC conference champion. To live up to the hype, Smith knew he had several tasks to accomplish.
His first task was putting together his coaching staf. After that he had to assess the remaining talent after the graduation of some of the biggest names in the program's history in Elliott, Allen, Ort, Olson and Lucey. Part of this evaluation was finding a starting quarterback that wouldn't try to be the next Elliott, but rather the first "fill in the blank."
Senior Tim Benzel and junior Trevor Scharer battled it out in preseason to replace Elliott and Benzel was named starter. Smith knew he had a younger team on his hands so he decided they would rely on a number of players at different positions instead of the star-packed lineup of the last two years.
"We're a little young and inexperienced," Smith said. "It may take us a little while to get to the level of execution that we're used to here."
Linfield didn't have the good fortune of opening with an opponent like Menlo or Lewis and Clark to work the kinks out. Instead, they dove right in with the sharks. They opened the season with Division II Western Oregon and No. 7 Hardin-Simmons -- two of the toughest teams they'll face all year barring a post season run.
For those in attendance, this Wildcats team definitely had a different feel.
They lost to Western Oregon 28-14 for their first regular season defeat since 2001. They totaled only 226 yards of total offense and just 53 yards rushing on 28 attempts. While this was a formidable Division II opponent, Linfield fans couldn't help but remember the Wildcats dismantling of them 107-24 over the two previous years.
The Wildcats traveled to Hardin-Simmons, hoping to iron out some issues on offense and sneak away with a victory. Linfield was unable to claim victory but their offense was beginning to look a lot like yester-year. They tallied 382 yards and more first downs (21-20) than the Cowboys but came up short 21-6.
"We've obviously played two very good football teams," said Smith. "We saw a ton of improvement from Week 1 to Week 2,"
With a week off to prepare for Willamette the Wildcats should be ready to go for the NWC schedule. While they are in unfamiliar territory, there is no need to hit the panic button.
Need proof the Wildcats shouldn't panic? In 2001, St. John's opened the season with two losses. Their third loss didn't come until the semifinals of the NCAA playoffs to Mount Union who went on to win the Stagg Bowl.
If the Wildcats can make it back to the semifinals as they did in 2005, Smith will be considered a genius and no one will remember a short two-game skid to open the season.
Welcome back
The Dutch held a welcome home party on Saturday for two of their star players who had been sidelined with illness and injury. After being injured in Week 1 and missing Week 2, 2005 IIAC MVP Vance Schuring rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the 24-3 victory over Buena Vista. He fueled Central's most productive first half of the young season as the Dutch took a 21-3 lead at the break. Central had generated just six first-half points in the previous two games.
The Dutch also saw another all-conference performer return to the field as cornerback Brett Doud made his first appearance of the season after missing action because of illness. Doud had an interception, two pass breakups and three tackles.
Alma crashes block party
Despite a UW-Eau Claire defense that had two blocked punts, a blocked field goal and a blocked PAT, Alma managed to score 33 points for their first win of 2006.
Knight train
Carleton quarterback Darren Caspers threw a career-high five touchdown passes and the Carleton offense rolled up 494 yards of total offense in beating Macalester 52-0.
The win pushed the Knights to a 2-0 start for the first time since 1997 and the shutout was Carleton's first in 10 years, when the Knights shut out the Scots on Sept. 14, 1996. The win allowed Carleton to maintain possession of the Book of Knowledge for the fourth straight year. The trophy symbolizes the rivalry between the two highest ranked academic institutions in Minnesota.
Dry spell
Buena Vista has scored a total of three points over the first two games. It is the lowest point total over two games for the program since being shut out by Central and Luther in back-to-back games in 1971.
What a difference a year makes
Last season at this time, Concordia had scored 60 points through two games, were 2-0 and their quarterback, Brian Schumacher, was on his way to back-to-back MVP recognition. This season the Cobbers have managed just 14 points, are 0-2 and their replacement at quarterback, Eric Rodel, has thrown three interceptions in his first two games. Schumacher never threw three interceptions in a game over the last two years.
One-liners
• St. John's scored on its first eight possessions in racking up 573 yards of total offense and a 60-0 victory over Augsburg.
• Pacific Lutheran has opened the season with two losses for two straight years.
• Redlands had six passes intercepted including one returned for a touchdown in a 35-10 loss to Trinity (Texas).
• Augsburg blocked three Johnnie extra points.
• St. Thomas joined the 500-win club with a 21-7 victory against Gustavus.
• Chapman finally opened their 2006 campaign with a 27-24 loss to Menlo.
• St. Thomas has 14 interceptions in their last six games.
• James Bechdol led the Ole defense with seven tackles, a blocked punt, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and 1.5 sacks.
• UW-Stout linebacker Luke Steffen picked off a pass and lumbered 94 yards for a touchdown.
• Northwestern created six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles) in beating Rockford 21-14 in overtime.
Games to watch
No. 4 St. John's at Concordia Moorhead, 1 p.m., Moorhead, Minn.: This game has decided the MIAC championship the last two seasons. Last year, it took a Hail Mary with 17 seconds left to Johnnie wide receiver Kyle Gearman for St. John's to escape with a victory. This year the teams enter the game going in opposite directions. With the history surrounding this game, the records won't matter. Look for it to be a defensive battle but the Johnnies should claim the victory by 10-14 points.
No. 17 Whitworth at UW-Stout, 1 p.m., Menomonie, Wis.: The NWC and WIAC have seemed to make a concerted effort to play each other and this should make for another classic match-up. Both teams enter at 2-0 and both bring high-powered offenses to the table. Look for Whitworth's Joel Clark to put on an offensive show both on the ground and through the air. The winner of this game claims a bundle of momentum heading into their conference season.