National Power

It’s been a long road to get here. One that has head coach Bernie Anderson never wanting to look back. For the first time in his tenure at his home school, the Wildcats are being recognized. After just a one win season in 2008, his job was on the line.

Now for the first time since it’s existence, the ‘Cats are getting some national recognition in the AFCA Top 25 poll. Despite the success the last two weeks in beating two top ranked teams in division two football, coach Anderson isn’t worried about the rankings at this point of the season.

“It’s still early, we are only half way,” said Anderson “We will look at the rankings at week eight, nine and ten. That’s when it matters to be ranked.”

The Wildcats enter the AFCA poll ranked 23rd, garnering 76 points. Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State, Wayne State, Findlay and Ashland all received votes for this week’s poll. Only Grand Valley State received more votes than NMU. The Lakers, who lost last weekend to the Hillsdale Chargers, drop eight spots in this week’s poll. Abilene Christian now takes over the reigns as the number one country in the world.

In the D2Football.com Media Poll the Wildcats enter the rankings in at the 24th position. Findlay breaks in at number 19 despite not being ranked yet in the 2009 season. Also above the Wildcats in the D2Football.com Media poll is Saginaw Valley State. NMU defeated the Cardinals on the road earlier this season.  Despite getting love in the media poll, the Wildcats are nowhere to be found in the D2 Football Regional Rankings. In super regional 3 four conference foes crack the top ten. Of those four, the Wildcats defeated two of them (SVSU and Wayne State). They have yet to play Hillsdale and Grand Valley State, the two others in the top ten regional rankings.

The Wildcats will take on the Hillsdale Chargers this weekend at the Superior Dome. Hillsdale became the first GLIAC team in 1,813 days to defeat the Lakers of Grand Valley State Last Saturday. They will bring that momentum to the frigid north to face the Wildcats on Saturday.

Tags: AFCA, D2Football.com, NMU Football, Top 25