1999-2007 Around the West columns

November 13, 2007 Flannery showing he can with cancer For those of you impressed by Bethel freshman running back Logan Flannery scoring the winning touchdown in the MIAC championship game against St. John’s -- contain your amazement. You will need it for when you hear about what he overcame to even be in a position to play.

November 6, 2007 Outsiders look at three title games It’s Show Me Saturday in the West Region as six teams battle to show why they should be in the post season. Three teams will go for sure -- a couple others with have to wait on the selection committee.

October 30, 2007 Cal Lu surging despite offseason turmoil Cal Lutheran head coach Ben McEnroe has found success in an unorthodox way. He lost his starting All-SCIAC quarterback, who took a majority of the snaps in spring practice, to UW-Whitewater via transfer; he opened the season being outscored 62-24 in back-to-back losses and he has lost seven kids along the way to season-ending injuries.

September 18, 2007 Mustache men try to revive Lutes When Pacific Lutheran head coach Scott Westering opened camp this fall 19 seniors showed up with heart, determination and ... neatly trimmed mustaches.

October 11, 2005 The day Northwestern did a double dip No matter your thoughts, the one point that can’t be disputed is that it was one long day of football for Northwestern. From the early hours of Saturday morning until the final pair of twice-worn game pants was deposited into the laundry bin late Saturday night, every Eagles player and coach had a day to remember.

October 12, 2004 Bethel still 0-for-Collegeville While Bethel has improved mightily from its 1-25 run from 1986-1988, the Royals have never been able to solve the hex that is Clemens Stadium.

October 5, 2004 Elliott rolls in first taste of rivalry The new guy crashed the party. Linfield used transfer quarterback Brett Elliott's second consecutive 400-yard, five-touchdown performance to defeat Pacific Lutheran 40-21 in front of a Homecoming crowd of 4,200.

November 11, 2003 This one's for John Hollywood couldn't have scripted Nov. 8, 2003, in Collegeville any better. Two undefeated teams; Conference championship and automatic playoff berth on the line; record St. John's crowd of 13,107; huge plays on both sides of the ball from both teams; and a little record being chased known simply as 4-0-9.

October 14, 2003 World changes but Gagliardi keeps winning The number 409 has been muttered in football circles from coast to coast this season as St. John’s head coach John Gagliardi closes in on the all-time wins record for all levels of college football.