2007 Around the Mid-Atlantic columns

November 13, 2007 Can our four stay afloat? I suppose it’s appropriate to put them to rest -- our expectations, that is. Because from here to Salem, our notions of how games should play out are going to be just as challenged as they were in the regular season.

November 6, 2007 The re-building blocks of success For some, creating a competitive and championship team means starting from scratch and letting the coach assemble the pieces as he sees fit. For others, it’s more about taking what’s there and twisting it into something more efficient, something more positive.

October 30, 2007 Mules' defense slowed but not topped Muhlenberg has relied on its defense all season to stave off tough opponents and to keep many more from even coming close. But Dickinson found the cracks in the Mules’ hide and hung 24 points on the home team at Scotty Wood Stadium. As was the case, that wasn’t enough.

October 23, 2007 Bison brothers have competitive spirit Most players will tell you that teammates treat one another like brothers -- close-knit, supportive and defined by common experience. The concept of this football family, though, takes on a different -- more traditional -- form for Robin and Shawn Shannon, two biological brothers who spend their Saturdays together in helmets, pads and Gallaudet jerseys.

October 16, 2007 Special needs fosters a special friendship Shan Fairbanks had some big shoes to fill on the Averett team this season, but the junior quarterback has long known what it means to be in a big role.

October 9, 2007 Strength of spirit "I knew something was wrong." That thought pulsed through the King's defender after the tackle. The game was only a scrimmage, and before the season started, it seemed to have already slipped away.

October 2, 2007 Backs in the saddle When Hampden-Sydney and Bridgewater line up opposite each other, people don’t expect to spend the next three hours sitting relaxed and comfortable in their seats. It’s intense. And with the Tigers winning for the first time in almost a decade, emotions on both sides ran thick.

September 25, 2007 Laying the foundation of a series It had a championship venue, two defending conference championship teams and a handful of championship-caliber performances. Yet none of those stood taller than the championship cause.

September 18, 2007 Three games in 30 hours: A regional hat trick People who have spent years roaming the Division III landscape often can say that they have pretty much seen it all. But few people can say they've tried to see it all in just one weekend, which is what I set out to do.

September 11, 2007 Taking pride in opening victory The tricky thing about hype is that you're expected to live up to it. And N.C. Wesleyan and Widener met for the first time Saturday each with their own baggage of high aspirations.

September 4, 2007 Slaying the beast It took the sharp hands of a defensive back, the breakout abilities of a wideout and the leadership of a returning starting quarterback for Christopher Newport to break the curse that had plagued the team on opening day for six years. From 2001 to 2006, CNU lost its first game of the season. This year, however, was different -- in so many ways.

August 27, 2007 Games to watch for 2007 It's hard not to already imagine the smell of the grill in the parking lot or the sound of pads popping against each other on the field. I'd even venture a guess that these things have been on your minds for weeks now -- maybe even months. Soon enough though, the countdown to opening day will be down to mere hours.