2015 Around the Midwest columns

November 17, 2015 Doing their homework on the fly Even for programs with deep playoff histories, each new tournament brings new excitement and challenges. Coaches found out who their next opponent would be and got to work on Sunday night, in the hopes of that they can do the same thing next week. More in Around the Midwest.

November 10, 2015 New look, same rivalry Rookie head coaches will be on both sidelines, but the opponents in the Midwest Conference championship game are far from strangers. St. Norbert and Monmouth will once again meet for the right to represent the MWC in the playoffs.

November 3, 2015 Lakeland is ready to turn the corner The Muskies lost their last head coach, who left to coordinate the offense at Benedictine. This season, Lakeland can avenge 2014's late-season defeat at the hands of the Eagles that kept the Muskies out of the playoffs. A revamped offense has the Muskies rolling. More in Around the Midwest.

October 27, 2015 Monmouth is on the right track Since a heartbreaking loss and a heart-stopping comeback win, the Fighting Scots have been cruising. Freshman defensive end Thomas Lesniewski has been nearly unstoppable. He and quarterback Tanner Matlick have Monmouth on track for another MWC championship game berth.

October 20, 2015 Franklin is in a familiar position If ever there were a year to break the Grizzlies' streak of HCAC dominance, many thought this would be it. But, Franklin sophomore quarterback Chase Burton quickly rebounded from a tough start and the offense is clicking heading into Saturday's showdown at Rose-Hulman.

October 13, 2015 Wheaton is winning with balance The Thunder don't have any player with eye-popping statistics on either side of the ball. What the Thunder do have are several talented and experienced players who expect to win.

October 5, 2015 St. Norbert doing more with less The Green Knights don't beat up on each other much during the week. They save that energy for Saturdays. A stifling defense has St. Norbert at 4-0 heading into a showdown with Carroll. More in Around the Midwest.

September 29, 2015 Warriors are far from satisfied with wins Wisconsin Lutheran hopes to again find its groove under longtime head coach Dennis Miller. The Warriors shared the NACC title last year, but are still seeking the playoff berth that has long eluded the program.

September 22, 2015 Engineering a climb up the HCAC mountain Rose-Hulman is off to another fast start, but the Fightin' Engineers know that they have to get past Franklin to claim their first outright HCAC crown. The arm of Austin Swenson and an improved defense might be enough to get Rose-Hulman to the promised land this year.

September 15, 2015 The focus, like the name, stays the same at North Central Jeff Thorne has taken the reins of the program from his father, John, but the Cardinals remain committed to building young men of character. More on what their new head coach learned from his first win in Around the Midwest.

September 8, 2015 Illinois College gives reins to a man named Brady It's a tough act to follow, playing after the best quarterback in school history, but Brady Huber is doing his best to pick up where Michael Bates left off with the Blueboys.

August 31, 2015 10 games to watch for 2015 Sometimes the same game every year deserves to be in the 10 games to watch. But there are always others worth considering as well.