USD Football 1993

( Pioneer Football League

Page5

r Pioneer Football League Staff Commissioner:

ell~ n1oneer ltootball league

JooathonB. LeCrone Bret A. Gilliland TBA Shelley 0. Bryson (317) 237-S622 (317) 237-S620

Associate Commissioner: Dir. ofCommunications: Administrative Assistant: Office Phone: Office Fax:

The 1993 football season marks the emergence of the fledgling Pioneer Football League (PFL), a conference committed to operating a quality football program for the benefit of the student-athletes and the university community. Formed in November of 1991, the Pioneer Football League is comprised of NCAADivision I universities that previously sponsored intercollegiate football at other levels. With the passing of NCAA legislation at the January 1991 convention, Division I institutions were required to conduct all intercollegiate sports at the same level. Therefore, the five charter members, Butler University, University ofDayton, Drake University, University of Evansville and Valparaiso University.joined together, sharing a common academic and athletic philosophy and a common commitment to operate quality football programs. In February, 1992, the University of San Diego joined the PFL for its inaugural season. The PFLjoins the Ivy and the Patriot Leagues as NCAADivision I-AA conferences that provide only need-based financial aid for football players. The conference remains a proponent of NCAA Division I-AAA legislation that would develop a classificationfor Division I football programs operatingwith need-based aid and adopted themonikerofPioneerbasedon the intent to become one of the first I-AAA leagues. The administration and communications duties for the new conference will be handled by the conference staff of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL PROGRAMS READY FOR INAUGURAL PFL SEASON Yes, it is the first year for the Pioneer Football League. Yes, the PFL teams competed in Division II and III last season and now the programs are competing as NCAA Division I-AA members. And yes, the PFL offers a pratical opportunity for this group of Division I universities to play football on the same level. But no, do not expect the inaugural season of the PFL to be a matchup of unsuccessful football programs. Get ready for a clash of programs on the rise, battling to improve on the progress of recent years. Last season, the six PFL teams combined for a 42-17-2 overall record, with five of the teams losing two games or less. Dayton had an undefeated regular season and earned entry into the Division III playoffs. Butler tied for the 1992 Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference title after winning it outright in 1991 and advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Evansvillesurged to a 7-2 mark last season under second-year head coachRobinCooper, its best record since 1975. Drake has played one of the most challenging Division III schedules in the country and compiled a 7-2-1 mark last year, best under the successful tenure of fourth-year head coach Rob Ash. San Diego became one of the top Division III programs in the west under 10th-yearcoach Brian Fogarty. In 1992, the Toreros won seven games for the fourth straight season, recording a 28-9-1 record over that span. The three wins by the Valparaiso program may not seem significant, but it is evidence that the Crusaders program is building under fifth-year head coach TomHorne. Oneof two PFL teams to compete at the Division II level last season, Valparaiso won just two games in the previous three years, including a winless season in 1989. The PFL offers a fresh challenge to the six teams to compete at a new level against a new list of rivals. Pioneer Football League at a Glance

Career Record !Ymw 8-2 (one)

1m

Starters Bttvmiua

Iostitutjon

Nii;lm11mt Bulldogs

He11dC011i:b KenLaRose Mike Kelly

&i:oal

Butler University

Indianapolis, Ind.

8-2

14 12 13 18 13 14

University ofDayton

Flyers

Dayton, Ohio

119-22-~ (12) 75-51-4 (13)

10-1 7-2-1

Drake University

Bulldogs

Des Moines, Iowa Evansville, Ind. San Diego, Calif. Valparaiso, Ind.

Rob Ash

University ofEvansville Aces University ofSan Diego Toreros

Robin Cooper 12-7 (two) Brian Fogarty 54-40-3 (10)

7-2

7-2-1

Valparaiso University

Crusaders

Tom Horne

31-66-2 (10)

3-8