The GFC enters 2004 looking to hold on to a reputation that put 4 teams in the 2003 play-off. In addition, the conference looks to go one step further and bring home a national title in '04. Again, SIU, UNI, WIU, and WKU seem to be favored. However, ILS and YSU have been unusually quiet and both are to be considered conference "dark horses". In addition, SMS and ISU have retooled their staffs and rosters and look to enter the national spotlight in 2004. Let's take a look at how the schedules will impact the conference:

Games of Interest: 18-Sep ISU vs. Murray State; 18-Sep WKU at Eastern Kentucky; 25-Sep ILS at Florida Atlantic; 18-Sep YSU at McNeese State; 20-Nov UNI at Northern Arizona; 18-Sep WIU at Hampton; 2-Oct Northern Iowa at SIU; 11-Sep Sam Houston State at SMS

1. Indiana State : I don't think the fans from Terre Haute have been this excited in almost a decade. A revamped staff is working with the most talent the Sycamores have seen in years. However, this is a schedule that has to bring some sleepless to coach McGuire, as his 'Trees' face the conferences most challenging slate in 2004. A challenging schedule that will see 6 road games, also brings the locals a change to see some of the best the GFC has to offer. In one of this years few August games, the Sycamores will Travel to Oxford, Ohio to face the most "talked about" team of 2003 ... the Red Hawks of Miami. This is followed up by back-to-back matches against traditional OVC powers in EIU and Murray St.. A road trip to Tenn.-Martin will precede the 7-game stretch of GFC opposition.
   
   28-Aug at Miami (Ohio)
   11-Sep at Eastern Illinois
   18-Sep vs. Murray State
   25-Sep vs. Tennessee-Martin
   2-Oct vs. Illinois State *
   9-Oct at Western Illinois *
   16-Oct vs. SMS *
   23-Oct at Western Kentucky *
   30-Oct at Youngstown State*
   6-Nov vs. UNI *
   13-Nov at Southern Illinois *
   20-Nov OPEN
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Western Kentucky : Traditionally, conference powers will not place quite so high in schedule rankings, as a team does not have the benefit of playing themselves in the regular season. However, with the move of FAU and FIU to IA ... the Toppers find themselves as one of the few clubs with a pair of IA games on their slate. This years schedule will have the team on the road for six matches, including IA matches with FIU and Big-12 national power Kansas St.. In addition, coach Elson's club travels to in-state rival EKU, along with conference powers SIU and UNI. With a DII on their schedule, the WKU must win one of their IA games to see the post-season ... unless they do something they have not done in the past ... win the GFC title and automatic berth.
   
   4-Sep at Kansas State
   11-Sep Concord (W. Va.)
   18-Sep at Eastern Kentucky
   25-Sep at Florida International
   2-Oct Youngstown State*
   9-Oct at Northern Iowa*
   16-Oct at Southern Illinois*
   23-Oct Indiana State*
   30-Oct Illinois State*
   6-Nov at Southwest Missouri St*
   13-Nov Western Illinois*
   20-Nov OPEN
   
   
   
   
   
3. Illinois State : The Redbirds have to deal with the graduation of several key players in 2004 ... including the conference's leading rusher in Sha-ron Edwards, the conference's leading receiver in DeWayne Smith, and what I considered the conference top all-around QB in Mike Souza. However, the return of Boomer Grigsby and an in-flux a tremendous talent is going to make coach Johnson's club a force in 2004. A incredibly difficult 6-game road slate will feature two IA matches, as the Birds travel to Florida-Atlantic and 2003's Big-10 surprise ... the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. In addition, the Redbirds face road games at WIU, WKU and arch-rival UNI.
   
   2-Sep St. Xavier
   11-Sep at Minnesota
   18-Sep Eastern Illinois
   25-Sep at Florida Atlantic
   2-Oct at Indiana State*
   9-Oct SMS*
   16-Oct at Western Illinois*
   23-Oct Youngstown State*
   30-Oct at Western Kentucky*
   6-Nov Southern Illinois*
   13-Nov at Northern Iowa*
   20-Nov OPEN
   
   
   
   
4. Youngstown State: An obviously upset coach Heacock left this weeks GFC conference leaving no doubt what has to be done ... return the Penguins to glory. The schedule, although difficult, has what it takes to do just that. Fans at the "ice castle" will see their beloved 'guins 6 times in 2004. After the traditional opener against 'the Rock' (a local DII club from the PSAC), YSU will face I-A FIU and then travel to Louisiana and face the powerful Cowboys of McNeese. The Penguins split home vs. away among the conference favorites ... with road matches against "the Westerns" (WIU & WKU) and home stands again UNI and SIU. The much overlooked game with Liberty will be very interesting, as both clubs have much to prove in '04.
   
   2-Sep Slippery Rock
   11-Sep Florida International
   18-Sep at McNeese State
   25-Sep Liberty
   2-Oct at Western Kentucky*
   9-Oct Southern Illinois*
   16-Oct Northern Iowa*
   23-Oct at Illinois State*
   30-Oct Indiana State*
   6-Nov at Western Illinois*
   13-Nov at SMS*
   20-Nov OPEN
   
   
5. Northern Iowa : The Panthers bring a well-balanced schedule, to what we think will be an excellent season for UNI. An opener at Iowa St. has become quite common as of late ... and the Cyclones do not look to be much improved over last year. OOC matches with a much-improved Stephen F. Austin and a finally at Northern Arizona will put coach Farley's club in the position to determine the outcome of both the Big Sky and the Southland. Battles with conference contenders are evenly split ... but both Westerns will put the "cats" on the road in '04.
   
   4-Sep at Iowa State
   11-Sep Minnesota State
   18-Sep Stephen F. Austin
   25-Sep OPEN
   2-Oct at Southern Illinois*
   9-Oct Western Kentucky*
   16-Oct at Youngstown State*
   23-Oct Western Illinois*
   30-Oct Southwest Missouri St.*
   6-Nov at Indiana State*
   13-Nov Illinois State*
   20-Nov at Northern Arizona




6. Western Illinois: The only thing that keeps the Necks from having the GFC's most difficult schedule are the two DII clubs on the slate. However, and opener at Nebraska and a week-3 match with MEAC power Hampton, along with facing the 3 other conference contenders on-the-road ... will be proof enough for the post-season selection committee. However, don't be surprised if these two sub-IAA games do not surface in November. I cannot see the selection committee making the mistake of going 4-deep once again ... as I do not see coach Patterson's club winning all 3 road shows with SIU, WIU and arch-rival UNI.
   
   4-Sep at Nebraska
   11-Sep Cheyney
   18-Sep at Hampton
   25-Sep Quincy
   2-Oct at SMS*
   9-Oct Indiana State*
   16-Oct Illinois State*
   23-Oct ^at Northern Iowa*
   30-Oct at Southern Illinois*
   6-Nov Youngstown State*
   13-Nov at Western Kentucky*
   20-Nov OPEN
   
   
   
7. Southern Illinois: The Salukis have brought in another set of backs and are looking to make another run at the post-season. If they can get past the GFC portion, they certainly have a good chance at it. The "Dawgs" open up with an OOC match with SeMS before what will be a tough challenge at former rival NIU. Followed by a sub IAA game and a trip to Delaware St.. Then it is all GFC, where coach Kill's club hosts UNI, WKU, and WIU at home in Carbondale.
   
   2-Sep Southeast Missouri St.
   11-Sep at Northern Ill
   18-Sep William Penn
   25-Sep at Delaware State
   2-Oct Northern Iowa*
   9-Oct at Youngstown St*
   16-Oct Western Ky*
   23-Oct at Southwest Missouri St.*
   30-Oct Western Illinois*
   6-Nov at Illinois St*
   13-Nov Indiana St*
   20-Nov OPEN
   
   
   
8. S.W. Missouri State: We have predicted SMS to be the conference "sleeper" for the past two seasons ... this has made us a little "gun shy" to do it again. However, the fact still remains that the Bears have a great group of athletes, and a great schedule. With a home opener against Drake, followed by Southland opponent SHS, then DII Union, followed by a trip to IA Tulsa. The home portion of the conference slate features WIU, SIU, WKU and YSU. This looks to be the schedule for coach Ball's Bears to do something.
   
   2-Sep Drake
   11-Sep Sam Houston State
   18-Sep Union College
   25-Sep at Tulsa
   2-Oct Western Illinois *
   9-Oct at Illinois State *
   16-Oct at Indiana State *
   23-Oct Southern Illinois *
   30-Oct at Northern Iowa *
   6-Nov Western Kentucky *
   13-Nov Youngstown State *
   20-Nov OPEN