The ever-changing landscape of college sports because of COVID-19 might make a grown person mad.  Don’t cry though.  Just because the Ivy League will not play any fall sports or the Big 10 traveling outside their footprint there is still a chance Advent Health Field will see football this fall.  For it to happen though, things will have to fall in to place according to the 11-page manifesto the NAIA released on July 1st.  What has to happen for there to be sports in the fall?  Will there have to be an act of the deity of your choice?  Let’s take a look at a couple of big takeaways from the plans the NAIA has laid out.

In an exciting section on page three titled “Threshold Policy Overview,” the NAIA makes it clear right out of the gate fall sports are in the hands of local authorities.  In the case of football this fall, 47 teams must be cleared to play for a season to take place.  To add to that statement, those 47 teams must be cleared by August 15th.  So in the heat of the moment, one may want to scream loud obscenities because that seems to be impossible.  COVID-19 is currently exploding like fireworks in the night’s sky.  Cheer up Charlie, it’s not entirely out of the question that half of the schools could be approved for fall competition.  Sure that’s a large hill to climb but we didn’t give up when the 1994 Major League Baseball season was threatened, did we?  Oh, wait, this just in.  I’m told we did give up.  The numbers aren’t in our favor.  They weren’t in our favor in the Super Bowl last February.  Here in Franklin County the home of Ottawa University, COVID-19 cases are almost four times higher than what they were a month ago.  The amount of cases in the Kansas City area where Avila and Saint Mary are continues to grow.  Wichita (the home of Friends) has been a hot spot.  Which begs the question.  What happens if multiple teams in the KCAC are not able to compete?  Does the season go on with a truncated group of teams?  Could the KCAC partner with another conference?  These are questions that currently do not have answers.  So, let’s say that hill has been cleared.  That still doesn’t make it a sure thing because each school will be in charge of testing the athletes.  

With each institution responsible for testing athletes daily there is a lot of pressure on the colleges keeping the athletes safe and healthy.  There will be a COVID-19 scoresheet used to determine if a player is eligible to play or practice.  On game days, all players, coaches, staff, and officials will be tested within six hours before game time.  If a player is found to score high enough on the COVID screening they will be removed from practice or play immediately.  So what happens if a team doesn’t have enough players to be able to play?  Does that team forfeit the game?  What happens if the Coaching Staff is not allowed to coach?  Those questions still need to be answered by the NAIA and member conferences.

One thing is certain.  Nothing with COVID-19 is for certain.  Sure we are one step closer to possible sports in the fall, but there are still too many questions to be answered.  

It’s time for another edition of the Kent Kessinger Podcast Spectacular! Join me, Bob Johnson, as I lead a discussion on how COVID-19 has affected the Ottawa University Braves Football program. What the Fall sports season could look like in the NAIA. How will practice work? What will the University do to keep the Student Athlete safe? There’s some dogs that bark and even give a kiss or two. That and much more on this edition of the Kent Kessinger Podcast Spectacular.

Disclaimer…this post is meant for fun. These are the opinions of two broadcasters who have watched a lot of Ottawa University Braves Football over the past 13 years. These selections are in no way meant to slight or offend others who did not make the list. There are so many incredible players who have suited up for Ottawa University during the past 13 years. These are just the selections made by Bob Johnson and Casey Wieder. Have fun discussing. Have fun providing different opinions, but any mean spirit comments will not be tolerated.

Providing play by play for Ottawa University Braves Football since 2007 has become more than a job. It has become an important part of my life and my family’s life. I have had to opportunity to meet such wonderful Braves students who have suited up for the program. I have been able to make lasting friendships with coaches and administration that I cherish. My children have grown up around the program and have been able to hang out and meet players. My wife Jenna and I have even been able to host players at our house for dinner.

One of the relationships I enjoy the most is the one between myself and former Braves kicker Casey Wieder. I was able to meet the young man and his family broadcasting games. Casey also had an interest in broadcasting and along with David Mino were an integral part of keeping KTJO, the Ottawa University Braves radio station, on the air. I was able to work with Casey doing Braves Basketball games and take him under my wing to help mentor and teach what little I knew to someone who has a passion for sports and broadcasting.

@KCwieds and I have been working together for several seasons now as the Ottawa University Braves Football broadcast team. We decided that it was time to put together a list of great players as an “All-Time” team for Ottawa University. This list starts from the 2007 season and goes through the end of the 2019 season. Yes, we know there are a lot of great players before that period of time, but this is just a list for the time I have been behind the mic. In the near future there will be a podcast with Head Coach Kent Kessinger, Casey, and myself discussing this list. Now, without further ado, here’s what Casey and I came up with.

Casey Wieder’s All Ottawa University Team:

Offense

QB-Ethan Haller
RB-Luke Lundy
WR-Clarence Anderson
WR-Josh Stangby
WR-Darrion Dillard
TE-Taylor Burnett
T-Matt Pennington
G-Austin Britt
C-Tyler Gadwood
G-Drew Hunter
T-Quinton Flaming

Defense

DE-Deron Bruce
DT-Vinny Wurst
DT-Zach Van Deusen
DE-Brandon Smith
LB-Ross Diehl
LB-Josh Hojje
OLB-Levi Hueneke
CB-Erik Brown
FS-Devontae Corbitt
SS-Joey Erwin
CB-Donald Anderson
P-Jeff Stamp
K-Dominic Sigala

Bob Johnson’s All Ottawa University Team:

Quarterback

Ethan Haller 2009 KCAC Player of the Year; Offensive Player of the Year; All KCAC First Team; 2009 College Fanz All American Second Team

Running Bank

Luke Lundy 2013; 2014; 2015 All KCAC First Team; 2014 and 2015 KCAC Player of the Year; BSN All American Third Team 2013; AFCA All American Second Team 2014

Full Back

Michael Wickley 2010 All KCAC Honorable Mention

Wide Receiver

Clarence Anderson 2009, 2010, 2011 All KCAC First Team, 2011 KCAC Player of the Year; 2009 College Fanz All American Second Team; 2010, 2011 AFCA First Team All American; 2011 VSN All American First Team
Darion Dillard 2018 KCAC Offensive Player of the Year, 2018 All KCAC First Team
Josh Stangby 2013; 2014; 2015 KCAC All Conference Team; 2013 BSN All American Second Team

Tight End

Taylor Burnett 2009 All KCAC First Team; 2009 College Fanz All American Honorable Mention

Offensive Line

Quinton Flaming 2010 All KCAC Honorable Mention; 2011, 2012 All KCAC First Time; 2012 VSN All American Honorable Mention
Matt Pennington 2009 All KCAC First Team
Julian Mendez 2009 All KCAC First Team
Tyler Riebel 2012 All KCAC Honorable Mention
Trae Boese 2016 All KCAC First Team

Defensive Line

Deron Bruce All KCAC First Team 2013, 2014; AFCA All American Second Team 2013
Seth Homolka All KCAC Honorable Mention 2009; All KCAC First Team 2010; VSN All American Honorable Mention 2010
Jacob Garcia All KCAC Honorable Mention 2017; All KCAC First Team 2018, 2019
Vincent Wurst All KCAC Second Team 2015; All KCAC First Team 2016

Linebackers

Josh Hojje All KCAC Second Team 2007; Honorable Mention 2008; First Team 2009, 2010; VSN All American Honorable Mention 2010
Ross Diehl All KCAC First Team 2008, 2009; VSM All American Honorable Mention 2008; College Fans All American Honorable Mention 2009
Fielding Brenner All KCAC Second Team 2008, 2010

Secondary

Donald Anderson All KCAC First Team 2011; AFCA All American First Team 2012
Logan Schultz All KCAC First Team 2011; AFCA All American First Team 2012
Eric Brown All KCAC First Team 2013; BSN All American Honorable Mention
DeVonte Corbit All KCAC Second Team 2013, 2014

During this time of COVID-19, Ottawa University Braves Head Football Coach Kent Kessinger and I decided to put a hold on the offseason Kent Kessinger Podcast Spectacular. Plans are beginning to take shape to put together a podcast soon through the magic of Zoom, Skype, Carrier Pigeon or some way to do a podcast without being in the same place. Right now, in its place, I plan on posting games from the past.

First up on the list is a game from the 2011 season as the Braves took on the 9th ranked Georgetown Tigers from Kentucky. Sure it’s a loss. It was the second loss of that season. So, why would I post that? I posted it because it showed a team that would not quit and would fight through adversity.

I noticed right away there were some similarities to the 2019 and 2011 teams in this game offensively. One, the Offensive Line struggled to protect the Quarterback. Two, the Braves struggled to punch the ball in the end zone once inside the 20-yard line. Those struggles didn’t stop the team from giving the Tigers everything they could handle.

It was weird to see future Braves QB Shane Gimzo returning kicks and playing Wide Receiver. Clarence Anderson continued to be Clarence Anderson as he returned a kick for a touchdown and played an integral role in the receiving game.

The defense had its struggles in the first half. Tackling was a major issue. Secondary members forgot the important role of turning their heads and looking for the ball when playing their position. The second half was a complete 180 as Defensive Coordinator Josh Homolka made fantastic tactical switches that kept Georgetown out of the end zone for the final 30 minutes of play.

Even though the Braves lose 21 to 19 to the Tigers, it would be the last loss of the season until the playoffs for Ottawa. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the sounds of Georgetown at Ottawa from September 2011.

Less than three weeks ago the Kent Kessinger Podcast Spectacular returned with a new edition of sub optimal audio for your enjoyment. In a shocking turn of events, we come back with a new edition of the Kent Kessinger Podcast Spectacular. A shock not because of the content of the audio. A shock as it comes out three weeks after the last podcast. (The quickest in this podcasts short history)

On this edition of the podcast, we discuss the Kent Kessinger summer concert tour. John Popper is still alive. A quick discussion about “New” Coke. Then we spend the bulk of the conversation talking about the first five games of the upcoming season.

A big thanks for checking in on the podcast. Leave comments or questions about the podcast, or questions you would like to have asked on the next edition of the podcast.

Click the link below to listen.

It’s time for the latest edition of the Kent Kessinger Podcast Spectacular. In this edition we talk with Coach K about Spring practice. We also discuss the renovations to Braves Field and Summer workouts. We play four questions with Coach as we head down the home stretch to the 2019 Ottawa University Braves Football season. Hit the link below for the latest edition of the podcast.

https://soundcloud.com/scruffy1976/kent-kessinger-podcast-spectacular-7-1-2019

As a side note I want to apologize as I had planned to drop podcasts in April and May, but due to an unforeseen illness to my Father-in-Law best laid plans had to change. If you are a former student of Ottawa University in the past 20 years you might have had Dr. Hank Tillinghast as a professor. Dr. T was diagnosed with stage four Brain Cancer. He has been fighting the good fight and as a family we have worked to spend time with him as much as possible. We appreciate your prayers and thoughts.

Thanks for joining me! I have decided to move the blog and audio site to a new location. I appreciate you finding us and hope you enjoy it. A new Kent Kessinger Podcast Spectacular will be posted soon. In the upcoming edition of the show we’ll talk with Coach about Spring Practice. The upgrades at Braves Field and who is sticking around during the heat of the summer to work on their game. We’ll also play Four Questions as we buckle in and head down the highway to another Ottawa University Braves Football season.