CRETE – The Doane Tigers are fresh off a season that featured a home playoff game, and their talents will be showcased again on both local television and radio.
Doane University Football will be broadcast live on News Channel Nebraska television, and Ol Red 99-5 radio this year, and should feature an exciting season.
In 2016, the Tigers finished with a 9-2 record and made the playoffs for the second straight year. It was the sixth time in school history.
“The most important thing in college sports is recruiting and that’s a year to year thing. You try to recruit a little bit better each year. I think we’ve gradually improved in that area to a degree. The biggest thing that we’ve done, that we’ve tried to take an active role in, is building a culture within our team and setting expectations for what happens, as far as work ethic. More importantly, off the field, in developing the right kind of young men,” said Head Coach Matt Franzen.
Key losses from last year include Nate Meier. The running back ran for just shy of 1,600 yards and five touchdowns.
Under Franzen, Doane has been ranked in the NAIA Top 25 six times. However, the 2017 season marks the 20th season that the Tigers have gone without a GPAC Title. He believes this year, they have as good of a chance as any, especially because of their offense.
“We feel like we’ve got really good skill players coming back. The better players on our team, right now returning, are probably going to be in our receiving core, but we feel like we’ve got really good running backs, also.”
In 2015 and 2016, the Tigers suffered playoff losses in the first round, both in one possession games. The players are trying to use that as fuel this year.
“You know, I think it definitely left a a sour taste in our mouths to lose like that two years in a row. One of our big words this year is momentum, and we want to carry that momentum through this season that we had at the end of last season and we want to carry it into this season, but at the same time, remember what that feeling was like and finish this year a little bit better,” stated Senior Bret Andrew.
As Coach Franzen said earlier, recruiting has improved each year, and the players can see that. Athletes are coming from all over the country to be a member of the Tigers.
“I think it’s just a really big family atmosphere. We welcome anybody in on the team and treat everybody as our brother. I think it’s just a great atmosphere for everybody,” declared Senior Jacob Cornelius.
The Tigers will open on the road at #14 Sterling College in Kansas.
Every game will be broadcast live on Ol Red 99-5 radio, and every home game will air live on NCN Television.
