CAL LUTHERAN NOTEBOOK : Kingsmen Can Take Two Paths to Playoffs

Cal Lutheran College, which opened football practice last Saturday, will try for the best of two worlds this season.

After 23 years as an NAIA independent, the Kingsmen have joined the Western Football Conference of the NCAA Division II. But CLC will remain a member of the NAIA.

The dual membership sets up the intriguing possibility of the Kingsmen winning an NCAA title and an NAIA championship.

Possibility--yes.

Probability--no, according to Cal Lutheran Coach Bob Shoup.

“Going 3-2 in the WFC would be really a great season,” Shoup said. “Taking the conference title in our first year of membership is wishful thinking.”

Cal Lutheran has retained its ties to the NAIA because it is more likely to qualify for the NAIA playoffs than the NCAA playoffs.

Said Shoup: “We are known in the NAIA.”

The Kingsmen have reached the NAIA playoffs five times and the finals three times, winning the championship in 1971.

By joining the WFC, Cal Lutheran has created a natural rivalry with Cal State Northridge. The Matadors, who finished last in the WFC last season after being co-champions in 1983, face the Kingsmen on Oct. 19 at CSUN.

CLC started practice nine days behind Northridge, on Aug. 24. The Matadors put on pads last Monday; the Kingsmen put on pads for the first time today. Both teams are practicing twice a day, with CSUN’s opener Sept. 7.

One reason CLC started late is that its first game isn’t until Sept. 14. Another was to save money. School doesn’t begin until Sept. 10.

“Most of our kids live on campus, so a late start saves the school money,” Shoup said. “Also, the (Dallas) Cowboys stayed a week longer than usual. We had no place to practice.”

The Kingsmen may have begun late, but they are waking up early. A mandatory aerobics session is held at 6 a.m. every day until school starts.

“It gets them out of bed,” Shoup said, smiling. “And knowing they have to rise at 5 a.m. makes them think twice about staying up past 11.”