Cardinals Return For Home Opener

's defense has been revamped over the years to be simpler, easier to digest and execute, and afforded more time and focus during practice. For the most part that recipe's been effective, just not invincible.

The University of Redlands upset the Cardinals in their season openers Sept. 3 in California by piling 35 points on them. Last year no team managed more than 14 points on the Cardinals until the NCAA Division III Playoffs quarterfinal round and, even then, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater only managed 20.

More of the same stinginess was expected this year with seven defensive starters returning to the unit, likely half the reason why the Cardinals earned a preseason national ranking of fourth by D3football.com. That guide has been shaken and stirred since last weekend — the Cardinals dropped to 15th and Redlands jumped into
the poll for the first time this season at No. 20.

"We just have to work a lot harder on pass defense and the techniques that we're using," said Cardinals coach John Thorne after the game in a press release. "The players are going to regroup and start playing a lot better football."

Now that intangibles like high national rankings and a perfect season have more or less been relegated to a more permanent place, all thoughts return to the basics. Like NAIA Bethel University (Tenn.), this week's opponent, doubling as the Cardinals' home opener. The two programs have never met.

Bethel University won an emotional season opener, 26-21, against Wisconsin-Eau Claire, scoring the winner with 13 seconds left in the game. Beforehand, Bethel honored the lives of three people involved with the program, all of whom had died recently.

All the emotion needs can come from the shock of a second straight loss, dating back to last year's quarterfinals, along with the idea that conference-rival and eighth-ranked Wheaton College actually leads the Cardinals in the rankings. The goal of a national championship has been reduced to a small step: become the best
team in your conference. (Wheaton College did not play last week).

• The D3football.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly throughout the season.