Feb. 26, 2008

Press release courtesy of Victory Sports Network

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - It will be the mentor versus the student, the coach versus the player in this year's Victory Sports Network's "First Down Classic" on August 30, 2008. Doane College of Crete, Neb. will travel to Platte City, Mo. to take on William Jewell of Liberty, Mo. in a game that will feature two football coaches that know each other quite well.

The Doane College Tigers are coached by alum Matt Franzen who will enter his second season as head coach of the Tigers while the William Jewell Cardinals feature Fran Schwenk as their head coach.

Schwenk is the former head coach of Doane College and recruited Franzen. Franzen earned All-American honors as an offensive lineman in 1993 while Schwenk was his coach. The Tigers also advanced to the NAIA Championship Series that season.

Kickoff is tentatively set for 7:00 p.m. CST at Platte County R3 High School's Pirate Stadium.

"The Victory Sports Network First Down Classic" marks VSN's official kickoff to the 2007 season. This will be the second season of the game. Last year's inaugural game was played between Azusa Pacific and MidAmerica Nazarene. MNU won 59-38.

"Everyone at this level of athletics needs a game they can get behind to kickoff the football season," said Jason Dannelly, event organizer and Victory Sports Network owner.

"This game will allow two very large groups of alumni to come together and see great football. This is a great matchup between two teams looking to breakout."

Doane College is a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Last season the Tigers finished 4-6 in Franzen's first season as head coach.

"It will be a great opportunity for Doane College and our football team to play in this early game," said Franzen. "We look forward to showing an exciting brand of football and representing the GPAC against a very good opponent from another great conference. While it will be special for me to coach against my former coach, it will be even more special for our kids to be able to play in this showcase game."

William Jewell is a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Last season the Cardinals finished 6-4 in Schwenk's third season in Liberty. Overall Schwenk is 140-101-3 as a head coach.

"I really feel like we have turned the corner as a program as has Doane College," said Schwenk. "A game like this will showcase two programs that are coming to a peak."

The last time Doane College and William Jewell met up in a showcased game was in the 1967 Mineral Water Bowl. The Tigers came into the game with a 38-0-1 record over the previous years while William Jewell was as solid as ever. The two squads battled to a 14-14 tie.

"We want to resurrect the echoes," joked Schwenk.

Platte County R3 High School's Pirate Stadium will serve as the home for the second annual "First Down Classic" as well as the "Victory Sports Senior Classic" on April 19, 2008. The event will showcase over 120 of the NAIA top senior football players.

"I couldn't be happier to come back to Platte City," said Dannelly. "The community loves football and continues to get behind what the Victory Sports Network does. Last year they came out in full support and proved it was the perfect place to host our games. We can only hope for this relationship to grow."

Stadium capacity is 4,000-plus. Tickets and information on other festivities surrounding the game will be released soon.