2013 was, by nearly every measure, a tremendously successful campaign for Saginaw Valley State.  A nine-game win streak netted the Cardinals the GLIAC North Title as well as a postseason berth.   Add to that the GLIAC Player of the Year plaudit for Jonathon Jennings and an Offensive Back of the Year nod for Jeff Janis, and Head Coach Jim Collins and staff had to be more than pleased.  The entirety of the story isn't told with those great things, however, as their season ended with a first-round playoff exit.  There isn't much fault to find in a club whose only losses in a 9-3 season came to teams who finished in the final four of the Division II national tournament, but one has to wonder if Cardinal Nation doesn't look at 2013 with just a hint of "what could have been" on their minds.

They'll now look to the "what is" that 2014 brings…and that "what is" will include a lot of new faces in key spots.  This will be particularly true on offense, where the significance of the departures of Jennings and Janis is hard to understate.  Upon closer inspection, the losses are even deeper as the top four ground-gainers and four of the top five pass catchers from last year's squad must be replaced.  Toss in the fact that more than half of the line has moved on and it is very likely that the offensive unit will be predominately youthful and untested.

The picture is slightly brighter on defense.  While the top two tacklers from a year ago are gone, the bulk of the secondary returners are led by safeties Caleb Higbie and Major Metcalf.  Also back is the club's top sack artist in Will Schwarz.  Schwarz and fellow senior Murtada Jabbie will be solid anchors on the defensive front.  In total, while roughly half of the defensive starters may lean toward the side of inexperienced as the season begins, there are definitely fewer holes to fill on this side of the ball and there are several key pieces that can shoulder the load in the early going.

Like any other GLIAC club, the Cardinals will have no weeks off as their new starters earn their stripes.  With that said, Saginaw Valley does boast a schedule that, at least on paper, might almost appear to be daunting.  They do have the luxury of opening at home, but the test will be a good one as former league mate and two-time defending GLVC champ Indianapolis pays a visit.  Tough battles also loom in September against Michigan Tech and Ferris State.  Perhaps the most daunting stretch for the Cards comes in the final four weeks of the slate as they conclude with an Axe Bowl match-up with Northwood, back-to-back roadies to Hillsdale and Ohio Dominican, and the finale against Grand Valley.