Last year was a great year to be a Panther. UNI Athletics excelled and proved that even with a smaller budget, they have the athletes to compete against anyone. Every year is a great year to be a Panther because UNI has earned the respect and reputation as an absolute powerhouse in nearly every sport. This year is no exception, as expectations are as high as ever coming off a season for the record books.

The football team will be in the spotlight this fall, looking for another playoff appearance while battling in a very tough conference. The MVC is filled with the fire breathers of the FCS as they had a league-record five teams make the playoffs last year and became the first conference ever to have two of its teams compete against each other in the FCS Championship. This features the North Dakota State Bison and Illinois State Redbirds, who both entered the game with one loss each. There was one MVC team that forced both teams to make that first tally in their loss column in back-to-back weeks. Guess who. I’ll give you a hint: they wear purple and gold and play in the UNI-Dome.

The Bison went on to win the game, claiming their fourth consecutive FCS title, once again showing that the Valley is the top dog in the FCS. The Panthers return a good chunk of starters but lost a lot of offensive weapons. They lost some key members of their receiving core, QB Brion Carnes and of course star RB David Johnson. There are some big shoes to fill, but Mark Farley and his team always find a way to answer the bell.

We also have UNI Soccer already off to a good start sitting at 1-0-1. UNI Volleyball’s season set to get underway soon, as they are expected to have another solid season after finishing second in the Valley last year with a fairly young squad. It should be an exciting fall for UNI Panther fans.

Then, as the cold weather comes, UNI’s winter sports will get started, which are always a blast as they have experienced tremendous success. Of course, the Men’s Basketball team is coming off one of the best years in school history, winning 31 games and breaking in the top 10 national rankings. With Wichita State, UNI and the rest of the MVC playing at such a high level last year, people are definitely going to be watching for more stellar play this year, which is why CBS Sports has agreed to a multi-year deal with the Missouri Valley to televise their basketball games on CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network.

The wrestling team has also made quite the name for themselves in the last few years. With a top 10 national ranking a couple of years ago as a team and several individual wrestlers breaking records last season, you can expect the best from the Doug Schwab’s Panther Train when they take the mat. This year, Cooper Moore and Blaze Cabell will be two guys you will want to keep your eye on.

It is no question that UNI has made a name for themselves and their athletic programs, top to bottom. Even though it is a tendency for people to think of the Hawkeyes or Cyclones when thinking about collegiate sports in Iowa, the people of Cedar Falls know better than to ever sleep on the Panthers. They are no longer the “little-brother” school, and every year the athletes bust their butts to make sure this statement is clear.