What a roller coaster of a December it was in 2008 for North Alabama fans.  After a romp in ‘windy’ Maryville ended the Lions season just one game shy of a home-standing title game, successful Head Coach Mark Hudspeth resigned leaving Lion Nation dejected facing a re-building year and a new coach.  A note was sent to former Auburn Head Coach Terry Bowden in the booth of the D2 Championship Game gauging his interest to return to coaching.  Days later a media firestorm unseen in D2 was ignited as UNA made the announcement of the hire.

The media coverage hasn’t stopped as Coach Bowden assembled over twenty transfers from Division I schools to fill the huge voids left in the Lions line-up that he combined with several talented Lion veterans to win ten straight games and sit atop the D2 rankings for the first time since 1997.  The 1-2 finish has carried the ‘come-back’ story line into this season as once again, big name transfers are poised to compliment returning skilled veterans to make another run at that elusive forth national title.

The Lion defense will be anchored by returning All-GSC second team defensive back Chad Daniel and 2008 All-GSC second team linebacker Larry Wilson along with transfer safeties Rod Woodson (Alabama) and Bryan Thomas (Florida).  The UNA offense will be led by veteran receiver Charles McClain and back Wes Holland along with touted transfers, quarterback Lee Chapple (Georgia Southern) and receiver Tim Hawthorne (Auburn).

UNA opens the season against fellow Gulf South Conference foe Henderson State in a non-conference game before traveling to WVIAC member Glenville State.  Key GSC contests will include the usual tough rival games against Valdosta State and Delta State before attempting to avenge their only regular-season loss of last season as they again host in-state rival West Alabama.

D2 Sports Network predicts the North Alabama Lions will repeat as GSC Champions and finish the season 14-1 as national runner-up.