Pictured left to right:
Yohan Rabid (male baboon, Rio Grande Valley)
Bobbi Magi (female crux, Round Rock State)
Marcus Kubiak (male Kodiak/grizzly mix, Ursa State*)
Irving Jewel (male beaver, UNYU)

*-Transfer from West Burlington

Who's the Hungriest For the Strawberry Bowl?
by Mel Wiley, FSPN Senior college basketball analyst

Last year we saw former pro wrestler, turned coach Steve Von Schnauzer take his West Burlington BlackHawks to their 4th-ever FCAA National Championship in only his first year coaching. The question is though, can he rely on his own recruits to bring home another one, especially with his star center Marcus Kubiak transferring to Ursa State?

I think Kubiak may be one of the key X-factors in the upcoming season myself. Last year we saw the Majors get the closest they've been in a long time to a Northwest 10 Championship, and now that the MVP of last year's FCAA Tournament is with them, the reign of Lapine State may be ending. In fact, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see USU in the Furry Four this year, possibly winning it all!

As for last year's runners-up, the UNYU Warriors, their star forward Irving Jewel is said to have fully recovered from his tail injury suffered in the Furlite 8 last season and some of the red-shirts expected to play this year, should give the Warriors a great run for the national title. It is also good to note that this December, UNYU will be hosting West Burlington at the Frump Coliseum where I would expect them to get revenge on the BlackHawks.

The FCAA should also be looking for two strong threats from Texas this year: Rio Grande Valley and for the first time in a long time: Round Rock State! The Round Rock State Dreamers this year has recruited 3 more cruxes to backup their star 7'4" center Bobbi Magi, one of the very few female centers in the league. Meanwhile, "The Valley" should be mighty strong this year now that guard Yohan Rabid is off his suspension from the Conquistadors. Last year the team suspended him when he got arrested for assault in a bar fight. If he can stay sober and out of trouble, the Valley should dominate the Bible Belt Conference. Speaking of those two teams, it is good to note that over Thanksgiving weekend, those two schools will be facing off at a venue they have never used before: the G.O. Moody House in Galveston!

As for my old team, the Arizona Coyote Predators, I expect them to have a strong showing in the Desert 10 this year led by their star forward Dennis Prickly, but they will really need to pick up the tempo if they want to be contenders in the FCAA tournament!

Here are my predictions for this year's conference champions:
Alpha 12: Round Rock State
Paradise League: St. Croix
Colonial: UNYU
Heartland: Omaha Mustalid
Great Plains: Amana Amish
Bible Belt: Rio Grande Valley
Smokey Mountain: Yazoo State
Klondike: Denali
Cascade: Acorn State
Furry League: Prince John
Great Lakes: Vulpes Fulva
Wetlands: Jean LeFete
Northwest 10: Ursa State
Rocky Mountain: Raton Weslyan
Gulf Coast: Pensacola P&M
New England: Pack Territory

As for the Furry Four, I predict Ursa State, UNYU, Round Rock State, and Vulpes Fulva this year, but this is a pre-season prediction so I could easilly be wrong on one or all of those predictions.

-Mel Wiley

Cover by  bassman