The simple answer to that question is as old as the game of football itself. It's the same reason that TCU was able to open with a win over Oklahoma ... and Culver over LU ... the line between the "haves" and the "have-nots" has never been thinner in college football. Teams like Culver-Stockton, with new, aggressive coaching staffs and speed on defense, are prime upset factories. Simply put, the Lions got ambushed, and the only thing that's important in the aftermath is to learn from it and take steps to correct whatever issues were exposed by David ... er, Culver.

"On the one hand, we never want to lose and never plan to lose, so it was a shock for our players and coaches, " said Ross. "But then again, if it serves to refocus our team, and gives us a renewed sense of urgency about the details of being a championship football team, then it's a painful lesson learned."

One thing is certain - the Lions have no time to ponder the what-ifs and wounded pride. There's only one way to get the mojo back, and that's to get back on the horse and beat a quality opponent. It just so happens that this week's adversary is just that - Olivet Nazarene was a 7-3 team in the super-competitive MSFA last season, and they opened last week with an impressive come-from-behind win over a good Anderson (Ind.) outfit, 33-18.

The Lions actually played pretty well on defense against Culver, but it wasn't up to their lofty standards of 2004, when teams trying to run the football were slapped down hard. The Wildcats hit some big plays on the ground in the second half, but it was in the surreal first half for LU that the die was cast by a struggling offense, which gave up nine points on its own and set up seven more with an ill-timed fumble.

Sophomore cornerback Bobby Mason, with a pick and a fumble recovery, and leading tackler Scott Symons, a freshman linebacker who posted eight stops, were new Lions who showed well in the opener and will be stars this season. They join an already loaded cast, which gets inside backer Mike Martin back this week, and there is absolutely no reason to suspect the defense will be anything but monstrous as the season progresses.

To put the brakes on a multi-faceted ONU offense, the Lions will have to stop junior tailback Billy Lawrence, who busted up Anderson for 177 yards in the opener. The Tigers can also wing it, behind the arm of 6'2, 180-lb. senior quarterback Joe Boseo, who passed for 2,337 yards last season.

"We knew when we scheduled this game for our open date that it was going to be a tough one," said Ross. "We have confidence in our team and coaches that we can play with the good teams, just like the good teams in our conference we face every week. We have great respect for Coach Newsome and his team, and we're looking forward to the challenge of going up there to play them on their field."

It's not like the Lions suddenly are devoid of options on offense - stellar senior tailback De De Dorsey battled heat exhaustion and nine Wildcats in the box for 105 yards on 22 carries last week, and wideouts George Mumphard and Steven Kennedy are still among the HAAC's top offensive weapons. The lethargic showing at Culver is hard to explain, but it's safe to say the offensive line and quarterback questions still remain open to answers going into Week Two.

Sophomore quarterbacks Brent Hodgkiss and Gerry Connell didn't do much to separate themselves from the other, combining to throw three costly interceptions. The protection, though, was sketchy, and the play of the receivers will be better in coming weeks, so the loss can't be laid at the feet of two young QB's seeing their first real college action. Still, like everyone else in the program, coaches and players alike, they have to perform better this week, and they have the talent to be very, very good by season's end.

All things considered, the Lions are a team in need of a game - the only way to wash the taste of that Twilight Zone trip to Canton from their collective mouth is some nice, hand-to-hand combat with someone in a different colored uniform. Olivet Nazarene, with kickoff set for 6:00 on Saturday evening, will provide more than ample opposition.

Sophomore CB/WR Bobby Mason produced two takeaways and 77 yards on returns.