Chris Greenwood might not be seeing as many balls thrown his way this season, but he still has five passes broken up in 2011. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com

It was a familiar question that Craig Rundle fielded in the offseason.

“Who in the world does your schedule?” Rundle chuckles, “It's me. I'm the idiot.”

When the schedule was unveiled, the Britons faced the prospects of playing one NCAA Division I FCS non-scholarship team and five more Division III nationally recognized opponents.

Some laughed as the absurdity of a schedule that includes Butler, Wheaton, DePauw, UW-Stevens Point and then Adrian and Trine in conference.

There is a lesson to the seeming lunacy. A method to the madness. The veteran coach explains there is no growth in security. There is nothing to learn from padding your schedule

“It's not about your record, it’s about who you played. We've never looked at the overall season record and compete for the conferrence championship and playoffs.”

The plan has paid off; early-season trials have honed a conference championship and a playoff berth.

Albion, now 5-3, has won five straight conference games, including a 28-14 win over Adrian on Saturday. The victory clinched an automatic qualifier for the postseason and at least a share of the Britons' 34th Michigan Intecollegiate Athletic Association title.

It's the first title since 2005. Albion lost to Wabash 38-20 in the first-round playoffs that season.

“Those games were importgant for us to complete against good teams. Anytime you are competing against teams in divisions above you or are perennial playoff teams you have to step up and play harder. It's good to change yourself early.”

Some teams will hide their weaknesses and then they become magnifed and exposed in the postseason. Rundle says tackling those weeknesses early on give you a chance to build on them and improve.

The Britons were solid in their skilled positions, but the offensive and defensive lines needed special attention. They filled three spots on the defensive line and returned just one starter.

Things weren't easy as Albion opened 0-3 losing 31-17 Butler, 54-34 to then eighth-ranked Wheaton and 14-3 to UW-Stevens Point.

'We weren't getting blown out, we just weren't winning,” Rundle said.

“Any time you are competing against teams in divisions above you, or perennial playoff teams, you have to step and play harder and it’s good to challenge yourself early.”

It's wasn't some calculated gamble and there wasn't much discussion about the strategy of a mind-grinder schedule.

It's just an extension of Rundle's personal style.

Even as a youngster in East Lansing, he wans't one to take it easily. When neighborhood kids got together their wasn't a lack of talent. Several of those kids went on to play at big time programs like Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska.

“I”ve always been like that. To be the best, you have to go after the best.” he said. “My mother would tell me never to pick on people who weren't as good as you.”

It's nothing new for Albion either, Rundle says. Albion didn't shy away from top teams even in the days before the automatic qualifer. “I ifgured if we got in we'd make a run.”

With the AQ available, Albion can still take a few more risks.

The early battles also served as a unifying force among his sqaud. Rundle says its one of the best groups he's ever worked with. He's had teams with more talent, but few with this type of positive chemistry.

“It takes a special group of kids, or a program with some tradition of success to put itself in that position. If you had a losing history, and put yourself in that position. You probably weren't in position to handle it well.”

We're in

Albion topped Adrian 28-14 to claim at least a tie for MIAA title and an NCAA playoff berth. Clinton Orr rushed 26 times for 156 yards and a touchdown. John Lesinski finished with 12 tackles and an interception

Eighth-ranked Thomas More clinched its fourth straight Presidents' Athletic Conference title and NCAA tournament automatic qualifier in a 27-10 win over Westminster. Collin Wallace caught nine passes for 112 yards for Westminister.