In 1993, Creighton was perfect.

The Bluejays were the first team in 20 years to have an undefeated and untied regular season record. Creighton finished the season 19-0-0.

The dream season ended prematurely, however, in a four-overtime game against Air Force in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Bluejay faithful had twice rushed the field after apparent game winning “golden goals” in overtime, but both times an offsides call halted the celebrations.

That would not be the only time the Bluejays would taste success, as head coach Bob Warming built a dynasty out of literally nothing.

When Warming first came to the Omaha, Neb., school in 1989, the soccer program was on a four-year hiatus.

Warming was the coach of the Bluejays but he did not field a team in his first year. Instead he took a year to recruit and train his team without playing any real games.

Training was not an easy thing to accomplish at Creighton. The team did not have an on-campus practice field and was forced to look elsewhere.

“We practiced on a sod farm,” he said. “We rented space anywhere we could so we could train.”

When the Bluejays began competition in 1990, the team played their home games at a city park fifteen minutes outside of campus.

Despite the lack of any campus facilities, Warming and his all freshmen roster shocked the country going 12-5-3 in their inaugural season.

In their second season, the Bluejays were nationally ranked and were the No. 1 team in the Midwest Region, a spot they would hold for 26 consecutive weeks, including their perfect run in 1993.

That year Warming was honored as the Soccer News’ National Coach of the Year.

Following the 1994 season, Warming made a stunning move, leaving the program he turned around for the athletic director position at Furman College in Greenville, S.C.

After only one year away from the sidelines, Warming said he missed coaching too much and Saint Louis University was quick to offer him its head coaching position.

Warming again worked his magic. The year before he arrived at SLU, the Billikens fnished 6-12-0 but he led them to a NCAA tournament Final Four appearance in his first season.

“It’s all about the people,” Warming said about his successful career. “You win with the people around you. You stake your reputation on the people in your program.”

Warming’s reputation is one of a winner, as his 335 wins prior to the start of the season rank him 18th all-time in NCAA soccer history and 8th among active coaches.

Warming came back to Creighton in 2001 after four years at SLU and the program kept on winning. The Bluejays have made five straight NCAA tournament appearances. The success has led to increased support from the university.

The team now plays in a state-of-the-art stadium that is a far cry from the city park they previously called home.

The $13 million soccer-specific Michael G. Morrison Stadium opened in 2003 with a 6,000 seat capacity, replay board, covered grandstand and luxury suites.

“We have gone from the worst facilities in college to the best,” Warming said.

This season the Bluejays were again picked first in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, led by senior forward Michael Kraus and reigning MVC freshman of the year, forward Byron Dacy.

“I always say if a player is good at everything, he is good for nothing,” said Warming about his recruiting philosophy. “I look for players with one special ability and then build around that. Training and development are very important and I tell my players that the fall is all about the team but the spring and summer is all about them.”

Warming’s recruitment and development of his players have led to 15 Bluejays being drafted in the Major League Soccer draft. In fact, at least one Creighton player has been selected in each year the MLS draft has been held, the only team in the country to do so.

Creighton’s dominance could be tested this year by the surprising start of both Eastern and Evansville.

However, Creighton played a non-conference schedule more difficult than any other team in the MVC.

According to Warming, the Bluejays’ non-conference schedule was the ranked the toughest out of all the schools in the Midwest region.

The Bluejays played exhibition games against No. 2 Clemson and No. 18 Akron. They also played regular season games against No. 20 Indiana and No. 25 Notre Dame.

“We play an incredibly hard schedule to prepare ourselves for the always-tough MVC race,” Warming said.

The MVC race is up for grabs, Warming said, and Missouri State head coach Jon Leamy agreed with that assessment.

“I think the conference is wide-open this year,” he said. “There is a lot of parity and it won’t be a surprise whoever wins. I have never seen it so open before.”

However, Leamy has not forgotten about recent history and the Bluejays success.

“Creighton will be there at the end,” Leamy said. “They will be a team to contend with.”