eGriz
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Joined: 27 Mar 2002
Posts: 3620
Location: Missoula, Montana
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Black Bears primed for spotlight (Missoulian).
Streaking Griz begin with Maine (Daily Interlake).
Speed, depth bolster Black Bears' hopes (Bangor Daily News).
---
Extra Point - Week One: I-AA In Good Shape; Griz 23, Maine 20 (By Matt
Dougherty, TSN).
Don Hansen Picks: Montana 38-31 over Maine.
No Hollywood Endings (Garner, I-AA.org).
---
Glenn says Wyoming in must-win situation (AP, Missoulian).
Bengals waive Szalay (Daily Interlake).
***
Black Bears primed for spotlight
Maine could ride talented offense to national prominence
By JON KASPER of the Missoulian
Make no mistake; hockey is still king at the University of Maine.
Hockey will probably always be king as Maine is a national power and has
produced the likes of NHL All-Star Paul Kariya. It won't be long until pucks
start flying in Orono.
But until then, the Black Bears' football team will take center stage, and
might even steal a little thunder from the hockey team.
Maine, which opens the 2004 season on Saturday at third-ranked Montana,
might just contend for a Division I-AA national championship. The Black
Bears are ranked 11th in the Sports Network Poll and were were ranked second
by Street and Smith, and third by Sports Illustrated in preseason magazines.
The Black Bears are picked to win the Atlantic 10 North Division.
"We're trying to figure out why,'' said Maine's 12th-year coach Jack
Cosgrove. We've never had those things happen to us before. It's very
unfamiliar ground to have that happen. It's more familiar to Montana and the
greatness of their program. We're certainly excited by it. We still have a
lot of hills to climb to be mentioned in the same breath as Montana.''
Maine, which advanced to the playoffs in 2001 and 2002, is coming off a 7-5
season which included a 30-20 opening-season loss to Montana and a
heartbreaking 24-21 overtime defeat to eventual national champion Delaware.
Maine blew a 21-0 halftime lead against the Blue Hens.
The Black Bears certainly appear to have what it takes to leave
Washington-Grizzly Stadium with a victory. Seven starters, including Walter
Payton Award candidate Marcus Williams, return on offense. The defense
returns six starters.
Maine is known for its "Pound the Rock" philosophy on offense and a swarming
"Black Hole" mentality on defense.
The Black Bears could be more apt to throw the ball this season. Sophomore
Ron Whitcomb, the Atlantic 10 rookie of the year in 2003, has a deep and
talented group of receivers on his disposal.
Senior Christian Pereira, a 6-foot-3, 218-pounder, hauled in 52 catches for
820 yards with 10 touchdowns last season. Junior Kevin McMahan (6-2, 200) is
coming off a 36-catch, 598-yard season. Then there's junior Ryan Waller, who
led Maine with 53 catches.
"We're excited at wide receiver,'' Cosgrove said. "It's been a growth
process with those guys, similar to (Montana). Montana has a tremendous
group of wide receivers. They are veteran guys who've been around."
Whitcomb soon could be considered one of the elite quarterbacks in I-AA
football. He started all 11 games as a redshirt freshman, completing 56.5
percent of his passes with 21 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions.
Whitcomb, in his first career start, completed 15-of-31 passes for 188 yards
with two touchdowns and an interception in the loss to UM.
"It feels a lot more comfortable having 11 games under my belt,'' Whitcomb
said. "I've taken my game to another level. At the same time, I just
continue to play within the offense."
The offense will no doubt include a large dose of Williams, who rushed for
1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. Williams gained 70 yards on 23
carries against UM last season. The Griz limited Maine to just 95 yards on
42 carries last season.
"They had some great players up front,'' Cosgrove said. "They are very, very
talented and they beat us at times up front. It was a telling part of the
game. When you promote pound the rock and you can't, that affects you
mentality.''
A loss to Montana won't be easy to recover from. The Black Bears play host
to a tough Northern Colorado squad next week and then travel to Division I-A
Mississippi State. After that, it's a date at defending national champion
Delaware.
If the Black Bears start out 4-0, they could very well find themselves
ranked No. 1 in the country and have Maine fans forgetting all about hockey
season. Well, maybe not.
"Yeah, maybe we'll be allowed to eat with (the hockey) team sometime,''
joked Whitcomb.
***
Streaking Griz begin with Maine
By Andrew Hinkelman, The Daily Inter Lake
MISSOULA -- At the dawn of a new college football season, the Montana
Grizzlies find themselves in their customary position -- preseason Big Sky
favorites.
And another conference championship -- the third-ranked Griz have won or
shared eight of the last nine -- would mean an unprecedented 12th
consecutive Division I-AA playoff appearance. Their quest starts Saturday,
playing host to No. 11 Maine.
"The goal is to keep our consecutive playoff streak going and keep our Big
Sky championship streak going, and keep getting better every week," coach
Bobby Hauck said last Saturday at media day. "If we focus on our business,
have fun playing, play fast and physical, we’ll be fine."
It may take more than that, though, as Montana heads into the season with an
unproven defense, save for starting senior tackles Jonny Varona (6-3, 280)
and Blake
Horgan (6-3, 275).
"Right now the defensive tackles are the strength of the defense and
everybody else looks really young and inexperienced," Hauck acknowledged.
"We expect our guys to work hard. We’ll play tough hard-nosed football, play
a physical brand. We just want to get better every week and see where that
takes us."
The Grizzlies are expected to start five sophomores on defense in Saturday’s
opener, including both defensive ends and three defensive backs,
putting a lot of pressure on junior cornerback Kevin Edwards, a returning
starter.
Offensively, things look a lot steadier for Montana. Craig Ochs and Jeff
Disney return at quarterback after both made starts last year.
Disney started the first three games as Ochs recovered from an ankle injury.
Ochs is again nursing injuries coming out of fall camp. He wore a large
bandage on his right wrist and thumb at media day, and missed both
scrimmages, though Hauck insisted "he’s fine."
And while Montana will have two seasoned signal callers, the receiving corp
still needs work, Hauck said.
That may not be too much of a problem, though, as the unquestioned strength
of the Grizzlies’ offense is its running game.
Led by senior All-American and Walter Payton Award candidate Justin Green
(1,146 yards as a junior) with Kalispell’s Lex Hilliard (590 yards as a true
freshman) and JR Waller (344 yards as a sophomore) adding depth to what will
start out as a sort of running back by committee.
"It will be to a degree," Hauck said. "Those guys have done a good job, it’s
probably one of the strengths of our team. We need to get them the
football. They’re some of the better players on our football team and we
need to make sure we get them the ball enough times."
Said Hilliard: "We’ve been working pretty hard, everyone’s focused it seems
like. We’ve got a whole bunch of different dimensions. We’ve got four
running backs who all have their own running style. You’re going to see a
lot of mixing it up.
"I think I’ve got good hands, but at the same time Justin is a power runner,
can just run people over, can bring the hit. JR can juke you out of
your shoes and Brady (Green) just does whatever."
The offensive line has to replace three departed starters, including
Kalispell’s Dylan McFarland, a draft choice of the Buffalo Bills, but senior
tackle Cory Procter provides an anchor to build around.
Procter, a preseason All-American candidate, has started all four years for
the Grizzlies.
On special teams, Montana has to replace the best kicker the program has
ever known, Chris Snyder. But sophomore Tyson Johnson is back to punt and
Levander Segars, an electrifying return specialist also returns.
As for the Black Bears of Maine, they present a tough challenge to start the
season.
"They’re a big team, fast and physical," Hilliard said.
The Grizzlies defeated Maine 30-20 to start last season in Orono, Maine, so
revenge will be a factor.
"They’re good," Hauck said. "They’ve got everybody back off of a very good
football team a year ago. They’re very physical, and I think that’s the
biggest concern."
***
Speed, depth bolster Black Bears' hopes
By Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News
ORONO - The University of Maine football team has worked hard to establish
an identity as one of the premier programs in the Atlantic 10 Conference and
in the nation.The Black Bears' "Pound the Rock" offensive philosophy and its
swarming "Black Hole" defense have helped UMaine compile a 27-11 record and
earn two trips to the NCAA Division I-AA national quarterfinals in the last
three years.
Coming off a 7-5 campaign in 2003, 12th-year coach Jack Cosgrove hopes his
Bears can maintain those trademarks while giving opponents more to think
about this season, which begins Saturday at Montana.
"I think this is the fastest team that we've ever put on the football field
at receiver, the backfield and the defensive backfield, and even at the
linebacker spot," Cosgrove said.
The Bears don't lack for experience and boast at least two quality players
at virtually every starting position.
The offense is headlined by two-time 1,000-yard rusher and All-Atlantic 10
first-team selection Marcus Williams. The senior is complemented by standout
wide receivers in senior Christian Pereira and juniors Ryan Waller and Kevin
McMahan, all-conference senior lineman Mike Leconte of South Portland, and
sophomore quarterback Ron Whitcomb, the A-10 Rookie of the Year.
All-league senior strong safety Brandon McGowan, junior linebacker Jermaine
Walker, all-conference senior tackle Pat Pa'u and senior end Marcus Walton
spearhead the defensive unit.
UMaine has always strived for a tantalizing balance of run and pass, with
the emphasis on a physical ground game. Williams has been the workhorse,
running for 2,863 yards in the last three seasons.
The 5-foot-10, 236-pounder needs 965 yards to become the Bears' all-time
rushing leader.
"We're really going to spread things out," Williams said. "I'm sure we'll
have a nice balance between the run and the pass, but I think you're going
to see a lot more points, a lot more explosive plays."
Williams runs behind a veteran offensive line led by Leconte, who has moved
back to guard with the return of talented junior center Ben Lazarski from a
2003 shoulder injury. Evign Dodge of Berwick, a junior, is back at the other
guard spot.
The tackles, junior Ryan Bird and senior Mark Lehner, both have considerable
starting experience.
"We feel we're as athletic as we've ever been up front, although maybe not
as big," Cosgrove said. "We think we can be very good with that group."
Sophomore Ken Henry looks to fill the void at fullback. The other untested
position is tight end, where junior Josh Radulski has earned the starting
nod.
While UMaine prides itself on using two running backs, the it will implement
more single-back sets with four wide receivers this fall.
"We want to become more diverse in the things we're presenting to the
defense," said associate head coach and offensive coordinator Bobby Wilder.
"We've expanded our two-back package and we're more multiple out of our
one-back package."
A more mature and improved Whitcomb (186-for-329, 2,428 yards, 21 TDs) will
have the luxury of throwing not only to Waller (53 receptions, 528 yards, 5
TDs last season), Pereira (52-820-10) and McMahan (36-598-5), but the likes
of senior Ivi Nwosu, soph Arel Gordon and junior Ron Waller.
"You can say we did a little bit of an overhaul in the spring and I think
the objective was not to be so much one-dimensional," Whitcomb said.
Defensive coordinator Rich Nagy wants the Bears to turn up the heat with a
more aggressive, blitzing style of defense than it played last fall while
breaking in two inexperienced cornerbacks.
McGowan, who led the team in tackles with 89 as the free safety in 2003,
moves back to "Rover," where he played two years ago. Walker (83 tackles)
patrols the middle, flanked by four seasoned cornerbacks.
Seniors Devon Goree and Jarrod Gomes, both of whom missed last season with
injuries, are back. They are joined by versatile junior Clinton Brown (44
tackles), sophomore Manauris Arias (40) and senior John Baumgartner (24).
"With the depth that we now have in our secondary, it's going to allow us to
pressure people and really try to dictate the tempo to an offense about how
we want to play the game," Nagy said.
Senior Agean Robinson, who was plagued by an ankle injury a year ago, is the
other starter at inside linebacker. The "Whip" strong safety is third-year
starter Joan Quezada (42 tackles). Sophomore Daren Stone will start at free
safety.
"We certainly have as deep and talented a secondary as I've ever seen us
have here," Cosgrove said.
Sophomore Mike DeVito fills one of two holes on the defensive line, where
converted linebacker Matt King will man one end. They join mainstays in Pa'u
and Walton, along with backup junior end Kurt Bulwith.
"Mike DeVito's had probably as good a camp as anybody in the program on a
consistent basis. We're excited about him," Cosgrove said.
The special teams also should be more productive. Senior Mike Mellow is back
for his third season as UMaine's place-kicker and punter, but is being
pushed by sophomore transfer Rocco Navarro of Portland.
Kick returners include speedster Gordon, Goree, McMahan and Gomes.
Sophomore quarterback Ron Whitcomb, the 2003 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year,
returns to direct the University of Maine football team's offense as the
Black Bears begin their quest for the league title and an NCAA playoff spot.
*** ***
Extra Point - Week One: I-AA In Good Shape
By Matt Dougherty, The Sports Network
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - For two weeks in July and August, I
embarked on journeys to meet media members, sports information directors and
coaches, as well as educate myself in the world of I-AA, at eight different
media days.
Beginning with the Big Sky media day on July 19, I made sure the pen and
paper were handy as Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton addressed the
gathering of media and coaches as they devoured breakfast.
Much of what Fullerton said intrigued me, and at the same time left me with
questions. He asserted that I-AA football is in great shape, with exposure
reaching an all-time high. However, almost in the same breath he talked
about the need for a change, and how the I-AA label has become a "branding"
problem.
So, trying to find a solution to the status of I-AA, I listened to a week
straight of addresses from conference commissioners at the end of July. By
the end, it was like sitting in ninth grade English class mindlessly taking
notes on topics that have been instilled for years. I-AA gets lost in the
shuffle, yet it’s better than ever. I-AA teams are all going to flee for the
big bucks of I-A, yet conferences are all going to expand.
Finally done with waiting in airports, it was time to find the truth. Is
I-AA really in serious danger, or is it becoming more credible than ever? To
truly ponder the question, one fact has to be taken into account. There’s no
winning with the NCAA, as its more powerful members continually push around
the governing body. The board will get tough on the newer I-A schools when
it comes to the 15,000 fans per game attendance requirement (that’s you,
Florida Atlantic and Florida International) but don’t expect it to regulate
teams from more established conferences like the MAC. Trust me, as a former
employee in sports information, exaggerating attendance at events, even
ticketed events, doesn’t exactly bring about an NCAA reprimand.
The NCAA will continue to place I-AA on the low end of its priority level.
But that does not mean all is lost in the sub-classification. On the
contrary, media (most importantly, television) is beginning to view I-AA as
a valuable commodity on its own. Fifteen games will be broadcast from the
Atlantic 10. Twenty-one will be shown from the Patriot League, while 28 Big
Sky contests are set for live broadcasts. While many of these are on
regional stations, the national media is taking note of the popularity of
I-AA as well. CSTV, one of the fastest rising cable networks, will show 13
I-AA games, including three Saturdays of I-AA doubleheaders. ESPN will show
the national championship and semifinals, and will also broadcast the
quarterfinals in syndication. The Fox College Sports Network will soon be on
the scene, and ESPN is exploring the idea of a college sports network.
Now, is I-AA still a niche product? Of course, but that’s not a bad thing.
Few sports capture the nation’s attention and the rest fight to establish a
fan base and gain some airtime on the national scene. With so many options
out there, people will only focus on what they want to.
However, when the television networks explore the base for I-AA they see a
stronger collection of fans than ever. For one, it’s football, and as NBC
proved with the Arena League there can never be enough football games on
television. More importantly, the group that supports I-AA is a dedicated
bunch. As I’ve found out through e-mails, message boards and websites, I-AA
fans have a passion and an enthusiasm for their teams and sport that is
unmatched among the tennis and golf crowds. The fact that websites such as
I- AA.org and I-AA.com have increased their coverage and influence only
enhances the reputation of I-AA.
The cable networks are paying attention. They don’t look at I-AA and see a
"second-class" of college football. They look at a product that has a base
and can stand by itself in gaining ratings, no matter who tries to take the
plunge into I-A. Maybe the brand isn’t so bad after all.
A quick look at some of the other issues that arose in the conference media
days:
Expand the Playoffs?: Big South conference commissioner Kyle Kallander
believes more schools need access to the I-AA postseason. Kallander believes
that the playoff field should expand to 24 teams because less than a quarter
of I-AA schools currently have access to the postseason.
However, there aren’t enough contenders to justify the increase at this
time. There are 120 schools competing in football at the I-AA level. Of
those, 22 are Mid-Majors that would likely not fare too well against the top
teams in I-AA. The eight Ivy schools are barred from the postseason by
league mandate. The SWAC division champions, along with Grambling State and
Southern, also do not compete in the playoffs and the conference would have
trouble fielding a participant as well. North Dakota State, Northern
Colorado, UC-Davis, and South Dakota State are all ineligible for postseason
play while in a transition phase from Division II.
Realistically, that leaves 76 programs competing for the playoff spots. The
importance and the magnitude placed on every regular season game in college
football makes the sport unique and is a big reason for its popularity. By
expanding the playoffs at this point, the regular season would lose some of
its luster. Last season, four-loss teams like Villanova, Georgia Southern
and Appalachian State all might have received bids despite not having
stellar seasons.
A second problem with expanding the field is logistics. Either the season
would have to start a week earlier (like Division II) or the playoff would
have to run a week later. Since running the playoffs a week later would put
it back to Christmas Day, we’ll assume the season would have to start a bit
earlier. The two squads in the championship game would have to play either
16 or 17 games if they played in the first round of the playoffs. The season
would run from around August 25 to a week before Christmas, which is just
too long for a classification that still cares about the first word in the
phrase "student- athletes."
The only other option would be to shorten the regular season. I know I
wouldn’t want to be the one to tell athletic directors that the big-money
game with a I- A school or the sixth home game won’t be happening this year.
A resounding "No" would be the least of the answers to that proposition.
Eventually, if the membership increases and deserving teams end up being
left out of the playoff battle, the issue of an expanded field will have to
be addressed. Currently, there is no need to mess with the success of the
16-team format.
Conference Realignment: While I-AA may never have the upheaval caused by the
ACC on the I-A level, don’t expect the current conference affiliations to
last forever. The eight-member Big Sky is exploring the expansion issue with
North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Southern Utah and Northern Colorado
(all Great West members) possibly in its sites. The Southern Conference
could be looking at Coastal Carolina, Samford, or VMI, and the Southland
Conference may get to eight or nine members with Southeastern Louisiana
already on board for 2005.
The Atlantic 10 could be fighting just to keep its league alive. Six of the
current A-10 teams are members of the Colonial Athletic Association for
other sports, and the CAA has already discussed starting a football league
when the A-10 contract runs out in 2006.
This could mean a bigger Big Sky, Southern and Southland, but start up
conferences like the Great West and Big South could struggle to compete. If
the Big Sky raids the Great West for three teams, the remaining group would
have to find an affiliation or go right back to independent status. The Big
South only has five teams to begin with, so losing even one squad could
force the league to reconsider its status. The Great West and Big South
could always try to fill the spots with teams that make the jump from
Division II, or take a struggling program from a major conference like the
Big South did with VMI. There might not be sweeping changes, but expect some
shifting of affiliations after the season is complete.
Now, we'll take a look at the rest of the week and the offseason that was in
I- AA football:
WELCOME, NORTH DAKOTA STATE
In the four games last weekend, the North Dakota State Bison made by far the
biggest statement. Granted, they beat a Mid-Major (Valparaiso), but NDSU
completely dominated the game from start to finish and never even allowed
the Crusaders to cross the 50-yard line. The Bison proved that anyone taking
them lightly because of their past Division II status should think again.
North Dakota State’s Kyle Steffes ran for 175 yards and four touchdowns on
just 13 carries to earn the first Great West Offensive Player of the Week
honor. Of course, why the Great West felt the need to give player of the
week honors when only one team was in action is another story. It’s a good
thing the Gateway didn’t award anyone from Indiana State after the Sycamores
fell 49-0 to Miami (OH). North Dakota State’s victory was also the first for
anyone in Great West history, though the conference will make some more
noise as the season goes on. Give the Bison time and they can develop into a
perennial contender in the future. This week, North Dakota State and
Northern Colorado battle in the first Great West conference game and a
matchup that could go a long way toward determining the league champion.
COMING SOON TO A CABLE STATION NEAR YOU
Both CSTV and the Football Network appear to have overcome early hurdles and
established themselves as quality options on cable and satellite packages.
CSTV will broadcast 13 games, with the only down side being a deal to show
Princeton basketball and lacrosse that also subjects viewers to two of the
Tigers football games. But CSTV will be great exposure for I-AA football,
especially since it is willing to have programs throughout the week that
will promote the sport. CSTV’s deal with the Mountain West Conference
doesn’t hurt matters either. It gives the network some instant credibility
and opens it up to places like Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and San Diego. CSTV
is already in Detroit, Cleveland, and Houston among others, and is the top
new station in interest among cable operators. The Football Network received
$30 million in funding from Cornell Capital, L.P. The network was running
and set to broadcast the I- AA All-Star game a year ago before financial
difficulties forced it to cancel the contest. Hopefully The Football Network
will be a major player for I-AA again.
RIGHT THING TO DO
No one wishes for a coach to lose his job, especially when the coach didn’t
directly do anything wrong. But Nicholls State’s action in firing head coach
Daryl Daye was a completely understandable and correct decision. Daye was
not implicated in accusations of academic fraud involving players and an
assistant coach, but he was still the one steering the ship. Having control
of every one of your coaches and players is harder in football than any
other collegiate sport. However, it still has to be done. It was Daye’s duty
to make sure that everything involving his program was run the right away,
and he should pay the penalty when it did not. He still hired the staff and
has to carry some blame for the actions of those beneath him.
LONG OFFSEASON FINALLY OVER AT FLORIDA A & M
While the eight or nine month offseason drags on for all I-AA fans, no one
will be happier to get back on the field than Florida A & M. The Rattlers
had 11 MEAC championships taken away and must pay back $175,000 in title
payouts to the conference. All this while the school is reportedly in debt
up to $700,000. The Rattlers tried to get by for years with just one person
in the compliance department. Going on the cheap showed when 196 violations
(of the same couple problems) were committed in 14 sports from 1998-2003.
Despite warnings of these problems, the Rattlers still tried to go ahead
with a move to I-A. They’ll pay for it with four players sitting out the
first four games and a tough early schedule. Hopefully, the Rattlers can at
least get through the season without any problems, restore some integrity to
the school, and eventually get back to being a contender in the MEAC.
SPEARS’ STATUS UP IN THE AIR
All male readers of the column, relax. The headline does not pertain to
Britney Spears and her engagement to the backup dancer with the sideways
baseball cap. However, the Spears mentioned here, Grambling State head coach
Melvin Spears, may see his job go away even before his aforementioned
namesake ties the knot. Spears, who already had to prove his resume was
accurate, will have to prove himself on the field as an interim coach. When
Grambling State president Horace Judson said there is still an issue of
filing the position on a permanent basis, it wasn’t exactly a ringing
endorsement for Spears’ candidacy. On the plus side for Grambling and
Spears, the Tigers will open the 2004 season at home against Alcorn State
Saturday instead of playing the contest in Los Angeles. The game, which was
set to be called the Silver Dollar Classic, would have brought in some
money. However, fans would have had to wait for October 16 for the first
Tigers home game if the deal held on. That’s just not fair to your home
supporters, especially with Payton Candidate Bruce Eugene leading the way in
his senior season.
BRANCH, EUGENE AMONG FIRST PAYTON HOPEFULS
The 2003 winner, Colgate’s Jamaal Branch, and runner-up, Grambling State’s
Bruce Eugene, highlighted a group of 16 players on the first Walter Payton
Award watch announced by the Sports Network this week. Branch ran for an
NCAA record 2,326 yards and tied a I-AA record with 29 rushing touchdowns in
2003, while Eugene threw for 3,805 yards and 34 touchdowns. Illinois State’s
Boomer Grigsby heads the list of 16 candidates for the Buck Buchanan Award.
Grigsby, the runner-up in 2003, made 179 tackles a year ago. The Payton
Watch and Buchanan Battle pages can be found at The Sports Network’s Web
site (www.sportsnetwork.com). Both awards, along with the Eddie Robinson
Award honoring I-AA’s top coach and the Sports Network Cup bestowed upon the
nation’s best I-AA Mid-Major program, will be presented on the eve of the
national title game on December 16th in Chattanooga, TN.
THE GAMES
Living up to my predecessor in the picks department will be a tough task.
Still, I picked up some confidence after correctly calling Murray State and
Samford’s victories over DII squads, Indiana State’s thrashing at the hands
of Miami (OH), and North Dakota State’s demolition of Valparaiso. I wish I
could count those on the record, but I’ll just start with the full slate
this week. Without further ado, the first shots at picking this week’s I-AA
games:
THURSDAY’S GAMES:
New Hampshire (0-0) at No. 1 Delaware (0-0), 7:30
Apparently these schools just couldn’t get enough of each other. The A-10
rivals square off in a "non-conference" game (which will not count in the
A-10 standings), giving each team nine A-10 opponents on the schedule. But
the Blue Hens surely did not guarantee themselves an easy victory to start
their defense of the national championship. New Hampshire ran out to a 21-3
lead after one quarter when the teams met a year ago, and Delaware needed a
late touchdown and missed 34-yard field goal to hold on to the victory.
Delaware quarterback Sonny Riccio debuts in the contest, and the Blue Hens
offense shouldn’t lose a step. Still, New Hampshire has enough firepower
with Mike Granieri and company to keep it close. Final Score: Delaware 34,
New Hampshire 24
Southeast Missouri State (0-0) at No. 2 Southern Illinois (0-0), 8:00
The contest is the first in a series of six as the Ohio Valley Conference
attempts to earn some type of respect against the Gateway. The Gateway
embarrassed the OVC a year ago by taking all eight contests between the
conferences. Southeast Missouri isn’t the worst the OVC has to offer, and
has some potential on offense with Goodenough at quarterback and Goodson at
tight end. They also have a killer first three weeks of the schedule, and
this contest is just as tough as the matchups with I-A teams. The Salukis
will showcase a new and, possibly, even better running attack and have much
more talent overall. Add the emotion of the home opener, and Southern
Illinois will get one in the win column. Final score: Southern Illinois 31,
Southeast Missouri 14
Bucknell (0-0) at No. 9 Villanova (0-0), 7:00
Like Delaware, the Wildcats can’t take their first contest too lightly.
Bucknell possesses a multi-dimensional threat at quarterback and returns
nine defensive starters from last year’s 6-6 squad. Villanova, however, does
have 16 starters back from a 2003 team that was more talented than the 7-4
record indicates. The Wildcats also have an 18-3 mark in September since
1997. Providing the Wildcats aren’t caught looking ahead to next week’s game
at Lehigh, they should get by Bucknell without much trouble. For what it’s
worth to Villanova fans, the contest will also be my first in attendance for
the Sports Network. Final score: Villanova 27, Bucknell 10
Henderson State (0-0) at No. 16 Stephen F. Austin (0-0)
If anyone can be excused for opening with a lower level opponents, it's
Stephen F. Austin. The Lumberjacks host Northern Arizona and play at
Northern Iowa after this contest, so they earn the right to fatten up the
record to start off. In the last three meetings between the teams, Stephen
F. Austin has won by scores of 51-0, 31-6, and 55-7. This final should
follow the same trend. Final Score: Stephen F. Austin 52, Henderson State 3
Eastern Washington (0-0) at Nicholls State (0-0), 7:30
The Eagles and Colonels are heading in different directions at the start of
the 2004 season. After five straight seasons of landing around the .500
mark, the Eagles have enough talent around quarterback Erik Meyer to make a
serious push in the Big Sky this year. The Colonels, on the other hand, sit
in the midst of an academic scandal that cost head coach Darryl Daye his
job. Head coach Jay Thomas has only had two weeks at the helm, and the
Colonels still are looking for someone to emerge at quarterback. Eastern
Washington had to travel 1200 miles and Nicholls State will play on the
emotion of the past few weeks in the early going. Ultimately, however, the
more talented team will prevail. Final Score: Eastern Washington 31,
Nicholls State 20
SATURDAY’S GAMES
QUICK HITS
Rhode Island (0-0) at Fordham (0-0), 1:00
The Fordham faithful get a first look at both a new coach and new starting
quarterback as the Rams host, well, the Rams. Head coach Ed Foley will try
to keep Fordham going in the right direction after now Richmond head coach
Dave Clawson turned the program into a winner. Keeping the offense on track
will be an even greater challenge for quarterback Derric Daniels. Daniels,
who missed 2003 due to injury and has never taken a collegiate snap, earned
the starting nod last week. He takes over an offense that lost an
All-American at running back and receiver. The more interesting battle in
this contest could be when Rhode Island has the ball. Rhode Island ran for
over 330 yards per game with its triple option offense in 2003, while
Fordham surrendered 184. If Rhode Island can control the ball and the clock,
it has a chance to come out with a victory. Fordham ripped apart the Rhode
Island defense in a 63-28 win a year ago. The revenge factor triumphs the
home field advantage in this case. Final Score: Rhode Island 38, Fordham 35
Southern Utah (0-0) at Weber State (0-0), 7:35
The game marks the first of many opportunities for the Great West to make a
name for itself against the Big Sky. It also possesses a matchup to look
forward to as Weber State running back Nick Chournos runs into a strong
defense led by linebacker and Buchanan award candidate Nick DiPadova. Weber
State holds a 12-2 edge in the all-time series, but Southern Utah has won
two of the past three. Weber State ran all over the Thunderbirds a year ago,
but could have trouble duplicating the success with plenty of the offensive
starters from 2003 now moved on. Southern Utah plays its first four on the
road, but will kick off the trip on a positive note and earn state bragging
rights with a mild upset here. Final Score: Southern Utah 17, Weber State 13
I-AA vs I-A
Samford (1-0) at Georgia Tech (0-0), 1:00
Samford got a taste of Division II competition in a 34-20 win against West
Alabama last week. Now, they step it up two notches to take on Georgia Tech,
which has been to seven consecutive bowl games. The Samford defense, which
has had its problems in the past, faces the very daunting task of stopping
last year’s ACC rushing leader, Philip Daniels. If the game does get out of
hand, at least the Bulldogs duo of Ray Nelson and Efrem Hill will have a
chance to put up some garbage time numbers through the air. Final Score:
Georgia Tech 45, Samford 20
William & Mary (0-0) at North Carolina (0-0), 1:30
For the third straight year, the Tribe opens the season against a I-A
opponent. A year ago, William & Mary was crushed, 56-24, by Western
Michigan. In 2002, the Tribe kept it close before falling, 25-17, against
Indiana. The Tribe has averaged 287 yards and 18 points per game in the last
10 contests against I-A opponents, and North Carolina’s defense is porous
enough to allow that to happen. The game will be a shootout, but ultimately
the Tar Heels will have enough weapons to come out the victor. Final Score:
North Carolina 49, William & Mary 31
Florida A & M (0-0) at Illinois (0-0), 6:00
There probably isn’t a team in America that is happier to take the field
than Florida A & M. The failed move to I-A, the sanctions from the MEAC (and
who knows what else from the NCAA) and suspension of four players for being
academically ineligible were just some of the lowlights of the Rattlers
offseason. Now, Florida A & M opens with a three-game road trip against I-A
opponents. That said, Illinois has been a shade of its former self since the
graduation of Kurt Kittner, and the Rattlers could at least keep it close
for a while. They might not win, but just getting on the field at this point
is huge for Florida A & M. Final Score: Illinois 31, Florida A & M 17
Idaho State (0-0) at San Diego State (0-0), 9:05
The Aztecs are far removed from the days of Marshall Faulk. San Diego State
averaged just 18.7 points per game a year ago, and had a close contest with
Eastern Washington in the season opener. However, the Aztecs did win three
of the last four to end the season. Idaho State’s defense, especially
without 2003 Buchanan Award winner Jared Allen, can make an offense look
good on its worst day. Final score: San Diego State 48, Idaho State 24
No. 10 Georgia Southern (0-0) at AP No. 3 Georgia (0-0), 3:00
The Eagles are another of the teams that basically guarantee themselves a
1-1 start. The challenge of playing one of the best I-A teams in the nation
and the powerhouse we all know it to be at Johnson C. Smith should have the
Eagles prepared for Wofford. This week, they’ll get a first hand look at
David Greene, David Pollack, and the rest of a Bulldog team that many
experts think can win the national title (or, since it’s I-A, at least
capture a half of the title). This will be one of those close for a little
while, blowout at the end contests that happens often early in the season.
Georgia Southern will stay in striking distance for a quarter and a half,
and Brent Musberger will mention on ABC about how the Bulldogs are having
some trouble. In the end, the Eagles won’t be all that close. Final Score:
Georgia 49, Georgia Southern 17
No. 13 Western Kentucky (0-0) vs AP No. 12 Kansas State (0-0), 7:00
Western Kentucky will also get to see a Heisman candidate up close and
personal. Kansas State’s Darren Sproles figures to be in the race all
season, and should pad his numbers against the Hilltoppers defense. But look
on the bright side, WKU fans. In 2002, the Hilltoppers lost the first game
of the season at K-State, 48-3, then went on to win the title. Winning this
season’s national title will be a tough task, but the result of the K-State
game will probably be repeated. Final Score: Kansas State 50, Western
Kentucky 7
No. 12 Western Illinois (0-0) at Nebraska (0-0), 1:30
The Leathernecks get to be the first to witness the new Nebraska. Western
Illinois will be preparing for a balanced offense from a Nebraska team that
surprisingly is not ranked in the top 25. The game will be televised on Fox
Sports Net’s pay-per-view division in the Midwest, with a suggested retail
price of $29.95. For Leathernecks fans itching to see their team in action,
it may be worth the price. But don’t break the bank for it. Final Score:
Nebraska 35, Western Illinois 10
No. 20 Appalachian State (0-0) at Wyoming (0-0)
The Mountaineers begin a very tough September schedule with a 1600-mile trip
from Boone, N.C. to Laramie, Wyoming. The trip won’t get any easier upon
arrival as Wyoming should be improved in the second season under ex-Montana
head man Joe Glenn. Interesting to note, Appalachian State is 0-7 in trips
west of the Mississippi in its history, with games at Northwestern State and
Texas State still to come this season. The Mountaineers may win one or both
of those contests, but will fall to 0-8 Saturday. Final Score: Wyoming 24,
Appalachian State 13
No. 14 Northern Arizona (0-0) at Arizona (0-0), 10:00 pm
If this game was played a year ago, Northern Arizona would have had a real
chance to beat an Arizona program in disarray. While the Wildcats might not
be world beaters this season, this is the home opener and first game for
head coach Mike Stoops, so they will be on an emotional high. Stoops’
defensive genius will be tested by Northern Arizona phenom quarterback Jason
Murrietta, but the Wildcats are a stronger team overall than the
Lumberjacks. Final score: Arizona 27, Northern Arizona 17
No. 6 Northern Iowa (0-0) at Iowa State (0-0), 2:00
Northern Iowa has by far the best chance of the I-AA squads facing I-A teams
from the BCS conferences. The Panthers boast a solid running game with
Terrance Freeney, a returning quarterback and a quality defense. Iowa State
was outscored 36-14 on average in 2003, and is starting a redshirt freshman
as part of a rotation system at quarterback. The Cyclones edged the
Panthers, 17-10, a season ago in a game that was tied up at halftime.
Northern Iowa has that contest to build off for confidence, and the talent
level between the two schools is very close. The experience of the offensive
stars for Northern Iowa will pay off late in the game as the Panthers score
late to pull off the upset. Final Score: Northern Iowa 20, Iowa State 17
No. 18 Northwestern State (0-0) at UL-Lafayette (0-0), 7:00
Louisiana-Lafayette is part of a group of Sun Belt teams that really have no
business participating in a conference that receives a bowl invitation. The
Ragin’ Cajuns four wins in 2003 were the most for the program in seven
seasons. Their leading rusher had a grand total of 421 yards. In 2000, a
mediocre Northwestern State team went into Cajun Field and came away with a
23-21 victory. The 2004 version of Demons should be well above mediocrity,
and should be able to knock off UL-Lafayette again. Final Score:
Northwestern State 24, UL-Lafayette 17
CONFERENCE CLASHES
Alcorn State (0-0) at Grambling State (0-0), 7:00
Everyone involved should be thankful that this game won’t be played in Los
Angeles and will not be called the Silver Dollar Classic. A conference
rivalry should not be decided on the other side of the country. It’s not
often that a game that pits two of the best teams in a conference comes on
the first weekend, so this contest will be a treat for Grambling State fans.
Each team has plenty of talent at the quarterback position. Everyone knows
about Grambling’s Bruce Eugene, but Alcorn State’s Donald Carrie threw for
2,833 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2003 and is a second team All-SWAC pick in
the preseason. And while Braves coach Johnny Thomas is 0-6 lifetime against
the Tigers, the games have been much closer in recent years. Last season,
Alcorn State held a five-point lead in the fourth quarter before two botched
punts led to Grambling State touchdowns in the Tigers’ 40-28 victory. The
Braves appear to be the top team in the SWAC East division, while Grambling
has the inside track for high honors in the West. The Tigers are still the
class of the league, and will prove it in a close contest here. Final Score:
Grambling State 34, Alcorn State 27
North Dakota State (1-0) at Northern Colorado (0-0), 2:00
The first game for the new Great West Conference promises to be one of the
best. The Bison showed that they can compete at the I-AA level in a season-
opening 52-0 win against Valparaiso, and the Bears are the near unanimous
selection as preseason conference favorite. While the current conference
affiliation is new, these teams are no strangers. North Dakota State holds a
21-7 edge in the all-time series as both teams were members of the North
Central Conference in Division II, but Northern Colorado has captured four
of the past five meetings. Kyle Steffes won’t run for 175 yards on 13
carries like he did against Valparaiso, so North Dakota State will need the
arm of Tony Stauss to have a chance for the road victory. A big key to the
game will be the offensive line play for the Bears. Four of the five
starters are new, and if they get beat by the NDSU defense up front UNC
quarterback Tony Christensen could be running for his life. Coaches say a
team improves the most from game one to game two, and North Dakota State
already looked pretty darn good a week ago. All the "X" factors are in the
Bison’s favor, but Northern Colorado has the edge in talent and the home
field. The NFL betting line gives three points to the home team, and that
will be the difference here. Final Score: Northern Colorado 27, North Dakota
State 24
South Dakota State (0-0) at UC-Davis (0-0), 9:00
South Dakota State begins its stint as a I-AA program with a tough road
conference game. The Jackrabbits boast a strong 1-2 punch in the backfield
with quarterback Brad Nelson and running back Anthony Watson capable of
putting points up in bunches. UC-Davis has lost a significant number of
starters on the defensive side of the ball and the Jackrabbits should be
able to move the ball and score. On the other hand, the Aggies may have an
even easier time finding the endzone against South Dakota State’s patchwork
defense. Starting quarterback Jon Grant is inexperienced, but the Aggies
have a long tradition at the position and Grant should have no trouble
getting his feet wet in this one. The offenses seem to cancel each other
out, but the Aggies have the stouter defense and will make enough plays
against Nelson to take the victory. Final Score: UC-Davis 37, South Dakota
State 27
THE BIG GAMES
No. 8 McNeese State (0-0) at Southern (0-0), 8:00
In one of the most interesting matchups of the week, both teams have huge
question marks coming into the season after winning their respective
conference titles a season ago. For McNeese, who was ranked No. 1 through
much of the season and finished 10-2, numerous all-conference players have
to be replaced. Wide receiver B.J. Sams, running back Vick King, and
linebacker Roderick Royal are just a few of the names that no longer
dominate the field in Lake Charles. Still, with Scott Pendarvis at
quarterback and John Paul Jones on the defensive line the Cowboys have
strong leadership on both sides of the ball. A few weeks ago, the Jaguars
looked to have more talent in this contest. But that was before preseason
All-SWAC running back Kevin Peoples and defensive back Jarmaul George were
ruled ineligible and wide receiver Alfred Ard ventured into a baseball
career. With 2003 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Quincy Richard already
lost to graduation, suddenly the offensive firepower of last year’s team has
completely disappeared. Neither team is anywhere near as good as a season
ago, and both have their work cut out for them to repeat as conference
champions. McNeese has the better history of reloading lost talent, and that
edge should be enough to take them past the Jaguars. Final Score: McNeese
State 24, Southern 21
No. 11 Maine (0-0) at No. 3 Montana (0-0), 3:00
Even those e-mailers who hate the "Montana bias" of the media would have
trouble arguing that the Grizzlies game with the Black Bears is the showcase
of week one. When arranging my travel schedule for the season, my decision
to make this trip was one of the easiest. I’ve already heard legends about
tailgating at Washington-Grizzly and the bars for postgame beverages in
Missoula. And that same raucous home atmosphere can’t be of any help to the
visiting Black Bears of Maine, who make the long plane ride out west. Maine
sophomore quarterback Ron Whitcomb will play in front of the most hostile
crowd in his young career. Despite that, Whitcomb has a year of seasoning
and should perform better than last year’s 15-for-31 effort in a 30-20 loss
to the Grizzlies in Maine. Marcus Williams and a strong receiving core will
aid his effort, and the Black Bears are solid on defense. The Grizzlies are
almost a carbon copy of the Black Bears. Montana has a strong quarterback
(Craig Ochs), running backs (Justin Green and Lex Hilliard) and a quality
set of wide receivers. Maine’s Arel Gordon and Montana’s Levander Segars
pretty much cancel each other out in the return game. The only tangible
difference is the location of the game, but that impact will be enough to
carry the Grizzlies over the Black Bears in the week’s marquee matchup.
Final Score: Montana 23, Maine 20
MID-MAJOR GAME OF THE WEEK
Mid-Major No. 1 Duquesne (0-0) at Holy Cross (0-0), 1:00
The matchup between the Dukes and Crusaders brings the top mid-major against
one of the lower "scholarship" level I-AA schools. Holy Cross lost wide
receivers Ari Confesor and Nick Larsen from a 2003 team that finished just
1-11. Included in that record is a 46-45 overtime loss at mid-major program
San Diego. Tom Gilmore takes over as head coach at Holy Cross but he has a
long way to go to bring the program back to any competitive status. The
Dukes have lost some talent as well, but quarterback Neil Loebig returns and
Duquesne possesses the stronger overall team. Final Score: Duquesne 27, Holy
Cross 14
***
Don Hansen's Picks
Thursday
27-21 Eastern Washington (0-0) over at Nicholls State (0-0) 6:35
40-7 at Portland State (0-0) over Western State (D-II) (0-1) 7:05
41-10 at #1 Delaware (0-0) over New Hampshire (0-0) 7:00
27-17 at Hofstra (0-0) over Albany (0-0) 7:00 FSNY-TV
31-14 at #8 Villanova (0-0) over Bucknell (0-0) 7:00
27-7 at SW Missouri State (0-0) over Drake (0-0) 6:00
34-14 at Youngstown State (0-0) over Slippery Rock (D-II) (0-0) 7:30
45-7 at #4 Southern Illinois (0-0) over SE Missouri State (0-0) 7:00 FSN-Chi
52-0 at W.Michigan (D 1-A) (0-0) over Tennessee-Martin (0-0) 8:00
62-0 at Western Carolina (0-0) over West Virginia State (D-II) (0-1) 7:00
28-7 at #18 Stephen F. Austin (0-0) over Henderson State (D-II) (0-0) 7:00
42-13 at SE Louisiana (0-0) Over Arkansas-Monticello (D-II) (1-0) 7:00
Saturday
38-31 at #2 Montana (0-0) over #10 Maine (0-0) 1:05 WABI-5
28-24 at #27 Weber State (0-0) over Southern Utah (0-0) 5:35
34-14 at (1-A) San Diego State over #29 Idaho State (0-0) 6:05
34-14 at (1-A) Arizona over #12 Northern Arizona (0-0) 7:05 FSN-TV
35-7 #16 Massachusetts (0-0) over at Delaware State (0-0) 1:00
27-14 at #25 Fordham (0-0) over Rhode Island (0-0) 1:00
45-7 at (1-A) North Carolina over #38 William & Mary (0-0) 1:35
59-0 at #20 Northeastern (0-0) over (D-II) Cheyney 12:30
31-21 Towson (0-0) over at Elon (0-0) 2:00
30-7 at James Madison (0-0) over (D-II) Lock Haven 6:00
44-7 at (1-A) North Carolina State over Richmond (0-0) 6:00
41-10 at The Citadel (0-0) over Charleston Southern (0-0) 7:00
31-7 at Liberty (0-0) over (D-II) West Virginia Tech (0-1) 7:00
41-7 at (1-A) Ohio University over VMI (0-0) 7:00
28-14 #35 Gardner-Webb (0-0) over at Tennessee Tech (0-0) 7:00
27-23 at Morehead State (0-0) over Coastal Carolina (0-0) 7:00
27-14 at (1-A) Iowa State over #7 Northern Iowa (0-0) 1:00
28-13 at (1-A) Kansas State over #14 Western Kentucky (0-0) 1:10
51-7 at (1-A) Nebraska over #13 Western Illinois (0-0) 6:00
29-27 at #24 Northern Colorado (0-0) over North Dakota State (1-0) 2:00
34-14 at #33 Cal Poly (0-0) over (D-II) Humboldt State (1-0) 6:00
41-20 at #36 UC Davis (0-0) over South Dakota State (0-0) 6:00
27-10 at Alabama State (0-0) over Howard (0-0) 1:00
27-7 at Morgan State (0-0) over (D-II) Bowie State (1-0) 6:00
17-14 (D-II) Virginia State (1-0) over at Norfolk State (0-0) 6:00
31-13 #34 South Carolina St. (0-0) over vs. (D-II) Benedict (1-0) 6:00
Columbia, SC
47-0 at #30 Bethune-Cookman (0-0) over Savannah State (0-0) 7:00
21-10 #39 Hampton (0-0) over vs. Jackson State (0-0) 7:00 Orlando, FL
42-0 at (1-A) Connecticut over Murray State (0-0) 11:00
48-0 at (1-A) Georgia Tech over Samford (1-0) 12:00
28-14 at #31 Jacksonville State (0-0) over (D-II) Emporia State (1-0) 2:00
27-20 Alabama A&M (0-0) over at Tennessee State (0-0) 7:00
30-7 at Georgetown DC (0-0) over St. Francis PA (0-0) 1:00
23-20 Duquesne (0-0) over at Holy Cross (0-0) 1:00 CTV3
33-7 at Lafayette (0-0) over Marist (0-0) 1:00 Laf. Network
35-7 at #21 Lehigh (0-0) over Stony Brook (0-0) 1:00
41-0 at (1-A) Georgia over #9 Georgia Southern (0-0) 3:00 FSN-South
28-7 at (1-A) Wyoming over #23 Appalachian State (0-0) 7:00
35-10 at Sam Houston State (0-0) over (D-II) Ouachita Baptist (0-0) 6:00
42-7 at #6 Furman (0-0) over (D-II) Presbyterian (0-1) 7:00
27-7 at Texas State (0-0) over (D-II) Angelo State (0-1) 6:00
27-20 #11 McNeese State (0-0) over at #22 Southern B.R. (0-0) 7:00
20-14 at (1-A) Lousiana-Lafayette over #28 Northwestern State (0-0) 7:00
23-13 Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-0) over at Mississippi Valley (0-0) 6:00
26-7 at Texas Southern (0-0) over Prairie View (0-0) 7:00
***
No Hollywood Endings
Scott Garner, Cult of I-AA columnist, I-AA.org
The exception proves the rule. So throw out the Old Testament and the 1980
Winter Olympics when you evaluate the following statement.
Goliath always kicks the crap out of David. Always.
Forget what Hollywood movies have told you. In the real world, Clubber Lane
knocks out Rocky 24 seconds into the first round. In the real world, the
Imperial Storm Troopers pick off Ewoks like it’s a carnival event. In the
real world, the Bride never makes it past the Crazy 88; Mary keeps dating
Brett Favre; and the Deltas are expelled from campus before the toga party
and never get revenge on Dean Wormer.
This is important to remember because in the coming days and weeks, the Cult
will be venturing into the land of College football decadence--the upper
echelons of I-A. This isn’t about Louisiana-Monroe losing at the hands of
Northwestern State or Montana beating Idaho… again. This is Western Illinois
going to Lincoln, Neb., to face the Cornhuskers. It’s about Georgia Southern
lining up in front of 92,000 fans and playing the Dawgs. When Western
Carolina arrives in Tuscaloosa and the Crimson Tide is on the other side of
the ball, the gridiron equivalent of the Crane Kick is not going to lift the
Catamounts to an upset win.
Period.
That being said, the chance for I-AA teams to play on the biggest stages in
college football is one few teams can afford (literally) to turn down. With
paychecks from BCS Big Brothers that can finance a full season of football,
the Cult relishes the opportunity to share the spotlight with the sport’s
biggest names, even if the fleeting moment of fame is slightly less than the
exposure "Come On Eileen" earned Dexy’s Midnight Runners. In fact, some of
the college football snobs that call themselves experts on the sport show
their true ignorance of the NCAA’s subdivision of football when the I-A/I-AA
match ups come around. Here’s what most "major" sports outlets know about
I-AA: a)we have a playoff at the end of the season; b)we have 22 fewer
scholarships. And that’s about it.
But I digress.
As much fun as it would be to see a I-AA team upset a top-ranked I-A power,
it won’t happen. To a "big time" program, a I-AA team is a schedule-filler
that comes with risk. Not the risk of losing, but the risk of seeing those
all-important strength-of-schedule numbers tumble and inch the program
further away from a BCS Bowl bid. Even while winning, the bigger program
could be losing. That wouldn’t really be an issue if the folks in the Ivory
Tower at I-A would realize that I-AA’s playoff system might not be such a
bad idea. But even if the largest I-As take a long-term hit from a I-AA
game, don’t expect a Top 25 team to drop a I-AA matchup into the "L" column.
It just won’t happen.
In 2000, Georgia and Georgia Southern met and it was as good a scenario as
you could imagine for a I-AA to upset a ranked I-A school (Georgia was No. 9
at the time). The Eagles had all-world running back Adrian Peterson, a
legitimate superstar. There were NFL-caliber players in Georgia Southern’s
secondary. The Bulldogs were coached by Jim Donnan, a guy who actually
proved to the world that he was overlooking the defending I-AA national
champions by keeping his playbook closed so South Carolina wouldn’t get a
good look at Georgia on tape. And under center for the Dawgs was Quincy
Carter, the most over-rated quarterback of his generation.
The game unfolded like this: Georgia Southern gave the ball to Peterson. A
lot. The Dawgs knew it was going to Peterson. With their team speed, Georgia
could keep the Eagles from getting to the corner with their triple-option
attack but they could only contain Peterson, not stop him. Carter made
decisions in the first half like the Olson Twins’ dietician--bad ones.
Peterson racked up over 150 yards and the GSU defense looked respectable.
Still, Georgia pulled away in the third quarter and won by 22. Even though
the Eagles would win their sixth national title at the end of the year while
Georgia was firing their head coach, the Dawgs were still better than their
I-AA cousins by over three touchdowns. Carter finished with over 200 yards
passing and a pair of touchdowns, yet he looked terrible. And Georgia still
lost the next week to South Carolina.
That’s the kind of talent disparity fans are looking at when a I-A in the
national spotlight meets a I-AA.
Luckily, in the real world, Goliath gives David a big honking wad of cash
afterwards.
Breaking it down
So let’s look at some of the I-A games the Cult will be playing this year.
You can break them down into three categories.
You beat me up, but I take your lunch money: Games where the I-AA team is
looking to give a good showing through three quarters, trying not to get
injured and pick up a paycheck. These include: Georgia Southern at Georgia;
Western Illinois at Nebraska; Western Carolina at Alabama; The Citadel at
Auburn; UMass at Boston College; James Madison at West Virginia; Richmond at
N.C. State; Eastern Washington at Air Force; Western Kentucky at Kansas
State.
Your coach will get fired if you lose, which is a remote possibility, but
still a possibility: Games where if the I-AA team gets a couple of bounces,
it could pull of a win, which would be classified as an upset. Roll call:
Appalachian State at Wyoming; Maine at Mississippi State; Sacramento State
at Nevada-Reno; Northern Arizona at Arizona; Northern Iowa at Iowa State;
Eastern Kentucky at Vanderbilt.
Boy, you must have needed a home game badly: The I-A team is probably about
as talented as a middling I-AA squad, is floating on the raw belief that
being I-A and sucking is better than not being I-A at all and is just
praying the smaller-division school doesn’t embarrass them. Heads up: Duke
(vs. the Citadel); Temple (vs. Florida A&M); Louisiana-Lafayette (vs.
Northwestern State).
Hard to classify: These games seemed to fall somewhere in-between the three
categories above: Furman at Pittsburgh; Delaware at Navy; Southern Illinois
at Northern Illinois.
Greatest I-AA of All Time Mail Bag
Cult member Tyler Scott wrote in with a good point about our developing list
of the greatest I-AA teams of all time. He wrote:
"My only fear for your list is that it will be weighted to the most recent
(teams from the last 5-10 years), as most lists seem to be. Most totally
forget the great teams of the 80's (Idaho State '81, Eastern Kentucky
'82...)"
Good point. Tyler also weighed in on my hesitance to give Marshall’s 1996
team full credit for their accomplishments, since the Herd had no playoff
ineligible period before moving to I-A in 1997.
"I agree Marshall was positioning itself for I-A, but does that lessen what
they did in '96? They tore through everyone, and they did it within the
rules of I-AA. The players on that team were I-A All-American caliber, in my
opinion."
That Marshall team from 1996 currently leads the opinion poll of greatest
I-AA teams, but I’m leaving the forum open for a little while longer. Write
in with your vote for top team and even give me your thoughts on I-A/I-AA
games. Send email to garner@i-aa.org. I promise at least a preliminary list
next week.
Scott’s Top 25
As I was preparing the Statesboro Herald’s preseason college football
preview, I made a startling discovery. While laying the media’s preseason
poll side-by-side with the coaches’ poll, it became clear to me that there
was almost no variation in the two sets of preseason rankings. The top six
teams in both the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and the Sports Network poll
were identical. Then came the almost-negligible differences: Furman and
McNeese State swapped places by one spot in the polls. So did Georgia
Southern and Villanova to round out the top 10.
I became curious. Western Kentucky, Northern Arizona, Grambling, Stephen F.
Austin, Northeastern and Lehigh were all only moved a single spot between
polls. Eastern Kentucky, 21st in the media poll, was 23rd in the coaches’
poll, just two places removed. The only difference in the overall roster of
the top 25 polls was the 25th team--Penn (media) and Southern (coaches).
Every other spot was identical.
What, you might wonder, is the High Priest driving at?
After writing extensively last week about media members scouring the
Internet for information about Cult teams, looking into Crystal Balls,
calling Vegas and generally divining a preseason Top 25, I am beginning to
think my fellow voting media members simply looked at the coaches’ poll
(which appeared days before our Sports Network votes were even due), made a
few cosmetic changes and submitted their vote. That’s not very sporting. As
the media, we are supposed to be outsiders looking in. Some coaches say
we’re not qualified to evaluate football talent. Reporters counter that
coaches lack the necessary objectivity to rank other teams. Either way, we
agree to disagree. But if the polls are any indication, some mediums are
just taking what they are told by The Man and running with it. I say, let
the revolution begin!
Of course, it could just be a remarkable coincidence.
Just so you know I’m not talking out of school here, you can check out my
Top 25 (posted each week for all the world to see) by accessing the Cult of
I-AA archives and reading my preseason poll. There is no poll this week, so
you’ll have to go back to that one. If you’d like the Cliff’s Notes version
of my poll versus the two mainstream polls, here it is: I picked Delaware
No. 1 like everyone else in the Cult. I also agreed with both polls in
placing Montana State 15th. I had Grambling at 16, which matched the
coaches’ poll. I agreed with my fellow media in placing McNeese State 8th.
Otherwise, I was pretty unique. I also had three teams--Jacksonville State,
Northern Colorado and Idaho State--that were not listed in either poll.
Remember, Cult members, free will and critical thought are the two keys to a
happy, informed life. And beer. Sweet, sweet, beer.
Itinerary
The High Priest of I-AA will be in Athens, Georgia, this weekend for Georgia
Southern’s opener against the Bulldogs, which is always like a trip back in
time since I went to high school about 30 minutes from Athens and enjoy
getting back. Athens is a great college town, and a Mecca for live music,
which is one of my driving passions. If you are a I-AA football fan and
you’d like to meet a bundle of Georgia Southern folks and the High Priest,
hit the 40 Watt club in Athens on the Friday night before the game. Three
Statesboro bands will be playing the historic stage REM once frequented and
the hope is that most of the Georgia Southern and I-AA fans will also head
for the 40 Watt (I understand a couple of Delaware alums are even going to
the game). I’m trying to convince one of the bands to let me do a rendition
of "I Wanna Be Sedated." Local nuisance ordinances are being consulted
before a decision is rendered.
As the season progresses, though, I’ll not only tell you where I’ll be, but
where I’d like to be. Here are the games I’d like to see in the first full
week of I-AA football: Maine at Montana; Appalachian State at Wyoming;
Northern Iowa at Iowa State; Sac State at Nevada; McNeese State at Southern;
Northern Arizona at Arizona. Looks like the best action in I-AA this week is
mostly west of the Mississipp
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