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I think we have gotten to the point as a program that keeping an eye on the national FCS scene throughout the season will help give context to selection Sunday on November 18th, and provide a good running dialogue on the fun story lines of the FCS this season. With that, here are a few items I am very curious to see play out this fall:
1) Idaho's return to the FCS. The Vandals will rejoin the Big Sky in football this season, and I think it'll be interesting to see how they compete. They have 2 FBS games and a DII on the schedule, so they haven't scheduled well for getting to 7 qualifying wins, but I still think they could easily (and maybe should) win 5 Big Sky games this season. They renew their rivalry with Montana in the Battle for the Brown Stein (Idaho leads the series by a long shot, btw) in Moscow. I, for one, am rooting for the Vandals to have success because I think they have all the bones to be a "power" FCS program, and that's good for the FCS. More Flagship/Land grants in the FCS is a good thing, and my hope is that if Idaho does well at this level, it might entice a few other wannabe FBS schools like NMSU, UMass, etc. to consider dropping down. This would instantly add a lot of parity to the FCS, and I think that would be a good thing.
2)Delware: The Blue Hens probably got snubbed out of the playoffs last year, and they have a lot of hype this preseason. Can Rocco return them to their former glory? UD played in the 2010 championship game against EWU, but hasn't done much since. This is another traditionally strong program with a large fan base that the FCS needs to do well. We'll find out what kind of team they have when they take on the Bison in September.
3)Kennesaw State: A lot of hype surrounding the owls after their quick rise to prominence and good showing last year in the playoffs. Can they replicate that success?
4) After going 7-4 last year, EWU is a preseason top 10, and in some circles top 5 team. Persoanlly, I think that's a little too much hype, but it'll be interesting to see where they finish this year.
5) Who will win the Socon? Wofford, Samford, and Furman all have legit claims to being the favorite. UTC had a down year last year, but my guess is they rebound this fall.
6) Will the Montana schools return to glory this decade? If Montana state doesn't get it together this season, Choate is on the hot seat and likely gone after next fall if they don't make the playoffs by 2019. Bobby Hauck in Missoula is starting a new era there, and will have to make up a lot of lost ground in the next few seasons.
7) Is Weber State a contender this year? A very strong team last year, they didn't lose much off of their quarterfinal squad. But they have to get more dynamic on the offensive side of the ball. They take on the yotes in Spetember, and that's a huge game for both squads.
8) NCA&T vs JSU: NCA&T is always way overrrated, and is part of the SWAC-MEAC group that doesn't participate in playoffs with their champion. However, the HBCUs are always threatening to steal an at large bid with their #2 teams because of the gaudy records they put up against weak competition. JSU stomping a mud hole in them on national TV for the kickoff game would put an end to that talk.
9) Will anyone challenge JSU in the OVC? EIU has fallen off the map in the last 4 years, and I think it's unlikely to change this fall. Maybe Austin Peay?
10) Does JMU remain in the top 2 all season? The dukes lost a lot off of that defense, and I think it'll be interesting if they fully reload to remain the concensus #2 throughout the season.
Those are some items I think will be fun to watch. Feel free to comment on them, or add your own. I want to return to this thread though out the season for national score updates and discussion.
1) Idaho's return to the FCS. The Vandals will rejoin the Big Sky in football this season, and I think it'll be interesting to see how they compete. They have 2 FBS games and a DII on the schedule, so they haven't scheduled well for getting to 7 qualifying wins, but I still think they could easily (and maybe should) win 5 Big Sky games this season. They renew their rivalry with Montana in the Battle for the Brown Stein (Idaho leads the series by a long shot, btw) in Moscow. I, for one, am rooting for the Vandals to have success because I think they have all the bones to be a "power" FCS program, and that's good for the FCS. More Flagship/Land grants in the FCS is a good thing, and my hope is that if Idaho does well at this level, it might entice a few other wannabe FBS schools like NMSU, UMass, etc. to consider dropping down. This would instantly add a lot of parity to the FCS, and I think that would be a good thing.
2)Delware: The Blue Hens probably got snubbed out of the playoffs last year, and they have a lot of hype this preseason. Can Rocco return them to their former glory? UD played in the 2010 championship game against EWU, but hasn't done much since. This is another traditionally strong program with a large fan base that the FCS needs to do well. We'll find out what kind of team they have when they take on the Bison in September.
3)Kennesaw State: A lot of hype surrounding the owls after their quick rise to prominence and good showing last year in the playoffs. Can they replicate that success?
4) After going 7-4 last year, EWU is a preseason top 10, and in some circles top 5 team. Persoanlly, I think that's a little too much hype, but it'll be interesting to see where they finish this year.
5) Who will win the Socon? Wofford, Samford, and Furman all have legit claims to being the favorite. UTC had a down year last year, but my guess is they rebound this fall.
6) Will the Montana schools return to glory this decade? If Montana state doesn't get it together this season, Choate is on the hot seat and likely gone after next fall if they don't make the playoffs by 2019. Bobby Hauck in Missoula is starting a new era there, and will have to make up a lot of lost ground in the next few seasons.
7) Is Weber State a contender this year? A very strong team last year, they didn't lose much off of their quarterfinal squad. But they have to get more dynamic on the offensive side of the ball. They take on the yotes in Spetember, and that's a huge game for both squads.
8) NCA&T vs JSU: NCA&T is always way overrrated, and is part of the SWAC-MEAC group that doesn't participate in playoffs with their champion. However, the HBCUs are always threatening to steal an at large bid with their #2 teams because of the gaudy records they put up against weak competition. JSU stomping a mud hole in them on national TV for the kickoff game would put an end to that talk.
9) Will anyone challenge JSU in the OVC? EIU has fallen off the map in the last 4 years, and I think it's unlikely to change this fall. Maybe Austin Peay?
10) Does JMU remain in the top 2 all season? The dukes lost a lot off of that defense, and I think it'll be interesting if they fully reload to remain the concensus #2 throughout the season.
Those are some items I think will be fun to watch. Feel free to comment on them, or add your own. I want to return to this thread though out the season for national score updates and discussion.
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