Here we are the final four, hopefully, I can squeeze these out in two weeks (new job will screw with my time as I adjust) Anyhoo, we now set our sights on the conference that for as long as one can remember been at or near the top of the FCS heap. While the top of the conference mountain has changed you know what you will get from the SoCon, some really good, not always flashy teams that can and have challenged for national championships but fall a level short. Yes the loss of Appalachian St and Georgia Southern really sting, but the conference has recovered well.
Placement Reasoning
Placement Reasoning
The SoCon is fourth on this list because while a really good conference, it doesn't really match-up when you put it up against the final three. It is better than the Southland and OVC for the fact that the conference is deeper and the drop off from good to bad is not as significant. Yeah, VMI is apart of the conference and brings it down as a whole (more on them later). This is a conference where you don't hear a ton about but when it comes down to playoff time, someone from the conference is knocking on the door.
2017 Recap
Let's start with the big one...long time Wofford head coach Mike Ayers retired after 30 years and went out after a pretty successful year. Ten wins, a SoCon title, and a semi-final appearance rounded the great career Ayers had (when you look at the school and his record it makes his accomplishment more amazing). Furman joined Wofford as a playoff team after backing in after a loss to the SoCon's third playoff team Samford. Unlike Samford, the Paladians went on the road and came out victorious in their first-round game before falling to Wafford. The Bulldogs continued its good run with an 8-win season and its third playoff bid since 2013. Western Carolina just missed out on the playoffs as a 1-3 end of the season sealed the fate of the Catamounts
Elsewhere, The Citadel and Mercer fell short of expectations finished with identical 5-6 records. Chatanooga was one of the countries biggest disappointments as it went from nine wins to only three, though injuries played a role. ETSU continued its trek to respectability as the restart program won four games and VMI went winless
Playoff/National Championship Contenders
This time last year, this list would be a lot different but after last year shuffling of the guard, the SoCon race is wide open for the first time in a while. What also makes it more intriguing is that the winner of the conference is usually battle tested with a Top 8 seed and will instantly be a dark horse National Title contender. One thing is for certain though, expect Wofford to be right among things, having finished no worse than fourth since 2009
The Favorites
Wofford
While losing Ayers is a major loss, the triple option is still around and has junior quarterback Joe Newman running the show and has three veteran running backs to help lead one of the best rushing attacks in FCS. That's the good news...the bad news is that four O-linemen have to be replaced and some rumblings of more of a passing game to the Terriers playbook. Maybe the playbook will be able to stretch out and experiment a little as three of the first four games are versus teams who had losing records including VMI and Gardner-Webb and their combined one win
Samford
When your entire starting offense comes back and it was one of the best passing offenses in the country, you instantly vault to the top of the conversation. One knows that a Chris Hatcher led team will throw the ball a lot and score tons of points...its the defense, however that has always been the concern. While they do have conference defensive player of the year Ahmad Gooden returning, only four other starters join him in a "bend, don't break" defensive outfit.
The Contenders
Furman
While Samford retains its entire offense, Furman brings back all but on starter on defense. What keep Furman from being among the favorites is that it has to replace long time starting QB P.J Blazejowski and Center Matthew Schmidt. If that can be done a challenging schedule awaits the Paladians as it begins with 3 of the first 4 on the road including at Clemson, a 3 game homestand, then ends with another 3 out of 4 on the road.
The Citadel
It would be safe to say that the Bulldogs would love to forget 2017...the amount of losses were too great to overcome as the defending back-to-back conference champs fell flat and disappointed. However, when you run the triple option as well as they do and have all five starting offensive linemen returning, a quick turnaround is not out of the question. Better get to 8 wins before the final game as a date with defending FBS national champion Alabama is in store (seriously the issues I have with this might make for side blog)
Western Carolina
This team reminds me a lot of the Trent Miles era Indiana State teams from a few years ago...a program that had long been a doormat for the rest of the conference has slowly built its way up to respectability but has fallen short of that next rung, the playoffs. Last year looked to be the year but a 1-3 end to the season knocked them out of contention. This year brings back two-year starter Tyrie Adams at QB and four linemen but gone is big play threat, Detrez Newsome, and eight defensive starters. Once again a potential rough landing could be in store to end the year with games against The Citadel, Wofford and a trip to North Carolina to wrap it up.
Teams to add/subtract
Ok, this one is interesting. I have been thinking about this for a bit and I'm not exactly sure if any moves are needed. The conference has recovered nicely after the somewhat unexpected departures of Appalachian State and Georgia Southern to the Sun Belt and Elon to the CAA a few years ago. It also had both VMI and ETSU leave then come back to the conference in recent years, then added Mercer after it started in the Pioneer league and had instant success.
So the question is who would be a good fit to add...? Well the first option would be a UNC-Greensboro, but just like when I talked about High Point in my Big South entry, the Spartans would be starting up program with the likes of NC St, NC A&T, Duke, NC Central, Wake Forest, Campbell just to name a few all fighting for recruits and fans. And while that part of NC is rich with talent, you'd be hard-pressed to convince me that you wouldn't get a Houston Baptist like program. The next option would have to come from the Divison II ranks. Options do exist, especially when you look at the entire SAC (Southern Atlantic Conference) but overall none of them would benefit from jumping up in the ranks and becoming an FCS school. Maybe in a few years but not yet
Now when you look at someone to subtract the school that comes to mind is VMI. VMI is one of the military schools not directly linked to a service branch but if I'm not mistaken graduates from the school can join military branches. When it comes to football, VMI has...well, not been very good. The last time they have finished with a .500 record was 2003 and have only finished with a winning record once since 1980 and that was in 1981. So one would think a move to the Pioneer conference or even D-II would make sense but I don't think that would work. It is one thing to be bad, but VMI would struggle against a lot of the Pioneer schools (Davidson being the only even matchup) and it would get worse when you look at the south Atlantic region of D-II. They would get crushed in most games. The Citadel has shown that it is possible to win on the FCS level but has followed the model of running the triple option, VMI is has been mostly a spread passing offense. Now that could work, but it definitely takes the right combination of coaches and skill players. Something that has eluded the Keydets
Best/Worst
Stadium
Let's start with the big one...long time Wofford head coach Mike Ayers retired after 30 years and went out after a pretty successful year. Ten wins, a SoCon title, and a semi-final appearance rounded the great career Ayers had (when you look at the school and his record it makes his accomplishment more amazing). Furman joined Wofford as a playoff team after backing in after a loss to the SoCon's third playoff team Samford. Unlike Samford, the Paladians went on the road and came out victorious in their first-round game before falling to Wafford. The Bulldogs continued its good run with an 8-win season and its third playoff bid since 2013. Western Carolina just missed out on the playoffs as a 1-3 end of the season sealed the fate of the Catamounts
Elsewhere, The Citadel and Mercer fell short of expectations finished with identical 5-6 records. Chatanooga was one of the countries biggest disappointments as it went from nine wins to only three, though injuries played a role. ETSU continued its trek to respectability as the restart program won four games and VMI went winless
Playoff/National Championship Contenders
This time last year, this list would be a lot different but after last year shuffling of the guard, the SoCon race is wide open for the first time in a while. What also makes it more intriguing is that the winner of the conference is usually battle tested with a Top 8 seed and will instantly be a dark horse National Title contender. One thing is for certain though, expect Wofford to be right among things, having finished no worse than fourth since 2009
The Favorites
Wofford
While losing Ayers is a major loss, the triple option is still around and has junior quarterback Joe Newman running the show and has three veteran running backs to help lead one of the best rushing attacks in FCS. That's the good news...the bad news is that four O-linemen have to be replaced and some rumblings of more of a passing game to the Terriers playbook. Maybe the playbook will be able to stretch out and experiment a little as three of the first four games are versus teams who had losing records including VMI and Gardner-Webb and their combined one win
Samford
When your entire starting offense comes back and it was one of the best passing offenses in the country, you instantly vault to the top of the conversation. One knows that a Chris Hatcher led team will throw the ball a lot and score tons of points...its the defense, however that has always been the concern. While they do have conference defensive player of the year Ahmad Gooden returning, only four other starters join him in a "bend, don't break" defensive outfit.
The Contenders
Furman
While Samford retains its entire offense, Furman brings back all but on starter on defense. What keep Furman from being among the favorites is that it has to replace long time starting QB P.J Blazejowski and Center Matthew Schmidt. If that can be done a challenging schedule awaits the Paladians as it begins with 3 of the first 4 on the road including at Clemson, a 3 game homestand, then ends with another 3 out of 4 on the road.
The Citadel
It would be safe to say that the Bulldogs would love to forget 2017...the amount of losses were too great to overcome as the defending back-to-back conference champs fell flat and disappointed. However, when you run the triple option as well as they do and have all five starting offensive linemen returning, a quick turnaround is not out of the question. Better get to 8 wins before the final game as a date with defending FBS national champion Alabama is in store (seriously the issues I have with this might make for side blog)
Western Carolina
This team reminds me a lot of the Trent Miles era Indiana State teams from a few years ago...a program that had long been a doormat for the rest of the conference has slowly built its way up to respectability but has fallen short of that next rung, the playoffs. Last year looked to be the year but a 1-3 end to the season knocked them out of contention. This year brings back two-year starter Tyrie Adams at QB and four linemen but gone is big play threat, Detrez Newsome, and eight defensive starters. Once again a potential rough landing could be in store to end the year with games against The Citadel, Wofford and a trip to North Carolina to wrap it up.
Teams to add/subtract
Ok, this one is interesting. I have been thinking about this for a bit and I'm not exactly sure if any moves are needed. The conference has recovered nicely after the somewhat unexpected departures of Appalachian State and Georgia Southern to the Sun Belt and Elon to the CAA a few years ago. It also had both VMI and ETSU leave then come back to the conference in recent years, then added Mercer after it started in the Pioneer league and had instant success.
So the question is who would be a good fit to add...? Well the first option would be a UNC-Greensboro, but just like when I talked about High Point in my Big South entry, the Spartans would be starting up program with the likes of NC St, NC A&T, Duke, NC Central, Wake Forest, Campbell just to name a few all fighting for recruits and fans. And while that part of NC is rich with talent, you'd be hard-pressed to convince me that you wouldn't get a Houston Baptist like program. The next option would have to come from the Divison II ranks. Options do exist, especially when you look at the entire SAC (Southern Atlantic Conference) but overall none of them would benefit from jumping up in the ranks and becoming an FCS school. Maybe in a few years but not yet
Now when you look at someone to subtract the school that comes to mind is VMI. VMI is one of the military schools not directly linked to a service branch but if I'm not mistaken graduates from the school can join military branches. When it comes to football, VMI has...well, not been very good. The last time they have finished with a .500 record was 2003 and have only finished with a winning record once since 1980 and that was in 1981. So one would think a move to the Pioneer conference or even D-II would make sense but I don't think that would work. It is one thing to be bad, but VMI would struggle against a lot of the Pioneer schools (Davidson being the only even matchup) and it would get worse when you look at the south Atlantic region of D-II. They would get crushed in most games. The Citadel has shown that it is possible to win on the FCS level but has followed the model of running the triple option, VMI is has been mostly a spread passing offense. Now that could work, but it definitely takes the right combination of coaches and skill players. Something that has eluded the Keydets
Best/Worst
Stadium
Best - Moye Complex (Mercer)
While there are some very nice stadiums in the SoCon I have to go with one of the newer stadiums in the conference. This place screams southern charm and even though it has a small capacity the fans are right on top of you at all times and there isn't a dull seat anywhere. This is kinda how I wish Hanson Field would look like, but I'll get to that boat when I get there. Overall just straight beautiful.
Worst - Alumni Memorial Field (VMI)
Ok, this is just a straight "blah" stadium. This isn't going to be anything that you use to attract potential students coming to your program. And while the argument could be made for Paladin Stadium being at the bottom, its attached to a good program so there is a better feel. When you don't win, people don't show up and it deflates the atmosphere tenfold
Logo and Nickname
Best - The Citadel Bulldogs
Yes, the Bulldog has a nickname is boring and pretty damn run of the mill but when you have a logo like The Citadel, you win in my book. Its just really cool seeing the Bulldog with the hat, looking mean with the lettering alongside it. And yes, part of me is thinking that the bulldog is in full uniform ready to go.
Worst - Wofford Terriers
Its a valiant attempt...but its really hard to make a Terrier look badass. It will just always come off as that little dog trying to bite ur ankle...even if it ends up hurting like hell
Uniforms
Best - Samford and Mercer
I went back n forth with this one. Both the Bulldogs and the Bears have stylish uniforms and in the end, I couldn't really pick on over the other. It goes to show you the quality of the unis in the conference, I really liked almost all of them but at the end, these just stick out a bit cause of the style and how the colors are used
2018 Outlook
Worst - UT Chatanooga
Yes, I've said it once and I'll say it again, you don't need a flashy uniform to make a major statement. Some of the best uniforms of all-time are plain jane ones. For the Mocs, this isn't a time where plain works. Maybe its the color or how there isn't much to add to things but it just looks really..."eh, yeah cool"
For the SoCon this is a bit of a perplexing outlook. Things are up in the air as teams at the top are reloading while others are hoping to bounce back or take the next step. A lot of teams are in the conference mix and to say who will rise above is more of a guess then it is a certainty. Needless to say it will be interesting to see who come out of the pile on top. But as always it will be a team will prepare for a run at the national championship. Its been over a decade since the Appalachian State won the FCS title and since then no SoCon team has made the national championship game...for it to change this year a little luck of the draw may have to happen but there are teams strong enough to make the run to Frisco
Comments
Post a Comment