Well, it has been a while since I have been able to post something, thanks to my trackpad deciding not to work last week but I am back and it seems I have some things to catch up on. Namely, STATS FCS Preseason Top 25 is out and looking at it I got some "issues" with it. One thing of note, I will finish the rest of the previews hopefully before during my weekday weekend (working weekends sucks)
Alright, to the nitty gritty...the preseason Top 25 is out and there are some things of note. We will talk about them below
Bison at the top of the poll, but not unanimous
Yea, did you really think anyone else would be at the top of the polls? Neither did I. Though what did surprise me was the fact that James Madison got some 1st place votes. Now six isn't a whole lot but I think it speaks more to the potential vulnerability and strain of a run like this has on a program.
"We don't ever look at what we did in the past and say, 'Boy, that was an unsuccessful year,' or 'Only success is based on a national championship.' I don't think that's fair," fifth-year Bison coach Chris Klieman. "I think that puts unrealistic expectations on guys. In the same respect, our guys embrace those expectations and are excited about it."
That says a lot...yes they are an overwhelming favorite in the MVFC, but its easily the deepest conference in FCS and that's before you get to the rest.
Who's #3
Remeber those old Snapple commercials from the 90s when they celebrated being the third best drink product behind Coke and Pepsi? That's the question been bubbling for some time with no clear favorite. The MVFC features five Top 25 teams while the CAA one-ups them with six teams. While the Southland does have four in the Top 25, number three on the totem pole of the FCS will be determined by the performances on the field
Overrated?
One of the bigger takeaways I saw just from the first look at the polls is how many teams are ranked high after subpar seasons or major losses. Sam Houston St (4), Jacksonville St (6) not only lost key pieces but the question of "haven't we gone thru this before?" comes to mind when thinking of these two teams and the major playoff flameouts that have happened in recent memory.
Then you have teams like Delaware (15), Villanova (19), Illinois State (21), Montana (24), Youngstown St (25) who didn't make the playoffs, yet expectations are high enough where a bounce back year is expected and the polls show that
What about those from last year?
Six teams that were in last years poll are left out of the preseason Top 25 and for the most part, each one has a glaring question that leaves a bit of doubt in repeat success. Though in the cases of South Dakota and Western Illinois the expectations of a loaded conference have pushed them down to 26th and 27th in the polls (yes it is a real possibility that six or seven MVFC teams could make the playoffs)
The one glaring omission in the pole has to be Yale. Yes, I know, the Ivy League doesn't get a lot of preseason love, but the defending champs basically return everyone from a surprise conference championship team and questions around the rest of the league has a repeat venture a possibility. Says more to the lack of non-conference play from the conference as a whole but expect the Bulldogs to end up as a Top 15 when its all said and done.
So about Idaho...
If there is one team that is the hardest to figure out its the Vandals. With votes as high as 8th in the polls, Idaho has some expectations but it is dropping down into the Big Sky which is no soft landing by any stretch. Yes, they have loads of FBS talent but how that shapes up with be one of the most interesting stories of this season
Risen expectations
Every year we have this, a few teams that outperformed themselves the year prior and the new year brings a rise in expectations. Kennesaw St (5), Elon (12), Nicolls (18), Austin Peay (22) all have raised expectations with the Owls being a dark horse championship contender.
Austin Peay is also the OVC's best chance to knock Jacksonville St off the top of the conference.
Nicolls could easily win the Southland and have an Elon like run that has them in the Top 10 for most of the year.
While Elon has become the hunted as they look to repeat a surprising 2017
It's almost back!
Its the start of Aug which means camps have started and with the Preseason Poll now out it means we are inching ever closer to the start of the 2018 season. Aug 28 can't come fast enough. Tick, Tick, Tick...
Alright, to the nitty gritty...the preseason Top 25 is out and there are some things of note. We will talk about them below
Bison at the top of the poll, but not unanimous
Yea, did you really think anyone else would be at the top of the polls? Neither did I. Though what did surprise me was the fact that James Madison got some 1st place votes. Now six isn't a whole lot but I think it speaks more to the potential vulnerability and strain of a run like this has on a program.
"We don't ever look at what we did in the past and say, 'Boy, that was an unsuccessful year,' or 'Only success is based on a national championship.' I don't think that's fair," fifth-year Bison coach Chris Klieman. "I think that puts unrealistic expectations on guys. In the same respect, our guys embrace those expectations and are excited about it."
That says a lot...yes they are an overwhelming favorite in the MVFC, but its easily the deepest conference in FCS and that's before you get to the rest.
Who's #3
Remeber those old Snapple commercials from the 90s when they celebrated being the third best drink product behind Coke and Pepsi? That's the question been bubbling for some time with no clear favorite. The MVFC features five Top 25 teams while the CAA one-ups them with six teams. While the Southland does have four in the Top 25, number three on the totem pole of the FCS will be determined by the performances on the field
Overrated?
One of the bigger takeaways I saw just from the first look at the polls is how many teams are ranked high after subpar seasons or major losses. Sam Houston St (4), Jacksonville St (6) not only lost key pieces but the question of "haven't we gone thru this before?" comes to mind when thinking of these two teams and the major playoff flameouts that have happened in recent memory.
Then you have teams like Delaware (15), Villanova (19), Illinois State (21), Montana (24), Youngstown St (25) who didn't make the playoffs, yet expectations are high enough where a bounce back year is expected and the polls show that
What about those from last year?
Six teams that were in last years poll are left out of the preseason Top 25 and for the most part, each one has a glaring question that leaves a bit of doubt in repeat success. Though in the cases of South Dakota and Western Illinois the expectations of a loaded conference have pushed them down to 26th and 27th in the polls (yes it is a real possibility that six or seven MVFC teams could make the playoffs)
The one glaring omission in the pole has to be Yale. Yes, I know, the Ivy League doesn't get a lot of preseason love, but the defending champs basically return everyone from a surprise conference championship team and questions around the rest of the league has a repeat venture a possibility. Says more to the lack of non-conference play from the conference as a whole but expect the Bulldogs to end up as a Top 15 when its all said and done.
So about Idaho...
If there is one team that is the hardest to figure out its the Vandals. With votes as high as 8th in the polls, Idaho has some expectations but it is dropping down into the Big Sky which is no soft landing by any stretch. Yes, they have loads of FBS talent but how that shapes up with be one of the most interesting stories of this season
Risen expectations
Every year we have this, a few teams that outperformed themselves the year prior and the new year brings a rise in expectations. Kennesaw St (5), Elon (12), Nicolls (18), Austin Peay (22) all have raised expectations with the Owls being a dark horse championship contender.
Austin Peay is also the OVC's best chance to knock Jacksonville St off the top of the conference.
Nicolls could easily win the Southland and have an Elon like run that has them in the Top 10 for most of the year.
While Elon has become the hunted as they look to repeat a surprising 2017
It's almost back!
Its the start of Aug which means camps have started and with the Preseason Poll now out it means we are inching ever closer to the start of the 2018 season. Aug 28 can't come fast enough. Tick, Tick, Tick...
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