So we are now through week 5 of the FCS season and it was a bit all over the places in terms of storylines but the one that stands out the most is the fact that we will be having a lot of new playoff teams this year as the final nails in some coffins were hammered in. Overall week 5 felt like a clearing of the muck and the waters of the rest of the year became more clear (well somewhat)
Oh, one note before I begin...we all know football is a violent game and at times can look downright nasty and barbaric but what happened at the Tennessee St/Vanderbilt game reminds you that it's still a brotherhood and you never want to see anyone seriously hurt. Hopefully TSU linebacker Christian Abercrombie can continue to get healthy as he collapsed on the sideline after complaining about headaches after a hit during the game on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital where he had surgery and is currently in critical condition. Needless to say, thoughts n prayers go to him and his family as he begins the road to recovery.
Staying alive
So the last write up I had I talked about a few teams who before this week wherein serious danger of missing the playoffs without a serious change in fortune. And it seems, at least for one week, a few teams stepped to the challenge. Idaho, W. Illinois, Sam Houston St, N. Iowa, S. Dakota, Furman, and San Diego all took care of business and at least for one week avoided the midnight chimes of the season going down the drain.
And the most impressive of them had to be San Diego who had a Patriot-like performance of shutting down any doubter in the Pioneer League as the destroyed previous undefeated Stetson 49-10. Anthony Lawrence completed nearly 85% of his passes, threw for 438 yards and tossed four touchdowns. Yea all is well out west.
The road for the others doesn't get any easier as all have meatgrinder schedules and have some intriguing matchups and rivalry games coming up next week
Midnight Chimes
The news wasn't great for all the teams I talked about midweek as Samford, New Hampshire, and Youngstown St. all lost which, for all intensive purposes, ended the seasons for each program. For all three it has to be a major disappointment as all three started the season in the preseason STATS Top 25.
You have to feel for Samford and New Hampshire though...both came in with a boatload of returning starters and sky-high expectations and are a couple moments from a completely different outlook. For Samford, the Florida St game has had a ripple effect (most coaches will say it didn't) on the season and add that to a major recession on defense and the record speaks for itself. Just imagine if they could have held on though. In New Hampshire's case, their season all but ended with the shoulder injury to Trevor Knight. The offense has just not been nearly the same in the 3 1/2 games since then
Ok so I'll give a little bit of a chance to Youngstown but between the schedule and the open week loss to Butler, they need to look very impressive the rest of season to convince the selection committee to give them an at-large bid
And you are again...?
So with all the talk of teams from last year's playoffs stumbling, its natural for some new faces to come into the picture. And some of these new faces are either blast from the past or a team you really weren't expecting.
Towson - Just as recently as 2013 the Tigers were a national runner-up to the NDSU dynasty and since then the win totals have been 4, 7, 4, and 5. But a 3-1 start has the prospects looking a bit up and a somewhat favorable schedule has the Tiger faithful hopefully for the first playoff birth since 2013
Rhode Island - All you need to know about the Rams 3-1 start is that they have already matched the overall and conference win total from last year and are halfway to the first winning season since 2001. Oh and let's not forget they could be 4-0 after the shootout with UConn. They may not make the playoffs but ask Nicholls and Austin Peay about smashing expectations
Idaho St - Just like Rhode Island, Idaho St really hasn't been in the conversation when it comes to playoff prospects. But like the Rams, a 3-1 start has the Bengals thinking big. The next two weeks will tell the tale of if they are a true contender or will fade
Cambell - Here is another program where success hasn't been common. Since bringing back football in 2008...a pair of 6-5 years has been the best the Camels (awesome nickname) have been able to accomplish. Who knew a move to the Big South would bring out the best in the program. Ok the schedule hasn't been great and two D-II wins will hurt the at-large chances but the potential is there for a very successful year
Missouri St - Another team, another attempt to break new ground. You don't think of the Bears has a team that is in the playoff hunt and in fact they haven't been to the playoff since 1990. But when you beat a team that had just dominated Colorado St (Illinois St) you tend to think big. But when you are in the Missouri Valley you still have to go thru a serious meatgrinder but there is hope of them becoming the dark horse playoff team
Davidson - So we know come to a team that has never been to the FCS playoffs. And they have already made headlines for the 91-61 victory against Guilford College. They have the top rushing attack in the country (think about that for a moment) and an above average defense as well. Might be another feel-good story out of the Pioneer league
ETSU - This may be the tale of a restarting program putting it all together in the fourth year of the rebuild. Already one win away from matching the best win total since the return to football. The game @Wofford could be for the conference title as it already has a win versus Chattanooga. And the key for teams like this and the continued success...winning the close games...already 3-0 in games decided by one position
Chatanooga - Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back...after a woeful 2017 it seems the Mocs have gotten back to the 2013-16 level in which it enjoyed its best run in school history. The loss to ETSU aside, the Mocs have a good chance of getting back to the playoffs and getting by Wofford this week would really be a huge step in the right direction
To expectations
The game of the week between NDSU/SDSU definitely lived up to expectations as it was a slugfest between two of the top teams in FCS. One of the major takeaways from the game is how much the Jackrabbits miss Weinike and Goddert. When you have two dominate red zone targets go to the NFL you have to get a bit creative to make up for it and The SDSU had some issues. Also, the crowd was a huge factor...and this may be some bias coming out but I argue that its one of the worst places to play period, in all of college football. They get loud, its in a dome, and only one other place I know has the fans so on top of you
James Madison is just a train that keeps on chugging. Yea, the lost to NC State opening week but ever since then, they have outscored opponents 204-17. And this past week's 63-10 destruction @Richmond served noticed that they are humming and anything but a trip to the national championship game would be a huge disappointment
The week ahead
Next week is gonna be loaded with some huge conference tilts. Wofford/Chatanooga and Elon/James Madison are the marquee games but there are plenty of other is each conference that will wet the whistle and make for some viewing
The Missouri Valley alone has NDSU/N. Iowa, WIU/Ill St, and Missouri St/USD. All huge matchups in the meatgrinder that is conference play in the MVFC.
You also have the battle of Idaho, which could have a huge impact on things in the Big Sky. CAA matchups featuring Villanova (how is desperate for a conference win) @Maine as they try to right the ship and Stony Brook/Towson in a nice Top 25 tilt
Should be pretty fun next week
Oh, one note before I begin...we all know football is a violent game and at times can look downright nasty and barbaric but what happened at the Tennessee St/Vanderbilt game reminds you that it's still a brotherhood and you never want to see anyone seriously hurt. Hopefully TSU linebacker Christian Abercrombie can continue to get healthy as he collapsed on the sideline after complaining about headaches after a hit during the game on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital where he had surgery and is currently in critical condition. Needless to say, thoughts n prayers go to him and his family as he begins the road to recovery.
Staying alive
So the last write up I had I talked about a few teams who before this week wherein serious danger of missing the playoffs without a serious change in fortune. And it seems, at least for one week, a few teams stepped to the challenge. Idaho, W. Illinois, Sam Houston St, N. Iowa, S. Dakota, Furman, and San Diego all took care of business and at least for one week avoided the midnight chimes of the season going down the drain.
And the most impressive of them had to be San Diego who had a Patriot-like performance of shutting down any doubter in the Pioneer League as the destroyed previous undefeated Stetson 49-10. Anthony Lawrence completed nearly 85% of his passes, threw for 438 yards and tossed four touchdowns. Yea all is well out west.
The road for the others doesn't get any easier as all have meatgrinder schedules and have some intriguing matchups and rivalry games coming up next week
Midnight Chimes
The news wasn't great for all the teams I talked about midweek as Samford, New Hampshire, and Youngstown St. all lost which, for all intensive purposes, ended the seasons for each program. For all three it has to be a major disappointment as all three started the season in the preseason STATS Top 25.
You have to feel for Samford and New Hampshire though...both came in with a boatload of returning starters and sky-high expectations and are a couple moments from a completely different outlook. For Samford, the Florida St game has had a ripple effect (most coaches will say it didn't) on the season and add that to a major recession on defense and the record speaks for itself. Just imagine if they could have held on though. In New Hampshire's case, their season all but ended with the shoulder injury to Trevor Knight. The offense has just not been nearly the same in the 3 1/2 games since then
Ok so I'll give a little bit of a chance to Youngstown but between the schedule and the open week loss to Butler, they need to look very impressive the rest of season to convince the selection committee to give them an at-large bid
And you are again...?
So with all the talk of teams from last year's playoffs stumbling, its natural for some new faces to come into the picture. And some of these new faces are either blast from the past or a team you really weren't expecting.
Towson - Just as recently as 2013 the Tigers were a national runner-up to the NDSU dynasty and since then the win totals have been 4, 7, 4, and 5. But a 3-1 start has the prospects looking a bit up and a somewhat favorable schedule has the Tiger faithful hopefully for the first playoff birth since 2013
Rhode Island - All you need to know about the Rams 3-1 start is that they have already matched the overall and conference win total from last year and are halfway to the first winning season since 2001. Oh and let's not forget they could be 4-0 after the shootout with UConn. They may not make the playoffs but ask Nicholls and Austin Peay about smashing expectations
Idaho St - Just like Rhode Island, Idaho St really hasn't been in the conversation when it comes to playoff prospects. But like the Rams, a 3-1 start has the Bengals thinking big. The next two weeks will tell the tale of if they are a true contender or will fade
Cambell - Here is another program where success hasn't been common. Since bringing back football in 2008...a pair of 6-5 years has been the best the Camels (awesome nickname) have been able to accomplish. Who knew a move to the Big South would bring out the best in the program. Ok the schedule hasn't been great and two D-II wins will hurt the at-large chances but the potential is there for a very successful year
Missouri St - Another team, another attempt to break new ground. You don't think of the Bears has a team that is in the playoff hunt and in fact they haven't been to the playoff since 1990. But when you beat a team that had just dominated Colorado St (Illinois St) you tend to think big. But when you are in the Missouri Valley you still have to go thru a serious meatgrinder but there is hope of them becoming the dark horse playoff team
Davidson - So we know come to a team that has never been to the FCS playoffs. And they have already made headlines for the 91-61 victory against Guilford College. They have the top rushing attack in the country (think about that for a moment) and an above average defense as well. Might be another feel-good story out of the Pioneer league
ETSU - This may be the tale of a restarting program putting it all together in the fourth year of the rebuild. Already one win away from matching the best win total since the return to football. The game @Wofford could be for the conference title as it already has a win versus Chattanooga. And the key for teams like this and the continued success...winning the close games...already 3-0 in games decided by one position
Chatanooga - Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back...after a woeful 2017 it seems the Mocs have gotten back to the 2013-16 level in which it enjoyed its best run in school history. The loss to ETSU aside, the Mocs have a good chance of getting back to the playoffs and getting by Wofford this week would really be a huge step in the right direction
To expectations
The game of the week between NDSU/SDSU definitely lived up to expectations as it was a slugfest between two of the top teams in FCS. One of the major takeaways from the game is how much the Jackrabbits miss Weinike and Goddert. When you have two dominate red zone targets go to the NFL you have to get a bit creative to make up for it and The SDSU had some issues. Also, the crowd was a huge factor...and this may be some bias coming out but I argue that its one of the worst places to play period, in all of college football. They get loud, its in a dome, and only one other place I know has the fans so on top of you
James Madison is just a train that keeps on chugging. Yea, the lost to NC State opening week but ever since then, they have outscored opponents 204-17. And this past week's 63-10 destruction @Richmond served noticed that they are humming and anything but a trip to the national championship game would be a huge disappointment
The week ahead
Next week is gonna be loaded with some huge conference tilts. Wofford/Chatanooga and Elon/James Madison are the marquee games but there are plenty of other is each conference that will wet the whistle and make for some viewing
The Missouri Valley alone has NDSU/N. Iowa, WIU/Ill St, and Missouri St/USD. All huge matchups in the meatgrinder that is conference play in the MVFC.
You also have the battle of Idaho, which could have a huge impact on things in the Big Sky. CAA matchups featuring Villanova (how is desperate for a conference win) @Maine as they try to right the ship and Stony Brook/Towson in a nice Top 25 tilt
Should be pretty fun next week
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