|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jul 29, 2005 11:15:42 GMT -5
At l;east the people who follow the league the closest have a little mor elove for LU than most of the other national publications: Big South Preseason Football Poll2005 Preseason Poll (first-place votes) Points
1. Coastal Carolina (11) 73
2. Liberty (3) 57
3. Gardner-Webb (2) 56
4. VMI 29
5. Charleston Southern 25We actually got three first place votes. Frankly, CCU probably should've had them all. |
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Jul 29, 2005 12:05:22 GMT -5
I was gonna say the same thing- its amazing it was that close.
remains to be seen how Coastal does this yr, now that they won't be sneaking up on people quite as much. Seem to have a good system though.
|
|
|
|
Post by ATrain on Jul 29, 2005 18:05:53 GMT -5
Here are my preseason picks (though they mean absolutely nothing):
1. CCU
2. Gardner-Webb
3. Liberty
4. VMI
5. CSU
Logic: CCU is for the most part returning nearly everyone on the championship team. Gardner-Webb has the home-field advantage this time. Liberty is certainly better than VMI and CSU, and this year VMI will be at home when facing CSU so they should win that one.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stevev on Jul 29, 2005 20:04:14 GMT -5
Being picked 2nd in this league is still very disappointing. As I have stated many times in the past this conference is one of the weakest in 1AA. Anything short of winning the conference is totally unacceptable.
|
|
|
|
Post by ATrain on Jul 29, 2005 20:15:53 GMT -5
This is true...but we must remember, LU's glory as a strong I-AA outside of a major I-AA conference (SoCon, A10/CAA, whatever) diminished during several rough seasons and we're currently on the rebound...its a process thats taking longer than it should.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stevev on Jul 29, 2005 20:40:40 GMT -5
Agreed. It has been about 8 years since LU has beaten anyone considered good. The last I remember was the game at App State. We knocked them out of the playoffs but that was a long time ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jul 29, 2005 20:44:26 GMT -5
Considering all the new faces we'll have playing this fall, it is going to be tough to turn it around immediately. I'm really interested to see if last year's run by Coastal was a fluke or the perfect implementation of a plan. They deservedly have the #1 spot before the pads go on. I'd just love to see us finally win this poor excuse we call a league.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stevev on Jul 30, 2005 7:54:54 GMT -5
I counted 14 returning starters from last year's team with others that have some starting experience. Not exactly a total rebuilding project when you think about it. They lost some mediocre talent reflectant in their record the last 2 years and some that were considered good by LU's standards. This Big South thing is such a joke and isn't worth mentioning in discussing 1 AA football or LU's expectations for the upcoming season.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jul 30, 2005 8:34:01 GMT -5
I like the way you are thinking, Steve. Let's hope our brutal non-conference schedule doesn't leave us beaten down before we get to Big South play.
|
|
|
|
Post by rokamortis on Jul 30, 2005 8:55:21 GMT -5
Big South thing is such a joke and isn't worth mentioning in discussing 1 AA football or LU's expectations for the upcoming season. The interesting thing is you are tearing your own team apart criticizing the Big South. Maybe if you have won the title the last few years and defeated good OOC teams and the Big South was holding you guys back then you would have something to say. But until then you are just making your own team appear that much worse. Don’t get me wrong – I think the Big South needs a lot of work. But I’d rather be supportive and hope that Liberty, VMI and Gardner-Webb would do well against their tough teams. In all reality – we are just a couple of games away from respectability. I’d push for my team to win their tough games to do our part than ripping the Big South, because until then we are all a part of the problem. |
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jul 30, 2005 9:06:44 GMT -5
Rok -- Steve is an old-schooler like me. We remember where the program was at and where it was heading back in the day. So yeah, we are VERY disappointed where we are both in terms of our program overall and the conference in general. The emergence of the Chants is a nice step forward for the league. But it has a LONG way to go.
|
|
|
|
Post by rokamortis on Jul 30, 2005 9:24:19 GMT -5
I am clearly not arguing about where the league stands, we are weak and need improvement. But positive support goes a lot further than the negative statements.
Maybe win a few tough OOC games and the conference won't be as bad - ya think? If you can't do that then it isn't the fault of the conference.
|
|
|
|
Post by rokamortis on Jul 30, 2005 9:30:44 GMT -5
Let me add that I think the conference is poised for greater things. I think we are finally at the point where most of the programs could actually do some good for the conference. before we were relying on one or two teams but i think that CCU, GWU, LU, and even VMI could actually make some noise this year.
This is the first year Coastal could help. Liberty seems to have played good teams close. Gardner-Webb ahs had some nice runs. VMI has to be better than last year.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jul 30, 2005 9:34:16 GMT -5
Between when you were over here last fall and this summer, you missed out on a quite a few discussions on this board. When Karcher was given a 5-year contract extension, this place erupted. For a school our size that has been playing football as long as we have, our program has fallen into a horrendous malaise. Its tough for some on here to swallow considering we are one of the few I-AAs int he country that can recruit on a national scale to some extent. We should be MUCH better than we are. That's the frustration that you see coming through on some posts. Other than CCU, there's not another school in the league that we have any business being in the same conference with for a number of reasons. But its all we have right now. Our hope is that either Big South shows vast improvement or we find a better home down the road. That's why we have been so excited about potential expansion. We need not only an auto bid for football, but also an infusion of schools who are serious about competing.
|
|
|
|
Post by rokamortis on Jul 30, 2005 9:43:32 GMT -5
Between when you were over here last fall and this summer, you missed out on a quite a few discussions on this board. I may have been silent, but i never left  We need not only an auto bid for football, but also an infusion of schools who are serious about competing. I agree 100%. But we have to make the conference appealing to other teams that are serious. |
|
|
|
Post by Stevev on Jul 30, 2005 9:56:15 GMT -5
I don't believe that the big south has ever had a team worthy of recognition. 2 reasons 1) lack of performance 2) strength of schedule. Sure you had teams with great records: Gardner Webb with a 9-1 mark a few years back and CCU with 10-1 last year. But the point is who were the wins against? The answer is lower tier Southern conference teams at best and teams with losing records and those that play inferior competition such as div 2 and lower. That is it period! That is the best that they did. All of the games against respectable teams end up being blowouts (GA Southern, Furman, JMU, W & M, Hofstra, W Carolina, Hampton, and many others that I remember the BSC playing) are prime examples. Some of the schedules the BSC plays is so ridiculous (Chuck South, Gardner Webb, for example) that you wonder if they are actually 1AA or not. The conference is definately a problem. But right now all that I can say is "We will see what happens this year". I could change my mind in the future but don't bet on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Jul 30, 2005 16:34:17 GMT -5
I still say that because of who we are and Who we represent we CAN'T do the things we would need to do to be competetive on a yearly basis in football (Lou Holtz). Then again, the ladies baskeball team has proven me wrong.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stevev on Jul 30, 2005 18:08:56 GMT -5
I don't know about that. Even smaller schools such as Furman and to a certain extent Wofford have shown that small private colleges can be competitive agains't the best of 1AA football. Furman for example, a small Southern Baptist college, is very successful on that level and occasionally pulls off upsets agains't the 1A's. No reason LU can't do the same.
|
|
|
|
Post by ATrain on Jul 30, 2005 21:10:17 GMT -5
Steve, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we beat Hofstra a couple years back? Anyway, I'm currently debating whether I want to drive out to W&M to watch that blowout or not...but good luck to CCU, VMI, and our team with the beefed-up schedules in the Big South this year.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stevev on Jul 30, 2005 21:29:21 GMT -5
Yes we did. Hofstra was 2-9 that year although they were competitive in most of those losses. It was a good win by LU's standards but a win against a team with that kind of record is not going to get us much recognition.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigsmooth on Aug 1, 2005 17:07:10 GMT -5
i thought the webcast was pretty good and coach bennett of CCU was a funny guy, with all the one-liners. im excited for the season, and i feel our QB, and running backs will tell the story of the season. if we can beat GWU on the road i think we will win the BSC. we WILL get coastal at home. they are due their accolades, but i think this year will be an eye opening experience for the chants. with that said i hope all teams in the league win or play well in their OOC games, so the league will look better. only 34 days till the fun beginsd! GO FLAMES!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Aug 1, 2005 17:30:33 GMT -5
Your connection must've been better than mine. Several of the CCU posters on their board had a better experience with the webcast than I did.
I like the way you are thinking. Let's give the Chants a little taste of reality after the dream season a year ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by rokamortis on Aug 1, 2005 17:50:08 GMT -5
Let's give the Chants a little taste of reality after the dream season a year ago. LMAO Sly. it was certainly a nice season - but in no way a dream season. that is this year |
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Aug 1, 2005 18:09:01 GMT -5
Just bring it! We'll be ready for you up on the mountain.
|
|
|
|
Post by rokamortis on Aug 1, 2005 19:11:27 GMT -5
Just bring it! We'll be ready for you up on the mountain. "oh - it has already been broughted" As much as I'd like to start talking smack - we still have a month before the season starts and a few games to take care of before our trip to the Mountain |
|
|
|
Post by bigsmooth on Aug 2, 2005 9:30:03 GMT -5
in looking at coastal's 04 schedule, im not totally convinced they are totally worthy of a first place ranking in the BSC. though i applaud their season they had, they played three DII's, three I-AA non-scholarship programs, the conference schedule, and I-AA savannah state...the worst program in I-AA. let's see how they do against a rigorous schedule this year. again not knocking their program because they have done things the right way and are rising fast, but lets not be so quick to toot their horn!
|
|
|
|
Post by HarrisburgFlame on Aug 2, 2005 10:41:32 GMT -5
I was surprised at how CCU handled us last year but I agree we can't make them out to be world beaters just yet. As you know, it's a lot different when you can sneak up on people vs. being the team with the target on their backs. This year CCU will get everyone's best shot. That said, I think they have done an outstanding job in just 2 years. That increases my frustration with why we haven't been able to get over the humo just yet.
smooth as long as you and I stick to the Flames we agree on enerything!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Aug 2, 2005 14:21:28 GMT -5
The facts are they ran through the Big South in 2004. Regardless of their non-conference schedule, they earned the right to be the preseason favorite.
Now does that mean we stand no chance of turning the tables in 2005? Of course not. But they have everyone's attention and will have targets on their backs this time around. No more sneaking up on anybody in the league.
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Aug 16, 2005 12:23:00 GMT -5
In other assorted news, a poll on the BSC page shows more people look forward to VMI @ Duke than JMU @ CCU or LU @ UConn. (currently 61%, and probably 99% of the VMI faithful)
IDIOTS
of course thats after only 18 votes.
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Aug 18, 2005 22:16:46 GMT -5
new update (after 74 big votes) shows our game @ UConn a close 2nd now, w/ JMU@ CCU a close 3rd. the stupid link |
|
