Somerset, NJ - The Northeast Conference (NEC) has a different preseason football favorite for the first time in five years. Central Connecticut State halted Albany’s bid for a third consecutive league title last season, and has followed up by ending UA’s four-year run atop the NEC’s preseason poll.
Coming off their best season in four decades, the defending NEC champion Blue Devils garnered four first-place votes to earn the No. 1 ranking in the annual summer survey of the conference’s nine head coaches for the first time in program history. If the preseason prognostication holds true, CCSU will become the first NEC champion to earn the league’s newly-acquired automatic berth into the NCAA FCS playoffs.
2010 NEC Football Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Conn. St. (4)
2. Robert Morris (3)
3. Albany (1)
4. Wagner (1)
5. Monmouth
6. Bryant
7. Duquesne
8. Sacred Heart
9. Saint Francis (PA)
Agreed DF. With the QB situation...I like RMU. I just dont think CCSU and Albany bring enough back that is battle tested to be considered pre-season favorites. I also think Wagner isnt going to be as good as predicted...but ya never know.
Here are two quick questions to Coach Ford. If you've never heard him speak its always worth a listen. Nothing profound, but he really pulls no punches.
FWIW and nothing against Albany, RMU, CCSU or the NEC teams but the NEC as whole didn't impress me much last year and I am a fan of the NEC... sorry, but thats what I thought. Yes, Albany and CCSU and even Duquesne if my memory serves me correctly beat some non league opposition but that opposition was weak. Bucknell, Columbia, Lehigh, and Maine. UA lost a game to a bad Georgia Southern team it probably could of won. Yes RMU and CCSU squeaked by my Danes and credit them for doing so. Overall with McCarty banged up and a weaker then usual O line, I thought Albany, which is traditionally a power in the NEC was NOT as good as advertised. CCSU won every game by a miracle and took last second heroics every week to win including an NEC squeaker in the final week against St. Francis to win the NEC. If Wagner could of beat Albany in the final week they would of had a shot to share the NEC with CCSU. Point isthe NEC with all 34 or 36 of its scholarships better pick it up or this will be ugly come playoff time.
I do think its anyones conference this year. I am not jumping on the RMU or the Wagner bandwagon... yet, if at all. If ever there was a year for RMU or anyone to win the NEC, this is it. Remember RMU was 0-5 before their end of the year winning streak. They have a young qb so I still think they lose to Albany or CCSU. Will they be in the hunt and are they capable of winning...yes but I still think they have less talent then the public universities in the NEC.
Ruler wrote:FWIW and nothing against Albany, RMU, CCSU or the NEC teams but the NEC as whole didn't impress me much last year and I am a fan of the NEC... sorry, but thats what I thought. Yes, Albany and CCSU and even Duquesne if my memory serves me correctly beat some non league opposition but that opposition was weak. Bucknell, Columbia, Lehigh, and Maine. UA lost a game to a bad Georgia Southern team it probably could of won. Yes RMU and CCSU squeaked by my Danes and credit them for doing so. Overall with McCarty banged up and a weaker then usual O line, I thought Albany, which is traditionally a power in the NEC was NOT as good as advertised. CCSU won every game by a miracle and took last second heroics every week to win including an NEC squeaker in the final week against St. Francis to win the NEC. If Wagner could of beat Albany in the final week they would of had a shot to share the NEC with CCSU. Point isthe NEC with all 34 or 36 of its scholarships better pick it up or this will be ugly come playoff time.
I do think its anyones conference this year. I am not jumping on the RMU or the Wagner bandwagon... yet, if at all. If ever there was a year for RMU or anyone to win the NEC, this is it. Remember RMU was 0-5 before their end of the year winning streak. They have a young qb so I still think they lose to Albany or CCSU. Will they be in the hunt and are they capable of winning...yes but I still think they have less talent then the public universities in the NEC.
I agree on your assessment of last year. There was no dominant team. The NEC was down for sure as evidenced by Butler's win in the Gridiron Classic (compared to Albany's anhialation of Jacksonville the year before).
The good thing is we'll probably see a PL, MEAC or Big South team in the Opening Round of the playoffs, all of which are usually about even with the NEC champ.
Ruler wrote:Yes, Albany and CCSU and even Duquesne if my memory serves me correctly beat some non league opposition but that opposition was weak. Bucknell, Columbia, Lehigh, and Maine ... Point isthe NEC with all 34 or 36 of its scholarships ...
I do think its anyones conference this year.
I fully agree with you on these points. Last year was 'down' for the NEC, although the league is on a rising trajectory. I think the fact that we won some big non-conference games in a 'down year' says a lot about the potential and future of the league. Just a few years ago, we'd be lucky if the best the NEC had to offer could beat a team like Maine. I'm more of an optimist, so we'll see how this season goes. But you have to like our chances in a 1st round game vs. a PL or MEAC champ, because we won’t be playing a top-5 seed in the first round.
Also, I think CCSU was a 'safe' bet, but the fact that 4 out of 9 teams got a #1 vote certainly tells us that the race for the NEC's first AQ bid is wide open.
danefan wrote:Booking my flights today for the trip to
I'm sure it will be a total blowout though so SFA should really just concentrate on UNI.
So you're going to make your way to Nac? Thats great! Theres not a ton of stuff to do, but I do think East Texas is the best part of the state (one of the most scenic parts anyway). You flying into Houston or DFW?
I do think Bryant is a team that can sneak into the NEC title race but they have 2 tough NEC to start:
@CCSU
@Wagner
They win both of them look out because they have Albany & RMU at home and everyone knows that Bryant is a tough team to beat when playing at their place.
CCSU's schedule is no easier with away games at Albany, Monmouth, RMU...but playing @ UNH & @ YSU could help this team get ready for those NEC road games.
RMU's schedule is probably the easiest within the NEC this year.
@Wagner & @SFPA to start NEC play then a month at Joe Walton stadium against Monmouth/Albany/Dukes/CCSU and then the final game for them is @Bryant.
RMU returns all 5 starting OL who are getting no respect by the coaches, a great RB in Russ and the Colonials have tall physical WRs in Green (6'4") and Cobbs (6'3" - watch out for this guy....could be newcomer of the year!!!)
And their D should have 9 seniors starting who all have a lot of playing experience.
I expect the Colonials to be in the mix till the very end.
danefan wrote:Booking my flights today for the trip to
I'm sure it will be a total blowout though so SFA should really just concentrate on UNI.
So you're going to make your way to Nac? Thats great! Theres not a ton of stuff to do, but I do think East Texas is the best part of the state (one of the most scenic parts anyway). You flying into Houston or DFW?
Flying into DFW. My sister-in-law lives in Terrell so we'll get them on the way down to Nac. My roommate from Albany ended up marrying a Texan, who just happened to graduate from SFA. Should be a fun time for sure.
I remember when Coach Mac was our DC for a year. I'm glad to see that he's doing well. I see Stowers is now on the staff.
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Conclusion, 1854
I guess that everyone assumes that Duquesne is going to suffer the same incredible rash of injuries as they did last season.
Okay.
Two new Coordinators for the Dukes so new systems so there could be some games where things just don't click yet.
Will Connor Dixon be the QB or is he at WR for good now? (Roster has him listed at WR)
I guess that everyone assumes that Duquesne is going to suffer the same incredible rash of injuries as they did last season.
Okay.
While I am no stranger to the history of the Dukes...quite frankly...they havent lived up to the billing. That said, they are of course a sleeping giant. However, this whole "we will take 5 years to get to 20 rides" thing has Georgetown written all over it. CCSU, Monmouth, Albany and RMU will be at or very near 40 soon...and that is a big difference in terms of depth.
I hope Duquense makes noise this year....better for the conference...but to blame it solely on injury is telling half the story; there was a signifcant talent gap in depth.
If UA's O line can be better then last year , they will be tough to beat. They have a legit FCS maybe a low level FBS rb in Dillon Romain and # 10(can't remember his name but Georgia Southern can) in his second year has the potential to be the best back/slash/qb Albany has ever had. Combine him with Booker at TE and UA will be formidable on offense regardless of who plays qb.
On D they have a lot of holes to fill but they have a Rutgers transfer at saftey/cb and a Hofstra transfer at lb that will play immediatly.
Dont know much about the rest of the NEC other then UA and CCSU graduated a bunch. RMC has a young qb and a good D. Wagner has a good qb and thats it. Monmouth could be a sleeper as they always have good athletes. as I stated in my last post I beleiev from conversations I have had that UA and CCSU are getting great talent into their respective programs.
I think (homerisim aside) it will come down again to UA and CCSU.
