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CSU guys, we need our own fan site like other schools, but until then, we'll have to talk here mostly. Was wondering, what do you think the top 5-10 games in our proud but modest program has had in it's 22 year history? NOT the biggest wins, but biggest games. My picks:

1- 2013 Coastal @ CSU- beat 3rd ranked team, moved to 10-1, prime setup for a 2nd BSC championship and playoff berth. Cant say much more, importance is still growing!!!
2- 2005 Coastal @ CSU- beat top 20 team, won 1st ever BSC championship ring. Nuff said.
3- 2005 Liberty @ CSU- 1 week before the Coastal game, secured 6 wins, first winning season ever, final goal line epic to win the game.
4- 2006 CSU @ Citadel- 1st win ever over Citadel, gained local respect, OT FG wins it.
5- 2013 CSU @ App State - App is down, but win got CSU's name all over the place
6- 2000 CSU @ Liberty. Beat Liberty 25-0, got record to 5-5, finished season as first team to have shot at winning season with final game @ East Tennessee State (CSU would lose and go 5-6, including heart wrenching OT loss @ Samford. Most CSU fans say CSU "turned the corner" in 05/06, and that the 2000/2001 teams "got CSU to the corner" which is fairly accurate I think with back to back 5-6 records that included some OT losses. Just couldn't push through that next hump that the 2005/06 teams did, and that the 2013 team LEAPED over!!
7- 2013 CSU @ Citadel. 2nd win over Citadel, always big.
8- 2005 CSU @ GWU win 33-0, set tone for final 3 games that won BSC
9- 2000 CSU @ E. Tennessee St. 5-5 with shot at winning season. Lost, but it was biggest game ever at the time.
10- 1999 CSU @ SC State. Opening game. CSU was expected to be relatively good that year. SC State was a late 90's national top 25 regular. CSU lost 20-14, after having the ball 1st and goal at the 2 with 1:00 left down by 6...and couldn't punch it in. QB injury and Hurricane Floyd game cancellations doomed Bucs to a 4-6 record.

For those not familiar with CSU football history:

Team started in 1991 as a D3. Skipped D2 and went 1-AA in 93. Struggled with that transition, never winning more than 2 games up to 1997. Won 3 in 98. 4 in 99. 5 in 00 and 01. Began hanging with good teams, losing in OT, just hadn't "learned to win" as they say. Didn't turn the corner, but kinda getting TO the corner. Bad injury luck. Coaching change after 4 wins in 02. 1 win in 03. 5 in 04. 7 in 05 and a Big South championship. 9 in 06. Many CSU folks thought they finally "turned that corner". Hovered around .500 in 07-10. Went 0-11 in 2011. 5-6 in 2012.

And now...the story book season that 2013 is shaping up to be. This proud but modest program has been built inch by inch, with lots of ups and downs...more downs than ups........heart breaking losses on the field and in the injury department.......to FINALLY getting it's name up there with the Coastal, Liberty, Citadel types of the 1-AA world. Now, how to STAY at that level is another task.

I think the most significant thing for folks to remember is that we were a non-scholly school for the most part until Mills got here.

CSUBUCDAD wrote:I think the most significant thing for folks to remember is that we were a non-scholly school for the most part until Mills got here.

And seem to be on the upswing now that he's gone.

CSUBUCDAD wrote:I think the most significant thing for folks to remember is that we were a non-scholly school for the most part until Mills got here.

That's inaccurate. CSU was non-scholly until 1993 when it moved from D3 to D1 overnight, tough challenge that held the program back a few years.

In 1997, they offered 34 scholarships. 37 up to 2003. In 2004, they became fully funded to 65 scholarships.

Former coach David Dowd did a lot of creative recruiting, and while playing a lot of the same 1-AA teams from the SoCon, SC State, etc, he did fairly well squeezing 5-6 records out of 36 scholarships, while losing some tough late second games. But, programs are usually built on brick at a time, and Dowd laid his.

Mills came in, and with full funding, took the next step. CSU always had good starters, but lacked depth, which caused many of their late losses under Dowd. Mills fixed that, and they turned the corner in 2005.

Now, CSU has a chance to build a few more bricks on it, and start being a consistent competitor with teams like Coastal and Liberty.

Its been fun to watch, since 1991, every 3-5 years the program has taken one modest step forward, and now its all coming together with Coach Chadwell

Finish off that 2nd Big South championship, CSU. Those next two wins and the one you just got are all in the top 5. You never forget the first trip up the mountain. Maybe the Tribe can win a couple more and we will see you in the playoffs. The first quarter after a statement win is always a challenge.

TribePride wrote:Finish off that 2nd Big South championship, CSU. Those next two wins and the one you just got are all in the top 5. You never forget the first trip up the mountain. Maybe the Tribe can win a couple more and we will see you in the playoffs. The first quarter after a statement win is always a challenge.

Very true. Hope we can. And playing you guys would be huge. We need to compete w programs on your level if we want ti take that next step. Hope we dont have a hangover from last weeks win though bc gardner webb will beat us if we do.