Sporting News Top 25

[wideright82]

THANKS ATLMOUNTAINEER

Just received my 2009 Sporting News College Football 09 Annual in the mail. The top 25 preseason poll:

1. Richmond
2. Appalachian State
3, Villanova
4. UNI
5. Montana
6. Southern Illinois
7. Weber State
8. New Hampshire
9. Elon
10. JMU
11. Central Arkansas
12. W&M
13. E. Washington
14. Maine
15. Cal Poly
16. UMass
17. Montana State
18. Wofford
19. McNeese State
20. Ga Southern
21. N. Ariz
22. Colgate
23. Samford
24. Jacksonville State
25. SCSU

[wideright82]

7 CAA teams ranked
4 CAA teams in top 10
2 CAA teams in top 5
2 CAA teams in top 3
1 CAA team as #1

[grizzaholic]

What are they smoking???? 5 BIG SKY teams in the top 21????

[dbackjon]

I don't think NAU should be that high, but I will take the publicity.

[dbackjon]

No Albany?

[wideright82]

No Albany?

FUCK no. That team sucks. That and it makes it much more fun for a week in week out rant by DF

[danefan]

No Albany?

FUCK no. That team sucks. That and it makes it much more fun for a week in week out rant by DF

I'm practicing restraint this year. Plus, no Ivy's ranked so I can't get too mad.
SDSU not being ranked is worse, IMO.

I don't think Colgate, Samford, NAU or Montana State should be ranked.

Umass is also too high and SCSU is way too low.

[Col Hogan]

No Albany?

**** no. That team sucks. That and it makes it much more fun for a week in week out rant by DF

I'm practicing restraint this year. Plus, no Ivy's ranked so I can't get too mad.
SDSU not being ranked is worse, IMO.

I don't think Colgate, Samford, NAU or Montana State should be ranked.

Umass is also too high and SCSU is way too low.

Spot on about UMass...

[bluehenbillk]

Looking forward to seeing my Hens blast into the poll after knocking the National Champs off their perch in Week 2. Country, meet Pat Devlin.

[dbackjon]

Looking forward to seeing my Hens blast into the poll after knocking the National Champs off their perch in Week 2. Country, meet Pat Devlin.

You think he is THAT good?

[bandl]

Looking forward to seeing my Hens blast into the poll after knocking the National Champs off their perch in Week 2. Country, meet Pat Devlin.

Holy crap, who do I root for in that game??? Or root against??? That's going to be a tough one....

[wideright82]

Looking forward to seeing my Hens blast into the poll after knocking the National Champs off their perch in Week 2. Country, meet Pat Devlin.

I would probably have you guys at around 20 right now in all honesty. I think delaware (and it pains me to say this) is going to be a tough tough CAA South member this year. I don't know what a blue hen is, but after a 4-8 season, I can't imagine it would be happy.

[UNI88]

No Albany?

**** no. That team sucks. That and it makes it much more fun for a week in week out rant by DF

I'm practicing restraint this year. Plus, no Ivy's ranked so I can't get too mad.
SDSU not being ranked is worse, IMO.

I don't think Colgate, Samford, NAU or Montana State should be ranked.

Umass is also too high and SCSU is way too low.

Not a lot of love for the Valley outside of UNI & SIU. The rest of the conference is getting the Big Sky treatment (lack of respect) in this poll.

[danefan]

I'm practicing restraint this year. Plus, no Ivy's ranked so I can't get too mad.
SDSU not being ranked is worse, IMO.

I don't think Colgate, Samford, NAU or Montana State should be ranked.

Umass is also too high and SCSU is way too low.

Not a lot of love for the Valley outside of UNI & SIU. The rest of the conference is getting the Big Sky treatment (lack of respect) in this poll.

I don't get it though. I have them at #10. They were a solid squad last year in one of the top 3 leagues and haven't lost much.

[bluehenbillk]

Looking forward to seeing my Hens blast into the poll after knocking the National Champs off their perch in Week 2. Country, meet Pat Devlin.

You think he is THAT good?

To give you a direct answer: Yes. Devlin is from the same county I live in and to say he was a heralded HS QB is putting it lightly. Was rated anywhere from the #1-#4 QB in the country when he came out, pulling back a verbal from Miami (FL) to goto Penn State. He sparkled in UD's spring game. We've seen Flacco, Gannon, Brunner, Hall, Nagy and many more great UD QB's and none have come in with higher expectations that Devlin.

[dbackjon]

You think he is THAT good?

To give you a direct answer: Yes. Devlin is from the same county I live in and to say he was a heralded HS QB is putting it lightly. Was rated anywhere from the #1-#4 QB in the country when he came out, pulling back a verbal from Miami (FL) to goto Penn State. He sparkled in UD's spring game. We've seen Flacco, Gannon, Brunner, Hall, Nagy and many more great UD QB's and none have come in with higher expectations that Devlin.

And does he have the players around him? OL, WR, running game?

[bluehenbillk]

To give you a direct answer: Yes. Devlin is from the same county I live in and to say he was a heralded HS QB is putting it lightly. Was rated anywhere from the #1-#4 QB in the country when he came out, pulling back a verbal from Miami (FL) to goto Penn State. He sparkled in UD's spring game. We've seen Flacco, Gannon, Brunner, Hall, Nagy and many more great UD QB's and none have come in with higher expectations that Devlin.

And does he have the players around him? OL, WR, running game?

UD's biggest question mark on offense is the OL. We have 3 starters back on the line & a transfer from WVU that some people expect to either step into a starting role or at least compete for time. The OL's success or lack thereof will probably mean the difference between a playoff berth & just eating turkey on T-Giving weekend. The WR corps is fine, UD returns what will be one of the best TE's in the nation and has a solid & deep WR corps. The RB's are OK, there's talent & speed but they suffered behind the OL play last year & the fact we had one of the worst passing attacks known to the history of football. Combine a serious passing game & improved OL play & you should see good things out of Jerry Butler and/or Phil Thaxton. UD goes 4 deep at RB too, pretty good, since they only line one up at a time.

[weberwildcat]

I expect Weber to be top 10.

NAU top 25? hmm...

Cal Poly #15? Isn't that too high?

Why is Richmond #1? Any Spiders on here? Did no players graduate from 2008?

[bluehenbillk]

I expect Weber to be top 10.

NAU top 25? hmm...

Cal Poly #15? Isn't that too high?

Why is Richmond #1? Any Spiders on here? Did no players graduate from 2008?

Even though the guys they lost were really good, you could count UR's lost starters from last year on one hand.

[UNI88]

Not a lot of love for the Valley outside of UNI & SIU. The rest of the conference is getting the Big Sky treatment (lack of respect) in this poll.

I don't get it though. I have them at #10. They were a solid squad last year in one of the top 3 leagues and haven't lost much.

I think because UNI & SIU have done so well the past two years the Valley is being thought of as a two team league. People underestimate the strength of the teams that have been in the middle. Leagues have their ups and downs and people tend to only remember the short-term. I'm pretty sure SDSU will surprise people and should make the Valley a 3 bid league again in 2009.

[UNI88]

I expect Weber to be top 10.

NAU top 25? hmm...

Cal Poly #15? Isn't that too high?

Why is Richmond #1? Any Spiders on here? Did no players graduate from 2008?

Even though the guys they lost were really good, you could count UR's lost starters from last year on one hand.

Sidbury being a key loss. If memory serves, they do get their QB back and he was a gamer.

[bluehenbillk]

Sidbury being a key loss. If memory serves, they do get their QB back and he was a gamer.

Correct on both points.

[dbackjon]

I expect Weber to be top 10.

NAU top 25? hmm...

Cal Poly #15? Isn't that too high?

Why is Richmond #1? Any Spiders on here? Did no players graduate from 2008?

NAU could be top 25, but I would like them to prove they belong. Earlier tests this year.

[DukeJack]

I expect Weber to be top 10.

NAU top 25? hmm...

Cal Poly #15? Isn't that too high?

Why is Richmond #1? Any Spiders on here? Did no players graduate from 2008?

When was the last time the defending champions were not ranked pre-season #1? I always thought it was because they were the best, until the games were finally being played again.

[DJH]

I expect Weber to be top 10.

NAU top 25? hmm...

Cal Poly #15? Isn't that too high?

Why is Richmond #1? Any Spiders on here? Did no players graduate from 2008?

When was the last time the defending champions were not ranked pre-season #1? I always thought it was because they were the best, until the games were finally being played again.

And because most of these publications know nothing about FCS football, so they just copy the final poll from the previous season.