Sporting News Top 25

[jstclmet]

When you visit the Mainline on 11/21, please bring the real Blue Hens

Sure thing. We can bring a real NCAA football championship trophy too if you'd like to see what one of those looks like.

A lot of people think you guys might finally win one this year. This Delaware fan happens to have submitted you at #1 last night in the "other" site's preseason poll. It'll be interesting to see if you can live up to the lofty expectations.

No pressure.

Hopefully, late in December, Nova will see your NC Trophy, and raise you the 09 Trophy.

All kidding aside, I voted UR #1, as in my mind they are #1 until someone beats them. You could help us out by doing so on 9/12. This may perhaps elevate Nova to #1. Especially if we can take one from Temple.

In PM's back and forth to HG2007, I told him that we could be beat. I didn't say how. Like all of FCS, we're thin in places, and depending on your starters to go a full season without injuries is asking a lot. As you know, our conference is no cakewalk. Contrary to popular belief, UPenn, Lehigh, & TU are no gimmees. Games we should win, but each of them will try to take a piece out of us before they go down. URI & NU at home too should be winnable games as those teams are going through rebuilding years. The remaining 6 games are a grind. That's why I hope by season's end, you guys are just playing it out with nothing to look forward too. If that's the case, your team's intensity may not be there, and we may come away with little or no injuries going into the playoffs.

Anyway, one can dream

[native]

I suspect another Great West team will creep in to the top 25 by mid season (SUU? UC Davis? SDSU?), and that Sacramento State will finally make the leap in 2009.

I was with you all the way until this statement. First SDSU, while likey desrving, is not in the Great West. Second, SUU averages one FCS win per year, not the platform contenders usually come from, and UC Davis is a long shot, not having a winning FCS season since joining. There are claims every year that SacSt will do something - and they don't. Have to see it to believe it.

My bad. I was hoping to correct the SDSU mistake before somebody else caught it. I don't think anyone knows who will emerge in the Great West, though.

You might be correct abut Sac State. They have certainly disappointed in years past. I just have a hunch that this could be their year. By "their year," I do not mean contend for the title. I mean have a winning season and sneak into the bottom of the top 25.

[native]

Nothing about Samford?

Based on your signature pic, tampajag, I am certanly willing to take a second... and third... look at Samford!

Sis! Boom! Aaaaahhh!

[frinq]

Mentioning Sac State brings up another apparent cipher in the Big Sky, Portland State. Does everyone assume it's so far down it's not worth mentioning? Or maybe, it was hyped so hard three years ago when Glanville came in and fell so far the next two years, it's now just dismissed. It's worth mentioning, however, that Glanville introduced a radically different formation on both offense and defense- modified run-and-shoot and a 3-4 defense and it's taken a couple years of recruiting and training to find players that fit. This is the first year that we have players matching the formations. Lots of WRs with experience, a single QB with experience (last year we alternated two QBs) who led the BSC in passing yardage last year, a couple FBs who make the run possible for a change. Good LBs and a decent backfield. It's going to be a challenge, with three of the first four games at Oregon State, at Montana, and Weber tossed in for good measure. Still, I don't think Weber can take PSU for granted. Not if PSU and its weird systems are clicking. Expect some very high scoring games with the run-and-shoot, if last year is any indication. If PSU is finally on, we'll have a 6-5 year or better. If not, we may give up on Glanville - one more year tops.

[dbackjon]

I think you are right with the hype. People starting picking PSU when Glanville showed up, then nothing.

PSU is definately in a prove it category.

[native]

Mentioning Sac State brings up another apparent cipher in the Big Sky, Portland State. Does everyone assume it's so far down it's not worth mentioning? Or maybe, it was hyped so hard three years ago when Glanville came in and fell so far the next two years, it's now just dismissed. It's worth mentioning, however, that Glanville introduced a radically different formation on both offense and defense- modified run-and-shoot and a 3-4 defense and it's taken a couple years of recruiting and training to find players that fit. This is the first year that we have players matching the formations. Lots of WRs with experience, a single QB with experience (last year we alternated two QBs) who led the BSC in passing yardage last year, a couple FBs who make the run possible for a change. Good LBs and a decent backfield. It's going to be a challenge, with three of the first four games at Oregon State, at Montana, and Weber tossed in for good measure. Still, I don't think Weber can take PSU for granted. Not if PSU and its weird systems are clicking. Expect some very high scoring games with the run-and-shoot, if last year is any indication. If PSU is finally on, we'll have a 6-5 year or better. If not, we may give up on Glanville - one more year tops.

You make a good case, frinq, and I wholeheartedly agree that Weber cannot take PSU for granted.

In my view, in 2009, the middle third of the Big Sky is completely up for grabs, though.

[Ibanez]

No San Diego University? This list is crap!