Why no love for Charleston Southern?

[bucs90]

Been seeing a lot of preseason top 25 polls. And haven't seen my alma mater Charleston Southern listed on any yet. Now, I understand CSU has never been a power program. Their lone title was a 2005 Big South championship, won on one of the most miraculous endings you'll ever see (Yes, 5X more improbable than even last years Auburn vs Bama finish).

But all that said....the Bucs finished 10-3, finished ranked in the top 25, and return 20 starters!!! Yes, TWENTY starters from that 10-3 top 25 team!! Now of course, they have a rough schedule. Road games @ Vanderbilt, Georgia, Coastal and Liberty, and hosting The Citadel. They will lost to Vandy and UGA. And, they lost to Gardner Webb last year, so the Big South slate, especially Coastal, Liberty, GWU, will be tough, as will SoCon foe The Citadel. So winning 3 out of 4 vs CCU, LU, GWU and Citadel will be necessary to duplicate last year's 3 loss record.

Its an tough fight, but, still...no love!! 10-3, top 25 finisher, with 20 starters back!

[OL FU]

I would guess, you are on the bubble for many and it's kinda of a prove it and we will move you in. CCU was great win but the last two games last year weren't wonderful at all or particularly close. Won at the Citadel who underperformed. Won at App st. who underperformed and it didn't help last year that both Shorter and North Greenville were on the schedule.

But that is just a guess.

[CID1990]

All this talk of polls will end in week 3 after we crush you in that rinky dink high school stadium

[bucs90]

I would guess, you are on the bubble for many and it's kinda of a prove it and we will move you in. CCU was great win but the last two games last year weren't wonderful at all or particularly close. Won at the Citadel who underperformed. Won at App st. who underperformed and it didn't help last year that both Shorter and North Greenville were on the schedule.

But that is just a guess.

Yeah, understandable, I made this post partly just for fun, because I know CSU just doesn't have that name recognition yet, and maybe bringing up this fact that CSU has 20 starters back and off a great 10 win year...maybe a repeat performance will draw more attention, and maybe start changing that perception.

Anyway....if CSU can win 10 again with this schedule, they'll get the love for sure!

[bucs90]

All this talk of polls will end in week 3 after we crush you in that rinky dink high school stadium

Haha, maybe, maybe not. But how does a team like The Citadel...with one of the biggest and best stadiums in FCS and one of the best alumni bases........go 2-2 vs little ole CSU with their rinky dink stadium in their last 4 meetings? All things considered...CSU shouldn't even be on the field with The Citadel.

Overachievers (CSU) vs Underachievers haha?

[MTfan4life]

Been seeing a lot of preseason top 25 polls. And haven't seen my alma mater Charleston Southern listed on any yet. Now, I understand CSU has never been a power program. Their lone title was a 2005 Big South championship, won on one of the most miraculous endings you'll ever see (Yes, 5X more improbable than even last years Auburn vs Bama finish).

But all that said....the Bucs finished 10-3, finished ranked in the top 25, and return 20 starters!!! Yes, TWENTY starters from that 10-3 top 25 team!! Now of course, they have a rough schedule. Road games @ Vanderbilt, Georgia, Coastal and Liberty, and hosting The Citadel. They will lost to Vandy and UGA. And, they lost to Gardner Webb last year, so the Big South slate, especially Coastal, Liberty, GWU, will be tough, as will SoCon foe The Citadel. So winning 3 out of 4 vs CCU, LU, GWU and Citadel will be necessary to duplicate last year's 3 loss record.

Its an tough fight, but, still...no love!! 10-3, top 25 finisher, with 20 starters back!

Slated at 21 in my preseason poll, so I do agree with you on their merit. However, as OLFU pointed out, they do need to prove themselves after a late season swoon last year.

[bjtheflamesfan]

This really is a make it or break it year for the Bucs. I had them in my poll on AGS, but I really want to see if they take a step up and really solidify themselves in the upper half of the Big South, or take a step back like they did in 07 after closing the season getting crushed by Liberty and Coastal. Ththey almost got the ship righted in 08 ending with a nice winning streak bujt the wheels really came off in 2010 and you saw the fruits of that. if CSU can get another 9 or 10 win season together, they could really be a player in the conference going forward with KSU coming in next year

[Ibanez]

I've seen the Bucs in a few polls around 25. I put them at 25. This season is the season for CSU and CCU to truly capitalize on last season and prove that they weren't flukes.

[CSUBUCDAD]

I seem to remember similar bravado out of CID1990 and Citdog last year prior to the game.

[bjtheflamesfan]

By the way Buc fans, I havent seen any commentary from yall on the defensive side with my position previews

[OL FU]

The consensus from Citadel fans is always that they won't lose a game (until the season starts)

[CSUBUCDAD]

By the way Buc fans, I havent seen any commentary from yall on the defensive side with my position previews

I think the defense will speak for itself just fine.

[bjtheflamesfan]

That's fair BUCDAD,the thing is, I take the time to make these previews to foster discussion during this, the offseason for us Big South football fans and parents (for some). If there is no discussion, then there is really no point for me to put the time and effort I do into researching for these discussions

[bucs90]

This really is a make it or break it year for the Bucs. I had them in my poll on AGS, but I really want to see if they take a step up and really solidify themselves in the upper half of the Big South, or take a step back like they did in 07 after closing the season getting crushed by Liberty and Coastal. Ththey almost got the ship righted in 08 ending with a nice winning streak bujt the wheels really came off in 2010 and you saw the fruits of that. if CSU can get another 9 or 10 win season together, they could really be a player in the conference going forward with KSU coming in next year

Yeah, all true. I think most CSU fans know the reality is we will almost always be an underdog to Liberty and Coastal. We are just a smaller school with fewer resources and facilities, and that's fine, as LU and CCU are both fine programs. But, that said, we are good enough to pull those wins now and then, and if we can keep managing things well, we can occasionally compete for the Big South every few years, and hopefully get more than just that lone 2005 banner haha. I think we are in the same boat as all the other Big South teams who are sort of always chasing Coastal and Liberty.

I truly think if CSU can keep upgrading its facilities, that is the key piece to the puzzle, as we are recruiting to one of the best cities in America for college kids to live and play (Beaches, bars, and my oh my the scenery )

If we can upgrade the facilities, we'll get a handful more of those recruits that maybe we lose to Coastal or Furman and programs like that.

[bjtheflamesfan]

I certainly agree with their ability to get wins over the big dogs in the conference (liberty and coastal), but the question is can they not take a step back like they did a few years ago and cement themselves as that third team in that top group like Stony Brook was for a couple years

[bucs90]

I certainly agree with their ability to get wins over the big dogs in the conference (liberty and coastal), but the question is can they not take a step back like they did a few years ago and cement themselves as that third team in that top group like Stony Brook was for a couple years

I think they can with this coaching staff. Jay Mills did a LOT of good for CSU; But, many of us alumni had one gripe, and that was he didn't place a lot of value on in-state recruiting. Relying on so many out of state recruits is a bit hit or miss, because you fight their local schools for them. But going after in-state kids is more stable and consistent, plus, it builds the local alumni and fan base (which boosts attendance, donation, media attention) and I think that all builds upon itself.

Jay Mills was a former Harvard coach, kinda didn't fit in with the Southern culture as well as Coach Chadwell does. Chadwell is a former East Tenn State player, a Southern guy, and really can get the in-state recruiting going very well. They'll need those out of state recruits as well (Our star RB Reyes is a CA kid), but they have to get strong in-state recruiting, and Chadwell is doing it.

And maybe one day, if CSU gets firmly planted as that #3 team......then Coastal and Liberty leave the Big South, CSU will be top dog haha!

[bjtheflamesfan]

Liberty really is the monkey on their back at this point. The Flames have dominated the series winning all but I believe 2 meetings. It's something that isnt lost on these guys. Four straight recruiting classes have gone winless over four years (06, 07 08 and 09) and these kids were quite young when CSU last won in Lynchburg. If Liberty gets off to another hot start, they are going to be battling with "oh great, here we go again" inside their heads.