CSJ FCS Conference Previews

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Here's a list of all the College Sports Journal's FCS conference previews thus far! More as they are published.

Big Sky (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/264-big-sky-preview-ewu-looks-to-rebound-to-fcs-championship-form-in-expanded-league)
Big South (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/268-big-south-preview-stony-brook-s-final-season-could-be-even-more-special)
CAA (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/263-caa-preview-towson-hopes-to-repeat-against-tough-competition)
Ivy League (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/256-ivy-league-stuck-competing-only-for-regular-season-glory)
MEAC (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/257-meac-preview-norfolk-state-looks-to-repeat)
NEC (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/262-nec-preview-there-can-be-only-one)
OVC (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/269-ovc-preview-eku-other-teams-look-to-end-playoff-losing-streak)
Missouri Valley (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/246-missouri-valley-preview-mvfc-looks-to-top-last-year)
Patriot League (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/253-patriot-league-preview)
Pioneer Football League (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/270-pfl-preview-playoffs-are-finally-near-in-expanded-field)
SoCon (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/266-socon-preview-appalachian-state-hopes-to-start-another-streak)
Southland (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/267-southland-preview-from-strength-to-strength)
SWAC (http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/258-swac-preview-alabama-state-grambling-look-for-title-game-rematch)

[darell1976]

UNI at #5..when the last time that happened?? Also USD in last. I hope for the best for the Yotes on their new home, and maybe they can get that program towards the top in the near future.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The NEC has been added!

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/262-nec-preview-there-can-be-only-one

Coming up next: the CAA!

[clenz]

UNI at #5..when the last time that happened?? Also USD in last. I hope for the best for the Yotes on their new home, and maybe they can get that program towards the top in the near future.
I'll help....never.


Last time UNI has only finished outside of the top three in conference play since joining D1 something like 4 times.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

I'll help....never.


Last time UNI has only finished outside of the top three in conference play since joining D1 something like 4 times.


I could happen this year. The Valley is going to be tough.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The CAA has been added!

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/263-caa-preview-towson-hopes-to-repeat-against-tough-competition

Coming up next: the Big Sky!

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The Big Sky has been added!

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/264-big-sky-preview-ewu-looks-to-rebound-to-fcs-championship-form-in-expanded-league

Next up: either the SoCon or Southland!

[skinny_uncle]

I could happen this year. The Valley is going to be tough.

The Valley is always tough.

[dgreco]

Interesting NEC write-up. I like the Dukes to win the conference, but I hope Bryant can win the conference and be in the playoffs in their first eligible year

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The SoCon has been added!

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/266-socon-preview-appalachian-state-hopes-to-start-another-streak

Next up: the Southland!

[uofmman1122]

Wow, somebody sure is guzzling that Griz Haterade.

I don't think we'll lose even one game at home, let alone two.

[Mr. C]

Wow, somebody sure is guzzling that Griz Haterade.

I don't think we'll lose even one game at home, let alone two.

You might like to know the guy who wrote it has ties to the Griz. I thought he was being very objective. Montana could go one of two ways this season and I think he is offering a realistic view. Those of us who love what Montana brings to FCS hope the Griz overcome all of this off-field stuff and have a great year.

[Mr. C]

The SoCon has been added!

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/266-socon-preview-appalachian-state-hopes-to-start-another-streak

Next up: the Southland!

And the Big South and OVC ... and the PFL.

[SeattleGriz]

You might like to know the guy who wrote it has ties to the Griz. I thought he was being very objective. Montana could go one of two ways this season and I think he is offering a realistic view. Those of us who love what Montana brings to FCS hope the Griz overcome all of this off-field stuff and have a great year.

His ties are weak then, for all I have read is the team is absolutely fired up to stomp all the drama and doubt. Montana is in pretty much the same situation as last year. A great defense, an offense that needs to click a little and a QB that doesn't have a ton of experience. It's not as if all the talent just dropped off the edge of the earth with the issues.

Amazing how everyone is always predicting the demise of the Griz every year. Good luck with that.

[uofmman1122]

You might like to know the guy who wrote it has ties to the Griz. I thought he was being very objective. Montana could go one of two ways this season and I think he is offering a realistic view. Those of us who love what Montana brings to FCS hope the Griz overcome all of this off-field stuff and have a great year.I'd be more willing to buy that if he had predicted a 4th place finish for App State, too, who is just as young and untested as the Griz, had many off the field issues just like we did, and are also facing major coaching turnover. Even ASU fans feel like this is a vulnerable year.

Sure, we could nosedive and finish 6-5, not saying it's impossible, and I don't think we'll even go better than 9-2 at best, but to act like he's being objective is pretty disingenuous. xpeacex

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I'd be more willing to buy that if he had predicted a 4th place finish for App State, too, who is just as young and untested as the Griz, had many off the field issues just like we did...

Do you really want to get into a pissing contest with App as to whose off-season transgressions were worse?

[uofmman1122]

Do you really want to get into a pissing contest with App as to whose off-season transgressions were worse?
No. That wasn't my point at all.

I know that as far as off-season "transgressions" are concerned, ours are worse, but if this guy is going to say Montana will tie for sixth in conference based on what we have returning and the problems, and then turn around and say "lol similar problems at ASU mean ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP!" just doesn't make any sense.

Either way it doesn't bother me too much. I'm still pretty confident we'll be no worse than third in conference and in the playoffs.

[clenz]

His ties are weak then, for all I have read is the team is absolutely fired up to stomp all the drama and doubt. Montana is in pretty much the same situation as last year. A great defense, an offense that needs to click a little and a QB that doesn't have a ton of experience. It's not as if all the talent just dropped off the edge of the earth with the issues.

Amazing how everyone is always predicting the demise of the Griz every year. Good luck with that.
I'm amazed that Montana fans are able to look past the all new coaching staff across the board, and something like only a handful of total returning starters and think they will be just as good as last year.

I get the best programs reload, but that is A LOT to overcome.

[uofmman1122]

I'm amazed that Montana fans are able to look past the all new coaching staff across the board, and something like only a handful of total returning starters and think they will be just as good as last year.

I get the best programs reload, but that is A LOT to overcome.
Our coaching changes in 2010 dwarf the changes this year considerably.

2010:


ALL coaches changed.
Entire offensive and defensive philosophies changed.
An entire group of players that are very good, but cannot run the offense effectively AT ALL.


2012:

Head Coach fired -- Replaced by a guy who is tougher and more focused, but who will run the exact same offense and defense.
OC left -- Replaced by a guy who by all accounts is a much better coach with FAR more experience; will run basically the same high-tempo offense.
DC left -- Replaced by the LB coach who was arguably the defense's favorite coach, who will only expand on the old defense.
Most of the current position coaches were coaches last year.
90% of the players were recruited for our current offense and defense, and know it and operate it very well.


Go ahead and use the off-season turmoil, DOJ, NCAA, DOE investigations, etc. as reason for while we'll suck. The coaching change argument doesn't really hold water. (And I could get really sugar-coatery and tell you all about how this team is using all of that as a motivator, and will be more focused than ever before, but I'll let other Griz fans bring that up)

Again, I'm not saying we'll go undefeated or even be better than we were last year. I'd be happy with 7-4; at least we'd be in the playoffs, and as long as we're playing good football at the end of the year, the sky's the limit. xpeacex

Also, we lost more talent between 2007 and 2008 and still made the NC game in 2008....precedent really isn't on your side there until we have a losing season.

[clenz]

When did I ever....I mean literally ever (including posts here and CS) say the Griz are going to suck.


I'm leaving the investigations by all parties involved out.

I'm looking strictly at the personnel turnover. Again, I realize good teams reload, but this just seems different.

[uofmman1122]

When did I ever....I mean literally ever (including posts here and CS) say the Griz are going to suck.


I'm leaving the investigations by all parties involved out.

I'm looking strictly at the personnel turnover. Again, I realize good teams reload, but this just seems different.
My mistake. It seemed implied.

There have been quite a few jumping on the Griz-are-gonna-suck bandwagon, so I guess I just assumed.

[MTfan4life]

No. That wasn't my point at all.

I know that as far as off-season "transgressions" are concerned, ours are worse, but if this guy is going to say Montana will tie for sixth in conference based on what we have returning and the problems, and then turn around and say "lol similar problems at ASU mean ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP!" just doesn't make any sense.

Either way it doesn't bother me too much. I'm still pretty confident we'll be no worse than third in conference and in the playoffs.

Do you pay attention to who writes each article? If you had any sense to do that before claiming these articles are biased, then you would know that the guy who put Montana in 6th is not the same guy who wrote the SoCon article.

[MTfan4life]

His ties are weak then, for all I have read is the team is absolutely fired up to stomp all the drama and doubt. Montana is in pretty much the same situation as last year. A great defense, an offense that needs to click a little and a QB that doesn't have a ton of experience. It's not as if all the talent just dropped off the edge of the earth with the issues.

Amazing how everyone is always predicting the demise of the Griz every year. Good luck with that.

"Montana is in pretty much the same situation as last year." - Actually, no.

2012 Montana Defense - Returns only 40% of their total tackle production in 2011.
2011 Montana Defense - Returned 70% of their total tackle production in 2010.

It's hard to justify that Montana will have a great defense with those minimal numbers returning, while at the same time understanding that the Big Sky returns a tremendous amount of offensive production from 2011. Add on the loss of an outstanding quarterback and a deep threat wide receiver, and the team will look extremely vulnerable.

Montana being "fired up to stomp all the drama and doubt" can't really exceed the same level that the rest of the conference is fired up to take over the throne of Big Sky champion. The 2012 season in the Big Sky will not be the same pushover as it was in 2011 for the Montana teams. The top 60-70 percent of the conference will contend for the top 3 positions this year. It's easy as a fan to just assume tradition will push the Griz ahead, but when you look at the facts of the entire conference top to bottom (not just the emotions of Montana) you see there's potential for a little shake-up this season.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The Southland preview is out!

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/267-southland-preview-from-strength-to-strength

The Big South, OVC and PFL to go!

[SeattleGriz]

"Montana is in pretty much the same situation as last year." - Actually, no.

2012 Montana Defense - Returns only 40% of their total tackle production in 2011.
2011 Montana Defense - Returned 70% of their total tackle production in 2010.

It's hard to justify that Montana will have a great defense with those minimal numbers returning, while at the same time understanding that the Big Sky returns a tremendous amount of offensive production from 2011. Add on the loss of an outstanding quarterback and a deep threat wide receiver, and the team will look extremely vulnerable.

Montana being "fired up to stomp all the drama and doubt" can't really exceed the same level that the rest of the conference is fired up to take over the throne of Big Sky champion. The 2012 season in the Big Sky will not be the same pushover as it was in 2011 for the Montana teams. The top 60-70 percent of the conference will contend for the top 3 positions this year. It's easy as a fan to just assume tradition will push the Griz ahead, but when you look at the facts of the entire conference top to bottom (not just the emotions of Montana) you see there's potential for a little shake-up this season.

I am basing my opinion on what those who actually go to the practices have been saying. They admit to sugar coating, but they also get to see what is what.

I am confident the D will be nasty as usual and the offense will do it's usual clicking about 4 games into the season.

[SeattleGriz]

I'm amazed that Montana fans are able to look past the all new coaching staff across the board, and something like only a handful of total returning starters and think they will be just as good as last year.

I get the best programs reload, but that is A LOT to overcome.

The current head coach has been with the program for a number of years, just promoted, and the DC was also with the Griz last year and also just promoted. The only "new" guy to the system is the OC Rosenbach who EWU will tell you directed them to some ridiculous numbers when he was their OC.

I understand your skepticism, but the coaching change isn't as bad as it seems, and you can bet the players are exceptionally focused this year.

[uofmman1122]

Do you pay attention to who writes each article? If you had any sense to do that before claiming these articles are biased, then you would know that the guy who put Montana in 6th is not the same guy who wrote the SoCon article.
Ahh, my bad. I guess I'll have to just take exception to the SoCon writer, then.

[SeattleGriz]

Do you really want to get into a pissing contest with App as to whose off-season transgressions were worse?

And exactly which off season transgressions have the Griz been convicted of?

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The Big South preview is out!

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/268-big-south-preview-stony-brook-s-final-season-could-be-even-more-special

Just two left: the OVC and PFL. They should be ready tonight!

[Lehigh Football Nation]

The OVC preview has been added!

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/269-ovc-preview-eku-other-teams-look-to-end-playoff-losing-streak

Only the PFL left to go!

[Mr. C]

With the completion of the PFL preview last night, College Sports Journal has finished previews on all of the FCS conferences. Hope everyone here enjoys them. There will be plenty of new content on the www.college-sports-journal.com site as the day progresses, heading up to the kickoff of the first game we will be covering live tonight, Towson at Kent State (and hopefully our first FCS vs FBS win of the season). Look for a live blog from Kent State's Dix Stadium on AGS this afternoon and evening as we count down to the start of another fantastic season.

[TheRevSFA]

I enjoyed the SLC preview. Great job

[Mr. C]

I'd be more willing to buy that if he had predicted a 4th place finish for App State, too, who is just as young and untested as the Griz, had many off the field issues just like we did, and are also facing major coaching turnover. Even ASU fans feel like this is a vulnerable year.

Sure, we could nosedive and finish 6-5, not saying it's impossible, and I don't think we'll even go better than 9-2 at best, but to act like he's being objective is pretty disingenuous. xpeacex

Like someone else pointed out, there were different writers for the Big Sky and SoCon previews. In all, we had five different writers handling previews and one preview was a combined effort between two writers. As for Appalachian State, the Mountaineers' off-field stuff (two or three incidents) only had something to do with four players, one of them who wasn't going to see the field anyway. The Mountaineers return almost their entire defense and the only major question is the play of the offensive line, which should be much improved with a new line coach and the return of Scott Satterfield, now in the role of the offensive coordinator and back to calling plays from the press box, like he did during the 2005-07 championship run. Keep in mind, like the SoCon article noted, that ASU is one of the few schools in the SoCon who has its QB back and Jamal Jackson had a great spring and summer.

P.S. The Big Sky writer has serious family connections to someone near and dear to all of our hearts at AGS.

[Mr. C]

I enjoyed the SLC preview. Great job

Thanks for the feedback, Rev. Interesting times for the Southland and our boy Tom Burnett. He has definitely raised the league's profile and done a great job negotiating the treacherous waters of expansion.

[Mr. C]

His ties are weak then, for all I have read is the team is absolutely fired up to stomp all the drama and doubt. Montana is in pretty much the same situation as last year. A great defense, an offense that needs to click a little and a QB that doesn't have a ton of experience. It's not as if all the talent just dropped off the edge of the earth with the issues.

Amazing how everyone is always predicting the demise of the Griz every year. Good luck with that.

See the note in this thread about the ties of the Big Sky writer. He is closer to the program than you might think.

BTW, I for one realize the importance of a strong Montana program to FCS and am hoping that the Griz overcome all of the off-field distractions and put up a great season. I even hope I am able to find a way to get back to Washington-Grizzly Stadium this season (would love to see the Brawl of the Wild for the first time in person).

[Mr. C]

Besides the conference previews, CSJ has also published articles our picks on the top players in every conference, the top players by position in FCS and the overall top 100 players in FCS. We also have a new column by Donal Ware on the top five players (plus one honorable mention) in the HBCU ranks. Great reading material to get prepared for opening night in FCS.

Here are some links:

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/274-the-top-five-football-players-in-the-hbcu-ranks

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/273-the-top-100-players-in-fcs

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/272-csj-2012-fcs-summer-positional-rankings

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/271-csj-announces-its-picks-for-the-top-players-in-each-fcs-conference

[Seawolf97]

All pretty good reads on the eve of the 2012 season. Good work !

[SeattleGriz]

See the note in this thread about the ties of the Big Sky writer. He is closer to the program than you might think.

BTW, I for one realize the importance of a strong Montana program to FCS and am hoping that the Griz overcome all of the off-field distractions and put up a great season. I even hope I am able to find a way to get back to Washington-Grizzly Stadium this season (would love to see the Brawl of the Wild for the first time in person).

I still don't agree with him, but surely appreciate you coming back and posting your thoughts Mr C. I will take your word, for I am not a football writer, just a fan who always wants his team to stomp everyone else.