2013 Preseason Coaches Poll

[smallcollegefbfan]

North Dakota State Tabbed Top Team in Preseason Poll

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the second straight season, North Dakota State Bison will start the season as the No. 1 ranked team in the FCS Coaches Preseason Poll.

The Bison are coming off back-to-back FCS National Championships in 2011 and 2012, going 28-2 over that stretch with victories over FBS schools Minnesota and Colorado State. North Dakota State defeated Sam Houston State 39-13 in the FCS National Championship to cap a 14-1 campaign in 2012, the second consecutive season in which the two teams met in the title game. The Bison will return 18 starters, including All-American selections Billy Turner at tackle and Marcus Williams at cornerback. The Bison also bring back starting quarterback and 2012 FCS National Championship MVP Brock Jensen who threw for 2,331 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.

NDSU received 23 of 26 first place votes to earn the top spot in the opening poll of the 2013 campaign. Montana State earned the No. 2 preseason ranking and received one first-place vote after finishing 11-2 in 2012. Fellow Big Sky member Eastern Washington is third in the poll, followed by Sam Houston State. Sam Houston State earned a first place vote, as did Eastern Kentucky, which sits at No. 19 in the poll.

Wofford holds down the No. 5 spot, while Central Arkansas, South Dakota State, New Hampshire, Villanova and Illinois State round out the top 10.
Six Colonial Athletic Association schools earned a top 25 selection, the most from any conference. The Big Sky and Missouri Valley each placed five teams in the poll. In all, nine conferences had representatives in the preseason poll.

The FCS Coaches Poll is based exclusively on a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and is administered by the Southern Conference.

Preseason 2012 FCS Coaches Preseason Poll (August 6, 2013)
Team (No. 1 Votes) 2012 Record Points Final 2012 Ranking
1. North Dakota State (23) 14-1 645 1
2. Montana State (1) 11-2 591 5
3. Eastern Washington 11-3 549 4
4. Sam Houston State (1) 11-4 534 2
5. Wofford 9-4 450 7
6. Central Arkansas 9-3 428 10
7. South Dakota State 9-4 410 17
8. New Hampshire 8-4 386 13
9. Villanova 8-4 381 16
10. Illinois State 9-4 379 9
11. Cal Poly 9-3 348 11
12. Towson 7-4 347 15
13. Stony Brook 10-3 326 12
14. Richmond 8-3 274 18
15. James Madison 7-4 235 21
16. Northern Iowa 5-6 218 NR
17. Lehigh 10-1 198 14
18. Northern Arizona 8-2 196 20
19. Eastern Kentucky (1) 8-3 188 19
20. Bethune-Cookman 9-3 159 23
21. Coastal Carolina 8-5 140 24
22. Montana 6-2* 135 NR
23. Eastern Illinois 7-5 120 25
24. Youngstown State 7-4 107 NR
25. Chattanooga 6-5 104 NR


Others receiving votes: Wagner (87), Colgate (67), Tennessee State (52), Harvard (48), Delaware (47), The Citadel (39), Liberty (39), Arkansas Pine-Bluff (35), Indiana State (27), Stephen F. Austin (19), McNeese State (16), Penn (13), Alcorn State (12), Jacksonville State (11), Samford (10), Norfolk State (7), Alabama State (7), UC Davis (7), Southern Illinois (6), Maine (5), Albany (5), Tennessee Tech (5), UT Martin (4), Gardner Webb (4), Sacramento State (3), Hampton (3), San Diego (2), Jackson State (1), Missouri State (1), Brown (1)
* Final 6 games of 2012 vacated

Note: The following programs are ineligible for the Coaches Poll due to their transition to the FBS- Appalachian State, Charlotte, Georgia Southern and Old Dominion.

[aces1180]

Eastern Kentucky received a #1 vote? WTF?

[NoDak 4 Ever]

Eastern Kentucky received a #1 vote? WTF?

Is Dean Hood a voter?

[smallcollegefbfan]

You could bet that 3 of the 4 teams not eligible would have been in the top 25 meaning EIU, YSU, and UTC would not have made the top 25 if not for transition status. Interesting because I actually think YSU rebounds from last year and is a top 20 team while UTC certainly should be 2nd or 3rd in the SoCon and put them in the top 25 as well. EIU has a big time QB and WR along with a solid defense so they should be a playoff team as well.

[Pard4Life]

This is always the worst poll... ugh...

[Vitojr130]

I'm not getting how Eastern Kentucky pulled a number 1 vote in... Did they get rid of their team and replace everyone with 4 or 5 star athletes over the summer or something?

[PaladinFan]

At some point, can we just stop footnoting that certain teams are not eligible for the poll? I mean, programs not eligible for these polls are no more eligible than UGA and Florida, but there are no notes to that effect.

Just leave them off altogether.

[theasushow]

Remind me why Montana vacated the last 6 games of 2012....its been a long off season.

[NoDak 4 Ever]

You could bet that 3 of the 4 teams not eligible would have been in the top 25 meaning EIU, YSU, and UTC would not have made the top 25 if not for transition status. Interesting because I actually think YSU rebounds from last year and is a top 20 team while UTC certainly should be 2nd or 3rd in the SoCon and put them in the top 25 as well. EIU has a big time QB and WR along with a solid defense so they should be a playoff team as well.

Those teams are also playing with more scholarships. They are not really FCS if they have more than 63 scholly's so they should not be considered among the rest. Meaning EIU, YSU, and UTC are among those schools playing with the proper amount of scholarships that SHOULD be in the poll.

[RichH2]

Like to see Lehigh at #17. Maybe we will but as a preseason vote totally unealistic.

[BEAR]

Putting Montana State at #2 and the Bears visiting there next year....gonna be EPIC!

[NoDak 4 Ever]

Remind me why Montana vacated the last 6 games of 2012....its been a long off season.

Booster problems. 3 yrs probation -4 scholarships over that time and last 6 victories vacated.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/football/ncaa/wires/07/26/2060.ap.fbc.montana.ncaa.investigation.4th.ld.writ ethru.1186/index.html

[Saint3333]

At some point, can we just stop footnoting that certain teams are not eligible for the poll? I mean, programs not eligible for these polls are no more eligible than UGA and Florida, but there are no notes to that effect.

Just leave them off altogether.

Probably to avoid the emails, as the general public may not know and ask the question.

[DJKyR0]

Here's the actual poll if anyone wanted to see it.

....whoops, didn't see I was on page 2. My bad.

[Sandlapper Spike]

Wofford is fifth in this poll...and was fifth in the SoCon coaches' poll...

[Sammy94]

Putting Montana State at #2 and the Bears visiting there next year....gonna be EPIC!

They may be #18 next year. May still be epic though.

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Probably to avoid the emails, as the general public may not know and ask the question.

Exactly, it's a press release and even though all of us here know the reasoning I think it's probably a good idea to put it out there for the rest of the general public to eliminate all the "why isn't ____ in the poll?!!" question. Especially in the very first poll of the season.

[asumike83]

At some point, can we just stop footnoting that certain teams are not eligible for the poll? I mean, programs not eligible for these polls are no more eligible than UGA and Florida, but there are no notes to that effect.

Just leave them off altogether.

Not everyone who reads the poll is an avid fan that follows conference realignment. The omission of three playoff teams from a year ago is certainly worth a footnote.

[MSUBobcat]

North Dakota State Tabbed Top Team in Preseason Poll

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the second straight season, North Dakota State Bison will start the season as the No. 1 ranked team in the FCS Coaches Preseason Poll.

The Bison are coming off back-to-back FCS National Championships in 2011 and 2012, going 28-2 over that stretch with victories over FBS schools Minnesota and Colorado State. North Dakota State defeated Sam Houston State 39-13 in the FCS National Championship to cap a 14-1 campaign in 2012, the second consecutive season in which the two teams met in the title game. The Bison will return 18 starters, including All-American selections Billy Turner at tackle and Marcus Williams at cornerback. The Bison also bring back starting quarterback and 2012 FCS National Championship MVP Brock Jensen who threw for 2,331 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.

NDSU received 23 of 26 first place votes to earn the top spot in the opening poll of the 2013 campaign. Montana State earned the No. 2 preseason ranking and received one first-place vote after finishing 11-2 in 2012. Fellow Big Sky member Eastern Washington is third in the poll, followed by Sam Houston State. Sam Houston State earned a first place vote, as did Eastern Kentucky, which sits at No. 19 in the poll.

Wofford holds down the No. 5 spot, while Central Arkansas, South Dakota State, New Hampshire, Villanova and Illinois State round out the top 10.
Six Colonial Athletic Association schools earned a top 25 selection, the most from any conference. The Big Sky and Missouri Valley each placed five teams in the poll. In all, nine conferences had representatives in the preseason poll.

The FCS Coaches Poll is based exclusively on a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and is administered by the Southern Conference.

Preseason 2012 FCS Coaches Preseason Poll (August 6, 2013)
Team (No. 1 Votes) 2012 Record Points Final 2012 Ranking
1. North Dakota State (23) 14-1 645 1
2. Montana State (1) 11-2 591 5
3. Eastern Washington 11-3 549 4
4. Sam Houston State (1) 11-4 534 2
5. Wofford 9-4 450 7
6. Central Arkansas 9-3 428 10
7. South Dakota State 9-4 410 17
8. New Hampshire 8-4 386 13
9. Villanova 8-4 381 16
10. Illinois State 9-4 379 9
11. Cal Poly 9-3 348 11
12. Towson 7-4 347 15
13. Stony Brook 10-3 326 12
14. Richmond 8-3 274 18
15. James Madison 7-4 235 21
16. Northern Iowa 5-6 218 NR
17. Lehigh 10-1 198 14
18. Northern Arizona 8-2 196 20
19. Eastern Kentucky (1) 8-3 188 19
20. Bethune-Cookman 9-3 159 23
21. Coastal Carolina 8-5 140 24
22. Montana 6-2* 135 NR
23. Eastern Illinois 7-5 120 25
24. Youngstown State 7-4 107 NR
25. Chattanooga 6-5 104 NR


Others receiving votes: Wagner (87), Colgate (67), Tennessee State (52), Harvard (48), Delaware (47), The Citadel (39), Liberty (39), Arkansas Pine-Bluff (35), Indiana State (27), Stephen F. Austin (19), McNeese State (16), Penn (13), Alcorn State (12), Jacksonville State (11), Samford (10), Norfolk State (7), Alabama State (7), UC Davis (7), Southern Illinois (6), Maine (5), Albany (5), Tennessee Tech (5), UT Martin (4), Gardner Webb (4), Sacramento State (3), Hampton (3), San Diego (2), Jackson State (1), Missouri State (1), Brown (1)
* Final 6 games of 2012 vacated

Note: The following programs are ineligible for the Coaches Poll due to their transition to the FBS- Appalachian State, Charlotte, Georgia Southern and Old Dominion.


Booster problems. 3 yrs probation -4 scholarships over that time and last 6 victories vacated.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/football/ncaa/wires/07/26/2060.ap.fbc.montana.ncaa.investigation.4th.ld.writ ethru.1186/index.html

Not entirely accurate. The last 6 games of 2011 were vacated. Should have been quite obvious to whoever made this mistake, as UM only won 5 games and played in 11 games in all of 2012 , so taking away their last 6 games would hardly result in a 6-2 record (total of 14 games played for a non-playoff team) Someone is not good at simple arithmetic xsmhx xcoolx

[NoDak 4 Ever]

Not entirely accurate. The last 6 games of 2011 were vacated. Should have been quite obvious to whoever made this mistake, as UM only won 5 games and played in 11 games in all of 2012 , so taking away their last 6 games would hardly result in a 6-2 record (total of 14 games played for a non-playoff team) Someone is not good at simple arithmetic xsmhx xcoolx

Yup. after reading everything, I should have corrected.

[JSUBison]

Anybody have a current list of the voters so we know who to blame and mock as the year goes on?

[knucklehead]

I still think all preseason polls take too much stock in last year's results and don't take enough time to look at who is coming back / changes. As a big south guy, I think Stony Brook is going to take a step back. I also think Richmond will end up much higher than most think.

[chattanoogamocs]

Eastern Kentucky received a #1 vote? WTF?

I wonder if the person meant to click Eastern Washington.

[MSUBobcat]

They may be #18 next year. May still be epic though.

MSU may be at #18 after the game at SFA or NAU, with our depleted LB corp. :( All American Owens gone to graduation, and projected starters Aleksei Grosulak announced Friday he is leaving the program due to injuries and Na'a Moeakiola had shoulder surgery and is out for undetermined amount of time. Hopefully Foster, Singleton and Moore can step in quickly. xprayx Both Singleton and Moore had a fair amount of playing time last year.

[Professor Chaos]

Someone needs to petition the NCAA to end this poll. It's a joke that there are news outlets that actually use this pile of garbage.

[PaladinFan]

Not everyone who reads the poll is an avid fan that follows conference realignment. The omission of three playoff teams from a year ago is certainly worth a footnote.

It can be only one of two scenarios, right? Either they aren't good enough to be top 25 or they aren't eligible for the poll. I imagine if you follow the FCS closely enough to care about the preseason coaches poll, you probably already know the answer to the question.

There has to be common ground. Every SoCon article does not have to start with a disclaimer that App and GSU are playing an exhibition season. Just like every article about a transfer player playing for an FCS school doesn't have to start with the qualifier "x transfer."

[NoDak 4 Ever]

It can be only one of two scenarios, right? Either they aren't good enough to be top 25 or they aren't eligible for the poll. I imagine if you follow the FCS closely enough to care about the preseason coaches poll, you probably already know the answer to the question.

There has to be common ground. Every SoCon article does not have to start with a disclaimer that App and GSU are playing an exhibition season. Just like every article about a transfer player playing for an FCS school doesn't have to start with the qualifier "x transfer."

You are expecting critical thinking skills from the wrong crowd.

[Saint3333]

Have you ever listened to sportstalk radio, or heck read half the threads on this sight, when writing an article you have to assume the reader knows nothing.

If they didn't put the footnote there, the #1 and #2 fanbases to ask the ignorant question would have been GSU and App fans.

[PaladinFan]

Have you ever listened to sportstalk radio, or heck read half the threads on this sight, when writing an article you have to assume the reader knows nothing.

If they didn't put the footnote there, the #1 and #2 fanbases to ask the ignorant question would have been GSU and App fans.

I mean, isn't that a given anyway? :)

[Grizcountry420]

MSU may be at #18 after the game at SFA or NAU, with our depleted LB corp. :( All American Owens gone to graduation, and projected starters Aleksei Grosulak announced Friday he is leaving the program due to injuries and Na'a Moeakiola had shoulder surgery and is out for undetermined amount of time. Hopefully Foster, Singleton and Moore can step in quickly. xprayx Both Singleton and Moore had a fair amount of playing time last year.

Ya see.. He gets it.

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

Every preseason poll (other than AGS, usually) has something absurd in it. The preseason TSN preseason ORV section is always filled with obvious beat writer homer votes.

[SpeedkingATL]

As far as SoCon teams I would predict that Wofford will finish slightly lower than #5 and that Citdogs, Samford and UTC will all be a little higher in the final poll. Hard to believe anyone would get #1 votes other than the Bison based on what they have returning.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Like to see Lehigh at #17. Maybe we will but as a preseason vote totally unealistic.

They're about 5 spots too high imo. Reputation counts a lot. They've been a fixture in the polls for nearly 3 years.

[Professor Chaos]

They're about 5 spots too high imo. Reputation counts a lot. They've been a fixture in the polls for nearly 3 years.
The coach's poll also had Lehigh absurdly high throughout all of last year. They were #5 before their loss to Colgate last year (http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?122575-Coaches-Poll-Week-10).

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The coach's poll also had Lehigh absurdly high throughout all of last year. They were #5 before their loss to Colgate last year (http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?122575-Coaches-Poll-Week-10).

They were undefeated and coming off a Top 5 finish in 2011. I don't think it was that "absurd".

They still finished ranked ahead of Colgate in the AGS, Coaches and TSN Poll.

[asumike83]

It can be only one of two scenarios, right? Either they aren't good enough to be top 25 or they aren't eligible for the poll. I imagine if you follow the FCS closely enough to care about the preseason coaches poll, you probably already know the answer to the question.

There has to be common ground. Every SoCon article does not have to start with a disclaimer that App and GSU are playing an exhibition season. Just like every article about a transfer player playing for an FCS school doesn't have to start with the qualifier "x transfer."

I suppose, although this article didn't start with a big disclaimer. It was a one sentence footnote. I guess I just don't see why it would bother anyone. Of all the things wrong with this poll, the footnote seems like an odd choice.

[Saint3333]

I mean, isn't that a given anyway? :)

I thought it was but perhaps I should have added a footnote.

[ElCid]

Anybody have a current list of the voters so we know who to blame and mock as the year goes on?

There is a link on the SOCON website. The poll and voters are listed.

http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/FCS/polls/2013/2013_FCS_Coaches_Poll/Voting_Panel.html

But just to save time I have already highlighted the teams with coaches voting. Everyone knows that this poll is jacked. Coaches must play all sorts of games when figuring out who to vote for. Or their minions give them a list. I have no doubt that there are strategic votes for some teams to boost one's own SOS in the eyes of the others voters. Or that some coaches may vote for conference mates or even their own team (either up or down) in order to achieve a certain impact. I am not saying they all do this, but anyone who thinks it does not happen needs to join the rest of us on planet earth. Otherwise, how on earth can about 10-15 teams listed below ever be considered to be a top 25 team. And that is why this poll will continue to be dismissed easily by FCS enthusiasts, like you all here on AGS.

I have listed all teams who received votes in order. I hate referring to #26 and up by their number but I do it here to simply show the number teams receiving votes so nobody go ballistic on me showing these as numbers. After #25 they are unranked. This year has 55 teams receiving votes. Also, if a voter's team received no votes, I listed them on the bottom. All 26 teams with voting coaches are listed. 14 of the voting coaches received votes for their teams. As another data point, last year's preseason coaches' poll had 48 teams receiving votes and 17 teams who had voting coaches received votes. Finally, as another data point, the week 12 coaches poll last year had 37 teams of which 8 had voting coaches. So at the very least, it does improve as the season progresses. Again, here is this year's preseason poll with the coaches who vote in bold.

Oh crap, I almost forgot the footnote - the Hillbillies and the Chicken Hawks and that Virginia team can't get votes (but since they are not voting members, I guess it does not matter).

1. North Dakota State (23) 14-1 645 1
2. Montana State (1) 11-2 591 5
3. Eastern Washington 11-3 549 4
4. Sam Houston State (1) 11-4 534 2
5. Wofford 9-4 450 7
6. Central Arkansas 9-3 428 10
7. South Dakota State 9-4 410 17
8. New Hampshire 8-4 386 13
9. Villanova 8-4 381 16
10. Illinois State 9-4 379 9
11. Cal Poly 9-3 348 11
12. Towson 7-4 347 15
13. Stony Brook 10-3 326 12
14. Richmond 8-3 274 18
15. James Madison 7-4 235 21
16. Northern Iowa 5-6 218 NR
17. Lehigh 10-1 198 14
18. Northern Arizona 8-2 196 20
19. Eastern Kentucky (1) 8-3 188 19
20. Bethune-Cookman 9-3 159 23
21. Coastal Carolina 8-5 140 24
22. Montana 6-2* 135 NR
23. Eastern Illinois 7-5 120 25
24. Youngstown State 7-4 107 NR
25. Chattanooga 6-5 104 NR

26. Wagner (87)
27. Colgate (67)
28. Tennessee State (52)
29. Harvard (48)
30. Delaware (47)
31. The Citadel (39)
31. Liberty (39)
33. Arkansas Pine-Bluff (35)
34. Indiana State (27)
35. Stephen F. Austin (19)
36. McNeese State (16)
37. Penn (13)
38. Alcorn State (12)
39. Jacksonville State (11)
40. Samford (10)
41. Norfolk State (7)
41. Alabama State (7)
41. UC Davis (7)
44. Southern Illinois (6)
45. Maine (5)
45. Albany (5)
45. Tennessee Tech (5)
48. UT Martin (4)
48. Gardner Webb (4)
50. Sacramento State (3)
50. Hampton (3)
52. San Diego (2)
53. Jackson State (1)
53. Missouri State (1)
53. Brown (1)

Voter's team who received no votes.
- North Dakota
- Presbyterian
- VMI
- W&M
- SC State
- Duquesne
- SE Missouri State
- Bucknell
- Lafayette
- Davidson
- Dayton
- Alabama A&M

[skinny_uncle]

I still think all preseason polls take too much stock in last year's results and don't take enough time to look at who is coming back / changes. As a big south guy, I think Stony Brook is going to take a step back. I also think Richmond will end up much higher than most think.

I'm not sure about Indiana State sustaining the progress Trent Miles had there with a new coach coming in.

[TheDHC]

Others Receiving Votes: The Albany Story

In bookstores this August.

[Bam]

I like this poll!!!!

[katstrapper]

Anybody have a current list of the voters so we know who to blame and mock as the year goes on?

Its the FCS COACHES POLL so your voters are the FCS Coaches.....

[katstrapper]

I still think all preseason polls take too much stock in last year's results and don't take enough time to look at who is coming back / changes. As a big south guy, I think Stony Brook is going to take a step back. I also think Richmond will end up much higher than most think.

I think this poll IS looking at who is coming back etc......

[T-Dog]

Normally I would be angry about this, but now I really I don't care.

[MSUBobcat]

Its the FCS COACHES POLL so your voters are the FCS Coaches.....

xconfusedx Sometimes it helps to read the whole thread prior to quoting and posting. The question you quoted was answered in post #38. Not every coach in FCS gets to vote, and the poster was inquiring which coaches are voters this year. xoopsx

It's also somewhat widely agreed upon that the coaches themselves do not always put together their own poll, especially during the season, and instead leave that to their assistants, SIDs, the neighborhood paperboy, or the homeless guy that cleans his windshield with a sports section of a newspaper :D

[Southern Bison]

Voter's team who received no votes.
- North Dakota

I'll bet dollars to donuts that the schmuck in Grand Forks gave Ewww their #1 vote just to be a dick towards the Bison.

[BEAR]

I'll bet dollars to donuts that the schmuck in Grand Forks gave Ewww their #1 vote just to be a dick towards the Bison.

Hey anytime someone wants to be a @ss to you because you're good, take it as a compliment, they're scared...the wind always blows harder at the top .......

[darell1976]

I'll bet dollars to donuts that the schmuck in Grand Forks gave Ewww their #1 vote just to be a dick towards the Bison.

Damn, your hatred in your post sounded like Lakes. Better calm down before you run off and start your own website.

[NDSUstudent]

I'll bet dollars to donuts that the schmuck in Grand Forks gave Ewww their #1 vote just to be a dick towards the Bison.

Watch out or you'll be called a "racist blowhard."

[dewey]

I'll bet dollars to donuts that the schmuck in Grand Forks gave Ewww their #1 vote just to be a dick towards the Bison.

Honestly who cares if someone voted for EWU or EKU. The polls are interesting to look at and see who others think the top teams will be. We will know who the best is at the end of the season following the playoffs.

Dewey

[Sam_Kats]

"Polls are stupid."

-People who keep commenting on the Poll threads

[clenz]

Well this was a decent thread for a while...

UND/NDSU take over of the same stupid ****ing **** add every other thread has already started and won't be stopping

quando omni flunkus moritati