Biggest Surprise for the 2014 season

[Bison56]

So as we wind down another regular season I wanted to ask you all what was your biggest surprise of the 2014 season? I'll hang up and listen.

[thebootfitter]

I expected UNI to be playing as tough as they are now, but all season long. Maybe that expectation was misguided?

Illinois State surprised me. Nice run they've had this year.

Indiana State surprised me even more so.

Furman surprised me in the opposite direction. Haven't followed closely enough, but what happened?

Idaho State. Where did they come from? Unfortunately, they probably didn't do enough to make the playoffs, but still deserve kudos.

UN_ surprised me by beating Northern Arizona.

Mine are a bit MVFC and Big Sky centric, but those are a few of my observations.

[Bison56]

I would say you covered exactly what I was thinking.

[NoDak 4 Ever]

Indiana State and Idaho State, obviously.

For all my bluster, I never expected NDSU to weather the turnover nearly as well as they have.

[BisonFan02]

Chatty made the playoffs

[FargoBison]

Indiana State if they win this Saturday.

[TheRevSFA]

SFA going from 3-9 last season to 8-4 potentially

[Grizalltheway]

Hanging as close as we did (at least scorline-wise) with NDSU. I secretly thought there was a good chance we'd get blown out of the place.

If we happen to sneak into the playoffs and make a deep run, I'll be pleasantly surprised by that.

[Sader87]

Patriot: Played out to form basically....Bucknell a bit bettah than expected.

Ivy: Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth all a little bit bettah than expected. Princeton underwhelmed in general. Penn a lot worse than expected.

NEC: Bryant and Sacred Heart a bit bettah than expected.

CAA: No real surprises....Delaware more down than expected.

[CHIP72]

Penn's season to forget was a surprise in a negative way.


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[Sammy94]

Sam Houston losing Flanders and Co., a coaching staff and still looking to make the playoffs for a fourth straight year.

[Ivytalk]

Ivy: Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth all a little bit bettah than expected. Princeton underwhelmed in general. Penn a lot worse than expected.

Agreed, particularly on the implosion of Princeton.

[FUBeAR]

The Presbyterian College Blue Ho's surprised me. Are they eligible for an at-large playoff bid as de facto Co-Champions of the SoCon? :D

[Daytripper]

SFA going from 3-9 last season to 8-4 potentially


Just beat the Demons, please!

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

In the Valley: Hands down - Indiana State

[PAllen]

I'm surprised at just how bad all of the teams in the Patriot League were this year. We've always got a few stinkers, but with scholarships, I expected things to be on the rise. Instead, we got a good not great team in Fordham, an almost decent team in Bucknell, and the rest are barf on a plate.

[TheRevSFA]

Just beat the Demons, please!

I kinda hope we don't just to **** with y'all...

[GoAgs72]

Idaho State and Indiana State - something about their initials had good mojo this year.

[DetroitFlyer]

If Saint Francis wins on Saturday, which they should, they will have a winning record for 2014!

[Bisonator]

Indiana State and Furman without a doubt.

[Panther-State]

Idaho State and Indiana State - something about their initials had good mojo this year.

Iowa State fans would beg to differ

[Cleets]

1) Harvard

[Sader87]

I'm surprised at just how bad all of the teams in the Patriot League were this year. We've always got a few stinkers, but with scholarships, I expected things to be on the rise. Instead, we got a good not great team in Fordham, an almost decent team in Bucknell, and the rest are barf on a plate.

I think that's a tad harsh. I'd put Fordham in the "very good to possibly great" team if they have a decent playoff run. Bucknell has been (in my scale lol) an average to good team....they really didn't play anyone too strong OOC. The other 4 not named GTown have had their moments....I wouldn't say they were all "bad"....more in the "below average to average" range. Even GTown wasn't truly awful...they did beat Brown and played a lot of the PL teams relatively tough.

It was definitely a "growing pains" year....we (the middle 5 PL teams) were like an awkward 14 year old kid, lot of potential just not ready for the world yet.

[UAalum72]

If Saint Francis wins on Saturday, which they should, they will have a winning record for 2014!

This...

also Albany goes from 1-11 to at least .500. I don't care if the schedule was weak, those are still games that we would've lost last year (well, maybe not Columbia).

[blackbeard]

NDSU losing a game

Bryant, Bucknell, WCU, and Presbyterian better than expected

Furman and the rest of the SoCon worse than expected

[skinny_uncle]

Indiana State.

[melloware13]

Yale beating Army, Towson (down), Albany (up), Neither Lehigh or Lafayette being above .500, JMU (up)

[IBleedYellow]

UNI not slaughtering everyone they played was something I was not expecting.

[McNeese75]

NDSU cruising like they have.

McNeese NOT

[Thumper 76]

Indiana State bar none.

[JMUNJ08]

A team with a DII loss possibly making the playoffs (SHSU) while a few with FBS wins most likely won't (BCU/ Liberty)

Otherwise, JMU after what seems like 10 years of 6-5 ball breaking through after a coaching change and on the cusp of the playoffs and a home game

Also, don't get me wrong, the Pioneer champ bypassing the playoffs for the 2nd straight year due to self inflicted penalties was unexpected...

[Catbooster]

NDSU hardly being affected by the loss of the head coach and what - 24 seniors?
ISU - I figured Kramer would get them competitive, but not this quickly, or not ranked and in the conversation for playoffs this year.
Furman and McNeese both falling down (and can't get up ;) )

[Rjones61]

The fact that MSU was able to reload after being a mediocre team last year and losing all of their stars. Props to the coaching staff.

[AmsterBison]

Towson has surprised me. Yeah, I knew they were losing a lot of players, but I thought that they'd still be able to beat Central Connecticut State and one or two of the other teams they lost to.

[UNIFanSince1983]

So no one says Illinois State surprised them?

They were picked 6th in the Valley and with a win Saturday could be co- or outright conference champions with only 1 loss in the toughest conference.

[Bisonator]

So no one says Illinois State surprised them?

They were picked 6th in the Valley and with a win Saturday could be co- or outright conference champions with only 1 loss in the toughest conference.

Looking at their schedule before the season I figured they would be 9-3. They didn't have to play NDSU and had most of the tough teams at home.

[Dukie95]

Not many surprises in the CAA. Maine was worse than expected, and JMU better. Saw Towson's slide coming.

[wapiti]

Idaho State was the biggest surprise by far.
2nd place not even close.
They may still make it into the playoffs depending on if they win and some other bubble teams lose.

[pokefan02]

McNeese falling victim to the injury monster yet again. I thought we had finally turned that corner of history

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[SFA 93]

I kinda hope we don't just to **** with y'all...

Yes, it is a win win situation😀

[catamount man]

Best surprise(for me) - Western Carolina
biggest(let down) surprise - Furman

Idaho State next biggest surprise.

[Sammy94]

I kinda hope we don't just to **** with y'all...

Hate runs deep when you wish your own team will lose and have zero chance at all for the playoffs just for the slight chance of a rival not to make the playoffs. Funny thing is it won't matter. Sam wins and they will be there AQ or not.

[Skyhawk71]

In the OVC..........Murray State.........."The Hatch Attack" FINISHED dead last behind a 1-11 Austin Peay (APSU 1-7 beat MSU 1-7 head to head) Will the Racers give up the dream now, or have they already completely forgotten their miserable season and moved on to Hoops

[OldKat95]

I kinda hope we don't just to **** with y'all...

LOVE THIS!!! THIS is what makes our rivalry great! And in turn, I felt really dirty having to root for y'all. Had to scrub real good after cheering for that kicker.


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