Premature Woof-er-ation

[AlphaSigMD]

I know its early. Very early. But, with 3 games left to be played, who's your pick for the team that will be Woffed this year?

Mine: Elon

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

I don't see how any team from the Socon or CAA with 8 or more wins will not get in. If I had to bet, I'd say it would be either Delaware State or Norfolk State, who will likely be deciding the MEAC championship on November 10th.

[Peems]

I know its early. Very early. But, with 3 games left to be played, who's your pick for the team that will be Woffed this year?

Mine: Elon

So who do you have beating Elon, because currently they have the auto bid...

[blur2005]

Hofstra...though some might say they should be woofed. But an 8-3 CAA team not getting in qualifies as a woof.

[walliver]

Like my Terrier Brethren, I feel if the T-Dawgs don't win out (beating GSU and Chatty) we will return to the role we created.

If Citadel beats Elon and ASU, and GSU beats Wofford, there could be 5 SoCon teams at 8-3 - and a whole lot of woofing going on.xnodx

[bcrawf]

I find it fascinating that with the Gateway's addition of NDSU and SDSU that from now on we may be looking at 3 leagues splitting all 8 at-large spots on a yearly basis...

Its not going to be easy being an at-large contender outside of the SoCon, CAA, and Gateway... I would love to see a scenario in which the Big Sky merged with the Great West. That would give you an absolutely dominate league in all four regions and be really fun for fans and really rough for coaches...

[UMass922]

Hofstra...though some might say they should be woofed. But an 8-3 CAA team not getting in qualifies as a woof.

My guess is that an 8-3 Hofstra will not get in, unless it beats UMass in the season finale. But obviously it will also depend on how many other teams around the country play themselves into or out of consideration.

[AlphaSigMD]

So who do you have beating Elon, because currently they have the auto bid...

They still have to play at furman and at the citadel, with a mop up game against somebody at home...i can't remember who.

I'll echo what I said in a previous post, and say that Elon now has a target on their back, something that they have NEVER had before in the socon.

Whats in Elon's favor: They had a week against a scrappy UTC team that is up and down in any given week. They were expected to win, and they took care of business on homecoming.

What's in Elon's favor 2: Its unsure what the QB situation is right now in Charleston, SC. If Duran Lawson is ok, then I expect that Elon will have a much more difficult time.

What's not in Elon's favor: playing away at both Charleston and Greenville. Rough road for ASU, rough road for Elon.

Whats not in Elon's favor 2: name recognition, and history. Say the SoCon plays out, and Elon is 8-3. ASU could be 9-2, Either Wofford or GSU will likely 9-2 with the other at 8-3. So ASU, Wofford, GSU are in the mix with Elon. Elon, doesn't have big 3, or even big 4 status. Hell, that last thing that Elon did of consequence was win the NAIA national championship back in 1980. It is my suspicion that if ASU is 9-2, Wofford is 8-3 they will be in. GSU will have to win at both furman and wofford to get into the playoffs. If so, they will also be 8-3, with a loss to Colorado State. If they can wax 1-win colorado state, then 9-2, or 8-3 if they lose to wofford. So, if they lose to wofford, they must win at Colorado state to be playoff bound. Regardless. ASU 9-2 (maybe 8-3), Elon 8-3 (maybe 7-4), Wofford 8-3 (maybe 9-2), GSU 8-3, (maybe 9-2). If they it ends this way, then all will have 2 SoCon losses, and I think the tiebreaker is a coinflip. But, If Elon doesn't win the conference, I think their playoff hopes are in jeopardy at 8-3, which is likely where they will end up when all is said and done. Yes, even though they own head to head victories over Wofford and GSU.

[blur2005]

They still have to play at furman and at the citadel, with a mop up game against somebody at home...i can't remember who.

I'll echo what I said in a previous post, and say that Elon now has a target on their back, something that they have NEVER had before in the socon.

Whats in Elon's favor: They had a week against a scrappy UTC team that is up and down in any given week. They were expected to win, and they took care of business on homecoming.

What's in Elon's favor 2: Its unsure what the QB situation is right now in Charleston, SC. If Duran Lawson is ok, then I expect that Elon will have a much more difficult time.

What's not in Elon's favor: playing away at both Charleston and Greenville. Rough road for ASU, rough road for Elon.

Whats not in Elon's favor 2: name recognition, and history. Say the SoCon plays out, and Elon is 8-3. ASU could be 9-2, Either Wofford or GSU will likely 9-2 with the other at 8-3. So ASU, Wofford, GSU are in the mix with Elon. Elon, doesn't have big 3, or even big 4 status. Hell, that last thing that Elon did of consequence was win the NAIA national championship back in 1980. It is my suspicion that if ASU is 9-2, Wofford is 8-3 they will be in. GSU will have to win at both furman and wofford to get into the playoffs. If so, they will also be 8-3, with a loss to Colorado State. If they can wax 1-win colorado state, then 9-2, or 8-3 if they lose to wofford. So, if they lose to wofford, they must win at Colorado state to be playoff bound. Regardless. ASU 9-2 (maybe 8-3), Elon 8-3 (maybe 7-4), Wofford 8-3 (maybe 9-2), GSU 8-3, (maybe 9-2). If they it ends this way, then all will have 2 SoCon losses, and I think the tiebreaker is a coinflip. But, If Elon doesn't win the conference, I think their playoff hopes are in jeopardy at 8-3, which is likely where they will end up when all is said and done. Yes, even though they own head to head victories over Wofford and GSU.
I think they'll end up 8-3 but manage to be selected, unless Cal Poly goes 8-3 or Western Illinois; in either case, Elon could get woofed.

[danefan]

They still have to play at furman and at the citadel, with a mop up game against somebody at home...i can't remember who.

The mop up game is against Stony Brook on 11/17.

[ElonPride]

Hell, that last thing that Elon did of consequence was win the NAIA national championship back in 1980.

You know Elon was 9-2 the firsts year in I-AA ('99) and was snubbed from the playoffs that year. We beat two conference champs that year (Furman and strong NC A&T). I would say that was the last thing we did of consequence before this season......

[Poly Pigskin]

I think they'll end up 8-3 but manage to be selected, unless Cal Poly goes 8-3 or Western Illinois; in either case, Elon could get woofed.

Even if Cal Poly managed to win out, I think Elon would get the nod because they have beaten a few good teams, and our only notable win would be NDSU (which looks unlikely to even happen). I would give 8-3 WIU the nod over 8-3 Elon, but that would be a very close call. It depends a lot on how their respective conferences shake out.

[bluehenbillk]

I'd say Hofstra or JMU.

[Syntax Error]

The mop up game is against Stony Brook on the 11/17.Whoops! :)

[jonmac]

They still have to play at furman and at the citadel, with a mop up game against somebody at home...i can't remember who.

I'll echo what I said in a previous post, and say that Elon now has a target on their back, something that they have NEVER had before in the socon.

Whats in Elon's favor: They had a week against a scrappy UTC team that is up and down in any given week. They were expected to win, and they took care of business on homecoming.

What's in Elon's favor 2: Its unsure what the QB situation is right now in Charleston, SC. If Duran Lawson is ok, then I expect that Elon will have a much more difficult time.

What's not in Elon's favor: playing away at both Charleston and Greenville. Rough road for ASU, rough road for Elon.

Whats not in Elon's favor 2: name recognition, and history. Say the SoCon plays out, and Elon is 8-3. ASU could be 9-2, Either Wofford or GSU will likely 9-2 with the other at 8-3. So ASU, Wofford, GSU are in the mix with Elon. Elon, doesn't have big 3, or even big 4 status. Hell, that last thing that Elon did of consequence was win the NAIA national championship back in 1980. It is my suspicion that if ASU is 9-2, Wofford is 8-3 they will be in. GSU will have to win at both furman and wofford to get into the playoffs. If so, they will also be 8-3, with a loss to Colorado State. If they can wax 1-win colorado state, then 9-2, or 8-3 if they lose to wofford. So, if they lose to wofford, they must win at Colorado state to be playoff bound. Regardless. ASU 9-2 (maybe 8-3), Elon 8-3 (maybe 7-4), Wofford 8-3 (maybe 9-2), GSU 8-3, (maybe 9-2). If they it ends this way, then all will have 2 SoCon losses, and I think the tiebreaker is a coinflip. But, If Elon doesn't win the conference, I think their playoff hopes are in jeopardy at 8-3, which is likely where they will end up when all is said and done. Yes, even though they own head to head victories over Wofford and GSU.

So...many...numbers...my head hurts. xbowx

Good post though. I just want the apps to win out. That's all I 'm concerned about. Let all the other chips fall where they will.

[ngineer]

They still have to play at furman and at the citadel, with a mop up game against somebody at home...i can't remember who.

I'll echo what I said in a previous post, and say that Elon now has a target on their back, something that they have NEVER had before in the socon.

Whats in Elon's favor: They had a week against a scrappy UTC team that is up and down in any given week. They were expected to win, and they took care of business on homecoming.

What's in Elon's favor 2: Its unsure what the QB situation is right now in Charleston, SC. If Duran Lawson is ok, then I expect that Elon will have a much more difficult time.

What's not in Elon's favor: playing away at both Charleston and Greenville. Rough road for ASU, rough road for Elon.

Whats not in Elon's favor 2: name recognition, and history. Say the SoCon plays out, and Elon is 8-3. ASU could be 9-2, Either Wofford or GSU will likely 9-2 with the other at 8-3. So ASU, Wofford, GSU are in the mix with Elon. Elon, doesn't have big 3, or even big 4 status. Hell, that last thing that Elon did of consequence was win the NAIA national championship back in 1980. It is my suspicion that if ASU is 9-2, Wofford is 8-3 they will be in. GSU will have to win at both furman and wofford to get into the playoffs. If so, they will also be 8-3, with a loss to Colorado State. If they can wax 1-win colorado state, then 9-2, or 8-3 if they lose to wofford. So, if they lose to wofford, they must win at Colorado state to be playoff bound. Regardless. ASU 9-2 (maybe 8-3), Elon 8-3 (maybe 7-4), Wofford 8-3 (maybe 9-2), GSU 8-3, (maybe 9-2). If they it ends this way, then all will have 2 SoCon losses, and I think the tiebreaker is a coinflip. But, If Elon doesn't win the conference, I think their playoff hopes are in jeopardy at 8-3, which is likely where they will end up when all is said and done. Yes, even though they own head to head victories over Wofford and GSU.

You have a valid point. However, their HC Lembo is a well-known quantity. He was the I-AA Coach of the Year when he took over Lehigh and went undefeated in his first year and won a first round playoff game. His 2004 Lehigh team lost by one point to the NCAA Champion, JMU, on a controversial goal line stand referee call. He's taken a perennial loser and in two years has them near the top of the SoCon. With HIS record, and not Elon's, the Committee may well give Elon the nod in recognition of a tremendous turnaround.

[terrierbob]

You know Elon was 9-2 the firsts year in I-AA ('99) and was snubbed from the playoffs that year. We beat two conference champs that year (Furman and strong NC A&T). I would say that was the last thing we did of consequence before this season......

was Elon an independent then?

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

You know Elon was 9-2 the firsts year in I-AA ('99) and was snubbed from the playoffs that year. We beat two conference champs that year (Furman and strong NC A&T). I would say that was the last thing we did of consequence before this season......

Were you guys eligible back then? I don't know when the eligibility rule took effect. I do know that GSU was able to play in the playoffs in their second year in IAA/FCS.

[AlphaSigMD]

You know Elon was 9-2 the firsts year in I-AA ('99) and was snubbed from the playoffs that year. We beat two conference champs that year (Furman and strong NC A&T). I would say that was the last thing we did of consequence before this season......

I can go along with that. Well played.

[FCS Go!]

IIRC Elon was eligible that year.

[AlphaSigMD]

You have a valid point. However, their HC Lembo is a well-known quantity. He was the I-AA Coach of the Year when he took over Lehigh and went undefeated in his first year and won a first round playoff game. His 2004 Lehigh team lost by one point to the NCAA Champion, JMU, on a controversial goal line stand referee call. He's taken a perennial loser and in two years has them near the top of the SoCon. With HIS record, and not Elon's, the Committee may well give Elon the nod in recognition of a tremendous turnaround.

I agree. Lembo is a good coach. I just don't know if its going to be enough. Trust me, I'll be plenty happy if Elon gets into the playoffs.xthumbsupx

[Elon Fightin' Christians]

You know Elon was 9-2 the firsts year in I-AA ('99) and was snubbed from the playoffs that year. We beat two conference champs that year (Furman and strong NC A&T). I would say that was the last thing we did of consequence before this season......

YES !!! We got screwed big time that year.

[gophoenix]

Were you guys eligible back then? I don't know when the eligibility rule took effect. I do know that GSU was able to play in the playoffs in their second year in IAA/FCS.

Back then the rule was a 2 year transition for whatever reason and 5 year for basketball (unless you played football). But D-II requirements then were different too.

Elon was basically the first team left out according to the media. Had Florida A&M not cheated that year, we would have been in. A&T was the #16 team and beat Tennessee State.

I still remember it all too vividly and remember being put out beyond recognition by the way it all panned out. The next year we were 7-4, still beating a top 15 A&T.

But that year we were 9-2 beating ranked Furman, A&T and Samford and losing close games to ranked Western Illinois and Hofstra. But we had two D-II games against D-II playoffs teams that year. And that hurt us more than anything I think.