CAA 2023 Off-Season Thread

[FUBeAR]

In this case there is nothing more worth knowing.LOL - so, since YOU don’t know anything about it, that means there is nothing worth knowing. That’s a special kind of narcissism right there. Thanks for your participation anyway.

Maybe someone else will have some of that unworthy (yet actual) knowledge about this somewhat unusual announced excited arrival / rapid departure from the New Hampshire Football program.

https://media.tenor.com/Pfz2r2r678wAAAAC/the-simpsons-bart-simpson.gif

[CenMEBlackBearFan]

The best thing about Mason Pline is we learned that our returning TE Shane Bowman was rated the #3 best returning TE. Glad to see something positive about our returning players as I think this could be a rebuilding year for the Black Bears.

[KPSUL]

The best thing about Mason Pline is we learned that our returning TE Shane Bowman was rated the #3 best returning TE. Glad to see something positive about our returning players as I think this could be a rebuilding year for the Black Bears.

Did he play vs. UNH in 2022? I don't remember many TE receptions by Maine in that game. You had a couple RBs who went over 100 yards (Barnwell and Scott) and Joe Fagnano played well. Are those guys returning for 2023?

[CenMEBlackBearFan]

Did he play vs. UNH in 2022? I don't remember many TE receptions by Maine in that game. You had a couple RBs who went over 100 yards (Barnwell and Scott) and Joe Fagnano played well. Are those guys returning for 2023?

Bowman was injured for that game. Barnwell graduated, Scott signed with the Colts as a UDFA and Fagano transferred to UConn as the OC for them was the Maine HC in 2021.
Like I said looks like a rebuilding year.

[KPSUL]

Bowman was injured for that game. Barnwell graduated, Scott signed with the Colts as a UDFA and Fagano transferred to UConn as the OC for them was the Maine HC in 2021.
Like I said looks like a rebuilding year.

But Maine always seems to find quality RBs! Dylan Laube is a once in a decade guys for UNH. I hope he continues to stay healthy this upcoming season, Senior year for Laube. Laube sat out one game last year with a minor injury, vs Dartmouth.
UNH TE Kyle Lepkowski contributed in the U Maine game, but he was playing with a shoulder injury, you may have seen him cringe and favor a shoulder a couple times when brought down hard. He had surgery right after the season ended.

[KPSUL]

LOL - so, since YOU don’t know anything about it, that means there is nothing worth knowing. That’s a special kind of narcissism right there. Thanks for your participation anyway.

Maybe someone else will have some of that unworthy (yet actual) knowledge about this somewhat unusual announced excited arrival / rapid departure from the New Hampshire Football program.



As we all expect from you, taken out out of context, spun beyond all recognition,and includes an inane video or photo. At least you didn't include a photo of several hundred pretzels. Must be your increased vigilance regarding posting brevity.

I hope Pline works out for Furman.

[caribbeanhen]

Delaware picks up another WR but I think he’s going to be a big threat returning Kickoffs

Joshua Youngblood (WR) Rutgers to Delaware

He took a few to the house as a Freshman at Kansas State

[KPSUL]

Delaware picks up another WR but I think he’s going to be a big threat returning Kickoffs

Joshua Youngblood (WR) Rutgers to Delaware

He took a few to the house as a Freshman at Kansas State

Another itinerant player ends up in Newark. Committed to Temple out of HS, decommitted and went to Kansas State. Entered the portal in 2020 after appearing in 2 of 4 Kansas State games with zero receptions and committed to Rutgers. Largely rode the pine (aluminum now-a-days) at Rutgers 2021 and 2022.

[caribbeanhen]

Another itinerant player ends up in Newark. Committed to Temple out of HS, decommitted and went to Kansas State. Entered the portal in 2020 after appearing in 2 of 4 Kansas State games with zero receptions and committed to Rutgers. Largely rode the pine (aluminum now-a-days) at Rutgers 2021 and 2022.

I said he’s a threat on special teams, not sure how much he contributes at WR as Delaware is pretty deep at the WR position.

I think he will dial up a 99 yard return to the house vs New Hampshire…. Wouldn’t it be nice!

[KPSUL]

I said he’s a threat on special teams, not sure how much he contributes at WR as Delaware is pretty deep at the WR position.

I think he will dial up a 99 yard return to the house vs New Hampshire…. Wouldn’t it be nice!

Actually the difference between his Freshman year, 2019, and the next three seasons is hard to fathom. Makes one think there must be more to the story. I only researched him for about 10 minutes, but I didn't see anything about an injury or illness.

Could be possible, but probably not a 99 yarder, our placekickers generally don't kick it that far. I'd say it is more likely Dylan Laube will go to the house on a kick-off or punt than Joshua Youngblood.

[caribbeanhen]

Actually the difference between his Freshman year, 2019, and the next three seasons is hard to fathom. Makes one think there must be more to the story. I only researched him for about 10 minutes, but I didn't see anything about an injury or illness.

Could be possible, but probably not a 99 yarder, our placekickers generally don't kick it that far. I'd say it is more likely Dylan Laube will go to the house on a kick-off or punt than Joshua Youngblood.

I do know Youngblood has had hamstring injuries, if he’s healthy he will contribute nicely

Laube? I’ve been telling you how good he is for years and you’ve finally realized it 😂

[KPSUL]

I do know Youngblood has had hamstring injuries, if he’s healthy he will contribute nicely

Laube? I’ve been telling you how good he is for years and you’ve finally realized it 

I knew Laube would be a good one after his 1st game; but yes, I'll give you credit for recognizing him in 2021.

[MR. CHICKEN]

LINDY'S 2023 CAA PROJECTION..........AWK!

1. WILLIAM & MARY
2. NEW HAMPSHIRE
3. RICHMOND
4. DELAWARE
5. VILLANOVA
6. ELON
7. RHODE ISLAND
8. MONMOUTH
9. TOWSON
10. ALBANY
11. STONY BROOK
12. N. CAROLINA A&T
13. MAINE
14. HAMPTON
15. CAMPBELL

[KPSUL]

1. WILLIAM & MARY 4 Lindy's Top FCS 25
2. NEW HAMPSHIRE 14 "
3. RICHMOND 16 "
4. DELAWARE 20 "
5. VILLANOVA
6. ELON
7. RHODE ISLAND
8. MONMOUTH
9. TOWSON
10. ALBANY
11. STONY BROOK
12. N. CAROLINA A&T
13. MAINE
14. HAMPTON
15. CAMPBELL I don't see Campbell finishing anywhere near last

Do you have to buy the magazine, or is this posted online?

[MR. CHICKEN]

1. WILLIAM & MARY 4 Lindy's Top FCS 25
2. NEW HAMPSHIRE 14 "
3. RICHMOND 16 "
4. DELAWARE 20 "
5. VILLANOVA
6. ELON
7. RHODE ISLAND
8. MONMOUTH
9. TOWSON
10. ALBANY
11. STONY BROOK
12. N. CAROLINA A&T
13. MAINE
14. HAMPTON
15. CAMPBELL I don't see Campbell finishing anywhere near last

Do you have to buy the magazine, or is this posted online?

BOUGHT IT @ BORDERS $11.99.......DON'T KNOW IFIN' ON LINE....AH LIKE TO REFER...TO IT.....ALL SEASON.......WHILE PLAYIN' AGS PICK'EMS AN' STUFF............DOODLES!

[FUBeAR]

BOUGHT IT @ BORDERS $11.99.......DON'T KNOW IFIN' ON LINE....AH LIKE TO REFER...TO IT.....ALL SEASON............DOODLES!
Elon WAY underrated!!!

[MR. CHICKEN]

Elon WAY underrated!!!


32834

......SO YER FINISHED WHIFF....WESTERN CAROLINA.....AH SEE........AWK!

[caribbeanhen]

LINDY'S 2023 CAA PROJECTION..........AWK!

1. WILLIAM & MARY
2. NEW HAMPSHIRE
3. RICHMOND
4. DELAWARE
5. VILLANOVA
6. ELON
7. RHODE ISLAND
8. MONMOUTH
9. TOWSON
10. ALBANY
11. STONY BROOK
12. N. CAROLINA A&T
13. MAINE
14. HAMPTON
15. CAMPBELL

What happened to Stoner Brook? They were horrible last year.

I see they did pick up about 15 FBS transfers….

RB Lawton transferred to JMU

from the Hero Sports tracker



RB)
Charlotte
Stony Brook


Shakhi Carson (RB)
Kent State
Stony Brook


Dyshier Clary (DL)
Temple
Stony Brook


Casey Case (QB)
Buffalo
Stony Brook


Jeffrey Davis Jr. (DB)
Penn State
Stony Brook


Dez Williams (WR)
Wake Forest
Stony Brook


Anthony Johnson (WR)
James Madison
Stony Brook


Hunter Barlow (OL)
Kansas
Stony Brook


D’Angelo McKinnie (TE)
East Carolina
Stony Brook


Chayce Chalmers (DB)
Virginia
Stony Brook


Anthony Pecorella (P)
Maryland
Stony Brook


Brandon Higgs (DB)
East Carolina
Stony Brook


Andy Nwaoko (DL)
Boise State
Stony Brook


Jalen Hoyle (DB)
Virginia Tech
Stony Brook

[caribbeanhen]

Hero sports FBS to FCS tracker

https://herosports.com/2023-fbs-to-fcs-transfers-bzbz/

[crusader11]

Campbell dead last? That won't happen.

[KPSUL]

What the number of annual FBS to FCS transfer totals tells us:

0 - 2 FBS Transfers. Solid team that will be competitive and likely will improve.
3 - 5 FBS Transfers. Team will be be competitive, maybe even improve.
6 - 8 FBS Transfers. Team is struggling a bit, transfers may help, or not.
9-12 FBS Transfers. Coach is panicking, trying to save his job.
12+ FBS Transfers. Total desperation. Hopefully the coach has a good severance package.

[caribbeanhen]

Campbell dead last? That won't happen.

agree, but will they make a better debut than Monmouth? I think so

[ncspiderfan]

What the number of annual FBS to FCS transfer totals tells us:

0 - 2 FBS Transfers. Solid team that will be competitive and likely will improve.
3 - 5 FBS Transfers. Team will be be competitive, maybe even improve.
6 - 8 FBS Transfers. Team is struggling a bit, transfers may help, or not.
9-12 FBS Transfers. Coach is panicking, trying to save his job.
12+ FBS Transfers. Total desperation. Hopefully the coach has a good severance package.

You think with the extra fifth year this holds as true as normal. I tend to agree with your numbers above in normal times, unless of course something happens like going on at Campbell with their move to CAA.

Spiders got two FBS this spring (one a RSF kicker one a RSSo OL), but 5 FCS guys from portal of which some are grads. Also 20 HS recruits, for a total of 27 new guys bringing roster to 88 total. That is a pretty large roster add for Spiders compared to normal. Spiders had 5 grads go to FBS for their last year and lost one underclassman to Albany.
One Spider RB that was in portal as a grad has decided to return.

Guess my point is with the fifth year, holes can be filled with guys that usually would simply have played their four years and moved on.

[caribbeanhen]

What the number of annual FBS to FCS transfer totals tells us:

0 - 2 FBS Transfers. Solid team that will be competitive and likely will improve.
3 - 5 FBS Transfers. Team will be be competitive, maybe even improve.
6 - 8 FBS Transfers. Team is struggling a bit, transfers may help, or not.
9-12 FBS Transfers. Coach is panicking, trying to save his job.
12+ FBS Transfers. Total desperation. Hopefully the coach has a good severance package.

Can you slot all the CAA teams into the appropriate categories and after the season we can re-visit

[KPSUL]

Can you slot all the CAA teams into the appropriate categories and after the season we can re-visit

Currently the number of 2023 FBS transfers for each CAA Team.

0 - 2 FBS Transfers. UofR, Elon, UNH, Villanova, W&M

3 - 5 FBS Transfers. Delaware, Hampton, Maine, NC A&T, URI, Towson, Monmouth

6 - 8 FBS Transfers. Albany

9-12 FBS Transfers. Zero

12+ FBS Transfers. Campbell, Stony Brook

So really, the CAA minus Campbell and Stony Brook, have pretty reasonable numbers. Albany is the only team in the 3rd category and barely with 6 FBS transfers. SBU Head Coach Chuck Priore must be pitching the old Hail Mary down the field with 14 FBS transfers trying to save his hefty SUNY annual salary. I have no idea what's going on at Campbell.

[caribbeanhen]

Currently the number of 2023 FBS transfers for each CAA Team.

0 - 2 FBS Transfers. UofR, Elon, UNH, Villanova, W&M

3 - 5 FBS Transfers. Delaware, Hampton, Maine, NC A&T, URI, Towson, Monmouth

6 - 8 FBS Transfers. Albany

9-12 FBS Transfers. Zero

12+ FBS Transfers. Campbell, Stony Brook

So really, the CAA minus Campbell and Stony Brook, have pretty reasonable numbers. Albany is the only team in the 3rd category and barely with 6 FBS transfers. SBU Head Coach Priore must be pitching the old Hail Mary down the field with 14 FBS transfers trying to save his hefty SUNY annual salary. I have no idea what's going on at Campbell.


nice work

I have to say the Delaware transfers from FCS, JUCO QB and a Div 2 LB will probably have a bigger impact than the FBS transfers

As for Stony, I have to agree with you…. Program on the downslope

Nobody knows what’s really going on at Campbell but something is up

[KPSUL]

nice work

I have to say the Delaware transfers from FCS, JUCO QB and a Div 2 LB will probably have a bigger impact than the FBS transfers

As for Stony, I have to agree with you…. Program on the downslope

Nobody knows what’s really going on at Campbell but something is up

Yeah, the days of bringing in a dozen FBS transfers and getting 5 or 6 excellent new players are over. With FBS guys able to transfer to other FBS schools and not have to sit out, there will be far fewer quality FBS guys in the portal available to FCS teams.

[KPSUL]

agree, but will they make a better debut than Monmouth? I think so

I think their 2023 finish will be on par with 2022 Monmouth.

I see Campbell finishing 3-5 in the CAA, with a 2-6 more likely than 4-4. They played great the first half of the 2022 season, but finished losing 4 out of their last 5; and arguably they had a better SOS in the first 6 games than they had in the last 5.

Monmouth finished 3-5 in the CAA for the 2022 season, and they made a game out of it in all of their CAA contests except for the game @ Delaware.

Campbell is @ Monmouth September 16th this season and I hope the game's a good one!

[caribbeanhen]

who finishes last

Hampton or Stony?

[MUHAWKS]

I think their 2023 finish will be on par with 2022 Monmouth.

I see Campbell finishing 3-5 in the CAA, with a 2-6 more likely than 4-4. They played great the first half of the 2022 season, but finished losing 4 out of their last 5; and arguably they had a better SOS in the first 6 games than they had in the last 5.

Monmouth finished 3-5 in the CAA for the 2022 season, and they made a game out of it in all of their CAA contests except for the game @ Delaware.

Campbell is @ Monmouth September 16th this season and I hope the game's a good one!



I do NOT think anyone is clowning Monmouth and if they were, I support the 1st amendment but caribbeanhen and KPSUL- for all I heard about the CAA I have to be honest- if Monmouth is just some ****ty Big South team that got lucky a couple times to beat the awful triple option owls, it really does not say much for the CAA in terms of being a deep league or anywhere close to some midwest/western types (which we kind of know anyway after seeing the fate of UDEL and W&M last year)... "IF" the league is truly a top league, I think we did a very formidable job for our first year. Something like a B-/C+. Everyone always has some excuse "well you did not have to play W&M or Richmond or Elon". Ok, fine but we have had football for 30 years and only in the last 15 have we bee scholly and only in the last couple years have we finally gotten to 63. We have not even had a full class on 63 ships yet. We have the smallest stadium by far in the league and zero home field advantage and yet coming off an average 7-4 year in which we got steamrolled by Holy Cross and Kennesaw and lost a close one to Princeton (read: not very good) we managed (as PSUL said) to win 3 games, one being on the road at then ranked Nova, and out of the 5 losses, Delaware was the only game that did not come down to the last few minutes. 2 games literally came down to the last play. I know wins are the only thing that matters but does not say much for the CAA if you really think about it.. And we may have had the worst defense in FCS. I am not saying you guys are saying differently but I guess my question is, what can realistically be expected for any newcomer who is "moving up"?? The way I see it, if we can somehow manage to stay relevant and be decent, the sky is the limit. We are planning on gettin light and expanding stadium and have signed a bunch of solid recruits. Just as a guide- we played Campbell the last 3 years before 2022 and won by 3 or more scores each time. anyway I just realized I am "arguing" against something that neither of you said but I just get the feeling we are looked at as quasi garbage but if that indeed is the case then the CAA haters are right, the league just suck b/c no way we should have been 5-6 plays away from the playoffs as a first year CAA member without even having that good a team and zero defense.

[KPSUL]

I do NOT think anyone is clowning Monmouth and if they were, I support the 1st amendment but caribbeanhen and KPSUL- for all I heard about the CAA I have to be honest- if Monmouth is just some ****ty Big South team that got lucky a couple times to beat the awful triple option owls, it really does not say much for the CAA in terms of being a deep league or anywhere close to some midwest/western types (which we kind of know anyway after seeing the fate of UDEL and W&M last year)... "IF" the league is truly a top league, I think we did a very formidable job for our first year. Something like a B-/C+. Everyone always has some excuse "well you did not have to play W&M or Richmond or Elon". Ok, fine but we have had football for 30 years and only in the last 15 have we bee scholly and only in the last couple years have we finally gotten to 63. We have not even had a full class on 63 ships yet. We have the smallest stadium by far in the league and zero home field advantage and yet coming off an average 7-4 year in which we got steamrolled by Holy Cross and Kennesaw and lost a close one to Princeton (read: not very good) we managed (as PSUL said) to win 3 games, one being on the road at then ranked Nova, and out of the 5 losses, Delaware was the only game that did not come down to the last few minutes. 2 games literally came down to the last play. I know wins are the only thing that matters but does not say much for the CAA if you really think about it.. And we may have had the worst defense in FCS. I am not saying you guys are saying differently but I guess my question is, what can realistically be expected for any newcomer who is "moving up"?? The way I see it, if we can somehow manage to stay relevant and be decent, the sky is the limit. We are planning on gettin light and expanding stadium and have signed a bunch of solid recruits. Just as a guide- we played Campbell the last 3 years before 2022 and won by 3 or more scores each time. anyway I just realized I am "arguing" against something that neither of you said but I just get the feeling we are looked at as quasi garbage but if that indeed is the case then the CAA haters are right, the league just suck b/c no way we should have been 5-6 plays away from the playoffs as a first year CAA member without even having that good a team and zero defense.

There is a lot to unpack here, but I'd like to start by saying I never thought, and definitely didn't write, that last season Monmouth was just a _hitty Big South Team. I did think that UNH was significantly undervalued pre-season and predicted an opening game win at home vs The Hawks. I can also claim that I was pretty accurate in projecting where MU would end up in the final CAA standings - on that point I was probably a little lucky given the fact that your guys lost so many games in the final minutes. Virtually every new team in the CAA struggles their first year or two. I believe the reason is that they just have not faced a team that has a legitimate chance to beat them in every conference game before joining the CAA.

Does that mean the CAA is currently the best FCS conference? Certainly not, based on last year. But what the CAA still has (at least until the recent 4 team expansion) is deep and broad parity. Even though we didn't have a team make it out of the Quarter-Finals last season, every one of the five CAA teams in the 2022 playoffs was good enough to be there.

I really don't know how Monmouth will fare this upcoming season. I put them in a grouping that includes Towson, Albany, and Villanova where I expect one or two teams to make it to the playoffs. I'd have Maine in this group as well, had they not lost so much to transfer. I really haven't researched Monmouth extensively, Tony Muskett's departure will be an issue. But you have a 1st Team All American RB and a proven, veteran Head Coach so I'm not writing off the Hawks at all. Unlike last season, I do anticipate the CAA center of excellence to shift a bit north. As far as UNH, I think the team should be better than 2022; however, we'll be hard pressed to go 7-1 in the CAA - our conference schedule will be tougher.

[caribbeanhen]

I do NOT think anyone is clowning Monmouth and if they were, I support the 1st amendment but caribbeanhen and KPSUL- for all I heard about the CAA I have to be honest- if Monmouth is just some ****ty Big South team that got lucky a couple times to beat the awful triple option owls, it really does not say much for the CAA in terms of being a deep league or anywhere close to some midwest/western types (which we kind of know anyway after seeing the fate of UDEL and W&M last year)... "IF" the league is truly a top league, I think we did a very formidable job for our first year. Something like a B-/C+. Everyone always has some excuse "well you did not have to play W&M or Richmond or Elon". Ok, fine but we have had football for 30 years and only in the last 15 have we bee scholly and only in the last couple years have we finally gotten to 63. We have not even had a full class on 63 ships yet. We have the smallest stadium by far in the league and zero home field advantage and yet coming off an average 7-4 year in which we got steamrolled by Holy Cross and Kennesaw and lost a close one to Princeton (read: not very good) we managed (as PSUL said) to win 3 games, one being on the road at then ranked Nova, and out of the 5 losses, Delaware was the only game that did not come down to the last few minutes. 2 games literally came down to the last play. I know wins are the only thing that matters but does not say much for the CAA if you really think about it.. And we may have had the worst defense in FCS. I am not saying you guys are saying differently but I guess my question is, what can realistically be expected for any newcomer who is "moving up"?? The way I see it, if we can somehow manage to stay relevant and be decent, the sky is the limit. We are planning on gettin light and expanding stadium and have signed a bunch of solid recruits. Just as a guide- we played Campbell the last 3 years before 2022 and won by 3 or more scores each time. anyway I just realized I am "arguing" against something that neither of you said but I just get the feeling we are looked at as quasi garbage but if that indeed is the case then the CAA haters are right, the league just suck b/c no way we should have been 5-6 plays away from the playoffs as a first year CAA member without even having that good a team and zero defense.

Keep posting MUHAWKS

love your enthusiasm for your team

I don’t have the energy right now to reply in depth, but KPSUL is pretty close with his summary

The CAAs best teams are still not ready for a few of the Midwest bullies in FCS … knew that last year

[Sitting Bull]

Keep posting MUHAWKS

The CAAs best teams are still not ready for a few of the Midwest bullies in FCS … knew that last year

It would be nice to get a home game against them for a change.

[caribbeanhen]

It would be nice to get a home game against them for a change.

sure would and besides, those cold weather games and domes are not my thing

[FUBeAR]

It would be nice to get a home game against them for a change.
Yep - Assuming you are referencing Playoffs vs. regular season Home games…

Removing JMU (cuz the Dukes sho’nuf removed theyselves), the CAA has not had a Top 4 Seed in the Playoffs since New Hampshire’s #1 seed in 2014 (when the Wildcats stumbled in the Semifinals, losing to #5 Seed, Illinois State)…and that’s the only one in the 24/8 Playoff era (2020 excluded).

In the same timeframe, the MVFC has received 11 Top 4 Seeds, while the Big Sky has rec’d 10…almost 60% of the Top 4 Seeds have gone to those “Midwest bullies” (assuming you were including the Big Sky ‘bullies’)

Gotta be gifted with a Top 4 Seed to get those “bullies” to come to you.

FUBeAR would say “Environmental Terrorists” is a more accurate moniker for all of them considering the ‘fairness’ of playing in their locations / venues in December.

[caribbeanhen]

Yep - Assuming you are referencing Playoffs vs. regular season Home games…

Removing JMU (cuz the Dukes sho’nuf removed theyselves), the CAA has not had a Top 4 Seed in the Playoffs since New Hampshire’s #1 seed in 2014 (when the Wildcats stumbled in the Semifinals)…and that’s the only one in the 24/8 Playoff era (2020 excluded).

In the same timeframe, the MVFC has received 11 Top 4 Seeds, while the Big Sky has rec’d 10…almost 60% of the Top 4 Seeds have gone to those “Midwest bullies” (assuming you were including the Big Sky ‘bullies’)

Gotta be gifted with a Top 4 Seed to get those “bullies” to come to you.

FUBeAR would say “Environmental Terrorists” is a more accurate moniker for all of them considering the ‘fairness’ of playing in their locations / venues in December.

I would never use Big Sky and bullies in the same sentence but admit that Montana St is one of the 3 FCS bullies

This is a geographical and Nick Naming dilema for CH lol

By the way, gonna have to retire the old Paul McCartney and Wings moniker for the MVFC

[MUHAWKS]

There is a lot to unpack here, but I'd like to start by saying I never thought, and definitely didn't write, that last season Monmouth was just a _hitty Big South Team. I did think that UNH was significantly undervalued pre-season and predicted an opening game win at home vs The Hawks. I can also claim that I was pretty accurate in projecting where MU would end up in the final CAA standings - on that point I was probably a little lucky given the fact that your guys lost so many games in the final minutes. Virtually every new team in the CAA struggles their first year or two. I believe the reason is that they just have not faced a team that has a legitimate chance to beat them in every conference game before joining the CAA.

Does that mean the CAA is currently the best FCS conference? Certainly not, based on last year. But what the CAA still has (at least until the recent 4 team expansion) is deep and broad parity. Even though we didn't have a team make it out of the Quarter-Finals last season, every one of the five CAA teams in the 2022 playoffs was good enough to be there.

I really don't know how Monmouth will fare this upcoming season. I put them in a grouping that includes Towson, Albany, and Villanova where I expect one or two teams to make it to the playoffs. I'd have Maine in this group as well, had they not lost so much to transfer. I really haven't researched Monmouth extensively, Tony Muskett's departure will be an issue. But you have a 1st Team All American RB and a proven, veteran Head Coach so I'm not writing off the Hawks at all. Unlike last season, I do anticipate the CAA center of excellence to shift a bit north. As far as UNH, I think the team should be better than 2022; however, we'll be hard pressed to go 7-1 in the CAA - our conference schedule will be tougher.

Ha, I hear you, I sort of went off for no reason. Part of it just frustration b/c with just a C+ type defense last year we win the Fordham, Towson and URI games and @ 8-3 prob get the "feel good" nod to make the playoffs. You make an excellent point about the CAA being a place where you play someone who can beat you every week. Originally I was very upset about Muskett but to be honest, as good as he was, he also disappeared at times. The game against you guys and Maine are two and he made an enormous error that elite guys dont make against URI when we had it won. But he is a great kid and seems to be getting the nod at UVA and I wish him well. What worries me is that we may be the jack of all trades master of none. Not a perfect use of that phrase but what I mean is we get some studs here and there, win a big game now and then, play well in spots, but always lack something. In 2017 we got our first real taste of "big time FCS" when we were given at an large and got smoked by Northern Iowa. We went 8-3 in 2018 and deservedly missed the playoffs. Then in 2019 we finally break through a bit, beat a CAA team, competed very well at Montana, run the table in convincing fashion in league and destroy Kennesaw at their place. Then we get Holy Cross at home in the playoffs and stomped them. So we are on top of the world! Bring on JMU! 21-21 game midway through the 2nd quarter and after that it was lights out and UGLY. Learning experience to see what it takes at the top level right? Sprt of-- Covid happens and we get a 4 game spring schedule in which we again destroy Kennesaw and get the BS auto bid. Sam Houston at Sam Houston! No way we compete. Wrong. We had the ball 1st and goal with less than a minute left down 6 and Muskett throws a pick on 4th down. We had the eventual National Champs beat and looked good doing it as we matched them upfront (the main thing we couldnt do against JMU).. So NOW we finally have arrived! Now we know what it takes!! WRONG! We bring almost everyone back and go 7-4 with blowout losses to Holy Cross and Kennesaw. Its like we were kind of good and almost really good but not really.

Then it was CAA TIME. and again, spots of looking good but just not there. Do not get me wrong I am happy with the last 5 years but now its a new ball game in the CAA and although I wont call it "rebuilding" it clearly takes much much more to beat the top 2-4 CAA teams and top 10 nationally and we def have had and have SOME of the pieces but not quite and I am nervous that if this takes a few years to catch up it will be detrimental. We cannot afford to "look ok" and go 4-7 or 5-6. Our HC Kevin Callahan is still very energetic and motivated but he is 68 and maybe has 3-5 years left, hes been here since we started. We want it to happen with him here. He is Monmouth Football. But seeing what it really takes, although I do not think we are that far off, we just have to be way better up front on both sides. I actually feel similar this year as you did last year about your UNH team. I think the way the schedule sets up IF the ball bounces our way we can actually get to 8-3 and make it. Here is what I mean and I know NOTHING is a given but:

FAU- I assume a loss

Towson- 50/50 game but very winnable. MUST WIN 1-1

Campbell - same as above 2-1?

Lafayette - will be good and not an easy win but winnable. 3-1

Lehigh and Hampton back to back- Hampton not terrible at all, but just saying its legitimate chance to win both and be 5-1 heading into:

Elon and W&M - lets just say we lose both and are 5-3. It is then Stony Brook which if we any good should be a win and it could be 6-3 heading into!!!

UNH at home! I actually agree that UNH will be even better and a very tough out. This game will be tough but IF and I say IF we are playing for our lives (similar to URI last year where nobody gave us a real shot) this could be quite a game as UNH may need it too. We would have to win but it is possible and if so its 7-3 and finish with Albany to try and seal a bid. I made a lot of assumptions but I do not think it is that far fetched to say its somewhat possible. It all depends on 2 things: Can our defense go from an F to a C+ and can we get 80% of what we had with Muskett from our QB. If so, our offense will 100% be better and it means we are the same team as last year with a much better defense and as good or better offense. To me that makes the above possible..

Anyway, I cannot fkin wait.. What are chances you come to MU if that game means something?

[TribeNomad1]

Ha, I hear you, I sort of went off for no reason. Part of it just frustration b/c with just a C+ type defense last year we win the Fordham, Towson and URI games and @ 8-3 prob get the "feel good" nod to make the playoffs. You make an excellent point about the CAA being a place where you play someone who can beat you every week. Originally I was very upset about Muskett but to be honest, as good as he was, he also disappeared at times. The game against you guys and Maine are two and he made an enormous error that elite guys dont make against URI when we had it won. But he is a great kid and seems to be getting the nod at UVA and I wish him well. What worries me is that we may be the jack of all trades master of none. Not a perfect use of that phrase but what I mean is we get some studs here and there, win a big game now and then, play well in spots, but always lack something. In 2017 we got our first real taste of "big time FCS" when we were given at an large and got smoked by Northern Iowa. We went 8-3 in 2018 and deservedly missed the playoffs. Then in 2019 we finally break through a bit, beat a CAA team, competed very well at Montana, run the table in convincing fashion in league and destroy Kennesaw at their place. Then we get Holy Cross at home in the playoffs and stomped them. So we are on top of the world! Bring on JMU! 21-21 game midway through the 2nd quarter and after that it was lights out and UGLY. Learning experience to see what it takes at the top level right? Sprt of-- Covid happens and we get a 4 game spring schedule in which we again destroy Kennesaw and get the BS auto bid. Sam Houston at Sam Houston! No way we compete. Wrong. We had the ball 1st and goal with less than a minute left down 6 and Muskett throws a pick on 4th down. We had the eventual National Champs beat and looked good doing it as we matched them upfront (the main thing we couldnt do against JMU).. So NOW we finally have arrived! Now we know what it takes!! WRONG! We bring almost everyone back and go 7-4 with blowout losses to Holy Cross and Kennesaw. Its like we were kind of good and almost really good but not really.

Then it was CAA TIME. and again, spots of looking good but just not there. Do not get me wrong I am happy with the last 5 years but now its a new ball game in the CAA and although I wont call it "rebuilding" it clearly takes much much more to beat the top 2-4 CAA teams and top 10 nationally and we def have had and have SOME of the pieces but not quite and I am nervous that if this takes a few years to catch up it will be detrimental. We cannot afford to "look ok" and go 4-7 or 5-6. Our HC Kevin Callahan is still very energetic and motivated but he is 68 and maybe has 3-5 years left, hes been here since we started. We want it to happen with him here. He is Monmouth Football. But seeing what it really takes, although I do not think we are that far off, we just have to be way better up front on both sides. I actually feel similar this year as you did last year about your UNH team. I think the way the schedule sets up IF the ball bounces our way we can actually get to 8-3 and make it. Here is what I mean and I know NOTHING is a given but:

FAU- I assume a loss

Towson- 50/50 game but very winnable. MUST WIN 1-1

Campbell - same as above 2-1?

Lafayette - will be good and not an easy win but winnable. 3-1

Lehigh and Hampton back to back- Hampton not terrible at all, but just saying its legitimate chance to win both and be 5-1 heading into:

Elon and W&M - lets just say we lose both and are 5-3. It is then Stony Brook which if we any good should be a win and it could be 6-3 heading into!!!

UNH at home! I actually agree that UNH will be even better and a very tough out. This game will be tough but IF and I say IF we are playing for our lives (similar to URI last year where nobody gave us a real shot) this could be quite a game as UNH may need it too. We would have to win but it is possible and if so its 7-3 and finish with Albany to try and seal a bid. I made a lot of assumptions but I do not think it is that far fetched to say its somewhat possible. It all depends on 2 things: Can our defense go from an F to a C+ and can we get 80% of what we had with Muskett from our QB. If so, our offense will 100% be better and it means we are the same team as last year with a much better defense and as good or better offense. To me that makes the above possible..

Anyway, I cannot fkin wait.. What are chances you come to MU if that game means something?


Will see if he plays at UVa, their offense sucked last year. I have one at UVa and one at JMU, will be in Charlottsville on 9/9 (UVa opens at Tennessee the week before) for the UVa v. JMU game, hope to see Muskett play. Hope to see Monmouth in the 'Burg on 10/28, by then I will have seen UVa & JMU in person twice.

[UNHWildcat18]

Campbell and NCA&T added to CAAFB officially today. League is truly uglier by the minute. I’m sure when UD leaves they will be replaced by powerhouses Norfolk state or Charleston southern!

[KPSUL]

Anyway, I cannot fkin wait.. What are chances you come to MU if that game means something?

I'll be there, already planned it.

[caribbeanhen]

Campbell and NCA&T added to CAAFB officially today. League is truly uglier by the minute. I’m sure when UD leaves they will be replaced by powerhouses Norfolk state or Charleston southern!

UD leaves on the bridge to nowhere? But yes, seems like the entire Delaware fanbase (that posts) is in agreement that the new CAA is no place to be. Fans even talking going FBS independent to escape

Hampton with the High school Charlie stadium and the biggest ugliest blue track in FCS is just a small example of the collective ugh 😩

[Sitting Bull]

Campbell and NCA&T added to CAAFB officially today. League is truly uglier by the minute. I’m sure when UD leaves they will be replaced by powerhouses Norfolk state or Charleston southern!

I heard the same garbage when Elon was brought aboard. Now it’s turning into everyone’s favorite road trip. And the university has already cracked the top 100 academically.

[Sitting Bull]

UD leaves on the bridge to nowhere? But yes, seems like the entire Delaware fanbase (that posts) is in agreement that the new CAA is no place to be. Fans even talking going FBS independent to escape

Hampton with the High school Charlie stadium and the biggest ugliest blue track in FCS is just a small example of the collective ugh 😩

Ironic that one of the lead posters now trying hard to lay out the rationale to move up is a UMass fan. It worked so well for them. Now they want a playmate.

[FUBeAR]

I heard the same garbage when Elon was brought aboard. Now it’s turning into everyone’s favorite road trip. And the university has already cracked the top 100 academically.
YESSIR! FUBeAR is a BIG FAN of the Top (remaining) Team in (the new) CAA, the E*Loan Formerly Fightin' Former Christians. Particularly enjoyed their work last November!

[MUHAWKS]

Will see if he plays at UVa, their offense sucked last year. I have one at UVa and one at JMU, will be in Charlottsville on 9/9 (UVa opens at Tennessee the week before) for the UVa v. JMU game, hope to see Muskett play. Hope to see Monmouth in the 'Burg on 10/28, by then I will have seen UVa & JMU in person twice.

I am possibly coming down for W&M. My Mom is fascinated by Colonial Williamsburg, so if she is up to it may do a small trip. You have 2 kids in college at same time, God Bless you!

[MUHAWKS]

I'll be there, already planned it.

Good stuff. Really hope that game is meaningful for both. Almost certainly will be for you- Games aint won on paper but your schedule seems somewhat favorable IMO. No Richmond, W&M or Elon. Nova of course sucks-- easy win - I mean they may as well be an NEC team (tongue in cheek b/c we got ZERO credit for beating them last year)..UDEL on road ad at URI are tough ones.. Anyway, I will be there of course so we should have a beer. As you may know our stadium, although nice, new and modern (the bathrooms are better than the stands) leaves a lot to be desired. Awful gameday atmosphere sans the HC playoff game, but still a "nice" and "easy" place to see a game (park within 100-200 yards, tailgate wherever you want, numerous places to stay within 5 miles, beach a mile away and tons of great places to eat etc if yu come up Friday night or stay over saturday. LMK as it approaches if you need anything, information wise or other.

[KPSUL]

Good stuff. Really hope that game is meaningful for both. Almost certainly will be for you- Games aint won on paper but your schedule seems somewhat favorable IMO. No Richmond, W&M or Elon. Nova of course sucks-- easy win - I mean they may as well be an NEC team (tongue in cheek b/c we got ZERO credit for beating them last year)..UDEL on road ad at URI are tough ones.. Anyway, I will be there of course so we should have a beer. As you may know our stadium, although nice, new and modern (the bathrooms are better than the stands) leaves a lot to be desired. Awful gameday atmosphere sans the HC playoff game, but still a "nice" and "easy" place to see a game (park within 100-200 yards, tailgate wherever you want, numerous places to stay within 5 miles, beach a mile away and tons of great places to eat etc if yu come up Friday night or stay over saturday. LMK as it approaches if you need anything, information wise or other.

With a noon start time I'll definitely drive down Friday and likely drive back after the game.

[KPSUL]

UD leaves on the bridge to nowhere? But yes, seems like the entire Delaware fanbase (that posts) is in agreement that the new CAA is no place to be. Fans even talking going FBS independent to escape

Hampton with the High school Charlie stadium and the biggest ugliest blue track in FCS is just a small example of the collective ugh 

Independent FBS would not be a smart move, Liberty survived it for several years and now has a conference home. But Liberty had more challenges finding a Conference home than Delaware would - for obvious reasons I won't bring up now. CUSA pretty much had to be desperate before they'd offer membership to the Flames. But give Liberty credit, they played better football than anyone expected when they moved to FBS.

The AAC would seem to have been a good fit for Delaware, but with the new FBS conference alignment now official, that ship seems to have sailed for the foreseeable future. AAC now has 14 teams. I suspect the Delaware administration is too smart to walk off the plank into the independent waters - if the NCAA would even let them.

[UNHWildcat18]

YESSIR! FUBeAR is a BIG FAN of the Top (remaining) Team in (the new) CAA, the E*Loan Formerly Fightin' Former Christians. Particularly enjoyed their work last November!

Will you give it a rest about a win over elon last November? No one cares

Sincerely,
Everyone.

[KPSUL]

Campbell and NCA&T added to CAAFB officially today. League is truly uglier by the minute. I’m sure when UD leaves they will be replaced by powerhouses Norfolk state or Charleston southern!

I would have preferred that the CAA Football expansion had been limited to one replacement school for JMU, and really just for geographical reasons, I was happy with Monmouth. But we ended up with four, so what are we going to do about it beyond "go with the flow"? The original Yankee Conference members were out-maneuvered and out-foxed when they accepted the original CAA-F Charter which allowed any CAA full conference member to opt into the CAA-F, regardless how long they had been in the conference. Consequently, the CAA-F only members had absolutely no say in this recent rapid expansion of the conference. So, se-la-vie, I'm going to enjoy the ride and make the best of it!

Who knows, maybe the CAA will get 6 teams into the playoff field this season!! (Wouldn't that make FUBeAR happy)xsmiley_wixxnodx!

[FUBeAR]

I would have preferred that the CAA Football expansion had been limited to one replacement school for JMU...But we ended up with four...So, se-la-vie, I'm going to enjoy the ride and make the best of it!
Who knows, maybe the CAA will get 6 teams into the playoff field this season!! (Wouldn't that make FUBeAR happy)xsmiley_wixxnodx!

Hey - following the Big Sky model is a great plan. But you're not thinking big enough...getting 6 Teams in should be a 'given' for the CAA. To measure up to Big Sky scam standards, the CAA will need to have at least 4 of those 6 Teams Seeded...Must maintain, by far, getting the most Teams seeded....even while having, oh let's say, about the 5th best Playoff results of all FCS Conferences...even with the HUGE advantages that come with being 'gifted' with ALL those Seeds in the Playoffs.




FCS Playoff W-L Records by Conference in the "24/8 Era" to date (2013 - 2022, excluding 2020)







Rank
Conference
G
W
L
Win %
# of Seeds


1
MVFC
71
55
16
0.775
16


2
CAA
65
36
29
0.554
13


3
Big South
25
12
13
0.480
3


4
Southland
37
17
20
0.459
8


5
Big Sky
53
24
29
0.453
19


6
OVC
25
11
14
0.440
5


7
SoCon
28
11
17
0.393
5


8
Patriot League
19
7
12
0.368
2


9
WAC/WAC-ASUN
4
1
3
0.250
1


10
PFL
11
2
9
0.182
0


11
NEC
10
1
9
0.100
0


12T
Independent
1
0
1
0.000
0


12T
MEAC
5
0
5
0.000
0



ALL

177
177
0.500
72


* W-L Records do not include the results of 30 Intraconference Playoff games

...Running the Big Sky Playbook seems to be a smart move

[caribbeanhen]

So I’m not the only one who was and still is rightly suspicious of The Big Fluffy?

One MVFC fan excluded Richmond from his top 25 poll last year and had Sac St #2. When confronted he admitted he hadn’t seen any Richmond games

I told him not much difference between the two teams but the pollsters, the media pundits had already made up his mind….

[caribbeanhen]

Ironic that one of the lead posters now trying hard to lay out the rationale to move up is a UMass fan. It worked so well for them. Now they want a playmate.

lead poster? He’s definitely kind of in the know on some of the financials of going FBS but he just dropped in on gohens out of nowhere

KPSUL, some fans are talking going independent to escape what the CAA has become but the UD is mum about it

[Sitting Bull]

lead poster? He’s definitely kind of in the know on some of the financials of going FBS but he just dropped in on gohens out of nowhere

KPSUL, some fans are talking going independent to escape what the CAA has become but the UD is mum about it

Maybe not lead but most recent. The others I’ve seen on there that seem to push FBS at any cost it seems are 5 to 10 diehards. I don’t take from that the overwhelming majority of fans or people actually in charge of finances are pushing that hard - or it would have happened well before now. I still think the biggest issue is there is no place to go. As much as some can rag on the CAA, not sure how they find a solution in any of the G5 leagues, all of which have their own issues for an eastern seaboard school.

I’m not sure what kind of calculator the UMass guy is using though. His whole defense now of FBS upside is they get to share on CFP money - as if that is what their fans care most about.

UMass is now 10+ years of moving out of the CAA and into FBS. The stats that are available that are reality:
1) UMass has yet to have a winning season and turned a respected football program into a punching bag.
2) Their attendance avg last year after 10+ years was 10,800. That’s less than they were averaging 20 years ago when they were in the top tier CAA.
3) They are 1-2 against CAA teams the past two years. All home games.
4) what’s the impact on their other sports? Basketball has certainly sunk there.

I could go on but I just wonder if UD fans would be willing to sacrifice their winning football tradition with an annual loser as long as they could say that they were making a bit more money because of FBS welfare payments. The Hen fans I know don’t like losing.

[KPSUL]

Hey - following the Big Sky model is a great plan. But you're not thinking big enough...getting 6 Teams in should be a 'given' for the CAA. To measure up to Big Sky scam standards, the CAA will need to have at least 4 of those 6 Teams Seeded...Must maintain, by far, getting the most Teams seeded....even while having, oh let's say, about the 5th best Playoff results of all FCS Conferences...even with the HUGE advantages that come with being 'gifted' with ALL those Seeds in the Playoffs.




FCS Playoff W-L Records by Conference in the "24/8 Era" to date (2013 - 2022, excluding 2020)







Rank
Conference
G
W
L
Win %
# of Seeds


1
MVFC
71
55
16
0.775
16


2
CAA
65
36
29
0.554
13


3
Big South
25
12
13
0.480
3


4
Southland
37
17
20
0.459
8


5
Big Sky
53
24
29
0.453
19


6
OVC
25
11
14
0.440
5


7
SoCon
28
11
17
0.393
5


8
Patriot League
19
7
12
0.368
2


9
WAC/WAC-ASUN
4
1
3
0.250
1


10
PFL
11
2
9
0.182
0


11
NEC
10
1
9
0.100
0


12T
Independent
1
0
1
0.000
0


12T
MEAC
5
0
5
0.000
0



ALL

177
177
0.500
72


* W-L Records do not include the results of 30 Intraconference Playoff games

...Running the Big Sky Playbook seems to be a smart move

To support the statistical evidence with a bit of anecdotal, consider the following: Montana State is 1-7 for the 8 away playoff games they've played since 2002. The average score for those 8 away playoff games is MT ST 18, opponent 37.
They are 10-3 at home in playoff games since 2002.

[FUBeAR]

To support the statistical evidence with a bit of anecdotal, consider the following:

Montana State is 1-7 for the 8 away playoff games they've played since 2002.
The average score for those 8 away playoff games is MT ST 18, opponent 37.
They are 10-3 at home in playoff games since 2002.
In "24/8 Era" - the Bobcats H/A results are similar to the broader date range you cited.





Winning %
W
Avg Score
L
Avg Score


Montana State
Home
.875
7
36-14
1
40-47


Montana State
Away
.250
1
42-19
3
14-44




FUBeAR & KPSUL check in with the FCS Playoff Committee…

https://media.tenor.com/xJVXu_8BQiMAAAAM/disperse-lesley-nielsen.gif

[caribbeanhen]

Maybe not lead but most recent. The others I’ve seen on there that seem to push FBS at any cost it seems are 5 to 10 diehards. I don’t take from that the overwhelming majority of fans or people actually in charge of finances are pushing that hard - or it would have happened well before now. I still think the biggest issue is there is no place to go. As much as some can rag on the CAA, not sure how they find a solution in any of the G5 leagues, all of which have their own issues for an eastern seaboard school.

I’m not sure what kind of calculator the UMass guy is using though. His whole defense now of FBS upside is they get to share on CFP money - as if that is what their fans care most about.

UMass is now 10+ years of moving out of the CAA and into FBS. The stats that are available that are reality:
1) UMass has yet to have a winning season and turned a respected football program into a punching bag.
2) Their attendance avg last year after 10+ years was 10,800. That’s less than they were averaging 20 years ago when they were in the top tier CAA.
3) They are 1-2 against CAA teams the past two years. All home games.
4) what’s the impact on their other sports? Basketball has certainly sunk there.

I could go on but I just wonder if UD fans would be willing to sacrifice their winning football tradition with an annual loser as long as they could say that they were making a bit more money because of FBS welfare payments. The Hen fans I know don’t like losing.

Please go on gohens and take on the Crumdegeons … I’ve seen you on there by the way

They will tell you despite all that, UMass ain’t coming back

I’m fine with FCS but I’ve got no skin in the game, just watch them

[Sitting Bull]

Please go on gohens and take on the Crumdegeons … I’ve seen you on there by the way

They will tell you despite all that, UMass ain’t coming back

I’m fine with FCS but I’ve got no skin in the game, just watch them

We ain’t going back - I would place that reasoning right there with we make more money because we get a playoff welfare check. They’ve already destroyed the program so what’s the point.

UMass is 20-92 since moving up. They’ve won 2 games in 3 years / one of those was vs Stony Brook.

Not directed at you but I wonder what the Delaware faithful would be saying 10 years into FBS with a record like that. I still believe fans like winners - they really don’t care that you’re playing Akron as opposed to URI.,

[caribbeanhen]

We ain’t going back - I would place that reasoning right there with we make more money because we get a playoff welfare check. They’ve already destroyed the program so what’s the point.

UMass is 20-92 since moving up. They’ve won 2 games in 3 years / one of those was vs Stony Brook.

Not directed at you but I wonder what the Delaware faithful would be saying 10 years into FBS with a record like that. I still believe fans like winners - they really don’t care that you’re playing Akron as opposed to URI.,

Ashes to ashes dust to dust

[caribbeanhen]

We ain’t going back - I would place that reasoning right there with we make more money because we get a playoff welfare check. They’ve already destroyed the program so what’s the point.

UMass is 20-92 since moving up. They’ve won 2 games in 3 years / one of those was vs Stony Brook.

Not directed at you but I wonder what the Delaware faithful would be saying 10 years into FBS with a record like that. I still believe fans like winners - they really don’t care that you’re playing Akron as opposed to URI.,

Well here is one reply to you and I…. Just as predicted

“Does anyone in their right mind really believe UMass football would be in better shape with attendance, etc. if they had remained in I-AA/FCS all this time? How's it worked out for Delaware? How have our attendance, season ticket numbers, and winning percentages done staying put in the Little Leagues over the last 20 years? Finally, if UMass's move was so disastrous, why are they not considering coming back to the Bus Zebley Midget League to win championships?”

[Sitting Bull]

Well here is one reply to you and I…. Just as predicted

“Does anyone in their right mind really believe UMass football would be in better shape with attendance, etc. if they had remained in I-AA/FCS all this time? How's it worked out for Delaware? How have our attendance, season ticket numbers, and winning percentages done staying put in the Little Leagues over the last 20 years? Finally, if UMass's move was so disastrous, why are they not considering coming back to the Bus Zebley Midget League to win championships?”


To his point, I would say yes, they would. in better shape. Certainly not a laughingstock. You don’t even have to speculate. There are statistics that prove it.

I think there are some issues here which have less to do with Hens football and more to do with perhaps personal insecurities,

[caribbeanhen]

And this

@clesports44
Replying to @MattBrownEP @MattBrownEP At what point will conference realignment and NIL make it almost impossible for the low-level FBS independents like UMass to exist? Seems like a purgatory that will expire in the
changing climate
Jul 2, 2023
1 Likes 1 Retweets 1 Replies So, my Terrible For Sports Radio answer is...it depends. It depends entirely on what the
program wants. If success for UMass, or any other modestly-funded FBS program, is to 'compete for national titles', then friends, that ship has already sailed. It became impossible for
programs like UMass to hit that benchmark in like 1987 If the benchmark is "compete for bowls, play teams that our fans care about, and create a meaningful event for our alumni, fans, and athletes", then I actually think that is still attainable at the FBS level, even for independents. I went to UMass once, talked to their
fans and their AD, and wrote about that concept here. I'm sure UConn and UMass would love to be in conferences. but since they're not really trying to make the College Football Playoff or get rich off this FB business, they can still achieve their major program goals as an independently. If fans can easily find their games on TV, if they're playing against regional or interesting opponents, and if the
games are fun, they'll be okay. I don't think NIL really changes that trajectory. A formalized employment model for athletes could, but anything that would impact UMass would certainly impact schools like
Utah State or Arkansas State, or Kent State, even with conference affiliation.

[Sitting Bull]

UMass attendance
FCS 2008. 12,383
FCS 2009: 10,887
FCS 2010: 13,005

FBS 2022: 10,880

[bonarae]

UMass attendance
FCS 2008. 12,383
FCS 2009: 10,887
FCS 2010: 13,005

FBS 2022: 10,880

Better off dropping down like Idaho? Or dropping it altogether? xconfusedx

[caribbeanhen]

UMass attendance
FCS 2008. 12,383
FCS 2009: 10,887
FCS 2010: 13,005

FBS 2022: 10,880

Interesting

is there a link for attendance figures?

don’t tell me you added up individual games and divided by

[Sitting Bull]

You just Google it. NCAA has files each year by classification and team. Ez research.

I would hope UMass wouldn’t blow up the program. At this point, how much worse can it get. You might as well stick. I’m not sure the CAA would have the room anyway if they actually did want to rejoin. It’s really a shame, they were a solid FCS program: exciting football, nice stadium, good location.

[rhowdyram]

Maybe not lead but most recent. The others I’ve seen on there that seem to push FBS at any cost it seems are 5 to 10 diehards. I don’t take from that the overwhelming majority of fans or people actually in charge of finances are pushing that hard - or it would have happened well before now. I still think the biggest issue is there is no place to go. As much as some can rag on the CAA, not sure how they find a solution in any of the G5 leagues, all of which have their own issues for an eastern seaboard school.

I’m not sure what kind of calculator the UMass guy is using though. His whole defense now of FBS upside is they get to share on CFP money - as if that is what their fans care most about.

UMass is now 10+ years of moving out of the CAA and into FBS. The stats that are available that are reality:
1) UMass has yet to have a winning season and turned a respected football program into a punching bag.
2) Their attendance avg last year after 10+ years was 10,800. That’s less than they were averaging 20 years ago when they were in the top tier CAA.
3) They are 1-2 against CAA teams the past two years. All home games.
4) what’s the impact on their other sports? Basketball has certainly sunk there.

I could go on but I just wonder if UD fans would be willing to sacrifice their winning football tradition with an annual loser as long as they could say that they were making a bit more money because of FBS welfare payments. The Hen fans I know don’t like losing.

Hard to pin their basketball program sinking on moving up to FBS. They were varying levels of bad and mediocre between Calipari moving on and the FBS move, so it's really just more of the same for them since going up.

[Sitting Bull]

Hard to pin their basketball program sinking on moving up to FBS. They were varying levels of bad and mediocre between Calipari moving on and the FBS move, so it's really just more of the same for them since going up.

Yes, wasn’t totally sure on that - maybe coincidental. No question though the similar move by ODU had a negative impact on their basketball program, which was really a blue ribbon program before ODU football pushed the Monarchs into CUSA for all sports. UMass didn’t switch conferences on their other sports but there’s no question that the effort to compete at FBS level for a move-up sucked a lot of new focus, energy - assume money - into the football office,

[rhowdyram]

URI has started their position previews ahead of summer camp, starting with the linebackers.

https://gorhody.com/news/2023/7/10/football-position-preview-stewart-to-lead-veteran-heavy-linebacker-group.aspx

[rhowdyram]

A look at Rhody's wide receivers.

https://gorhody.com/news/2023/7/12/football-position-preview-familiar-faces-to-line-up-at-wide-receiver.aspx

[caribbeanhen]

A look at Rhody's wide receivers.

https://gorhody.com/news/2023/7/12/football-position-preview-familiar-faces-to-line-up-at-wide-receiver.aspx

I really like Summers and Delaware offered him when he left St Francis… nice talent

Rhode caught my eye coming into the 2019 season as well, Aaron Parker was a beast and a few more I can’t remember

[rhowdyram]

Parker was definitely a beast and was first team all-conference after the 2019 season. He had a brief cup of coffee with the Panthers in 2021. Last I knew he signed with the Toronto Argonauts this past offseason but he's no longer listed on their roster.

His cousin Isaiah Coulter was second team all-conference after that season. He's been on the Texans (2020) and Bears (2021-22) active roster and will go to camp this summer with the Bills.

Ahmere Dorsey was the third wide receiver and made second team all-conference as both kick and punt returner.

[caribbeanhen]

Parker was definitely a beast and was first team all-conference after the 2019 season. He had a brief cup of coffee with the Panthers in 2021. Last I knew he signed with the Toronto Argonauts this past offseason but he's no longer listed on their roster.

His cousin Isaiah Coulter was second team all-conference after that season. He's been on the Texans (2020) and Bears (2021-22) active roster and will go to camp this summer with the Bills.

Ahmere Dorsey was the third wide receiver and made second team all-conference as both kick and punt returner.

I didn’t know they were cousins, always thought Parker was best one of that bunch. I guess it’s Coulters size that is getting him the NFL opportunities

[rhowdyram]

Here's the preview for URI's defensive line:

https://gorhody.com/news/2023/7/14/football-position-preview-opportunities-await-on-the-defensive-line.aspx

Westley Neal, Jr. is the headliner, but with three players from last year's defensive line moving up to FBS this could be an area of weakness.

[caribbeanhen]

Thu 08-31

at
Georgia St (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/2907)

(0-0)

10 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938287172)

14
35



Fri 09-0807:00.PM.ET


Stony Brook (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/7642)

70(0-0)

83 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938287394)

31
17



Sat 09-1603:30.PM.ET

at
Maine (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/4319)

54(0-0)

58 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938287549)

29
26



Sat 09-2302:00.PM.ET

at
Villanova (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/8415)

33(0-0)

41 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938287669)

25
28



Sat 09-30


Bryant (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/950)

85(0-0)

83 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938287760)

37
20



Sat 10-0712:30.PM.ET

at
Brown (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/933)

96(0-0)

79 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938287877)

35
21



Sat 10-1401:00.PM.ET


Richmond (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/6547)

16(0-0)

39 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938287991)

24
28



Sat 10-2103:30.PM.ET

at
SUNY Albany (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/123)

56(0-0)

58 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938288122)

29
26



Sat 10-2801:00.PM.ET


New Hampshire (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/5342)

42(0-0)

61 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938288214)

28
24



Sat 11-1101:00.PM.ET


NC A&T (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/5500)

60(0-0)

75 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938288466)

31
21



Sat 11-1801:00.PM.ET

at
Towson (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/8000)

52(0-0)

57 % (https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/game.php?gid=938288603)






Be nice to see Rhode beat Georgia State and New Hampshire

[rhowdyram]

Where did you find that, that's very interesting?

I immediately take those projections and run as a URI fan if someone offered me that as the official outcome, that should be enough to get us into the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

[caribbeanhen]

Where did you find that, that's very interesting?

I immediately take those projections and run as a URI fan if someone offered me that as the official outcome, that should be enough to get us into the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

it’s just Massey projections, I find it great for navigating schedules and past results

https://masseyratings.com/cf2023/6516

[caribbeanhen]

Ram on

if you’re bored, I have a project for you

use Massey to project the CAA and final record of every CAA team

Right Away da dadada SPM

[rhowdyram]

1. Delaware 10-1 (8-0)
2. William & Mary 10-1 (8-0) - Delaware gets a slight edge because Massey has them outright favored to win all conference games, W&M vs Elon is listed as 50-50 with W&M winning by 1.
t3. Richmond 9-2 (7-1)
t3. Villanova 9-2 (7-1) - listed Richmond first because Massey has them ranked higher
5. Rhode Island 8-3 (6-2)
6. Elon 6-5 (4-4)
7. Monmouth 6-5 (4-4) -Elon is projected to beat Monmouth in their game.
8. New Hampshire 6-5 (4-4) - Elon and Monmouth both have 50-50 conference games they're projected to lose so they each go ahead of UNH who is outright projected to lose 4.
9. Maine 4-7 (3-5)
10. NC A&T 5-6 (3-5) - 50-50 game they're projected to win, so Maine gets a slight advantage.
11. Towson 5-6 (2-6)
12. Campbell 3-8 (2-6) - Towson with the edge on Campbell due to a 50-50 projected loss.
13. Albany 4-8 (2-6) - Albany last on the 2-6 teams because they have a 50-50 projected win (Massey has them going 1-6-1 just by percentages)
t14. Stony Brook 1-10 (0-8)
t14. Hampton 2-9 (0-8)

[caribbeanhen]

1. Delaware 10-1 (8-0)
2. William & Mary 10-1 (8-0) - Delaware gets a slight edge because Massey has them outright favored to win all conference games, W&M vs Elon is listed as 50-50 with W&M winning by 1.
t3. Richmond 9-2 (7-1)
t3. Villanova 9-2 (7-1) - listed Richmond first because Massey has them ranked higher
5. Rhode Island 8-3 (6-2)
6. Elon 6-5 (4-4)
7. Monmouth 6-5 (4-4) -Elon is projected to beat Monmouth in their game.
8. New Hampshire 6-5 (4-4) - Elon and Monmouth both have 50-50 conference games they're projected to lose so they each go ahead of UNH who is outright projected to lose 4.
9. Maine 4-7 (3-5)
10. NC A&T 5-6 (3-5) - 50-50 game they're projected to win, so Maine gets a slight advantage.
11. Towson 5-6 (2-6)
12. Campbell 3-8 (2-6) - Towson with the edge on Campbell due to a 50-50 projected loss.
13. Albany 4-8 (2-6) - Albany last on the 2-6 teams because they have a 50-50 projected win (Massey has them going 1-6-1 just by percentages)
t14. Stony Brook 1-10 (0-8)
t14. Hampton 2-9 (0-8)

this is very much appreciated Ram and thank you for doing it

something to look back on after the regular season is over

Yes, we know Massey math is flawed prior to a game being played but can spawn some good discussions

[UNHWildcat18]

Can’t wait for UNH to ruin people’s projections and predictions yet again this year

[MUHAWKS]

1. Delaware 10-1 (8-0)
2. William & Mary 10-1 (8-0) - Delaware gets a slight edge because Massey has them outright favored to win all conference games, W&M vs Elon is listed as 50-50 with W&M winning by 1.
t3. Richmond 9-2 (7-1)
t3. Villanova 9-2 (7-1) - listed Richmond first because Massey has them ranked higher
5. Rhode Island 8-3 (6-2)
6. Elon 6-5 (4-4)
7. Monmouth 6-5 (4-4) -Elon is projected to beat Monmouth in their game.
8. New Hampshire 6-5 (4-4) - Elon and Monmouth both have 50-50 conference games they're projected to lose so they each go ahead of UNH who is outright projected to lose 4.
9. Maine 4-7 (3-5)
10. NC A&T 5-6 (3-5) - 50-50 game they're projected to win, so Maine gets a slight advantage.
11. Towson 5-6 (2-6)
12. Campbell 3-8 (2-6) - Towson with the edge on Campbell due to a 50-50 projected loss.
13. Albany 4-8 (2-6) - Albany last on the 2-6 teams because they have a 50-50 projected win (Massey has them going 1-6-1 just by percentages)
t14. Stony Brook 1-10 (0-8)
t14. Hampton 2-9 (0-8)

I know it just massey projections but Albany/Towson/Campbell I bet at least 1 if not 2 or all 3 surprise and do moderately better than this. UNH seems like they should be even better than last year. Nova is hilarious up there- not saying it couldnt happen, but wonder what massey projections based on. The CAA may not be as good as the MVC/Big Sky but there is a lot of parity and when you look at this on paper, a very tough league to play in IMO..

[bonarae]

Has Campbell made a mistake in stabilizing their playoff chances as a program by joining the CAA? xchinscratchx

[caribbeanhen]

Can’t wait for UNH to ruin people’s projections and predictions yet again this year

Massey is just one guy, the people’s aren’t projecting that outcome for UNH

lets at least wait until UNH visits Delaware in week 4

[KPSUL]

1. Delaware 10-1 (8-0)
2. William & Mary 10-1 (8-0)
t3. Richmond 9-2 (7-1)
t3. Villanova 9-2 (7-1)

No way does the CAA end up with two 8-0 teams and two 7-1 teams at the end of conference play. Similar to last season, look for two teams 7-1 or better.

[KPSUL]

Massey is just one guy, the people’s aren’t projecting that outcome for UNH

lets at least wait until UNH visits Delaware in week 4

That game is no more important than the 7 other conference games - for both teams!

[caribbeanhen]

That game is no more important than the 7 other conference games - for both teams!

Right, a win is a win but you know that game is an important gauge as well as I do

[KPSUL]

Right, a win is a win but you know that game is an important gauge as well as I do

I'll concede that the game should be one of the most competitive on either team's conference schedule; however, win or lose, that game by itself will not make or break the season. It would be much more damaging to lose to a team that is not expected to be as competitive.

[UNH72Plus]

1. Delaware 10-1 (8-0)
2. William & Mary 10-1 (8-0) - Delaware gets a slight edge because Massey has them outright favored to win all conference games, W&M vs Elon is listed as 50-50 with W&M winning by 1.
t3. Richmond 9-2 (7-1)
t3. Villanova 9-2 (7-1) - listed Richmond first because Massey has them ranked higher
5. Rhode Island 8-3 (6-2)
6. Elon 6-5 (4-4)
7. Monmouth 6-5 (4-4) -Elon is projected to beat Monmouth in their game.
8. New Hampshire 6-5 (4-4) - Elon and Monmouth both have 50-50 conference games they're projected to lose so they each go ahead of UNH who is outright projected to lose 4.
9. Maine 4-7 (3-5)
10. NC A&T 5-6 (3-5) - 50-50 game they're projected to win, so Maine gets a slight advantage.
11. Towson 5-6 (2-6)
12. Campbell 3-8 (2-6) - Towson with the edge on Campbell due to a 50-50 projected loss.
13. Albany 4-8 (2-6) - Albany last on the 2-6 teams because they have a 50-50 projected win (Massey has them going 1-6-1 just by percentages)
t14. Stony Brook 1-10 (0-8)
t14. Hampton 2-9 (0-8)

Some interesting predictions here. First and foremost is the assumption that UNH will lose to Monmouth. This prediction is based in part on the Massey ranking of the two teams and I assume the home field advantage for Monmouth. Massey has ranked UNH at #42 to start the season, even though he ranked them a #24 in January at the end od the 2022 season and UNH has most of the key players back. On offense they lost one offensive lineman and two wide receivers, but return 6 of the seven most productive receivers, including their top tight end Lepkowski who was raked by Hero Sports as the #8 returning FCS tight end. They have also added graduate transfer Logan Tomlinson who gain 979 yards and scored 10 TDs in 9 games at Wesleyan U. They're also returning their top 5 rushers, including pre-season All-American Dylan Laube ranked #4 in the country and who was the leading All-Purpose yardage players in the FCS last year. Their returning QB, MaX Brosmer, was ranked by Hero's at #9 in returning FCS QBs. The defense returns all but 3 of last's year's two deep, including pre-season All-American Defensive Ends #2 Josiah Silver and #10 Dylan Ruiz. On special teams they return punter Sean Lehane who on 54 punts averaged 40 yards per punt, with 22 inside the 20, 24 fair catches, and 12 over 50 yards. Returning placekicker Nick Mazzie made 11 of 13 field goals and was 41-1 on extra point tries. Last year UNH beat Monmouth 31-21, and this year lost starting QB Tony Muskett to Virginia. Their leading receiver Jaden Shirden is back, but last year UNH held him to 6 catches for 15 yards. In three pre-season polls - Heros, Coaches, and Athalon rank UNH at 14th, 15th, and 8th, respectively. Monmouth failed to make it in the top 25 in any of the polls. As far as the other 3 FCS losses predicted here Delaware will likely be the hardest, although UNH is ranked higher than Delaware in the 3 pre-season polls (28th, 24th, and 25th). Villanova and Rhode Island will be very winnable games. Finally, in regard to the UNH vs Central Michigan game, three sites pick UNH as potential upset winners. Heros Sports picks UNH as the #2 most likely to win. Underdog Dynasty has them at #7. The Analyst picks them as one of the 10 most likely to win against an FBS school. So, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Tribe4SF]

Some interesting predictions here. First and foremost is the assumption that UNH will lose to Monmouth. This prediction is based in part on the Massey ranking of the two teams and I assume the home field advantage for Monmouth. Massey has ranked UNH at #42 to start the season, even though he ranked them a #24 in January at the end od the 2022 season and UNH has most of the key players back. On offense they lost one offensive lineman and two wide receivers, but return 6 of the seven most productive receivers, including their top tight end Lepkowski who was raked by Hero Sports as the #8 returning FCS tight end. They have also added graduate transfer Logan Tomlinson who gain 979 yards and scored 10 TDs in 9 games at Wesleyan U. They're also returning their top 5 rushers, including pre-season All-American Dylan Laube ranked #4 in the country and who was the leading All-Purpose yardage players in the FCS last year. Their returning QB, MaX Brosmer, was ranked by Hero's at #9 in returning FCS QBs. The defense returns all but 3 of last's year's two deep, including pre-season All-American Defensive Ends #2 Josiah Silver and #10 Dylan Ruiz. On special teams they return punter Sean Lehane who on 54 punts averaged 40 yards per punt, with 22 inside the 20, 24 fair catches, and 12 over 50 yards. Returning placekicker Nick Mazzie made 11 of 13 field goals and was 41-1 on extra point tries. Last year UNH beat Monmouth 31-21, and this year lost starting QB Tony Muskett to Virginia. Their leading receiver Jaden Shirden is back, but last year UNH held him to 6 catches for 15 yards. In three pre-season polls - Heros, Coaches, and Athalon rank UNH at 14th, 15th, and 8th, respectively. Monmouth failed to make it in the top 25 in any of the polls. As far as the other 3 FCS losses predicted here Delaware will likely be the hardest, although UNH is ranked higher than Delaware in the 3 pre-season polls (28th, 24th, and 25th). Villanova and Rhode Island will be very winnable games. Finally, in regard to the UNH vs Central Michigan game, three sites pick UNH as potential upset winners. Heros Sports picks UNH as the #2 most likely to win. Underdog Dynasty has them at #7. The Analyst picks them as one of the 10 most likely to win against an FBS school. So, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I think Massey is out to lunch on UNH. 42nd is ridiculously low. Villanova is still getting love despite no playoffs and losing a lot of key guys. Monmouth and Elon are both replacing QBs who were central for them last year. Delaware has talent but is also missing the QB and has several holes on defense. Same is true for Richmond. Sleeper could be Towson which managed to win their last four including both Monmouth and Villanova.

[MR. CHICKEN]

Some interesting predictions here. First and foremost is the assumption that UNH will lose to Monmouth. This prediction is based in part on the Massey ranking of the two teams and I assume the home field advantage for Monmouth. Massey has ranked UNH at #42 to start the season, even though he ranked them a #24 in January at the end od the 2022 season and UNH has most of the key players back. On offense they lost one offensive lineman and two wide receivers, but return 6 of the seven most productive receivers, including their top tight end Lepkowski who was raked by Hero Sports as the #8 returning FCS tight end. They have also added graduate transfer Logan Tomlinson who gain 979 yards and scored 10 TDs in 9 games at Wesleyan U. They're also returning their top 5 rushers, including pre-season All-American Dylan Laube ranked #4 in the country and who was the leading All-Purpose yardage players in the FCS last year. Their returning QB, MaX Brosmer, was ranked by Hero's at #9 in returning FCS QBs. The defense returns all but 3 of last's year's two deep, including pre-season All-American Defensive Ends #2 Josiah Silver and #10 Dylan Ruiz. On special teams they return punter Sean Lehane who on 54 punts averaged 40 yards per punt, with 22 inside the 20, 24 fair catches, and 12 over 50 yards. Returning placekicker Nick Mazzie made 11 of 13 field goals and was 41-1 on extra point tries. Last year UNH beat Monmouth 31-21, and this year lost starting QB Tony Muskett to Virginia. Their leading receiver Jaden Shirden is back, but last year UNH held him to 6 catches for 15 yards. In three pre-season polls - Heros, Coaches, and Athalon rank UNH at 14th, 15th, and 8th, respectively. Monmouth failed to make it in the top 25 in any of the polls. As far as the other 3 FCS losses predicted here Delaware will likely be the hardest, although UNH is ranked higher than Delaware in the 3 pre-season polls (28th, 24th, and 25th). Villanova and Rhode Island will be very winnable games. Finally, in regard to the UNH vs Central Michigan game, three sites pick UNH as potential upset winners. Heros Sports picks UNH as the #2 most likely to win. Underdog Dynasty has them at #7. The Analyst picks them as one of the 10 most likely to win against an FBS school. So, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

......NH CATCHES.....DUH CHIPPIES.....'TWEEN MICHIGAN STATE/NOTRE DAMUS......DON'T NEED TA BE UH SEER....TA SEE.......DUBBYA COMIN'.......AWK!

......HAVIN' YOU-DEE.....@ 10-1.....IS MISGUIDED....'LESS MASSEY CORNFUSES....2003 ROSTER......WHIFF 2023's..........BRAWK!

[caribbeanhen]

Preseason ratings are based on an extrapolation recent years' results, tuned to fit historical trends and regression to the mean. A team's future performance is expected to be consistent with the strength of the program, but sometimes there may be temporary spikes.
Other potentially significant indicators (ex. returning starters, coaching changes, and recruiting) are ignored. Therefore, preseason ratings should not be taken too seriously,
https://masseyratings.com/faq.php
y

[rhowdyram]

Some interesting predictions here. First and foremost is the assumption that UNH will lose to Monmouth. This prediction is based in part on the Massey ranking of the two teams and I assume the home field advantage for Monmouth. Massey has ranked UNH at #42 to start the season, even though he ranked them a #24 in January at the end od the 2022 season and UNH has most of the key players back. On offense they lost one offensive lineman and two wide receivers, but return 6 of the seven most productive receivers, including their top tight end Lepkowski who was raked by Hero Sports as the #8 returning FCS tight end. They have also added graduate transfer Logan Tomlinson who gain 979 yards and scored 10 TDs in 9 games at Wesleyan U. They're also returning their top 5 rushers, including pre-season All-American Dylan Laube ranked #4 in the country and who was the leading All-Purpose yardage players in the FCS last year. Their returning QB, MaX Brosmer, was ranked by Hero's at #9 in returning FCS QBs. The defense returns all but 3 of last's year's two deep, including pre-season All-American Defensive Ends #2 Josiah Silver and #10 Dylan Ruiz. On special teams they return punter Sean Lehane who on 54 punts averaged 40 yards per punt, with 22 inside the 20, 24 fair catches, and 12 over 50 yards. Returning placekicker Nick Mazzie made 11 of 13 field goals and was 41-1 on extra point tries. Last year UNH beat Monmouth 31-21, and this year lost starting QB Tony Muskett to Virginia. Their leading receiver Jaden Shirden is back, but last year UNH held him to 6 catches for 15 yards. In three pre-season polls - Heros, Coaches, and Athalon rank UNH at 14th, 15th, and 8th, respectively. Monmouth failed to make it in the top 25 in any of the polls. As far as the other 3 FCS losses predicted here Delaware will likely be the hardest, although UNH is ranked higher than Delaware in the 3 pre-season polls (28th, 24th, and 25th). Villanova and Rhode Island will be very winnable games. Finally, in regard to the UNH vs Central Michigan game, three sites pick UNH as potential upset winners. Heros Sports picks UNH as the #2 most likely to win. Underdog Dynasty has them at #7. The Analyst picks them as one of the 10 most likely to win against an FBS school. So, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

How do you define "very winnable"?

[MR. CHICKEN]

How do you define "very winnable"?


.......RUH ROH...............................xeekx........AWK !

[rhowdyram]

A look at our kicking game for this season:

https://gorhody.com/news/2023/7/17/football-position-preview-fresh-look-coming-for-rhody-specialists.aspx

Could be an area to watch for us this year. I don't really remember our kicking game standing out in a positive or negative way this last season. Maybe slightly negative if anything.

[KPSUL]

Some interesting predictions here. First and foremost is the assumption that UNH will lose to Monmouth. This prediction is based in part on the Massey ranking of the two teams and I assume the home field advantage for Monmouth. Massey has ranked UNH at #42 to start the season, even though he ranked them a #24 in January at the end od the 2022 season and UNH has most of the key players back. On offense they lost one offensive lineman and two wide receivers, but return 6 of the seven most productive receivers, including their top tight end Lepkowski who was raked by Hero Sports as the #8 returning FCS tight end. They have also added graduate transfer Logan Tomlinson who gain 979 yards and scored 10 TDs in 9 games at Wesleyan U. They're also returning their top 5 rushers, including pre-season All-American Dylan Laube ranked #4 in the country and who was the leading All-Purpose yardage players in the FCS last year. Their returning QB, MaX Brosmer, was ranked by Hero's at #9 in returning FCS QBs. The defense returns all but 3 of last's year's two deep, including pre-season All-American Defensive Ends #2 Josiah Silver and #10 Dylan Ruiz. On special teams they return punter Sean Lehane who on 54 punts averaged 40 yards per punt, with 22 inside the 20, 24 fair catches, and 12 over 50 yards. Returning placekicker Nick Mazzie made 11 of 13 field goals and was 41-1 on extra point tries. Last year UNH beat Monmouth 31-21, and this year lost starting QB Tony Muskett to Virginia. Their leading receiver Jaden Shirden is back, but last year UNH held him to 6 catches for 15 yards. In three pre-season polls - Heros, Coaches, and Athalon rank UNH at 14th, 15th, and 8th, respectively. Monmouth failed to make it in the top 25 in any of the polls. As far as the other 3 FCS losses predicted here Delaware will likely be the hardest, although UNH is ranked higher than Delaware in the 3 pre-season polls (28th, 24th, and 25th). Villanova and Rhode Island will be very winnable games. Finally, in regard to the UNH vs Central Michigan game, three sites pick UNH as potential upset winners. Heros Sports picks UNH as the #2 most likely to win. Underdog Dynasty has them at #7. The Analyst picks them as one of the 10 most likely to win against an FBS school. So, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Excellent summary of 2023 UNH pre-season! Just a couple of comments. Jaden Shirden is a RB and the leading FCS Rusher for 2022, not a WR. (probably just a typo) UNH did hold all the Monmount RBs combined to under 100 yards, and Shirden had only the 3rd most yards among the 3 Monmouth RBs and by far his fewest yards of the season. But Monmouth hadn't sorted out there RB depth chart in game 1 and neither Shirden, nor the guy that ended up with the most carries vs UNH, were #1 RB going into the season.

Also, I see UNH @ URI as a clear toss-up due to Kasim Hill being granted eligibility for his 7th year as a college student ( he's older than several NFL QBs) and the fact that the home team has won the last 5 or 6 times the teams have played one another.

[UNH72Plus]

How do you define "very winnable"?

Well you know, kinda like last year. If you score more points you win. I think UNH is stronger on offense than they were last year when they put up 31 points. Some of the younger players in the spring game looked like they matured and with most of last year's team back they're going to be tough to beat in the CAA. And for what it's worth, Heros, Coaches, and Athalon all rank UNH higher than both URI and Villanova. Time will tell.

[centraljerseycat]

[QUOTE=KPSUL;3131435]1. Delaware 10-1 (8-0)
2. William & Mary 10-1 (8-0)
t3. Richmond 9-2 (7-1)
[COLOR=#333333][I]t3. Villanova 9-2 (7-1)

There isn't a chance in hell that Villanova finishes 9-2 and 7-1. Especially not with the same head coach, offensive coordinator and QB as last year. 6-5 and 4-4 are more likely. Coach Ferrante likes his mediocrity!

[CenMEBlackBearFan]

Didn't see any mention of this so here it is league virtual media day scheduled for next Tuesday, 7/25. Biggest thing is preseason all conference and league predictions, appropriate for the above discussion.

https://caasports.com/news/2023/7/18/caa-football-announces-participants-for-2023-virtual-media-day-on-july-25.aspx

[crusader11]

Didn't see any mention of this so here it is league virtual media day scheduled for next Tuesday, 7/25. Biggest thing is preseason all conference and league predictions, appropriate for the above discussion.

https://caasports.com/news/2023/7/18/caa-football-announces-participants-for-2023-virtual-media-day-on-july-25.aspx

A shame this is virtual.

[caribbeanhen]

A shame this is virtual.

it really is a shame and has gotten to the point of who cares about a virtual media day….I bet Flo wanted a bigger tip and they needed to scrape up some money to pay. By the way, everyone is begging for tips these days….

[bonarae]

it really is a shame and has gotten to the point of who cares about a virtual media day….I bet Flo wanted a bigger tip and they needed to scrape up some money to pay. By the way, everyone is begging for tips these days….

Shame on Flo. Everyone but the CAA fans hate them for sure. xtwocentsx

[caribbeanhen]

Shame on Flo. Everyone but the CAA fans hate them for sure. xtwocentsx

Actually, CAA fans probably hate them the most because we have to watch

The Maine cameraman is particularly bad, like he’s scanning the skies for UFOs on pass plays

[CenMEBlackBearFan]

Actually, CAA fans probably hate them the most because we have to watch

The Maine cameraman is particularly bad, like he’s scanning the skies for UFOs on pass plays

Dude, not sure what your problem with Maine and it's cameraman but you gotta let it go.

[caribbeanhen]

Dude, not sure what your problem with Maine and it's cameraman but you gotta let it go.

I couldn’t let go of the chair the last time I watched a Maine game because I thought I was gonna fall out

[UNHWildcat18]

A shame this is virtual.

Not surprised, they are probably broke after paying SBU to join

[crusader11]

https://twitter.com/petethamel/status/1682005835378044931?s=46&t=NO6tonhrWrTReiNt8lrhcw

Time for the northernmost CAA schools to take the hint and get out.

[UNHWildcat18]

https://twitter.com/petethamel/status/1682005835378044931?s=46&t=NO6tonhrWrTReiNt8lrhcw

Time for the northernmost CAA schools to take the hint and get out.

Kinda sounds like a copy cat of the ACC but whatever.... We aren't going anywhere for now, but hell even the Richmond board isn't happy about the conference

[garland823]

https://twitter.com/petethamel/status/1682005835378044931?s=46&t=NO6tonhrWrTReiNt8lrhcw

Time for the northernmost CAA schools to take the hint and get out.

Due to the conference's expansion down south? Are they aware that North Carolina was a colony of England?

[FUBeAR]

Due to the conference's expansion down south? Are they aware that North Carolina was a colony of England?
Nah...that's lost

IYKYK

[garland823]

Nah...that's lost

IYKYK

Between Roanoke and Raleigh they dare not think of it.

[Laker]

It is official. We should have known after George Washington became the Revs that this would happen.

CAA Changes Official Conference Name To Coastal Athletic Association - Coastal Athletic Association (CAA Sports) (https://caasports.com/news/2023/7/20/baseball-caa-changes-official-conference-name-to-coastal-athletic-association.aspx)

[UNHWildcat18]

It is official. We should have known after George Washington became the Revs that this would happen.

CAA Changes Official Conference Name To Coastal Athletic Association - Coastal Athletic Association (CAA Sports) (https://caasports.com/news/2023/7/20/baseball-caa-changes-official-conference-name-to-coastal-athletic-association.aspx)

Pretty sad if the change is because some fruitcake said "CoULDnT CoLOniAL Be A CONtrOVeRSiAL NaME?" Not saying it's the reason but the random change lacks a decent reason..... Not that they "need" a decent reason.

[crusader11]

Pretty sad if the change is because some fruitcake said "CoULDnT CoLOniAL Be A CONtrOVeRSiAL NaME?" Not saying it's the reason but the random change lacks a decent reason..... Not that they "need" a decent reason.

It won't be long before all mascots are fruits and vegetables.

[KPSUL]

https://twitter.com/petethamel/status/1682005835378044931?s=46&t=NO6tonhrWrTReiNt8lrhcw

Time for the northernmost CAA schools to take the hint and get out.

Why? You only have to travel about a mile from Wildcat Stadium to dip your toes in saltwater. UNH is more Coastal than most of the CAA schools, and so is URI. Maine is certainly a "coastal" state.

They're not calling it the Confederate Athletic Association.

[caribbeanhen]

It is official. We should have known after George Washington became the Revs that this would happen.

CAA Changes Official Conference Name To Coastal Athletic Association - Coastal Athletic Association (CAA Sports) (https://caasports.com/news/2023/7/20/baseball-caa-changes-official-conference-name-to-coastal-athletic-association.aspx)


Double Yuck

[caribbeanhen]

Nah...that's lost

IYKYK


how long before the Southern Conference changes it’s name ?

maybe the New Mexico 🇲🇽 conference?

[crusader11]

Why? You only have to travel about a mile from Wildcat Stadium to dip your toes in saltwater. UNH is more Coastal than most of the CAA schools, and so is URI. Maine is certainly a "coastal" state.

They're not calling it the Confederate Athletic Association.

The name is just part of it.

If you look at this conference, it's become so inflated. Many recent additions (Campbell, NC A&T, Hampton) make this a much more southern conference. Maybe, eventually, there will be a North and South division where the winners of each meet in a championship game...but, given its current state, how can a champion be crowned when conference schedules from team to team are so different?

As a point of comparison, UNH plays Maine, Monmouth, Villanova, URI, Stony Brook, Albany, Towson, and UD this year in conference.

Campbell plays W&M, Monmouth, Elon, Hampton, Maine, Richmond, UD, and NC A&T.

That's three common opponents (out of eight conference games). That's ridiculous.

Furthermore, don't you think the makeup and geographical location of what the CAA currently looks like is a bit ostracizing to Maine, UNH, and URI? Do you really want to be making trips to the Carolinas and Virginia? It just doesn't make a ton of sense to me.

[Sitting Bull]

The name is just part of it.

If you look at this conference, it's become so inflated. Many recent additions (Campbell, NC A&T, Hampton) make this a much more southern conference. Maybe, eventually, there will be a North and South division where the winners of each meet in a championship game...but, given its current state, how can a champion be crowned when conference schedules from team to team are so different?

As a point of comparison, UNH plays Maine, Monmouth, Villanova, URI, Stony Brook, Albany, Towson, and UD this year in conference.

Campbell plays W&M, Monmouth, Elon, Hampton, Maine, Richmond, UD, and NC A&T.

That's three common opponents (out of eight conference games). That's ridiculous.

Furthermore, don't you think the makeup and geographical location of what the CAA currently looks like is a bit ostracizing to Maine, UNH, and URI? Do you really want to be making trips to the Carolinas and Virginia? It just doesn't make a ton of sense to me.

The additions - Campbell, Stony Brook, Monmouth - were to strengthen the all sports CAA. Maine, UNH and URI are strictly football affiliates.

[OhioHen]

As a point of comparison, UNH plays Maine, Monmouth, Villanova, URI, Stony Brook, Albany, Towson, and UD this year in conference.

Campbell plays W&M, Monmouth, Elon, Hampton, Maine, Richmond, UD, and NC A&T.

That's three common opponents (out of eight conference games). That's ridiculous.


So if the Wildcats and Camels end up tied, maybe the tiebreaker can be the common opponents results. The NFL uses that as a tiebreaker.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I will always yearn for a conference comprised of something along the lines of UNH, Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware, Stony Brook, Lehigh, Lafayette, Colgate, Fordham, Holy Cross and Bucknell. Long established, "colonial era" flagship institutions (even if not based on founding year), an AAU university and 5 well established, highly respected private institutions; two being faith based. Villanova, Drexel, Boston U. and Vermont would be worthy of consideration but the football/basketball dynamic would have to be worked out in order for everyone to remain on the same page.

[rhowdyram]

https://twitter.com/petethamel/status/1682005835378044931?s=46&t=NO6tonhrWrTReiNt8lrhcw

Time for the northernmost CAA schools to take the hint and get out.

It's weird for the name change to be a hint for the northern schools to get out then start the video announcing the name change with a shot of Narragansett Town Beach, which is 20 minutes/5.5 miles away from Meade Stadium.

https://twitter.com/CAASports/status/1682027328791252993?s=20

[rhowdyram]

Excellent summary of 2023 UNH pre-season! Just a couple of comments. Jaden Shirden is a RB and the leading FCS Rusher for 2022, not a WR. (probably just a typo) UNH did hold all the Monmount RBs combined to under 100 yards, and Shirden had only the 3rd most yards among the 3 Monmouth RBs and by far his fewest yards of the season. But Monmouth hadn't sorted out there RB depth chart in game 1 and neither Shirden, nor the guy that ended up with the most carries vs UNH, were #1 RB going into the season.

Also, I see UNH @ URI as a clear toss-up due to Kasim Hill being granted eligibility for his 7th year as a college student ( he's older than several NFL QBs) and the fact that the home team has won the last 5 or 6 times the teams have played one another.

I agree with this, I think it will be another shootout where the team with the last real possession wins.

[DFW HOYA]

I will always yearn for a conference comprised of something along the lines of UNH, Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware, Stony Brook, Lehigh, Lafayette, Colgate, Fordham, Holy Cross and Bucknell. Long established, "colonial era" flagship institutions (even if not based on founding year), an AAU university and 5 well established, highly respected private institutions; two being faith based. Villanova, Drexel, Boston U. and Vermont would be worthy of consideration but the football/basketball dynamic would have to be worked out in order for everyone to remain on the same page.

Six (of seven).

[caribbeanhen]

It's weird for the name change to be a hint for the northern schools to get out then start the video announcing the name change with a shot of Narragansett Town Beach, which is 20 minutes/5.5 miles away from Meade Stadium.

https://twitter.com/CAASports/status/1682027328791252993?s=20

No real beaches north of Rehoboth Beach, just because you can see the water doesn’t count

maybe I can consider extending that thought to North of Monmouth

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Six (of seven).

Good catch on my math! Yup, and I think Bucknell would have to decide how committed they are to THAT level of competition.

[crusader11]

Good catch on my math! Yup, and I think Bucknell would have to decide how committed they are to THAT level of competition.

If they gave two poops, Bucknell could have something. They're in such a football-rich area at the high school level. Central PA plays great football. Not far from Ohio, which is one of the best high school football states.

I don't understand why they haven't emphasized football more. A shame.

[Tribe4SF]

The additions - Campbell, Stony Brook, Monmouth - were to strengthen the all sports CAA. Maine, UNH and URI are strictly football affiliates.

Along with Hampton and NC A&T. The five new all-sport members solidified the league.

The football affiliates are there because it's in their best interest to be there. The scheduling pods addressed travel concerns. Do I like having schedule disparities? No. Am I glad W&M is in the CAA? Yes. Change is never easy but I see no better alternatives.

[KPSUL]

The additions - Campbell, Stony Brook, Monmouth - were to strengthen the all sports CAA. Maine, UNH and URI are strictly football affiliates.

They are not CAA affiliates, they are founding members of CAA-F. Not the same thing, CAA-F has a separate charter. The mistake made by the aforementioned teams is originally getting suckered in on the charter provision that allowed any existing CAA member that chose to play football to join the CAA-F at there own discretion. I doubt they even considered the possibility that four brand spanking new teams would be brought into the conference in a 12 month period and immediately be CAA-F members.

While those are the facts of the matter, I personally got over the ridiculously rapid expansion of CAA-F almost immediately after it happened. Like I said in an earlier quote, lets play football - there's nothing I like better than visiting a new stadium and watching UNH take on a new conference opponent, or watching a new conference team fly south all disappointed after losing their first game at Wildcat Stadium.

I have no idea how the UNH administration feels about the CAA at the moment. I doubt they are on the verge of jumping ship however.

[Sitting Bull]

They are not CAA affiliates, they are founding members of CAA-F. Not the same thing, CAA-F has a separate charter. The mistake made by the aforementioned teams is originally getting suckered in on the charter provision that allowed any existing CAA member that chose play football to join the CAA-F at there own discretion. I doubt they even considered the possibility that four brand spanking new teams would be brought into the conference in 12 month period and immediately be CAA-F members.

While those are the facts of the matter, I personally got over the ridiculously rapid expansion of CAA-F almost immediately after it happened. Like I said in an earlier quote, lets play football - there's nothing I like better than visiting a new stadium and watching UNH take on a new opponent, or watching them fly south all disappointed after losing their first game at Wildcat Stadium.

I have no idea how the UNH administration feels about the CAA at the moment. I doubt they are on the verge of jumping ship however.

I think you’re much closer than me to the technicalities involved here.

My only point was that as an all sports conference, the CAA was vulnerable given that only 5 of the members prior to the expansion competed in the CAA for football. There were always mutual rumblings - whether it be CAA football only members or CAA all sports that didn’t play football (UNCW, Drexel, etc) - that their departures would cripple the CAA.

Adding the new members with full membership including football brought the full sports members to 10. That secured the CAA.

[KPSUL]

I think you’re much closer than me to the technicalities involved here.

My only point was that as an all sports conference, the CAA was vulnerable given that only 5 of the members prior to the expansion competed in the CAA for football. There were always mutual rumblings - whether it be CAA football only members or CAA all sports that didn’t play football (UNCW, Drexel, etc) - that their departures would cripple the CAA.

Adding the new members with full membership including football brought the full sports members to 10. That secured the CAA.

That's the first time I've seen a clear, concise explanation of why the CAA would add so many teams over a short period of time. Of course when it comes to the CAA I am solely football focused - if I tried to name all the CAA members that don't play football, I doubt I'd get 1/2 of them.

[Tribe4SF]

That's the first time I've seen a clear, concise explanation of why the CAA would add so many teams over a short period of time. Of course when it comes to the CAA I am solely football focused - if I tried to name all the CAA members that don't play football, I doubt I'd get 1/2 of them.

FYI they are Northeastern, Hofstra, Drexel, UNC-Wilmington and College of Charleston. Northeastern and Hofstra were CAA Football members. When they dropped football we started hearing about the demise of the football league. Through subsequent changes we continued to hear that. The league has survived just fine.

[McCowboys]

FYI they are Northeastern, Hofstra, Drexel, UNC-Wilmington and College of Charleston. Northeastern and Hofstra were CAA Football members. When they dropped football we started hearing about the demise of the football league. Through subsequent changes we continued to hear that. The league has survived just fine.

What on earth happened to Hofstra? They had a football team and a really cool name the Flying Dutchman. Then they changed to the Pride??? Dropped football. Shame on them!

[FUBeAR]

What on earth happened to Hofstra? They had a football team and a really cool name the Flying Dutchman. Then they changed to the Pride??? Dropped football. Shame on them!
They became a ghost team. Head Coach is Willen van der Decken.

[Sitting Bull]

Tribe opening up at new member, Campbell.

For those traveling to Campbell this season, below description from Wikipedia:

Barker-Lane Stadium is considered by many to have one of the best gameday atmospheres in all of Division I FCS football.[6] In their six home games last fall[when?], the Fighting Camels averaged a sellout crowd with 5,523 fans per game. By drawing 101 percent over its capacity of 5,500, Barker-Lane Stadium ranked in the Top 10 in all Division I football — both the FCS and FBS — in attendance over capacity. [7]

[crusader11]

Sounds like some good PR work by the Campbell athletic department.

[FUBeAR]

Tribe opening up at new member, Campbell.

For those traveling to Campbell this season, below description from Wikipedia:

Barker-Lane Stadium is considered by many to have one of the best gameday atmospheres in all of Division I FCS football.[6] In their six home games last fall[when?], the Fighting Camels averaged a sellout crowd with 5,523 fans per game. By drawing 101 percent over its capacity of 5,500, Barker-Lane Stadium ranked in the Top 10 in all Division I football — both the FCS and FBS — in attendance over capacity. [7]
FUBeAR attended a Campbell game in Buies Creek in 2013. Sure, it was a decade ago, but it was a lot of fun.

Nice crowd, very upbeat, friendly folks - good tailgating atmosphere. Live camels for petting and riding (maybe?). Fans were into the game. Don’t remember how concessions were on Visitors side, but seating was OK and sight lines were good.

With heavenly manna - AKA Eastern NC BBQ - available nearby, Campbell should be a must-go for all Coastal Atheltic Association fans.

[caribbeanhen]

Tribe opening up at new member, Campbell.

For those traveling to Campbell this season, below description from Wikipedia:

Barker-Lane Stadium is considered by many to have one of the best gameday atmospheres in all of Division I FCS football.[6] In their six home games last fall[when?], the Fighting Camels averaged a sellout crowd with 5,523 fans per game. By drawing 101 percent over its capacity of 5,500, Barker-Lane Stadium ranked in the Top 10 in all Division I football — both the FCS and FBS — in attendance over capacity. [7]


What will the new name for Colonial Williamsburg be?

Coastal? I don’t get that name as all these coastal areas will be underwater soon enough, we as a society should not be glorifying these low lying areas as they are doomed because of the rising seas levels … the name coastal could even provoke panic and fear … so upsetting

[Sitting Bull]

What will the new name for Colonial Williamsburg be?

Coastal? I don’t get that name as all these coastal areas will be underwater soon enough, we as a society should not be glorifying these low lying areas as they are doomed because of the rising seas levels … the name coastal could even provoke panic and fear … so upsetting

I’m sure there is a DEI manager at the Foundation looking into it.

[FUBeAR]

What will the new name for Colonial Williamsburg be?

Coastal? I don’t get that name as all these coastal areas will be underwater soon enough, we as a society should not be glorifying these low lying areas as they are doomed because of the rising seas levels … the name coastal could even provoke panic and fear … so upsetting
FutureSeabed StolenLandsBurg has a sweet ring to it.

…and, speaking of doomed, we’re all too close to ‘the line’ with these posts. FUBeAR is out…

[POD Knows]

FutureSeabed StolenLandsBurg has a sweet ring to it.

…and, speaking of doomed, we’re all too close to ‘the line’ with these posts. FUBeAR is out…:D Yea, I deleted my post here, I got slapped down a while back for posting stuff in the FCS threads.

[OhioHen]

Tribe opening up at new member, Campbell.

For those traveling to Campbell this season, below description from Wikipedia:

Barker-Lane Stadium is considered by many to have one of the best gameday atmospheres in all of Division I FCS football.[6] In their six home games last fall[when?], the Fighting Camels averaged a sellout crowd with 5,523 fans per game. By drawing 101 percent over its capacity of 5,500, Barker-Lane Stadium ranked in the Top 10 in all Division I football — both the FCS and FBS — in attendance over capacity. [7]
That's not even a good crowd for many high school football games, especially in Texas.

[Sitting Bull]

That's not even a good crowd for many high school football games, especially in Texas.

It’s a good crowd for a MAC weeknight game though

[caribbeanhen]

It’s a good crowd for a MAC weeknight game though

true but maybe crowd is not the best word

[KPSUL]

Sounds like some good PR work by the Campbell athletic department.

Barker-Lane Stadium is considered by many to have one of the best gameday atmospheres in all of Division I FCS football.[6] In their six home games last fall[when?], the Fighting Camels averaged a sellout crowd with 5,523 fans per game. By drawing 101 percent over its capacity of 5,500, Barker-Lane Stadium ranked in the Top 10 in all Division I football — both the FCS and FBS — in attendance over capacity.

Not really that impressive. Putting 23 additional fans in a stadium designed for 5,500 is not 101 percent over capacity. 11,055 would be 101% OVER capacity at Baker Lane. 23 fans over capacity equates to 1/2%.

For comparison purposes the record attendance a UNH's 11,015 seat Wildcat Stadium is 21,943 set on October 1st, 2016 (probably homecoming). That's 99.3 OVER Capacity.

[Tribe4SF]

Barker-Lane Stadium is considered by many to have one of the best gameday atmospheres in all of Division I FCS football.[6] In their six home games last fall[when?], the Fighting Camels averaged a sellout crowd with 5,523 fans per game. By drawing 101 percent over its capacity of 5,500, Barker-Lane Stadium ranked in the Top 10 in all Division I football — both the FCS and FBS — in attendance over capacity.

Not really that impressive. Putting 23 additional fans in a stadium designed for 5,500 is not 101 percent over capacity. 11,055 would be 101% OVER capacity at Baker Lane. 23 fans over capacity equates to 1/2%.

For comparison purposes the record attendance a UNH's 11,015 seat Wildcat Stadium is 21,943 set on October 1st, 2016 (probably homecoming). That's 99.3 OVER Capacity.

Ha! I was there and it was homecoming. You and I both know that 21,943 was attendance at Boulder Field, not in the stadium.

[KPSUL]

Ha! I was there and it was homecoming. You and I both know that 21,943 was attendance at Boulder Field, not in the stadium.

Yeah, I've never seen the stadium absolutely full - but not a problem unique to UNH. For homecoming and the 1st home game several thousand students will show up at some point, mainly the start, but by the 4th Qtr likely no more the 400. Like every other school, UNH counts every sold season ticket and all club level memberships, whether or not they show up. Most of the Boulder Field crowd does come into the stadium at some point, but never all at once.

The new president is trying to dramatically limit the drinking and crazy partying, starting last year, no one can park on Boulder unless they are a season ticket holder, or alumni who actually know they can call the box office manager and request permission to purchase a parking pass in advanced. There are no Boulder parking passes sold on Gameday. It's obviously having an effect, the official attendance at homecoming 2022 was 13,272, a mere 2,557 more asses than seats.

[UNH72Plus]

Why? You only have to travel about a mile from Wildcat Stadium to dip your toes in saltwater. UNH is more Coastal than most of the CAA schools, and so is URI. Maine is certainly a "coastal" state.

They're not calling it the Confederate Athletic Association.

What's in a name? I'm old enough to remember when Richmond, W&M, and JMU were in the Yankee Conference. Old Jeff Davis must have been rolling in his grave!

[MUHAWKS]

:D Yea, I deleted my post here, I got slapped down a while back for posting stuff in the FCS threads.

Are we not allowed to even vaguely talk politics here, is that a rule? Legit question b/c I have seen no bad posts close to any "line" or at least what I would deem a line..

[POD Knows]

Are we not allowed to even vaguely talk politics here, is that a rule? Legit question b/c I have seen no bad posts close to any "line" or at least what I would deem a line..Well, politics are in the eyes of the beholder and I am not the "eyes", I try and stay out it on the FCS board, I got a tongue lashing for making poli posts in the freaking lounge which was stupid IMNHO.

[caribbeanhen]

Media Day or just Another Day (SPM)?

virtual media Day is a joke

[caribbeanhen]

Sambu (DL)
Maine
Baylor


Khairi Manns (DL)
Maine
Colorado


Freddie Brock (RB)
Maine
Georgia State


Austin Ambush (DB)
Maine
Jacksonville State


Charles Eberle (LS)
Maine
New Mexico State


Shawn Bowman (TE)
Maine
Rutgers


Joe Fagnano (QB)
Maine
UConn



whats going on in the woods ?

Bowman was supposed to be team captain

[bonarae]

Where did you get the transfer list of the former Maine Black Bears? xchinscratchx

[caribbeanhen]

Where did you get the transfer list of the former Maine Black Bears? xchinscratchx

https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2023-preseason-preview-bzbz/

This is a handy dandy info packed webpage from Hero sports

[caribbeanhen]

Javonte Kinsey (TE)
Bowling Green
Campbell


Donta Armstrong (TE)
Charlotte
Campbell


Isaiah Potts (DL)
Charlotte
Campbell


Bryson Whitehead (DB)
Charlotte
Campbell


Keevan Bailey (DB)
Colorado State
Campbell


Jack Brady (P)
Florida
Campbell


George Wilson Jr. (DL)
Florida State
Campbell


Tre Moore (DL)
Georgia State
Campbell


Verdis Brown (DL)
Illinois
Campbell


Antoine Sampah (LB)
LSU
Campbell


Jasiah Provillon (WR)
NC State
Campbell


Cole Young (OL)
Oregon
Campbell


Bobby Walchak (LB)
Penn State
Campbell


Baraka Beckett (OL)
UCLA
Campbell


Sincere Brown (WR)
USF
Campbell


Lakeem Rudolph (DL)
Virginia Tech
Campbell


Elijah Hawk (DL)
Western Michigan
Campbell

[CenMEBlackBearFan]

Sambu (DL)
Maine
Baylor


Khairi Manns (DL)
Maine
Colorado


Freddie Brock (RB)
Maine
Georgia State


Austin Ambush (DB)
Maine
Jacksonville State


Charles Eberle (LS)
Maine
New Mexico State


Shawn Bowman (TE)
Maine
Rutgers


Joe Fagnano (QB)
Maine
UConn



whats going on in the woods ?

Bowman was supposed to be team captain

All went FBS not sure if they all got schollys, some might be walk-ons. Made Bowman a captain to help keep him at home, guessing former Coach Harasymiak now at Rutgers as the DC may have helped with that transfer. He was a big loss as well as Sambu. Brock since he broke his leg in 2021 against UNH has never been the same. Not sure many of these guys will be impact players at the next level.
Not devastated at what we loss but what we gained in transfers does not look good, alot of former FBS players who saw very limited time at their respective schools. Would have much rathered that we focused on FCS players who were impact players at their schools.

Looks impressive, let me know if anyone thinks these guys will be impact players???


Alex Berrouet (RB)
Colorado State
Maine


Justyn Haynesworth (DL)
East Carolina
Maine


Zach Zoglio (LS)
Eastern Michigan
Maine


Alhaji Kamara (DB)
Old Dominion
Maine


Damon Matthews (DB)
Rutgers
Maine


Joe Horn (OL)
UMass
Maine

[MR. CHICKEN]

.....LOOKS LIKE.................PORTAL SIGN....."DON'T FEED DUH BEARS"........WAS OBEYED.........BRAWK!

[MR. CHICKEN]

Javonte Kinsey (TE)
Bowling Green
Campbell


Donta Armstrong (TE)
Charlotte
Campbell


Isaiah Potts (DL)
Charlotte
Campbell


Bryson Whitehead (DB)
Charlotte
Campbell


Keevan Bailey (DB)
Colorado State
Campbell


Jack Brady (P)
Florida
Campbell


George Wilson Jr. (DL)
Florida State
Campbell


Tre Moore (DL)
Georgia State
Campbell


Verdis Brown (DL)
Illinois
Campbell


Antoine Sampah (LB)
LSU
Campbell


Jasiah Provillon (WR)
NC State
Campbell


Cole Young (OL)
Oregon
Campbell


Bobby Walchak (LB)
Penn State
Campbell


Baraka Beckett (OL)
UCLA
Campbell


Sincere Brown (WR)
USF
Campbell


Lakeem Rudolph (DL)
Virginia Tech
Campbell


Elijah Hawk (DL)
Western Michigan
Campbell




.....COMBINED WHIFF.....TWO YEARS UH TOP RECRUITIN'..........FIGHTIN' DROMEDARY'S.....WILL SEND MOST CAA'S....UP BUIES CREEK....WHIFF-OUT UH PADDLE.......xeekx.....AWK!

[caribbeanhen]

.....LOOKS LIKE.................PORTAL SIGN....."DON'T FEED DUH BEARS"........WAS OBEYED.........BRAWK!

haha

Looks like Maine fans will have to grin and bear it this year

[caribbeanhen]

.....COMBINED WHIFF.....TWO YEARS UH TOP RECRUITIN'..........FIGHTIN' DROMEDARY'S.....WILL SEND MOST CAA'S....UP BUIES CREEK....WHIFF-OUT UH PADDLE.......xeekx.....AWK!

Campbell, just like Buies Creek, NC, is complete mystery to most CAA fans. Remember when Monmouth was an FCS up and comer before they joined the CAA? Now they are just stuck in the middle with ….

[MR. CHICKEN]

.......MONMOUTH FIGHT SONG....BAH...STEALERS WHEEL............? IS..........CAN CAMPBELL CLIMB....WOLVERTON MOUNTAIN.............BRAWK?

[Tribe4SF]

Campbell, just like Buies Creek, NC, is complete mystery to most CAA fans. Remember when Monmouth was an FCS up and comer before they joined the CAA? Now they are just stuck in the middle with ….

Tribe saw them last year and I was impressed with their athleticism, size and speed. Was very surprised that they faded after handling NCCU. We'll see how things go on Aug. 31 when we trek down there to face a roster with 28 FBS transfers. I still wonder how you develop a culture like that.

[caribbeanhen]

Tribe saw them last year and I was impressed with their athleticism, size and speed. Was very surprised that they faded after handling NCCU. We'll see how things go on Aug. 31 when we trek down there to face a roster with 28 FBS transfers. I still wonder how you develop a culture like that.

I used to be very excited to pick up an FBS transfer, but as we are in the portal era now and as these FBS transfers are growing in numbers I’m just not all weak in the knees about them anymore. You had to be selective in the past but now it just seems like roster management.

that culture you speak of is gone just like your best players are at risk of leaving

[WestCoastAggie]

https://twitter.com/FCSNationRadio1/status/1684389713430581249

I get it. A&T lost starting talent on both sides of the ball to Boston College, Cincinnati, East Carolina, and Wake Forest. Despite that, the cupboards aren't bare, even with our interior DL.

It makes me wonder if it really was coaching as to why A&T never got back to the heights we say 2017 - 2019? As good as Coach Washington and his staff was, this was the same staff who didn't want to change any offensive calls (allegedly) when our DC left for NCCU last year. xdrunkyx

[caribbeanhen]

The Aggies seem like they are receiving a tough welcome from the CAA schedulers

https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/

Nova, Delaware and Richmond stretch is tough

2023 North Carolina A&T Football Schedule

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THURSDAY, AUG 31atUAB (https://fbschedules.com/2023-uab-football-schedule/)8:00pm ET | ESPN+

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SATURDAY, SEP 9NC Central (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)7:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, SEP 16atElon (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)6:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, SEP 23OFF


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SATURDAY, SEP 30atNorfolk State (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)2:00pm ET | TV TBA

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SATURDAY, OCT 14atDelaware (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)3:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, OCT 21Richmond (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)1:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, OCT 28atHampton (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)1:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, NOV 4Towson (HC) (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)1:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, NOV 11atRhode Island (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)1:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, NOV 18Campbell (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)1:00pm ET | FloSports

[WestCoastAggie]

The Aggies seem like they are receiving a tough welcome from the CAA schedulers

https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/

Nova, Delaware and Richmond stretch is tough

2023 North Carolina A&T Football Schedule



https://fbschedules.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/uab-blazers-230x230.png
THURSDAY, AUG 31atUAB (https://fbschedules.com/2023-uab-football-schedule/)

8:00pm ET | ESPN+

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SATURDAY, SEP 9NC Central (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)

7:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, SEP 16atElon (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)

6:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, SEP 23OFF




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SATURDAY, SEP 30atNorfolk State (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)

2:00pm ET | TV TBA

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SATURDAY, OCT 7Villanova (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)

4:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, OCT 14atDelaware (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)

3:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, OCT 21Richmond (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)

1:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, OCT 28atHampton (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)

1:00pm ET | FloSports

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SATURDAY, NOV 4Towson (HC) (https://fbschedules.com/2023-north-carolina-at-football-schedule/#)

1:00pm ET | FloSports

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There aren't any gimmies in conference. Even Hampton, who we're playing for their Homecoming, won't be a cakewalk. Thank Goodness Jadakiss Bonds is not playing this year.

However, Massey is predicting a 3-5 conference record and 5-6 overall. That alone gives me hope.

And note; most games between the Aggies and Phoenix are super close regardless of record. Overall, it's something about that Elon game and those games against Rhode Island and Villanova that has me believing that 8-3 isn't entirely out of the realm of possibilities. Unlikely, but definitely not impossible. Especially with if we can curve the stupid penalties and coaching management miscues that kept us out the playoffs.

If Coach Brown can somehow pull that off his first year in the CAA, he's definitely the FCS Coach of the Year.

[caribbeanhen]

There aren't any gimmies in conference. Even Hampton, who we're playing for their Homecoming, won't be a cakewalk. Thank Goodness Jadakiss Bonds is not playing this year.

However, Massey is predicting a 3-5 conference record and 5-6 overall. That alone gives me hope.

And note; most games between the Aggies and Phoenix are super close regardless of record. Overall, it's something about that Elon game and those games against Rhode Island and Villanova that has me believing that 8-3 isn't entirely out of the realm of possibilities. Unlikely, but definitely not impossible. Especially with if we can curve the stupid penalties and coaching management miscues that kept us out the playoffs.

If Coach Brown can somehow pull that off his first year in the CAA, he's definitely the FCS Coach of the Year.

Aggie you are following up where MUHAWKS left off last year

nothing wrong with being fired up about your team and Welcome too the CAA !

[WestCoastAggie]

Aggie you are following up where MUHAWKS left off last year

nothing wrong with being fired up about your team and Welcome too the CAA !

Ha! No essays from me, however. LOL

[KPSUL]

I used to be very excited to pick up an FBS transfer, but as we are in the portal era now and as these FBS transfers are growing in numbers I’m just not all weak in the knees about them anymore. You had to be selective in the past but now it just seems like roster management.

that culture you speak of is gone just like your best players are at risk of leaving

The quality of FBS to FCS transfers will be declining. The fact that players can now transfer FBS to FBS 1 time without sitting out a year means the cream of the transfer crop will end up staying in their own subdivision.

There really is no mystery to keeping the majority of your team out of the portal - recruit players that truly fit you program's culture and system, take the time and effort to develop their potential, treat them with honesty and fairness and be as loyal to them as you want them to be loyal to the team.

[WestCoastAggie]

The quality of FBS to FCS transfers will be declining. The fact that players can now transfer FBS to FBS 1 time without sitting out a year means the cream of the transfer crop will end up staying in their own subdivision.

There really is no mystery to keeping the majority of your team out of the portal - recruit players that truly fit you program's culture and system, take the time and effort to develop their potential, treat them with honesty and fairness and be as loyal to them as you want them to be loyal to the team.

And have them fall in love with the school and its culture as a whole. Allow them to get involved with student actives, including pledging!

[KPSUL]

And have them fall in love with the school and its culture as a whole. Allow them to get involved with student actives, including pledging!

Actually UNH discourages varsity football players from pledging fraternities. It wasn't that way in my day ( a long,long time ago). so I'm not sure I agree with the policy, I was in a fraternity and it definitely help me stay in school. I felt that the policy may have led to the worst football incident in any one's memory about 7 years ago. A brawl started outside of a fraternity (actually mine) when a coupe of football players were denied entry to a party. End result 4 players expelled from college for a year, 2 never came back. I think it was an us vs. them attitude that no way existed when I was at UNH; Half of the 50+ brothers in my frat were varsity hockey, football, basketball or baseball players.

[WestCoastAggie]

Actually UNH discourages varsity football players from pledging fraternities. It wasn't that way in my day ( a long,long time ago). so I'm not sure I agree with the policy, I was in a fraternity and it definitely help me stay in school. I felt that the policy may have led to the worst football incident in any one's memory about 7 years ago. A brawl started outside of a fraternity (actually mine) when a coupe of football players were denied entry to a party. End result 4 players expelled from college for a year, 2 never came back. I think it was an us vs. them attitude that no way existed when I was at UNH; Half of the 50+ brothers in my frat were varsity hockey, football, basketball or baseball players.

IMHO, seeing more Aggie footballers pledge helped them become captains of the team and helped lead to our success under Coaches Broadway and Washington. It sucks to read that UNH discourages this despite it not really affecting y'all success on the field.

[KPSUL]

IMHO, seeing more Aggie footballers pledge helped them become captains of the team and helped lead to our success under Coaches Broadway and Washington. It sucks to read that UNH discourages this despite it not really affecting y'all success on the field.

I suspect that there is a reasonable argument on the other side, but I don't get it. I know varsity athletes now-a-days do more things together than in my ancient era: Training meals, study halls, conditioning year round, etc. It may be that the coaches just don't feel they have time for fraternities.

[MUHAWKS]

Well- I resisted long enough but here it is. I am about to tell you in "essay" format, albeit incorrect/sloppy essay format (all love A&T dude) why nobody in The CAA should sleep on THE MONMOUTH HAWKS. This is not meant to be like that Kennesaw guy who talked it up then would disappear. I will be here. I expect only true degenerates will even read this, maybe Caribbeanhen and the UNH guys. But it is not satire. I am going to tell you how it is not a stretch that The 2023 Monmouth Hawks Football Team can compete for a CAA title and/or playoff berth and in fact I actually believe this.

Anyone here like horse racing? Something betters tend to look at is how a horse fared coming into the start of a meet or long layoff. So for example. Lets say you have a horse who is decent/average. Has not raced in a year. First race back he is out for a jog, an acclimating race, finishes second to last or something. Second race the horse shows speed out of the gate lets say going 7 furlongs. Races well but fades at the end. That is a tightener. Third race a better would be looking at this horse if decent odds especially if make going only 6 furlongs. I think this analogy holds true for us this year and why we should be considered a "live longshot".

Lets start with last year. Now I do not make the rules. You play who your schedule says you play and at the end if you have the most wins in league, you win. If you have 8 overall, there is a very good chance you make the playoffs. We finished 9th of 13 team. Not good, maybe not even average. But first year CAA, let's call it "acclimating". In using my horse racing analogy once would say ok now you need your "second race" as a tightener and it is really next year we should possibly be discussing competing for real. The reason I am skipping ahead is b/c "overall" in the last few years we have already faced some very stiff competition sporadically. An FBS game every year sans last year b/c Greg Schiano screwed us in favor of Wagner. Three playoff appearances with one win and games also against Norther Iowa, James Madison and Sam Houston. As bas as the first two were, the latter was as close as it gets in the end. Add to it road games at Montana and Montana State (the former in which we actually made it a decent game). Kennesaw every year for a while and before they left, Coastal Carolina and Liberty for a few years. Add to it some random CAA games (a few in which we won) and I am just saying we know the competition now. Mind you we played most of those games with fewer than the max of 63 scholarships and many of the games a lot fewer. So last year was the "eye opener". There are no more surprises of "holy crap we actually need to be a lot bigger or faster to compete". The reason I am so optimistic is b/c IMO, we filled the holes in a major way this off season.

There is one huge question mark which my thesis is predicated on and of course it is at QB. Can we replace Muskett in any sort of formidable form? If we just for arguments sake say Muskett was a 8/10, IMO we just need about a 6.5 for my thoughts to play out. Anything even approaching a 8 and watch out. Going back to last year- Did anyone really truly expect us to seriously compete in 10 of the 11 games? The UNH guys know that game was an even matchup. I respect UNH and love the fans but we were winning with game with 7 minutes left in the 4th. Out of the 37 running attempts, Shirden got 6 (was not the starter). We turned the ball over 3 times and had a punt blocked for a TD. We had more first downs and total yardage was almost dead even. We had a 10 minute time of possession advantage. None of this means much other than if you do not claim this was a very even game you are being biased. Those were the CAA co- champs and playoff team no? We lost by 3 to Fordham, another playoff team and were driving as time ran out. We beat than ranked #10 Villanova on the road. We blew out the two crap patriot league teams we played. We beat Albany who played UNH, Fordham, Nova close. We laid an egg against Maine, literally shooting self in foot 3 times and still had a shot. We took a much respected URI team to 7 OT's and had the game won on several occasions. We did lose to Towson but by 4 points with our backup QB. The Hens smoked us and we took care of business against Stony Brook. On paper a "below average" 5-6. For those that saw, much closer to being right there. There were 3 main issues all of which I think are fixed that would tur last year into 8-3, 9-2 or even 10-1. The first is clearly our defense sucked. The second is we did not really know "how to win" and the third is being bigger and better up front.

To summarize above- we did not go play games and get smoked sans Delaware. We were winning or in every other game in the 4th Qtr. It is not a stretch to say we were "right there". at 9-2 or 8-3 we may have been one of the most undeserving playoff teams ever, but again, ONE play against Fordham, ONE play against URI and that is 7-4. ONE play against Towson and that is 8-3. Maybe 3-4 plays against UNH and that is 9-2. Maine was more like 6-7 plays. I know it means very little but IMO there is a difference in losing like that (and when I say ONE play on those 3 games that is literal) and losing like we did to Delaware.

What did we lose and what did we gain? We lost one starting OL to Colorado State and one to graduation, but have a lot of depth and guys who have played significant time to add to the 3 returners. We also added a guy Chris Moreno from Don Bosco who was ranked as the top interior OL in NJ on some lists. He had some bigger offers and turned down Rutgers for us. We also added a transfer OL from University of Illinois whose bro is in the NFL- that does not mean crap, but it sounds good.

Running back- Jaden Shirden is all I really have to say but honestly we have a couple guys along with him who can play and a sophomore by the name of Makhi Green who is a track star and will return kicks too. Highlight film is insane.

WR- They all return and are really good. Dymere Miller is getting all the attention but Assanti Kearney looks like he could have an All American type year. Remember that name. The kid Green I mentioned above can and will also play the slot and can catch the ball out of the backfield as good as anyone. A bunch of other complimentary type guys but all with speed and/or size.

The offense is going to be good again, perhaps really good and IMO better than last year. Again, the QB. Will it be Enzo Arjona, a proven winner in HS with a strong arm and capable of running but on the short side, or Marquez McCray, a proven winner at Sacred Heart who can also move if needed. If you told me right now we would get a "B+" job from whoever it is, I would tell you we are 100% a playoff team. But that is a HUGE if, I do understand.

Defense?? Perhaps the worst defense in all of FCS last year. Think about that. We let up 50+ points 2 times, 40+ pts 3 times and 30+ pts 3 times. We were 3 plays from 8-3 with a defense that could not stop anything. I am telling you our offense will be better even without Muskett (who was very limited out of the pocket or on the move- which is a much bigger deal than you may think- as the 2 guys who may play both can move and throw on the run- not only does it allow our guys more time to get open but it keeps drives alive and what not). So If that holds true and our defense just goes from a D- or F grade to a C+ what should that mean? To me, it means very good things.

Here is why they may easily exceed that- One of the best combined DB's as a position in FCS. Yes you heard that right. Mike Reid is the most underrated CB in FCS and is also 6-2. Eddie Morales at the other CB missed 7 games and is exceptional. Tyrese Wright at one safety is a beast and this kid TTJ Kamara had a good year. There is depth behind those guys as well. You will all see. But the reason nobody can see that is b/c we had a horrible D line. Undersized, injuries and no natural speed rushers. Gashed against the run and zero pass rush. We added a 300 lb DT from Central Michigan who looks good. We added this kid Nick White who is the younger bro of former MU stud WR Reggie white JR (now playing well in Canada, but hurt this year). He transferred in from Gannon where he dominated. We also added a transfer from JMU/Temple who is a great athlete. Add those guys to about 7 other returning guys some who were actually individually good and IMO the D line now has - 1. way more size. 2. way more depth. 3. Two legitimate pass rushers. There were players who were good last year but the unit collectively was just trash. Basically on defense we return everyone plus added the guys I said, plus get Morales back, plus a transfer LB from Harvard and have a couple younger guys who were heralded and may be very very good.

What if our offense stays about the same in production but actually becomes more dynamic with a QB who can make plays out of the pocket where Muskett could not? How do you defend one of the best RB's in FCS if not the best on the field at the same time with the track star Green I told you about above, with 2-3 extremely good WR's AND a QB who is a threat to run the ball and/or be efficient out of the pocket? Is it that much of a stretch to say that this offense may be even better without Muskett? Is it crazy to say just as good? And if that is not nuts, then the defense CANNOT get worse and my word, they will not only be better, but a strength. I know it sounds insane but I know this team and these guys and this has the capability to be a special team. It is not crazy logic to say that if the defense improves just to being average that we are now a GOOD team.

The last thing left to do is compare last years schedule to this years. Because I am obviously making some assumptions and opinions above, I am using that context to compare last year to 2023.

Week 1- @ Florida Atlantic- Obviously we are probably going to lose and maybe lose big. Coach from Texas, tons of transfers, speed, etc etc, Just not a good matchup. May as well be playing Penn State or something b/c people think FAU sucks but they do not.

Week 2 - @Towson- They prob are pumped. Finished year well, beat us last year, new coach and will also be coming off a probable loss to FBS. We will know immediately if what I think is true b/c if we lose this game I think it is over. Yes, I think week 2 is a must win.

Week 3- Campbell at home- The Camels who have like 30 FBS transfers and a dozen 3 and 4 star recruits, the top FCS recruiting class for like 2 years and a team we routinely beat. But now they have a chip on shoulder. VERY tough game. IF we come out of this 2-1, take it to the bank we are going to the playoffs.

Week 4- @ Lafayette- IMO, the most under the radar FCS team. These guys are actually good. Legit defense. Decent atmosphere and good coaching. Another tough game where you get no credit for winning but lose and you must suck. Not easy.

Week 5 and 6. Home games against Lehigh and Hampton. Lehigh we win. Period. Hampton better than people think.

Week 7 and 8- on the road against Elon and William and Mary. If we made it to this point still in the hunt, these two weeks will tell the tale. Have to win one of them.

Week 9 - Stony Brook home- I do not overlook anyone, but again how has the season gone up until this point? If in the hunt, we do not let down.

Week 10- UNH at home- A good UNH team who I think will be even better.

Week 11- @ Albany - anyone's guess.


So I ask- is it really crazy to say we beat Towson and Campbell to be 2-1. Then beat Lehigh and Lafayette and Hampton to be 5-1? Maybe pull off an upset over Elon riding the momentum , lose to W&M to be 6-2? Lets even say we are 5-3. It leaves UNH, Stony Brook and Albany. UNH is good but that is winnable. Can we be playing at Albany in the last week for the 8th win and possible playoff berth? Why not? I think so. In fact I think the schedule shapes up great for us. You heard it here first- Monmouth is going to surprise The CAA this year and be a 7 or 8 win team.

[caribbeanhen]

Well- I resisted long enough but here it is. I am about to tell you in "essay" format, albeit incorrect/sloppy essay format (all love A&T dude) why nobody in The CAA should sleep on THE MONMOUTH HAWKS. This is not meant to be like that Kennesaw guy who talked it up then would disappear. I will be here. I expect only true degenerates will even read this, maybe Caribbeanhen and the UNH guys. But it is not satire. I am going to tell you how it is not a stretch that The 2023 Monmouth Hawks Football Team can compete for a CAA title and/or playoff berth and in fact I actually believe this.

Anyone here like horse racing? Something betters tend to look at is how a horse fared coming into the start of a meet or long layoff. So for example. Lets say you have a horse who is decent/average. Has not raced in a year. First race back he is out for a jog, an acclimating race, finishes second to last or something. Second race the horse shows speed out of the gate lets say going 7 furlongs. Races well but fades at the end. That is a tightener. Third race a better would be looking at this horse if decent odds especially if make going only 6 furlongs. I think this analogy holds true for us this year and why we should be considered a "live longshot".

Lets start with last year. Now I do not make the rules. You play who your schedule says you play and at the end if you have the most wins in league, you win. If you have 8 overall, there is a very good chance you make the playoffs. We finished 9th of 13 team. Not good, maybe not even average. But first year CAA, let's call it "acclimating". In using my horse racing analogy once would say ok now you need your "second race" as a tightener and it is really next year we should possibly be discussing competing for real. The reason I am skipping ahead is b/c "overall" in the last few years we have already faced some very stiff competition sporadically. An FBS game every year sans last year b/c Greg Schiano screwed us in favor of Wagner. Three playoff appearances with one win and games also against Norther Iowa, James Madison and Sam Houston. As bas as the first two were, the latter was as close as it gets in the end. Add to it road games at Montana and Montana State (the former in which we actually made it a decent game). Kennesaw every year for a while and before they left, Coastal Carolina and Liberty for a few years. Add to it some random CAA games (a few in which we won) and I am just saying we know the competition now. Mind you we played most of those games with fewer than the max of 63 scholarships and many of the games a lot fewer. So last year was the "eye opener". There are no more surprises of "holy crap we actually need to be a lot bigger or faster to compete". The reason I am so optimistic is b/c IMO, we filled the holes in a major way this off season.

There is one huge question mark which my thesis is predicated on and of course it is at QB. Can we replace Muskett in any sort of formidable form? If we just for arguments sake say Muskett was a 8/10, IMO we just need about a 6.5 for my thoughts to play out. Anything even approaching a 8 and watch out. Going back to last year- Did anyone really truly expect us to seriously compete in 10 of the 11 games? The UNH guys know that game was an even matchup. I respect UNH and love the fans but we were winning with game with 7 minutes left in the 4th. Out of the 37 running attempts, Shirden got 6 (was not the starter). We turned the ball over 3 times and had a punt blocked for a TD. We had more first downs and total yardage was almost dead even. We had a 10 minute time of possession advantage. None of this means much other than if you do not claim this was a very even game you are being biased. Those were the CAA co- champs and playoff team no? We lost by 3 to Fordham, another playoff team and were driving as time ran out. We beat than ranked #10 Villanova on the road. We blew out the two crap patriot league teams we played. We beat Albany who played UNH, Fordham, Nova close. We laid an egg against Maine, literally shooting self in foot 3 times and still had a shot. We took a much respected URI team to 7 OT's and had the game won on several occasions. We did lose to Towson but by 4 points with our backup QB. The Hens smoked us and we took care of business against Stony Brook. On paper a "below average" 5-6. For those that saw, much closer to being right there. There were 3 main issues all of which I think are fixed that would tur last year into 8-3, 9-2 or even 10-1. The first is clearly our defense sucked. The second is we did not really know "how to win" and the third is being bigger and better up front.

To summarize above- we did not go play games and get smoked sans Delaware. We were winning or in every other game in the 4th Qtr. It is not a stretch to say we were "right there". at 9-2 or 8-3 we may have been one of the most undeserving playoff teams ever, but again, ONE play against Fordham, ONE play against URI and that is 7-4. ONE play against Towson and that is 8-3. Maybe 3-4 plays against UNH and that is 9-2. Maine was more like 6-7 plays. I know it means very little but IMO there is a difference in losing like that (and when I say ONE play on those 3 games that is literal) and losing like we did to Delaware.

What did we lose and what did we gain? We lost one starting OL to Colorado State and one to graduation, but have a lot of depth and guys who have played significant time to add to the 3 returners. We also added a guy Chris Moreno from Don Bosco who was ranked as the top interior OL in NJ on some lists. He had some bigger offers and turned down Rutgers for us. We also added a transfer OL from University of Illinois whose bro is in the NFL- that does not mean crap, but it sounds good.

Running back- Jaden Shirden is all I really have to say but honestly we have a couple guys along with him who can play and a sophomore by the name of Makhi Green who is a track star and will return kicks too. Highlight film is insane.

WR- They all return and are really good. Dymere Miller is getting all the attention but Assanti Kearney looks like he could have an All American type year. Remember that name. The kid Green I mentioned above can and will also play the slot and can catch the ball out of the backfield as good as anyone. A bunch of other complimentary type guys but all with speed and/or size.

The offense is going to be good again, perhaps really good and IMO better than last year. Again, the QB. Will it be Enzo Arjona, a proven winner in HS with a strong arm and capable of running but on the short side, or Marquez McCray, a proven winner at Sacred Heart who can also move if needed. If you told me right now we would get a "B+" job from whoever it is, I would tell you we are 100% a playoff team. But that is a HUGE if, I do understand.

Defense?? Perhaps the worst defense in all of FCS last year. Think about that. We let up 50+ points 2 times, 40+ pts 3 times and 30+ pts 3 times. We were 3 plays from 8-3 with a defense that could not stop anything. I am telling you our offense will be better even without Muskett (who was very limited out of the pocket or on the move- which is a much bigger deal than you may think- as the 2 guys who may play both can move and throw on the run- not only does it allow our guys more time to get open but it keeps drives alive and what not). So If that holds true and our defense just goes from a D- or F grade to a C+ what should that mean? To me, it means very good things.

Here is why they may easily exceed that- One of the best combined DB's as a position in FCS. Yes you heard that right. Mike Reid is the most underrated CB in FCS and is also 6-2. Eddie Morales at the other CB missed 7 games and is exceptional. Tyrese Wright at one safety is a beast and this kid TTJ Kamara had a good year. There is depth behind those guys as well. You will all see. But the reason nobody can see that is b/c we had a horrible D line. Undersized, injuries and no natural speed rushers. Gashed against the run and zero pass rush. We added a 300 lb DT from Central Michigan who looks good. We added this kid Nick White who is the younger bro of former MU stud WR Reggie white JR (now playing well in Canada, but hurt this year). He transferred in from Gannon where he dominated. We also added a transfer from JMU/Temple who is a great athlete. Add those guys to about 7 other returning guys some who were actually individually good and IMO the D line now has - 1. way more size. 2. way more depth. 3. Two legitimate pass rushers. There were players who were good last year but the unit collectively was just trash. Basically on defense we return everyone plus added the guys I said, plus get Morales back, plus a transfer LB from Harvard and have a couple younger guys who were heralded and may be very very good.

What if our offense stays about the same in production but actually becomes more dynamic with a QB who can make plays out of the pocket where Muskett could not? How do you defend one of the best RB's in FCS if not the best on the field at the same time with the track star Green I told you about above, with 2-3 extremely good WR's AND a QB who is a threat to run the ball and/or be efficient out of the pocket? Is it that much of a stretch to say that this offense may be even better without Muskett? Is it crazy to say just as good? And if that is not nuts, then the defense CANNOT get worse and my word, they will not only be better, but a strength. I know it sounds insane but I know this team and these guys and this has the capability to be a special team. It is not crazy logic to say that if the defense improves just to being average that we are now a GOOD team.

The last thing left to do is compare last years schedule to this years. Because I am obviously making some assumptions and opinions above, I am using that context to compare last year to 2023.

Week 1- @ Florida Atlantic- Obviously we are probably going to lose and maybe lose big. Coach from Texas, tons of transfers, speed, etc etc, Just not a good matchup. May as well be playing Penn State or something b/c people think FAU sucks but they do not.

Week 2 - @Towson- They prob are pumped. Finished year well, beat us last year, new coach and will also be coming off a probable loss to FBS. We will know immediately if what I think is true b/c if we lose this game I think it is over. Yes, I think week 2 is a must win.

Week 3- Campbell at home- The Camels who have like 30 FBS transfers and a dozen 3 and 4 star recruits, the top FCS recruiting class for like 2 years and a team we routinely beat. But now they have a chip on shoulder. VERY tough game. IF we come out of this 2-1, take it to the bank we are going to the playoffs.

Week 4- @ Lafayette- IMO, the most under the radar FCS team. These guys are actually good. Legit defense. Decent atmosphere and good coaching. Another tough game where you get no credit for winning but lose and you must suck. Not easy.

Week 5 and 6. Home games against Lehigh and Hampton. Lehigh we win. Period. Hampton better than people think.

Week 7 and 8- on the road against Elon and William and Mary. If we made it to this point still in the hunt, these two weeks will tell the tale. Have to win one of them.

Week 9 - Stony Brook home- I do not overlook anyone, but again how has the season gone up until this point? If in the hunt, we do not let down.

Week 10- UNH at home- A good UNH team who I think will be even better.

Week 11- @ Albany - anyone's guess.


So I ask- is it really crazy to say we beat Towson and Campbell to be 2-1. Then beat Lehigh and Lafayette and Hampton to be 5-1? Maybe pull off an upset over Elon riding the momentum , lose to W&M to be 6-2? Let’s even say we are 5-3. It leaves UNH, Stony Brook and Albany. UNH is good but that is winnable. Can we be playing at Albany in the last week for the 8th win and possible playoff berth? Why not? I think so. In fact I think the schedule shapes up great for us. You heard it here first- Monmouth is going to surprise The CAA this year and be a 7 or 8 win team.

LMAO I’ll finish this scroll in the manana

[crusader11]

I read it, MUHAWKS. You beautiful sicko.

[Tribe4SF]

I want a thread where MUHAWKS and Reignofterrier discuss a possible playoff game betweem Monmouth and Wofford!xrotatehx

[caribbeanhen]

Good stuff MUHAWKS

nothing at all wrong for getting behind your team

You better hope those DL transfers are as good as you want them to be

Ya gotta walk before you can run

[MUHAWKS]

I read it, MUHAWKS. You beautiful sicko.

No way to "like" posts (as far as I know" so "MUHAWKS LIKES THIS POST"

[MUHAWKS]

Good stuff MUHAWKS

nothing at all wrong for getting behind your team

You better hope those DL transfers are as good as you want them to be

Ya gotta walk before you can run

My man- so I am a trader for a living- and there is so much psychology involved- Many times hard to stick to your conviction, other times it is tough to realize that your "conviction" is just "bias" and you are being stubborn and not seeing reality. Maybe I am like the guy from "A Beautiful Mind" and am seeing stuff nobody else sees. Maybe I am biased to an extreme. Honestly I do not know, but until proven truly wrong I am going to go by what I see- Every team has a game or two now and then where they just dont show up. and every team at some point meets a bad matchup. It happened to both you guys and W&M in the playoffs and it happened to us against you. Make no mistake- I do not think anyone in the CAA right at this very moment can compete for a national title- The top 3-4 are just too dynamic. But all we are trying to do is be opportunistic. Similar to UNH last year where they sort of flew under radar and just figured out how to win games and stepped up at the right times (Elon, URI)... I saw us in the Big South for years and while the competition is clearly lesser than The CAA, there are 7-8 teams in the CAA that are very similar to Big South teams in terms of overall talent. The key is to win those games. Like dude, I saw the games- URI, Nova, UNH, Maine etc. all "storied" CAA teams-- this is not like playing SD State or Incarnate Word. This is playing good football teams with talent but for the most part even type matchups where it comes down to a few small things. The upper echelon of the league (I know it varies year to year) is pretty darn good and THAT is the question mark- are we ready to be able to even compete in those games. Last year the answer was No- but I see very little difference between about 8-10 teams in the league. I am more scared to play Lafayette on the road than UNH at home I can tell you that. Not a slight at UNH whatsoever, but again, the "eye test" is very useful and when I saw us against JMU and you guys I was demoralized. When I saw us against everyone else I said "damn we are just as good but lack a thing or two"-- and I think we fixed that. Some people sold the CAA as like stepping up to FBS (not literally) "OMG Villanova"!! "Wow, you have to play UNH"!! While those teams are storied and have had some good years, all I am saying is we are really close and that means why not us winning the 50/50 games and pulling an "upset".. I am done I promise..

[MR. CHICKEN]

No way to "like" posts (as far as I know" so "MUHAWKS LIKES THIS POST"


32889

.....YES THERE IS......CLICK ON THE STAR......IN POSTERS BOX..(LOWER LEFT CORNER)........WHOSE POST YOU APPROVE (LIKE)......YOU WILL BE SENDIN'.....REPPIES TO THAT POSTER......AMOUNT BASED ON YER ACTIVITY....&.....THERE'S ROOM FO' COMMENT..........BRAWK!

[MUHAWKS]

32889

.....YES THERE IS......CLICK ON THE STAR......IN POSTERS BOX..(LOWER LEFT CORNER)........WHOSE POST YOU APPROVE (LIKE)......YOU WILL BE SENDIN'.....REPPIES TO THAT POSTER......AMOUNT BASED ON YER ACTIVITY....&.....THERE'S ROOM FO' COMMENT..........BRAWK!

Learning new stuff every time!! Maybe I knew that-not sure.. but thanks!!! BRAWK!

[caribbeanhen]

My man- so I am a trader for a living- and there is so much psychology involved- Many times hard to stick to your conviction, other times it is tough to realize that your "conviction" is just "bias" and you are being stubborn and not seeing reality. Maybe I am like the guy from "A Beautiful Mind" and am seeing stuff nobody else sees. Maybe I am biased to an extreme. Honestly I do not know, but until proven truly wrong I am going to go by what I see- Every team has a game or two now and then where they just dont show up. and every team at some point meets a bad matchup. It happened to both you guys and W&M in the playoffs and it happened to us against you. Make no mistake- 2 I do not think anyone in the CAA right at this very moment can compete for a national title- The top 3-4 are just too dynamic. But all we are trying to do is be opportunistic. Similar to UNH last year where they sort of flew under radar and just figured out how to win games and stepped up at the right times (Elon, URI)... I saw us in the Big South for years and while the competition is clearly lesser than The CAA, there are 7-8 teams in the CAA that are very similar to Big South teams in terms of overall talent. The key is to win those games. Like dude, 3 I saw the games- URI, Nova, UNH, Maine etc. all "storied" CAA teams-- this is not like playing SD State or Incarnate Word. This is playing good football teams with talent but for the most part even type matchups where it comes down to a few small things. The upper echelon of the league (I know it varies year to year) is pretty darn good and THAT is the question mark- are we ready to be able to even compete in those games. Last year the answer was No- but I see very little difference between about 8-10 teams in the league. 4 I am more scared to play Lafayette on the road than UNH at home I can tell you that. Not a slight at UNH whatsoever, but again, the "eye test" is very useful and when I saw us against JMU and you guys I was demoralized. When I saw us against everyone else I said "damn we are just as good but lack a thing or two"-- and I think we fixed that. 5 Some people sold the CAA as like stepping up to FBS (not literally) "OMG Villanova"!! "Wow, you have to play UNH"!! While those teams are storied and have had some good years, all I am saying is we are really close and that means why not us winning the 50/50 games and pulling an "upset".. 6 I am done I promise..

1) one thing I like about you is you’re always referring to what you see, the thing is, if you rely on your ears which I cannot do anymore, you have to deal with the bias of the messenger. When you can only use your eyes, the messenger is not required (unless you read lips;) So yes, the eye test is what I rely on and just a glance at the stats will do. I think some people analyze things to death…. Just turn down the sound and watch some games.

2) agree 100%

3) agree 100% again, Incarnate Word was loaded. Unfortunately, the bracket sent Delaware out to Brookings for the second time in 18 months. Same result and any CAA team sent there will get beat in similar fashion.

4) I understand what you’re saying, but your hedging just like you do on your Trader job. You need to go into Lafayette and take care of the Patriot league team no questions asked. If you don’t, Monmouth reputation will be in same place as the shore girl working the board walk at Asbury Park.

5) the people who hyped the CAA are probably living in the past. The run the Colonial had from 2003 to 2010 was legendary, the conference was deep and produced 4 different national champs. Delaware and JMU. UNH with 13 consecutive playoff appearances and William &Mary was really good as well. Armanti Edwards Appalachian teams side tracked the CAA title runs but once he was done, Richmond, Nova won back to back and Delaware lost championship game in 2007 and 2010. The Bison saw too it that JMU didn’t dominate the next decade, but overall the CAA was down. What it has become today is something I thought I would never see, but it really doesn’t bother me that much except The Hens will not be traveling to The Burg for several years.

6) don’t promise and keep posting!!

[WestCoastAggie]

Well- I resisted long enough but here it is. I am about to tell you in "essay" format, albeit incorrect/sloppy essay format (all love A&T dude) why nobody in The CAA should sleep on THE MONMOUTH HAWKS. This is not meant to be like that Kennesaw guy who talked it up then would disappear. I will be here. I expect only true degenerates will even read this, maybe Caribbeanhen and the UNH guys. But it is not satire. I am going to tell you how it is not a stretch that The 2023 Monmouth Hawks Football Team can compete for a CAA title and/or playoff berth and in fact I actually believe this.

Anyone here like horse racing? Something betters tend to look at is how a horse fared coming into the start of a meet or long layoff. So for example. Lets say you have a horse who is decent/average. Has not raced in a year. First race back he is out for a jog, an acclimating race, finishes second to last or something. Second race the horse shows speed out of the gate lets say going 7 furlongs. Races well but fades at the end. That is a tightener. Third race a better would be looking at this horse if decent odds especially if make going only 6 furlongs. I think this analogy holds true for us this year and why we should be considered a "live longshot".

Lets start with last year. Now I do not make the rules. You play who your schedule says you play and at the end if you have the most wins in league, you win. If you have 8 overall, there is a very good chance you make the playoffs. We finished 9th of 13 team. Not good, maybe not even average. But first year CAA, let's call it "acclimating". In using my horse racing analogy once would say ok now you need your "second race" as a tightener and it is really next year we should possibly be discussing competing for real. The reason I am skipping ahead is b/c "overall" in the last few years we have already faced some very stiff competition sporadically. An FBS game every year sans last year b/c Greg Schiano screwed us in favor of Wagner. Three playoff appearances with one win and games also against Norther Iowa, James Madison and Sam Houston. As bas as the first two were, the latter was as close as it gets in the end. Add to it road games at Montana and Montana State (the former in which we actually made it a decent game). Kennesaw every year for a while and before they left, Coastal Carolina and Liberty for a few years. Add to it some random CAA games (a few in which we won) and I am just saying we know the competition now. Mind you we played most of those games with fewer than the max of 63 scholarships and many of the games a lot fewer. So last year was the "eye opener". There are no more surprises of "holy crap we actually need to be a lot bigger or faster to compete". The reason I am so optimistic is b/c IMO, we filled the holes in a major way this off season.

There is one huge question mark which my thesis is predicated on and of course it is at QB. Can we replace Muskett in any sort of formidable form? If we just for arguments sake say Muskett was a 8/10, IMO we just need about a 6.5 for my thoughts to play out. Anything even approaching a 8 and watch out. Going back to last year- Did anyone really truly expect us to seriously compete in 10 of the 11 games? The UNH guys know that game was an even matchup. I respect UNH and love the fans but we were winning with game with 7 minutes left in the 4th. Out of the 37 running attempts, Shirden got 6 (was not the starter). We turned the ball over 3 times and had a punt blocked for a TD. We had more first downs and total yardage was almost dead even. We had a 10 minute time of possession advantage. None of this means much other than if you do not claim this was a very even game you are being biased. Those were the CAA co- champs and playoff team no? We lost by 3 to Fordham, another playoff team and were driving as time ran out. We beat than ranked #10 Villanova on the road. We blew out the two crap patriot league teams we played. We beat Albany who played UNH, Fordham, Nova close. We laid an egg against Maine, literally shooting self in foot 3 times and still had a shot. We took a much respected URI team to 7 OT's and had the game won on several occasions. We did lose to Towson but by 4 points with our backup QB. The Hens smoked us and we took care of business against Stony Brook. On paper a "below average" 5-6. For those that saw, much closer to being right there. There were 3 main issues all of which I think are fixed that would tur last year into 8-3, 9-2 or even 10-1. The first is clearly our defense sucked. The second is we did not really know "how to win" and the third is being bigger and better up front.

To summarize above- we did not go play games and get smoked sans Delaware. We were winning or in every other game in the 4th Qtr. It is not a stretch to say we were "right there". at 9-2 or 8-3 we may have been one of the most undeserving playoff teams ever, but again, ONE play against Fordham, ONE play against URI and that is 7-4. ONE play against Towson and that is 8-3. Maybe 3-4 plays against UNH and that is 9-2. Maine was more like 6-7 plays. I know it means very little but IMO there is a difference in losing like that (and when I say ONE play on those 3 games that is literal) and losing like we did to Delaware.

What did we lose and what did we gain? We lost one starting OL to Colorado State and one to graduation, but have a lot of depth and guys who have played significant time to add to the 3 returners. We also added a guy Chris Moreno from Don Bosco who was ranked as the top interior OL in NJ on some lists. He had some bigger offers and turned down Rutgers for us. We also added a transfer OL from University of Illinois whose bro is in the NFL- that does not mean crap, but it sounds good.

Running back- Jaden Shirden is all I really have to say but honestly we have a couple guys along with him who can play and a sophomore by the name of Makhi Green who is a track star and will return kicks too. Highlight film is insane.

WR- They all return and are really good. Dymere Miller is getting all the attention but Assanti Kearney looks like he could have an All American type year. Remember that name. The kid Green I mentioned above can and will also play the slot and can catch the ball out of the backfield as good as anyone. A bunch of other complimentary type guys but all with speed and/or size.

The offense is going to be good again, perhaps really good and IMO better than last year. Again, the QB. Will it be Enzo Arjona, a proven winner in HS with a strong arm and capable of running but on the short side, or Marquez McCray, a proven winner at Sacred Heart who can also move if needed. If you told me right now we would get a "B+" job from whoever it is, I would tell you we are 100% a playoff team. But that is a HUGE if, I do understand.

Defense?? Perhaps the worst defense in all of FCS last year. Think about that. We let up 50+ points 2 times, 40+ pts 3 times and 30+ pts 3 times. We were 3 plays from 8-3 with a defense that could not stop anything. I am telling you our offense will be better even without Muskett (who was very limited out of the pocket or on the move- which is a much bigger deal than you may think- as the 2 guys who may play both can move and throw on the run- not only does it allow our guys more time to get open but it keeps drives alive and what not). So If that holds true and our defense just goes from a D- or F grade to a C+ what should that mean? To me, it means very good things.

Here is why they may easily exceed that- One of the best combined DB's as a position in FCS. Yes you heard that right. Mike Reid is the most underrated CB in FCS and is also 6-2. Eddie Morales at the other CB missed 7 games and is exceptional. Tyrese Wright at one safety is a beast and this kid TTJ Kamara had a good year. There is depth behind those guys as well. You will all see. But the reason nobody can see that is b/c we had a horrible D line. Undersized, injuries and no natural speed rushers. Gashed against the run and zero pass rush. We added a 300 lb DT from Central Michigan who looks good. We added this kid Nick White who is the younger bro of former MU stud WR Reggie white JR (now playing well in Canada, but hurt this year). He transferred in from Gannon where he dominated. We also added a transfer from JMU/Temple who is a great athlete. Add those guys to about 7 other returning guys some who were actually individually good and IMO the D line now has - 1. way more size. 2. way more depth. 3. Two legitimate pass rushers. There were players who were good last year but the unit collectively was just trash. Basically on defense we return everyone plus added the guys I said, plus get Morales back, plus a transfer LB from Harvard and have a couple younger guys who were heralded and may be very very good.

What if our offense stays about the same in production but actually becomes more dynamic with a QB who can make plays out of the pocket where Muskett could not? How do you defend one of the best RB's in FCS if not the best on the field at the same time with the track star Green I told you about above, with 2-3 extremely good WR's AND a QB who is a threat to run the ball and/or be efficient out of the pocket? Is it that much of a stretch to say that this offense may be even better without Muskett? Is it crazy to say just as good? And if that is not nuts, then the defense CANNOT get worse and my word, they will not only be better, but a strength. I know it sounds insane but I know this team and these guys and this has the capability to be a special team. It is not crazy logic to say that if the defense improves just to being average that we are now a GOOD team.

The last thing left to do is compare last years schedule to this years. Because I am obviously making some assumptions and opinions above, I am using that context to compare last year to 2023.

Week 1- @ Florida Atlantic- Obviously we are probably going to lose and maybe lose big. Coach from Texas, tons of transfers, speed, etc etc, Just not a good matchup. May as well be playing Penn State or something b/c people think FAU sucks but they do not.

Week 2 - @Towson- They prob are pumped. Finished year well, beat us last year, new coach and will also be coming off a probable loss to FBS. We will know immediately if what I think is true b/c if we lose this game I think it is over. Yes, I think week 2 is a must win.

Week 3- Campbell at home- The Camels who have like 30 FBS transfers and a dozen 3 and 4 star recruits, the top FCS recruiting class for like 2 years and a team we routinely beat. But now they have a chip on shoulder. VERY tough game. IF we come out of this 2-1, take it to the bank we are going to the playoffs.

Week 4- @ Lafayette- IMO, the most under the radar FCS team. These guys are actually good. Legit defense. Decent atmosphere and good coaching. Another tough game where you get no credit for winning but lose and you must suck. Not easy.

Week 5 and 6. Home games against Lehigh and Hampton. Lehigh we win. Period. Hampton better than people think.

Week 7 and 8- on the road against Elon and William and Mary. If we made it to this point still in the hunt, these two weeks will tell the tale. Have to win one of them.

Week 9 - Stony Brook home- I do not overlook anyone, but again how has the season gone up until this point? If in the hunt, we do not let down.

Week 10- UNH at home- A good UNH team who I think will be even better.

Week 11- @ Albany - anyone's guess.


So I ask- is it really crazy to say we beat Towson and Campbell to be 2-1. Then beat Lehigh and Lafayette and Hampton to be 5-1? Maybe pull off an upset over Elon riding the momentum , lose to W&M to be 6-2? Lets even say we are 5-3. It leaves UNH, Stony Brook and Albany. UNH is good but that is winnable. Can we be playing at Albany in the last week for the 8th win and possible playoff berth? Why not? I think so. In fact I think the schedule shapes up great for us. You heard it here first- Monmouth is going to surprise The CAA this year and be a 7 or 8 win team.

I am one of the degens that read this. Great work and this really has me wondering what the Hawks will look like this Fall. And to be honest, teams like A&T, Campbell, and Monmouth are likely a reason why there will be a logjam in the conference. Whoever wins 7 or 8 conference games here should be a lock for a top-4 seed.

All 3 should have enough talent to compete week-in and week-out in the Coastal. However, all 3 have major questions (A&T; new coach, new QB, key interior def pieces lost - Monmouth; Questionable Defense, new QB - Campbell; chemistry issues, offensive play calling, defensive depth)

All of us could end up 2-6 or mess around and win 5+ games in the conference. Odds are one team will finish 2-6, another 4-4, with the luckiest one 6-2. Hopefully, the Aggies aren't the ones with the shortest straw here. Thankfully, Fall Camp starts Monday for us.

Good luck this season.

[caribbeanhen]

Question for CAA fans bit in particular for Aggie and Hawks

Are your practices open to the public and do you or fans ever attend ?

Delaware always had open practices but as of last year, not any more.

[Dane96]

This is the first time in a long-time that I truly believe the polls are off with respect to Albany. I do believe they have significantly more "real" talent than anytime in the last 4-8 years. If this team does not get over the hump, then it is squarely on the coaching staff. (Unless there are some freak injuries). I think we did very, very well in the portal this year and last year's guys are experience. We have a better group of the true Jr. / Sr. guys then in the past. I don't think the defense is the best we've had however, the offense should hum so long as the line gels.

[caribbeanhen]

This is the first time in a long-time that I truly believe the polls are off with respect to Albany. I do believe they have significantly more "real" talent than anytime in the last 4-8 years. If this team does not get over the hump, then it is squarely on the coaching staff. (Unless there are some freak injuries). I think we did very, very well in the portal this year and last year's guys are experience. We have a better group of the true Jr. / Sr. guys then in the past. I don't think the defense is the best we've had however, the offense should hum so long as the line gels.

little surprised to see an Auburn quarterback transfer, considering your quarterback is first team all CAA preseason selection on Phil Steel


Trey Lindsey (QB)
Auburn
Albany


Caden Burti (WR)
Marshall
Albany


Levi Wentz (WR)
Old Dominion
Albany


MarQeese Dietz (WR)
Old Dominion
Albany


DaeSean Winston (DB)
Temple
Albany


Mike Coleman (DB)
Toledo
Albany


Faysal Aden (RB)
Utah
Albany

[Dane96]

little surprised to see an Auburn quarterback transfer, considering your quarterback is first team all CAA preseason selection on Phil Steel


Trey Lindsey (QB)
Auburn
Albany


Caden Burti (WR)
Marshall
Albany


Levi Wentz (WR)
Old Dominion
Albany


MarQeese Dietz (WR)
Old Dominion
Albany


DaeSean Winston (DB)
Temple
Albany


Mike Coleman (DB)
Toledo
Albany


Faysal Aden (RB)
Utah
Albany





The list isn't fully accurate....definitely more guys. Comments:

All those guys are expected to be impact guys, especially the WRs who are going to give Poff deep targets. Our DB's were our biggest weakness, and both defensive transfers plus Aamir Hall and Billy Hackett (specifically Winston who will be S and Hall who was very, very good for Richmond) will shore that up. The Auburn QB is a nice pickup. He really saw no time at Auburn, however he's very solid and similar to Poff. This is pure speculation however, I presume that his recruitment had a lot to do with Poff's style of play, which is very Tom Flacco-esque. He's going to take hits and there would have been a drop off if he was injured. Trey Lindsey is a good single-year back up for that scenario. Albany is actively recruiting 2024 QBs even though we have two RS Frosh on the roster, both on the smaller side. I think both of those kids are lower end CAA and the goal is to get two more out of Poff and groom a starter for after him. The Auburn kid fills that gap.

The WR group is so good, Albany had a bunch of really solid guys transfer out. Burti, Wentz, Dietz, Hicks, Alexander, and Parker, form a really deep group that may be the CAA"s deepest.

Looks like the RB position will be a three headed trio of Aden (who reminds the staff of Mofor), Lopez, and either Woodell or Alexander. All three are shifty, with Aden being the prototypical banger that Gattuso loves.

Sam Hogan, a transfer from Utah St. is here to shore up the PK game.

[caribbeanhen]

Nice summary 96

That was just the FBS to FCS transfer list taken from hero sports, I saw a few more FCS to FCS transfers though

[KPSUL]

I want a thread where MUHAWKS and Reignofterrier discuss a possible playoff game betweem Monmouth and Wofford!xrotatehx

Yeah, it could be interesting! But it would be a long one, even if they each posted once.

[Tribe4SF]

The list isn't fully accurate....definitely more guys. Comments:

All those guys are expected to be impact guys, especially the WRs who are going to give Poff deep targets. Our DB's were our biggest weakness, and both defensive transfers plus Aamir Hall and Billy Hackett (specifically Winston who will be S and Hall who was very, very good for Richmond) will shore that up. The Auburn QB is a nice pickup. He really saw no time at Auburn, however he's very solid and similar to Poff. This is pure speculation however, I presume that his recruitment had a lot to do with Poff's style of play, which is very Tom Flacco-esque. He's going to take hits and there would have been a drop off if he was injured. Trey Lindsey is a good single-year back up for that scenario. Albany is actively recruiting 2024 QBs even though we have two RS Frosh on the roster, both on the smaller side. I think both of those kids are lower end CAA and the goal is to get two more out of Poff and groom a starter for after him. The Auburn kid fills that gap.

The WR group is so good, Albany had a bunch of really solid guys transfer out. Burti, Wentz, Dietz, Hicks, Alexander, and Parker, form a really deep group that may be the CAA"s deepest.

Looks like the RB position will be a three headed trio of Aden (who reminds the staff of Mofor), Lopez, and either Woodell or Alexander. All three are shifty, with Aden being the prototypical banger that Gattuso loves.

Sam Hogan, a transfer from Utah St. is here to shore up the PK game.

Dietz was originally committed to W&M but backed off in July of 2020. His academic profile was borderline for us and we all assumed he decided it was best to look elsewhere. Hard worker who had five catches for ODU.

[WestCoastAggie]

Question for CAA fans bit in particular for Aggie and Hawks

Are your practices open to the public and do you or fans ever attend ?

Delaware always had open practices but as of last year, not any more.
I’ll find out Monday. Under Washington, most practices were closed. However, Brown did open up practices this spring to alumni and the public who registered, IIRC.

I think the fall practices will be the same way. We’ll see…

[KPSUL]

The list isn't fully accurate....definitely more guys. Comments:

All those guys are expected to be impact guys, especially the WRs who are going to give Poff deep targets. Our DB's were our biggest weakness, and both defensive transfers plus Aamir Hall and Billy Hackett (specifically Winston who will be S and Hall who was very, very good for Richmond) will shore that up. The Auburn QB is a nice pickup. He really saw no time at Auburn, however he's very solid and similar to Poff. This is pure speculation however, I presume that his recruitment had a lot to do with Poff's style of play, which is very Tom Flacco-esque. He's going to take hits and there would have been a drop off if he was injured. Trey Lindsey is a good single-year back up for that scenario. Albany is actively recruiting 2024 QBs even though we have two RS Frosh on the roster, both on the smaller side. I think both of those kids are lower end CAA and the goal is to get two more out of Poff and groom a starter for after him. The Auburn kid fills that gap.

The WR group is so good, Albany had a bunch of really solid guys transfer out. Burti, Wentz, Dietz, Hicks, Alexander, and Parker, form a really deep group that may be the CAA"s deepest.

Looks like the RB position will be a three headed trio of Aden (who reminds the staff of Mofor), Lopez, and either Woodell or Alexander. All three are shifty, with Aden being the prototypical banger that Gattuso loves.

Sam Hogan, a transfer from Utah St. is here to shore up the PK game.

This guy Aden has got to be long shot. He walked on at Utah, 2019 and was redshirted, and a roster player 2020, 2021, 2022 but had 0 carries for 0 yards in 3 seasons. Sibley was an excellent get for Albany last season - he had meaningful playing time for Pitt; maybe he'll surprise, but starting out, Aden is not even in the same category.

Your three incoming WR from FBS programs have a total of 6 college receptions between them, and Dietz, the youngest, has 5 of them. I'd still put these guys in the "have potential" category. Alexander, Parker and Hicks are all proven FCS WRs, but there are a lot of 2023 teams in the CAA that have very deep WR corps. TE Greaney was Poff's #1 target vs UNH and I believe he is still on an NFL roster. So that's got to be some big receiving yards to replace.

[caribbeanhen]

Yeah, it could be interesting! But it would be a long one, even if they each posted once.

or even twice xcoffeex

[caribbeanhen]

listen

Do you hear that?

I’m asking Aggie, MUHAWKS and Dane96 if they can hear it

Listen closer… I’m hearing the distant beat of a song but I just can’t focus in on the name yet

The melody is derived from reading all the wide-eyed innocence that was on display yesterday

ahhh wait a minute I can hear it now…. Here it goes

I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known
But it’s home to me, and so I walk alone I walk alone

I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams
It passes close to Al bun knee
where they tell you everything is free

I drive alone don’t need a loan

The boulevard passes through New Jer a see
more specifically a park named Ass Bear e
on the boardwalk what do you see
Reminds of the 19 Twant Ta ties

I get back inside my car, the CAA boulevard stretches very far
and then it dawned on me
I don’t know where is A Tea and tee
but one thing I am sure

it’s near the boulevard of broken dreams

[MR. CHICKEN]

I am one of the degens that read this. Great work and this really has me wondering what the Hawks will look like this Fall. And to be honest, teams like A&T, Campbell, and Monmouth are likely a reason why there will be a logjam in the conference. Whoever wins 7 or 8 conference games here should be a lock for a top-4 seed.

All 3 should have enough talent to compete week-in and week-out in the Coastal. However, all 3 have major questions (A&T; new coach, new QB, key interior def pieces lost - Monmouth; Questionable Defense, new QB - Campbell; chemistry issues, offensive play calling, defensive depth)

All of us could end up 2-6 or mess around and win 5+ games in the conference. Odds are one team will finish 2-6, another 4-4, with the luckiest one 6-2. Hopefully, the Aggies aren't the ones with the shortest straw here. Thankfully, Fall Camp starts Monday for us.

Good luck this season.


.....NOBADAH....FROM CAA...GETS TOP 4 SEED.....'LESS......BILL & MARE......TRIP UP....VIRGINIA....OR.....NH.....GETS BAH DEY'RE .....MAC DATE.......xsmhx.....BRAWK!

[MR. CHICKEN]

This guy Aden has got to be long shot. He walked on at Utah, 2019 and was redshirted, and a roster player 2020, 2021, 2022 but had 0 carries for 0 yards in 3 seasons. Sibley was an excellent get for Albany last season - he had meaningful playing time for Pitt; maybe he'll surprise, but starting out, Aden is not even in the same category.

Your three incoming WR from FBS programs have a total of 6 college receptions between them, and Dietz, the youngest, has 5 of them. I'd still put these guys in the "have potential" category. Alexander, Parker and Hicks are all proven FCS WRs, but there are a lot of 2023 teams in the CAA that have very deep WR corps. TE Greaney was Poff's #1 target vs UNH and I believe he is still on an NFL roster. So that's got to be some big receiving yards to replace.

.....DANE FAN.....SAYS HE'S UH BANGER......DID HE WALK INTA AN OPEN LOCKER DOOR?.........BRAWK??

[MR. CHICKEN]

......WELP CAA LADS......TIME TA ADDRESS....DUH ELEPHANT......IN DUH WHITNEY CENTER.......BLUEHEN DEFENSE!

....UH PATCH WORK UH.....2nd STRINGERS......D-2.........AN' UH COUPLE UH REAL.....DEFENDERS!........HENS HAD UH FORMIDIBLE ONE LAST SEASON....AN' MANAGED TA GO 4-4 IN CONFERENCE.......AH WATCHED 'EM MAKE DUH OFFENSE LOOK GOOD IN DUH SPRING GAME....BAH BEIN'....OUTTAH POSITION......AN' GRABBIN' AIR......WHOA NELLY!

...DELAWARE DID ZERO IN UPGRADIN' O LINE....STANDIN' PAT.....WHIFF DUH SAME CUDDLY.....ROLY POLYS........AWK!

....WE GOT DUH AMIGOS....AN' RB'S.......BUT QB IS AS UNKNOWN........AS.....LIFE ON OTHERAH PLANETS?

......CARTY........GETS A+....FO' UPGRADIN' FG ATTEMPTS.....THAT COSTED US....UH DUBBYA OR TWO.....BRAWK!

.....WHOM SOLD OOURAH SOUL.....TA HAPPY VALLEY....FO' DUH....400K?.........AWQ!

...NOT UH DREAMER......LIKES........ALBANY/MONMOUTH/A&T....AH'VE SEEN 'NUFF PIGGY.....TA KNOW.....WE GOTTAH CIRCLE DUH WAGONS........BAWK!

.....UPSIDE IS CAA SKED......HAS MO' COOKIES.....DAN.......BING'S BAKERY........&....WHIFF SOME CRAZY LUCK......AGIN ONE....UH...NH/'NOVA/ELON.....MAYBE WE BACK INTA.....DUH DANCE.....WHIFF OURAH ATTENDANCE ADVANTAGE.....AWQ!

..........QUESTION IS.......IS MAIN STREET.....GONNA BE DUH BLVD.....DIS SEASON.........BRAWK!


.....SEE DREAMERS....DIS IS WHAT....AN HONEST.....TEAM CRITIQUE......SHOOD LOOK LIKE.............DOODLE-DOO!

[MUHAWKS]

I am one of the degens that read this. Great work and this really has me wondering what the Hawks will look like this Fall. And to be honest, teams like A&T, Campbell, and Monmouth are likely a reason why there will be a logjam in the conference. Whoever wins 7 or 8 conference games here should be a lock for a top-4 seed.

All 3 should have enough talent to compete week-in and week-out in the Coastal. However, all 3 have major questions (A&T; new coach, new QB, key interior def pieces lost - Monmouth; Questionable Defense, new QB - Campbell; chemistry issues, offensive play calling, defensive depth)

All of us could end up 2-6 or mess around and win 5+ games in the conference. Odds are one team will finish 2-6, another 4-4, with the luckiest one 6-2. Hopefully, the Aggies aren't the ones with the shortest straw here. Thankfully, Fall Camp starts Monday for us.

Good luck this season.

Thank you brother- to you as well.. yeah Campbell is the fkin mystery of a lifetime.. Heard the same stuff when we played them in the BS - all these stud players, speed and recruits..one day though they may put it together.. scary maybe?

[MUHAWKS]

Question for CAA fans bit in particular for Aggie and Hawks

Are your practices open to the public and do you or fans ever attend ?

Delaware always had open practices but as of last year, not any more.

always have been but as you can surmise not too many there- local press will come on certain days and some die hard parents-- always some NFL scouts rolling though.. Basically- we have never had the issue of having to have a policy b/c at most there will be 20-30 people on non scrimmage days.. Live scrimmages there are always decent amount..

[MUHAWKS]

This is the first time in a long-time that I truly believe the polls are off with respect to Albany. I do believe they have significantly more "real" talent than anytime in the last 4-8 years. If this team does not get over the hump, then it is squarely on the coaching staff. (Unless there are some freak injuries). I think we did very, very well in the portal this year and last year's guys are experience. We have a better group of the true Jr. / Sr. guys then in the past. I don't think the defense is the best we've had however, the offense should hum so long as the line gels.

I am one of the people who always feel Albany is full of talent and very close to being legit. Cat put my finger on whats missing but I respect The Danes for sure..Seem to always be competitive, but like we found out last year, its a lot easier to "lose good" than it is to win ugly..

[KPSUL]

I am one of the people who always feel Albany is full of talent and very close to being legit. Cat put my finger on whats missing but I respect The Danes for sure..Seem to always be competitive, but like we found out last year, its a lot easier to "lose good" than it is to win ugly..

It's not what's missing that's wrong with Albany, it's what IS there:

32891

[MUHAWKS]

listen

Do you hear that?

I’m asking Aggie, MUHAWKS and Dane96 if they can hear it

Listen closer… I’m hearing the distant beat of a song but I just can’t focus in on the name yet

The melody is derived from reading all the wide-eyed innocence that was on display yesterday

ahhh wait a minute I can hear it now…. Here it goes

I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known
But it’s home to me, and so I walk alone I walk alone

I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams
It passes close to Al bun knee
where they tell you everything is free

I drive alone don’t need a loan

The boulevard passes through New Jer a see
more specifically a park named Ass Bear e
on the boardwalk what do you see
Reminds of the 19 Twant Ta ties

I get back inside my car, the CAA boulevard stretches very far
and then it dawned on me
I don’t know where is A Tea and tee
but one thing I am sure

it’s near the boulevard of broken dreams

LOL! LOVE IT! Would be less fun without the doubters!!!

[MUHAWKS]

It's not what's missing that's wrong with Albany, it's what IS there:

32891

GREAT point...

[MUHAWKS]

@KPSUL and whoever- As I understand it, UNH has everyone back for the most part right? I know Laube, Brosner and Silver back which is bad enough (for opponents) but in general how many total starters or quasi starters back?

[caribbeanhen]

LOL! LOVE IT! Would be less fun without the doubters!!!

I can always count on you MUHAWKS… my favorite dreamer haha

Thinking about continuing the boulevard of broken dreams song into the season and it will be making all the appropriate stops, including Portsmouth, New Hampshire and unfortunately as the sage Mr Chicken already alluded to….. Newark, Delaware because that boulevard is under construction

The Colonial city in the Commonwealth of Virginia looks safe right now, but we will see soon enough

[KPSUL]

@KPSUL and whoever- As I understand it, UNH has everyone back for the most part right? I know Laube, Brosner and Silver back which is bad enough (for opponents) but in general how many total starters or quasi starters back?

Brosmer and Laube, as well as the other two RB that carried the ball last season. Brosmer is backed up by another Georgia HS QB who is more of a running threat than Max B but does not have the same pocket savvy. Kyle Lepkowski - CAA Pre-Season All Conf TE. 3 of the top 4 WRs to include All Conference Joey Corcoran. 9 of the 10 2-deep from the 2022 OL, although we did graduate the only 2022 All-Conference O-Lineman. #1 Punter and Placekicker are back. On defense we lost a 3 year starter at DT - probably the most significant loss to the team, although all the other guys who played any DT are back and we have a ginormous 345 lbs DT coming off redshirt. We not only have Silver coming back at DE, also Dylan Ruiz who had more sacks last year than Josiah and is the #10 ranked Hero Sports returning D-Lineman in FCS. (Josiah Silver was #2) All the 2022 LBs are returning, plus Oleh Manzyk is returning after missing more than a season due to injury. Every 2-deep Defensive Back and Safety from 2022, except one, has returned.

To put this in perspective, we could only sign 4 new recruits this past winter and we brought in 2 transfers, one at TE to replace the #2 2021-22 TE, and a WR grad transfer from Div 3 Wesleyan. (they may be working with 1 or 2 more possible transfers).

[MUHAWKS]

Brosmer and Laube, as well as the other two RB that carried the ball last season. Brosmer is backed up by another Georgia HS QB who is more of a running threat than Max B but does not have the same pocket savvy. Kyle Lepkowski - CAA Pre-Season All Conf TE. 3 of the top 4 WRs to include All Conference Joey Corcoran. 9 of the 10 2-deep from the 2022 OL, although we did graduate the only 2022 All-Conference O-Lineman. #1 Punter and Placekicker are back. On defense we lost a 3 year starter at DT - probably the most significant loss to the team, although all the other guys who played any DT are back and we have a ginormous 345 lbs DT coming off redshirt. We not only have Silver coming back at DE, also Dylan Ruiz who had more sacks last year than Josiah and is the #10 ranked Hero Sports returning D-Lineman in FCS. (Josiah Silver was #2) All the 2022 LBs are returning, plus Oleh Manzyk is returning after missing more than a season due to injury. Every 2-deep Defensive Back and Safety from 2022 has returned.

To put this in perspective, we could only sign 4 new recruits this past winter and we brought in 2 transfers, one at TE to replace the #2 2021-22 TE, and a WR grad transfer from Div 3 Wesleyan. (they may be working with 1 or 2 more possible transfers).

Geezus..I know "expectations" are sometimes the enemy but wow- this is with a new and good coach with a year under belt and a team who sort of leared/knows how to win- Great fo you guys, that is impressive.

[MUHAWKS]

I can always count on you MUHAWKS… my favorite dreamer haha

Thinking about continuing the boulevard of broken dreams song into the season and it will be making all the appropriate stops, including Portsmouth, New Hampshire and unfortunately as the sage Mr Chicken already alluded to….. Newark, Delaware because that boulevard is under construction

The Colonial city in the Commonwealth of Virginia looks safe right now, but we will see soon enough

brother- I legit was like a kid on Christmas (does christmas offend anyone lol) morning when we first made the playoffs in 2017. In 2019 I actually stayed down by the school the night before the game even though I lived an hour drive away bc I wanted to soak it in. I was tailgating for the HC home playoff game at 7 am. The next week was JMU. I had surgery on Wednesday (relatively minor but required a catheter)-- not sure if you have ever had to have a catheter but it fkin sux! I drove to JMU Friday with my gf at the time with a catheter! Was not going to miss that game. The night before the game in the team hotel bar we had about 50 MU people hammered all chanting "Lets Go Monmouth"-- HC poked his head in and got a 3 minute standing Ovation. That meant a lot to us to even be on that stage. I was a member of the team from 1997-2000 so my first year was the last year of the literal first players ever at MU. So I have seen us go from FCS in name only on scholly, to limited scholly getting smoked by Patriot teams to a few years later smoking them and then The Big South and playing top 20 teams, then finally full scholly, 3 playoff trips, multiple NFL guys and now The CAA. We all had this vision for the program even back in the 1990's - I can assure you Coach Callahan did-- It is like family to me and to have the same HC there and multiple coaches there for years and see the growth is one of the most fun things in my life, especially being a part of it so early and watching it grow. I take it probably too seriously but I truly love Monmouth Football, I love Coach Cal and I love my boys from years past and ow getting to know all these parents and just the whole thing. what can I say man? I am hooked and it would mean the world to me to truly compete nationally in the CAA. I am probably too invested in it but there are worse things for sure!! Its also awesome to have some cool folks here who actually understand wtf I am talking about..

[caribbeanhen]

brother- I legit was like a kid on Christmas (does christmas offend anyone lol) morning when we first made the playoffs in 2017. In 2019 I actually stayed down by the school the night before the game even though I lived an hour drive away bc I wanted to soak it in. I was tailgating for the HC home playoff game at 7 am. The next week was JMU. I had surgery on Wednesday (relatively minor but required a catheter)-- not sure if you have ever had to have a catheter but it fkin sux! I drove to JMU Friday with my gf at the time with a catheter! Was not going to miss that game. The night before the game in the team hotel bar we had about 50 MU people hammered all chanting "Lets Go Monmouth"-- HC poked his head in and got a 3 minute standing Ovation. That meant a lot to us to even be on that stage. I was a member of the team from 1997-2000 so my first year was the last year of the literal first players ever at MU. So I have seen us go from FCS in name only on scholly, to limited scholly getting smoked by Patriot teams to a few years later smoking them and then The Big South and playing top 20 teams, then finally full scholly, 3 playoff trips, multiple NFL guys and now The CAA. We all had this vision for the program even back in the 1990's - I can assure you Coach Callahan did-- It is like family to me and to have the same HC there and multiple coaches there for years and see the growth is one of the most fun things in my life, especially being a part of it so early and watching it grow. I take it probably too seriously but I truly love Monmouth Football, I love Coach Cal and I love my boys from years past and ow getting to know all these parents and just the whole thing. what can I say man? I am hooked and it would mean the world to me to truly compete nationally in the CAA. I am probably too invested in it but there are worse things for sure!! Its also awesome to have some cool folks here who actually understand wtf I am talking about..

Holy moly don’t tell anyone but I think Monmouth is becoming my Plan B team in the CAA

Anyone that drives that far to a football game with a catheter, I know what they are lol, is one hell of a fan

[WestCoastAggie]

https://twitter.com/NCATFootball/status/1685814498521690112

[MUHAWKS]

https://twitter.com/NCATFootball/status/1685814498521690112

This is NOT good for other CAA up and comers- b/c this guy is solid and comes from a winning program where he had a significant role.. I like him..and A&T already had talent..

[caribbeanhen]

https://twitter.com/NCATFootball/status/1685814498521690112

looking forward to seeing some hi lights of some AT & T players!! Had to defend your team on gohens the other day Aggie

[KPSUL]

Holy moly don’t tell anyone but I think Monmouth is becoming my Plan B team in the CAA

Anyone that drives that far to a football game with a catheter, I know what they are lol, is one hell of a fan

Amen to that!

[KPSUL]

https://twitter.com/NCATFootball/status/1685814498521690112e

Definitely the right vision to be competitive in this conference!

[MUHAWKS]

Amen to that!

extremely uncomfortable- even when bladder empty felt like had to pee and if moved to quick, well OUCH! pulling over on various highways to "empty the bag" was fun though..

[CenMEBlackBearFan]

extremely uncomfortable- even when bladder empty felt like had to pee and if moved to quick, well OUCH! pulling over on various highways to "empty the bag" was fun though..

OK MUHAWKS, you win the tough mudder football fan. I had a catheter this past year and I could barely go from the couch to bathroom, no way I would have attended a football game!!!

[caribbeanhen]

The list isn't fully accurate....definitely more guys. Comments:

All those guys are expected to be impact guys, especially the WRs who are going to give Poff deep targets. Our DB's were our biggest weakness, and both defensive transfers plus Aamir Hall and Billy Hackett (specifically Winston who will be S and Hall who was very, very good for Richmond) will shore that up. The Auburn QB is a nice pickup. He really saw no time at Auburn, however he's very solid and similar to Poff. This is pure speculation however, I presume that his recruitment had a lot to do with Poff's style of play, which is very Tom Flacco-esque. He's going to take hits and there would have been a drop off if he was injured. Trey Lindsey is a good single-year back up for that scenario. Albany is actively recruiting 2024 QBs even though we have two RS Frosh on the roster, both on the smaller side. I think both of those kids are lower end CAA and the goal is to get two more out of Poff and groom a starter for after him. The Auburn kid fills that gap.

The WR group is so good, Albany had a bunch of really solid guys transfer out. Burti, Wentz, Dietz, Hicks, Alexander, and Parker, form a really deep group that may be the CAA"s deepest.

Looks like the RB position will be a three headed trio of Aden (who reminds the staff of Mofor), Lopez, and either Woodell or Alexander. All three are shifty, with Aden being the prototypical banger that Gattuso loves.

Sam Hogan, a transfer from Utah St. is here to shore up the PK game.

Poffenbarger is good and makes plays

first team All CAA QB so Albany did right getting him some more WRs

https://philsteele.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-FCS-CAA-Team.pdf

as too your opinion on Albany WRs being deepest group in CAA, just call me skeptical based on what Delaware has coming back and coming in.

Now who will be throwing to these guys is anybodies guess right now

Carty brought in an athletic type JUCO transfer from an Iowa school, Zach Marker, to challenge last year’s serviceable back up Ryan O’Conner

Im thinking they both will see playing time but one needs to emerge as the better one.

practice starts today

[KPSUL]

......WELP CAA LADS......TIME TA ADDRESS....DUH ELEPHANT......IN DUH WHITNEY CENTER.......BLUEHEN DEFENSE!

....UH PATCH WORK UH.....2nd STRINGERS......D-2.........AN' UH COUPLE UH REAL.....DEFENDERS!........HENS HAD UH FORMIDIBLE ONE LAST SEASON....AN' MANAGED TA GO 4-4 IN CONFERENCE.......AH WATCHED 'EM MAKE DUH OFFENSE LOOK GOOD IN DUH SPRING GAME....BAH BEIN'....OUTTAH POSITION......AN' GRABBIN' AIR......WHOA NELLY!

...DELAWARE DID ZERO IN UPGRADIN' O LINE....STANDIN' PAT.....WHIFF DUH SAME CUDDLY.....ROLY POLYS........AWK!

....WE GOT DUH AMIGOS....AN' RB'S.......BUT QB IS AS UNKNOWN........AS.....LIFE ON OTHERAH PLANETS?

......CARTY........GETS A+....FO' UPGRADIN' FG ATTEMPTS.....THAT COSTED US....UH DUBBYA OR TWO.....BRAWK!

.....WHOM SOLD OOURAH SOUL.....TA HAPPY VALLEY....FO' DUH....400K?.........AWQ!

...NOT UH DREAMER......LIKES........ALBANY/MONMOUTH/A&T....AH'VE SEEN 'NUFF PIGGY.....TA KNOW.....WE GOTTAH CIRCLE DUH WAGONS........BAWK!

.....UPSIDE IS CAA SKED......HAS MO' COOKIES.....DAN.......BING'S BAKERY........&....WHIFF SOME CRAZY LUCK......AGIN ONE....UH...NH/'NOVA/ELON.....MAYBE WE BACK INTA.....DUH DANCE.....WHIFF OURAH ATTENDANCE ADVANTAGE.....AWQ!

..........QUESTION IS.......IS MAIN STREET.....GONNA BE DUH BLVD.....DIS SEASON.........BRAWK!


.....SEE DREAMERS....DIS IS WHAT....AN HONEST.....TEAM CRITIQUE......SHOOD LOOK LIKE.............DOODLE-DOO!

Based on your analysis, that's got to be a very small elephant youse guys got over in da Whitney Center. But Delaware fans are masters of the sandbag, so we'll see.

[KPSUL]

.....NOBADAH....FROM CAA...GETS TOP 4 SEED.....'LESS......BILL & MARE......TRIP UP....VIRGINIA....OR.....NH.....GETS BAH DEY'RE .....MAC DATE.......xsmhx.....BRAWK!

You may be right, although depending how other FCS teams fare, an FBS loss and 10-0 in FCS might get any CAA team a top 4 seed.

[FUBeAR]

You may be right, although depending how other FCS teams fare, an FBS loss and 10-0 in FCS might get any CAA team a top 4 seed.
May work for a CAA Team. Sure as heck doesn't even come close to working for SoCon Teams...



2022 Samford Football Schedule


9/1
Kennesaw State (https://fbschedules.com/2022-kennesaw-state-football-schedule/)
W 27-17


9/10
at FBS Defending & went on to be Current National Champion, Georgia (https://fbschedules.com/2022-georgia-football-schedule/) - SAMFORD'S ONLY LOSS - not some random FBS G5 loss and Samford played Georgia closer than some SEC Teams.
L 33-0


9/17
at Tennessee Tech (https://fbschedules.com/2022-tennessee-tech-football-schedule/)
W 33-28


9/24
Western Carolina (https://fbschedules.com/2022-western-carolina-football-schedule/)
W 35-12


10/1
at Furman (https://fbschedules.com/2022-furman-football-schedule/)
W 34-27


10/8
Wofford (https://fbschedules.com/2022-wofford-football-schedule/)
W 28-14


10/22
at ETSU (https://fbschedules.com/2022-etsu-football-schedule/)
W 55-45


10/29
at The Citadel (https://fbschedules.com/2022-the-citadel-football-schedule/)
W 38-3


11/5
VMI (https://fbschedules.com/2022-vmi-football-schedule/)
W 34-15


11/12
at Chattanooga (https://fbschedules.com/2022-chattanooga-football-schedule/)
W 35-24


11/19
Mercer (https://fbschedules.com/2022-mercer-football-schedule/)
W 50-44(2OT)


.
Losing 1 game to the FBS National Champion and going 10-0 in FCS gets the SoCon Champion a #6 Seed, but, hey, guess that's better than the #7 Seed 10-1 SoCon Champ, ETSU, with an FBS SEC win, drew in 2021.

Ridiculous.


#DefundTheCommittee

[KPSUL]

May work for a CAA Team. Sure as heck doesn't even come close to working for SoCon Teams...

.
Losing 1 game to the FBS National Champion and going 10-0 in FCS gets the SoCon Champion a #6 Seed

Ridiculous.




I can't disagree with you. Going 8-0 in the Socon in a season like 2022 when you had so many solid teams is an accomplishment. I'd say that Samford had an equal argument for a 3 or 4 seed when compared to the two teams that got'em. A bit of MVFC and Big Sky magic I suppose.

[WestCoastAggie]

e

Definitely the right vision to be competitive in this conference!

Hopefully, the youngins buy into the philosophical changes. He doesn't appear to run a loose ship. Things will be tight.

[FUBeAR]

I can't disagree with you.
1st time for everything


Going 8-0 in the Socon in a season like 2022 when you had so many solid teams is an accomplishment. I'd say that Samford had an equal argument for a 3 or 4 seed when compared to the two teams that got'em. A bit of MVFC and Big Sky magic I suppose.

Really can’t (and couldn’t) see a good argument for Samford not having been the #1 Seed

#1 Seed - FBS loss to 5-loss FBS and a win over a 4-loss non-schollie (D3 equivalent)

#2 Seed - FBS G5 win over horrible G5 whose only 3 wins were over even more horrible G5’s; FCS win over bad transitioning Team that was D1-winless until nearly November.

#3 Seed - Lost to FCS #1 Seed; loss to 7-Loss FBS; win over 8-loss non-schollie (D3 equivalent)

#4 Seed - 40 point loss to #17 FBS; win over 9-loss non-schollie (D3 equivalent)

#5 Seed - FBS win over horrible 9-loss G5; FCS loss to 4-loss Team later demolished by SoCon runner-up

#6 Seed - SAMFORD - Only loss to UNDEFEATED FBS SEC P5 #1 - UNDEFEATED in FCS; wins over 4 ranked FCS Teams; no sub-D1 games

[crusader11]

The BEAR is right.

[MR. CHICKEN]

You may be right, although depending how other FCS teams fare, an FBS loss and 10-0 in FCS might get any CAA team a top 4 seed.


32892

.....TIS POSSIBLE.......AH GUESS.........BUT CAA WILL BE GOIN' UP AGIN SOGONERS.....&....FLUFFERNUTTERS.........WHIFF TOUGHER STRENGTH UH SKEDS.....GONNA NEED DAT SCALP..........DOODLE-DOO!

.....WASN'T BAGGIN'..........TRESOLINI......SAID.....HENS RANKIN' IN CAA......@ 4th.....WAS UH TAD GENEROUS....SO 5 TA 6....MAYBE MO'.....REASONABLE.....MAIN STREET....IS UH ROCKY ROAD.........LITTERED WHIFF POT HOLES/LANDMINES/NAILS & BROKEN GLASS........MAH FRIEND.............AWK!

[KPSUL]

1st time for everything



Really can’t (and couldn’t) see a good argument for Samford not having been the #1 Seed

#1 Seed - FBS loss to 5-loss FBS and a win over a 4-loss non-schollie (D3 equivalent)

#2 Seed - FBS G5 win over horrible G5 whose only 3 wins were over even more horrible G5’s; FCS win over bad transitioning Team that was D1-winless until nearly November.

#3 Seed - Lost to FCS #1 Seed; loss to 7-Loss FBS; win over 8-loss non-schollie (D3 equivalent)

#4 Seed - 40 point loss to #17 FBS; win over 9-loss non-schollie (D3 equivalent)

#5 Seed - FBS win over horrible 9-loss G5; FCS loss to 4-loss Team later demolished by SoCon runner-up

#6 Seed - SAMFORD - Only loss to UNDEFEATED FBS SEC P5 #1 - UNDEFEATED in FCS; wins over 4 ranked FCS Teams; no sub-D1 games

The Samford @ Georgia game is neither a plus nor a minus for 2022 Samford. The game had all the characteristics of complete mismatch where the better team chose not to embarrass the underdog. Georgia won the 1st Down battle 25-3(not much of a battle). Georgia scored 30 of their 33 points in they first half. They spent the majority of the second half piddling between the 20 yard lines trying to eat up the clock. Georgia won ToP 40-20, 14 different players caught passes, many short tosses to RBs. 61 Georgia players participated. Samford punted 9 times. I actually wish I didn't need to point out the obvious, because no other FCS team would have fared any better against this Georgia team, although the majority of FCS teams display better judgment than Samford by not scheduling games with a perennial SEC powerhouse that prove absolutely nothing.

You disparage SDSU 7-3 loss to Iowa by reporting that Iowa lost 5 games; however, they also won 8. Also you identify all the other FBS teams you reference as G5 or P5 except for BiG10 Iowa. I am far more impressed by SDSU's 4 point loss to Iowa, than Samford's 0-33, three first down effort vs Georgia.

Sac State was undefeated in the 2022 regular season playing a schedule that included four ranked FCS teams, UNI on the road - who are always tough in the UNI Dome, and a below average FCS G5 team (CO State) whom they clobbered 41-10.

So when it comes to the #1 and #2 seeds, I can disagree with you, SDSU and Sac State had the edge over Samford.

[MR. CHICKEN]

The Samford @ Georgia game is neither a plus nor a minus for 2022 Samford. The game had all the characteristics of complete mismatch where the better team chose not to embarrass the underdog. Georgia won the 1st Down battle 25-3(not much of a battle). Georgia scored 30 of their 33 points in they first half. They spent the majority of the second half piddling between the 20 yard lines trying to eat up the clock. Georgia won ToP 40-20, 14 different players caught passes, many short tosses to RBs. 61 Georgia players participated. Samford punted 9 times. I actually wish I didn't need to point out the obvious, because no other FCS team would have fared any better against this Georgia team, although the majority of FCS teams display better judgment than Samford by not scheduling games with a perennial SEC powerhouse that prove absolutely nothing.

You disparage SDSU 7-3 loss to Iowa by reporting that Iowa lost 5 games; however, they also won 8. Also you identify all the other FBS teams you reference as G5 or P5 except for BiG10 Iowa. I am far more impressed by SDSU's 4 point loss to Iowa, than Samford's 0-33, three first down effort vs Georgia.

Sac State was undefeated in the 2022 regular season playing a schedule that included four ranked FCS teams, UNI on the road - who are always tough in the UNI Dome, and a below average FCS G5 team (CO State) whom they clobbered 41-10.

So when it comes to the #1 and #2 seeds, I can disagree with you, SDSU and Sac State had the edge over Samford.


....ATTAH BOY....HAMSHIRE.......KEEPIN' FOOBEE HONEST......IS NOT EASY...DUH LAD CAN SPIN....xsighx.....BAWK!

[FUBeAR]

You disparage SDSU 7-3 loss to Iowa by reporting that Iowa lost 5 games; however, they also won 8. Also you identify all the other FBS teams you reference as G5 or P5 except for BiG10 Iowa. I am far more impressed by SDSU's 4 point loss to Iowa, than Samford's 0-33, three first down effort vs Georgia.

Sac State was undefeated in the 2022 regular season playing a schedule that included four ranked FCS teams, UNI on the road - who are always tough in the UNI Dome, and a below average FCS G5 team (CO State) whom they clobbered 41-10.

So when it comes to the #1 and #2 seeds, I can disagree with you, SDSU and Sac State had the edge over Samford.
Colorado State - “below average FBS G5” (assuming “FCS” was a typo - perhaps it was Freudian - they are nearly below FCS average) - LOL - Massey had Colorado State finishing 5th in the SoCon….and FUBeAR thinks that was too high.

C’mon, SacSt gets 0 credit for an FBS win and they ‘lose points’ for playing a ‘transitioner’ that has 4 D1 wins in 3 seasons. Even if you throw out Samford’s solid effort (despite your statistical dissection - FUBeAR watched the game) vs. a Team that would have slapped Iowa around worse than the rag-doll-smacking they dished out to TCU because SacSt didn’t even attempt anything similar, they both were undefeated and both beat several Ranked FCS Teams. Samford gets the edge from FUBeAR because they didn’t have a walkover cupcake game like SacSt did.

Back to Iowa / SDSU - losing to a meh FBS doesn’t get SDSU any brownie points from FUBeAR. So, we’ll throw that on the ‘don’t count’ pile with Samford’s Georgia game.

Bottom Line: Both were undefeated playing tough FCS schedules. SDSU played a D3 (equivalent) game. Samford didn’t. Advantage: Samford.

Samford shoulda been #1 - could have seen as low as #3. #6 was a crime against humanity.

#DefundTheCommittee

[FUBeAR]

....ATTAH BOY....HAMSHIRE.......KEEPIN' FOOBEE HONEST......IS NOT EASY...DUH LAD CAN SPIN....xsighx.....BAWK!
Is “SPIN” Chicken-speak for “remove all the BiaS and get down to the truth?”

[caribbeanhen]

Based on your analysis, that's got to be a very small elephant youse guys got over in da Whitney Center. But Delaware fans are masters of the sandbag, so we'll see.

Nah No sandbagging

Mr C is just not a wide eyed Pollyanna like our 3 friends that starred on here this past weekend

besides some nice skill players, we honestly don’t know what we have right now.

We have a New Hampshire like schedule though, but I’m betting it’s not weak enough to get us into the playoffs this year

[rhowdyram]

Question for CAA fans bit in particular for Aggie and Hawks

Are your practices open to the public and do you or fans ever attend ?

Delaware always had open practices but as of last year, not any more.

The last few years they haven't been advertising practice dates and times, but I reached out on Twitter and was told if we call the football office ahead of time we could go to a practice. I will definitely make it a point to go to at least one practice.

[caribbeanhen]

The last few years they haven't been advertising practice dates and times, but I reached out on Twitter and was told if we call the football office ahead of time we could go to a practice. I will definitely make it a point to go to at least one practice.

Thanks for that report

Delaware sportswriter Kevin Tresolini just tweeted even the media is restricted at Delaware practices now, didn’t sound to happy about…..

[MR. CHICKEN]

....GOTTA PROTECT......DUH TRICK PLAYS......xrotatehx.....BAWK!

[caribbeanhen]

....GOTTA PROTECT......DUH TRICK PLAYS......xrotatehx.....BAWK!

Do we have any?

What I would do would be open the practice and practice a few trick plays you’re never gonna run

waste of time? Hopefully for the opponent

is KT really going to write stories that help the opponent?

[KPSUL]

Nah No sandbagging


We have a New Hampshire like schedule though, but I’m betting it’s not weak enough to get us into the playoffs this year

Delaware has a softer conference schedule than UNH this season, primarily because the Hens play their two highest ranked opponents at home (UNH,Elon) while UNH plays its two toughest on the road (DE, URI).

Campbell and NC A&T win my award for the toughest CAA conference schedules, and by a slim margin, in that order.

Good luck in Happy Valley!

[caribbeanhen]

Delaware has a softer conference schedule than UNH this season, primarily because the Hens play their two highest ranked opponents at home (UNH,Elon) while UNH plays its two toughest on the road (DE, URI).

Campbell and NC A&T win my award for the toughest CAA conference schedules, and by a slim margin, in that order.

Good luck in Happy Valley!

Thanks but that’s a game I will make no effort to watch

[MR. CHICKEN]

.....PENN STATE WEB.....SAYS GAME ON PEACOCK.......DON'T HAVE IT........SO IT'S RADIO....FO' UH QUARTER OR SO....(SHOOD BE OVERAH BAH THEN)...............BAWK!

[ncspiderfan]

Question for CAA fans bit in particular for Aggie and Hawks

Are your practices open to the public and do you or fans ever attend ?

Delaware always had open practices but as of last year, not any more.

Missed this a few days ago when you posted it, but the answer is all Spider practices open to the public. I do not attend as I am indeed an nc spider fan.
A few guys in the past have posted a time or two on our board about things and players they noticed in practice, so i feel sure a few go out from time to time to watch.

[ncspiderfan]

Delaware has a softer conference schedule than UNH this season, primarily because the Hens play their two highest ranked opponents at home (UNH,Elon) while UNH plays its two toughest on the road (DE, URI).

Campbell and NC A&T win my award for the toughest CAA conference schedules, and by a slim margin, in that order.

Good luck in Happy Valley!

I would say Maine, with William and Mary, Richmond and UNH on road and RI at home. As a sidebar NDSU as a tune up game (I hope they got paid or a return game).
honorable mention to Elon with Nova, Hens, and Spiders on road and William and Mary at home.

Been sayings for a while with all the adds I see a good chance an 8-3 CAA team gets left out come playoff time, due to not having a good body of work.

[MR. CHICKEN]

Missed this a few days ago when you posted it, but the answer is all Spider practices open to the public. I do not attend as I am indeed an nc spider fan.
A few guys in the past have posted a time or two on our board about things and players they noticed in practice, so i feel sure a few go out from time to time to watch.


........NONCHALANT.......xconfusedx.......BRAWK?

[MR. CHICKEN]

I would say Maine, with William and Mary, Richmond and UNH on road and RI at home. As a sidebar NDSU as a tune up game (I hope they got paid or a return game).

honorable mention to Elon with Nova, Hens, and Spiders on road and William and Mary at home.

Been sayings for a while with all the adds I see a good chance an 8-3 CAA team gets left out come playoff time, due to not having a good body of work.

....JES' TOOK UH [email protected] STONY BROOK's...DEATH DEFYIN' SKED....AN' DUH BYE.....COMES LAST DAY UH REGULAR SEASON.............xbawlingx...................... .....................DOODLE-DOO-DOO!

8/31..........DELAWARE
9/[email protected] ISLAND
9/[email protected] STATE
9/23..........RICHMOND
9/[email protected]
10/[email protected] STATE
10/14........FORDHAM
10/21........NEW HAMPSHIRE
10/[email protected]
11/[email protected]
11/11........ALBANY
11/18........BYE

[caribbeanhen]

....JES' TOOK UH [email protected] STONY BROOK's...DEATH DEFYIN' SKED....AN' DUH BYE.....COMES LAST DAY UH REGULAR SEASON.............xbawlingx...................... .....................DOODLE-DOO-DOO!

8/31..........DELAWARE
9/[email protected] ISLAND
9/[email protected] STATE
9/23..........RICHMOND
9/[email protected]
10/[email protected] STATE
10/14........FORDHAM
10/21........NEW HAMPSHIRE
10/[email protected]
11/[email protected]
11/11........ALBANY
11/18........BYE


Where is Boy Wolf by the sea anyway? It could be that all the residents of Central LI are laying low out of fear the neighbor is planning to take em to the playa in a body bag

[KPSUL]

....JES' TOOK UH [email protected] STONY BROOK's...DEATH DEFYIN' SKED....AN' DUH BYE.....COMES LAST DAY UH REGULAR SEASON.............xbawlingx...................... .....................DOODLE-DOO-DOO!

8/31..........DELAWARE
9/[email protected] ISLAND
9/[email protected] STATE
9/23..........RICHMOND
9/[email protected]
10/[email protected] STATE
10/14........FORDHAM
10/21........NEW HAMPSHIRE
10/[email protected]
11/[email protected]
11/11........ALBANY
11/18........BYE

That bye on Nov 18th should really help them prepare for their likely playoff run!

I recently bought my tickets to the UNH @ Delaware game on Sept 23rd; 50% off - early "bird" sale I guess?

[MR. CHICKEN]

[QUOTE=KPSUL;3133590]That bye on Nov 18th should really help them prepare for their likely playoff run!

32896

.......TAKE 'EM SERIOUS..........REMEMBER.....NORFF CAROLINA CENTRAL.........AWK!

[KPSUL]

[QUOTE=KPSUL;3133590]That bye on Nov 18th should really help them prepare for their likely playoff run!

32895

.......TAKE 'EM SERIOUS..........REMEMBER.....NORFF CAROLINA CENTRAL.........AWK!

Couldn't open your attachment, and I'd hate to miss it!

But yeah, Stony Brook played us close in Durham last year, so good point. It will be interesting what they put on the field this year after they lost so many guys in the portal. I don't think Chuck Priore is a great game strategist, but his players always play a tough physical game. I read somewhere that for the first time he won't be calling the plays himself this season.

[KPSUL]

[QUOTE=KPSUL;3133590]That bye on Nov 18th should really help them prepare for their likely playoff run!

32896

.......TAKE 'EM SERIOUS..........REMEMBER.....NORFF CAROLINA CENTRAL.........AWK!

Got it now!

[MR. CHICKEN]

That bye on Nov 18th should really help them prepare for their likely playoff run!

I recently bought my tickets to the UNH @ Delaware game on Sept 23rd; 50% off - early "bird" sale I guess?

32898

........HMMMM!..........COUPLE TANKS UH GAS......OR.......40 MINUTES TA RECHARGE........TRUCK STOP VISITS.......MAKIN' OUT...LIKE UH BANDIT.....xthumbsupx.....DOODLE-DOO!

[caribbeanhen]

MUHAWKS, check it out… Stan Becton is a believer

https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2023-08-02/way-too-early-2023-fcs-playoff-bracket-preseason-predictions (https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2023-08-02/way-too-early-2023-fcs-playoff-bracket-preseason-predictions)

“The final CAA at-large spot goes to Monmouth. Monmouth will be one of the last teams in, but I think a strong start to the season behind recent Walter Payton Award finalist Jaden Shirden gets the Hawks into the postseason over fellow CAA teams Richmond, Elon and Villanova”

[MRuler]

My first post in a while. As a semi long suffering Albany fan (2019 seems like a lifetime ago) I am tired of hearing or reading how we lost 5 games last year by 5 - 7 points or less. This has to be at least a 6 - 7 win season IMHO to keep the current staff in place. I know we have a ton of talent and a top tier QB but this team has to learn to stop shooting themselves in the foot at the most inopportune times. Man, if our punt returner doesn't fumble away a punt to UNH when the game was tight and hung on for a win it may of been a different type of season. UNH won fair and square and was the better team (not making excuses) but the season could of taken a different direction. Anyways this is a must win season for UA.