How will YOU vote in the preseason polls?

[TCisMYhero]

I will still decline to take part in next year's poll for two reasons. One, I don't feel like I have the time to follow it as closely as you should if you are voting. Two, after only 4 years following FCS, I don't feel like I know enough to be ranking a top 25. Top 10, maybe, but not top 25. That being said, I'm curious to see what everybody's top 10 will be for the preseason?

[Woody Hayes]

1. Richmond
2. App St.
3. UNI (upsets iowa early)
4. Montana
5. New hamp (young QB)
6. JMU (loosing landers back up looked good)
7. SIU
8. Nova
9. FAMU (they have cool unis)
10. Youngstown (gotta go Valley even though they will never be 10)

[Pantherpower]

1. Richmond
2. App St.
3. UNI (upsets iowa early)
4. Montana
5. New hamp (young QB)
6. JMU (loosing landers back up looked good)
7. SIU
8. Nova
9. FAMU (they have cool unis)
10. Youngstown (gotta go Valley even though they will never be 10)

Beating Iowa would be beyond words good. Beyond words.

[WestCoastAggie]

It's too early to rank anyone right now. You don't know who is the top FCS Schools are going to gain and loose as well as we don't know who is going to emerge from nowhere.

[Big Al]

It's too early to rank anyone right now. You don't know who is the top FCS Schools are going to gain and loose as well as we don't know who is going to emerge from nowhere.

All true, but it's a long time until spring practice, much less next season, so you gotta find a way to pass the time.

[WestCoastAggie]

All true, but it's a long time until spring practice, much less next season, so you gotta find a way to pass the time.
True, True. I'm glad that College BBall is warming up.

[PantherRob82]

Gotta see who transfers in and out, injuries in the spring, dark horse up and comers....etc

[SkinsWizDukes]

I'm fairly confident that JMU can be a top 5 team and content for a national championship again next year. The only real questions for the team are LB play (lots of youth, but talented players) and a couple positions in the secondary.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I don't know who will be in the top 10 or 25, but I will say this. Appalachian State, Montana, James Madison, and Northern Iowa will ALL WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!





Damn. Forgot I'm not D1B. xlolx

[Thundar]

I don't know who will be in the top 10 or 25, but I will say this. Appalachian State, Montana, James Madison, and Northern Iowa will ALL WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!





Damn. Forgot I'm not D1B. xlolx


Don't forget about NDSUxlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Don't forget about NDSUxlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

Not worried about them. xlolx xthumbsupx

[Cleets]

1. Richmond
2. App St.
3. UNI (upsets iowa early)
4. Montana
5. New hamp (young QB)
6. JMU (loosing landers back up looked good)
7. SIU
8. Nova
9. FAMU (they have cool unis)
10. Youngstown (gotta go Valley even though they will never be 10)

How does Weber not appear on this list...
xlolx probably the 5th best team in the country at the FCS level

New Hampshire would lose to Weber by 20... xwhistlex

[OL FU]

How does Weber not appear on this list...
xlolx probably the 5th best team in the country at the FCS level

New Hampshire would lose to Weber by 20... xwhistlex

I just give all these people credit for thinking about a pre-season poll. xrotatehx

[appfan2008]

It is a long way untill we have to fill out our preseason poll... i still need to fill out my postseason version

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

I will still decline to take part in next year's poll for two reasons. One, I don't feel like I have the time to follow it as closely as you should if you are voting. Two, after only 4 years following FCS, I don't feel like I know enough to be ranking a top 25. Top 10, maybe, but not top 25. That being said, I'm curious to see what everybody's top 10 will be for the preseason?

I think I will do it this year, I haven't in the past for the reasons you stated above. If I have the time when the invites go out next year, I'll give it a go.

[FurmanPaladins4138]

#1 Furman University
#2 Greenville Technical College
#3 Wade Hampton High School

#84324 Appalachian State University

[Woody Hayes]

i could not think of anyone besides NH webber should be on there

[JALMOND]

Way too soon to think about the preseason. Spring football, recruiting, summer conditioning and fall practice all are big factors between now and then. Myself, I usually give it a rest until at least after March Madness.

[proasu89]

#1 Furman University
#2 Greenville Technical College
#3 Wade Hampton High School

#84324 Appalachian State University

Looks about right, except you left North Greenville off at # 4 xlolx

[IaaScribe]

Dayton No. 4, behind App, ahead of Sacred Heart.

[SideLine Shooter]

#1 Furman University
#2 Greenville Technical College
#3 Wade Hampton High School

#84324 Appalachian State University

Somebody Smokin Something.xnodx xnodx

[Syntax Error]

All true, but it's a long time until spring practice...FAMU starts Spring Ball in less than a month with others following closely thereafter.

[BEAR]

I think if Nathan Dick transfers to UCA then UCA will be in the top 10 this year and with a win in Hawaii, they should firmly be planted in that spot. This next year is the last year of our transition, after that it's playoff time!

[Syntax Error]

I think if Nathan Dick transfers to UCA then UCA will be in the top 10 this year and with a win in Hawaii, they should firmly be planted in that spot. This next year is the last year of our transition, after that it's playoff time!Playoff eligibility time! xthumbsupx

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

FAMU starts Spring Ball in less than a month with others following closely thereafter.

I'll get back to you in April after all the snow has melted!! xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

[McNeese75]

I think if Nathan Dick transfers to UCA then UCA will be in the top 10 this year and with a win in Hawaii, they should firmly be planted in that spot. This next year is the last year of our transition, after that it's playoff time!

xlolx Yep, that FBS QB worked out well for SHSU the last couple years.

[TexasTerror]

xlolx Yep, that FBS QB worked out well for SHSU the last couple years.

Did work in 2001 and 2004 when we had the necessary talent around. xnodx

While Bomar did not have the success that the other FBS transfers had, Bomar did set the SHSU records in so many categories. He had a successful time as an individual, just was not what we hoped for as a team.

[BEAR]

xlolx Yep, that FBS QB worked out well for SHSU the last couple years.


True. But as you will hear on the sidelines of every game at UCA, there is no "I" in "team". The whole team concept is taught, practiced, and it works for schools like McNeese, UCA, Appalachian State and obviously Richmond. xthumbsupx xlolx But I will also have to agree with TT, the poor shsu receivers had teflon gloves because nothing was sticking..xrotatehx xlolx

[bandl]

I won't be voting.

[McNeese75]

True. But as you will hear on the sidelines of every game at UCA, there is no "I" in "team". The whole team concept is taught, practiced, and it works for schools like McNeese, UCA, Appalachian State and obviously Richmond. xthumbsupx xlolx But I will also have to agree with TT, the poor shsu receivers had teflon gloves because nothing was sticking..xrotatehx xlolx

I agree as well. Mr. Bomar was the victem of some pretty poor hands on his receivers at times.

the "Team" view works well IF the tranfer buys into it. If not, you risk a loss of chemistry. That is one reason there have been very few transfers at the QB position for McNeese

[BEAR]

I just wonder if Red Boner would have had a better throwing career at another school. Defensively he took blow after blow and as the bangs increased he got longer and longer until eventually he would just throw it away. xconfusedx

[BDKJMU]

WAY TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS: Copied this from another thread with a few changes. This may not be worth the paper its written on, but neither are any of the other pre season polls from the so called "experts", so TRASH THIS AS YOU WISH.

With # of starters projected back (out of 22, going by games notes 2 deep from last game. So no one start with, "well my team actually has more/less than you stated # of starters returning because in the last game blah was hurt, and blah blah wasn't a regular starter, etc...) With the premise that starters returning + starters lost has to = 11. Some teams list 12 starters on offense, a fullback and 3 receivers, so you have to discount the 3rd receiver slot. If I was voting an 09' preseason top 25 TODAY:
1. UR (16)
2. ASU (17)
3. Villanova (16- only losses to BCS WVU, 2 nailbiters to JMU, beat UR)
4. SIU (17- and remember, they beat UNI regular season)
5. UNI (13)
6. Elon (18-despite loss to Liberty still finished 6-2 in So-Con).
7. Montana (11)
8. JMU (14 but no Landers)
9. Weber (11 but returns Higgins & Trevyn Smith)
10. UNH (13, only 5 offense and only 1 o-line returning, but Toman at QB)
11. Cent Ark (15, 9 defense. 10-2, won Southland, but playoff ineligible)
12. W&M (15 but no Phillips. Finished 7-4 in CAA South (beat UNH, lost JMU, Nova, took UR to OT in their last game).
13. SDSU (16- finished 7-5, 6-2 MVFC behind SIU & UNI.)
14. UMass (15 but no Coen)
15. EWU (14 from 6-5)
16. Cal Poly (12 but no Dally & Barden & new HC)
17. Samford (15 from 6-5, 4-5 Div I, 4-4 So-Con, beat GSU)
18. Maine (14)
19. GSU (12- from 6-5 (all Div I schedule), beat Furman in last game)
20. MSU: (12 from 7-5 team)
21. Furman: (11 from 7-5)
22. EKU (12) (or whoevever is picked to win the OVC)
23. Whoever is picked to win the Patriot
24. Wofford (only 9, but were 7-1 in the So-Con last season, 9-3 overall, gave JMU all they could handle, have that hard to defend option)
25. Albany: 14 from 9-3 team, should be favored to win NEC, but was 1-3 vs the CAA. Of those, only beat Hofstra in OT


Top 7 out:
26. N Ariz: (14 from 6-5 team, 5-5 Div I, 4-4 BSC, lost last 4 games)
27. UD (13 from 4-8 in brutal CAA South last season. Probably the biggest transfer of the year in Pat Devlin).
28. McNeese (only 9 from 7-4 team, but a traditional I-AA power
29. Whoever is picked to win the Big South (Liberty only 9 starters returning)
30. Whoever is picked to win the MEAC (SCSU loses 11 starters)
31. YSU (14 from 4-8 team, but a traditional I-AA power).
32. W Ill: (13 from 6-5 team, but lose Herb Donaldson & Jason Williams, lost to YSU last game)
33. NDSU (9 from 6-5 team)

Things in the offseason that would change things for teams:
1.transfers (realize that the majority of transfers are a bust)
2.players (esp starters) leaving the team or being out for most/all of the season due to:
-injury (ex JMU lost returning 07' 2 deep receiver due to back problem)
-illness
-academics (ex ASU lost returning AA DL Tharrington last yr due to this)
-personal reasons (ex this past offseason JMU lost returning 2 yr starting OG (would have been 4th yr junior) due to this.

I wouldn't change the rankings based on HS recruits. Comparing how many 'stars' a recruiting classes have is semi worthless, and most will redshirt, and very few will start.

I would be willing to wager that everyone in my top 10 will be in every preseason top 20, maybe top 15.

[paward]

I am one of those that think the first poll should not be out until the second or third week of season. But if we must go with a preseason poll the one at the end will be a good enough gage for me.

[CatMom07]

Thanks for the vote of confidence there BDK - I hope we make you eat the paper this is written on. Oh wait, no paper.

We are losing 19 but not all of those are starters. While Luke is currently irreplaceable we have 5 WR's that all got time last season and Dillard is pretty special. We have our QB back and 2/3rds of our running trio with Rivas ready to step up. Don't count TxSt out just yet bucko.

[CatMom07]

I had something to say but decided it was 1. off topic and 2. would get people riled up, so I changed this.

[BDKJMU]

Thanks for the vote of confidence there BDK - I hope we make you eat the paper this is written on. Oh wait, no paper.

We are losing 19 but not all of those are starters. While Luke is currently irreplaceable we have 5 WR's that all got time last season and Dillard is pretty special. We have our QB back and 2/3rds of our running trio with Rivas ready to step up. Don't count TxSt out just yet bucko.

Well honestly I forgot to take a look at Tx State. 12 starters back from that last game. So I would put them somewhere 19-21 between Maine & EKU. But it won't let me edit it since its been more than 24 hrs. Also added Grambling. So here it is again:
1. UR (16)
2. ASU (17)
3. Villanova (16- only losses to BCS WVU, 2 nailbiters to JMU, beat UR)
4. SIU (17- and remember, they beat UNI regular season)
5. UNI (13)
6. Elon (18-despite loss to Liberty still finished 6-2 in So-Con).
7. Montana (11)
8. JMU (14 but no Landers)
9. Weber (11 but returns Higgins & Trevyn Smith)
10. UNH (13, only 5 offense and only 1 o-line returning, but Toman at QB)
11. Cent Ark (15, 9 defense. 10-2, won Southland, but playoff ineligible)
12. W&M (15- finished 7-4 in CAA South and took UR to OT in their last game).
13. UMass (15 but no Coen)
14. SDSU (16- finished 7-5, 6-2 MVFC behind SIU & UNI.)
15. EWU (14 from 6-5)
16. Cal Poly (12 but no Dally & Barden & new HC)
17. Samford (15 from 6-5, 4-5 Div I, 4-4 So-Con, beat GSU)
18. Maine (14)
19. Tx State (12 from 8-5 team)
20. GSU (12- from 6-5 (all Div I schedule), beat Furman in last game)
21. MSU: (12 from 7-5 team)
22. Furman: (11 from 7-5)
23. EKU (12) (or whoevever is picked to win the OVC).
24. Whoever is picked to win the Patriot
25. Grambling (14 from 11-2 SWAC champions)

Top 11 out:
26. Wofford (only 9, but were 7-1 in the So-Con last season, 9-3 overall, gave JMU all they could handle, have that hard to defend option)
27. Albany: 14 from 9-3 team, should be favored to win NEC, but was 1-3 vs the CAA. Of those, only beat Hofstra in OT
28. N Ariz: (14 from 6-5 team, 5-5 Div I, 4-4 BSC, lost last 4 games)
29. UD (13 from 4-8 in brutal CAA South last season. Probably the biggest transfer of the year in Pat Devlin).
30. McNeese (only 9 from 7-4 team, but they're a traditional I-AA power
31. Whoever is picked to win the Big South (Liberty only 9 starters returning)
32. Whoever is picked to win the MEAC (SCSU loses 11 starters)
33. YSU (14 from 4-8 team, but are a traditional power).
34. W Ill: (13 from 6-5 team, but lose Herb Donaldson & Jason Williams, lost to YSU last game)
35. NDSU (9 from 6-5 team)
36. Prarie View A&M (? from 9-1 team)

Happy nowxsmiley_wix

[Thunderstruck84]

Don't forget about NDSUxlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx
We'll have to wait and see whether Mertens declares early.

[89Hen]

Still early, but...

1. Richmond
2. James Madison
3. Delaware
4. Villanova
5. William and Mary
6. Towson
7. Massachusetts
8. New Hampshire
9. Maine
10. Hofstra
11. Northeastern
12. Rhode Island
13. Montana State
14. Weber State
15. Northern Arizona
16. Eastern Washington
17. Sacramento State
18. Portland State
19. Idaho State
20. Northern Colorado
21. UT Martin
22. Tennessee State
23. Jacksonville State
24. Eastern Kentucky
25. Dayton

[uofmman1122]

Still early, but...

1. Richmond
2. James Madison
3. Delaware
4. Villanova
5. William and Mary
6. Towson
7. Massachusetts
8. New Hampshire
9. Maine
10. Hofstra
11. Northeastern
12. Rhode Island
13. Montana State
14. Weber State
15. Northern Arizona
16. Eastern Washington
17. Sacramento State
18. Portland State
19. Idaho State
20. Northern Colorado
21. UT Martin
22. Tennessee State
23. Jacksonville State
24. Eastern Kentucky
25. DaytonPlease...Dayton at 25?

You're such an old guard. xcoffeex

[CatMom07]

So who did you leave out from the CAA?

[LeopardFan04]

Still early, but...

1. Richmond
2. James Madison
3. Delaware
4. Villanova
5. William and Mary
6. Towson
7. Massachusetts
8. New Hampshire
9. Maine
10. Hofstra
11. Northeastern
12. Rhode Island
13. Montana State
14. Weber State
15. Northern Arizona
16. Eastern Washington
17. Sacramento State
18. Portland State
19. Idaho State
20. Northern Colorado
21. UT Martin
22. Tennessee State
23. Jacksonville State
24. Eastern Kentucky
25. Dayton



I'll assume all of the PL teams are just outside of your top 25...;) :p

[Tribe4SF]

So who did you leave out from the CAA?

He left out ODU because they won't play enough FCS games. Otherwise they'd be #13.

[JMU Newbill]

Preseason polls are about as useful as sand coated toilet paper.... but I'll name my top 5... in no particular order:

Richmond, App State, Villanova, Montana, SIU.

[Panther88]

Well honestly I forgot to take a look at Tx State. 12 starters back from that last game. So I would put them somewhere 19-21 between Maine & EKU. But it won't let me edit it since its been more than 24 hrs. Also added Grambling. So here it is again:
1. UR (16)
2. ASU (17)
3. Villanova (16- only losses to BCS WVU, 2 nailbiters to JMU, beat UR)
4. SIU (17- and remember, they beat UNI regular season)
5. UNI (13)
6. Elon (18-despite loss to Liberty still finished 6-2 in So-Con).
7. Montana (11)
8. JMU (14 but no Landers)
9. Weber (11 but returns Higgins & Trevyn Smith)
10. UNH (13, only 5 offense and only 1 o-line returning, but Toman at QB)
11. Cent Ark (15, 9 defense. 10-2, won Southland, but playoff ineligible)
12. W&M (15- finished 7-4 in CAA South and took UR to OT in their last game).
13. UMass (15 but no Coen)
14. SDSU (16- finished 7-5, 6-2 MVFC behind SIU & UNI.)
15. EWU (14 from 6-5)
16. Cal Poly (12 but no Dally & Barden & new HC)
17. Samford (15 from 6-5, 4-5 Div I, 4-4 So-Con, beat GSU)
18. Maine (14)
19. Tx State (12 from 8-5 team)
20. GSU (12- from 6-5 (all Div I schedule), beat Furman in last game)
21. MSU: (12 from 7-5 team)
22. Furman: (11 from 7-5)
23. EKU (12) (or whoevever is picked to win the OVC).
24. Whoever is picked to win the Patriot
25. Grambling (14 from 11-2 SWAC champions)

Top 11 out:
26. Wofford (only 9, but were 7-1 in the So-Con last season, 9-3 overall, gave JMU all they could handle, have that hard to defend option)
27. Albany: 14 from 9-3 team, should be favored to win NEC, but was 1-3 vs the CAA. Of those, only beat Hofstra in OT
28. N Ariz: (14 from 6-5 team, 5-5 Div I, 4-4 BSC, lost last 4 games)
29. UD (13 from 4-8 in brutal CAA South last season. Probably the biggest transfer of the year in Pat Devlin).
30. McNeese (only 9 from 7-4 team, but they're a traditional I-AA power
31. Whoever is picked to win the Big South (Liberty only 9 starters returning)
32. Whoever is picked to win the MEAC (SCSU loses 11 starters)
33. YSU (14 from 4-8 team, but are a traditional power).
34. W Ill: (13 from 6-5 team, but lose Herb Donaldson & Jason Williams, lost to YSU last game)
35. NDSU (9 from 6-5 team)
36. Prarie View A&M (? from 9-1 team)

Happy nowxsmiley_wix

Prairie View returns 17 of 22 current starters from a 9-1 team coupled w/ a stolid redshirt class of 21. :) We lost 1 OT, 1 QB, 2 LBs, and 1 DB. :)

[BDKJMU]

So who did you leave out from the CAA?

-UD (not in top 25)
-Towson
-Hofstra
-Northeastern
-URI

And I'd bet $ that the 7 CAA in my top 25 will be in most top 25 come next Aug. Remember, there were 4 CAA in the top 7/8 and 6 in the top 16/20 of the final polls, plus UMass got some votes.
http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/index.php?blog=5&title=2008-fcs-polls&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

[BDKJMU]

Preseason polls are about as useful as sand coated toilet paper.... but I'll name my top 5... in no particular order:

Richmond, App State, Villanova, Montana, SIU.

Agree except I'd have UNI instead of Montana in a pre season top 5. Agree also about the worthlessness. Like I said, had too much time on my hands. I wouldn't have any problem with a the Sporting News and Coaches not doing a poll till Oct 1.

[BDKJMU]

Prairie View returns 17 of 22 current starters from a 9-1 team coupled w/ a stolid redshirt class of 21. :) We lost 1 OT, 1 QB, 2 LBs, and 1 DB. :)

Believe me, I went on Prerie Views website and looked for a game notes listing their 2 deep from any of their games. Only team I couldn't find one for. If what you say is true, then maybe they should be moved up a little, but not above Grambling as Prarie View did get spanked by Grambling 40-16.

[89Hen]

Preseason polls are about as useful as sand coated toilet paper.... but I'll name my top 5... in no particular order:

Richmond, App State, Villanova, Montana, SIU.
I railed on SIU a couple years ago as being one of the most overrated teams in I-AA, then I laid off, but they have risen to the top of that list again. I'm just as guilty as everyone by continuing to keep them in my top 5.

Not sure how they do so well in the tough Gateway only to bow out every year in the playoffs. Six consecutive trips to the playoffs, two or three of them highly ranked, several home games but they can't seem to get over the hump... one trip to the semis (which they hosted). Don't get me wrong, they are a solid top 10-12 team, but they won't be top 5 for me again until they get over that hump. xpeacex

[89Hen]

I am one of those that think the first poll should not be out until the second or third week of season.
I used to be the same until I looked at the week two and three polls... they are no better than pre-season. I made a post on that earlier this year comparing the number of teams in pre-season, week three and final and it was amazing to see how equally wrong week three was compared to pre-season. xnodx