First Coaches Poll is out

[bjtheflamesfan]

Team 2009 Record Points 2009 Final Ranking

1. Villanova (22) 14-1 667 1
2. Montana (2) 14-1 632 2
3. Appalachian State (4) 11-3 622 T3
4. William & Mary 11-3 587 T3
5. Southern Illinois 11-2 551 6
6. Richmond 11-2 484 5
7. Elon 9-3 474 10
8. Stephen F. Austin 10-3 413 9
9. New Hampshire 10-3 409 7
10. South Dakota State 8-4 403 11
11. McNeese State 9-3 376 12
12. South Carolina State 10-2 341 8
13. Northern Iowa 7-4 333 18
14. Eastern Washington 8-4 327 13
15. James Madison 6-5 290 NR
16. Eastern Illinois 8-4 236 15
17. Jacksonville State 8-3 208 16
18. Weber State 7-5 186 17
19. Delaware 6-5 185 NR
20. Liberty 8-3 171 21
21. Prairie View A&M 9-1 135 19
22. Colgate 9-2 98 20
23. Northern Arizona 5-6 87 NR
24. Montana State 7-4 85 NR
T25. Cal-Poly 4-7 66 NR
T25. Holy Cross 9-3 66 14
Other receiving votes (points in parentheses): Penn (60), Illinois State (54), Texas State (53), Florida A&M (44), Furman (36), Eastern Kentucky (35), Wofford (35), UC Davis (32), Massachusetts (24), Georgia Southern (23), Alabama A&M (22), Jackson State (19), Maine (19), Alcorn State (17), Southeastern Louisiana (16), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16), Southern (15), Central Arkansas (14), Morgan State (14), Hampton (12), Bethune-Cookman (11), Harvard (10), Missouri State (10), Nicholls State (10), Sam Houston State (9), Grambling (8), Alabama State (6), Lehigh (8), Youngstown State (6), Texas Southern (5), Albany (4), Lafayette (4), Butler (3), Mississippi Valley State (3), Southern Utah (3), Central Connecticut State (2), Stony Brook (2), Chattanooga (1), Gardner-Webb (1)

WHo's too high? WHo's too low? Who's fanbase is going to complain about how they should be ranked?

[PhoenixPhan06]

We're about right where I thought we'd be

[McNeese75]

Certainly looks more reasonable than the Massy debacle.

[WileECoyote06]

Grambling got 8 votes while four of its conference mates got more votes? Okay. . . Amazing that a team with seven losses in the previous year makes the top 25 the next year; regardless of their schedule.

[GoAgs72]

Cal Poly at 25 with a 4-7 record is questionable as I've stated before in previous poll results. After three games, maybe #25 or even #15 if they're that good, but not pre-season. Southern Utah (2 votes), North Dakota (no votes) and South Dakota (no votes) could easily beat many of the teams receiving votes below the top 25. UC Davis is probably about right with a 6-5 season.

[darell1976]

Just a preseason poll....means nothing.

[WestCoastAggie]

xlolx

[ngineer]

Lehigh got 8 votes coming off of a 4-7 season. I think that is in the ballpark. With 17 starters back, we should be able to 'do something' this year. Most are expecting 'more' than a just a winning season. With a most difficult OOC schedule, anything better than 8-3 will be a surprise. A PL title is the major goal right now.

[jmufan999]

i'm starting to think we're too high. we've been killed by injuries yet again. looks like another 6-5 year at this point. we have the talent to do better but i'm not getting my hopes up. and 6-5 does not warrant a #15 spot.

[WrenFGun]

Maine is WAY, WAY too low.

I like them more than UD and JMU, and think they're pretty similar to Richmond and UNH. I think UMass is a better team than the back 5 in that group, too ... yes, I'm a CAA homer, but yeah, it's pretty close to true.

[DJOM]

Obviously they failed to look at the Ivies. I expected Princeton to be ranked much higher.

[DFW HOYA]

Old Dominion not among the top 65 teams? They'll challenge for the top 25 before all is said and done.

[OL FU]

Old Dominion not among the top 65 teams? They'll challenge for the top 25 before all is said and done.

Sat, Sept 4 vsJacksonville 6:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Sept 11 @Campbell 1:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Sept 18 vsWilliam & Mary 7:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Sept 25 @Monmouth 1:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Oct 2 vsGardner-Webb 6:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Oct 9 vsCal Poly 6:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Oct 23 vsGeorgia State TBD Tickets
Sat, Oct 30 @Hampton 1:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Nov 6 vsSavannah State 2:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Nov 13 vsVirginia Military Institute 2:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Nov 20 @North Carolina Central 2:00 PM ET Tickets


I'll take the bait. Is it because you think that they will be that good or is it because they aren't really playing anyone (obviously they are playing W&M and Cal Poly along with a couple of big south teams) and may end up with a really good record against not so stellar competition. Don't take it the wrong way, I think it is a very good schedule for a second year program. but it seems to me that they have to beat W&M or Cal Poly to be given much consideration unless someone just looks at the appearance of a good record or lose close to them and win with large margins over everyone else.

Just curious?

[ngineer]

Obviously they failed to look at the Ivies. I expected Princeton to be ranked much higher.

I am assuming some sarcasm here, sans the eye roll smiley? Penn just missed the top 25, and Harvard got 10 votes (though I think they should be higher). What are they/we missing about the rest of the IL this year? I think the Tigers will be improved, but with new coaching usually comes some transition pains.

[TexasTerror]

Looks like the entire Southland minus Northwestern State got a vote...

Which is worse? Sports Network? Or Coaches? I still go Sports Network based on the amount of just clearly asinine additions.

[NHwildEcat]

Maine is WAY, WAY too low.

I like them more than UD and JMU, and think they're pretty similar to Richmond and UNH. I think UMass is a better team than the back 5 in that group, too ... yes, I'm a CAA homer, but yeah, it's pretty close to true.

I completely agree with you. I feel like Maine has been getting the shaft as far as expectations this upcoming season. I think Maine is a top 25 team...thus I voted them in my Pre-Season poll as such. I think they can and will beat UNH this year when we head up there. And I certainly think at the very least they deserve more points then UMass.

As is such, this is ONLY a pre-season poll.

[slostang]

Cal Poly at 25 with a 4-7 record is questionable as I've stated before in previous poll results. After three games, maybe #25 or even #15 if they're that good, but not pre-season. Southern Utah (2 votes), North Dakota (no votes) and South Dakota (no votes) could easily beat many of the teams receiving votes below the top 25. UC Davis is probably about right with a 6-5 season.

Easy GoAgs72. It will look better when we beat you this season. :)

This is not last years poll. It is what the coaches feel will happen this year. For the record, with the exception of last year Cal Poly has finished ranked every year since 2004. Last year they had a new coaching staff that had to replaced 9 starters on offense and switch from a small attacking defense to a 4-3. We took our lumps but this year we return 9 starters on offense and add West Virginia RB Mark Rodgers. We return 8 starters on defense and a whole lot more size and depth on the d-line.

[heath]

Old Dominion not among the top 65 teams? They'll challenge for the top 25 before all is said and done.
I'll say it again, Bobby Wilder and the area known as the 757 in recruiting WILL have ODU in the top 25, then top 10 soon. 9-2 in their 1st year(best ever for a 1st year program) is only the beginning. Could easily win another 8 or 9 this year, with W&M as a barometer on how good they really are.

[LakesBison]

This makes me laugh so hard, NONE of these teams below have a "PROGRAM" like NDSU. how embarassing for the coaches of FCS.
Morgan State 14 votes? Central Conn>?? NDSU beat them 48-6.

BUTLER? this aint basketball, do they even offer football scholarships?

NDSU yes lost a lot of close games, but they have never been blown out in FCS games, ever.

21. Prairie View A&M 9-1 135 19
22. Colgate 9-2 98 20
23. Northern Arizona 5-6 87 NR
24. Montana State 7-4 85 NR
T25. Cal-Poly 4-7 66 NR
T25. Holy Cross 9-3 66 14
Other receiving votes (points in parentheses): Penn (60), Illinois State (54), Texas State (53), Florida A&M (44), Furman (36), Eastern Kentucky (35), Wofford (35), UC Davis (32), Massachusetts (24), Georgia Southern (23), Alabama A&M (22), Jackson State (19), Maine (19), Alcorn State (17), Southeastern Louisiana (16), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16), Southern (15), Central Arkansas (14), Morgan State (14), Hampton (12), Bethune-Cookman (11), Harvard (10), Missouri State (10), Nicholls State (10), Sam Houston State (9), Grambling (8), Alabama State (6), Lehigh (8), Youngstown State (6), Texas Southern (5), Albany (4), Lafayette (4), Butler (3), Mississippi Valley State (3), Southern Utah (3), Central Connecticut State (2), Stony Brook (2), Chattanooga (1), Gardner-Webb

[heath]

This makes me laugh so hard, NONE of these teams below have a "PROGRAM" like NDSU. how embarassing for the coaches of FCS.
Morgan State 14 votes? Central Conn>?? NDSU beat them 48-6.

BUTLER? this aint basketball, do they even offer football scholarships?

NDSU yes lost a lot of close games, but they have never been blown out in FCS games, ever.

21. Prairie View A&M 9-1 135 19
22. Colgate 9-2 98 20
23. Northern Arizona 5-6 87 NR
24. Montana State 7-4 85 NR
T25. Cal-Poly 4-7 66 NR
T25. Holy Cross 9-3 66 14
Other receiving votes (points in parentheses): Penn (60), Illinois State (54), Texas State (53), Florida A&M (44), Furman (36), Eastern Kentucky (35), Wofford (35), UC Davis (32), Massachusetts (24), Georgia Southern (23), Alabama A&M (22), Jackson State (19), Maine (19), Alcorn State (17), Southeastern Louisiana (16), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16), Southern (15), Central Arkansas (14), Morgan State (14), Hampton (12), Bethune-Cookman (11), Harvard (10), Missouri State (10), Nicholls State (10), Sam Houston State (9), Grambling (8), Alabama State (6), Lehigh (8), Youngstown State (6), Texas Southern (5), Albany (4), Lafayette (4), Butler (3), Mississippi Valley State (3), Southern Utah (3), Central Connecticut State (2), Stony Brook (2), Chattanooga (1), Gardner-Webb

relax Bison its only a PRE- season poll, and no the PIONEER doesn't offer schollies. Last time I checked, a close loss was the same as a 48-6 loss, a big "L" on the schedule.

[OL FU]

This makes me laugh so hard, NONE of these teams below have a "PROGRAM" like NDSU. how embarassing for the coaches of FCS.
Morgan State 14 votes? Central Conn>?? NDSU beat them 48-6.

BUTLER? this aint basketball, do they even offer football scholarships?

NDSU yes lost a lot of close games, but they have never been blown out in FCS games, ever.

21. Prairie View A&M 9-1 135 19
22. Colgate 9-2 98 20
23. Northern Arizona 5-6 87 NR
24. Montana State 7-4 85 NR
T25. Cal-Poly 4-7 66 NR
T25. Holy Cross 9-3 66 14
Other receiving votes (points in parentheses): Penn (60), Illinois State (54), Texas State (53), Florida A&M (44), Furman (36), Eastern Kentucky (35), Wofford (35), UC Davis (32), Massachusetts (24), Georgia Southern (23), Alabama A&M (22), Jackson State (19), Maine (19), Alcorn State (17), Southeastern Louisiana (16), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16), Southern (15), Central Arkansas (14), Morgan State (14), Hampton (12), Bethune-Cookman (11), Harvard (10), Missouri State (10), Nicholls State (10), Sam Houston State (9), Grambling (8), Alabama State (6), Lehigh (8), Youngstown State (6), Texas Southern (5), Albany (4), Lafayette (4), Butler (3), Mississippi Valley State (3), Southern Utah (3), Central Connecticut State (2), Stony Brook (2), Chattanooga (1), Gardner-Webb

But you have Furman in that list. Believe me our program history compares very well with yours and in fact I would suggest better since our program has always been D1. In fact, if you look at various analysis of I-AA history, you will find Furman in the top ten in any analysis that has any reasonableness behind it all.xrolleyesx

[MSUDuo]

Last I checked this program you keep bragging about stayed in D2. Have yet to see it at this level. Which is funny coming from a MO State fan but none the less.

[UNH Fanboi]

This makes me laugh so hard, NONE of these teams below have a "PROGRAM" like NDSU. how embarassing for the coaches of FCS.
Morgan State 14 votes? Central Conn>?? NDSU beat them 48-6.

BUTLER? this aint basketball, do they even offer football scholarships?

NDSU yes lost a lot of close games, but they have never been blown out in FCS games, ever.

21. Prairie View A&M 9-1 135 19
22. Colgate 9-2 98 20
23. Northern Arizona 5-6 87 NR
24. Montana State 7-4 85 NR
T25. Cal-Poly 4-7 66 NR
T25. Holy Cross 9-3 66 14
Other receiving votes (points in parentheses): Penn (60), Illinois State (54), Texas State (53), Florida A&M (44), Furman (36), Eastern Kentucky (35), Wofford (35), UC Davis (32), Massachusetts (24), Georgia Southern (23), Alabama A&M (22), Jackson State (19), Maine (19), Alcorn State (17), Southeastern Louisiana (16), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16), Southern (15), Central Arkansas (14), Morgan State (14), Hampton (12), Bethune-Cookman (11), Harvard (10), Missouri State (10), Nicholls State (10), Sam Houston State (9), Grambling (8), Alabama State (6), Lehigh (8), Youngstown State (6), Texas Southern (5), Albany (4), Lafayette (4), Butler (3), Mississippi Valley State (3), Southern Utah (3), Central Connecticut State (2), Stony Brook (2), Chattanooga (1), Gardner-Webb

First of all, since when are rankings supposed to be based on comparing "PROGRAMS"? And even if they were based on that, GSU, UMass, Youngstown, etc. have much more successful programs than NDSU.

[crusader11]

I'll take Holy Cross' program over NDSU's any day. And, we have been doing it without scholarships for the past 20 years...hopefully this will change soon.

[DJOM]

Neither Butler nor any team in the Pioneer League offer football scholarships. A sports scholarship does not make a student athlete, rather the lack of a football scholarship might show the dedication of the athlete. Although I feel Dayton should be ranked higher than Butler---another non-scholarship D1 AA (FCS) school.

[GoAgs72]

SloStang, I assume your comments were made before Cal Poly's top two QB's were injured. I hope it's not serious but crutches and a knee brace don't sound good. I want a competitive game this year.

[Go...gate]

Obviously they failed to look at the Ivies. I expected Princeton to be ranked much higher.

You serious? Surace had a good first recruiting class, but that is asking a lot out of him in a period of about eight months. If they go 5-5 I'll be thrilled.

[Poly's Brutality]

SloStang, I assume your comments were made before Cal Poly's top two QB's were injured. I hope it's not serious but crutches and a knee brace don't sound good. I want a competitive game this year.
Actually with the line we have GoAgs72 we might be competitive (assuming they are healthy, a big "if" right now) if we simply have one of them run the ball all day?

[RichH2]

8-3 would be great for Lehigh, of course playing 5 teams ranked last yr in the top 25 makes that goal a daunting task. i would be happy with going for PL crown. That said Coen needs at least a 7-4 season to get off the hot seat. Another yr with a string of close games that we never seem to win will be a disaster

[Jiggs]

Georgia Southern gets 23 votes and Samford gets none? What's up with that?

[OrygunBison]

Once again, please excuse Lakes. He clearly does not speak for my Bison brethren, nor does JBB or MPLS. Please all just filter them out and don't think ill of our fanbase based on their banter.

I like being un-mentioned in this poll. Gives the guys some locker room material. Need to prove it on the field...which they will. Bison will be ranked in top 15 by end of season.

[LeadBolt]

I think Maine is way low as well. UMass could be much higher with the talent they picked up as well. Unfortunately, with W&M playing 5 of top 19 plus the two aforementioned teams, I'm afraid that the W&M prediction is too high, but hope it is not...

[ngineer]

Georgia Southern gets 23 votes and Samford gets none? What's up with that?


"Tradition"---Tevye

[Jiggs]

"Tradition"---Tevye

I can hear them singing it now.

[darell1976]

This makes me laugh so hard, NONE of these teams below have a "PROGRAM" like NDSU. how embarassing for the coaches of FCS.
Morgan State 14 votes? Central Conn>?? NDSU beat them 48-6.

BUTLER? this aint basketball, do they even offer football scholarships?

NDSU yes lost a lot of close games, but they have never been blown out in FCS games, ever.

21. Prairie View A&M 9-1 135 19
22. Colgate 9-2 98 20
23. Northern Arizona 5-6 87 NR
24. Montana State 7-4 85 NR
T25. Cal-Poly 4-7 66 NR
T25. Holy Cross 9-3 66 14
Other receiving votes (points in parentheses): Penn (60), Illinois State (54), Texas State (53), Florida A&M (44), Furman (36), Eastern Kentucky (35), Wofford (35), UC Davis (32), Massachusetts (24), Georgia Southern (23), Alabama A&M (22), Jackson State (19), Maine (19), Alcorn State (17), Southeastern Louisiana (16), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (16), Southern (15), Central Arkansas (14), Morgan State (14), Hampton (12), Bethune-Cookman (11), Harvard (10), Missouri State (10), Nicholls State (10), Sam Houston State (9), Grambling (8), Alabama State (6), Lehigh (8), Youngstown State (6), Texas Southern (5), Albany (4), Lafayette (4), Butler (3), Mississippi Valley State (3), Southern Utah (3), Central Connecticut State (2), Stony Brook (2), Chattanooga (1), Gardner-Webb

Just to correct Lakes....10-8-2005 Cal Poly 37 NDSU 6.

[OL FU]

Originally Posted by DFW HOYA

Old Dominion not among the top 65 teams? They'll challenge for the top 25 before all is said and done.


Sat, Sept 4 vsJacksonville 6:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Sept 11 @Campbell 1:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Sept 18 vsWilliam & Mary 7:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Sept 25 @Monmouth 1:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Oct 2 vsGardner-Webb 6:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Oct 9 vsCal Poly 6:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Oct 23 vsGeorgia State TBD Tickets
Sat, Oct 30 @Hampton 1:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Nov 6 vsSavannah State 2:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Nov 13 vsVirginia Military Institute 2:00 PM ET Tickets
Sat, Nov 20 @North Carolina Central 2:00 PM ET Tickets


I'll take the bait. Is it because you think that they will be that good or is it because they aren't really playing anyone (obviously they are playing W&M and Cal Poly along with a couple of big south teams) and may end up with a really good record against not so stellar competition. Don't take it the wrong way, I think it is a very good schedule for a second year program. but it seems to me that they have to beat W&M or Cal Poly to be given much consideration unless someone just looks at the appearance of a good record or lose close to them and win with large margins over everyone else.

Just curious?

Just to prove a generally nice guy can be a little spiteful. I think ODUs chances of a top 25 finish just fell off the cliff. xsmiley_wix