Top 10 current FCS programs?

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Originally Posted by 89Hen

Lots of love for Jacksonville State... a team that has never won a playoff game.

Based on team, support, facilities, improvements, etc...

1. Montana
1a. AppSt
3. Delaware
4. JMU
5. UNI
6. Georgia Southern
7. Montana State
8. NDSU
9. Cal Poly
10. McNeese

Put ODU on the watch list for a few years.

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We havent won a playoff game but the other areas JSU would be in the top 10 easily.

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Originally Posted by Walkon79

Montana State was a top ten FCS/1AA program from inception to about 1985. We've got a long way to go before we can be considered top ten again.

But I think we're gaining on it.

- Major facility improvements upcoming
- Routinely in the top 10 in attendance
- Haven't had a losing season in 10 years


The glaring omissions are playoff appearances, and more importantly, playoff wins

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Agreed completely.I have EWU right around the bubble area too, but for the opposite reasons. We have the playoff appearances, wins, winning seasons and all that. We even have pretty good locker rooms, and despite the color, a great field and good pressbox. The fan attendance and stadium seating overall really brings us down.

When I think of the top FCS (1AA) programs, I have to pull from personal experiences. In no way does my list reflect current ranking as of today but of all time and is strictly my opinion.

My list:

1. Georgia Southern
2. App State
3. Delaware
4. Youngstown State
5. Montana
6. UNI
7. W&M
8. Furman
9. FAMU
10. McNeese State or Northern Arizona

I may have some that could change positions, but as far as the top 10 programs, this is it to me. EWU and Richmond more recently and Lehigh always stands out in my head as well as does Jax State.

FWIW...

Top Attendance 2011
1. AppSt
2. Montana
3. Jackson St
4. ODU
5. Delaware
6. GSU
7. Jacksonville St
8. Harvard
9. JMU
10. NDSU
11. FAMU
12. YSU
13. SCSt
14. Tennessee St
15. Liberty
16. Yale
17. Montana St
18. McNeese St
19. NCA&T
20. UMass

Playoff wins in last 10 years (more than 2, champions *)
AppSt - 17 ***
Montana - 16 *
Delaware - 11 *
Villanova - 9 *
UNI - 9
Richmond - 8 *
GSU - 7
EWU - 6 *
Furman - 6
JMU - 6 *
UNH - 6
SIU - 5
UMass - 4
Wofford - 4
W&M - 4
Colgate - 3
McNeese - 3
WIU - 3

Hopefully I got everyone

I agree that "What have you done for me lately" counts a lot on McNeese. That said, I fail to see where schools like Liberty, Montana State, and Jax State have done more recently. No offense intended to them. Bottom line is McNeese needs to get in the playoffs and win some games, or we don't deserve to be included in the Top 10.

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Originally Posted by dbackjon

This decade, EWU has had three draft picks, one Pro-Bowler, first team all pro
This decade, VU has had one draft pick, one Pro-Bowler, first team all pro


You are letting your ECB shine through.

EWU certainly belongs in the conversation with the schools I mentioned.

App State, Montana and Delaware are the big three of the decade. No other schools have multiple NC appearances since 2000.

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Also, since 2004, EWU has 2 Buck Buchanan Award Winners and 1 Payton Award Winner.

Playoff appearances 5 of the last 7 years, National Championship.

I'd think we'd deserve to at least be in the discussion.

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Originally Posted by Red & Black

Also, since 2004, EWU has 2 Buck Buchanan Award Winners and 1 Payton Award Winner.

Playoff appearances 5 of the last 7 years, National Championship.

I'd think we'd deserve to at least be in the discussion.

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I think you are in the discussion, but the discussion was also "past success, current success, fan support, name recognition, facilities, etc". EWU is still lacking in fan support (6400 per game puts you on par with Cornell, Murray State, Prairie View, VMI, etc) and facilities. The red rug may have gotten you some recognition, but when that overshadows your national championship for your casual fan, that's not good name recognition IMO. Another good year or two however will make it impossible to not have you in the top 10.

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Originally Posted by Red & Black

Also, since 2004, EWU has 2 Buck Buchanan Award Winners and 1 Payton Award Winner.

Playoff appearances 5 of the last 7 years, National Championship.

I'd think we'd deserve to at least be in the discussion.

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But to be honest, I've not been a member of this board very long and I hadn't even thought about EWU until they got the ugly field and I'm a pretty decent FCS fan. I'd suggest not many people outside the normal FCS faithful knew who they were until they got the field.

I'm in no way discounting their recent success, but to say they are a top program in the nation from a perspective point of view isn't justifiable to me.

Notre Dame hasn't done jack squat in forever, but they are still a prestigeous program in FBS.

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Originally Posted by pike51

But to be honest, I've not been a member of this board very long and I hadn't even thought about EWU until they got the ugly field and I'm a pretty decent FCS fan. I'd suggest not many people outside the normal FCS faithful knew who they were until they got the field.

I'm in no way discounting their recent success, but to say they are a top program in the nation from a perspective point of view isn't justifiable to me.

Notre Dame hasn't done jack squat in forever, but they are still a prestigeous program in FBS.

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And I would say that it depends on the perspective you're looking from. All-time, vs recent (last decade). Former, no way. Latter, probably so.

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Originally Posted by 89Hen

I think you are in the discussion, but the discussion was also "past success, current success, fan support, name recognition, facilities, etc". EWU is still lacking in fan support (6400 per game puts you on par with Cornell, Murray State, Prairie View, VMI, etc) and facilities. The red rug may have gotten you some recognition, but when that overshadows your national championship for your casual fan, that's not good name recognition IMO. Another good year or two however will make it impossible to not have you in the top 10.

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I agree with most of what you said, but the title of the thread is Top 10 current FCS programs. Yeah, the attendance and facilities should factor into it, but I would think that what the team has accomplished on the field would have more weight. Only a handful of schools have the sort of accolades I listed above.

I think we'll see some improvements in attendance this season as well as some facility improvements coming up but it's just going to take time.