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The CSN Way: Seven Nation Armies
By Chuck Burton, The CSN Way Columnist
Hard to believe, but the final weekend of the season is here. For many FCS schools, it’s “Rivalry Week": when Harvard plays Yale in “The Game", Lehigh plays Lafayette in “The Rivalry", and Montana plays Montana State in the “Brawl of the Wild", and many other huge rivalry games across the country.
At many of those games, you’ll hear the bars of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” ring out from student sections across the land - a song that has, against all odds, become an anthem for fans to celebrate their energy and potency against whomever their rival might be.
In this final week of the regular season, permit me to butcher the lyrics to “Seven Nation Army” and demonstrate how the song particularly applies to the big FCS games going on this weekend. It’s a fun weekend of rivalry, hate, passion, and winning and losing. It’s going to be a wild ride.
CSN West: The Repeating Record in the Treasure State
By Kent Schmidt, CSN West Columnist
It seems every year in FCS football there is a new, surprising team that comes out of nowhere to grab the attention of the nation. This year, there is Stephen F. Austin out of the Southland Conference and South Dakota State out of the Missouri Valley Football Conference that take the surprising roles.
Then there are the constants such as Appalachian State out of the Southern Conference and Southern Illinois out of the Missouri Valley Conference. Each has had multiple playoff appearances in a row. But neither of these teams can compare with the continued success of the Montana Grizzlies.
MIAC Profiles of Excellence: T.J. Ridley, Gustavus Adolphus College
by Rich Mies, CSN Mapping the MIAC Columnist
Among the characteristics that separate the leaders from the followers are a positive attitude, dependability and a commitment to excellence. These attributes also translate into success beyond the playing fields. T.J. Ridley is blessed with these traits, which has enabled him to be a leader of the Gustavus Adolphus College hockey and football teams, as well as a leader of the community on campus.
Division I Football Championship Playoff Notes and Facts
125 schools (including provisional members) play FCS football and over half of those have been in the playoffs at least once. Only Georgia Southern (6), Youngstown State (4), Appalachian State (3) and two-time champs Eastern Kentucky, Montana, and Marshall have won the title more than once.
CSN Inside the OVC: Simple, Really
By James D. Horne, CSN Inside the OVC Columnist
All No. 13 Eastern Illinois (8-2, 6-1 OVC) needs to do to wrap up its fifth OVC championship is beat Tennessee State (3-7, 2-4 OVC) at home at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPNU.
It is a simple scenario and something EIU coach Bob Spoo completely understands.
CSN So South: Appalachian State Picks Off Elon’s Hopes
By Myron Hosea, CSN So South Columnist
Before a record Rhodes Stadium crowd, visiting Appalachian State intercepted Elon’s bid to loosen the Mountaineers’ grip on the Southern Conference.
The Mountaineers turned three first-quarter interceptions into touchdowns to defeat the Phoenix 27-10 and clinch at least a share of the SoCon title for the fifth consecutive season. The victory also gives Appalachian State the league’s automatic berth in the FCS playoffs. Appalachian State has now won 19 SoCon games in a row.
11/16/2009 Gridiron Power Index (GPI), Villanova No. 1
The Gridiron Power Index (GPI), the index ranking for the NCAA Division I FCS and a top indicator of at-large playoff selection continues with Villanova in the top spot on the eve of playoff selection.
The Colonial Athletic Association, the largest league in the FCS has seven teams in the top 25; the Big Sky Conference has five; the Missouri Valley Football Conference has three; the Ohio Valley, Southern, and Southland Conferences have two each; and the Big South and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conferences plus the Ivy and Patriot Leagues have one each.
SPECIAL REPORT: The CSN Way: Who's In?
By Chuck Burton, The CSN Way Columnist
This weekend saw six FCS teams clinch conference titles, five clinching autobids for the FCS playoffs, and one SWAC team’s clinching of a spot in the SWAC Championship game in December.
Who’s in for all intents and purposes, and who can still get in?
For all the scenarios for the remainder of the conference titles and postseason opportunities, check below the flip.
How The 2009 D-I Football Championship Works
The highest level of NCAA championship football is just a short week away from announcing the 2009 playoff bracket and teams. On “Selection Sunday” this week, November 22, the Division I Football Championship Committee will unveil which eight teams have been chosen as at-large participants and the official bracket. Let’s examine how this all works and the people involved.
College Sporting News National All-Stars, 11/16/2009
South Dakota quarterback Noah Shepard, Jacksonville State quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, William and Mary defensive end Adrian Tracy, and Montana State defensive end Dane Fletcher are the recipients of the Football Championship Subdivision honors from College Sporting News for the week ending November 15, 2009.