FCS Program you'd most like to see become elite

[rkwittem]

For the purpose of discussion, I'm curious to see what people think on this matter. To keep as much bias out of the discussion as possible, I'd propose that you don't say your team (we get it- everyone wants their team to be good). Other than that, I'd say it's pretty much wide-open as for who you can pick. They might have missed the playoffs last year or not been there ever. It's completely wide-open. This is a topic I really enjoy talking about in college football- FCS or FBS. It's interesting discussion fodder as we plow through one last month of practices and buildup to kickoff.

My pick would be William and Mary. I like their uniforms (stupid reason, I know), the fact that they've hand a long-time coach there and strong teams out of Virginia balance out the map as far as good FCS football is concerned. We have good teams in the Southeast, southern plains, midwest, Rocky Mountain area, the west, northeast, but not as much along the mid-atlantic region (no offense meant to ODU or JMU, etc. I'm counting Delaware as northeastern).

[93henfan]

William and Mary is pretty close to elite already, IMHO. They're a top-half of the CAA team a lot of years.

I'd like to see Delaware State get good again, since we're stuck playing them every year now. Might as well have a contest if it's on your schedule.

[ChickenMan]

VMI

[Ibanez]

Charleston Southern

[rkwittem]

William and Mary is pretty close to elite already, IMHO. They're a top-half of the CAA team a lot of years.

I'd like to see Delaware State get good again, since we're stuck playing them every year now. Might as well have a contest if it's on your schedule.

I'm a bit fussier when it comes to my definition of elite. I think elite FCS team, and I think Montana, Delaware, GSU, App State. Maybe I left out a few teams, but those were the first four that came to mind. WM to me is in the 2nd or 3rd tier of FCS schools. Tier 1 being the upper crust and so on. I'd like to see them bump up a bit.

Interesting that you picked your rival. I've always been more of a 'destroy your rival' guy and less of a 'keep them relevant' guy. I like seeing the rival teams' fans being depressed.

[TheDancinMonarch]

I had hoped that Old Dominion would become an FCS elite. Guess I got outvoted on that one.

[93henfan]

I had hoped that Old Dominion would become an FCS elite. Guess I got outvoted on that one.

Well, you do have one more crack at a national championship, which would be quite an accomplishment for only two years of conference play.

[TheDancinMonarch]

I had hoped that Old Dominion would become an FCS elite. Guess I got outvoted on that one.

Well, you do have one more crack at a national championship, which would be quite an accomplishment for only two years of conference play.

Yep. And certainly under the circumstances there will be no pressure, external or internal, to accomplish that. I don't like our chances.

[Darell1976]

Indiana State. After years of the basement the school known for Larry Bird needs to have an elite football team.

[DSUrocks07]

William and Mary is pretty close to elite already, IMHO. They're a top-half of the CAA team a lot of years.

I'd like to see Delaware State get good again, since we're stuck playing them every year now. Might as well have a contest if it's on your schedule.

I'm a bit fussier when it comes to my definition of elite. I think elite FCS team, and I think Montana, Delaware, GSU, App State. Maybe I left out a few teams, but those were the first four that came to mind. WM to me is in the 2nd or 3rd tier of FCS schools. Tier 1 being the upper crust and so on. I'd like to see them bump up a bit.

Interesting that you picked your rival. I've always been more of a 'destroy your rival' guy and less of a 'keep them relevant' guy. I like seeing the rival teams' fans being depressed.

All Blue Hen fans upon reading this

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0MKLnTqjLM[/youtube]

[DSUrocks07]

Savannah State, after all they've been through just being able to survive at the D1 level, they're due for a period of "elite greatness"

[UNI88]

McNeese State. I would like to see the Cowboys return to their glory.

[TribeFanInNC]

VMI

After all the years the school and their athletes have worked hard and fought an uphill battle, it would be great to see their efforts pay off.

[bluehenbillk]

Villanova.

What more could you want? They have the facility, they have the fan base, they have the vision for the future, they have the student support, why wouldn't they become elite??

[BlackFalkin]

South Dakota State - Love the logo & like the potential of the stadium.
Idaho State - Love the unis, the dome & the SoCal recruiting. Dont understand how you go from BSC Title to 8 yr slump.


Best Chance of ELITE STATUS
Portland state - Great head coach, the perfect city for a college fb team imo, great stadium

[grizzaholic]

South Dakota State - Love the logo & like the potential of the stadium.
Idaho State - Love the unis, the dome & the SoCal recruiting. Dont understand how you go from BSC Title to 8 yr slump.


Best Chance of ELITE STATUS
Portland state - Great head coach, the perfect city for a college fb team imo, great stadium

THIS.


SDSU has the best logo/nick name in college football.

[Wildcat Ryan]

Weber State

[grizzaholic]

Weber State

Basketball season is right around the corner...wait, are you still good in that or is it on the slide as of late too?

[89Hen]

I'd like to see Delaware State get good again

[93henfan]

I'd like to see Delaware State get good again

They were never elite, but they had some decent teams in the late 80s/early 90s.

[89Hen]

They were never elite, but they had some decent teams in the late 80s/early 90s.

[rkwittem]

I'm a bit fussier when it comes to my definition of elite. I think elite FCS team, and I think Montana, Delaware, GSU, App State. Maybe I left out a few teams, but those were the first four that came to mind. WM to me is in the 2nd or 3rd tier of FCS schools. Tier 1 being the upper crust and so on. I'd like to see them bump up a bit.

Interesting that you picked your rival. I've always been more of a 'destroy your rival' guy and less of a 'keep them relevant' guy. I like seeing the rival teams' fans being depressed.

All Blue Hen fans upon reading this

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0MKLnTqjLM[/youtube]

Am I wrong to have thought Delaware and DSU were rivals? To me (and my admittedly limited knowledge of Delaware's football fans and their respective attitudes towards each other) it would seem that two in-state teams in the same level of college football would be natural rivals.


Update: Having done a quick Google search I must admit I am more than a little stunned to see that DSU and Delaware have rarely met.

[93henfan]

Update: Having done a quick Google search I must admit I am more than a little stunned to see that DSU and Delaware have rarely met.

Previous UDADs ducked DelState for decades. The '07 playoff matchup drew attention to the issue and ESPN did an Outside the Lines piece on it with the "R" word bandied about. Shortly thereafter, UD worked out the details to start playing DSU. Funny how that works.

[93henfan]

They were never elite, but they had some decent teams in the late 80s/early 90s.

1985: 9-2
1987: 9-1
1991: 9-2 (includes victory over national champion Youngstown St.)

[ASUMountaineer]

I say UNI. I know I may get flamed, but I can't call you elite until you win it all--that's not to say that winning it all makes a team elite either (EWU). UNI is definitely the best program to never win it all, and when they do, they will certainly join the ranks of the elite. I'm hoping it's sooner rather than later.