FCS programs you consider Elite
FCS programs you consider Elite
To piggy Back the topic about teams you would like to see become Elite, who do the fans consider Elite?
Some of Mine are in no particular order
Apply, Montana, GSU, UNI, Delaware have high respect for Youngstown ST for their history but need to step it up this year could help
Some of Mine are in no particular order
Apply, Montana, GSU, UNI, Delaware have high respect for Youngstown ST for their history but need to step it up this year could help
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
I'll go by conference
Big Sky:
Montana
EWU - on the cusp? They have a NC, and some individual honors the last 5 years, but for every 9+ win season there is a couple 7 or less.
Big South
None
None of cusp
CAA:
Delaware - verge of falling off of elite to next tier?
JMU - cusp of elite...
William and Mary - near top of second tier
Ivy:
None
Sure some could be because of long ago history but not in my eyes
MEAC:
None even close
MVFC:
UNI - could be argued won't be elite until a title is won BUT 16 conference titles in 27 years of MVFC/Gateway play is pretty damn good
SIU - ask me 4 years ago and SIU was here...now they've fallen off pretty hard
NDSU - NC last year, but I can't put them as elite yet because they are still too new. Keep up what they've done the last two years for 3 or 4 more years and they'll be there.
YSU - 13 years ago sure...now? Nope
NEC:
None even close
OVC:
None even close
PL:
None even close
PFL:
None even close
SoCon:
ASU
GSU
Southland:
None
SWAC:
None even close.
Big Sky:
Montana
EWU - on the cusp? They have a NC, and some individual honors the last 5 years, but for every 9+ win season there is a couple 7 or less.
Big South
None
None of cusp
CAA:
Delaware - verge of falling off of elite to next tier?
JMU - cusp of elite...
William and Mary - near top of second tier
Ivy:
None
Sure some could be because of long ago history but not in my eyes
MEAC:
None even close
MVFC:
UNI - could be argued won't be elite until a title is won BUT 16 conference titles in 27 years of MVFC/Gateway play is pretty damn good
SIU - ask me 4 years ago and SIU was here...now they've fallen off pretty hard
NDSU - NC last year, but I can't put them as elite yet because they are still too new. Keep up what they've done the last two years for 3 or 4 more years and they'll be there.
YSU - 13 years ago sure...now? Nope
NEC:
None even close
OVC:
None even close
PL:
None even close
PFL:
None even close
SoCon:
ASU
GSU
Southland:
None
SWAC:
None even close.
- AZGrizFan
- Supporter
- Posts: 59959
- Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:40 pm
- I am a fan of: Sexual Chocolate
- Location: Just to the right of center
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
CURRENTLY Elite? Montana, ASU & NDSU
HISTORICALLY Elite? Add GSU to that list
Honestly I am surprised at how quickly NDSU ascended the ladder to the top. They made it look very easy.
HISTORICALLY Elite? Add GSU to that list
Honestly I am surprised at how quickly NDSU ascended the ladder to the top. They made it look very easy.
"Ah fuck. You are right." KYJelly, 11/6/12
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." Barack Obama, 9/25/12
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." Barack Obama, 9/25/12
-
- One Man Wolfpack
- Posts: 34860
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:13 am
- I am a fan of: Hodgdon
- A.K.A.: Random Mailer
- Location: Backwoods of Montana
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
AZGrizFan wrote:CURRENTLY Elite? Montana, ASU & NDSU
HISTORICALLY Elite? Add GSU to that list
Honestly I am surprised at how quickly NDSU ascended the ladder to the top. They made it look very easy.
"What I'm saying is: You might have taken care of your wolf problem, but everyone around town is going to think of you as the crazy son of a bitch who bought land mines to get rid of wolves."
Justin Halpern
Justin Halpern
- SuperHornet
- SuperHornet
- Posts: 20392
- Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:24 pm
- I am a fan of: Sac State
- Location: Twentynine Palms, CA
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
Within Conference:
Big Sky: Montana, Montana State, EWU. (Close: CP, PSU, WSU.)
CAA: Delaware, JMU. (Close: B&M, Maine, ODU, UNH.)
SoCon: App, GA Sou, Wofford. (Close: Elon, Furman.)
Big South: Liberty, Stony Brook, CCU.
Ivy: Harvard, Princeton, Yale.
MVFC: UNI, YSU. (Close: NDSU, SIU, MO St.)
SLC: SHSU, McNeese. (Close: UCA, SFA.)
NEC: RMU, Albany.
OVC: Jax St, SEMO. (Close: TTU, Murray St.)
Patriot: Lafayette, Lehigh. (Close: Holy Cross.)
Pioneer: Dayton, J'ville, San Diego. (Close: Drake.)
SWAC: Grambling, AL S&M.
MEAC: Norfolk St., SC St. (Close: Morgan St., Hampton, DE St.)
Nationally:
Top Tier: Montana, UNI, Del, App.
Second Tier: EWU, MSU, JMU.
Third Tier: CP, SHSU, NDSU, McNeese, UNH, B&M, SIU, YSU, Wofford, UCA.
Fourth Tier: Liberty, Stony Brook, ODU, IL St.
Of course, this includes historical rep with current rep. I do think, though, that my top tier qualifies for that status on BOTH counts.
Big Sky: Montana, Montana State, EWU. (Close: CP, PSU, WSU.)
CAA: Delaware, JMU. (Close: B&M, Maine, ODU, UNH.)
SoCon: App, GA Sou, Wofford. (Close: Elon, Furman.)
Big South: Liberty, Stony Brook, CCU.
Ivy: Harvard, Princeton, Yale.
MVFC: UNI, YSU. (Close: NDSU, SIU, MO St.)
SLC: SHSU, McNeese. (Close: UCA, SFA.)
NEC: RMU, Albany.
OVC: Jax St, SEMO. (Close: TTU, Murray St.)
Patriot: Lafayette, Lehigh. (Close: Holy Cross.)
Pioneer: Dayton, J'ville, San Diego. (Close: Drake.)
SWAC: Grambling, AL S&M.
MEAC: Norfolk St., SC St. (Close: Morgan St., Hampton, DE St.)
Nationally:
Top Tier: Montana, UNI, Del, App.
Second Tier: EWU, MSU, JMU.
Third Tier: CP, SHSU, NDSU, McNeese, UNH, B&M, SIU, YSU, Wofford, UCA.
Fourth Tier: Liberty, Stony Brook, ODU, IL St.
Of course, this includes historical rep with current rep. I do think, though, that my top tier qualifies for that status on BOTH counts.
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
- Big McLargehuge
- Level1
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 6:27 pm
- I am a fan of: Montana
- Location: Los Angeles
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
I'll copy clenz's conference approach while bolding the schools that I consider truly elite.
Big Sky:
Montana - Easily.
Montana State - If they can keep up what they've been building of late they'll be back there soon enough.
Eastern Washington - A recent NC and a few awards of late...gotta sustain that for a while longer, though.
Big South
None
CAA:
Delaware - If they were made of bronze they'd be green by now...but it wouldn't take much to restore them to their prior glory.
William & Mary - Extremely close to crossing over to the elite tier, but they need at least a National Championship appearance to get there first.
JMU - They're almost there, but need more consistency and a couple more deep runs.
New Hampshire - Hit the snooze button here and just plum forgot about them, my bad
Ivy:
None
MEAC:
None even close
MVFC:
Northern Iowa - They're teetering on the positive side for the same reason W&M is, but on the opposite side of things - they've at least been to a National Championship Game. They're here for their dominance of their conference, but that only means so much if you can't win in the playoffs...and NDSU is aiming for their throne.
North Dakota State - I won't give them elite status yet just because their success at this level hasn't been sustained yet, but I fully expect them to continue their success.
Southern Illinois - They were on the cusp very recently and have an 80s title to fall back on...but with a 9-13 record the past two years they've fallen on the wrong side of things.
Youngstown State - When I first got into 1-AA/FCS football, absolutely...now, not so much.
NEC:
None even close
OVC:
None even close
PL:
None even close
PFL:
None even close
SoCon:
Appalachian State - No comment necessary.
Georgia Southern - When you've won 6 of the past 27 titles handed out you have a place here...even if you're in an 0 for 11 slump...their recent rise helps things a lot, though.
Southland:
McNeese State - They've been to two NCGs in 15 years, that's worth an honorable mention at the very least...
SWAC:
None even close.
Big Sky:
Montana - Easily.
Montana State - If they can keep up what they've been building of late they'll be back there soon enough.
Eastern Washington - A recent NC and a few awards of late...gotta sustain that for a while longer, though.
Big South
None
CAA:
Delaware - If they were made of bronze they'd be green by now...but it wouldn't take much to restore them to their prior glory.
William & Mary - Extremely close to crossing over to the elite tier, but they need at least a National Championship appearance to get there first.
JMU - They're almost there, but need more consistency and a couple more deep runs.
New Hampshire - Hit the snooze button here and just plum forgot about them, my bad
Ivy:
None
MEAC:
None even close
MVFC:
Northern Iowa - They're teetering on the positive side for the same reason W&M is, but on the opposite side of things - they've at least been to a National Championship Game. They're here for their dominance of their conference, but that only means so much if you can't win in the playoffs...and NDSU is aiming for their throne.
North Dakota State - I won't give them elite status yet just because their success at this level hasn't been sustained yet, but I fully expect them to continue their success.
Southern Illinois - They were on the cusp very recently and have an 80s title to fall back on...but with a 9-13 record the past two years they've fallen on the wrong side of things.
Youngstown State - When I first got into 1-AA/FCS football, absolutely...now, not so much.
NEC:
None even close
OVC:
None even close
PL:
None even close
PFL:
None even close
SoCon:
Appalachian State - No comment necessary.
Georgia Southern - When you've won 6 of the past 27 titles handed out you have a place here...even if you're in an 0 for 11 slump...their recent rise helps things a lot, though.
Southland:
McNeese State - They've been to two NCGs in 15 years, that's worth an honorable mention at the very least...
SWAC:
None even close.
Last edited by Big McLargehuge on Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
Pittsburgh Penguins|Pittsburgh Steelers|Pittsburgh Pirates
- Grizalltheway
- Supporter
- Posts: 35688
- Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:01 pm
- A.K.A.: DJ Honey BBQ
- Location: BSC
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
You have Bill and Mary on the verge but UNH doesn't even get a mention? I know their flagship poster is a douche, but c'mon...
- Darell1976
- Level2
- Posts: 1359
- Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:39 am
- I am a fan of: THE Univ. of North Dakota
- A.K.A.: darell1976
- Location: Fargo, ND
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
Montana, Montana State, App State, UNI
NDSU is getting there and will be with more successful seasons they have had 2 out of 4.
Idaho when they come back to the BSC.
NDSU is getting there and will be with more successful seasons they have had 2 out of 4.
Idaho when they come back to the BSC.
2011 GWFC Co-Champs!!!!
Now Playoff Eligible!!
Now Playoff Eligible!!
- grizcountry420
- Level1
- Posts: 370
- Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:01 pm
- I am a fan of: The University of Montana
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
Sorry.. Montana State isnt an elite program. They've won 2 playoff games since '84..............
- AZGrizFan
- Supporter
- Posts: 59959
- Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:40 pm
- I am a fan of: Sexual Chocolate
- Location: Just to the right of center
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
I'm not even sure what "third tier" and "fourth tier" elite even means....but you might want to look at that Top Tier list. There's an egregious error (or two) that you might want to correct.SuperHornet wrote:Nationally:
Top Tier: Montana, UNI, Del, App.
Second Tier: EWU, MSU, JMU.
Third Tier: CP, SHSU, NDSU, McNeese, UNH, B&M, SIU, YSU, Wofford, UCA.
Fourth Tier: Liberty, Stony Brook, ODU, IL St.
"Ah fuck. You are right." KYJelly, 11/6/12
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." Barack Obama, 9/25/12
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam." Barack Obama, 9/25/12
- Aho Old Guy
- Level2
- Posts: 1436
- Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:18 pm
- I am a fan of: Tweetsee
- A.K.A.: Evil & Nastie
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
The Vermin of Furman deserve a SoCon mention ...
"But the damned and the guiltiest among you are the men who had the capacity to know, yet chose to blank out reality, the men who were willing to sell their intelligence into cynical servitude..."
- John Galt
- John Galt
- Darell1976
- Level2
- Posts: 1359
- Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:39 am
- I am a fan of: THE Univ. of North Dakota
- A.K.A.: darell1976
- Location: Fargo, ND
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
Really?? My bad.grizcountry420 wrote:Sorry.. Montana State isnt an elite program. They've won 2 playoff games since '84..............
2011 GWFC Co-Champs!!!!
Now Playoff Eligible!!
Now Playoff Eligible!!
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
So how far back in history do you get to go? Is it the last 10 years, 20 years, 2 years, last year?
- Big McLargehuge
- Level1
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 6:27 pm
- I am a fan of: Montana
- Location: Los Angeles
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
Brain fart...completely glossed over them. I added them.Grizalltheway wrote:You have Bill and Mary on the verge but UNH doesn't even get a mention? I know their flagship poster is a douche, but c'mon...
Pittsburgh Penguins|Pittsburgh Steelers|Pittsburgh Pirates
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
SACCAT wrote:So how far back in history do you get to go? Is it the last 10 years, 20 years, 2 years, last year?
Good question. Who is elite this year or on the cusp is quite a bit different than a complete historical view.
- Brock Landers
- Level2
- Posts: 2213
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:34 pm
- I am a fan of: Things
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
So... everyone. Including teams that have made the playoffs onceSuperHornet wrote:Within Conference:
Big Sky: Montana, Montana State, EWU. (Close: CP, PSU, WSU.)
CAA: Delaware, JMU. (Close: B&M, Maine, ODU, UNH.)
SoCon: App, GA Sou, Wofford. (Close: Elon, Furman.)
Big South: Liberty, Stony Brook, CCU.
Ivy: Harvard, Princeton, Yale.
MVFC: UNI, YSU. (Close: NDSU, SIU, MO St.)
SLC: SHSU, McNeese. (Close: UCA, SFA.)
NEC: RMU, Albany.
OVC: Jax St, SEMO. (Close: TTU, Murray St.)
Patriot: Lafayette, Lehigh. (Close: Holy Cross.)
Pioneer: Dayton, J'ville, San Diego. (Close: Drake.)
SWAC: Grambling, AL S&M.
MEAC: Norfolk St., SC St. (Close: Morgan St., Hampton, DE St.)
Nationally:
Top Tier: Montana, UNI, Del, App.
Second Tier: EWU, MSU, JMU.
Third Tier: CP, SHSU, NDSU, McNeese, UNH, B&M, SIU, YSU, Wofford, UCA.
Fourth Tier: Liberty, Stony Brook, ODU, IL St.
Of course, this includes historical rep with current rep. I do think, though, that my top tier qualifies for that status on BOTH counts.
- 89Hen
- Supporter
- Posts: 39225
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:13 pm
- I am a fan of: High Horses
- A.K.A.: The Almighty Arbiter
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
Hate to be the homer but not a whole lot of love for the Hens on many lists. Some are extremely strange..
How are MSU and UNI on the list and not UD?Darell1976 wrote:Montana, Montana State, App State, UNI
- Brock Landers
- Level2
- Posts: 2213
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:34 pm
- I am a fan of: Things
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
I'll go with the SH approach, but less insane
Top Tier: Montana, Delaware, NDSU, ASU, GSU
Second Tier: JMU, YSU, McNeese, UNI
Third Tier: Wofford, UNH, W&M, EWU, MSU, ODU
Fourth Tier: CP, SHSU, UCA, EKU, SIU, Nova
Gets pretty tricky in the 4th tier. You have teams like Nova and SHSU that make runs every few years, teams like EKU that have been around forever but haven't done jack shit in forever, newcomers that have won games like UCA, etc.
Top Tier: Montana, Delaware, NDSU, ASU, GSU
Second Tier: JMU, YSU, McNeese, UNI
Third Tier: Wofford, UNH, W&M, EWU, MSU, ODU
Fourth Tier: CP, SHSU, UCA, EKU, SIU, Nova
Gets pretty tricky in the 4th tier. You have teams like Nova and SHSU that make runs every few years, teams like EKU that have been around forever but haven't done jack shit in forever, newcomers that have won games like UCA, etc.
Last edited by Brock Landers on Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
- 89Hen
- Supporter
- Posts: 39225
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:13 pm
- I am a fan of: High Horses
- A.K.A.: The Almighty Arbiter
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
So by "currently" in the case of NDSU you're really talking about 2011, but for AppSt you're obviously going back a few years, and why Montana but not UD if you're looking at a snapshot like NDSU?AZGrizFan wrote:CURRENTLY Elite? Montana, ASU & NDSU
HISTORICALLY Elite? Add GSU to that list
NC's in last 10 years: UD - 1, UM- 1
NC appearances in last 10 years: UD - 3, UM- 3
Playoff wins: UD - 11, UM - 14
Me thinks you're fishing and I'm only going to nibble and leave it at that.
- ASUMountaineer
- Level4
- Posts: 5047
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:38 pm
- I am a fan of: Appalachian State
- Location: The Old North State
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
Where is GSU? SH, this is a poor effort...SuperHornet wrote:Within Conference:
Big Sky: Montana, Montana State, EWU. (Close: CP, PSU, WSU.)
CAA: Delaware, JMU. (Close: B&M, Maine, ODU, UNH.)
SoCon: App, GA Sou, Wofford. (Close: Elon, Furman.)
Big South: Liberty, Stony Brook, CCU.
Ivy: Harvard, Princeton, Yale.
MVFC: UNI, YSU. (Close: NDSU, SIU, MO St.)
SLC: SHSU, McNeese. (Close: UCA, SFA.)
NEC: RMU, Albany.
OVC: Jax St, SEMO. (Close: TTU, Murray St.)
Patriot: Lafayette, Lehigh. (Close: Holy Cross.)
Pioneer: Dayton, J'ville, San Diego. (Close: Drake.)
SWAC: Grambling, AL S&M.
MEAC: Norfolk St., SC St. (Close: Morgan St., Hampton, DE St.)
Nationally:
Top Tier: Montana, UNI, Del, App.
Second Tier: EWU, MSU, JMU.
Third Tier: CP, SHSU, NDSU, McNeese, UNH, B&M, SIU, YSU, Wofford, UCA.
Fourth Tier: Liberty, Stony Brook, ODU, IL St.
Of course, this includes historical rep with current rep. I do think, though, that my top tier qualifies for that status on BOTH counts.
Appalachian State Mountaineers:
National Champions: 2005, 2006, and 2007
Southern Conference Champions: 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! WE'RE GONNA SHOUT IT! NOTHING'S HOTTER THAN A-S-U!
National Champions: 2005, 2006, and 2007
Southern Conference Champions: 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! WE'RE GONNA SHOUT IT! NOTHING'S HOTTER THAN A-S-U!
FCS programs you consider Elite
You're slightly off on UM. Either zero NCs in last 10 years or, if you're willing to count 2001, four NC appearances.89Hen wrote:So by "currently" in the case of NDSU you're really talking about 2011, but for AppSt you're obviously going back a few years, and why Montana but not UD if you're looking at a snapshot like NDSU?AZGrizFan wrote:CURRENTLY Elite? Montana, ASU & NDSU
HISTORICALLY Elite? Add GSU to that list
NC's in last 10 years: UD - 1, UM- 1
NC appearances in last 10 years: UD - 3, UM- 3
Playoff wins: UD - 11, UM - 14
Me thinks you're fishing and I'm only going to nibble and leave it at that.
But your point is valid. UD is an elite FCS program.
-
- Level2
- Posts: 1970
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:16 am
- I am a fan of: School of Hard Knocks
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
"Elite" FCS teams: James Madison, Montana, Montana State, Northern Iowa, NDSU, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Sam Houston State
"On the Cusp": Delaware, Youngstown State, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Wofford, Elon, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Stony Brook, Albany, Alabama State, Villanova, Richmond, William and Mary.
"Getting there": North Dakota, South Dakota State, Portland State, Maine, Weber State
"On the Cusp": Delaware, Youngstown State, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Wofford, Elon, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Stony Brook, Albany, Alabama State, Villanova, Richmond, William and Mary.
"Getting there": North Dakota, South Dakota State, Portland State, Maine, Weber State
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- 89Hen
- Supporter
- Posts: 39225
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:13 pm
- I am a fan of: High Horses
- A.K.A.: The Almighty Arbiter
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
expandspanos wrote:"Elite" FCS teams: James Madison, Montana State, Northern Iowa, NDSU, Sam Houston State
"On the Cusp": Delaware
"Getting there": North Dakota, South Dakota State, Portland State, Jacksonville State, Maine
- ChickenMan
- Level2
- Posts: 622
- Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:58 pm
- I am a fan of: Delaware
- Location: Fort Worth TX
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
UD under KC Keeler has been a program of peaks followed by valleys. Three championship appearances and one title over the past ten years would seem to indicate that Delaware should be included in the 'elite' class.. but five other seasons during that same period that produced a combined record of 27-30 might suggest otherwise. Question is.. do the high peaks offset the too many valleys??? That inconsistency debate is still ongoing among Hen fans.Tod wrote:
But your point is valid. UD is an elite FCS program.
"the closest thing to immortality on this earth is a Federal government program"... Ronald Reagan
Re: FCS programs you consider Elite
Oh wow.expandspanos wrote:"Elite" FCS teams: James Madison, Montana, Montana State, Northern Iowa, NDSU, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Sam Houston State
"On the Cusp": Delaware, Youngstown State, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Wofford, Elon, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Stony Brook, Albany, Alabama State, Villanova, Richmond, William and Mary.
"Getting there": North Dakota, South Dakota State, Portland State, Maine, Weber State
Delaware Football: 1889-2012; 2022-