FCS programs you consider Elite

[expandspanos]

Haha, just pissed off a few Delaware fans.

[89Hen]

But your point is valid. UD is an elite FCS program.

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.

Yup. I'd rather be UD than UNH every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[bluehenbillk]

Anybody living outside of the state of Montana is NOT going to have MSU on a list of elite programs....

[89Hen]

Haha, just pissed off a few Delaware fans.

I wouldn't say "pissed off"... but we do think you should stick to conspiracy theories.

[expandspanos]

Haha, just pissed off a few Delaware fans.

I wouldn't say "pissed off"... but we do think you should stick to conspiracy theories.

Yeah, I pissed you guys off.. The fact that you guys are upset about it, proves you're irrelevant now.

[89Hen]

I wouldn't say "pissed off"... but we do think you should stick to conspiracy theories.

Yeah, I pissed you guys off.. you're irrelevant now.

And 9/11 was an inside job.

[expandspanos]

Yeah, I pissed you guys off.. you're irrelevant now.

And 9/11 was an inside job.

According to Willie Nelson, American legend, yes it was

[89Hen]

The fact that you guys are upset about it, proves you're irrelevant now.

Awesome logic there.

[Appaholic]

Montana
Appalachian State
Georgia Southern
Delaware

These are the only, "truly, elite programs IMO. Current / recent success + historical success + multiple titles

[89Hen]

Delaware

+ multiple titles

[Appaholic]

Delaware

+ multiple titles

Holy shit. I just checked. WTF? You guys are usually claiming like, 8 titles, or something? Do you mean to tell me you've only won 1 legit national title at our level? fokking a.......

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Where would Lehigh fall in this? Top shelf but not elite?

[89Hen]

FWIW, I always thought of the word "program" to be the whole package: on field accomplishments, attendance, fans that travel, tailgate experience, name recognition, facilities, etc...

[89Hen]

Holy shit. I just checked. WTF? You guys are usually claiming like, 8 titles, or something? Do you mean to tell me you've only won 1 legit national title at our level? fokking a.......

1-3 in I-AA finals.

[UNI88]

Delaware

+ multiple titles

According to GF, your College Division titles count since that level was the equivalent of FCS at the time.

And I agree with Appa's 4.

[Pwns]

Tier 1: Griz, GSU, App. State

Tier 2: JMU, Delaware (consistent success, but not quite like Tier I)

Tier 3: teams from the top 5 conferences not in tiers 1 and 2 that have been to the playoffs at least 3 times in the last 10 years.

Tier 4: Elite teams from outside the top 5 conferences, middle-of-the-road programs in the top 5 conferences

Tier 5: Lowest programs in top conferences, some middle-of-the-road programs in lower conferences.

Tier 6: Everyone else

[89Hen]

According to GF, your College Division titles count since that level was the equivalent of FCS at the time.

And I agree with Appa's 4.

I don't think they count the same as I-AA titles, but IMO they do count when talking about historical success.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I think Delaware, GSU, Montana and Youngstown State are the historical elite.

The "now" elite are Montana, App State, Delaware, GSU and JMU imo.

[Brock Landers]

Holy shit. I just checked. WTF? You guys are usually claiming like, 8 titles, or something? Do you mean to tell me you've only won 1 legit national title at our level? fokking a.......

1-3 in I-AA finals.

Hah. Our 2-5 slightly bests you!

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Holy shit. I just checked. WTF? You guys are usually claiming like, 8 titles, or something? Do you mean to tell me you've only won 1 legit national title at our level? fokking a.......

1-3 in I-AA finals.

You're welcome.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I don't understand the love for JMU. If they're elite, so is EWU. Both have 5 playoff appearances in the last 8 years or so, 1 NC.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I don't understand the love for JMU. If they're elite, so is EWU. Both have 5 playoff appearances in the last 8 years or so, 1 NC.

I think you have to factor in name recognition, facilities, fan base etc.

[EWURanger]

I think you have to look at this in terms of the past 10 years or so. There are some schools that would fall into the historically "elite" category that have done very little in that amount of time, so in my opinion, they are no longer elite programs. My thought process is looking at total number of playoff appearances, recent national championships, and other recognition such as individual player awards.

Tier 1 - Schools with 2 or more National Titles and expected to make the playoffs every season.

-App State
-Montana
-GA Southern

Tier 2 - Schools with at least one recent national title or championship appearances, expected to challenge for their conference title every season, and expected to be in the playoffs every season.

-Delaware
-Eastern Washington
-North Dakota State
-UNI
-Villanova
-James Madison

Tier 3 - Schools expected to challenge for their conference title generally every season and fairly regular playoff participant. May not have a national title but have the ability to make a playoff run.

-Montana State
-UNH
-William & Mary
-SHSU

[EWURanger]

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.

How is Montana State elite when EWU has a higher winning percentage, more playoff appearances, more playoff wins, a National Championship, and four more national players of the year in the past 10 years?

And what makes you think Idaho would be an elite FCS program if they dropped back down to 1-AA? They never made it past the quarter-finals of the 1-AA playoffs when they were in the Big Sky.

[ASUMountaineer]

"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

WTF is wrong with you guys? Montana State?