CAA Power Rankings

[89Hen]

Bad news for Hen fans. The SRS is being used by the selection committee from what I understand. Hope for Nova fans. Also, from what I understand the committee will be considering teams with 6 wins for the first time this year!

For those that don't want to open the spreadsheet the top 10 for SRS are:

1 NDSU
2 EIU
3 SELA
4 EWU
5 Nova
6 Towson
7 McNeese St
8 UNI
9 Coastal Carolina
10 Maine

Yeah, they will take one look at that and throw it in the circular file.

[vutomcat]

DON'T THINK SO 89er. READ ON.


In the FCS Huddle: Nothing 'Simple' about FCS playoff selections

Published September 11, 2013 /
Sports Network




Philadelphia, PA – There is an indelible image for the Sunday morning the NCAA announces the field for the FCS playoffs in late November.

It's not coaches and players celebrating wildly like it's Christmas morning - although that happens.

It's more from the members of the final few teams that were denied an at-large bid. They are the ones with stunned looks of disbelief after their magic carpet was pulled out from underneath their season.

While the expansion of the FCS playoffs by four teams this season has been met with open arms nationally, the less-publicized addition of a ratings system for the NCAA selection committee to use in picking its field has been embraced with a sense of enthusiasm, if not relief, across the FCS.

The Simple Rating System, or SRS, is similar to the RPI system used in college basketball and will quantify the strength of a team's schedule. Its use will help lead to a more concrete selection of at-large qualifiers, which will rise by three to 13 in the new 24-team field. The additional bid for the Pioneer Football League champion brings the number of conference champions to 11.

"It's been long overdue in my opinion. I think you'd find that is the consensus with our coaches," said coach Clint Conque of eighth-ranked Central Arkansas

One of the main reasons, according to coach Mark Farley of seventh-ranked Northern Iowa, is "probably the biggest deficiency right now in FCS is the difference in schedules. There's a lot of (teams) that are getting automatic bids that maybe don't play as strong of leagues or strong of schedules" as a conference like Farley's, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which is home to North Dakota State, the reigning two-time FCS national champion.

The SRS will factor in all of a team's games against FCS, FBS and Division II competition. In past years, a game against a Division II opponent did not count toward a team's resume.

But the new system will incorporate them into the equation and rightfully differentiate the levels of wins, including both home and away, which will provide a true strength of schedule tool. It will be recalculated on a weekly basis through the final regular-season games on Nov. 23 and the announcement of the playoff field the next morning.

The selection committee also will consider potential at-large teams with six wins against Division I competition, when in the past it basically considered seven to be the benchmark.

Conque says the new factors will help teams in conferences like his Southland and the Big Sky, where there are many fewer FCS schools geographically than the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast, and almost forces their members to play both a Division II school and an FBS opponent in a season. In the past, that could have hamstrung the chance to get to seven Division I wins.

"To be able to get credit for difficult scheduling, having to play a quality Division II school and the FBS, that balances out a little bit the fact we can't get a game with Valparaiso, Butler or Saint Francis or Drake or people like this," Conque said.

"And I think also, too, because they have this rating system in place, it creates a more objective opinion instead of backroom lawyering that potentially could go on with at-large selection opportunities. I'm not suggesting that that goes on. What I am saying, though, is that it does create a more objective, black and white tool for the committee to use versus more subjective material."

Last year, Lehigh, which had a 10-1 record, and fast-finishing Towson were among the more vocal teams after both were denied at-large bids. Richmond, Eastern Kentucky and Northern Arizona had their gripes as well.

The expansion of the field will open the door to many more claiming candidacy, but the new ratings will solve a lot of the discussion.

"I think," Farley said, "an RPI will help at least balance some scales of ... the schedule that you're playing, the ranked teams that you're playing."

[89Hen]

DON'T THINK SO 89er. READ ON.

I absolutely stand by my comment. Would you care to wager on whether the 13 at-large bids are the top 13 teams in the SRS?

[bluehenbillk]

The SRS is in "beta mode" for this year - there hasn't even been a consensus that how they are calculating & weighting things is the way to go.

Two things to point out: a 6-5 team has no shot. Zero. I've said it before & will say it again - playing just 11 games was a stupid move, but then again VU loses money on home games so it may have been a cost-savings to only play 11 vs 12.

Secondly, for fellow Hens fans it points out the weak SOS rating UD has. UD gets in at 8-4 only by default. There will/may be other 8-4 teams that the committee selects over UD. Makes UR a must-win pretty much.

[93henfan]

6-5 clearly won't get any team into the playoffs. There's also the chance that 8-4 won't either in a 12-game season, though it would be very tough to leave an 8-4 UD team out, considering the gate we bring, three NC appearances in last 10 seasons, and a football history/tradition that few other schools have.

[GannonFan]

The way this nova dude keeps spouting off with computer polls and things he's sure the committee is going to use makes him sound more and more like Ralph. It's almost like he's convinced that what he's saying is true. Too fuuny, still thinking a 6-5 team, at best, gets into the playoffs without an autobid. You can't make that stuff up.

[93henfan]

The way this nova dude keeps spouting off with computer polls and things he's sure the committee is going to use makes him sound more and more like Ralph. It's almost like he's convinced that what he's saying is true. Too fuuny, still thinking a 6-5 team, at best, gets into the playoffs without an autobid. You can't make that stuff up.

Well, Villanova does bring a tremendous gate, like that semifinal game in Radnor in 2009 where they pulled in...

...oh wait, nevermind. 4,171 for a semifinal game on campus. Ouch.

[vutomcat]

2009 yes I recall that year----- the National Champions - VU Wildcats!

[93henfan]

2009 yes I recall that year----- the National Champions - VU Wildcats!

Culmination of a long run of success by the A-10/CAA. UMass, Delaware, JMU, Richmond, Nova all National Champions. An incredible run for a conference.

[Grizalltheway]

2009 yes I recall that year----- the National Champions - VU Wildcats!

I'll kindly ask you to STFU.

[vutomcat]

Funny - you have your own to brag about Griz.

[Grizalltheway]

Funny - you have your own to brag about Griz.

Yes, but that one really stung. 14-0 with a miracle comeback against SDSU, ending AE's career in a game for the ages, followed by a 2 point loss thanks to that Polish baseball player. Yuck.

[vutomcat]

The way this nova dude keeps spouting off with computer polls and things he's sure the committee is going to use makes him sound more and more like Ralph. It's almost like he's convinced that what he's saying is true. Too fuuny, still thinking a 6-5 team, at best, gets into the playoffs without an autobid. You can't make that stuff up.

This article is not about me spouting off. It's a published article that indicates how the FCS committee is changing the way they select teams. They are using a source (SRS) that is very favorable for Nova.

Not only is the ranking of Nova extremely high but the article also points out that a 6 win team WOULD be considered.

Naturally, a 6 win team could only be considered if it was ranked very high due to strength of schedule and Villanova fits that criteria better than any team in the country. I still think it's a longshot too Hen fans but it's not out of the realm of possibility that you claim it is.

[TribePride]

Oh well......

I guess with SRS, William & Mary and Delaware have no hope for the playoffs since they are not in the top 10 of the SRS. Here I thought that we had a chance if we won our last two games, but I guess it doesn't matter.


Also, thanks for reminding me of the fake punt in front of 4000 fans that cost us a national title in 2009.

[Twyxx7]

Yeah, they will take one look at that and throw it in the circular file.

I absolutely stand by my comment

a 6-5 team has no shot

6-5 clearly won't get any team into the playoffs

It's almost like he's convinced that what he's saying is true. Too fuuny, still thinking a 6-5 team, at best, gets into the playoffs without an autobid.

"The selection committee also will consider potential at-large teams with six wins against Division I competition, when in the past it basically considered seven to be the benchmark."

Nice to see the Hens fans bothered to read the article.

[GannonFan]

I'm willing to take any bets right now that nova doesn't make the playoffs this year. If you two feel so comfortable that the committee is really going to consider nova, at all, then let's pony up and end this debate. I say they are a mortal lock to miss the playoffs. What do you got?

[89Hen]

Yeah, they will take one look at that and throw it in the circular file.

I absolutely stand by my comment

a 6-5 team has no shot

6-5 clearly won't get any team into the playoffs

It's almost like he's convinced that what he's saying is true. Too fuuny, still thinking a 6-5 team, at best, gets into the playoffs without an autobid.

"The selection committee also will consider potential at-large teams with six wins against Division I competition, when in the past it basically considered seven to be the benchmark."

Nice to see the Hens fans bothered to read the article.

Nice to see you don't understand how the committee works.

[GannonFan]

"The selection committee also will consider potential at-large teams with six wins against Division I competition, when in the past it basically considered seven to be the benchmark."

Nice to see the Hens fans bothered to read the article.

Nice to see you don't understand how the committee works.

I think it's funny when you see younger fans like this guy and that nova kid who actually think the committee really works this way. But hey, those guys don't have the knowledge of the last 25 years or so to really know how this stuff gets done. The blissful ignorance of youth.

[vutomcat]

Or is it that you are resisting change and are afraid to admit you might be wrong despite a published articlle written with information given to the author by the committe?
Look, no Cat fan has said they are getting in. Stop trying to change what we are saying or have said. We are simply telling you that your opinion that they won't be considered if they are 6-5 is wrong. We even showed it to you in writing. All of your insults don't change the facts. If you have any valuable new information, feel free to share. So far, I've given you a load of information to support my opinion.

[vutomcat]

Oh well......

I guess with SRS, William & Mary and Delaware have no hope for the playoffs since they are not in the top 10 of the SRS. Here I thought that we had a chance if we won our last two games, but I guess it doesn't matter.


Also, thanks for reminding me of the fake punt in front of 4000 fans that cost us a national title in 2009.

Whoa. Now don't you start re-framing what I'm saying too! I think William and Mary is a lock.

[YoUDeeMan]

Oh well......

I guess with SRS, William & Mary and Delaware have no hope for the playoffs since they are not in the top 10 of the SRS. Here I thought that we had a chance if we won our last two games, but I guess it doesn't matter.


Also, thanks for reminding me of the fake punt in front of 4000 fans that cost us a national title in 2009.

Whoa. Now don't you start re-framing what I'm saying too! I think William and Mary is a lock.

A lock for what? You think they are a lock now, or if they win out? Yeah, those details are important. WTH are those drunken priests teaching kids at nova these days?

nova is NOT going to the playoffs. They are dead in the water. ZERO chance. Forget what is written...there is no way in a 12-game season that the committee will reward a 6-win team for ducking another loss. NO WAY.

Funny thing...if nova beats Delaware, it will only weaken nova's SOS. We're essentially a poison pill.

Of course, the wildkitties' game with BYE won't help either.

[vutomcat]

Whoa. Now don't you start re-framing what I'm saying too! I think William and Mary is a lock.

A lock for what? You think they are a lock now, or if they win out? Yeah, those details are important. WTH are those drunken priests teaching kids at nova these days?

nova is NOT going to the playoffs. They are dead in the water. ZERO chance. Forget what is written...there is no way in a 12-game season that the committee will reward a 6-win team for ducking another loss. NO WAY.

Funny thing...if nova beats Delaware, it will only weaken nova's SOS. We're essentially a poison pill.

Of course, the wildkitties' game with BYE won't help either.

I think they only have to win one.

[GannonFan]

Look, no Cat fan has said they are getting in. Stop trying to change what we are saying or have said. .

First of all, where is this "we" coming from? Are you royalty? You're the only nova fan here, which must be very comforting to you since that's probably how you feel whenever you go to watch them play, assuming you even go the the games.

Second, you said this regarding nova's chances of making the playoffs:

I still think it's a longshot too... but it's not out of the realm of possibility ...

Now you are saing that there are no nova fans who are saying they can get in. So which one is it - you seem to be contradicting yourself here. Do you want me to pull the other quotes from other threads where you say they could get in? You seem to be of two minds on this, which of course, is just a silly ploy on your part to double the nova fanbase. For shame.

[89Hen]

Or is it that you are resisting change and are afraid to admit you might be wrong despite a published articlle written with information given to the author by the committe?

Half the folks here are more credible than SN writers.

[vutomcat]

Look, no Cat fan has said they are getting in. Stop trying to change what we are saying or have said. .

First of all, where is this "we" coming from? Are you royalty? You're the only nova fan here, which must be very comforting to you since that's probably how you feel whenever you go to watch them play, assuming you even go the the games.

Second, you said this regarding nova's chances of making the playoffs:

I still think it's a longshot too... but it's not out of the realm of possibility ...

Now you are saing that there are no nova fans who are saying they can get in. So which one is it - you seem to be contradicting yourself here. Do you want me to pull the other quotes from other threads where you say they could get in? You seem to be of two minds on this, which of course, is just a silly ploy on your part to double the nova fanbase. For shame.

If you can't tell the difference between "outside the realm of possibility" and "nova is getting in or is a lock" do you really think you should be on here making a case for your team? Oh brother. O
You guys are wasting my time.