The 2010 football regular season has flown by! Here it is, Thanksgiving week and the Delaware Blue Hens will have an extra week to rest in preparation for the I-AA playoffs. Most of us never expected such lofty heights when the season began. There were question marks about the injury-ridden defensive line and whether a run-game could be established to compliment Pat Devlin and the passing attack.
As the season progressed we learned about Andrew Pierce and the defense has been just fine...thank you! The #1 running back in the CAA (#30 AP), and arguably the best defense in the nation. This team of Fightin' Blue Hens ended up a late missed field goal, and OT fumble away from going undefeated in the best conference in I-AA. The Colonial Athletic Conference had seven teams ranked in the Top 25 most of the season...there were still six until the final week when both U-MASS and Richmond lost to fall just outside the Poll. Three conference teams ended up in the top 10 (UNH was 11th), while Richmond (26), Massachusetts (28) and James Madison (29) lingered just beyond the final regular season poll.
I was not surprised to see both William & Mary and Delaware rewarded with two of the top four seeds in the NCAA I-AA playoffs announced Sunday. The depth & strength of the conference is superior as is it's recent post-season success. A CAA team has been in the championship game six of the last seven years, winning 4 titles.
Delaware's playoff season begins December 4th hosting the winner of a 1st round game between Lehigh (The Patriot League Champion), and Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley champion). The Blue Hens have faced Lehigh 45 times with the most recent contest in 2005 - a Delaware win in overtime 34-33. The Hens have faced the Northern Iowa Panthers only twice, a 2003 home playoff game following a snow storm in a convincing 37-7 Blue Hen win, and a memorable 39-27 upset of the unbeaten Panthers in the UNI-Dome in a 2007 playoff game.
Regardless of the opponent, it should be a good game in Delaware Stadium where the crowd has been phenomenal the last two games...especially the sell-out throng for the Villanova game. So...kick back and enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday...watch some football...and get ready for the playoffs...I know I will.
Delete6
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
CAA - Tops In The FCS!
The first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision begins three weeks from Saturday (November 27). I still prefer to call this classification I-AA football as it was intended when formulated in 1978. There were just 4 teams in the playoff format that initial season. The NCAA expanded the tournament to 8 teams in 1981, added 4 more in 1982 (12 total with the top 4 receiving a 1st round bye), and then in 1986 adopted the 16-team system with 8 conferences receiving automatic bids. Now, 24 years later, the field has been expanded to 20 teams with the top 12 seeds receiving first round byes.
There are 14 conferences in I-AA and this season 10 of those 14 will receive an automatic bid to the tournament. The four conferences not receiving an automatic berth are: The Ivy League which cites academic reasons, The SWAC which has scheduling conflicts with the playoffs, The Great West which does not meet the minimum requirement of six teams and is soon to be dismantled, and the "non-scholarship" Pioneer League which was denied automatic status.
Of the ten conferences that receive automatic berths, there is no doubt the CAA is the premier league. Since 2003 Delaware, James Madison, Richmond, and Villanova have won national championships and the most recent TSN Top 25 Poll includes 7 teams from the league! According to my calculations, the CAA should receive a minimum of 4 and as many as 6 bids to the newly-expanded tournament field.
Here are the conferences and the teams that are front-runners:
Big Sky: Eastern Washington 7-2 ranked #6, Montana State 7-2 ranked #12, and Montana 6-3 ranked #13
Big South: Either Liberty 3-0 (6-2) ranked #14, or Sony Brook 3-0 (4-4) unranked.
Great West : No guarantee but Cal Poly 6-3 and ranked #19 could get an at-large.
MEAC: Bethune-Cookman 5-0 (8-0) ranked #11, South Carolina State 4-1 (6-2) ranked #16
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa 4-1 (5-3) ranked #17, Western Illinois 4-2 (6-3) ranked #24
Northeast: Robert Morris 6-0 (7-1) not ranked, or Central Connecticut State 5-0 (6-2) not ranked.
Ohio Valley: Southeast Missouri State 7-0 (8-1) ranked #9, Jacksonville State 5-0 (8-0) ranked #2
Patriot: Conference champ only, probably Lehigh 2-0 (6-2) not ranked.
Southern: Appy State 6-0 (8-0) ranked #1, Wofford 5-0 (7-1) ranked #7
Southland: Stephen F. Austin 3-1 (6-2) ranked #10, McNeese State 3-1 (4-4) not ranked
CAA: William & Mary 4-1 (7-2) ranked #4, Delaware 4-1 (7-1) ranked #5, Villanova 4-1 (7-2) ranked #3, New Hampshire 3-2 (5-3) ranked #8, U-MASS 3-2 (5-3) ranked #15, Richmond 4-4 ranked #20, and JMU 4-4 ranked #22.
I believe the Big South, Northeast, Southland and Patriot will all receive only the automatic bid for conference champion. The MEAC, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, and Southern leagues could all get an additional at-large berth. While the Big Sky could receive two at-large invitations. That would leave 5 spots in the field up for grabs between the CAA and the rest of the I-AA schools. Of course, there are still three weeks left in the regular season and upsets could wreak havoc to my projections. However, I do not see how the CAA would not get at least four teams into the playoffs with an outside shot at five or six.
Time will tell............
There are 14 conferences in I-AA and this season 10 of those 14 will receive an automatic bid to the tournament. The four conferences not receiving an automatic berth are: The Ivy League which cites academic reasons, The SWAC which has scheduling conflicts with the playoffs, The Great West which does not meet the minimum requirement of six teams and is soon to be dismantled, and the "non-scholarship" Pioneer League which was denied automatic status.
Of the ten conferences that receive automatic berths, there is no doubt the CAA is the premier league. Since 2003 Delaware, James Madison, Richmond, and Villanova have won national championships and the most recent TSN Top 25 Poll includes 7 teams from the league! According to my calculations, the CAA should receive a minimum of 4 and as many as 6 bids to the newly-expanded tournament field.
Here are the conferences and the teams that are front-runners:
Big Sky: Eastern Washington 7-2 ranked #6, Montana State 7-2 ranked #12, and Montana 6-3 ranked #13
Big South: Either Liberty 3-0 (6-2) ranked #14, or Sony Brook 3-0 (4-4) unranked.
Great West : No guarantee but Cal Poly 6-3 and ranked #19 could get an at-large.
MEAC: Bethune-Cookman 5-0 (8-0) ranked #11, South Carolina State 4-1 (6-2) ranked #16
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa 4-1 (5-3) ranked #17, Western Illinois 4-2 (6-3) ranked #24
Northeast: Robert Morris 6-0 (7-1) not ranked, or Central Connecticut State 5-0 (6-2) not ranked.
Ohio Valley: Southeast Missouri State 7-0 (8-1) ranked #9, Jacksonville State 5-0 (8-0) ranked #2
Patriot: Conference champ only, probably Lehigh 2-0 (6-2) not ranked.
Southern: Appy State 6-0 (8-0) ranked #1, Wofford 5-0 (7-1) ranked #7
Southland: Stephen F. Austin 3-1 (6-2) ranked #10, McNeese State 3-1 (4-4) not ranked
CAA: William & Mary 4-1 (7-2) ranked #4, Delaware 4-1 (7-1) ranked #5, Villanova 4-1 (7-2) ranked #3, New Hampshire 3-2 (5-3) ranked #8, U-MASS 3-2 (5-3) ranked #15, Richmond 4-4 ranked #20, and JMU 4-4 ranked #22.
I believe the Big South, Northeast, Southland and Patriot will all receive only the automatic bid for conference champion. The MEAC, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, and Southern leagues could all get an additional at-large berth. While the Big Sky could receive two at-large invitations. That would leave 5 spots in the field up for grabs between the CAA and the rest of the I-AA schools. Of course, there are still three weeks left in the regular season and upsets could wreak havoc to my projections. However, I do not see how the CAA would not get at least four teams into the playoffs with an outside shot at five or six.
Time will tell............
Friday, October 22, 2010
SECONDARY RAP
I write my latest blog with the backdrop of MattyRy screaming at the Yankees (losing 5-1 & facing elimination to Texas). I feel sorry for him since he is a good friend and such a devoted fan. Especially since Matt Janus & I loudly cheered on our beloved Phillies last night in a near-empty hotel sports establishment.
Tomorrow Delaware faces another stiff CAA test playing the Tribe of William & Mary in their Homecoming game. Both teams are ranked in the top 5 in almost every conference category. Delaware might be a little better on defense and will need to be on top of their game against a versatile Tribe offense. The feature back, Jonathon Grimes led the CAA in rushing last year, and has gained 92 & 98 yards the last two games against the Hens. He will find the going a little tougher against this 2010 Delaware defense.
Last year the Blue Hens lost here in Zable Stadium 30-20 as pat Devlin passed for more than 300 yards, but gained -2 yards rushing. There was no balance on offense. What a difference a year makes as the Hens lead the conference in rushing with Andrew Pierce #1 in the CAA averaging 125.7 yards per game. His presence has allowed Delaware to control the clock (2nd in the CAA in TOP) and allowed Devlin to be much more effective with "play-action".
Special teams could play a serious role as the Tribe is 2nd in the conference in punt & kick-off returns and have scored two touchdowns. Delaware allowed a kick-off return for a touchdown last week to Rhode Island, and can ill-afford any such momentum swings tomorrow.
This could be the best passing attack the Blue Hens have faced all season, and the secondary will be severely tested. Bratton, Burley, Grant, Jones & Walters wouldn't have it any other way. They thrive on the challenge. As a matter-of-fact, I just thought of the beginning of a little "Secondary Rap".
"Double-B, G, J, Double-U
This ain't our first bar-b-que"
If you're gonna pass, we'll pick a few
We're double-B, G, J, double-U"
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
OH-O We're Half-Way There
Bon Jovi sings, "We've got to hold on, ready or not. You live for the fight when it's all that you've got. Oh-O we're half-way there, oh-o livin' on a prayer."
Well the University of Delaware football team is half-way through this 2010 season, a perfect 6-0 and ranked 2nd in the nation. They have taken some severe hits, like Pat Devlin's wrist fracture suffered against South Dakota State and the "concussion-like" symptoms on the second play at JMU. In the same game, Anthony Walters injured his shoulder. A few other players have been banged up, but that is the nature of the game. When a team as talented and balanced as the Blue Hens can survive major injuries it can achieve success.
This week the Rhode Island Rams visit Delaware Stadium. It is highly likely that Walters will sit out his second consecutive game, and the Hens will be without back-up running back David Hayes (ankle). Devlin had his best passing performance of the season last week against Maine after missing the JMU game (concussion) and earlier this season sitting out the Duquesne game. So Delaware "fights on" nursing some bruises from the gridiron battles of weeks past. This team possesses the best balance in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Blue Hens live for another fight, this time before a possible sell-out crowd on their home field for Parent's Weekend.
My Prayer is they will survive another test and remain healthy!
Well the University of Delaware football team is half-way through this 2010 season, a perfect 6-0 and ranked 2nd in the nation. They have taken some severe hits, like Pat Devlin's wrist fracture suffered against South Dakota State and the "concussion-like" symptoms on the second play at JMU. In the same game, Anthony Walters injured his shoulder. A few other players have been banged up, but that is the nature of the game. When a team as talented and balanced as the Blue Hens can survive major injuries it can achieve success.
This week the Rhode Island Rams visit Delaware Stadium. It is highly likely that Walters will sit out his second consecutive game, and the Hens will be without back-up running back David Hayes (ankle). Devlin had his best passing performance of the season last week against Maine after missing the JMU game (concussion) and earlier this season sitting out the Duquesne game. So Delaware "fights on" nursing some bruises from the gridiron battles of weeks past. This team possesses the best balance in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Blue Hens live for another fight, this time before a possible sell-out crowd on their home field for Parent's Weekend.
My Prayer is they will survive another test and remain healthy!
