Phil Steele Picks YSU as Top Team in MVFC

[IAA Fan]

1. Sam Houston State
2. James Madison
3. Montana State
4. Youngstown State
5. Wofford
6. N. Dakota State
21. Illinois State
26. Southern Illinois
33. Indiana State

[IAA Fan]

Interesting pick for YSU, and SIU. This man does some homework. SIU and ILS are really going to tough this year in my mind as well. Of course Steele is a Buckeye if I am not mistaken, and always likes Tressel. So it probably only takes a couple of rumors to get him to like us.

[HappyPenguin]

That's still impressive considering where we've been. Big turn-around in just a few seasons.

Now comes the hard part, delivering when expectations are high.

[IAA Fan]

More Info out today:

Entire List:

1) Sam Houston St
2) James Madiso n
3) Montana St
4) Youngstown St
5) Wofford
6) North Da kota St
7) EASTERN WASHING TON
TOWSON
9) Stony Broo k
10) Georgia Southern
11) NEW HAMPSHIRE
12) Delaware
13) Stephen F. Austin
14) NORTHERN ARIZONA
15) Northern Iowa
16) Appalachian St
17) EASTERN KENTUCKY
18) Lehigh
19) OLD DOMINION
20) MONTANA
21) Illinois St
22) SOUTH CAROLINA ST
23) HARVARD
24) JACKSONVILLE ST
25) ALABAMA ST
26) SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
27) MCNEESE ST
28) Grambling St
29) CHATTANOOGA
30) MAINE
31) CENTRAL ARKANSAS
32) MURRAY ST
33) INDIANA ST
34) WILLIAM & MARY
35) PENN
36) NoRFOLK ST
37) DUQUESNE
38) UT MARTIN
39) LIBERTY
40) HOLY CROSS


All America Teams ...NO GUINS, so I am not going to bother listing all of them.

http://www.ovcsports.com/documents/2012/8/8/Phil%20Steele%27s%20Preseason%20FCS%20Release.pdf

[YsuPride]

Does anyone know if Sporting News is going to put out a 2012 college football preview?  No sign of one yet.   

[penguinpower]

Pride,

Becuase the CAA has been weakend by the defections and the additions of power house Stonybrook and Albany, not to mention power house ODU, the writers are probably concerned that the CAA is no longer the toughest conference and have gone into hiding.  Don't be too concerned if you don't hear another peep.

LOL

[IAA Fan]

Great point Power. Also, even before the additions ...the instant dominance of Old Dominion (no pun intended), brought concerns about the CAA's credibility. Although I think they are wrong to worry about this, it has to be a concern to the media.

After all, we could look at Buffalo ...like Albany, part of the SUNY system, and an absolute nothing sports school. Yet, the state of NY gave them million$ to build up for the World Collegiate game years ago, and they now have the top facilities in the MAC. Took our spot as I recall. So Albany has potential. SBU has good non-football sports ...baseball, basketball, track are all great. Location is the main concern for adding these two programs to the CAA, as it should be. The problem with the CAA are their fans ...a bunch of arrogant bas****ds that think schools are going to leave good conferences for them ...they are even talking IA/FBS programs. This nice slap in the face, should hopefully get their minds back on football ...they needed some bottom-feeders. They need to offer these programs full membership soon, as I know the MAC wants SBU. Baseball is the new focus of the MAC. Look at the salary increases for coaches. Even assistants are paid more than our head coach. SBU's run in the CWS has opened many of doors of opportunity.



In comparison, look at the recent new entries into the Gateway/MVFC:
-YSU came in and won a national championship. (2 years)
-WKU came in an won a national championship. (2 years)
-NDSU came and won a national championship. (3 years)

[penguinpower]

One other point that I would like to make is that int he last few years the CAA has had 4-5 teams make it to the post season on at large bids.  Each year, they needed every one of them to increase the proability of a CAA National Championship.  Clearly they were not the strongest conference last year, but got the most teams in the field.  Now we'll see.

[ysuindy]

I was not aware that Phil Steele published a FCS magazine.  This year's is ready.

http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2012/Aug12/DBAug22.html

His blog indicates that if sales do not pick up this year, it will be his last year doing a FCS magazine.

$14.25 including shipping.  I placed my order - will offer my thoughts on it when received.