PreSeason Poll

[The Jackal]

Do we have a QB who can run the football? That's been a BIG part of our Offense the last two years.

agree - I am all for throwing and extending the field.. letting them know they can't just forget the DB area. but we really helped ourselves with a running QB as it is a whole other thing you have to account for. defenses hate running QBs becuase sometimes they even have to 'wasste a LB by leaving him as a spy. Its now 11 on 11. wiht a qb who almost never runs its 10 on 11 and offense only has 10 guys. running QBs are a HUUUUGE advantage.

You know, I'm not so much worried about this.

Coach Roper is going to develop an offense that fits the personnel he has, not force his personnel to fit a specific type of offense. Furman, for instance, used the QB as a runner a lot less frequently than Holy Cross did with Roper as OC. Different personnel = different philosophy.

That's not to say that Furman does not have QBs that can run. Some of the QBs we have ran plenty in high school. Hedden was on the track team, for instance. They may be utilized differently at Furman, however.

[gofurman]

Do we have a QB who can run the football? That's been a BIG part of our Offense the last two years.

agree - I am all for throwing and extending the field.. letting them know they can't just forget the DB area. but we really helped ourselves with a running QB as it is a whole other thing you have to account for. defenses hate running QBs becuase sometimes they even have to 'wasste a LB by leaving him as a spy. Its now 11 on 11. wiht a qb who almost never runs its 10 on 11 and offense only has 10 guys. running QBs are a HUUUUGE advantage.

You know, I'm not so much worried about this.

Coach Roper is going to develop an offense that fits the personnel he has, not force his personnel to fit a specific type of offense. Furman, for instance, used the QB as a runner a lot less frequently than Holy Cross did with Roper as OC. Different personnel = different philosophy.

That's not to say that Furman does not have QBs that can run. Some of the QBs we have ran plenty in high school. Hedden was on the track team, for instance. They may be utilized differently at Furman, however.

Jackal. I hope you are right.

But running or escape QBs are also a work-in-progress OL best friend. sack about to happen Huff jukes for a first down or so. Maybe instead of 2nd and 12 it’s 2nd and 3.

I guess it’s the unproven OL and the new qb that scares me. Not even 2 returnees on OL is odd.

If I may ask. What’s the most game plays experience any of our new OL have ? I really don’t know. Hate we lost the tackle who we thought was returning.

Anyway. I just mainly concern of
OL
QB
DL?

maybe depth of RBs. Is Smith available. ? He impressed me


Anyway hope we win 8+. I would take 8/9 easily. Beat dam Wofford by 20

[The Jackal]

I think this notion that the offensive line is a work in progress is more a construct of this forum than it is a real concern.

Some of the guys may be "unproven" insofar as some of our fans are uncomfortable with the notion of established players passing the torch, but a lot of these guys have been in the program four or five years and should be plenty capable to handle the load.

There are plenty of examples in recent history of established All SoCon linemen graduating and being replaced by guys that would become established All SoCon linemen. Trust the coaching staff to develop these guys.

[gofurman]

I think this notion that the offensive line is a work in progress is more a construct of this forum than it is a real concern.

Some of the guys may be "unproven" insofar as some of our fans are uncomfortable with the notion of established players passing the torch, but a lot of these guys have been in the program four or five years and should be plenty capable to handle the load.

There are plenty of examples in recent history of established All SoCon linemen graduating and being replaced by guys that would become established All SoCon linemen. Trust the coaching staff to develop these guys.

I hear you. And I wish for the best. Go Furman!

Just I’ve seen 30 years and no returning OL plus a new QB hasn’t usually been a good thing. Certainly lowers yours odds. Can you succeed with this?. Yep. Is it more likely you will succeed with a senior QB and four elder OL? ABSOLUTELY YES. last year was our best since 2005 and these type criteria - elder statesman - were met. Coincidence? I think not

But it can be done. Hope we get a second ring in as many years

[apaladin]

Good point GF.

[FUBeAR]

This is FUBeAR’s Pre-Season SoCon Power Ranking…

FUBeAR’s SoCon Power Ranking

1. Furman - lost a lot; got a lot - will be better at the end of ‘24 than they were in ‘23

1. Mercer - lost a lot & a Coach, but gained a lot too - will be better than ‘23

3. Chatt - FUBeAR likes their QB and TrainBirds always are tough on D

4. ETSU - Tre brought some “Louis” w/him from Boiling Springs and he will play to win. Will be a fun Team to watch.

5. Samford - because everyone knows that the 3rd consecutive year of bringing in 40 transfers is always the best year!

6. WCU - Who is FUBeAR to argue with the great & powerful Massey? Catamounts regress to their mean in ‘24. Tough early schedule dooms the rest of the season as doubts begin to creep in.

7. Wofford - lot of young Players got a lot of PT in ‘23. They’ll overachieve in ‘24.

8. CIT - will show some improvement in ‘24, but not necessarily always on the scoreboard.

9. VMI - love the Keydets, but see them also regressing to their traditional mean in ‘24

[The Jackal]

I think this notion that the offensive line is a work in progress is more a construct of this forum than it is a real concern.

Some of the guys may be "unproven" insofar as some of our fans are uncomfortable with the notion of established players passing the torch, but a lot of these guys have been in the program four or five years and should be plenty capable to handle the load.

There are plenty of examples in recent history of established All SoCon linemen graduating and being replaced by guys that would become established All SoCon linemen. Trust the coaching staff to develop these guys.

I hear you. And I wish for the best. Go Furman!

Just I’ve seen 30 years and no returning OL plus a new QB hasn’t usually been a good thing. Certainly lowers yours odds. Can you succeed with this?. Yep. Is it more likely you will succeed with a senior QB and four elder OL? ABSOLUTELY YES. last year was our best since 2005 and these type criteria - elder statesman - were met. Coincidence? I think not

But it can be done. Hope we get a second ring in as many years

I know a few of you are trying to speak this "no returning linemen" into existence, but it's literally untrue.

Luke Petit, for instance, started in 2023. He started in 2022, too. He returns this year too.

EJ Wilson backed up Johanning. He started the four games last year Johanning was out (we won three of those games - lost to USC). He's back.

Blake Hundley started games last year. He's back and plays multiple positions.

Plenty of other guys have played. This isn't a roster where we have a bunch of OL that have never played a snap for us.

I get what everyone is trying to say, but having to replace guys literally happens every year. It happens during the season. Guys move on. Guys get injured. The next man steps in.

I can also point you to some seasons where Furman started senior QBs and we were atrocious. So, that isn't a panacea.

[The Jackal]

Sam Herder has Furman #14.

It would seem he has UTC at #10, WCU #16, W&M #17.

[tim]

Glad UTC and WCU are home games

[gofurman]

This is FUBeAR’s Pre-Season SoCon Power Ranking…

FUBeAR’s SoCon Power Ranking

1. Furman - lost a lot; got a lot - will be better at the end of ‘24 than they were in ‘23

1. Mercer - lost a lot & a Coach, but gained a lot too - will be better than ‘23

3. Chatt - FUBeAR likes their QB and TrainBirds always are tough on D

4. ETSU - Tre brought some “Louis” w/him from Boiling Springs and he will play to win. Will be a fun Team to watch.

5. Samford - because everyone knows that the 3rd consecutive year of bringing in 40 transfers is always the best year!

6. WCU - Who is FUBeAR to argue with the great & powerful Massey? Catamounts regress to their mean in ‘24. Tough early schedule dooms the rest of the season as doubts begin to creep in.

7. Wofford - lot of young Players got a lot of PT in ‘23. They’ll overachieve in ‘24.

8. CIT - will show some improvement in ‘24, but not necessarily always on the scoreboard.

9. VMI - love the Keydets, but see them also regressing to their traditional mean in ‘24

UTC does always seem to have a freak or two on DL - they had the guy who knocked Huff out of the game because we assume - INCORRECTLY - we could develop a play leaving him unblocked. He won D player of the year 2 consecutive years.

And this isn't an aberration ... I swear they have a pro-day tryout DL guy every year.

[apaladin]

According to hero we only picked up 2 transfers, which seems really low considering we have a very inexperienced team this year. Maybe no scholarships were available? Are scholarships still a thing?

[FUBeAR]

AGS Pre-Season Poll…

AGS Poll Results 2024 PRESEASON POLL
7/31/2024

This Weeks Published Output
Rank Team: Total Points First Place Votes
1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits 1147 43
2 Montana Grizzlies 1074 1
3 North Dakota State Bison 1070 2
4 Montana State Bobcats 990
5 Villanova Wildcats 938
6 South Dakota Coyotes 879
7 Idaho Vandals 789
8 Furman Paladins 704
9 Chattanooga Mocs 693
10 Southern Illinois Salukis 613
11 Sac State Hornets 597
12 Richmond Spiders 524
13 Central Arkansas Bears 483
14 Albany Great Danes 439
15 Incarnate Word Cardinals 426
16 William & Mary Tribe 329
17 UC Davis Aggies 327
18 Lafayette Leopards 300
19 Nicholls Colonels 260
20 Western Carolina Catamounts 259
21 Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks 253
22 Illinois State Redbirds 209
23 North Dakota Fighting Hawks 209
24 Tarleton Texans 206
25t Weber State Wildcats 185
25t Youngstown State Penguins 185
ORV:
27 Mercer Bears 120
28 Austin Peay Governors 110
29 Elon Phoenix 72
30 Northern Iowa Panthers 69
31 Eastern Illinois Panthers 66
32 North Carolina Central Eagles 65
33 New Hampshire Wildcats 64
34 Holy Cross Crusaders 59
35 Florida A&M Rattlers 53
36 Harvard Crimson 29
37 Duquesne Dukes 22
38 Alcorn State Braves 16
39 Yale Bulldogs 16
40 Alabama State Hornets 13

[FUBeAR]

Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll AKA “The Usual Garbage”

1. South Dakota State (2023: 15–0, 8–0 MVFC), 1,396 points (52 1st-place votes)
2. North Dakota State (11-4, 5-3 MVFC), 1,327 (3)
3. Montana (13-2, 7-1 Big Sky), 1,285
4. Montana State (8-4, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,199 (1)
5. South Dakota (10-3, 7-1 MVFC), 1,155
6. Villanova (10-3, 7-1 CAA), 1,151
7. Idaho (9-4, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,021
8. Sacramento State (8-5, 4-4 Big Sky), 874
9. Chattanooga (8-5, 6-2 SoCon), 868
10. Southern Illinois (8-5, 4-4 MVFC), 832
11. Central Arkansas (7-4, 4-2 UAC), 724
12. Furman (10-3, 7-1 SoCon), 678
13. Richmond (9-4, 7-1 CAA), 625
14. UIW (8-2, 6-1 Southland), 605
15. William & Mary (6-5, 4-4 CAA), 546
16. UAlbany (11-4, 7-1 CAA), 527
17. Lafayette (9-3, 5-1 Patriot), 359
18. UC Davis (7-4, 5-3 Big Sky), 351
19. Illinois State (6-5, 4-4 MVFC), 350
20. Western Carolina (7-4, 5-3 SoCon), 318
21. Tarleton State (8-3, 4-2 UAC), 302
22. Weber State (6-5, 4-4 Big Sky), 268
23. Nicholls (6-5, 7-0 Southland), 201
24. North Dakota (7-5, 5-3 MVFC), 197
25. Youngstown State (8-5, 5-3 MVFC), 177
26. Elon (6-5, 6-2 CAA) 174
27. UT Martin (8-3, 5-1 Big South-OVC) 169
28. Eastern Illinois (8-3, 4-2 Big South-OVC) 139
29. Mercer (9-4, 6-2 SoCon) 98
30. Florida A&M (12-1, 8-0 SWAC) 65
31. North Carolina Central (9-3, 4-1 MEAC) 52
32. Austin Peay (9-3, 6-0 UAC) 51
33. Alabama State (7-4, 5-3 SWAC) 17
33. Holy Cross (7-4, 5-1 Patriot) 17
35. Eastern Washington (4-7, 3-5 Big Sky) 14
36. Drake (8-4, 8-0 Pioneer) 8
37. Duquesne (7-4, 6-1 NEC) 8
38. Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy) 6
39. Samford (6-5, 4-4 SoCon) 6
40. Northern Iowa (6-5, 5-3 MVFC) 4

[SU DOG]

Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll AKA “The Usual Garbage”

1. South Dakota State (2023: 15–0, 8–0 MVFC), 1,396 points (52 1st-place votes)
2. North Dakota State (11-4, 5-3 MVFC), 1,327 (3)
3. Montana (13-2, 7-1 Big Sky), 1,285
4. Montana State (8-4, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,199 (1)
5. South Dakota (10-3, 7-1 MVFC), 1,155
6. Villanova (10-3, 7-1 CAA), 1,151
7. Idaho (9-4, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,021
8. Sacramento State (8-5, 4-4 Big Sky), 874
9. Chattanooga (8-5, 6-2 SoCon), 868
10. Southern Illinois (8-5, 4-4 MVFC), 832
11. Central Arkansas (7-4, 4-2 UAC), 724
12. Furman (10-3, 7-1 SoCon), 678
13. Richmond (9-4, 7-1 CAA), 625
14. UIW (8-2, 6-1 Southland), 605
15. William & Mary (6-5, 4-4 CAA), 546
16. UAlbany (11-4, 7-1 CAA), 527
17. Lafayette (9-3, 5-1 Patriot), 359
18. UC Davis (7-4, 5-3 Big Sky), 351
19. Illinois State (6-5, 4-4 MVFC), 350
20. Western Carolina (7-4, 5-3 SoCon), 318
21. Tarleton State (8-3, 4-2 UAC), 302
22. Weber State (6-5, 4-4 Big Sky), 268
23. Nicholls (6-5, 7-0 Southland), 201
24. North Dakota (7-5, 5-3 MVFC), 197
25. Youngstown State (8-5, 5-3 MVFC), 177
26. Elon (6-5, 6-2 CAA) 174
27. UT Martin (8-3, 5-1 Big South-OVC) 169
28. Eastern Illinois (8-3, 4-2 Big South-OVC) 139
29. Mercer (9-4, 6-2 SoCon) 98
30. Florida A&M (12-1, 8-0 SWAC) 65
31. North Carolina Central (9-3, 4-1 MEAC) 52
32. Austin Peay (9-3, 6-0 UAC) 51
33. Alabama State (7-4, 5-3 SWAC) 17
33. Holy Cross (7-4, 5-1 Patriot) 17
35. Eastern Washington (4-7, 3-5 Big Sky) 14
36. Drake (8-4, 8-0 Pioneer) 8
37. Duquesne (7-4, 6-1 NEC) 8
38. Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy) 6
39. Samford (6-5, 4-4 SoCon) 6
40. Northern Iowa (6-5, 5-3 MVFC) 4

Just curious FUBeAR, but in your opinion do you think there are really 38 FCS teams that would beat Samford this season? I just think that the FCS as a whole still does not realize nor respect the talent and strength of the SoCon.

[FUBeAR]

Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll AKA “The Usual Garbage”

1. South Dakota State (2023: 15–0, 8–0 MVFC), 1,396 points (52 1st-place votes)
2. North Dakota State (11-4, 5-3 MVFC), 1,327 (3)
3. Montana (13-2, 7-1 Big Sky), 1,285
4. Montana State (8-4, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,199 (1)
5. South Dakota (10-3, 7-1 MVFC), 1,155
6. Villanova (10-3, 7-1 CAA), 1,151
7. Idaho (9-4, 6-2 Big Sky), 1,021
8. Sacramento State (8-5, 4-4 Big Sky), 874
9. Chattanooga (8-5, 6-2 SoCon), 868
10. Southern Illinois (8-5, 4-4 MVFC), 832
11. Central Arkansas (7-4, 4-2 UAC), 724
12. Furman (10-3, 7-1 SoCon), 678
13. Richmond (9-4, 7-1 CAA), 625
14. UIW (8-2, 6-1 Southland), 605
15. William & Mary (6-5, 4-4 CAA), 546
16. UAlbany (11-4, 7-1 CAA), 527
17. Lafayette (9-3, 5-1 Patriot), 359
18. UC Davis (7-4, 5-3 Big Sky), 351
19. Illinois State (6-5, 4-4 MVFC), 350
20. Western Carolina (7-4, 5-3 SoCon), 318
21. Tarleton State (8-3, 4-2 UAC), 302
22. Weber State (6-5, 4-4 Big Sky), 268
23. Nicholls (6-5, 7-0 Southland), 201
24. North Dakota (7-5, 5-3 MVFC), 197
25. Youngstown State (8-5, 5-3 MVFC), 177
26. Elon (6-5, 6-2 CAA) 174
27. UT Martin (8-3, 5-1 Big South-OVC) 169
28. Eastern Illinois (8-3, 4-2 Big South-OVC) 139
29. Mercer (9-4, 6-2 SoCon) 98
30. Florida A&M (12-1, 8-0 SWAC) 65
31. North Carolina Central (9-3, 4-1 MEAC) 52
32. Austin Peay (9-3, 6-0 UAC) 51
33. Alabama State (7-4, 5-3 SWAC) 17
33. Holy Cross (7-4, 5-1 Patriot) 17
35. Eastern Washington (4-7, 3-5 Big Sky) 14
36. Drake (8-4, 8-0 Pioneer) 8
37. Duquesne (7-4, 6-1 NEC) 8
38. Harvard (8-2, 5-2 Ivy) 6
39. Samford (6-5, 4-4 SoCon) 6
40. Northern Iowa (6-5, 5-3 MVFC) 4

Just curious FUBeAR, but in your opinion do you think there are really 38 FCS teams that would beat Samford this season? I just think that the FCS as a whole still does not realize nor respect the talent and strength of the SoCon.

I think #36 Drake would wipe the floor with the #39 HomewoodHounds … just like they did in 2013… when they stormed into Maconga as defending PFL Champions to put a merciless beat down on a bunch of 18/19 year old Freshmen Walk-Ons at Mercer…

Mercer University's start-up Division I football program beat Drake University 31-17 at home in Macon on Saturday.

The Bulldogs were the first experienced team Mercer has faced, as well as their first Pioneer League opponent. Drake, last year’s conference co-champion, was highly favored.

Mercer actually totaled fewer yards than Drake but took advantage of seven turnovers to score four touchdowns.

In other words, as FUBeAR said up top … THE USUAL GARBAGE!!

All SoCon Teams are ranked 6-10 (or more) slots lower than they should be.