SoCon OOC

[gofurman]

I thought this was worth tracking as it affects the perception of the socon and thus Furman!! - I consider it important enough to put here under the FU heading as it affects our playoff chances a little (we control our own destiny but I some SoCon OOC wins help us).. I intend to update each week..

1) Samford lost to Youngstown St (Birmingham). Samford 22, YSU 45. (note, Samford was susceptible to strong runs by YSU.. the Samford D got gassed and YSU OL leaned on them)

Eastern Illinois at Chatt - CHATT WON over OVC. 'ok win for SoCon

CSU at Furman - 8/31 - FURMAN WON big over Csu from Big South.
Towson at the Citadel - 8/31. TOWSON WON but Citadel looked decent losing by 7 to a highly ranked team.
ETSU at FBS App State - 8/31 - FBS APP WON big
Wofford at SC State - 8/31 SC STATE WON over Wofford - not a good look for SoCon or Woff
VMI at FBS Marsha - 8/31 - FBS MARSHALL WON big
Samford at TTU - 8/31 - TTU WON in OT as Samford choked this one away.. not good for SoCon. Maybe Sam is really bad this year

[fufanatic]

From the parts of the game I saw, Samford looked awful and was not a good representative of our league in the only national appearance it will get until the playoffs. Which begs the question, why in the world were they even picked for it?

[apaladin]

Only see couple of SoCon wins this weekend, outside maybe 3. For Samford that was an intersectional game and probably both teams were willing to move the game up a week. After the Samford debacle the SoCon prolly won't be asked again.

[gofurman]

From the parts of the game I saw, Samford looked awful and was not a good representative of our league in the only national appearance it will get until the playoffs. Which begs the question, why in the world were they even picked for it?

well for one I assume you pick years in advance. They lost 3 NFL players - Hodges (QB) and Payton award winner ! and McKnight WR and Gooden on DL. Not many SoCon or anyone can lose the QB as a Payton award/ that caliber and be anything like that the next year.. recall when we lost Ingle and '04/05 vs say our teams in 07/08?

[gofurman]

Only see couple of SoCon wins this weekend, outside maybe 3. For Samford that was an intersectional game and probably both teams were willing to move the game up a week. After the Samford debacle the SoCon prolly won't be asked again.

AP, I think you may be underselling the SoCon. Chatt on Thursday will be favored though it's close. Woff and FU are 'big' favorites for whatever that's worth - Colgate was a small favorite and got crushed by Villanova.

Then I think Samford has a shot at TTU. TTU is not good.. maybe Samford is bad too but this is the interesting - TTU has film on Samford but Samford has played a game. I would be surprised if TTU blew Samford out. I think it will be close. TTU was 1-9 last year? They are often a .500 team at best in the OVC

IF all that happens that means there is only 1 FCS loss for the SoCon - Citadel / Towson. the others are w FBS so that really doesn't count. SoCon would have gone 4-1 vs FCS this weekend. I wouldn't be surprised. It's either 3-2 or 4-1

[fufanatic]

From the parts of the game I saw, Samford looked awful and was not a good representative of our league in the only national appearance it will get until the playoffs. Which begs the question, why in the world were they even picked for it?

well for one I assume you pick years in advance. They lost 3 NFL players - Hodges (QB) and Payton award winner ! and McKnight WR and Gooden on DL. Not many SoCon or anyone can lose the QB as a Payton award/ that caliber and be anything like that the next year.. recall when we lost Ingle and '04/05 vs say our teams in 07/08?

So you're saying Samford - Youngstown was a matchup already scheduled and ESPN thought that sounded good and moved it up to be on TV? I don't know why I thought this, but my understanding was those two teams were paired specifically for that game. Which as I write it doesn't make a lot of sense. FCS as a general rule would obviously pick JMU and/or teams from the MVC every year for that game if they could.

And yes, I know Samford lost a lot, so I don't blame them for looking bad, but just stinks because it's another strike on the SoCon as a whole. When's the last big win out of conference FCS our league has had? If we are counting playoffs, Furman in 05 is the last active team to make the FCS semifinals. Our win over a bad Delaware team in like 2008 maybe? Not sure what out of conference FCS wins Wofford has had. Citadel over South Carolina if we are mixing in FBS.

[gofurman]

You are right, I may have been mistaken that this matchup was already chosen. I don't know when they picked the teams.

as for good wins - well Citadel over USC is SUPERB.. but how about Furman over (yes, a bad) UCF team ? how about Furman over Elon in 2017 playoffs - that's a quality win at the very least.

that said, yes, i too want the SoCon to look better OOC. On the other hand I just really want Furman to excel so maybe I kinda like that I feel better about playing Samford now

[apaladin]

FYI-The Sammy/YSU game was announced 11 months ago today(9-26-18). GF that game was in Montgomery, not Birmingham. ESPN choose an early kickoff game each year. Correct me if I am wrong but this was the first time a SoCon team was chosen. I think Charleston Southern was in it last year or a couple of years ago?

[fufanatic]

FYI-The Sammy/YSU game was announced 11 months ago today(9-26-18). GF that game was in Montgomery, not Birmingham. ESPN choose an early kickoff game each year. Correct me if I am wrong but this was the first time a SoCon team was chosen. I think Charleston Southern was in it last year or a couple of years ago?

Did Chattanooga play Jacksonville State one year on ESPN? I really don't think it's been around too terribly long, but it's great exposure for FCS. Even people that would more than likely never watch FCS tune in as they are all desperate for any sort of college football.

[gofurman]

this is a good one. a win would be decent for SoCon - go Chatt

[The Jackal]

Based on the two games last Saturday, they should stop scheduling Week 0 games. Teams aren't ready.

[gofurman]

Based on the two games last Saturday, they should stop scheduling Week 0 games. Teams aren't ready.

maybe no one should play until mid-September. 5 turnovers in Clemson game IN FIRST HALF.. Chatt and EIU (esp Chatt) looks sloppy - offsides, etc over and over and taunting and etc... even on times you knew EIU was going to try and get themn offsides.

[gofurman]

Chatt wins

[cavedweller2]

I watched some of the Chatt game. Both teams were terrible. Eastern Ill seemed to think running plays sideline to sideline instead of downfield was a good idea. Undisciplined and not very well coached.

[MidlandsPaladin]

14-3 SCSU over Woffy at the half. Terriers struggling in every phase of the game so far.