RFC Summer Semester--Northeast 10 Conference (NCAA Division II)

What it is: As a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, the Northeast 10 Conference traces its origins back 30 years to 1980, when it started as the Northeast 7 Conference. The NE-10 currently has 16 full members in five states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, & Vermont). The league currently has nine football playing members, although football has only been added within the last decade. The NE-10 failed to place a team in the 2009 Division II playoffs, as three teams (Bentley, Merrimack, and Southern Connecticut State) all shared the conference title with identical 6-2 conference records. Also, New Haven (5-5, 4-4) made its presence felt as the school resumed its football program, finishing a respectable .500 a year ago.

Website: http://www.northeast10.org

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses)

1. Bentley (8-2)

2. Southern Connecticut (6-4)

3. Merrimack (7-3)

4. New Haven (5-5)

5. Assumption (6-4)

6. Stonehill (5-5)

7. American International (5-5)

8. Pace (1-9)

9. Saint Anselm (2-8)

RFC e-mail address: realfootballcentral@gmail.com

Twitter: twitter.com/realfootball

RFC Summer Semester--Patriot League Preview

What it is: The Patriot League consists of eight full member, and three associate member institutions in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Of those schools, only American doesn't field a football, while Army and Navy compete as independents in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly NCAA Division I-A.



Of the 24 previous champions, only Colgate has managed to play for the national championship, as the Red Raiders lost to Delaware in the 2003 title game. Holy Cross won five of the first six PL between 1986 and 1991, with the Crusaders most recent crown coming in 2009. In addition to the Crusaders six titles, other teams that have won multiple Patriot League championships are Lehigh (winners of the most PL titles with eight), and Lafayette (four), Colgate (five), and Fordham (two).


Website: http://www.patriotleague.org/



Predicted order of finish (Projected conference champion in BOLD type)



1. Holy Cross (9-3): The defending Patriot League champs hope to go deeper into postseason play after a season-ending 38-28 to eventual national champion Villanova in the first round of last year's FCS playoffs.

2. Colgate (9-2): The Red Raiders were one of three teams to finish in a three-way tie for second place in 2009, finish 4-2 in Patriot League play.

3. Lafayette (8-3): The Leopards look to make a leap into the playoffs this year after missing out on the postseason last year.

4. Lehigh (4-7): The Mountain Hawks were the third team to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the PL, despite going 0-5 in non-conference play.

5. Bucknell (4-7): The Bison hope to bounce back after a disappointing 2-4 showing in Patriot League play last year.

6. Fordham (5-6): The Rams also face an uphill battle to win in 2010.

7. Georgetown (0-11): Which is something the Hoyas couldn't in 2009.

RFC Summer Semester--The Debut

Spring is nearing its end. Summer is just around the corner. That means it's time for the start of the "Real Football Central Summer Semester". This post is the first of what will likely be a long series of preseason previews of most--if not all--of the small college football programs and conferences across the United States. So, without further ado, let's get started.


Colonial Athletic Association


Website: http://www.caasports.com/



What it is: The CAA is a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly NCAA Division I-AA. Membership stretches from Maine to Virginia. It will field 10 teams in 2010. The CAA includes defending national champion Villanova. Since 2003, the CAA has won four of the last seven national championships (Delaware, 2003; James Madison, 2004; Richmond, 2008; and Villanova, 2009).


The conference will see some changes in 2010. Both Hofstra and Northeastern dropped their football programs at the end of the 2009 season. Second-year program Old Dominion will spend another season as an independent before moving into the CAA fold for 2011. Additionally, the conference will extend its footprint into Georgia by 2012. That's when Georgia State University from Atlanta will officially join the CAA for football.



Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses; projected conference champion in BOLD)



1. Villanova (14-1): Defending national champion Wildcats are the team to beat until another squad proves otherwise.



2. Richmond (11-2): Don't be surprised to see the 2008 national champion Spiders give the Wildcats a run for their money in the always-tough CAA.

3. William & Mary (11-2): Expect the Tribe to be thick of this tough conference race, too.

4. New Hampshire (10-3): The Wildcats from Northern New England finished 6-2 in CAA action last season.

5. Delaware (6-5): The Blue Hens hope to bounce back after a disappointing 4-4 conference finish in 2009.

6. James Madison (6-5): The Dukes also had a down year last season.

7. Maine (5-6): The Black Bears hope to overcome the odds en route to a winning record in 2010.

8. Massachusetts (5-6): The Minutemen struggled to a 3-5 conference finish last year.

9. Towson (2-9): The Tigers have the misfortune of competing in the toughest conference in the FCS.

10. Rhode Island (1-10). So do the Rams, who went winless in CAA action at 0-8.