What it is: Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference began its sponsorship of football nearly two decades later, in 2002. The BSC will finally get its chance on the national stage this season, as it will send its first-ever automatic qualifier to the FCS playoffs.
A conference that consists mostly of private, church-affilliated institutions, full membership in the BSC is located primarily in North and South Carolina, as well as Virginia. Stony Brook, located on New York's Long Island, is an associate member for football only.
In its nine-year history, the Big South Conference has had one of its current members advance to postseason play. Coastal Carolina became the first BSC member to reach the then NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 2006, losing to eventual national champion, Appalachian State, 45-28, in the first round. Despite a 10-2 overall, and unbeaten 5-0, record in conference play, Liberty was left out of the 2008 FCS playoff field.
The Big South did take a big hit as far as its membership was concerned, as Elon left the conference in 2003 to join the Southern Conference, where the Phoenix remain to this day. But Campbell, which started its football program in 2008, will re-join the BSC for all sports in 2011.
Website: http://www.bigsouthsports.com
Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)
1. Liberty (8-3): An upset loss to Stony Brook cost the Flames an outright conference title . Could this be the year they finally reach the postseason? That question could be answered by in three straight road games against FBS (Mid-American Conference) Ball State, Robert Morris, and James Madison.
2. Stony Brook (6-5): The Seawolves stunned Liberty to win a share of the Big South title. Their non-conference schedule includes trips to Big East Conference upstart South Florida, and Ivy League foe Brown.
3. Charleston Southern (6-5): A season-ending four-game winning streak gives the Buccaneeers a reason to believe in 2010.
4. Gardner-Webb (6-5): The Runnin' Bulldogs hope to make a serious run for their first-ever FCS postseason bid.
5. Coastal Carolina (5-6): The Chanticleers hope to bounce back after finishing under .500 for the second time in the program's seven-year history.
6. VMI (2-9): The Keydets struggled to a 1-5 mark in Big South play. Their last winning season was in 1981, when they finished 6-3-1.
7. Presbyterian (0-11): The Blue Hose enter the 2010 season on a 14-game losing streak that dates back to the latter portion of the 2008 season.
5 years ago
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