RFC Summer Semester--Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Preview (NCAA Division II)

Our summer preseason previews roll on with an outlook on the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

What it is: The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, or PSAC, for short, was founded in 1951, and has competed at the NCAA Division II level since 1980. As the name indicates, the PSAC consists mostly of state supported institutions throughout Pennsylvania, although it added in-state private schools such as Gannon and Mercyhurst, as well as an out-of-state associate member in C.W. Post (N.Y). Also, Mansfield dropped its football program at the end of the 2006 season, although it has currently has a sprint football team.

Despite being one of the toughest conferences in all of D-II, no PSAC program has ever won a national championship. In fact, only two current PSAC members have played for a national championship. Indiana (Pa.) lost to North Dakota State, 51-11, in the 1990 title game, as well as to North Alabama, 41-34, for the 1993 championship. Bloomsburg is the only other current PSAC member to reach the title game, losing to Delta State, 63-34, in the 2000 championship game.

The PSAC was one of the few D-II conferences in the nation to have at least one representative play in the Super Bowl the last two seasons. Bloomsburg alumnus Jahri Evans played for the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints last February, while Clarion product Reggie Wells suited up for the Arizona Cardinals in Super XLIII. The PSAC currently has 16 member schools playing football, including associate member C.W. Post.

Website: http://www.psacsports.org

Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected winner in BOLD type)

Eastern Division

1. Bloomsburg (8-3): Huskies hope to avoid late season collapse that cost them a playoff berth.

2. Shippensburg (9-3): Red Raiders have tough row to hoe in defending the PSAC title.

3. C.W. Post (6-5): Expect the Pioneers to be in the thick of the division race again in 2010.

4. West Chester (7-4): Same thing goes for the Golden Rams.

5. East Stroudsburg (8-3): Warriors have their work cut out for them if they hope to be serious contenders for the division crown.

6. Kutztown (3-8): The Golden Bears finished a dismal 1-6 in the PSAC East last season.

7. Millersville (3-8): The Marauders also struggled in 2009, going 2-5 in league play.

8. Cheyney (0-11). After a winless season, the Wolves have nowhere to go but up.

Western Division

1. California (Pa.)--(11-4): The Vulcans hope to make a fourth straight trip to the national semifinals.

2. Clarion (8-3): After a 5-1 finish in PSAC West play last season, the Golden Eagles hope to make their first D-II playoff appearance since 1996.

3. Edinboro (9-4): The Fighting Scots hope to make it back-to-back postseason trips in 2010.

4. Slippery Rock (6-5): Can the Rock take that next step, and make their first trip to the playoffs since 1999?

5. Gannon (6-5): The Golden Knights hope to break through in the PSAC West standings this season.

6. Mercyhurst (4-7): The Lakers have an uphill battle to face in a tough Western Division.

7. Indiana (Pa.)--(5-6): The Crimson Hawks face a long climb back to the top after struggling to a 1-6 conference finish in 2009.

8. Lock Haven (0-10): The Bald Eagles hope to crack the win column in 2010.