What it is: With a history dating back 40 years, the Gulf South Conference has become one of the strongest conferences in NCAA Division II football. The GSC currently has 11 schools playing football, with a membership that stretches from Georgia to Arkansas, with Alabama and Mississippi sandwiched in between.
Over the years, GSC members, past and present, have combined to win nine national championships. Former member Troy State (now FBS Troy) won the league's first national titles in 1984 and 1987, current FCS member Jacksonville State won its lone crown in 1992, followed by three straight wins by North Alabama between 1993 and 1995. In the last decade alone, Delta State (2000) and Valdosta State (2004, 2007) have combined the three most recent national championships.
Despite being one of the strongest conferences in NCAA Division II, some potential moves among its current members have left its future in doubt. Recently, talks have arose that the six Arkansas schools in the GSC could bolt that league, and join forces with some of the Oklahoma schools in the Lone Star Conference to form their own circuit, citing travel concerns. Should the Arkansas institutions decide to leave, the GSC would be left with just five current members playing football. All of those schools are located east of the Mississippi River, in Misssisippi (Delta State), Alabama (North Alabama and West Alabama), and Georgia (Valdosta State and West Georgia).
Website: http://www.gulfsouthconference.org/
Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)
1. North Alabama (11-2): Coming off an NCAA quarterfinal playoff appearance in 2009, head coach Terry Bowden begins his second season leading the Lions. His squad faces a tough task in returning to postseason play in 2010, as they play just four games at home this season. That slate includes the likes of fellow playoff teams Arkansas Tech and West Alabama, as well as 2009 NAIA playoff participant Lambuth.
2. Valdosta State (6-4): The Blazers hope to return to their national championship form of 2007 after missing the playoffs for just the second time in the last 10 years.
3. Arkansas Tech (9-3): Expectations are high for the Wonder Boys, as they enter the 2010 season ranked in the Top 25 in the Lindy's and Sporting News polls, respectively. ATU must pay visits to fellow GSC foes North Alabama and West Alabama on a potential march back to the playoffs, though.
4. Delta State (5-5): The Statesmen hope to get themselves back into the GSC title, as well as playoff discussion after finishing a mediocre 4-4 in conference play last season. They'll find out quickly how good they might be early in 2010, as they host Arkansas Tech and West Alabama within the season's first five weeks.
5. Ouachita Baptist (6-4): The Tigers hope to win their first conference title since 1982. A tough early-season schedule includes a visit to perennial Midwest power Nebraska-Omaha on September 9.
6. West Alabama (8-5): After reaching the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time since 1975, the Tigers hope to make it back-to-back trips to postseason play in 2010.
7. Harding (5-6): The Bisons last winning season came in 2005, when they finished 6-5 overall.
8. Arkansas-Monticello (4-6): The Boll Weevils last playoff appearance was in 1993, when they reached the NAIA national semifinals.
9. Henderson State (3-7): The Reddies have finished above .500 just three times since 1995.
10. Southern Arkansas (3-7): The Muleriders struggled to a 2-5 finish in GSC play in 2009.
11. West Georgia (1-9): The Wolves hope to work their way out of the GSC basement in 2010.
5 years ago
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