skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Looking back: The NEC went 0-1 in its first-ever FCS playoff appearance, as Robert Morris lost to North Dakota State, 27-13, on November 27, 2010.
Looking ahead: Bryant officially joins the NEC as a full member in 2012.
Website: http://www.northeastconference.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Robert Morris (8-3): The Colonials welcome nine starters from the NEC's first-ever automatic FCS playoff qualifier. But the first several weeks on the schedule are brutal, as three straight road games follow their home opener against Dayton on September 3.
2. Central Connecticut State (8-3): Although they won a share of the NEC title with a 7-1 league mark, a late season loss to Robert Morris cost the Blue Devils a playoff berth. They'll look for payback against the Colonials on November 5.
3. Duquesne (7-4): The Dukes return 14 starters in hopes of contending for a conference championship in 2011.
4. Albany (6-5): A season-ending three-game winning streak gives the Great Danes momentum heading into 2011.
5. Wagner (5-6): The Seahawks will try to bounce back after a rare sub-.500 campaign. Head Coach Walt Hameline is one of a select few coaches that's a member of the 200-win club.
6. Bryant (7-4): The Bulldogs will find out quickly just where they stand when they open the 2011 season against Maine on September 3.
7. Monmouth (3-8): The Hawks look to put a disappointing 2010 season behind, as they finished NEC play a dismal 3-5.
8. Sacred Heart (4-7): The Pioneers have three home games to kick off 2011.
9. St. Francis (Pa.)--(1-10): It seems like the 2011 season can't come soon enough for the Red Flash, as they ended the 2010 season with eight straight losses.
Looking back: 2010 was the year the Quakers, the Penn Quakers. Going undefeated in conference play at 7-0 a year ago, Penn won its 15th Ivy League championship all time, and 14th dating back to 1982.
Looking ahead: Unlike most conferences around the nation, the Ivy League won't be adding any new members anytime soon, or any current members leaving for that matter. Nor will any of the so-called "Ancient Eight" be making a serious postseason run, as they have chosen not to participate in the FCS (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) playoffs.
Website: http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/
2011 Predictions (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Penn (9-1): The Quakers hope to add another Ivy League title in 2011: their 16th. Their non-conference schedule includes a contest against 2009 FCS champion Villanova.
2. Yale (7-3): The Bulldogs hope to recover from the sting brought about by last year's season-ending loss to Harvard in "The Game."
3. Harvard (7-3): The Crimson play three of their first four games on the road to open the 2011 season.
4. Brown (6-4): The highlight of the Bears schedule is a night game against archrival Rhode Island on October 1.
5. Dartmouth (6-4): Coming off their first winning season since 1997 (8-2), the Big Green hope to win their first Ivy League title since 1996 (10-0, 7-0).
6. Columbia (4-6): The Lions will play six home games this season.
7. Cornell (2-8): 26 players signed to suit up for the Big Red in 2011. The program has never won an Ivy League title outright (co-champions 1971, 1988, 1990) despite winning five mythical national championships, the most recent coming in 1939.
8. Princeton (1-9): The Tigers enter the 2011 season trying to snap an eight game losing streak.
Editor's Note: This marks the first of what (hopefully) will be multiple posts on previews leading up to the start of the 2011 small college football season, on Real Football Central. Additionally, there will also be posts on some key games in indoor and arena football, as well as a brief look ahead to the upcoming Canadian Football League. So, sit back and enjoy, as summer draws near!
Colonial Athletic Association
Website: http://www.caasports.com/
Looking back: The CAA once again proved why it's one of the toughest conferences in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS--formerly NCAA Division I-AA), as the Delaware Blue Hens reached the championship game in 2010, only to lose to Eastern Washington. Since 2003, when Delaware won a national title, current CAA squads have advanced to the title game six times, with James Madison winning it all in 2004, Richmond taking home the 2008 crown, and Villanova capturing the 2009 championship. In all, the CAA has combined to win four FCS national championships in the last eight years.
Looking ahead: The CAA is suddenly preparing for a future without Massachusetts. Athletic officials at UMass recently announced their intentions to move their football programs to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) at the end of the 2011 season.
Predicted order of finish (2010 record in parentheses)
Projected champion listed in BOLD type
1. Delaware (12-3): After falling short in last year's title game, the Blue Hens look to begin their road to the 2011 national championship. But Head Coach K.C. Keeler must replace eight defensive starters.
2. Villanova (9-5): The Wildcats have a tough roe to how in trying to win their second national championship in three years, as they lose six starters each on both sides of the football.
3. William & Mary (8-4): After reaching round two of the FCS playoffs last year, don't expect the Tribe to sneak up on anyone this year.
4. New Hampshire (8-5): Head Coach Sean McDonnell enters the 2011 season needing just 12 wins to reach 100-win mark for his coaching career. Of course, though, that means the Wildcats from northern New England would need to make a deep playoff run.
5. Richmond (6-5): The Spider faithful hope the addition of former Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes tight end Andrew Tallman will lead to a return to prominence for a program that hopes bounce back from a disappointing 2010 campaign.
6. Massachusetts (6-5): The Minutemen hope their final FCS--and CAA--season will lead to another postseason berth.
7. James Madison (6-5): The Dukes struggled to a 3-5 mark in CAA play last season. However, head coach Mickey Matthews does welcome back eight starters on offense, and 10 on defense.
8. Rhode Island (5-6): The Rams face a tough start to their season, playing four of their first six games on the road. They open the season at Syracuse on September 10.
9. Maine (4-7): Head Coach Jack Cosgrove enters his 19th season with an overall record of 97-108. He needs just three wins to join the 100-win club.
10. Towson (1-10): After nine straight losses to close out the 2010 season, the Tigers have nowhere to go but up for the 2011 season.
11. Old Dominion (8-3): The third-year Monarchs begin their inaugural season in the CAA.
In April, the University of Massachusetts football program announced its plans to leave the Colonial Athletic Association, and the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, for the Mid-American Conference and the Football Bowl Subdivision, at the end of the 2011 season. College Sporting News discusses the impact of the UMass move here.
