RFC Summer Semester--Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Preview (NCAA Division II)

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2011 Final Standings 

Looking back: Winston-Salem State had one of those magic carpet ride kind of seasons in 2011, as the Rams advanced to the NCAA Division II national semifinals, before being upset by eventual national runner-up Wayne State (Mich.).  WSSU was one of just three teams to finish last season with a winning record, as Elizabeth City State (8-4) and Johnson C. Smith (6-5) also posted winning seasons.

Looking ahead: The Rams might be hard-pressed to repeat that amazing run of last season.  Also, the CIAA is celebrating its 100th anniversary this season.

2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

Northern Division

1.  Elizabeth City State (8-4):  The Vikings took home the CIAA Northern Division crown with a 6-1 mark in conference play in 2011, losing to California (Pa.) in a 44-0 shutout in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.  That setback followed a 38-18 thumping by Winston-Salem State in the CIAA championship game a week earlier.  Still, it won't be an easy task for ECSU to return to postseason play in 2012, as the non-conference portion of their schedule has tough tests against perennial D-II playoff participants Delta State on September 8, followed by Albany State (Ga.) on September 15, both at home.

2. Virginia Union (5-5):  The Panthers enter the 2012 campaign looking to improve on their 3-4 finish in CIAA action from 2011.  A stretch of three straight road games during the month of September--which wraps up with a visit to Winston-Salem State on September 22--will test this team's mettle.  With 18 starters returning, 11 of them on defense, don't be surprised if the Panthers are in the thick of the division race this season.

3. Virginia State (5-5):  The Trojans will try to build on last year's 4-3 conference finish. The big highlight from 2011 came during their homecoming contest on October 29, when they crushed archrival Virginia State, 39-14.


4. Bowie State (4-6):  The Bulldogs look to bounce back after a three-game skid ended their 2011 season.


5. Lincoln (Pa.)--(2-8):  A visit to FCS Wofford on September 8, as well as a home game against Kentucky State the following week, will highlight the 2012 slate for the Lions.


6. Chowan (3-7):  The Hawks have an uphill battle in 2012, after a six-game skid sent them into sharing the division basement with Lincoln last season.


Southern Division

1. Winston-Salem State (13-1):  After a remarkable 2011 season which saw them advance to the national semifinals, the Rams and their faithful hope to have an encore performance in 2012.  But the road back to postseason play will be anything but easy, as WSSU must face the likes of UNC Pembroke, Concord, and Morehouse, among other opponents.  And that's just the non-conference portion of the schedule.

2. Johnson C. Smith (6-5):  The Golden Bulls didn't exactly have a "golden" season on the football field, but did finish the 2011 campaign with their first winning record in years, as they outlasted SIAC champion Miles, 35-33, to win the Pioneer Bowl title.   They hope to carry the momentum from that win into 2012, which includes a home date with Winston-Salem State on October 6.


3. Fayetteville State (4-6): A 44-23 rout of JCSU on October 29 was the big highlight of an otherwise mediocre season for the Broncos.  


4. St. Augustine's (4-6): The Falcons 2012 schedule includes a September 8 home game against D-II playoff quarterfinalist New Haven--whom, ironically, Winston-Salem State eliminated--on September 8, followed by a visit to the Chargers archrival--Southern Connecticut State, the following weekend.


5. Shaw (3-7):  After winning the CIAA crown in 2010, the Bears fell back to earth in 2011, finishing a disappointing 3-4 in conference play.  They hope to work their back to the top in 2012.


6. Livingstone (1-9):  The Blue Bears find themselves in the nowhere to go but up category after going winless (0-7) in CIAA play last season.