RFC Summer Semester--Southern Conference Preview (FCS)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Georgia Southern advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs for the second straight season.  But for the second straight season, the Eagles path to the national championship was derailed on the road.  This time, it was eventual national champion North Dakota State that ended Georgia Southern's season.  Two other teams earned byes, Wofford and Appalachian State, earned byes to the FCS dance, but were bounced in second round action by Northern Iowa and Maine, respectively.

Looking ahead: Will the third time be the charm for Head Coach Jeff Monken and Georgia Southern?  Or will Wofford or Appalachian State provide a serious challenge to the Eagles in what's sure to be another competitive race in the Southern Conference?

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

1. Georgia Southern (11-3):  With 16 starters and 56 letterwinners returning from last year's Southern Conference championship team, the Eagles have a very good chance to make yet another deep postseason run this year.  Two of their likely toughest games of 2012 will be played at home, with the Wofford paying a visit to Statesboro on October 13, while the Appalachian State contest will be played on November 3.  If they can stay healthy and focused, there's no reason why the Eagles can't be considered serious contenders for not only a Southern Conference championship, but maybe their first national championship since 2000.

2. Appalachian State (8-4):  As hard as it might be to believe, the Mountaineers need just six wins in league play to win their 200th Southern Conference game in program history.  Coming into the 2012 campaign, ASU has an all-time record of 194-81-5 in SoCon contests.  Still, App State and Head Coach Jerry Moore have bigger goals in mind, like making a deeper playoff run.  The Mountaineers were "one and done" after earning a first-round bye in the FCS playoffs last season, losing to Maine at home in round two.  With East Carolina being their lone FBS opponent to open the season on September 1, ASU could have yet another banner year.


3. Wofford (8-4):  The Terriers look to continue their recent string of postseason appearances in 2012, as they've advanced to the FCS playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and four times in the last five years dating back to 2007.  With 17 starters coming back, their chances of spending another Thanksgiving weekend, and beyond, playing in a postseason contest appear to be pretty good.


4. Furman (6-5):  The Purple Paladins look to earn their first FCS playoff appearance since 2006.  But with a tough start to the 2012 season that includes a visit to defending ACC champion Clemson on September 15, getting there won't be easy.


5. Samford (6-5):  A tough three-game stretch on the road during the last three weeks of September could decide how far the Bulldogs will go in 2012.  They hope to earn first postseason appearance since 1992.


6. Elon (5-6):  The Phoenix will look to rise again after a disappointing 2011 season in which they finished 3-5 in Southern Conference play.


7. Chattanooga (5-6):  Here's another fact from the "believe it or not" department.  The Mocs are just 12 wins away from not only winning their 500th game all-time, but also be two games above .500 all-time, not counting tie games.  The only problem with that is they would have to win 12 straight games, meaning they would have to do undefeated throughout the regular season, as well as win at least one playoff game to do it.  With the Southern Conference being strong from top to bottom year-in and year-out, just having a winning season would do wonders for the Mocs.


8. Citadel (4-7):  After opening the 2012 season at home against crosstown archrival Charleston Southern, the Bulldogs will be tested early  against Georgia Southern in the SoCon opener for both teams the following week.  Oh, and there's a trip to North Carolina State two weeks later.  Ouch!


9. Western Carolina (1-10):  The Catamounts look to begin their long climb out of the Southern Conference cellar under first-year head coach Mark Speir.