RFC Summer Semester--Gulf South Conference (GSC) Preview (NCAA Division II)

Website

2011 Final Standings

Looking back: The Gulf South Conference had just five teams taking to the football field last season, with three of them, Delta State, North Alabama, and West Alabama, advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs.  Out of that trio, DSU advanced the farthest, losing to eventual national champion Pittsburg State (Kan.), 49-23, in the national semifinals.  In an ironic twist to the postseason, UNA ended UWA's season in the first round, before the Lions lost to the Statesmen in the second round.

Looking ahead: The GSC will add a sixth school, Shorter University out of Rome, Georgia, to the mix in 2012.  Florida Tech will follow suit in 2013.  Also, UNA was scheduled to begin the transition to the NCAA Division I level by 2013, but the Ohio Valley Conference's refusal to admit the Lions for membership has forced school officials to put those plans put on hold indefinitely.  Also, there were several changes in the GSC head coaching ranks during the offseason. Otherwise, if the preseason rankings are any indication, expect a competitive race in the GSC again this season. 


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

1. Delta State (11-3):  In the last two years, the Statesmen have a combined record of 22-7, losing to the eventual national champion to end their season both times.  That included an unlikely trip to the national championship game in 2010, where DSU took Minnesota-Duluth to the limit before losing on a last second field goal.  If the Statesmen hope to make yet another deep playoff run in 2012, they must do it under a new head coach in Jamey Chadwell, who, ironically, was the head coach of the North Greenville team DSU eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2011.

2. Valdosta State (6-4):  The Blazers hope to rekindle the flame that burned out late last season, when they finished 1-3 in GSC play.  Still, they have a tough non-conference schedule that awaits them this season.  Among the opponents they'll play in 2012 include the likes of Saginaw Valley State, Angelo State, and Texas A&M-Kingsville, among others. 


3. North Alabama (9-3):  Like Delta State, the Lions will have a new head coach in 2012.  But it will be a familiar face in Bobby Wallace, who led UNA to three straight national championships from 1993-1995.  Wallace has the tremendous task of replacing 35 lettermen, including 19 starters.


4. West Georgia (6-4):  A season-ending upset win over then top-ranked Delta State was the highlight of the Wolves 2011 season, which ended with a winning season for the first time in a long time.  It will be interesting to see if they carry over some of that spark from last season into this season.


5. West Alabama (8-4):  The Tigers hope to make another playoff run under second year head coach Will Hall.  Among the non-conference contests they'll have in 2012 include games against Clark Atlanta, FCS Samford, NCAA Division III Mississippi College, and Abilene Christian, as well as tough late season games against Delta State and North Alabama.


6. Shorter (6-4):  The Hawks have a tough row to hoe in their inaugural GSC season, including three straight road games to start off 2012.