RFC Summer Semester--Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preview (NCAA Division II)

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)--(NCAA Division II)

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2013 Final Standings

Looking back: Albany State (Ga.)--(6-4 overall) knocked off Miles, 17-14, to win the 2013 SIAC championship.  Meanwhile, after years of not being eligible for postseason play, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers earned their first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance last year. They took North Alabama to limit before falling in the first round, 30-27.

Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if Tuskegee claims yet another SIAC crown in 2014. The league's football membership will expand to 12 teams with the addition of Paine College of Augusta, Georgia this season.

Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):

East Division

1. Albany State (6-4): Can the Rams make it back-to-back SIAC championships--and maybe land a trip of the playoffs--in 2014? The answer might depend upon whether or not they can survive an early stretch of games that includes dates against Valdosta State and Tuskegee on the road.

2. Fort Valley State (4-6):  The Wildcats have won 13 SIAC titles all-time, but none since 1999. That's something they hope to change in 2014. 


3. Benedict (4-6):  The Tigers hope to move forward after a sluggish 2013 season where they finished at 2-5 in SIAC play.

4. Clark Atlanta (3-7):  The Panthers 2014 slate will include visits to Fort Valley State on September 20, as well as Albany State on October 25.

5. Morehouse (2-8):  The Maroon Tigers look to start with a clean slate in 2014, after a dismal 2013.  Their first home game isn't until October 18, when they host Albany State.

6. Paine (n/a):  The Lions will play their first season of football since 1964, when they open the 2014 season on the road against Shorter.

West Division

1. Tuskegee (8-3):  The Golden Tigers will face stiff early-season tests against Alabama A&M (FCS) and Albany State at home, as well as Winston-Salem State on the road, all within the first three weeks of the 2014 season. 

2. Miles (6-4):  Perhaps the biggest highlight of the 2013 season for the Golden Bears was their 41-36 upset win over Tuskegee on November 9--a loss which cost the Golden Tigers a chance to advance to the SIAC title game--while putting them in that aforementioned championship contest.  That being said, they'll travel to Albany State to face the Rams in a re-match of last year's league title tilt on September 27, while playing host to Tuskegee in the regular season finale on November 8. 

3. Lane (6-4):  The Dragons will go into 2014 with an interim head coach in Malik Hoskins. He replaces Derrick Burroughs, who left to go to FCS Jackson State.

4. Stillman (6-5):  The Tigers will look to climb the SIAC West Division ladder after back-to-back six-win seasons.

5. Kentucky State (5-5):  The Thorobreds struggled to a 1-5 mark in SIAC play last season, with their lone conference win coming over Central State, 38-17, on September 14.  That's something that must change if they're to be considered serious contenders this season.

6. Central State (2-8):  The Marauders 2014 schedule will have games in Chicago, Indianapolis, and even the Bahamas, among other places.

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