RFC Summer Semester--Ivy League Preview (FCS)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Harvard ruled the roost in the Ivy League, as the Crimson cruised to an undefeated record (7-0) in league play en route to a 9-1 overall record in 2011.  Additionally, four teams (Brown, Penn, Yale, and Dartmouth) all finished in a four-way tie for second place.

Looking ahead: While most other conferences still find themselves in realignment mode, the Ivy League is one of the few leagues that likely won't be adding any new members, or see any current members leave, for that matter, anytime soon.  Otherwise, the other seven teams will spend 2012 trying to dethrone Harvard for the Ivy League crown.

On a media-related note, the Ivy League will have eight games on national television this season, with seven of those contests being shown on the NBC Sports Network, and one on the CBS Sports Network.

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

1. Harvard (9-1):   The Crimson reeled off nine straight wins to close out 2011 after losing their season opener to Holy Cross, 30-22, on September 17.  They'll play six home games in 2012, starting with the season opener against San Diego on September 15.


2. Yale (5-5):  The Bulldogs will look to bounce back after an up-and-down 2011 season.  They'll try to do just that under new head coach Tony Reno.


3. Brown (7-3):  Most programs would be happy with a seven-win season.  Not the Brown Bears.  Why?  After starting last season at 7-1, the Bears lost their final two games of the year to finish in a four-way tie for second place in the Ivy League at 4-3.  It'll be interesting to see if they can redeem themselves this season.


4. Penn (5-5):  The Quakers played in their share of close games in 2011, going 4-3 in games decided by 12 points or less. 


5. Dartmouth (5-5):  Three straight wins over Cornell, Brown and Princeton to close out the 2011 season after a 2-5 start are giving the Big Green faithful a good reason to be hopeful for the 2012 season.


6. Cornell (5-5):  Like the Big Green, the Big Red also finished the 2011 season strong after a sluggish start.  Unlike the Big Green, though, the Big Red won back-to-back games to finish at .500 overall, and 3-4 in Ivy League play after starting the season at 2-5.   Like Dartmouth, the Cornell faithful also have reason to be hopeful going into the 2012 season.


7. Columbia (1-9):  The Lions may have won only one game last season.  But that lone victory came in the final game of the year, in dramatic fashion, as the Lions upset Brown, 35-28, in double overtime.  They hope to carry the momentum from that unlikely win into this season.

8. Princeton (1-9):  A close win over the Lions was the lone bright spot in a disappointing season for the Tigers.
 

RFC Summer Semester--Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Preview (FCS)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Towson not only took home its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title in 2011, it also became the first team in NCAA history to advance to the playoffs in three separate divisions (Division III runners-up in 1976, Division II in 1983, 1984, and 1986, and the FCS in 2011).  The Tigers joined four other teams (Old Dominion, Maine, New Hampshire, and James Madison) in advancing to the FCS playoffs last season.  A sixth team, Delaware, was left out of the FCS field despite a 7-4 overall record. Only the Black Bears were able to advance as far as the quarterfinals, with their season ending in a 35-23 loss to Georgia Southern.

Looking ahead: It has already lost Massachusetts to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivsion (FBS) ranks for 2012.  Now, the CAA will lose two more programs, Georgia State and Old Dominion, to the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA, respectively, by 2013.  Other programs, in the CAA as well as other conferences, may follow suit beyond the 2013 season. Those moves alone leave the CAA's future in limbo.  Still, the league will operate with 11 teams in 2012.

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

1. Old Dominion (10-3):  The Monarchs made history in just their third season of football, as they made their first-ever FCS playoff appearance.  They advanced to the second round before being eliminate by Georgia Southern, 55-48.  Now, as they prepare to play in their final FCS season this fall, the Monarchs hope to go out as CAA champions.  With eight offensive and seven defensive starters coming back, they just might have the team to get the job done this year.

2. Towson (9-3):  The Tigers finished 7-1 in conference play to win their first-ever CAA championship, and earn a first round bye in the process.  But their postseason run was cut short by Lehigh in a 40-38 loss.  It came after the program had just one win in 2010.  Now the challenge for head coach Rob Ambrose and his charges is to continue to build on last season's run.  The 2012 schedule includes visits to FBS Kent State and LSU.


3. Maine (9-4):  The Black Bears had a season to remember in 2011, advancing to the quarterfinals before losing to Georgia Southern.  With 14 starters returning, seven on both sides of the football, expect them to be in both the CAA title and FCS playoff discussion for 2012.


4. Delaware (7-4):  The Blue Hens started 4-4, only to win three straight games to finish 5-3 in CAA action last season.  If they're to make the playoffs this season, they must overcome the loss of seven starters on offense.


5. New Hampshire (8-4):  Head Coach Sean McDonnell enters his 14th season at the Wildcats helm, needing just four wins to earn his 100th career coaching win. He'll also try to put UNH in the FCS playoffs for the ninth year in a row.  The highlight of the 2012 schedule includes a September 8 visit to Minnesota of the FBS (BCS) Big 10 Conference.


6. James Madison (8-5):  Like McDonnell, Mickey Matthews will go into his 14th season leading the Dukes onto the field.  Like his counterpart at New Hampshire, Matthews is just four wins away from his 100th career victory.   JMU advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs before being eliminated by eventual national champion North Dakota State, 26-14.  If they're to make an even deeper postseason run in 2012, the Dukes must replace six starters on defense.


7. William & Mary (5-6):  After making back-to-back FCS playoff appearances the last two years, the Tribe slumped to a 3-5 finish in CAA action last season.  Moving up in the standings may be prove to be a challenge for head coach Jimmye Laycock, who enters his 33rd season as the winningest head coach in W&M history, having compiled a career record of 213-151-2.  The 2012 slate includes back-to-back late season visits to New Hampshire and Old Dominion.

8. Rhode Island (3-8):  As if losing programs to the FBS wasn't bad enough, the CAA will lose another, the Rams, to the Northeast Conference at the end of the upcoming 2012 season.  While head coach Joe Trainer welcomes back nine starters from last season, he also must replace 13 of them.  URI hasn't had a winning season since 1995, or have been to the playoffs since 1985.


9. Villanova (2-9):  It seems as if the national championship season of 2009 is a distant memory for the Wildcats faithful, as the team finished CAA play a dismal 1-7 in 2011.


10. Richmond (3-8):  The team that won it all in 2008 also hit rock bottom in 2011, as the Spiders lost eight straight games, all in CAA action, after a promising 3-0 start, as well as a national ranking as high as No. 5.  


11. Georgia State (3-8):  The Panthers first season in the CAA, sadly, will be the last, as they begin the transition to the FBS Sun Belt Conference in 2013.

RFC Summer Semester--Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preview--NCAA Division II

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: 2011 proved to be one of the most competitive seasons in the history of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), as eight of the league's 16 teams finished with at least seven or more wins, while four of those squads had at least eight wins.  

But it doesn't end there.  The top two teams in both divisions, East (Kutztown/C.W. Post) and West (California [Pa.]/Slippery Rock), finished tied for first place at 6-1 in conference to end the regular season, while two other teams (Bloomsburg/Indiana) finished at 5-2 in their respective divisional play.

In the end, though, only California and Kutztown managed to advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs.  Both teams were eliminated in the second round with losses to Winston-Salem State and New Haven, respectively.

Looking ahead: Expect another competitive race on both sides of the PSAC in 2012.

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

East Division

1. Bloomsburg (9-2):  Two losses on back-to-back weekends (October 29 and November 5) proved very costly to the Huskies postseason hopes in 2011.   If they're to get back on top in the PSAC East in 2012, they must defeat either C.W. Post or Kutztown to get there, as well as back into the D-II playoff discussion.  Unlike last season, the Huskies must play against Kutztown and C.W. Post in succession in September, instead of late October/early November.

2. Kutztown (11-2):  The Golden Bears enter the 2012 season looking to not only win the PSAC East title for the third straight season, but also advance to the D-II playoffs for the third year in a row.  That's not to mention that they're also looking to defend their first-ever overall PSAC title that they won in 2011, a 21-14 win over Slippery Rock.  Still, KU faces a tough start to its season, as the Golden Bears will face California at home on September 8, before beginning divisional play at Bloomsburg the following week.


3. Shippensburg (7-4):  After a 3-4 start, the Red Raiders were red hot to finish the 2011 season, ending it with four straight wins, holding their opponents to average of 12.5 points in the process.  In 2012, however, Shippensburg faces a tough road to the top in the PSAC East, with the Red Raiders facing six teams that had winning records in 2011.


4. C.W. Post (7-4):  Despite a dismal 0-3 start, the Pioneers managed to finish 6-1 in PSAC East play last season, good enough to finish in a first-place tie with Kutztown.  That one loss in conference play, though, came to the Golden Bears, although the big highlight of 2011 came one week later, in the form of a 24-21 upset win over Bloomsburg a week later.  Now the big question heading into 2012 is can the Pioneers take that next step, and seriously challenge for the division title again, and maybe more?

5. West Chester (5-6):  The Golden Rams look to rebound after a disappointing 2011 campaign which saw them lose five of their six games by 10 or more points.  The program's last playoff appearance came in 2008. 


6. Millersville (3-8):  The Marauders hope to move up in the PSAC East after a 2-5 finish in divisional play last season.


7. East Stroudsburg (3-8):  The Warriors also hope to move forward after a rough 2011 season.


8. Cheyney (1-10):  The Wolves barely escaped with a 21-19 win over Lincoln (Pa.) in their season opener, but lost 10 in a row to close out 2011.


West Division

1. California (Pa.)--(10-3):  The Vulcans will shoot for an unprecedented sixth straight NCAA Division II playoff appearance, as well as their sixth straight 10-win season in 2012.  But it'll be anything but an easy start to it, as they play host to a Hillsdale team that finished 8-2 last season, followed by a tough tilt against defending PSAC champion Kutztown the following week.

2. Slippery Rock (8-3):  Despite a two-game losing streak to end last season, The Rock and its faithful still had something to cheer about, as the football program represented the West in the PSAC title game, giving eventual champion Kutztown all it could handle before losing, 21-14.  Fans at SRU are hoping 2012 will be the year their team hoists the PSAC championship trophy up in the air, and then some.


3. Indiana (Pa.)--(7-3):  If the last name of Cignetti doesn't sound familiar to both IUP and PSAC fans, it should.  That's because Curt Cignetti is entering his season as the Crimson Hawks head coach coming off one of the best seasons the program has had since his father Frank led it to a conference crown in 1986.  Now the challenge for the younger Cignetti will be to lead IUP to first postseason appearance since 2002.


4. Edinboro (7-4):  The Fighting Scots will look to rebound after ending the 2011 season with back-to-back losses.


5. Gannon (4-7):  The Golden Knights were outscored 277-219 in all 11 games of 2011.


6. Mercyhurst (4-7):  The Lakers are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2011 season.  That followed an unlikely playoff run in 2010 in which they reached the D-II quarterfinals. 


7. Clarion (3-8):  A 34-20 season ending win over Millersville was the bright spot in a otherwise dismal campaign for the Golden Eagles.


8. Lock Haven (0-10):  Speaking of dismal, the Bald Eagles are long overdue for a win.  Their last victory came on the last day of 2007, November 10, to be exact.  Ironically, it came against Clarion, 17-14.  Since then, they've lost 42 straight games.

RFC Summer Semester--Centennial Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Johns Hopkins took the Centennial Conference crown, as well as the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs, after dominating the league with unbeaten mark (9-0) in conference play last season.  The Blue Jays were upset by eventual national quarterfinalist St. John Fisher, 23-12, in round one.

Looking ahead: The Blue Jays will not only shoot for their fourth straight winning season, but also fourth straight season of winning at least eight games.  Head Coach Jim Margraff enters his 23rd season as the Johns Hopkins head coach.

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

1. Johns Hopkins (10-1):  Margraff enters the 2012 season with an overall career record of 147-79-3 record.  That makes him the winningest head coach in program history.  He's just three wins away from his 150th career victory as the Blue Jays head coach.  Hopefully, that will also provide the motivation the program will need in order to overcome the sting of last year's sudden exit from the D-III playoffs last season.

2. Muhlenberg (7-3):  After splitting their first six games of 2011, the Mules caught fire down the stretch, closing out last season on a four-game winning streak.  That was good enough for them to finish second in the CC last season, at 7-2 in conference play.  It's the type of momentum the Mules hope to carry over in 2012.


3. Ursinus (6-4):  Of the four games they lost last season, the Bears lost three of those by seven points or less.  If they're to be serious contenders for the CC title, they must learn how to win the close contests.


4. Gettysburg (6-4):  The Bullets also had their share of close calls last season, as they finished 4-2 in games decided by seven points or less.  Despite being among the multiple programs that have won at least 500 games all time (540-494-42), the Bullets haven't been to the NCAA Division III playoffs since 1985.  That's something that veteran head coach Barry Streeter hopes to help change in 2012. 


5. Susquehanna (6-4):  The Crusaders will be tested early in 2012, as they play host to defending CC champion Johns Hopkins on September 8.


6. Dickinson (4-6):  The Red Devils look to bounce back following a disappointing 2011 campaign in which they finished 4-5 in conference play.


7. Franklin & Marshall (3-7):  The Diplomats will open the 2012 season playing three straight games against teams that had winning records at the end of the 2011 season.  More specifically, the combined records of those three opponents is 21-9.


8. Moravian (2-8):  In the eight games they lost last season, the Greyhounds had given up at least 20 points in seven of those contests, while surrendering at least 40 or more points in three games.


9. McDaniel (2-8):  The Green Terror look to start fresh under new head coach Mike Hoyt.


10. Juniata (1-9):  The Eagles avoided a winless season by stunning Susquehanna, 17-16, in the season finale on November 12.

 

 

RFC Summer Semester--Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Delaware Valley was one of four teams that won at least eight or more games in 2011.  However, the Aggies were the only team to advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs, as they won the automatic bid from the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC).  They advanced to round two of the D-III playoffs, with their season ending in a 27-14 upset loss to St. John Fisher.  Two other teams earned berth in ECAC bowls, with both Widener and Lebanon Valley earning season-ending victories, respectively, while Lycoming found itself on the outside looking in for postseason play despite finishing 8-2.

Looking ahead: Until another team proves otherwise, Delaware Valley will enter the 2012 season as the team to beat in the D-III version of the MAC.  New to the conference is the Misericordia University Cougars out of Dallas, Pa.  That gives the MAC 10 teams for this season.
  
2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. Delaware Valley (11-1):  With the sting of last year's playoff loss still fresh in their minds, the Aggies hope to use it as motivation for this year.   If they can stay healthy, there's no reason why the 2012 DelVal squad can't  make another deep playoff run.

2. Lebanon Valley (8-3):  Despite a fourth place finish in MAC action (5-3), the Dutchmen ended the 2011 season on a three-game winning streak, including a season-ending 23-15 win over Saint Vincent in the ECAC Southwest Bowl.  It's the kind of the momentum that the LVC faithful hopes will carry over into the 2012 season.  The Dutchmen will get a stiff season opening test from Montclair State from the NJAC.


3. Lycoming (8-2):  Two losses by a combined total of 10 points, one to Widener (31-28), as well to Delaware Valley (28-21), proved costly to the Warriors postseason hopes, as they sat at home despite finishing tied for second in the MAC (6-2) in 2011.  It'll be interesting to see if they can make another serious run at the conference title in 2012.


4. Widener (9-2):  Like Lebanon Valley, the Pride also ended the 2011 season with a win in an ECAC bowl game, as they crushed Waynesburg, 48-27, to win the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl.  Still, fans in Chester, Pa. would like nothing more than to advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time since 2007.


5. Wilkes (4-5):  A season-ending 43-34 win over Stevenson gave the Colonels their third season of at least four wins dating back to 2007.  Even so, they would like to the winning ways they experienced in 2006, the year they made their last trip to the D-III dance.


6. Albright (6-5):  An up-and-down 2011 season for the Lions ended with a 14-0 shutout loss to Cortland in the ECAC Southeast Bowl.  If that wasn't enough, they'll face five teams that had winning records last year in 2012.  That includes two teams that reached the D-III playoffs in Delaware Valley and Kean, as well as two teams that advanced to ECAC bowl games in Lebanon Valley and Widener.


7. Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham (1-9):  The Devils surrendered 50 or more points in five of their nine losses last season.

8. Stevenson (2-8):  The Mustangs look to build on their inaugural season mark of 1-7 in MAC play from a year ago.


9. King's (1-9):  The Monarchs were held to single-digit scoring six times in their nine losses last season.  Additionally, they reached the double-digit mark in points scored on just four other ocassions, with only one win to show for it, a 51-26 rout over Stevenson on September 17.


10. Misericordia (n/a):  The Cougars will take the field for the first time in 2012.  Their first-ever game will be on the road against Gettysburg on September 1.


8.

RFC Summer Semester--New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)--(NCAA Division III)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: It was a mostly three-way race for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title in 2011, with Kean ultimately winning that league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.  The Cougars advanced to round two before bowing out with a hard-fought, but heartbreaking, 49-47 loss to Salisbury in triple overtime. 


Looking ahead: The NJAC has already lost Buffalo State to the Empire 8 Conference for 2012.  But the changes don't end there, as Western Connecticut State is entering its final season in the conference this fall, and will join the newly-formed Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC)  for football in 2013.  If that wasn't enough, another associate NJAC football member, Brockport, will join the Empire 8 Conference in 2014.  That will leave the NJAC with just seven football-playing schools by then.

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

1. Kean (10-2):  Fresh off of their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff appearance, the Cougars look to build on that record-setting run of last season.  But a tough challenge awaits them in the early stages of this season, as they travel down to Texas to face an always tough Mary Hardin-Baylor program on September 8.  In addition to their NJAC title of a year ago, the Cougars have advanced to three ECAC bowls under current head coach Dan Garrett, winning two titles in 2006 and 2009.  It's a tradition the program hopes to continue in 2012.

2. Montclair State (8-2): A loss to Kean in the final week of the regular season proved costly for the Red Hawks, as they not only lost a shot at a conference crown, they also found themselves on the outside looking in for the 2011 postseason.  They hope for another shot at the playoffs in 2012.


3. Cortland (9-2):  After struggling to a 3-2 start, the Red Dragons were red hot going down the stretch, winning their final six games of 2011.  That included a season-ending 14-0 shutout of Albright in the ECAC Southeast Bowl.  Still, they want to take that next step, and earn their first D-III playoff appearance since 2010.


4. College of New Jersey (7-3):  The Lions will be night owls in 2012, as they'll play four games under the lights this season.  Three of their key games, though, will be played during the day, with home games against Cortland and Kean, as well as a road trip to Montclair State, all during the first three weeks of October.


5. Rowan (5-5):  The Profs started the 2011 campaign at 5-2, but it ended with three straight losses, albeit by a combined total of 20 points.  That included a 37-31 overtime loss to Montclair State in overtime on November 5.  Oh, and the Profs lost all five of their games by seven points or less last season.  Learning how to win the close games is a goal this program hopes to accomplish in 2012.  It starts on September 1, when the Profs play host to perennial playoff contender Delaware Valley.


6. Brockport (3-7):  The Golden Eagles may have had a disappointing 2011 season, but at least it ended on a winning note, as they outlasted Morrisville, 35-20, in the season finale on November 12.  Hopefully, that momentum will have them soaring to new heights in 2012.


7. William Paterson (4-6):  Like the Golden Eagles, the Pioneers also ended an otherwise disappointing 2011 campaign on a winning note, as they crushed Western Connecticut State, 45-19, in their final game of the season.


8. Morrisville State (1-9):  The Mustangs look to move forward after a miserable 2011 season.


9. Western Connecticut State (0-10):  The Colonials look to get a fresh start under new head coach Joe Loth.  His main task will be to snap a 21-game skid that dates back to final game of the 2009 season.  WCSU's last win came on November 7 of that year, when the Colonials outlasted the College of New Jersey, 37-34.

RFC Summer Semester--Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Preview--(NCAA Division III)

 Website

2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Despite going winless in non-conference games, Norwich (7-4 overall) went undefeated in league play en route to winning the ECFC title, and advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time ever.  The Cadets were quickly ousted in the first round by Delaware Valley, 62-10.

Looking ahead: Norwich might be hard-pressed to repeat last year's success.

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

1. Norwich (7-4):  The Cadets open the 2012 campaign at home against another team that also reached their first-ever D-III dance in Western New England, on September 1.  They'll find out quickly just how good they are on Labor Day Weekend.


2. Maritime (N.Y.)--(8-2):  One of the Mariners two losses in 2011 cost them a trip to postseason play: a 16-9 setback to Norwich on November 5.  They'll get a chance to return the favor in Vermont on November 3.


3. Mount Ida (6-5):  The Mustangs up and down 2011 campaign ended with a 31-22 loss to Endicott in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl.  If they're to challenge for the ECFC title in 2012, the Mustangs must learn how to win the close games, as they were 1-4 in games decided by nine points or less.


4. Castleton (4-6):  The Spartans had a habit of giving up a lot of points in 2011, finishing 3-4 in games in which they allowed 50 or more points.

5.  Gallaudet (5-5):  Although they finished a respectable 4-3 in ECFC action last year, the Bison lost their final two games of the season to finish at .500 overall, although both losses came against teams (Mount Ida and Maritime) that eventually finished 2011 with winning records.  It's something the Bison hope to accomplish in 2012.


6. Anna Maria (2-8):  After going winless in their first 27 games, the Amcats finally found their way into the win column on November 5, 2011, as they held off Becker in a hard-fought 35-33 victory.  They followed up that win with a 31-28 triumph over Husson to close out the season a week later.  Under interim head coach Vince Sinagra, the Amcats hope to move forward in 2012.


7. Becker (1-9):  A 20-14 win over Husson was the lone highlight of an otherwise dismal season for the Hawks.


8. Husson (0-10):  The Eagles surrendered at least 70 points in two of their games last season, and at least 60 in another game.

RFC Summer Semester--Liberty League Preview (NCAA Division III)

Liberty League Preview (NCAA Division III)

Website


2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Hobart took home the 2011 Liberty League championship, despite playing just eight games during the regular season.  The Statesmen fell to eventual national semifinalist Wesley, 35-28, in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Looking ahead: Springfield College out of Massachusetts joins the LL from the Empire 8 Conference this season.  That gives the conference eight teams for the 2012 campaign.

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

1. Hobart (7-2):  28 proved to be the unlucky number for the Statesmen in 2011.  That's the exact number of points they scored in both of their losses last season.  They blew an early 28-7 in losing their lone regular season contest to RPI, 29-28, on November 5, followed by the season ending loss to Wesley to in the opening round of the D-III dance by the final score of, you guessed it, 35-28, just two weeks later.  So, the key to beating the Statesmen in 2012 just might be that opponents might have to hold them to exactly 28 points scoring.


2. Union (N.Y.)--(6-4):  If there's any team in the LL that might seriously challenge Hobart for the conference's automatic bid to the D-III playoffs, the Dutch just might be that team.  After starting last season at 0-3, the Dutch caught fire, winning six of their final seven contests, including a season-ending four-game winning streak. The only loss they had during that span: a 41-24 setback to Hobart on October 8. Hopefully, the momentum they built at the end of last season will carry over into this season.  Oh, and just one other side note: under current head coach John Audino, Union has had just one sub-.500 season in his 20 years at the helm, with the Dutch finishing a dismal 2-7 in 2010.


3. RPI (4-5):  The Engineers upset win over Hobart was the primary bright spot of an otherwise mediocre 2011 season, as they were 3-4 in games decided by 10 points or less.   They'll be tested tremendously in their 2012 season opener on September 8, when they play host to Alfred.  Additionally, the Engineers will host Hobart on October 20.


4. Rochester (4-5):  The Yellowjackets will four games at home, and five on the road, in 2012.  One of those away games will be played on September 15, when they face NCAA Division III playoff quarterfinalist St. John Fisher.


5. U.S. Merchant Marine (3-7):  The Mariners hope to improve on last season's 2-4 Liberty League mark.


6. Springfield (6-4):  The Pride finished their final season in the Empire 8 Conference with a respectable 4-3 record in league games.  It'll be interesting to see if they can least match that mark in their rookie season in the LL.


7. St. Lawrence (3-6):  The Saints hope that 2012 will be kind to them after a disappointing 2011 campaign.  That followed a 2010 campaign that resulted in a 5-1 conference record (5-6 overall) that put them in the D-III dance as the Liberty League's automatic qualifier.


8. WPI (2-7):  The Engineers will start the 2012 season trying a snap a five-game skid that ended their 2011 campaign.

RFC Summer Semester--Empire 8 Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

Empire 8 Conference Preview (NCAA Division III)

Website

2011 Final Standings

Looking back:  Salisbury University made a big splash in its first season in the Empire 8 Conference in 2011, as the Sea Gulls went undefeated (7-0) in league play en route to advancing to the NCAA Division III playoff quarterfinals, losing to eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, 34-14.  Additionally, St. John Fisher also advanced to the quarterfinals, losing to eventual national semifinalist St. Thomas, 45-10.

Looking ahead: Buffalo State joins the E8 this season, while Brockport will follow suit in 2014.  That will give the conference at least nine members by then, barring any further changes in membership.  Also, Springfield left the E8 to join the Liberty League in 2012.

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

1. St. John Fisher (10-3):  The Cardinals hope to make another deep run in the D-III playoffs this season.  But a tough early season slate has them facing the likes of Thomas More and Washington and Jefferson, both out of the President's Athletic Conference.

2. Salisbury (11-2):  After a remarkable run which included an inaugural conference title, as well as a trip to the D-III Elite Eight, the Sea Gulls also hope to go deep in the D-III playoffs.  But they definitely won't be sneaking up on anyone, especially with perennial postseason participants like Christopher Newport and Wesley to start off the 2012 slate. 

3.  Alfred (8-3):  The Saxons ended an otherwise "down" season by their standards with a 41-10 rout of Bridgewater State (Mass.) in last year's ECAC Northeast Bowl.  On a side note, they'll play only one game outside of New York State this season; a trip to Salisbury on October 20.

4. Utica (5-5):  The Pioneers hope that 2011 will end better than it started, as they lost three straight after a 5-2 start, to finish E8 action at 2-5.

5. Ithaca (4-6):  The Bombers look to begin the long climb back to respectability after experiencing something their faithful hadn't experienced in years: a losing season.

6. Frostburg State (4-6):  The Bobcats will look on last year's 3-4 conference record in their inaugural season of E8 play.

7. Buffalo State (5-5):  With a tough schedule that includes a trip to three-time defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater on September 15, the Bengals might be hard pressed to even repeat last year's respectable 5-4 league mark in their final season in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), much less finish above .500 in their rookie season in the E8.

8. Hartwick (2-8):  The Hawks have nowhere to go but up after going winless (0-7) in E8 games last season.

 

RFC Summer Semester--Northeast 10 Conference Preview (NCAA Division II)

Northeast 10 Conference (NCAA Division II)

Website

2011 Final Standings

Looking back: In just their third season since re-starting football, the University of New Haven finished unbeaten in Northeast 10 conference play (8-0) en route to winning the league title, as well as advancing to the quarterfinals of last year's NCAA Division II playoffs.  The Chargers lost to Winston Salem State, 27-7, to finish the 2011 campaign at 11-2 overall.

Looking ahead:  In a first for the conference, the NE-10 will hold its first-ever "Championship Weekend", where the top two teams in the final regular season standings will play in a championship game on November 10.  The other teams will play in consolation games on that same date.

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

1. New Haven (11-2):  If they can stay healthy and focused, there's no reason why the Chargers can't make another deep postseason run in 2012.  Hopefully, the signing of 19 players during the offseason will help them do just that.

2. Southern Connecticut State (7-3):  The Owls will look to de-throne the Chargers after finishing second in the NE-10 at 6-2.  They must make the trip to UNH on October 27, for the potential opportunity to do so, though.  


3. Merrimack (6-4):  The Warriors were one of three teams to finish in a three-way for third place last season.  Their lone non-conference game of the 2012 season will be played against NCAA Division III Rowan on September 8.  That's one week after their season opener at New Haven.


4. American International (6-4):  The Yellow Jackets will quickly find out how good they are in their season opener on September 8, when they travel to West Virginia to face a Shepherd squad that finished 9-2 last season.


5. Bentley (6-4):  Head Coach Thom Boerman hopes the signing of mostly Massachusetts signing class will help the Falcons challenge for a conference title in 2012.


6. Stonehill (4-7):  If the Skyhawks are to improve on last year's 3-5 conference mark of 2011, they must win learn how to win the close games.  They were 1-3 in games decided by 10 points or less last season.


7. Assumption (4-6):  The Greyhounds also struggled in close games last season, going 2-2 in contests decided by 10 points or fewer.


8. Pace (1-9):  The Setters look to move up after going winless in conference play (0-8) last season.  Their only win of 2011 came on September 10, as they outlasted Stonehill, 23-20.


9. Saint Anselm (1-9):  The Hawks lone win of 2011 also came in NE-10 action: a 47-21 rout of Pace on September 22.


 

 

RFC Summer Semester--New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
 
Website

2011 Final Standings 

Looking back:  Amherst finished unbeaten (8-0) in a conference that doesn't send any of its teams to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if the Lord Jeffs, as well as Trinity (Conn.) do battle for the NESCAC crown in 2012.


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

1. Amherst (8-0): The Lord Jeffs won a close game over Trinity (Conn.), followed by a win over archrival Williams, to complete an undefeated season.


2. Trinity (Conn.)--(7-1):  The Bantams played in just three games decided by nine points or less last season, including that tough seven point loss to the Lord Jeffs.


3. Williams (5-3):  The Ephs will look to return to the top of the NESCAC after a mediocre 2011 campaign in which they lost all three of their games by a combined 30 points.


4. Middlebury (4-4):  The Panthers hope to notch their first eight win season since 1972.


5. Bowdoin (4-4):  The Polar Bears ended last season with a split against their "CBB" rivals, losing to Bates, followed by a season ending win over Colby to retain the mythical crown for the sixth straight crown.


6. Colby (3-5):  The Mules welcome a new head coach in Jonathan Michaeles.


7. Bates (3-5):  A convincing win over Bowdoin in the next-to-last week of the season gave the Bobcats their first three-win season in a decade.


8. Wesleyan (3-5):  The Cardinals are looking for their first winning season since 2002, when they finished 5-3.


9. Hamilton (3-5):  The Continentals hope their institution's bicentennial year (the Clinton, N.Y.-based institution opened in 1812) will result in a winning season.

10. Tufts (0-8):  The Jumbos defeated Hamilton, 21-10, in the season opener on September 25, 2010.  They haven't won since, losing 15 in a row.

RFC Summer Semester--Arena Football League Update

The Tampa Bay Storm hold on for a big win, while the Georgia Force fall victim to an upset loss at Kansas City, falling into a two-way tie for first place in the South Division.  Click the following links for a quick recap of Saturday's action in the Arena Football League.

Tampa Bay 63, Milwaukee 55

Kansas City 39, Georgia 27

Arizona 69, New Orleans 45 

San Antonio 64, Utah 61

RFC Summer Semester--2012 Debut--New England Football Conference (NEFC)--(NCAA Division III)

Editor's Note:  Welcome to the third season debut of the "RFC Summer Semester", exclusively on Real Football Central.  We hope to get through yet another summer of preseason previews of small college football throughout the U.S.A., as well as occasionally previewing some key games in the Arena Football League, the other indoor football leagues, and the upcoming Canadian Football League (CFL) season.  So, without further ado, let's get started, with the NCAA Division III New England Football Conference (NEFC).

New England Football Conference

Website

2011 Final Standings 

Looking back:  A dramatic 2011 season in the NEFC ended with Western New England outlasting Framingham State in an overtime thriller, and advancing to its first-ever NCAA Division III playoff.  However, the Golden Bears were quickly ousted by Salisbury, 62-24, in the first round.


Looking ahead: 2012 will mark the final season of the current 16-team NEFC, as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) will begin playing football in 2013.  


Here's the make-up of the two split conferences:


MASCAC:  Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Massachusetts-Dartmouth, Massachusetts Maritime, Plymouth State, Western Connecticut, Westfield State, and Worcester State.


NEFC: Coast Guard, Curry, Endicott, Maine Maritime, MIT, Nichols, Salve Regina, and Western New England.


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

Bogan Division

1. Worcester State (8-3):  The Lancers finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Bogan Division at 6-2, but lost a three-way tiebreaker that eventually went in favor of Framingham State.  If they hope to land a berth in the NCAA playoffs in 2012, they must survive a schedule that includes playing three of their first five games of the season on the road.  That includes a September 15 visit to defending NEFC champion Western New England.

2. Framingham State (7-4):  After a heartbreaking overtime loss to WNEC in last year's NEFC title game, the Rams hope to get over the hump, and win another Bogan Division crown.


3. Bridgewater State (7-3):  The Bears will play three of their first five games at home, including three straight games in the middle of September, and three of the final five games on the road.


4. Westfield State (5-5):  The Owls won back-to-back games to close out the 2011 season after starting it at 3-5. They were an even 3-3 in games decided by three points or less last season. 


5. Massachusetts Maritime (5-4):  The Buccaneers started last season 5-2, but lost back-to-back games to finish at 3-4 in NEFC play.  They open this season playing four of their five games on the road, while playing their final two games at home.


6. Coast Guard (2-8):  The Bears look to move up after a miserable 2011 season.


7. Maine Maritime (4-5):  A 4-1 start to 2011 ended with a four-game losing streak for the Mariners, who hope to advance to the D-III playoffs for the first time since 2009.


8. Fitchburg State (2-8):  The Falcons enter the 2012 campaign on a five-game losing streak.


Boyd Division

1. Endicott (10-1):  The Gulls may have lost only one game in 2011, but that one loss, to Western New England, cost them a chance to play for a conference title.  They hope to get over that hump in 2012.


2. Western New England (10-2):  Fresh off their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance, the Golden Bears hope to make it back-to-back postseason appearances in 2012.  

3. Salve Regina (8-3):  The Seahawks reeled off six straight wins to end the 2011 season after a 2-3 start, including a win over Worcester State in the ECAC Northwest Bowl to top it off.  They hope that momentum will carry over into 2012.


4. Curry (5-5):  After missing out on postseason play the last three years, the Colonels hope to return to the top in 2012.  But that would mean having to overtake the three teams that finished above them in 2011, as they play Endicott, WNEC, and Salve Regina in consecutive weeks starting on September 29.


5. UMass-Dartmouth (5-5):  The Corsairs have a brutal road trip to open the season, paying visits to Mount Ida, Bridgewater State, and Framingham State, before playing against Plymouth State in their home opener on September 22.


6. Plymouth State (4-6):  The Panthers look to rebound after a season-ending four-game losing streak wiped out a promising 4-2 start.


7. MIT (2-7):  The Engineers struggled to a 1-6 mark in Boyd Division play last season.


8. Nichols (0-10):  The Bison's last win came on October 30, 2010, when they (ironically) held off MIT, 17-14.  They've lost 11 straight games since then.





 



 
 

Entire Arena Football team released during pre-game meal

A mere week into the 2012 Arena Football League season, there was a bizarre development: an entire team being waived.  But there was an even stranger reason for that unusual move.  Click here for the full story, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.