Crushed
A year ago at this time, we were waiting for the I-AA playoff committee to give us a hand and put us in the playoffs since they couldn't get the job done. Now it's a year later, and after a crushing loss to Lafayette 24-10 (a game where missed snaps and turnovers were huge), we're back in the same boat. We need a hand to get in the field of 16 this year, and I honestly don't know if we will get a shot or not.
I can choose to take this space to mourn, or to talk about our playoff shot.
I'm going to mourn later. There's lots of time to mourn. I'm going post the contenders right here, with reasons to take them, or dump them.
Contender #1: Lehigh
Take them because: All their wins have been against Division I schools. Quality wins versus Yale on the road, Fordham and last year's I-AA Championship runner-up Colgate at home. Only losses to then-ranked Villanova and archrival Lafayette. Won eight straight before losing last game of the year. 5 wins against teams with non-losing records.
Leave them because: They lost their last game of the year. 2 wins against I-AA mid-majors.
Contender #2: New Hampshire
Take them because: They beat I-A Rutgers, A-10 co-champion Delaware, and Villanova. Won their last 5 games. All their wins have been against Division I schools. Only lost to UMass and William & Mary.
Leave them because: 4th best team in A-10. 2 league losses. Lack of attendance draw wherever they would play.
Contender #3: Cal Poly
Take them because: They beat Montana State and North Dakota State. Would be the only representative from the Big West as the conference doesn't have an automatic bid.
Leave them because: Only won two of their last four, with two of those wins coming against a pair of 2-8 teams. Did not play all Division I opponents. Lack of attendance draw wherever they would play.
Contender #4: Wofford
Take them because: They are the third-placed team in the powerful SoCon. Win over ranked South Carolina State. Good effort in a loss against Furman.
Leave them because: Have not beaten a team with a winning record this year. Did not play all Division I opponents. Very unimpressive in their final game, winning only 13-12 against winless VMI.
Contender #5: South Carolina St.
Take them because: They're co-champions of the MEAC and have a 9-2 record.
Leave them because: They've only beaten 2 teams with a winning record, Bethune Cookman and Howard. Don't have a quality win to show the committee. Did not play all Division I opponents.
My picks for the field:
I'm ever the optimist.
Brackets:
East:
Hampton at 2) Furman
Lehigh at Delaware
South:
Lafayette at 3) William & Mary
Jacksonville St. at Western Kentucky
Midwest:
James Madison at 1) Southern Illinois
Eastern Washington at Northwestern St.
West:
Sam Houston St. at 4) Georgia Southern
Cal Poly at Montana
This would leave out UNH, Wofford and South Carolina St.
Keeping my fingers crossed until tomorrow.
A year ago at this time, we were waiting for the I-AA playoff committee to give us a hand and put us in the playoffs since they couldn't get the job done. Now it's a year later, and after a crushing loss to Lafayette 24-10 (a game where missed snaps and turnovers were huge), we're back in the same boat. We need a hand to get in the field of 16 this year, and I honestly don't know if we will get a shot or not.
I can choose to take this space to mourn, or to talk about our playoff shot.
I'm going to mourn later. There's lots of time to mourn. I'm going post the contenders right here, with reasons to take them, or dump them.
Contender #1: Lehigh
Take them because: All their wins have been against Division I schools. Quality wins versus Yale on the road, Fordham and last year's I-AA Championship runner-up Colgate at home. Only losses to then-ranked Villanova and archrival Lafayette. Won eight straight before losing last game of the year. 5 wins against teams with non-losing records.
Leave them because: They lost their last game of the year. 2 wins against I-AA mid-majors.
Contender #2: New Hampshire
Take them because: They beat I-A Rutgers, A-10 co-champion Delaware, and Villanova. Won their last 5 games. All their wins have been against Division I schools. Only lost to UMass and William & Mary.
Leave them because: 4th best team in A-10. 2 league losses. Lack of attendance draw wherever they would play.
Contender #3: Cal Poly
Take them because: They beat Montana State and North Dakota State. Would be the only representative from the Big West as the conference doesn't have an automatic bid.
Leave them because: Only won two of their last four, with two of those wins coming against a pair of 2-8 teams. Did not play all Division I opponents. Lack of attendance draw wherever they would play.
Contender #4: Wofford
Take them because: They are the third-placed team in the powerful SoCon. Win over ranked South Carolina State. Good effort in a loss against Furman.
Leave them because: Have not beaten a team with a winning record this year. Did not play all Division I opponents. Very unimpressive in their final game, winning only 13-12 against winless VMI.
Contender #5: South Carolina St.
Take them because: They're co-champions of the MEAC and have a 9-2 record.
Leave them because: They've only beaten 2 teams with a winning record, Bethune Cookman and Howard. Don't have a quality win to show the committee. Did not play all Division I opponents.
My picks for the field:
I'm ever the optimist.
Brackets:
East:
Hampton at 2) Furman
Lehigh at Delaware
South:
Lafayette at 3) William & Mary
Jacksonville St. at Western Kentucky
Midwest:
James Madison at 1) Southern Illinois
Eastern Washington at Northwestern St.
West:
Sam Houston St. at 4) Georgia Southern
Cal Poly at Montana
This would leave out UNH, Wofford and South Carolina St.
Keeping my fingers crossed until tomorrow.
Comments
Be objective for a moment: Does LU really deserve a bid, without having beaten any teams ranked at the end of the year?