In 2006, I wrote two pieces for the website I-AA.org about a Fordham/Columbia game I attended. The two crosstown Rivals competed for an actual cup, the “Liberty Cup”, and it was a 9/11 themed rivalry game for a time.
Category: CSJ Classic
CSJ Classic (2004) – NDSU, SDSU to ‘Mark’ their Territory With Dakota Marker
The rivalry between the two teams has been alive since 1903. However, this meeting will be the first time that the two will meet under the I-AA umbrella and the first as members of the new Great West Football Conference. Also this year, the two will play for the first time for a trophy: the “Dakota Marker”.
CSJ Classic (2004) – With Division I Transition, Old Dakota Rivalries Are Dying
In the Dakotas, there is one fall Saturday every year when each of the states stands still to watch one football game.
The two rivalries garnering this attention, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux versus the North Dakota State University Bison, and the University of South Dakota Coyotes versus the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits, are partially gone at least for the 2004 season and could be for the foreseeable future.
CSJ Missouri Valley Football Conference Power Rankings — Week 7
The game of the week in the MVFC lived up to the billing this past week as NDSU beat Youngstown in overtime, 27-24, see below for the game winning field goal. Elsewhere, UNI surprised SDSU as did SIU over Illinois State. Both WIU and USD continued to roll with lopsided victories over the leagues bottom […]
Trip to Neyland Stadium Evokes Memories
KNOXVILLE, TN. — With rain gently pelting the Field Turf a couple of hours before game time at the football season opener between Appalachian State and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium, I was taken back to my first visit to this historic venue in 1990. It was a Friday afternoon, in between the NCAA Men’s Basketball […]
App-Michigan: Looking Back at an Upset for the Ages
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It was a gorgeous, sun-kissed day seven years ago on a Labor Day Saturday as I made a short trip from a hotel near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Michigan Stadium on the opening weekend of the 2007 college football season. None of the 109,218 fans that filled the largest sports […]
Tattoo U.
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This column was originally published on Jun. 1, 2011 in the College Sporting News, when the announcement of then-OSU head coach Jim Tressel was dismissed over OSU players trading gear for tattoos. David Coulson looked into his career at Youngstown, and gave his thoughts. […]
Plain and Simple, The FCS Ivy Playoff Ban Is Discrimination
Since the Ivy League chose to reclassify to I-AA back in the early 1980s, the Ancient Eight has chosen, for “traditional reasons”, to decline participation in the FCS playoffs. But let’s call the ban what it really is – discrimination.
CSJ Classic: The Miracle On The Mountain
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor's Note: On Saturday, Appalachian State and Furman resume one of the most competitive rivalries in the Football Championship Subdivision, with ASU attempting to win a share of the Southern Conference title and the league's automatic bid to the playoffs at Kidd Brewer Stadium. In a […]
Taking A Trip Into History: Penn vs. Brown, 2008
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor’s Note: This is another in the College Sports Journal Classic series. This article dates to an October, 2008 encounter between Brown and Penn and takes a retrospective look at historic Franklin Field. This story originally appeared on The Sports Network. PHILADELPHIA, […]
CSJ Classic: Sambrano Sends Montana To Title Game
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This is an article from Dec. 12, 2009, describing the Foootball Championship Subdivision semifinal showdown between Appalachian State and Montana. This story originally appeared on The Sports Network. MISSOULA, MT. — Jimmy Farris just received some company Saturday afternoon in Missoula, MT. […]
CSJ Classic: SoCon Mismatch Becomes VMI’s Ultimate Upset
By David Coulson Executive Editor/Managing Partner College Sports Journal Editor’s Note: This is the latest offering in the CSJ Classic series. In this edition, we look back on the greatest football upset in Southern Conference history. On Nov. 19, 1994, coach Bill Stewart brought an 0-10 team into Kidd Brewer Stadium to face […]
CSJ Classic: DeBerry Had Major Influence On FCS
By David Coulson Executive Editor/Managing Partner College Sporting News Editor's Note: College Sports Journal is celebrating the release earlier this month of the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame by offering several past articles in its CSJ Classic series. This article originally ran in the College Sporting News on May […]
CSJ Classic: Hall of Fame Misfires On FCS Players
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor’s Note: College Sports Journal is celebrating the release earlier this month of the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame by offering several past articles in its CSJ Classic series. This piece was originally published on May 14, 2009 and chastised […]
CSJ Classic: Looking At The 2011 College Football Hall Of Fame Ballot
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor’s Note: College Sports Journal is celebrating the release earlier this month of the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame by offering several past articles in its CSJ Classic series. The writer is once again, as one of the members of the Football […]
CSJ Classic: Dexter Coakley Brings FCS Legacy to the College Football Hall Of Fame
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor’s Note: This is another article in the College Sports Journal Classic series. This article originally appeared on the College Sporting News website in the summer of 2011 as Dexter Coakley was about to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. BOONE, […]
CSN Classic: NCAA Misses The Whole Aircraft Carrier on North Dakota Nickname Issue
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor’s Note: This column was originally published on April 25, 2011 by the College Sporting News and proved to be one of the most popular pieces in the decade-long history of the Football Championship Subdivision website. The introduction to the piece said “The NCAA shows that […]
FCS Championship Game: An Unforgettable Bison Memory
By Kyle Roth Columnist College Sports Journal FRISCO, TX. — Almost four years ago, a younger, more uncertain version of myself was just a wide-eyed freshman on a charter bus with the Gold Star Pep Band on our way to Minneapolis, MN, traveling to play at the NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament’s first-round match up […]
An FCS Championship That A Punter Could Love
By Chuck Burton Publisher/Managing Editor College Sports Journal FRISCO, TX. — In a dozen years of watching NCAA Division I Championship Football games, I’ve seen a lot of matchups dominated by defensive linemen and incredible offensive talents. I’ve even seen entire teams be dominated from start to finish. Saturday was the first […]
North Dakota State Makes The Plays for a 17-6 Championship Win Over SHSU
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sporting News FRISCO, TX. — North Dakota State took its place among some of the greatest defensive performers in Football Championship Subdivision history on Saturday afternoon, grinding out a 17-6 victory over previously-unbeaten Sam Houston State in the NCAA Division Football Championship game. The Bison (14-1) allowed […]
FCS Championship Preview: The Bearkat’s “Hogs” vs. the Bison’s “Dogs”
By Chuck Burton Publisher/Managing Editor College Sports Journal FRISCO, TX. — The FCS National Championship game between Sam Houston State and North Dakota State could be visualized as a battle between Bearkats and Bison, the respective teams’ mascots. When it comes to predicting who the national champions will be on Saturday, however, two […]
Ten Years Of Championship Memories In FCS
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Two years ago, I will never forget watching Villanova’s team buses pull into their parking spots at Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium. The Wildcats had a Tigger-like bounce to their steps as they paraded onto the field for media day. You could sense the […]
North Dakota State’s Motto: Victory Loves Preparation
By Kyle Roth Columnist College Sports Journal FRISCO, TX. —Amat Victoria Curam. “Victory Loves Preparation.” It’s one of the recurring motifs of the recent Jason Statham action-flicks, The Mechanic, and it has every bit as much pertinence to the sport of football as it does to being a hit man-for-hire. It’s […]
2001: Montana Shuts Down Furman For NCAA Title Win
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the game story from Montana’s 2001 title victory over Furman. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal CHATTANOOGA, TN. — Like a wild west gunslinger, top-seeded Montana brought a reputation for high-powered offense […]
2002: Western Kentucky Tops McNeese State For NCAA Championship
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the game story from Western Kentucky’s 2002 title victory over McNeese State. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal CHATTANOOGA, TN.-Veteran coach Jack Harbaugh admitted Friday night that he was unsure if his […]
2003: Delaware Crushes Colgate, 40-0, In Title Game
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the game story from Delaware’s 2003 title victory over Colgate. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal CHATTANOOGA, TN. — When the I-AA championship football game opened with snow showers blowing into Finley Stadium, it […]
2004: JMU Grinds Out Championship Win Against Montana
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the game story from James Madison’s 2004 title victory over Montana. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal CHATTANOOGA, TN. — James Madison won the NCAA I-AA football championship the old-fashioned way Friday […]
2005: Hunter’s Fumble Recovery, TD Lifts Appalachian State Over UNI
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the game story from Appalachian State’s victory over Northern Iowa in 2005. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal CHATTANOOGA, TN. — With its offense ailing and their championship hopes on the ropes, […]
2006: Richardson, Appalachian State Run Past UMass For Title
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the game story from Appalachian State’s victory over Massachusetts in 2006. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal CHATTANOOGA, TN. — There were some who wondered early in the week whether Kevin Richardson’s sore […]
2008: Richmond Reaches Mountaintop With Title Win Over Montana
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the game story from Richmond’s 2008 title win over Montana. This story originally appeared on The Sports Network. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal CHATTANOOGA, TN. — Richmond found a way to […]
2009: Talley, Villanova Find Heaven On Earth With Title Win Over Montana
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the Dec. 18, 2009 game story as Villanova stopped Montana for the national title. This story originally appeared on The Sports Network. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal CHATTANOOGA, TN. — Villanova coach Andy Talley […]
2010-11: Eastern Washington Stuns Delaware For National Title
Editor’s Note: This is another article in a continuing series of articles from past FCS championship games. This is the Jan. 7, 2011 game story as Eastern Washington rallied from a 19-0 deficit to beat Delaware 20-19. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal FRISCO, TX. — Eastern Washington didn’t have its Tabasco […]
2010-11: EWU Takes Full Advantage Of Its Breaks To Win Again
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of historical articles that look back at past FCS title games. This story was written on Jan. 7, 2011 as Eastern Washington beat Delaware for the national crown. By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal FRISCO, TX. — When you look at the […]
FCS Championship Games Through The Years: 1978-2010
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal PHILADELPHIA — Here is a game-by-game synopsis of the previous 33 title games in the history of the NCAA Division I Football Championships, beginning with the first Football Championship Subdivision title clash in 1978, through the 2010 campaign.
Fans Wanting To Make It To Frisco “Get No Respect”
By Kyle Roth Special To the College Sports Journal FARGO, N.D. — Within a few hours of Sam Houston State’s ticket-punching victory over Montana, Bearkat fans’ mandated allotment of 4,000 tickets to the game in Frisco, TX, were gone. Barely a day after the Bison dominated Georgia Southern 35-7 and sealed a chance to […]
What If the FCS Were Bowls Instead of Playoffs?
By Chuck Burton Publisher/Managing Editor College Sports Journal PHILADELPHIA, PA. — In Fargo, North Dakota State is buzzing with excitement as they are headed to the Division I National Championship game after dominating six-time Division I NCAA National Champion Georgia Southern 35-7 this past weekend. And in Huntsville, Sam Houston State eagerly awaits, basically, […]
North Dakota State Stifles Georgia Southern’s Option In 35-7 Win
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota State did something even Alabama couldn’t accomplish Saturday in the NCAA Division I Football Championship semifinals. The Bison held Georgia Southern’s lethal triple option to just seven points and limited the Eagles to 186 yards rushing on the way […]
Sam Houston State Holds Off Montana To Reach FCS Title Game
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal HUNTSVILLE, TX. — Tim Flanders was the main man when Sam Houston State built a 21-0 lead in the first quarter of its NCAA Division I Football Championship semifinal game Friday night against Montana at Bowers Stadium. And Flanders was there again at the end […]
Montana, Sam Houston State Meet Again In FCS Semifinals
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal PHILADELPHIA, PA. — The last time that Montana ventured into Huntsville, TX. to take on Sam Houston State, the Grizzlies shocked the Football Championship Subdivision — by getting crushed by Sam Houston State, 41-29. On Friday, No. 4 seed Montana (11-2) will return to Bowers […]
Georgia Southern, North Dakota State Ready To Meet Again
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal STATESBORO, GA. — Five years ago, when Georgia Southern and North Dakota State met for the first time, then-GSU coach Brian VanGorder looked at NDSU after suffering a 34-14 loss at Paulson Stadium with admiration. “I look at North Dakota State and that’s where […]
Erk’s House
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This is another in the College Sports Journal Classic series. It was originally published in the College Sporting News on Sept. 8, 2006 after the death of legendary Georgia Southern coach Erk Russell. One interesting historical fact is that in the conclusion, the […]
Sam Houston State Overruns Montana State, 49-13
By Chuck Burton Publisher/Managing Editor College Sports Journal HUNTSVILLE, TX. — It was billed as a shootout against Texas high school all-stars, but only one side’s guns were blazing. Sam Houston State bowled over Montana State’s front seven for an eye-popping 428 yards rushing, cruising to a 21-6 halftime lead and coasting […]
Defense Proves To Be The Difference in North Dakota State’s Win Over Lehigh
By Chuck Burton Publisher/Managing Editor College Sports Journal FARGO, N.D. — In the end, not having junior WR Ryan Spadola didn’t matter for Lehigh In front of more than 18,000 loud North Dakota State fans, and a fearsome Bison defense, the Mountain Hawks couldn’t overcome the injuries, the noise, and their own miscues in the 24-0 […]
McKinnon’s Switch To Defense Leads Georgia Southern Past Maine
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal STATESBORO, GA. — Until a couple of weeks ago, Jerick McKinnon was a stalwart in the Georgia Southern triple-option attack. But with the Eagle secondary finding itself more depleted as the season went on, McKinnon was asked to make a difficult personal sacrifice before […]
Montana Advances With 48-10 Thrashing Of UNI
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal MISSOULA, MT. — Jabin Sambrano was a genuine playoff hero at Washington-Grizzly Stadium before Montana’s 48-10 victory over Northern Iowa on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championships. Quarterback Jordan Johnson wrote his name into that pantheon of stars […]
Lehigh Faces Uphill Challenge At North Dakota State
By Chuck Burton Publisher/Managing Editor College Sports Journal FARGO, N.D. — Let’s say you’re a Lehigh player right now. Today, you learned that your star receiver, junior WR Ryan Spadola, was suspended by the NCAA by making an offensive tweet. To call it a distraction would be the understatement of the […]
For Many Bobcat Players, A Homecoming at Sam Houston State in the Quarterfinals
By Chuck Burton Publisher/Managing Editor College Sports Journal HUNTSVILLE, TX. — It comes as no surprise that a game at Sam Houston State would feature a lot of athletes who played their high school ball in Texas. It might come as a surprise, though, how many of those athletes are suiting up for […]
Powerhouse Programs From Montana, UNI Meet In Quarterfinals
David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Northern Iowa and Montana are no strangers to the NCAA Division I Football Championships, as two of the powerhouse programs in the Football Championship Subdivision. But when the No. 4-seeded Grizzlies (10-2) and the No. 5-seeded Panthers (10-2) square off Friday night […]
Lehigh’s Spadola Suspended For North Dakota State Game
By Chuck Burton Publisher/Managing Editor College Sports Journal PHILADELPHIA, PA. — On Saturday, it was a head-scratching lead-in on head coach Andy Coen’s press conference on Lehigh’s historic 40-38 win over Towson in the playoffs. The consensus from the folks I talked to coming out of the room was: why would you lead the press […]
Maine Prepares For Georgia Southern Option
By David Coulson Executive Editor College Sports Journal STATESBORO, GA — It was only a matter of minutes after his team had finished up its press conference following a 34-12 road victory over Appalachian State in an NCAA Division I Football Championship second-round game and Maine coach Jack Cosgrove was already thinking about […]
