He was a great man, taken from us too soon from a horrible disease. I know, because I had the honor of talking to him about his passion, Lehigh football, for his entire hall-of-fame coaching career.
Category: FCS Football
Lehigh Signs A Grand Total of 17 Through 2021 Signing Day Periods
“We landed some very good talent and some are capable of helping early,” Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore told me by email.
Transfer Portal Turmoil at Northern Colorado: Subpar Culture or Changing of the Guard?
What the heck is going on at Northern Colorado? 27 days into the new year and UNC had already accumulated 28 players on the transfer portal. Typically this is a red flag that a program is in trouble, but what does it mean for a team that has not had a winning season since 2016? […]
OPINION: Are We On the Brink of the Era of the FCS Superconference?
The CAA’s move to become a 13 team superconference begs a different question for the FCS – what if that’s the only way forward for any number of smaller FCS conferences? Are we on the brink of a new era, where five, six, and seven member conferences are a thing of the past?
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25–FINAL 2021
Below are the Final 2021 Top 25 FCS rankings based on the Sagarin rankings after all postseason games have been completed in Division I play. These rankings include all FBS Bowl games and the entire FCS playoffs, including both the FCS and CFP National Championship games. North Dakota State remains in the top spot following […]
Nine is Just Fine for North Dakota State in Defeating Montana State for the 2022 FCS National Title
FRISCO, Tex. — North Dakota State, who was the #2 seed in this year’s Division I FCS Playoffs, scored on its first three drives to really finish off the 2022 National Championship game. The Bison also scored the first 35 points of the game to dominate #8 seeded Montana State to a 38-10 final in […]
Montana State’s Extraordinary Year Ends Up Putting The Bobcats In Frisco. How Did They Do It?
After hiring head coach Brent Vigen in January – and opting out the the spring season – they find themselves with a 12-2 record and this time facing North Dakota State in Frisco to possibly win their first National Championship in in 37 years. How did they do it?
2022 Division I FCS National Championship Game Preview: #8 Montana State vs. #2 North Dakota State
These two border state schools in the northern part of the country head south to Texas to see who is the best in the FCS this year when Montana State and North Dakota State meet this Saturday.
For the Bison, this is old hat. This is NDSU’s ninth trip to Frisco in the last 11 years. The two missing years were this past spring’s contest–held then due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2016 when James Madison upset NDSU in the semi-final round. And all prior eight trips to north Texas have resulted in the Bison capturing the crown.
For Montana State, this is the first trip to the national title game since 1984 when the Bobcats won the title over Louisiana Tech in a game played in Charleston, S.C. MSU has been a contender in the playoffs though as the last season this team played it made it to the FCS semifinals in 2019 to the same team it will playing this year in the title game in NDSU.
Montana State Head Coach Brent Vigen Knows A Thing Or Two About Bison, Frisco
Montana State has spent nearly half a century panning for another national title in football and it’s taken a graduate of North Dakota State to lead the Bobcats to the threshold of achieving that goal.
North Dakota State’s Road to Frisco for the Ninth Time in Eleven Years
This year, North Dakota State will play for its unprecedented ninth Division I title in football to enter its first title game in a new decade after winning eight of ten titles in the 2010s. The Bison will be facing Montana State, who are somewhat the new kids on the block. Of course, Montana State […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff Semifinal Preview: South Dakota State at #8 Montana State
FCS SEMIFINAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT MONTANA STATEWHERE: BOBCAT STADIUM, BOZEMAN, MONT.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 12:00 PM MSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN2 / WATCHESPN The other semifinal game between James Madison and North Dakota State will rightfully get its attention as those are the top seeds left in the final four but the South Dakota State-Montana State […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff Semifinal Preview: #3 James Madison at #2 North Dakota State
FCS SEMIFINAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP: JAMES MADISON AT NORTH DAKOTA STATEWHERE: FARGODOME, FARGO, N.D.WHEN: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 8:15 PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN2 / WATCHESPN This JMU-NDSU rivalry has been blooming over the past five seasons but like all good things, they have to come to an end. This will be the last meeting (at least with both at […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: #8 Montana State Bobcats at #1 Sam Houston Bearkats
GAME PREVIEW: # 8 Montana State vs. #1 Sam HoustonWhen: Saturday, December 11 at 7:30PM CSTWhere: Bowers Stadium; Huntsville, TexasTV/Streaming: ESPN+ Sam Houston’s defense came up with a clutch stop on fourth and goal to hold off a late rally in a 49-42 victory over Incarnate Word in the second round of the FCS playoffs […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: #6 Montana Grizzlies at #3 James Madison Dukes
Fans of James Madison, who will be competing in the Sun Belt next season, feel like this is the “rubber match” between the two programs and would be a fitting sendoff for the Dukes to avenge that semifinal loss. Montana fans, however, would like a different type of sendoff.
2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: South Dakota State at #5 Villanova
This game will mark the second matchup between SDSU and Villanova on the gridiron. The first meeting also took place in the postseason, with the Jackrabbits pulling out a 10-7 victory on a late field goal in 2016 in a game played at Brookings.
2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: #7 East Tennessee State at #2 North Dakota State
FCS QUARTERFINAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP: EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATEWHERE: FARGODOME, FARGO, N.D.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 11:00AM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN / WATCHESPN Two conference champions meet in Fargo in this quarterfinal round match-up. East Tennessee State won the Southern Conference title this year and defeated Kennesaw State in the second round of the Division I FCS […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff Second Round Preview: South Dakota State at #4 Sacramento State
FCS SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT SACRAMENTO STATEWHERE: HORNET STADIUM, SACRAMENTO, CALIF.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 6:00PM PSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ A first time match-up will take place in Sacramento in the Division I FCS Second Round when South Dakota State visits Sacramento State. Sacramento State was the Big Sky Conference champions with an unblemished conference mark to […]
Playoff Round Two – Game Preview – Kennesaw State Owls at #7 East Tennessee State Buccaneers
On offense, you know what you are getting from Kennesaw State, you just don’t know where its coming from. The Owls run the triple option to near perfection.
2021 Division I FCS Playoff Second Round Preview: Southern Illinois at #2 North Dakota State
FCS SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT NORTH DAKOTA STATEWHERE: FARGODOME, FARGO, N.D.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2:30PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ Southern Illinois advanced the first round last week by defeating Missouri Valley Football Conference mate South Dakota on the road. The reward for the Salukis is to face another MVFC foe on the road in #2 […]
FCS Playoff Round Two – Game Preview – Holy Cross Crusaders at #5 Villanova Wildcats
Villanova has never lost to a Patriot League school in the postseason; one of their victories came against Holy Cross in their national championship season in 2009 by a 38-28 score.
FCS Playoff Round Two – Game Preview – Incarnate Word Cardinals at #1 Sam Houston Bearkats
The road to Frisco will go through Huntsville after the Sam Houston Bearkats were named the No. 1 overall seed in the FCS Playoffs when the bracket was revealed a couple of weeks ago.
FCS Playoff Round Two – Game Preview – Southeastern Louisiana Lions at #3 James Madison Dukes
These two teams have never faced each other. Both offenses are prolific.
Sluka’s John Elway Impression Lifts Holy Cross To Last-Second 13-10 Win Over Sacred Heart
The 35 yard spiral from Sluka to Coker was on the money – and Coker came up with it and fell in the end zone, and with it, gave Holy Cross their first-ever FCS Playoff win in five tries.
FCS Playoffs ‘Til I Die: Chuck’s Fearless Picks For the 2021 FCS Playoff Bracket
I ate my Thanksgiving turkey, I looked at all the stats, and I figured out who I think the 2021 FCS National Champions will be.
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Sacred Heart at Holy Cross
Holy Cross and Sacred Heart are both riding six-game win streaks into the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Davidson at Kennesaw State
FCS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: DAVIDSON AT KENNESAW STATEWHERE: FIFTH BANK STADIUM, KENNESAW, GA.WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 2:00 PM ESTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ If you are a fan of running the football, this playoff match-up will be for you between Davidson and Kennesaw State. This game will feature the number one and number two rushing offenses in the […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Northern Iowa at Eastern Washington
FCS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: NORTHERN IOWA AT EASTERN WASHINGTONWHERE: ROOS FIELD, CHENEY, WASH.WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 1:00 PM PSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ Two of the Division I FCS powerhouse program meet again in the playoffs when Northern Iowa travels to Eastern Washington. These two programs have been two of the most dominant FCS programs over the past […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Tennessee-Martin at Missouri State
FCS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: TENNESSEE-MARTIN AT MISSOURI STATEWHERE: ROBERT W. PLASTER STADIUM, SPRINGFIELD, MO.WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 3:00PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ Missouri State is back in the playoffs for the second season in a row and fourth season overall. The Bears were co-champions of the MVFC last spring to get their first bid to the postseason […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Southern Illinois at South Dakota
FCS FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT SOUTH DAKOTAWHERE: DAKOTADOME, VERMILLION, S.D.WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 5:00PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ It is a rarity that two teams from the same conference play each other in the first round of the FCS playoffs but that is the case in this match-up. The NCAA rule for the opening round […]
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Florida A&M at Southeastern Louisiana
The Rattlers are averaging 29 points per game, which is 44th in the FCS; they’re averaging 389 yards per game, which is 43rd in the FCS.
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: Stephen F. Austin at Incarnate Word
Incarnate Word’s offense is hard to stop – they’re scoring 39.6 points per game, which is 4th in the FCS.
2021 Division I FCS Playoff First Round Preview: UC Davis at South Dakota State
These two teams were actually conference members of the now defunct Great West Football Conference until SDSU left that league after the 2007 season. UC Davis left the league after the 2011 season. Both moved to their current leagues of the Missouri Valley Football Conference for SDSU and the Big Sky Conference for UC Davis.
CSJ Sagarin 2021 NCAA FCS Playoff Projection-FINAL
Using the Sagarin ranking this week, the following would be the field of 24 teams for the Division I FCS Football Playoffs. The actual playoff announcement will be made later today at 12:30 EST on ESPNU. North Dakota State is the top seed, while MVFC mate South Dakota State is the second seed. James Madison […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25 – Nov. 20
Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Nov. 20th, 2021. This is the last ranking of the regular season and CSJ will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. North Dakota State stays the top of the rankings after the Bison defeated South […]
FCS Playoffs ‘Til I Die: Chuck’s Final Bracket Projection
One last spin in the dryer.
Southland, WAC and ASUN-WAC Alliance Game Previews – Week 12
The Lumberjacks of SFA picked up their first road win over Central Arkansas since 2009 with a 27-14 victory last Saturday night at Estes Stadium.
Colonial Athletic Association Week 12 Preview
The CAA has two locks for playoff berths – James Madison and Villanova. If both of those teams win they will both wind up seeded as well. After that it’s a question of whether there will be another CAA team in the playoffs.
Southern Conference Week 12 Preview
As we come to the last week of the season, the path to determine the Southern Conference champion is as easy as it gets.
The 157th Meeting of “The Rivalry” (Lafayette at Lehigh) – Game Preview, Drink Of the Week, And Fearless Prediction
This Saturday, college football’s most-played Rivalry will contest its 157th meeting between the Lafayette Leopards (3-7) and Lehigh Mountain Hawks (2-8), and the hope is that it will be, well, normal.
FCS Playoffs ‘Til I Die: Five Days Out, Chuck And Jamie Pick Their Brackets
First of all – if you haven’t seen “The Vermillion Miracle” – watch it. Now. It’s one of the most extraordinary things you’ll ever see this college football season, or any other.
College Sports Journal Top 25 – Week 11
We are one week out from selection Sunday when none of the polls will matter anymore. But one last time, let’s see where the CSJ staff lands.
The 157th Meeting of “The Rivalry” Means To Resume Bowl, And Party, Atmosphere
In terms of the Lehigh/Lafayette Rivalry, however, which resumes this weekend in the 157th meeting between these two schools, for Leopard and Mountain Hawk fans, I think, college football seemed to end on that day on November 23rd, 2019, and never really quite seemed to get back to the college football that fans once knew before they learned what COVID was and how it was to impact their lives.
Big Second Half Propels Holy Cross To Another Patriot League Crown
Holy Cross ran the ball well … and passed the ball well … and its defense did what needed to be done as the Crusaders overcame a 24-17 deficit by scoring 35 unanswered points on the way to defeating Fordham 52-24 on Nov. 13 in the Bronx.
CSJ Sagarin 2021 NCAA FCS Playoff Projection-Nov. 14
Using the Sagarin ranking this week, the following would be the field of 24 teams for the Division I FCS Football Playoffs. North Dakota State is the top seed, while MVFC mate South Dakota State is the second seed James Madison is the #3, while Sam Houston State and Eastern Washington are the #4 and […]
College Sports Journal Sagarin FCS Top 25 – Nov. 13
Below are the Top 25 rankings based on the Sagarin rankings for the week ending Nov. 13th, 2021. CSJ will show weekly rankings from the Sagarin rankings throughout the season and will have a final ranking after the national championship game in January. North Dakota State moves to the top of the rankings after the […]
Lehigh Catches Momentum In 23-9 Win over Georgetown Before Big Rivalry Game
It was a game that wasn’t handed to them, either by Georgetown or Mother Nature, and they fought through and won.
OVC 2021 Week 11 Preview
The OVC is currently paced by UT Martin which has won all four of its conference games this season.
Lehigh Football vs. Georgetown: Drink of the Week, Scouting Report, Fearless Prediction
It is the type of game only real fans understand.
Southland, WAC and ASUN-WAC Alliance Game Previews – Week 11
Incarnate Word upset No. 6 Southeastern Louisiana last Saturday 55-52, but over the last two fall seasons, the Nicholls State Colonels have amped up their play in November.
Southern Conference Week 11 Preview
There are still four teams alive for the SoCon title, but for two teams – Mercer and Chattanooga – its simple: win both remaining games and win the conference.
