Covering All College Sports Since 2012
Holy Cross Crusaders Head Coach: Tom Gilmore, 12th season (66-69) Biggest strength in 2016: Battlers until the end of the season, Holy Cross navigated a strange schedule to finish above .500, but more importantly winning four of their last five games. After losing a closer-than-it-looked 31-14 loss to Colgate in Week 3, Tom Gilmore’s team.
Sacred Heart Pioneers Head Coach: Mark Nofri, 4th season (25-11) Biggest strength in 2016: Good teams stop the run well, and the Pioneers’ front seven stopped the run better than any other team in the NEC, allowing ony 3.2 yards per carry during the season. Additionally, in their six wins, Sacred Heart held the opposition.
Princeton Tigers Head Coach: Bob Surace, 8th season (25-35) Biggest strength in 2016: The biggest strength of the Tigers last year was basically the way they competed in the first four games of the season, pummeling Lehigh, Lafayette, Columbia and Colgate by a combined score of 146-58. Granted, they faced the Patriot League champion Raiders.
Lehigh Mountain Hawks Head Coach: Andy Coen, 10th season (68-46) Biggest strength in 2016: Last season, the Mountain Hawk offense went from an above-average unit to the type of scary offensive force that Lehigh fans love and expect. Averaging over 30 points per game in their last five contests of last season, with an impressive.
Here at CSJ, we are previewing the upcoming 2016 season, and we are counting up from 8 to 1 as to who we think how the Ivy League will shake itself out. Last season saw a thrilling Ivy League football season with three teams, Harvard, Penn, and Dartmouth, enjoying a co-championship. Harvard beat Dartmouth in a 14-13.
Bryant Bulldogs Head Coach: Marty Fine, 12th season (75-55) Biggest strength in 2016: When the Bulldogs were at their best in 2016, it was the middle of the season, with Bryant’s junior QB and senior RB keeping opposing offenses guessing. In consecutive weeks at home, Marty Fine’s team knocked off Duquesne and St. Francis (PA),.
Dartmouth Big Green Head Coach: Buddy Teevens, 17th season (75-83-2, 109-160-2 overall) Biggest strength in 2016: It is difficult to narrow down one strength of the coIvy League champion 2015 Dartmouth Big Green. Was it their dynamic, incredible playmaking QB? Was it their smothering defense, who gave up more than two touchdowns in a game.
Bucknell Bison Head Coach: Joe Susan, 7th season (28-38, 38-38 overall) Biggest strength in 2016: Though the Bison disappointed in 2015, you can’t hang that on the backs of the defense, who was ranked 12th in the nation in scoring defense and 6th in red zone defense, holding high-flying offense like Colgate, Fordham and Lehigh.
Here at CSJ, we are previewing the upcoming 2016 season, and we are counting up from 7 to 1 as to who we think how NEC football will shake itself out. Last season saw Duquesne win their first-ever NEC title, and saw them rewarded with a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia in the FCS playoffs to face.
Central Connecticut State Blue Devils Head Coach: Pete Rossomando, 3rd season (7-16) Biggest strength in 2016: The stat sheet doesn’t necessarily reflect it, but the Blue Devils have a great young core of defenders on which they will build this season. Rising seniors CB Jevon Elmore (71 tackles, 16 pass breakups) and DE Asia Bolling.
Brown Bears Head Coach: Phil Estes, 19th season (108-71-0) Biggest strength in 2016: If you’re competing on a team with Phil Estes as your head coach, chances are your big strength is going to be on offense, and the Bears’ starting five offensive linemen seem to be Brown’s biggest strength in 2016. Two bookend tackles,.
Lafayette Leopards Head Coach: Frank Tavani, 16th season (82-98) Biggest strength in 2016: After suffering through an immense number of injuries in 2015, the end of season finally saw Frank Tavani’s offense sputter to life, thanks to the emergence of an effective running game. The emergence of RB DeSean Brown (877 all-purpose yards, 5 TDs).
Wagner Seahawks Head Coach: Jason Houghtailing, 2nd season (1-10) Biggest strength in 2016: In a tough 2015 campaign where Wagner struggled on both sides of the ball, Houghtailing’s squad finally got a glimpse of strong play from a player on whom the Seahawks will be relying on next season, RB Matthias McKinnon. Wagner’s multi-faceted running.
Columbia Lions Head Coach: Al Bagnoli, 2nd season at Columbia (2-8), 232-91 overall Biggest strength in 2016: After a 2014 season that ended with morale at an all-time low, the shock hire of Al Bagnoli after his retirement tour at Penn was a desperately needed jolt of enthusiasm. With the full knowledge that a ground-up.
Georgetown Hoyas Head Coach: Rob Sgarlata, 3rd season (7-15) Biggest strength in 2016: It is probably very cloying to call a team “better than their 4-7 record”, but you could definitely make that case about the 2015 Hoyas. In the Patriot League, Sgarlata’s squad came within a touchdown of Colgate, Fordham and Lehigh, while for.
Robert Morris Colonials Head Coach: John Banaszak, 2nd season (4-7) Biggest strength in 2016: Only allowing 21.6 points per game, the Colonials defense certainly kept them in games last season. Robert Morris also got an eye-popping 85 tackles for loss last season, showing that the defense was doing their job. That’s the foundation for this.
Cornell Big Red Head Coach: David Archer, 4th season (5-25) Biggest strength in 2016: Probably not what Cornell fans want to hear, but their best player might be P Chris Fraser (Potomac, MD), one of the best punters at the FCS level with a 44.8 yard per punt average and 16 punts of more than.
Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of New Hampshire athletics (www.unhwildcats.com). SCOTTSDALE, AZ. – University of New Hampshire football coaching legend Bill Bowes was named to the 2016 College Football Hall of Fame Class by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame on Friday. He is the first member of the UNH program.
FRISCO, TX. — It is always a weird summary on the passage of time when you reach the end of the college football season. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago when we were sitting down to watch North Dakota State and Montana battle on that August afternoon in what was arguably the best television.
ATLANTA, GA. — North Carolina A&T All-American running back Tarik Cohen sat at the podiumof the postgame press conference at the Georgia Dome after the Aggies 41-34 victory over Alcorn State in the first-ever Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. During the first quarter, Cohen, who rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns, left the game do to.
ATLANTA, GA. — I was wrong. When the first-ever Celebration Bowl was announced back in March and it was noted that the MEAC would have to give up its automatic berth to the FCS Playoffs, I was very much an opponent of the idea. As a former SID at a MEAC school in the late.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — The year was 1999. That was last time North Carolina A&T won a national championship. Sixteen years later, they are national champions again. The Aggies 41-34 victory over Alcorn State in the first-ever Celebration Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, solidified their place in history as the 2015.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State athletics. JACKSONVILLE, AL. — Twenty-three years after winning a national title in its last season in NCAA Division II, Jacksonville State will play for another championship, this time at the FCS level. The No..
Special to College Sports Journal from Raycom Media Camellia Bowl Senior Writer Tim Gayle MONTGOMERY, AL. — Quentin Poling was a force in the middle for the first six games of the Ohio Bobcats’ season before leaving early in the Western Michigan game with a knee injury. The Bobcats went on to lose the next.
FARGO, N.D. — Seven years ago, Richmond dethroned a three-time national titleist — Appalachian State — on the way to its first and only NCAA Division I Football Championship. On Friday night, the Spiders couldn’t repeat that feat against a four-time Football Championship powerhouse as North Dakota State advanced to its fifth straight title appearance.
By Jason Huber Special to College Sports Journal BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State football took a huge step in the schools program this season in receiving their first bid to a bowl game. In only the second year of App State’s postseason eligibility after moving from the FCS, the Mountaineers went 10-2 with.
By Donal Ware Special to College Sports Journal PHILADLPHIA — The honors keep rolling in for Javon Hargrave. South Carolina State’s star defensive tackle was the choice for the Willie Davis BOXTOROW Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second-straight year. Grambling quarterback Johnathan Williams was chosen as the BOXTOROW Offensive Player of the.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note This story is courtesy of North Dakota State an Northern Iowa athletics. FARGO, N.D. — One big play at the beginning of the second half turned the momentum of the game and another near the end helped clinch another North Dakota State playoff victory. Bruce.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Sam Houston State and Colgate athletics. HUNTSVILLE, TX. — Quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe passed for 358 yards and four touchdowns and running back Corey Avery rushed 25 times for 197 yards and a score to lead Sam Houston to a 48-21 victory over Colgate.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Richmond and Illinois State athletics. Photo courtesy of Pinola Photography. NORMAL, Ill. – The University of Richmond football (10-3) team will continue its pursuit of a national championship thanks to a 39-27 defeat of No. 2 seed Illinois State on the road. Jacobi.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Jacksonville State and Charleston Southern athletics. JACKSONVILLE, AL. — Top-ranked Jacksonville State exploded for 45 points and 425 yards after halftime Friday night to earn its first trip to the FCS semifinals next week. Troymaine Pope rushed for 250 yards and three.
By Scottie Rodgers Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of the Ivy League. NEW YORK, N.Y. — Harvard senior quarterback Scott Hosch and Penn senior linebacker Tyler Drake were unveiled as the Ivy League’s 2015 Football Players of the Year and Asa S. Bushnell Cup recipients in front.
Special to College Sports Journal By Steve Conn Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Yale athletics. NEW YORK, N.Y. — “If you were in a phone booth with him for 20 minutes, you still couldn’t catch him,” said Yale’s Hall of Fame football coach Carm Cozza about his former All-America running back.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Twenty-nine players were selected to the annual BOXTOROW All-America team. BOXTOROW has administered the All-America team since 2007 and the voters are comprised of media members from around the nation that cover HBCU football. The offense is headlined by North Carolina A&T junior running back Tarik Cohen, who repeats as.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Jacksonville State and UTC athletics. JACKSONVILLE, AL. — Brandon Bender came up with the biggest defensive play of Jacksonville State’s season, Eli Jenkins capitalized on No. 7 Chattanooga’s only turnover and the top-ranked Gamecocks are going to the FCS quarterfinals for.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Charleston Southern and The Citadel athletics. CHARLESTON, S.C. — Charleston Southern is moving on to the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. A dominant defensive effort made sure of it. CSU forced six turnovers and stifled The Citadel’s triple option attack.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Illinois State athletics. NORMAL, IL. – After falling behind early in the third quarter, the Illinois State football team bounced back for a 36-19 win over Western Illinois in the second round of the FCS Playoffs on Saturday afternoon before 6,124.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy Richmond and William & Mary athletics. RICHMOND, VA. — The University of Richmond football team was dominant on Saturday afternoon, burying Capital Cup rival William & Mary (9-4, 6-2), 48-13, at Robins Stadium to claim a second round win in the NCAA.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Montana and North Dakota State athletics. FARGO, N.D. — The Grizzlies can have August. The Bison will gladly continue to own December. North Dakota State, the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, jumped out to a.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of UNI athletics. PORTLAND, OR. — With its rushing attack functioning on all cylinders the University of Northern Iowa football team picked up a decisive 29-17 win over No. 6 seeded Portland State in the cold and rain on Saturday night, advancing.
By Matthew Dougherty Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of the Patriot League and Colgate athletics HARRISONBURG, VA. — Colgate found a way to win another close game, continuing its magic late in the season with a 44-38 victory at No. 5 seed James Madison in the second round of.
By Matthew Bonnette Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of McNeese State athletics. LAKE CHARLES, LA. — First-and-goal at the one-yard line is all that kept McNeese from taking a late fourth quarter lead and a possible win over Sam Houston State in the second round of the.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of The Citadel and Coastal Carolina athletics. CONWAY, S.C. — The Citadel’s Eric Goins kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bulldogs past Coastal Carolina, 41-38, in the opening round of the 2015 NCAA Division I football playoffs.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois athletics. CEDAR FALLS, IA. — Northern Iowa exploded for 23 second-quarter points on the way to a 53-17 win over No. 24 Eastern Illinois Saturday, earning a spot in the second round of the FCS Playoffs..
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of Sam Houston State and Southern Utah athletics. HUNTSVILLE, TX. — Quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe came off the bench to pass for 211 yards including a 55-yard scoring pass to Yedidiah Louis for the winning score with 3:44 to play as Sam Houston rallied.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of William & Mary and Duquesne athletics. WILLIAMSBURG, VA. — The No. 13 William & Mary football team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs with a 52-49 victory against Duquesne at Zable Stadium on Saturday evening. Although DU (8-4) jumped out.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of South Dakota State athletics. MISSOULA, MT. — A 24-0 lead at Washington-Grizzly Stadium might have felt safe to most people, but Montana and South Dakota State remember the last time that the Grizzlies and the Jackrabbits had met in the NCAA.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of the Patriot League and New Hampshire athletics. DURHAM, N.H. — Patriot League champion Colgate built a 21-point fourth-quarter lead and held on in the final minutes for a 27-20 win at New Hampshire in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s Note: This story is courtesy of the Patriot League and UTC athletics. CHATTANOOGA, TN. — A turf tackle followed by an interception turned the tide in the first period as Chattanooga roared to a 50-20 victory over Fordham in in the first round of the NCAA Division.
Special to College Sports Journal Editor’s note: This story is courtesy of University of Dayton and Western Illinois athletics. DAYTON, Ohio – Dayton scored the first touchdown of the game, but from there it was all Western Illinois on the scoreboard as the Leathernecks won 24-7 in their opening round FCS Playoffs game.
