Big Season Finally Arrives for SoCon and Big South Teams

At last. The 2010 season, the one with new postseason opportunities, has arrived.

The Big South Conference champion finally gets an automatic ticket to the FCS playoffs. And with more slots available overall, more than just two SoCon teams could play their way into the playoffs.

Will Liberty capture the first playoff spot? Or will Stony Brook knock it out of first again? Or will someone else – Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina or Gardner-Webb – step up and surprise everyone?

In the SoCon, Appalachian State begins defense of its conference title right away with a trip to Chattanooga. The Mocs don’t plan on being hospitable hosts, recognizing the opportunity to turn the conference race on its ear right away.

Most observers, though, believe the Mountaineers and Elon will again take first and second – and two playoff spots. Can Furman, Wofford, Samford or UT-Chattanooga push them and maybe grab a third playoff spot for the SoCon? Perhaps the return to triple-option football could lift Georgia Southern and The Citadel to the upper levels.

In other words, there are plenty of questions and lots of hope. And finally, there’s football.


WEEK ONE GAMES

Big Game of the Week

Appalachian State at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 3 p.m.
Starting the SoCon schedule in week one with a matchup of a perennial champ against an up-and-coming team makes a lot of sense. This contest marks game one of the post-Armanti Edwards era for the Mountaineers as DeAndre Presley takes the helm. He at least has game experience, having started two games during the last two years when Edwards was injured. He has plenty of talent around him to keep the Mountaineer offense humming, especially if Devon Moore has overcome preseason injuries. Russ Huesman has instilled new beliefs in Chattanooga, and playing the Mocs isn’t the same proposition it was a couple of years ago. They play solid defense, and if some receivers step up for quarterback B. J. Coleman, the offense should have some punch. Game one of the Southern Conference schedule shows the potential to be a good one.
Appalachian State leads the series 23-10.

The FBS Games

Presbyterian College at Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m. (Thursday, Sept. 2)
A young Blue Hose team suffered through a winless season in 2009. No doubt that Harold Nichols gets this team better, but will it show against a schedule that begins with two games against Atlantic Coast Conference teams? First up is Wake Forest. Presbyterian College will look for playmakers on defense and will count on two good runningbacks to make an impact in this opener.
Wake Forest leads the series 5-4-1.

Samford at Florida State, Noon
Twenty-three years ago, Jimbo Fisher spent a season quarterbacking the Samford football team. On Saturday, he’ll guide Florida State against Samford in his first game as head coach. The Bulldogs have the talent to make a push in the Southern Conference and last year played well in a close loss to another team from the Sunshine State (Central Florida). They’ll have to play really well in this one.
Florida State leads the series 1-0.

Coastal Carolina at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m.
The Chanticleers will be the second Big South team in as many years to serve as West Virginia’s first opponent. Coastal Carolina will be challenged to slow down the Mountaineers' high-powered offense led by runningback Noel Devine. A good showing, however, will give the Chanticleers momentum for a tough nonconference slate.
This is the first meeting between the teams.

Western Carolina at North Carolina State, 6 p.m.
The Catamounts are hungry for a turn-around season, but they will encounter a challenging start in Raleigh against a Wolfpack team hungry for its own turn-around season. Western Carolina has won just eight games through the last four seasons, and its last winning season occurred in 2005 (5-4). Dennis Wagner and his team face a tall order in this opener, but a solid showing should develop confidence for the rest of the schedule.
North Carolina State leads the series 5-0.

Elon at Duke, 7 p.m.
Four years ago, Scott Riddle made his debut against a FBS team (South Florida). He’ll return to FBS waters to start his senior season as the Phoenix travel across state to challenge the Duke Blue Devils. Elon carries high expectations into this season after steady growth under Pete Lembo. The Phoenix finished last season with a close loss to a Richmond team that upset Duke in the 2009 opener. Can Elon match that feat? Duke played much better after that loss to the Spiders, so it will take a strong Elon effort to do that.
Duke leads the series 5-0-1.

Stony Brook at South Florida, 7 p.m.
The Seawolves will make a long trek south to Tampa to square off with South Florida of the Big East. The Bulls will play their first game under new head coach Skip Holtz. Stony Brook returns only four starters on each side of the line. There is talent, though, especially with runningback Edwin Gowins and quarterback Michael Coulter along with placekicker Wesley Skiffington. This game is just the type of tough early season contest the Seawolves have been known for playing the last few years.
This is the first meeting between the teams.

Wofford at Ohio, 7 p.m.
The Terriers dropped to unexpected depths in 2009, thanks largely to injuries and turnovers. Wofford hopes to have better results in those categories, beginning with its first meeting with the Bobcats. Ohio, under former Nebraska coach Frank Solich, has had better results of its own lately and reached a bowl game a year ago. When executed well, Wofford’s offense is difficult to manage, and it will be interesting to see how the Bobcats deal with it.
This is the first meeting between the teams.

The D-II Games

Chowan (0-1) at The Citadel, 1 p.m.
Division II Chowan should give the Bulldogs an opportunity to work out the kinks in the new triple-option offense in game situations, especially because the team will almost certainly start a freshman at quarterback. The Citadel needs to have a good start as it seeks a rebound season. It should get that against the Hawks, who dropped a 59-10 decision to Lenior-Rhyne last week, surrendering 631 yards in total offense.
This is the first meeting between the teams.

Lock Haven at VMI, 1:30 p.m.
So long triple option, hello Pro-Set. VMI will debut its new offense in the season opener against Lock Haven. The Keydets will spread the field and try to control the ball, certainly with more passing than they’ve used the last couple of seasons. It helps to have four returning starters on the offensive line. VMI also hopes to see improvement from its defense. Ten starters return on that side of the ball, including the front seven.
VMI leads the series 1-0.

North Greenville at Charleston Southern, 1:30 p.m.
The Bucs welcome the Crusaders from the Upstate of South Carolina for what has become a regular encounter. North Greenville opened with a late-game 36-30 loss at Mars Hill Aug. 28. Charleston Southern will follow the leadership of returning quarterback A. J. Toscano to counter the pair of quarterbacks North Greenville will use, including former Clemson University quarterback Willy Korn. This game marks only the fourth time the Bucs have opened a season at home, but they are pretty good at it, winning the other three times.
Charleston Southern leads the series 9-1.

Brevard (1-0) at Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs welcome the Division II Tornados from nearby Brevard for the season opener. The visitors have a game under their belts (a 53-27 triumph over Edward Waters), but Gardner-Webb should use its experience and talent on both sides of the ball to take control. The Bulldogs will be breaking in a new quarterback.
This is the first meeting between the teams.

The FCS Games

St. Francis, Pa., at Liberty, Noon
The Flames will seek to continue the high-scoring offense generated last season when they led the FCS in scoring. With the talented Mike Brown taking over at quarterback and a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, Liberty should ring up good numbers against the Red Flash. The Flames, by the way, will play this home game at City Stadium in Lynchburg – the team’s original home field – while the renovations of Williams Stadium on campus are completed.
Liberty leads the series 1-0.

Savannah State at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.
Former Georgia Southern (and Navy and Georgia Tech) assistant Jeff Monken is the latest head coach called on to return the Eagles to the glory days of the 1980s and 1990s. The difference with him is he was there for the last national championship as an assistant under Paul Johnson. Monken also is bringing back option football to Statesboro. Georgia Southern fans will get their first look at the new-look Eagles in this contest against the Tigers from nearby Savannah.
Georgia Southern leads the series 8-0.

Not Playing This Week
Furman (hosts Colgate on Sept. 11)