FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[Uncle Jessie]

Man I knew the Hornets were not going to be picked to high in the pre-season poll, but not this bad. 

2007 USA South Coaches Poll
Rank Institution (1st place Votes) Pts.
1. N.C. Wesleyan (6) 48
2. Christopher Newport (2) 44
3. Methodist 33
4. Averett 31
5. Maryville 27
6. Ferrum 17
7. Greensboro 15
8. Shenandoah 9

[ProudFightingScot]

2007 USA South Coaches Poll
Rank Institution (1st place Votes) Pts.
1. N.C. Wesleyan (6) 48
2. Christopher Newport (2) 44
3. Methodist 33
4. Averett 31
5. Maryville 27
6. Ferrum 17
7. Greensboro 15
8. Shenandoah 9

Here is the preseason poll for this year all.  The Media Day coverage was pretty good.  Methodist's head coach gave a great speach.  It was very entertaining.  Loved the fact how he said how can the league put him in front of 3 teams that beat him last year!!  I was a little suprised the CNU was ranked second even though they are ranked nationally and NCW isn't but from what I can tell NCW is going to be pretty good this year and has all the right parts coming back.  I must say I was (once again) disappointed seeing Maryville put in the bottom half of the league once again.  I definately think they are better than Averett which lost a TON this year and they are a little better than Methodist, especially since Maryville is returning 9 Offensive starters and majority of their defense coming back.  It does hurt them losing 2 4-year starters at the linebacking spot though.  I also think that Shenandoah will pick off Greensboro this year as well.  Either way it will be an interesting season this year with the strength of the conference.  On a side note, it was awesome to see a USA South player competing on the international level for the national team.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

Man I knew the Hornets were not going to be picked to high in the pre-season poll, but not this bad. 

2007 USA South Coaches Poll
Rank Institution (1st place Votes) Pts.
1. N.C. Wesleyan (6) 48
2. Christopher Newport (2) 44
3. Methodist 33
4. Averett 31
5. Maryville 27
6. Ferrum 17
7. Greensboro 15
8. Shenandoah 9

Uncle Jessie-
I wouldn't be too upset, Greensboro did get 8 points last year.  So it isn't as bad as you think.

I still don't think NCWC will finish first, there appears to be a couple of coaches that feel the same way.  If you take the 8pt first place votes out of the picture that leaves 6 points for two more coaches, am I correct? If that is the case then the average place after that is 6th place. hmm... The last two years the poll has not predicted the conference winner and the last three years has not predicted the team that finishes in last place. So more good news for SU.  Also the only time the first place votes finished 6 and 2, as with this one the team that got the 2 votes finished in last place.  I don't think CNU will do that.

[narch]

i tuned in for a little of the webcast (about 30 seconds)...since my computer at work doesn't have speakers, it was impossible to tell what was being said, but i will tell you this...that LOOKED big time - with the usasac logo draped behind the coaches and the bunting on the podium...i thought i was watching the acc coaches conference...really great job by all involved in the planning and implementation (at least from what i saw on the web)

pfs - i feel that the monarchs are a bit over-rated, as well, but i really think you can put a blanket over spots 3-8 this year...maybe there is something to pat's "disrespect" theory re: the scots - i thought they might be picked anywhere from 3rd to 5th...and, well, they are...but i would probably put them at 3rd

for what it's worth...here is my poll (if i previously posted a poll, this one supercedes it )
cnu
ncwc
m'ville
mu
au
fc
gc
su

[ProudFightingScot]

I agree with Narch's poll except I would switch GC and SU

[moshergc9]

I'm bias!  This will be a good year for the Pride.  Cnu is sill the team to beat.   NC Wes will prob lose 3 conf games.  Maryville will be tough but the road games are going to be tough.  Ferrum will probally have some of last yrs problems fixed.  Greensboro has a ton of seniors.  Methodist could be better than this if the qb starts playing better.  I think Averett is going to fall to the bottom this year (but only for a year).  SU, get a new offense.

Cnu
NC Wes
Maryville
Ferrum
Greensboro
Methodist
Averett
Shenadoah

I would have put Greensboro at the number one spot but its better to be the underdog going into the season.  Why do preseason polls exist?  I think it is out of boredom.

Roll Pride

[Uncle Jessie]

Amen on that about SU should get a new offense.

[CNU85]

/quote]

I read today that Rob Rodriguez was one of 13 players from the USA team named to the "All-Star" team from the World Championship tournament!! I'm looking around to see who else was named.

[CNU85]

oops..i messed up the quote below....oh well....too tired to fix it.

here's the link....if i read it right...2 d3 players on the "all-star" tem.

Congrats to RobRod!!!

Rob Rodriguez

(Modified for formatting...Thanks / Ralph Turner)

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

oops..i messed up the quote below....oh well....too tired to fix it.

here's the link....if i read it right...2 d3 players on the "all-star" tem.

Congrats to RobRod!!!

Rob Rodriguez

How is it that Korea's coach makes the all-star team, when Korea doesn't even win the championship?

[CNU85]

because his team was only outscored 110-0 in the tournament!!

[Highlander]

Greetings everyone, not much time left before the student- athletes begin showing up for pre- season camp. I think that the pre-season poll will not ever be able to predict just how the teams will finish the season. There are just to many different variables that could derail any team's season. I would also like to congratulate SU and MC for each placing players on the D3 football pre-season AA team.

[Eh-You]

OK - honest, unpopular opinion #1 for 2007 (that will cost me karma no doubt). Why are NCW and their QB getting so much love? Granted I've only seen them play once (last year vs. AU) but the QB basically lost that game with poor play at the end of the game so I left with a bad taste in my mouth. I think a team (and QB) ready to take that next step beats last year's Averett team at home. What's different about them now?  Give me CNU all day.

[Ryan Tipps]

While NCW is bringing back some very solid defensive numbers, it's the team's offense that's earning it most of the love this year.

Townsend, the team's QB, led the USA South in passing last year and was also one of the top 10 rushers in the conference. That combination alone, being able to throw and scramble, weighs heavily in his favor.

But the team is also bringing back three wideouts who last year ranked in the top five of receiving yards per game, so Townsend is going to have lots of targets out there. And to round things out, the ground game is good with Teron Bush, who, if I remember correctly, was the USA South rookie of the year last season.

All this looks good -- really good -- at least on paper. CNU, though, is definitely a hoss. Almost always is, and will be again this year, especially with Faison under center. He really came into his own last year.

I've never been shy saying that I'm favoring the Bishops this year, but it would be daft of me to think conference play is going to be a cakewalk this year -- especially when they face CNU and Maryville.

So, Eh-You, even if you might be voicing a somewhat unpopular opinion, it's hardly an unreasonable one. And it's a good question to ask. I would even bet that there are at least a couple people on this board who wholely agree with you. 

[CNU85]

While NCW is bringing back some very solid defensive numbers, it's the team's offense that's earning it most of the love this year.

Townsend, the team's QB, led the USA South in passing last year and was also one of the top 10 rushers in the conference. That combination alone, being able to throw and scramble, weighs heavily in his favor.

But the team is also bringing back three wideouts who last year ranked in the top five of receiving yards per game, so Townsend is going to have lots of targets out there. And to round things out, the ground game is good with Teron Bush, who, if I remember correctly, was the USA South rookie of the year last season.

All this looks good -- really good -- at least on paper. CNU, though, is definitely a hoss. Almost always is, and will be again this year, especially with Faison under center. He really came into his own last year.

I've never been shy saying that I'm favoring the Bishops this year, but it would be daft of me to think conference play is going to be a cakewalk this year -- especially when they face CNU and Maryville.

So, Eh-You, even if you might be voicing a somewhat unpopular opinion, it's hardly an unreasonable one. And it's a good question to ask. I would even bet that there are at least a couple people on this board who wholely agree with you. 

nicely written. NCW scares me....Bush is a good RB......would be at CNU except he didn't meet academic standards (so i've been told). AU scares me too. Not sure why, they just do. MU doesn't for some reason, maybe cuz Narch doesn't scare me!!! meow!