FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[Hawks88]

CNU picked to win in the preseason poll.

2013 USA South Coaches Preseason Poll
Rank   Institution (1st Place Votes)   Pts.
1.   Christopher Newport (4)   56
2.   Huntingdon (3)            55
3.   Ferrum (1)                   54
4.   Maryville                           44
5.   Methodist (1)                   37
6.   LaGrange                           32
7.   Greensboro                   21
8.   N.C. Wesleyan                   13
9.   Averett                           12

[Scots13]

The poll is probably a fair assessment considering the circumstances.  Tons of talent returning throughout the conference and will be an awesome year to watch how everything plays out.  Interested to see how Vann returns, what Huntingdon's young talent can do for its offense, and what kind of supporting cast Ferrum has for Reynolds.

I've heard that the situation with Huntingdon has to do with an ineligible player, but of course until the Athletics Department releases an official statement it's all hearsay. I was hoping Coach Turk would have hinted at it during his time at the podium.

[Hawks88]

I've heard that the situation with Huntingdon has to do with an ineligible player, but of course until the Athletics Department releases an official statement it's all hearsay. I was hoping Coach Turk would have hinted at it during his time at the podium.

Ineligible player would be my guess too but anything I've found so far in looking at box scores would just be speculation so I should probably just stop and wait on something official. Whatever the mistake was, hopefully it was learned from and won't happen again.

[Scots13]

I've heard that the situation with Huntingdon has to do with an ineligible player, but of course until the Athletics Department releases an official statement it's all hearsay. I was hoping Coach Turk would have hinted at it during his time at the podium.

Ineligible player would be my guess too but anything I've found so far in looking at box scores would just be speculation so I should probably just stop and wait on something official. Whatever the mistake was, hopefully it was learned from and won't happen again.

It's going to be interesting to see if or how the NCAA handles it, or if it will be handled in house.  If only one game was vacated obviously the coaching staff realized the infraction and took care of it quickly. Hopefully the book isn't thrown at them.

In other news, USAC coaches have their impact players: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxU9NqEaqy0

[Swish3]

So, will CNU likely win a weak conference and get crushed in the playoffs, again?  Unfortunately, that has become the norm, and it's simply unacceptable....allow me to vent, if you will.  CNU football is no longer exciting to me, and hasn't been for a few years now....during the first several years of the program, I could expect CNU to compete and potentially win some games against very good programs.  Now, that's a thing of the past....I realize CNU doesn't get the caliber of athlete it did early on, primarily because of increasing admissions standards, but they have to do something to right the ship, so to speak.  After all, there are other schools w/similar standards that do a lot better on the field....I think CNU still gets a fair amount of good athletes, but I think the offensive game plan really needs to be overhauled.  I like the fact that they're a run oriented team, but the offense is extremely vanilla and predictable.  A little versatility would go a long way towards improving the product....anyway, I could go on voicing my frustrations, but I think I've said enough for now.  The current state of the CNU football program is not good, in my opinion....something has to change.

[D3MAFAN]

So, will CNU likely win a weak conference and get crushed in the playoffs, again?

I would say that CNU has a good chance in winning the conference, but I wouldn't count out on a few other teams. I think it is going to be very competitive in the conference. As for playoffs, if they get an undefeated represenative, maybe the conference represenative can get a good first round match-up. However, as with many teams within the conference and out, getting crushed by the likes of Mount Union, UMHB, and Wesley has not been uncommon over the recent years.

[Scots13]

So, will CNU likely win a weak conference and get crushed in the playoffs, again?

I would say that CNU has a good chance in winning the conference, but I wouldn't count out on a few other teams. I think it is going to be very competitive in the conference. As for playoffs, if they get an undefeated represenative, maybe the conference represenative can get a good first round match-up. However, as with many teams within the conference and out, getting crushed by the likes of Mount Union, UMHB, and Wesley has not been uncommon over the recent years.

I would say the conference is still fairly weak, but making strides.  This is going to be an exciting season within the conference now that there is 9 teams and 4 or 5 contenders, but I do think the playoff team will get the short end of the stick..

As for CNU, I really believe the addition of football at ODU has hurt them.  It used to be "Can't go FBS, and maybe a second/third stringer at W&M...I'll go to CNU and kick @$$ (since tuition isn't 35-42K)."  Those kids now look at ODU and see another opportunity to go to a higher division and work for a spot on those teams.  Of course this is just my opinion and I'd have to look at the rosters to see if this the case, but it's awfully funny to see CNU's dominance dwindle since around the time ODU has gone on the fast track.

[Ben Stein Fan]

I realize CNU doesn't get the caliber of athlete it did early on, primarily because of increasing admissions standards, but they have to do something to right the ship, so to speak.  After all, there are other schools w/similar standards that do a lot better on the field....

Does anyone else think it is funny that Swish3 is complaining about increasing academic standards and drop off in talent when CNU is a public school receiving the majority of their funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia and everyone else in the conference is a small private liberal arts school? 

[Scots13]

I realize CNU doesn't get the caliber of athlete it did early on, primarily because of increasing admissions standards, but they have to do something to right the ship, so to speak.  After all, there are other schools w/similar standards that do a lot better on the field....

Does anyone else think it is funny that Swish3 is complaining about increasing academic standards and drop off in talent when CNU is a public school receiving the majority of their funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia and everyone else in the conference is a small private liberal arts school?

In the case of the USAC, I see where you can be a little irritated at the compliant, but it's not like CNU is the only public university in DIII. It's really old news--It's not a surprise and it doesn't change anything.

[CNU85]

Swish makes some good points. Something is def not working. We reached a certain level fairly quickly, and then expectations were set  high...then the past few years seemed to have tapered off. And to Scots' point about ODU, I never really gave it a serious thought. ODU is on a totally different level and now has moved to Conference USA.  And ODU was competitive almost from day one in the very tough CAA. I would have thought that if CNU had players of that caliber in the past, that we would have gone deeper in playoffs. I dunno. I did hear that a top CNU hoops star has transferred to ODU to play for the new coach, Jeff Jones. Not sure how that will work out.

Swish - CNU has hired a few new coaches...including the OC from W&M. In the past 20 yrs W&M has averaged 400+ yds per game. Although he is shown as being a D-line coach.

http://cnusports.com/news/2013/7/22/FB_0722132528.aspx

http://cnusports.com/news/2013/8/7/FB_0807131604.aspx

So at least CNU isn't sitting still...always making moves.
But it is fun to talk football again!!! I just bought my season tickets today! And tomorrow night's baseball games will determine the draft order in my fantasy football league.

It's nice to be old and have my kids out of college. I can be a kid again!

[Scots13]

85,
If I'm not mistaken, public collegiate athletic departments in the Commonwealth do not receive state funding. Kinda of surprising CNU has the money to hire an OC from a pretty decent FCS school plus some others.
Must have some generous alumni.  At any rate, good luck to the new guys on staff this year.

[CNU85]

he has at least one kid on the CNU team....probably heading into retirement anyway....so watch your kids for 3-4 years and then travel with the wife!

And yup - no money from the Commonwealth for athletics, at any level. So, student fees, and money from folks like me have to do the trick. I think I contribute enough each year to buy shoes for the starting 5 hoops team!  The 6th man is out of luck 

[D3MAFAN]

he has at least one kid on the CNU team....probably heading into retirement anyway....so watch your kids for 3-4 years and then travel with the wife!

And yup - no money from the Commonwealth for athletics, at any level. So, student fees, and money from folks like me have to do the trick. I think I contribute enough each year to buy shoes for the starting 5 hoops team!  The 6th man is out of luck 

hahaha +K

[Scots13]

I forget CNU graduates 3x or more the number everyone else does in a year. That makes for a good base of alumni support.

And now I know why CNU hoops had some sweet shoes last year....

MC has updated the roster for this year. Looks like the guys stepped up recruiting this year-several new states. NC with 12, SC with 2 new and 3 total, TX (yes, Texas) with 7, and 1 guy that probably had a broken GPS from NJ.
Other states are GA, FL, AL.
http://www.mcscots.com/sports/fball/2013-14/roster

[D3MAFAN]

I forget CNU graduates 3x or more the number everyone else does in a year. That makes for a good base of alumni support.

And now I know why CNU hoops had some sweet shoes last year....

MC has updated the roster for this year. Looks like the guys stepped up recruiting this year-several new states. NC with 12, SC with 2 new and 3 total, TX (yes, Texas) with 7, and 1 guy that probably had a broken GPS from NJ.
Other states are GA, FL, AL.
http://www.mcscots.com/sports/fball/2013-14/roster

I am sure it is a typo, but they have him listed as a DL at 5'9 107.