FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION

• Around FCS: Big South Looking To Build Respect

  
  

  By David Coulson, FCS Executive Director Philadelphia (Sports Network) - Looking at the Big South Conference heading into the 2008 season, it's hard to see a resemblance to the fledgling league that began playing football in 2002.

  The changes and competitiveness in the Big South have been dramatic, and the conference looks to build on the respect it has earned during the 2008 season.

  The biggest news around the Big South is that the NCAA Division I football championship committee announced this spring that the league will receive an automatic bid to the playoffs when the playoffs expand to 20 teams in 2010.

  "It was really gratifying (to receive an auto bid)," Big South commissioner Kyle Kallander said. "We had been working at it so long." The Northeast Conference will also receive an auto bid, and both leagues have the potential to receive guaranteed at-large berths if they meet certain performance criteria.

  Teams from the Big South and NEC can get into the field by finishing in the top 16 of a consolidated ranking from The Sports Network poll, the coaches poll and the Gridiron Power Index computer rating, winning at least eight Division I games and beating two non-conference opponents from auto big leagues.

  The announcement has been met with enthusiasm around the league.

  Big South coaches said that teams from other leagues had used the lack of an auto bid against them in recruiting. But that disadvantage has been eliminated.

  "It's huge," said Coastal Carolina coach David Bennett, who took his 2006 team to the playoffs with an at-large berth. "It levels the playing field." In the interim, teams from the Big South will try to continue improving on the field and proving that they belong among the older, more established leagues.

  1. Liberty (8-3 overall, 4-0 in league, first in 2007) Third-year coach Danny Rocco has made tremendous strides with a program that won just a single game in 2005, and the Flames look to have the ability to improve further in 2008.

  "The goal last year was to win the conference championship," said Rocco. "This year the dynamic is different." Liberty sees itself as a legitimate playoff contender after closing the season with wins in its final five games and six of its last seven.

  Big South offensive player of the year Rashad Jennings (1,113 yards, 15 TDs in nine games) has the ability to be the top running back in FCS and is supported by a strong cast on offense, including left-handed quarterback Brock Smith (2,226 yards, 19 TDs), running back Zack Terrell (763 yards, 7.0 average, 11 TDs) and receiver/returnman Dominic Bolden (17.3 average receiving, 32.0 average kickoff returns).

  Liberty returns six players defensively in its aggressive 3-4 set, including Nick Hursky at linebacker and Patrick Calvary, one of the top safeties in FCS. The improvement of this group will probably determine whether the Flames can work their way into the playoff mix.

  2. Coastal Carolina (5-6, 3-1, second) The Chanticleers won 32 games in the first four years of the program and had won or shared three consecutive Big South titles. But graduation losses were too tough to overcome in 2007 and Coastal Carolina took a step backwards.

  "It's easier to get to the top than to stay there," said Bennett. "Sometimes, it takes a little humbling to get back to working hard." CCU hopes to have better play at quarterback, where returning starter Will Richardson has been passed by, with Jamie Childers and Wake Forest transfer Zach McDowell giving the Chanticleers more depth.

  The team must replace two huge offensive weapons in fullback Mike Tolbert and wide receiver Jerome Simpson, the No. 2 draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals.

  Britt Leggett leads a strong offensive line and Arthur Sitton could be an important cog at running back.

  CCU hopes its defense will be improved, with hard-hitting safety Mario Norman and linebacker D.J. Rice leading the way. Last year, the Chanticleers were ranked third-best in FCS in pass defense, but were 106th against the run.

  3. Gardner-Webb (5-6, 2-2, third) The Bulldogs struggled against a non-conference schedule that included two FBS teams (Mississippi State and Ohio) and three-time national champion Appalachian State, before rebounding to position themselves for a shot at the Big South title.

  But then Gardner-Webb closed on a low note by losing to Coastal Carolina and being shut out by Liberty with a share of the league crown on the line.

  Coach Steve Patton is hoping that a more sane schedule and 20 returning starters will help the Bulldogs experience a more even-keeled season in 2008.

  The defense, which had been porous in recent years, showed vast improvement with new coordinator John Windham and finished ranked 24th nationally.

  The Bulldogs lost defensive end Brian Johnston to the NFL, but still have playmaking linebacker Mario Brown and free safety Daniel Cooke back.

  On offense, Patton looks for more consistency from his quarterbacks, Stan Doolittle (1,475 yards, nine TDs) and Devin Campbell. Receiver Dobson Collins (51 catches, 12.7 average) and running back David Montgomery (736 yards, six TDs) are go-to performers. Tackle Demario Deese is a three-time all-conference performer.

  4. Stony Brook (6-5, new to league) The Seawolves move to the Big South this year and could give the league an interesting dynamic.

  "Moving to the Big South gives us the ability to play at the full scholarship level," said coach Chuck Priore. "We had a need and they had a need." Travel will be a concern for Stony Brook, which must go from its home on Long Island to Liberty and Coastal Carolina. The Seawolves also have a very competitive non-conference schedule with games against Colgate, Elon, Maine, Brown, Hofstra and Iona.

  But Stony Brook will deal with these challenges with 17 returning starters, including two big-play offensive performers in running back Conte Cuttino (940 yards, 5.4 average, five TDs) and receiver Lynell Suggs (75 catches, 12.8 average, six TDs).

  The Seawolves have to replace a solid quarterback, Josh Dudash (2,345 yards, 18 TDs), with senior Dan Sweeney and JC transfer Dardenne and redshirt freshman Dayne Hoffman fighting for the job. Guard Steve Councill anchors the line.

  A strength for the Seawolves is a defensive line that returns four starters, including Adam Soivilien (70 tackles). Tyler Santucci (56 tackles, two interceptions) heads up the linebacking corps for a defensive that was better against the pass (17th nationally) than the run (54th) last year.

  5. Charleston Southern (5-6, 1-3, fourth) Coach Jay Mills turned around one of the worst programs in FCS, building the Buccaneers into a team that had gone 16-6 in 2005-06 and won a share of the 2005 league title. But graduation losses on offense hurt CSU last season.

  This year, there are a lot of question marks as CSU opens the season.

  "The unknown factor is exciting," said Mills. "Senior leadership is going to be crucial for us." It is the defense where the Buccaneers suffered the biggest losses due to graduation. Linebackers Jada Ross (131 tackles) and Jonna Lee and defensive end Dennis Justiniani were the most significant defections.

  Linebacker Josh Mitchell and defensive end Jake Killeen will be asked to shoulder a big burden on defense for a unit that ranked 79th nationally in 2007.

  South Carolina quarterback Tribble Reese should give the offense an immediate spark, and will be surrounded by a typically strong group of receivers with Dee Brown (69 catches, 13.0 average, nine TDs) and Markus Murry (27 catches in nine games, 14.9 average) back. But the Bucs need more production from running back DeMarcus Moon (382 yards, 5.7 average).

  6. VMI (2-9, 0-4, fifth) The Keydets have struggled since Cal McCombs led them to back-to-back six-win seasons in 2002-03. VMI hasn't posted a winning season since 1981.

  Veteran FCS coach Jim Reid left for the NFL after two seasons and has handed off the rebuilding process to Sparky Woods, the one-time architect of the Appalachian State program.

  Woods knows it will take some time to turn things around, but he will begin building around running back Howard Abegesah (1,139 yards), quarterback Kyle Hughes (1,097 yards, 11 TDs) and all-purpose back Tim Maypray (31 catches, 19.8 average, seven TDs). The option will be replaced by a more balanced offensive approach.

  The defense allowed 42 points per game last season and ranked 104th in FCS. Linebacker Patrick McKinney (78 tackles) will be one of the players trying to improve things.

  7. Presbyterian (6-5, not yet eligible) The Blue Hose are not eligible for the conference title until next year, but will play five of the six other Big South teams before competing for the title in 2009.

  Bobby Bentley, a high school coaching legend at South Carolina's Byrnes High School before moving to the college ranks last year, watched his team play surprisingly competitive football and upset Coastal Carolina in overtime during his team's first year at the FCS level.

  "I think we're in good shape," said Bentley, "maybe ahead of schedule." His potent spread offense (36.7 points per game) was led by three players who will be back this season for a squad that should be even more dangerous - quarterback Tim Webb (1,797 yards, 15 TDs), running back S.J. Worrell (715 yards, 4.8 average, seven TDs) and receiver Terrance Butler (65 catches, 16.5 average, eight TDs).

  The defense struggled last season, giving up 442 yards per game, but hopes to show improvement with linebackers Antwan Thomas and Chris Bowman (74 tackles each) leading the way.

  08/19 18:02:32 ET