Rhode Island Rams: 2011 JMUSB CAA Football Preview #9

Movin' on Down!

Ah, the good old RhodeI Rams.  For many a year they’ve been a safe second choice to take the honors in the Reliably Crappy Derby.  Put them in an Exacta with Towson and you’re a winner!  But out of nowhere, literally nowhere, I mean they were shut out by FBS Buffalo and then lost to Fordham to start the season last year, the Rams snuck up on the conference last year with an impressive 4-4 mark in the CAA, including taking down heavyweights New Hampshire and Villanova.  Their efforts not only earned second-year HC Joe Trainer CAA Coach of the Year honors, but also contributed to Dukes fans continuing to drink playoff Kool-Aid many weeks after we should’ve realized we were already dead.

But despite ten starters  expected back on offense in 2011 and the conference’s most explosive special teams youngster in return man Travis Hurd, the deck will be stacked against them like never before and JMU Nation should be pleased to see them wrapping up the home slate this year.  Here’s why:

1) Only 4 starters back on Defense from a team that gave up less than 20 only twice all season and NEVER less than 14 points.  Remember, the schedule included Brown.  Actually, maybe replacing the entire unit wouldn’t be a bad idea.

2) No more sneaking up on people.  Between last year’s performance and the inexplicable smack coming out of the Kingston faithful this offseason, the CAA won’s sleep on the Rams this year and that can’t be good for a team steadily shedding scholarships over the next two seasons.

3) And why would they shed scholarships?!  Because RhodeI has announced their moving down to the Northeast Conference (NEC) in 2013 to join power programs like Sacred Heart and Wagner.  The NEC is actually an FCS conference, but they offer less schollies for football and Rhode Island will immediately become the big dog in the conference.  While we’ll miss them in the CAA, hopefully the team that will be the focus of our final preview later this week will be ready to take their place as doormat #2 for decades to come.