Other FCS Powers? Appalachian St. & Montana Mini-Previews

Five days to go!!  One more time, five days to go!  Hard to believe, but on tonight’s grocery run, I realized I could realistically peruse the beer section with tailgating in the ‘Burg in mind.  Speaking of which, we’re working a 2010 Tailgating special, the JMU extravaganza preview, and then we’ll have our first actual pregame post for Morehead St. to finish the week so check back often.

What to do w/out Armanti?!

But one thing we wanted to do was take a quick look at arguably the two biggest powerhouses in FCS (certainly over the last decade),  Appalachian St. and Montana.  I also tend to think these two programs bear quite a resemblance to our own beloved Dukes despite the fact that sort of makes me puke in my mouth a little.

Alas, since we don’t actually play either of them in the regular season, and because other’s have done the work already, in the end I’m just providing links to some great previews of both teams.

App. St. Preview from Bleacher Report here.  Montana preview from The Missoulian. 

As to our feelings on the two programs, they could not be more disparate.  In spite of the remaining sting of the ’08 semi loss at Bridgeforth (where Rodney was injured and Drew proved why we have so much to be excited about this year) and the highway robbery in the ’06 Mascot Challenge, I definitely respect, if not admire, the Grizzlies program.  They’ve built great tradition in Missoula, consistently pack one of the largest and most intimidiating home fields in the nation, and have great fans. Nearly all of my experiences at the ’04 title game and the ’08 semi were pleasant, good-natured, and felt like a meeting of my tribe.  A tribe that understands the great things about 1-AA, loves their team, has high hopes for their program’s futures, but generally remains cognizant of the fact this ain’t Eagles/Giants.

On the other hand, (cr)App. St. brings nothing but bile to the back of my throat and that’s all I have to say about that.  The fact the Mountaineers are in reality one of the closest things to a mirror image of the Dukes (sizable state school with big dreams and a bit of an inferiority complex) and certainly more comparable than some of our in-state snotty rivals only irritates me more.

JMUSB 2010 Montana prediction: 9-2, Still a #1 seed.  As usual, UM’s schedule is mostly western creampuffs and contains no FBS opponent (who in the west would want to play them?).  Therefore, even the loss of Head Coach Bobby Hauck and all-everything Mariani shouldn’t kill them too much, but we’re guessing the have a snag along the way and finally drop a rivalry game with the Montana St. Bobcasts to limp into the postseason.  That said, the committee hearts them big-time and Montana’s committed fanbase would make a good showing in the first FCS Title Game in Frisco, Texas, so we’re guessing that slide into top seed anyway.

JMUSB 2010 Appalachian St. prediction: 9-2, seeded in playoffs.  It really is difficult to see the Mountaineers losing ANY of their first NINE games.  The SoCon is a joke right now for them and they’ll be riding high throughout the season, probably cruising for a #1 ranking at some point as the CAA big boys beat each other up, but they will not have been tested at all before they play Wofford to wrap up their conference schedule.  The Terriers are always tough and we’re guessing a combination of arrogance and looking ahead to their finale trips them up.  As to that finale, can’t say they don’t play anyone because they go The Swamp Nov. 20th to play the Gators, yes, the real Florida Gators.  Like we said, 9-2.