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January 4th, 2008, 01:41 AM
The CSN Way: Whew, 2007
Charles Burton, CSN Columnist
The 2007 season began -- and ended -- with historic achievements. Conference by conference, here’s a look back at the “year that was” in FCS football. The champions, the games of the year, the highest moments, the biggest disappointments, the best players and the unsung heroes, the "what if's" and the peeks forward. Whew, 2007!
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Tri-Champions: Duquesne Dukes, Iona Gaels, Marist Red Foxes
Game of the Year: November 10th, Marist 17, Iona 14.
Marist kicker Chris Collins booted a 29 yard field goal with under two minutes remaining to give the Red Foxes their second straight MAAC tri-championship. Marist runningback Obozua Ehikiyoa added 89 yards rushing and a touchdown. It ensured that the final year of the MAAC would have tri-champions for the second straight year.
Highest Moment: Duquesne vs. the NEC.
It’s sometimes hard to remember that a MAAC team without scholarships is at a disadvantage facing a NEC team with up to 30 scholarships, but they delivered three great wins in their swan song against Sacred Heart (30-23), St Francis (24-17) and Robert Morris (17-14). One win would be a feat, but three in the same year demonstrates that Duquesne is more than ready to enter the NEC next year.
Biggest Disappointment: La Salle.
This was a disappointment not primarily because the Explorers suffered an 0-10 season – it was a disappointment because they announced they were discontinuing football after this year.
Player of the Year: Iona runningback Dale Samuels.
The senior rightfully ended the year as the player of the year in the MAAC with 1,018 yard rushing and 10 touchdowns. He was the engine that made the Gael offense go.
Unsung Player of the Year: Duquesne quarterback Kevin Rombach.
The sophomore had an excellent season, passing for 2,410 yards and 20 touchdowns. Much of the Dukes’ offense is focused on wideout Bruce Hocker, but that’s not to say Rombach didn’t have an excellent year.
What If: Saint Peter’s hadn’t dropped football?
How long could the MAAC have held things together if the Peacocks hadn’t dropped football just a few months before the start of the season? We’ll never really know the answer to that, but you have to believe that it could have been done.
A Peek Towards 2008:
Duquesne moves onto the NEC, while the futures of Iona and Marist remain murky as non-scholarship football in the East dwindles to two teams. As of the end of 2007, the plan seems to be competing as independents. Here’s hoping the Gaels and Red Foxes continue to keep it together.
READ MORE... http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=89669
Charles Burton, CSN Columnist
The 2007 season began -- and ended -- with historic achievements. Conference by conference, here’s a look back at the “year that was” in FCS football. The champions, the games of the year, the highest moments, the biggest disappointments, the best players and the unsung heroes, the "what if's" and the peeks forward. Whew, 2007!
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Tri-Champions: Duquesne Dukes, Iona Gaels, Marist Red Foxes
Game of the Year: November 10th, Marist 17, Iona 14.
Marist kicker Chris Collins booted a 29 yard field goal with under two minutes remaining to give the Red Foxes their second straight MAAC tri-championship. Marist runningback Obozua Ehikiyoa added 89 yards rushing and a touchdown. It ensured that the final year of the MAAC would have tri-champions for the second straight year.
Highest Moment: Duquesne vs. the NEC.
It’s sometimes hard to remember that a MAAC team without scholarships is at a disadvantage facing a NEC team with up to 30 scholarships, but they delivered three great wins in their swan song against Sacred Heart (30-23), St Francis (24-17) and Robert Morris (17-14). One win would be a feat, but three in the same year demonstrates that Duquesne is more than ready to enter the NEC next year.
Biggest Disappointment: La Salle.
This was a disappointment not primarily because the Explorers suffered an 0-10 season – it was a disappointment because they announced they were discontinuing football after this year.
Player of the Year: Iona runningback Dale Samuels.
The senior rightfully ended the year as the player of the year in the MAAC with 1,018 yard rushing and 10 touchdowns. He was the engine that made the Gael offense go.
Unsung Player of the Year: Duquesne quarterback Kevin Rombach.
The sophomore had an excellent season, passing for 2,410 yards and 20 touchdowns. Much of the Dukes’ offense is focused on wideout Bruce Hocker, but that’s not to say Rombach didn’t have an excellent year.
What If: Saint Peter’s hadn’t dropped football?
How long could the MAAC have held things together if the Peacocks hadn’t dropped football just a few months before the start of the season? We’ll never really know the answer to that, but you have to believe that it could have been done.
A Peek Towards 2008:
Duquesne moves onto the NEC, while the futures of Iona and Marist remain murky as non-scholarship football in the East dwindles to two teams. As of the end of 2007, the plan seems to be competing as independents. Here’s hoping the Gaels and Red Foxes continue to keep it together.
READ MORE... http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=89669