2023 Semifinal: #5 Albany @ #1 South Dakota State

[KPSUL]

Wow.

Not especially gracious to the team and school that won your own conference.

No it certainly was not!

[mainejeff]

My question is....are UNH's best days behind them?

[Chalupa Batman]

2023 Albany was an anomaly. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Hope you're wrong, I like seeing new teams come up and stay good. But for some reason I think they go the way of Maine after their run to the semis a few years ago

[MRuler]

Albany will be fine dont worry! They will be competitive in the CAA for years to come similar to Villanova.UA will look different on Defense next season but they get most of their offense back. Couple that with the fact that most incoming transfers want to play for a winner.

[Pards Rule]

Damn...I went heavy up on SDSU staight with points and now Ceasars app says I cant bet anymore unless I watch responsible gaming video! Any of you have this?

[KPSUL]

Hope you're wrong, I like seeing new teams come up and stay good. But for some reason I think they go the way of Maine after their run to the semis a few years ago

Maine was devastated by transfers and coach defections right after the 2018 season. The head coach took a P5 position coach job, and the defensive coordinator went to JMU as the D Coordinator for twice the money. The starting QB (Furguson) went to Liberty, I believe he had to sit out a year and never started. There were other players who left as well. Part of my thinking on Albany was that they would lose a bunch of talent, especially on defense. Today we learn that the anchors of their D-Line DE Juncaj and DT Hills are in the portal. As I posted elsewhere, I think that Poffenbarger might have jumped, but there are so many QBs in the portal already, especially FBS, it probably would not be a smart move.

I also think Greg Gattuso is not a great coach. Give him credit for assembling one of the best transfer teams in FCS this season, but a lot of these guys are one and done. I shouldn't be getting into a pissing contest with any Albany fans over this (and actually won't), all of whom have been calling for his head on a spike for years before this one good season. I think he has been coaching for 9 seasons and even after this 11-4 season, his overall record at Albany is below .500.

[KPSUL]

My question is....are UNH's best days behind them?

14 consecutive playoff appearances ending 6 years ago, looks like they may already be in the rear view mirror. But Rick Santos still has more winning seasons ahead of him and I suspect you probably sense that as well. This season was a disappointment at 6-5, particularly with All American offensive talent at QB and RB. Santos' W-L record is 21-14 after 3 seasons coaching the team with one Conference Championship.

[Houndawg]

Maine was devastated by transfers and coach defections right after the 2018 season. The head coach took a P5 position coach job, and the defensive coordinator went to JMU as the D Coordinator for twice the money. The starting QB (Furguson) went to Liberty, I believe he had to sit out a year and never started. There were other players who left as well. Part of my thinking on Albany was that they would lose a bunch of talent, especially on defense. Today we learn that the anchors of their D-Line DE Juncaj and DT Hills are in the portal. As I posted elsewhere, I think that Poffenbarger might have jumped, but there are so many QBs in the portal already, especially FBS, it probably would not be a smart move.

I also think Greg Gattuso is not a great coach. Give him credit for assembling one of the best transfer teams in FCS this season, but a lot of these guys are one and done. I shouldn't be getting into a pissing contest with any Albany fans over this (and actually won't), all of whom have been calling for his head on a spike for years before this one good season. I think he has been coaching for 9 seasons and even after this 11-4 season, his overall record at Albany is below .500.

SIU is in the market, I think Nick Baker is getting an SS check now

[KPSUL]

SIU is in the market, I think Nick Baker is getting an SS check now

So is New Hampshire! We've made an offer to one, although I'll keep that on the QT.

I'm sure Baker has nothing age-wise on Rhode Island QB, Kasim Hill. Hill played his first college game in 2017 for Maryland vs Texas.

[caribbeanhen]

My question is....are UNH's best days behind them?

The entire CAA’s best days are in the rear view mirror

what’s up ahead is anyone’s guess