Which Teams Surprised You This Year?

[DSUHornet]

Besides the Grizz,

NDSU did more than what i thought they would do,
we did better than i expected this year,
and NC A&T suprised me by going toward another 0-fer effort

[Gil Dobie]

I thought the Griz would be more dominant, but they still keep winning.

UNI suprised me, I didn't think they would get through the Gateway without being upset.

I'd put DSU on the list also.

[igo4uni]

I thought Indiana State would win at least one game.

[DSUHornet]

I thought Indiana State would win at least one game.

xlolx xlolx xlolx

so sad...yet so so true

[JALMOND]

Good surprise---Delaware State (good luck in the playoffs)

Bad surprise---Portland State. I know, new coach new system but to only win two (possibly three) games all year. PSU has had a winning season 8 out of the 11 years that we've played in the FCS, and we get this in Glanville's first year.

[appmountaineer]

NDSU- yeah they were good last year but for a team to move up from d2 only 4 years ago it just seems pretty awesome to be that good...i would love to see a game of app v. ndsu

[DSUHornet]

NDSU- yeah they were good last year but for a team to move up from d2 only 4 years ago it just seems pretty awesome to be that good...i would love to see a game of app v. ndsu

yea that will be a good one

[CopperCat]

Deleware State for sure, the dark horse nominee.

PSU being so terrible was a surprise.

ASU losing to Wofford and GSU after beating Michigan was pretty shocking.

GSU was sort of a surprise, they've done some great things this year.

NDSU wasn't really a surprise because I saw firsthand that they were good. That Roehl kid is incredible, and Joe Mays hits as hard as anybody I have seen. And Walker at QB is a stud. But to beat two, count em' TWO FBS teams in the same season WAS a surprise. If I am any team in the Gateway, I'm crapping my pants about next year.

[bfg]

Fordham. No one picked them for the top half of the Patriot League much less winning the conference.

[ngineer]

NDSU--not that they have won, but how they have won.
DSU--making some people 'up north' take notice.
Fordham--who'd a thunk it?

[DSUHornet]

yeah i forgot about Fordham

[ERASU2113]

NDSU mainly surprised a lot of people.

Now I wish I could see and Montana/ASU game and a NDSU/ASU game :P

[igo4uni]

If I am any team in the Gateway, I'm crapping my pants about next year.

Gateway teams crap their pants about every team this year!!!!

[Gil Dobie]

NDSU- yeah they were good last year but for a team to move up from d2 only 4 years ago it just seems pretty awesome to be that good...i would love to see a game of app v. ndsu

AD's were talking, but Michigan had a better offer. :D

[FCS Go!]

Positive-
Norfolk St- perenniel 4 and 7 team
Fordham- I had them near the bottom
Richmond- CAA surprise of the year
McNeese St- drank the Bomar koolaid
N. Iowa- my "sleeper" pick but I didn't think they could get through conference play undef.

Negative-
Cal Poly- seemed like their easiest schedule in years
Furman- conf champs for me in preseason
Youngstown- sure thing for the playoffs
TN-Martin- they're playing well now...
UC Davis- thought they had a shot at the conf. title and top 15.

[GreatAppSt]

Elon
Umass

[RE/MAXGriz]

Elon and Wofford surprised me, but I have very limited knowledge of most east-coast teams outside of the usual suspects - so seeing them in positions to make the playoffs surprised me.

Deleware St would be in that same boat.

Likewise I was a little surprised that PSU didn't contend, Cal Poly as well. Also EWU really got my attention, I didn't think they'd make such large leaps on offense in one year, but they're looking incredibly talented being a team full of sophomores.

I also thought Sam Houston St would benefit greatly from their new QB, but that is apparently still a work in progress.

[SO ILLmatic]

Gateway teams crap their pants about every team this year!!!!

Even when playing Indiana State???

[Maroons]

In the OVC?

Austin Peay was surprisingly good! Coming out of non-scholarship football and posting their first winning season in forever and being talked about in the final two weeks of the season as a part of the OVC title picture? Incredible.

UT-Martin was a tremendous disappointment. It's like the Skyhawks lost a few early games and lost their way and confidence. As someone else said, they're playing good now...

[FargoBison]

SIU, I didn't see them going 9-1 and probably 10-1 without Whitlock.

[ur2k]

I would say Richmond was pretty surprising for all of us Spider fans - with how much was lost on D with graduation. Next year should be great too with another year for the D and Vaughan stepping in for the Tower

[TheValleyRaider]

Good Surprise
Austin Peay: Mediocre non-scholly ball to late chance at the OVC title? Well done Guvn'r
Colgate: Homer pick :D, but still somewhat surprised after last year's 4-7 debacle
Eastern Kentucky: Back again at last. Can't believe I missed this one
Elon: Finally jumps out of the SoCon cellar
Fordham: What a turnaround. Tom Masella for Coach of the Year xbowx
Georgia Southern: You knew the turnaround would come for them, but one season like that?
Norfolk State: Where did this season come from? And can they come close to it again next year?

Bad Surprise
Coastal Carolina: The mighty have fallen? At least momentarily? Again, did something go wrong here?
Furman: Ay carumba, where did that start come from? Especially now, seeing them win in Statesboro
Marist: Weren't they MAAC co-champs just last year? xconfusedx
Portland State: 7-4 to 2-9? I know they had a new coach and all, but I really thought they'd be closer to the playoffs
Tennessee-Martin: Certainly expect a team closer to their conference's title
Towson: Really thought this was the year they'd make a real case for the postseason

[CID1990]

I'm puzzled that more Wofford and GSU fans aren't coming out for Elon.

[mrklean]

Elon-Real good QB and Offense.
GSU- A good turnaround year. (cant wait till next year)
El Cid- Good team speed on defense.

[813Jag]

In the SWAC:
Good Surprises:
Grambling-Even with the loss to ULM their playing on another level.
Prairie View-Winning season, strong defense and special teams.
Southern-Didn't really know what to expect from both lines. QB Lee is playing well.
Bad Surprises
Alabama St-Started hot then really went cold.
UAPB-Didn't look like the defending division champs, but a wild victory over Southern gives them 2 straight wins with a possible 3rd against TSU.
Texas Southern-Winless after a 3 win season last year.

[DFW HOYA]

Good Surprise
Colgate: Homer pick :D, but still somewhat surprised after last year's 4-7 debacle
Fordham: What a turnaround. Tom Masella for Coach of the Year xbowx


I think Lehigh was surprising that it hasn't done better.

And, sadly, Georgetown is a "no surprise" this year. It seems most teams don't even worry about this game anymore, and if the Colgate announcers are any indication, preparation isn't a priority either. The announcers said that Georgetown was good "when Bob Benson coached them in Division II."

[TheValleyRaider]

I think Lehigh was surprising that it hasn't done better.

Yeah, Lehigh definately should have been on my "Bad" list, especially since I picked them to win the League xeekx xoopsx

[Thundar]

I am most surprised with Sam Houston State, after the performance they put on in the Fargodome I was sure they would win out with maybe just a loss to OK. St.

[Syntax Error]

BSC- PSU
CAA- UR
GFC- WIU
GWFC- SDSU
IVY- Princeton
MAAC- Iona
MEAC- NSU
NEC- RMU
OVC- APSU
PL- Fordham
PFL- UD
SOCON- GSU
SLC- Nicholls St
SWAC- PVAMU

[Seawolf97]

Elon, Fordham and Richmond.

[JMU-MRD-DAD]

I would have to go with Richmond. I believe they were picked down in the pack of the CAA South. Two big road wins at JMU and Delaware makes them a REAL threat for a strong push to Chatty.

[Eaglesrus]

NDSU mainly surprised a lot of people.

Now I wish I could see and Montana/ASU game and a NDSU/ASU game :P

Having seen them in Paulson last year NDSU hasn't surprised me at all. I've said all along that they were the best team I saw last year, and I thought they had alot of talent coming back.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Eastern Washington for sure. After going 3-8 last year to a likely 8-3 playoff team this year, I'm impressed with how much our young guys matured from last year. xbowx

[terrierbob]

I'm puzzled that more Wofford and GSU fans aren't coming out for Elon.

ELON, of course. My apologies, Elonians.

[DuckDuckGriz]

Eastern Washington surprised the hell outta me this year

[uofmman1122]

If I look past the first part of the season, Weber State surprised the hell outa me....Where the hell did they get that offense? xconfusedx

ASU losing two games after beating UM was a huge shocker. Prior to that I thought they were miles ahead of everyone else.

I was going to say NDSU, but the surprising thing is how close they played Cal Poly. Until this weekend, I thought they were untouchable. I think it just shows that there isn't as big of a gap between the top 5 teams as people thought. (At least I did)

It's been a very surprising season. xthumbsupx

[skinny_uncle]

SIU, I didn't see them going 9-1 and probably 10-1 without Whitlock.
In the preseason, neither did most Saluki fans. With Arkee gone, we did develop a better passing game and a more balanced offense. It seems to be working.

[igo4uni]

Even when playing Indiana State???

Are they still in the Gateway???

[Catsfan2]

As a fan, I was pleasantly surprised by Villanova. In what was going to be building year, became a bubble team even though they lost their QB. Will only be losing 6 starters at graduation.

[Blue42]

I'd say McNeese at 10-0 and getting back into the national picture.

[griz_fan_in_SanDiego]

Definately EWU...They've been a tough team this year

[BlueHen86]

Fordham, Holy Cross, Elon and Norfolk St.
I wasn't surprized by Del St, I thought they were improving.

[R.A.]

In the MEAC, my biggest surprise is NSU.
Biggest disappointment... SCSU.

[89Hen]

In a good way...
1. Richmond
2. DelSt
3. Fordham
4. Dayton
5. EKU

In a bad way...
1. UNH
2. Hampton
3. Furman
4. Coastal
5. Lehigh

[strike00]

NDSU- I thought they would be good but not this good.
Richmond- didn't expect them to be in the top of the CAA
EKU- Good to see them back

in the Gateway

Missouri State - didn't think they would improve this much this quickly. I mean, they lost to Indiana State last yearxsmiley_wix . Congrats to the bears on a winning season.:)

WIU- Definately back on track. I knew they wouldn't be down for too long

Indiana State- the worst division 1 team I have ever seen, hands down. The school, fans, and players deserve better.

[Grizaholic17]

yea that will be a good one

I beg to differ. NDSU would kick the crap out of App this year. And the griz would kick the crap out of NDSU.xsmiley_wix xlolx

[AZGrizFan]

I'm surprised by SUU. I really thought they'd be 0-15, but it appears they'll only lose 11 games this year... xcoolx xcoolx xcoolx

[Big Dawg]

Norfolk State...a traditional bottom feeder in the MEAC. Coach Adrian is doing a great job.

[Syntax Error]

BSC- PSU
CAA- UR
GFC- WIU
GWFC- SDSU
IVY- Princeton
MAAC- Iona
MEAC- NSU
NEC- RMU
OVC- APSU
PL- Fordham
PFL- UD
SOCON- GSU
SLC- Nicholls St
SWAC- PVAMUI've reconsidered and I'll change my SOCON pick to Elon and my PFL pick to Morehead State