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January 4th, 2008, 01:49 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!
Ohio Valley Conference
Champions: Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Game Of The Year: October 6th, Eastern Kentucky 28, Eastern Illinois 21.
The Panthers threw down the gauntlet to the Colonels: If you’re going to beat us, you’ll have to do it through the air. Eastern Kentucky Allan Holland ended up doing just that, connecting on 30 passes in 44 attempts for 327 yards passing and 2 touchdowns.
Highest Moment: Austin Peay’s Successful Return to the OVC.
By beating Southeast Missouri State 34-31 in double overtime, the Governors not only ensured only their second winning season since 1985 – they were in the thick of the playoff hunt with a team that last year had zero football scholarships as a member of the Pioneer Football League.
Biggest Disappointment: Wherefore Art Thou, Skyhawks?
Tennessee-Martin started the year as favorites to repeat as OVC champions from last year. Instead, they started a dizzying 0-6 before winning four of their last five games.
Player Of The Year: Eastern Kentucky Defensive Back Derrick Huff.
64 tackles and seven passes defended is the sign of a great defensive back, but what really sets him apart was his FCS-leading nine interceptions, including three versus Murray State.
Unsung Player Of The Year: Tennessee-Martin runningback Don Chapman.
The Skyhawks’ problems had nothing to do with Chapman, whose 1,125 yard rushing year with 11 touchdowns capped off a career with 5,017 career rushing yards and 48 touchdowns – the best in UT-Martin history.
What If: Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie hadn’t blocked that kick?
The all-American standout for the Tigers had four blocked kicks on the year, but his blocked kick in overtime versus Austin Peay gave Tennessee State a 33-32 win and would ultimately give the Tigers the inaugural “Sergeant York Trophy” given to the winner of the “quadrangular season football series between the four Ohio Valley Conference schools located in the state of Tennessee.” If Austin Peay had made the kick and won in overtime, they would have gotten the trophy – and might they even have been considered for a playoff spot?
A Peek Towards 2008:
Every year it seems like an OVC team comes out of nowhere to compete for a title, but it seems difficult to fathom Eastern Kentucky or Eastern Illinois not competing for the title with their starting quarterbacks and some quality runners returning. Could Tennessee State put everything together and make a run, with runninback Javarris Williams returning?
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!
Ohio Valley Conference
Champions: Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Game Of The Year: October 6th, Eastern Kentucky 28, Eastern Illinois 21.
The Panthers threw down the gauntlet to the Colonels: If you’re going to beat us, you’ll have to do it through the air. Eastern Kentucky Allan Holland ended up doing just that, connecting on 30 passes in 44 attempts for 327 yards passing and 2 touchdowns.
Highest Moment: Austin Peay’s Successful Return to the OVC.
By beating Southeast Missouri State 34-31 in double overtime, the Governors not only ensured only their second winning season since 1985 – they were in the thick of the playoff hunt with a team that last year had zero football scholarships as a member of the Pioneer Football League.
Biggest Disappointment: Wherefore Art Thou, Skyhawks?
Tennessee-Martin started the year as favorites to repeat as OVC champions from last year. Instead, they started a dizzying 0-6 before winning four of their last five games.
Player Of The Year: Eastern Kentucky Defensive Back Derrick Huff.
64 tackles and seven passes defended is the sign of a great defensive back, but what really sets him apart was his FCS-leading nine interceptions, including three versus Murray State.
Unsung Player Of The Year: Tennessee-Martin runningback Don Chapman.
The Skyhawks’ problems had nothing to do with Chapman, whose 1,125 yard rushing year with 11 touchdowns capped off a career with 5,017 career rushing yards and 48 touchdowns – the best in UT-Martin history.
What If: Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie hadn’t blocked that kick?
The all-American standout for the Tigers had four blocked kicks on the year, but his blocked kick in overtime versus Austin Peay gave Tennessee State a 33-32 win and would ultimately give the Tigers the inaugural “Sergeant York Trophy” given to the winner of the “quadrangular season football series between the four Ohio Valley Conference schools located in the state of Tennessee.” If Austin Peay had made the kick and won in overtime, they would have gotten the trophy – and might they even have been considered for a playoff spot?
A Peek Towards 2008:
Every year it seems like an OVC team comes out of nowhere to compete for a title, but it seems difficult to fathom Eastern Kentucky or Eastern Illinois not competing for the title with their starting quarterbacks and some quality runners returning. Could Tennessee State put everything together and make a run, with runninback Javarris Williams returning?
READ MORE... http://www.collegesportingnews.com/article.asp?articleid=89669