Nice read from The Post and Courier in Charleston, SC about how competitive the Big South is with little gap from top to bottom. It'll be interesting to see if CCU can close the door and get that outright title this year or if the close nature of the conference will lead to two teams if not more sharing...

Gap closing but Coastal still team to beat
Big South Conference
BY DAVID SHELTON

If scores are an indication, the gap between the top and bottom in the Big South Conference may have closed a bit during the 2005 season. Nonetheless, Coastal Carolina appears to be the team to beat once again in 2006.

Coastal Carolina shared the title last season with Charleston Southern, which defeated the Chanticleers, 34-27, in double overtime in the final game of the regular season. The loss not only cost Coastal Carolina its second straight outright title but also a bid to the Division I-AA national playoffs.

That game, however, was one of three very close conference games for the Chants last season. Coastal Carolina needed overtime to beat Gardner-Webb, 34-31, at home, then went three overtimes to beat Liberty, 27-21, on the road. That same Liberty team won only one game all season.

The competitiveness of the league was evident throughout the season. The co-champions from Charleston Southern lost badly at VMI and needed a last-second touchdown to beat Liberty, 31-30. Liberty lost four league games by a grand total of 15 points. VMI lost to Gardner-Webb in three overtimes and Gardner-Webb was blasted by CSU.

http://www.charleston.net/assets/web...Date=8/25/2006