Reason I ask, they are receiving votes in the 1-AA ESPN/USA-Today preseason poll.

You'll also notice the Hilltoppers are 14th, ranked higher than two teams that are at least in 1-A transition.


TEAM PTS
---- ---
1. DELAWARE (26) (15-1) 863
2. SOUTHERN ILL (6) (10-2) 791
3. MONTANA (9-4) 702
4. WOFFORD (1) (12-2) 685
5. COLGATE (15-1) 664
6. NORTHERN IOWA (1) (10-3) 644
7. MCNEESE ST (1) (10-2) 592
8. FURMAN (6-5) 532
9. GA SOUTHERN (7-4) 500
10. VILLANOVA (7-4) 466
11. MAINE (6-5) 428
12. WESTERN ILL (9-4) 414
13. NORTHRN ARIZONA (9-4) 392
14. WESTERN KY (9-4) 367
15. MONTANA ST (7-6) 308
16. GRAMBLING (9-3) 301
17. SFA (7-4) 280
18. NORTHWESTERN ST (6-6) 264
19. MASSACHUSETTS (10-3) 247
20. APPALACHIAN ST (7-4) 246
21. NORTHEASTERN (8-4) 234
22. LEHIGH (8-3) 192
23. EASTERN KY (7-5) 161
24. NO CAROLINA A&T (10-3) 151
25. SOUTHERN (12-1) 148

Others Receiving Votes: PENNSYLVANIA 133, NORTHERN COLO 85, FLA ATLANTIC 85, BETHUNE COOKMAN 71, JACKSONVILLE ST 56, GARDNER-WEBB 50, IDAHO ST 45, EASTERN WASH 33, HARVARD 27, HAMPTON 24, SO CAROLINA ST 23, ELON 23, CAL POLY 18, ALCORN ST 17, YOUNGSTOWN ST 16, MURRAY ST 16, WEBER ST 15, FLORIDA A&M 14, YALE 10, PORTLAND ST 10, WILLIAM & MARY 7, SE LOUISIANA 7, ILLINOIS ST 6, SOUTHERN UTAH 3, RHODE ISLAND 2, ALABAMA ST 2, UC DAVIS 1, NICHOLLS ST 1, FORDHAM 1, FLORIDA INTL 1, ALABAMA A&M 1.

If the people in the poll don't even know that Fla Int/Atl are 1A now then it really makes a statement about the validity of the poll now doesn't it? Oh yes, polls should decide the national champion. :rolleyes:

Hilltopper2K Wrote:If the people in the poll don't even know that Fla Int/Atl are 1A now then it really makes a statement about the validity of the poll now doesn't it? Oh yes, polls should decide the national champion. :rolleyes:

Wow! I really don't have anything to add to his post but what the heck!

FAU finished 4th in the 1-AA polls last season. Lost to Colgate in the Semi finals of the playoffs. Remember?

So now they start in the HONORARY slot of the polls?? Think about it man. :bang:

No one has yet answered my question.

It is my understanding that they are neither 1-aa or 1-a at this point. They are a 1-aa team in transition to 1-a, not eligible for the 1-aa playoffs but neither not eligible for the post season in 1-a either. I believe it is like this for this season and the next.

SwampHound Wrote:It is my understanding that they are neither 1-aa or 1-a at this point. They are a 1-aa team in transition to 1-a, not eligible for the 1-aa playoffs but neither not eligible for the post season in 1-a either. I believe it is like this for this season and the next.

Actually, in one of the ask the commissioners I think Mr. Waters said that both FIU and FAU would be bowl eligible next season.

I know both of us, FIU and FAU, will be playing a full SBC conference schedule next year, and have heard reports (although I'm not sure, though) both will be elegible for the New Orleans Bowl as well. As far as the poll, it makes absolutely no sense at all. As Kalca well pointed out, FAU finished ranked # 4 in the nation last season in I-AA, and are returning the majority of the players back........

As Hilltopper 2k said, the voters in that poll don't even know who is I-AA, thus reducing the validity of such poll :bang:

Here we go, found it in the June edition of Ask the Commissioner:

Quote:Question (Justin Dirico): If FAU did not lose one game, could it be possible to get an at large bowl game?

Commissioner Wright Waters: Not in 2004 as they will still be labeled I-AA but in 2005 FAU and FIU will compete for bowl spots and with three news bowls possibly on line, I would suspect a team that is 6-5 or better and has a good season ticket base will have opportunities.

<a href='http://www.sunbeltsports.org/info/askthecommissioner/?archive=jun2004' target='_blank'>Link</a>

Thanks MaXx

Yep Maxx...You cleared it quick....

WKU Topper Jeff Wrote:You'll also notice the Hilltoppers are 14th, ranked higher than two teams that are at least in 1-A transition.

Unless I'm mistaken, he may be looking for justification on how can two teams who are moving up to D1-A be ranked LOWER than his team which is remaining in d-aa.
As for as the AA pollsters who voted for FAU and FIU, what is that saying for the teams who are lower

I was really looking to see if the voters knew what they were doing by voting for them, and obviously they do, they are still 1-AA. Yes, I was suprised they didn't have more votes, considering they have more scholarships then everyone else, as they transist. I'd honestly say they didn't receive some votes because some coaches didn't want to vote for schools that are in transition, regardless of their talent.

WKU Topper Jeff Wrote:I was really looking to see if the voters knew what they were doing by voting for them, and obviously they do, they are still 1-AA. Yes, I was suprised they didn't have more votes, considering they have more scholarships then everyone else, as they transist. I'd honestly say they didn't receive some votes because some coaches didn't want to vote for schools that are in transition, regardless of their talent.

I have to agree with on on the last statement. But I ask,why even include them in the poll? They are technically between leagues.
The votes are supposed to recognize teams at season's end for placement in the polls and championships. Agree?

Hypothetical situation: FAU and FIU goes undefeated this year. Stop laughing folks. Just a scenerio.:)
They can't play for either league's post season championship. Do you rank them up top in both leagues? As you said, they have more schollys than D1-AA. They don't fit there. They don't play enough D1-A teams for quality wins. They don't fit there either.
So my question is, why even include them in any polls at this point.
Unless I'm missing something here folks.

Try this on for size.
If a D1-A team beat us, it's a D1-AA win. If a D1-AA team beats us then it's a D1-A win for them :bang:

I agree. They should just be left off the polls. Transition is an ackward time for a team.