Nice little week in the FCS

If you look at this week's FCS Coaches' Top 25 poll, you will notice something different at the top--the absence of Appalachian state! The Mountaineers were knocked off by #5 James Madison and are now sitting in the lowly #4 spot. Nothing makes me happier than to see App State sliding down in the polls. Granted, they're still ahead of both of the teams I really support, but the fact that they're not "perfect" anymore just makes me smile. I think my true disdain for App began after Furman's 2002 loss to them because good ol' Bobby Lamb decided to go for two after a touchdown that had already given us the lead (read about it here). As if having to watch Derrick Black literally snatch our win out of the air and carry it into the endzone wasn't enough, the ridicule from Appalachian State fans in the parking lot was ridiculous. I have never heard such vulgar things in all my life. Ever since then, though, anyone who beats App is okay in my book. Of course, I'd love for Furman to be the team to do it, but I'll take an App State loss any way I can get it. Thanks, James Madison.

Meanwhile, Furman's win over #6 Delaware moved us up 6 spots to #17 on the Coaches' Poll. The Citadel dropped 2 spots to #24 after beating Princeton, although the Sports Network Poll has them all the way up at #13 and Furman at #16. This is definitely a better-than-usual Citadel team, but I'm not sure that beating Princeton should have pushed them up that far in the rankings. The Coaches' Poll reflects what I think, that beating a top 10 team should mean more than beating a team that has no scholarships and doesn't participate in post-season play, so I'll take it.

I wish the Furman-Delaware game had been on tv so I could see it for myself, but I hear it was a great game. I hope the 2 Furman games I'll get to this season will be just as exciting. The Citadel-Princeton game wasn't spectacular, but it was a win. I was a little worried during the first half, but whatever Coach Higgins said to them during halftime worked! Much improved second half from the Bulldogs. They've got Western Carolina this week, which shouldn't be too tough. The Paladins take on Chattanooga at home this week, and it's a tv game so I'll actually get to see it for once! Another 2-game Saturday... sounds like a pretty nice little Saturday to me!