[JMUDukes]

a little bit of media attention.

http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews. ... &tb=1&pb=1

Another team who had a strong case for playoff inclusion was Liberty, whose 26-3 win over nationally-ranked Elon seemed to be the signature win that was going to propel them into the field. At 10-2, they didn’t have a strong schedule (with two D-II victories), and while they did beat teams from the power conferences of the MVFC and SoCon, they were wins over the cellar-dwellers of both conferences this year (Youngstown State and Western Carolina).

Losses to (at the time) nationally-ranked Lafayette and 4-7 Presbyterian, who is transitioning to full D-I status, evidently were the death blow to their playoff chances. Maine’s only losses were to FBS Iowa and three nationally-ranked teams; yet Maine’s best win was against a 7-5 UMass team that wasn’t even ranked in the Sports Network Top 25.

For Liberty out of the Big South, 2010, the year that their conference will get their first-ever autobid to the FCS playoffs, can’t come soon enough.

So give the first three “Woofies” to Elon, Liberty, and William & Mary. Three teams - one the third-placed team from a power conference, the second strongest available non-autobid team, and a team from within their own conference that many thought played a stronger schedule - who lost out to Maine for the 16th and final spot.

But wait, there's more....

Who Hates Mickey?

I really wish the crew at ESPNU had the guts to ask the question of James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews what was on my mind when I watched the selection show. “So, Mickey, who has it in for you on the selection committee?”

James Madison, the consensus No. 1 team to finish the year, the team who has an undefeated league record in the toughest conference in FCS, with four wins against playoff teams (and a fifth against bubble team William & Mary), gets “rewarded” with a brutal game against the second-placed team in the SoCon.

Mickey hasn’t had it easy in the playoffs. Last year, all he had to do was travel to the two-time defending champs Appalachian State after compiling a resume that would have at least put the Dukes in line for a home game. Before that, another Dukes team with a great 8-3 resume was sent on the road to Youngstown State. In 2004, they got sent on the road to Lehigh - and became the first team to win four straight road games to win the national championship.

And No. 8 ranked Wofford also has to feel slighted too - for the second straight year. Last year after winning the SoCon autobid they were hauled off to Montana (and beat the Griz, 23-22). This year, the 9-2 Terriers thought they had earned a home game, with only losses to FBS South Carolina and Appalachian State.

Not exactly.

There were definitely options, too. South Carolina State could have played at Wofford, setting up an intriguing South Carolina state battle, but the MEAC champions were instead sent to Appalachian State. Eastern Kentucky could have played at Wofford, too, but instead the OVC champions were shipped out to 9-3 Richmond.

Does the committee have it in for Mickey? Or were the Dukes and Terriers simply a victim of regionalization? It sure seems like the committee valued regionalizaion over all, setting up curious Top 10 battles in the first weekend of the playoffs and setting up no fewer than three possible conference rematches in the second round.

If, as some FCS fans want, all sixteen teams were seeded, No. 8 ranked Wofford would definitely have been in line to host a game.

But until all sixteen teams are seeded, count Wofford and - yes - even No. 1 seeded James Madison as Woofy award winners too. Regionalization will either cost the Terriers or Dukes dearly, as only one team can make it out of that game alive.

[Fumblerooskies]

Good stuff.