- August 19th, 2008, 7:22 pm
#191469
Noted Big South basher and Appy homer Mr. C takes a look at our league for the Sports Network ...
Around FCS: Big South Looking To Build RespectAnd he projects us to repeat ...
By David Coulson, FCS Executive Director
Philadelphia (Sports Network) - Looking at the Big South Conference heading into the 2008 season, it's hard to see a resemblance to the fledgling league that began playing football in 2002.
The changes and competitiveness in the Big South have been dramatic, and the conference looks to build on the respect it has earned during the 2008 season.
The biggest news around the Big South is that the NCAA Division I football championship committee announced this spring that the league will receive an automatic bid to the playoffs when the playoffs expand to 20 teams in 2010.
"It was really gratifying (to receive an auto bid)," Big South commissioner Kyle Kallander said. "We had been working at it so long."
1. Liberty (8-3 overall, 4-0 in league, first in 2007)Click Here for Full Story
Third-year coach Danny Rocco has made tremendous strides with a program that won just a single game in 2005, and the Flames look to have the ability to improve further in 2008.
"The goal last year was to win the conference championship," said Rocco. "This year the dynamic is different."
Liberty sees itself as a legitimate playoff contender after closing the season with wins in its final five games and six of its last seven.
Big South offensive player of the year Rashad Jennings (1,113 yards, 15 TDs in nine games) has the ability to be the top running back in FCS and is supported by a strong cast on offense, including left-handed quarterback Brock Smith (2,226 yards, 19 TDs), running back Zack Terrell (763 yards, 7.0 average, 11 TDs) and receiver/returnman Dominic Bolden (17.3 average receiving, 32.0 average kickoff returns).
Liberty returns six players defensively in its aggressive 3-4 set, including Nick Hursky at linebacker and Patrick Calvary, one of the top safeties in FCS. The improvement of this group will probably determine whether the Flames can work their way into the playoff mix.
