NEC Football is surprising me

After my rant in my last two post NEC Football has decided to prove me wrong. Ranked #20 out of the 27 football conferences on teh RPI (FBS and FCS) and #8 out of the 15 FCS conferences. A huge improvement over the last few weeks when the conference had a firm grip on teh 26th spot. NEC teams have gone 20-22 (48%) in non-conference games (inclues D-I games only) which is a sign that more programs are getting on board. At this moment the conferences is ranked ahead of the OVC, MEAC, SWAC, Ivy, Patriot, Pioneer, and Big South. NEC teams are winning the games they should win and winning a few they sholdnt'. Great job. Keep in mind these numbers are very volitale and the NEC could be #25 in the blink of an eye, but with non-conference play completed the NEC should be able to h old onto a respectable raning in 2010.

I'm excited about the game today against Youngstown State, just as I was excited about the game against New Hampshire. However, games like these are always bitter-sweet. They signify how far CCSU football has come yet it makes a fan realize how true competitiveness at the next level is still out of reach for the program. No matter how hard the coaches work on the recruiting trail, no matter how creative the game plans are, no matter how hard the players work or how dedicated everyone is with the program there will always be a ceiling on what CCSU can achieve until the move is made to full scholarship football.

It is time for CCSU to seriously consider the move to full scholarship football. Yes, it takes money and it takes planning, but it is time for the wheels to be put in motion. CCSU can no longer hold back it's program and settle for the NEC. They have achieved everything they can through the experimental limited scholarship conference except for winning an AQ to the FCS Playoffs (which would have happened last year if the NEC had an AQ). CCSU has proven itself above and beyond what any program needs to prove to move to the next level.

Let's not fool ourselves. URI isn't coming to t he NEC. Let's face the facts. Albany isn't going to stick around much longer. They owe the N EC nothing, they are an affiliate member and wouldn't think twice about leaving for the CAA. Bob Ford has a mission and that is to bring Albany football to the highest level possible. He will achieve that in the next five years when Albany moves to the CAA.

Without Albany and if URI doesn't come that leaves CCSU in a depleted NEC. An NEC in which most of the teams meet the profile of the Pioneer League rather than the profile of an FCS conference with an AQ to t he FCS Playoffs. A depleted NEC football conference would leave CCSU in no better position than they were in when they were in the East Coast Conference for all sports. A conference in which half the teams don't really belong playing FCS football and some teams have one foot out the door.
Now is the time to talk about full scholarship football. Strike the iron while it is hot because once it cools you will have missed your opportunity.

Welcome to Big Blue Sports Talk

Hello, I'm bigbluefan1965. Where did the name come from? Well, I'm a huge CCSU BLUE DEVIL and LOS ANGELES DODGER fan. I'm also a Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Dolphin, and Hartford Whalers fan (They'll be back someday!).

Anyway, I primarily started this blog to talk about CCSU Blue Devil sports, but I'm willing to talk about anything sports related. I'm a huge sports fan, but by no means an expert in anything. I've never been a coach and haven't played any organized sport since Junior High School. I'm a fan. I view the game as a fan and love being a spectator. I love hearing the optomism, pesimism,speculation, anticipation, and opinions of fellow fans. That is what being a fan is all about. So, if you want to spout off, rant, rave, complain, or wave the banner of your favorite team you've found the right place. Any and all coments are welcome for debate and rebuttle. Now that you know where I come from, lets get started!