Home > HBCU Football > Archives > 2008 > November > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USS.C. State headed to FCS playoffs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
South Carolina State earned its first Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoff berth in 26 years by winning the MEAC title with an unbeaten conference record.
Next up for the Bulldogs — three-time defending national champion Appalachian State.
The Bulldogs will travel to Boone, N.C. Saturday for a first-round matchup against the Mountaineers, the same Mountaineer squad that won at Michigan in the 2007 season opener.
“They beat Michigan, they won three straight (titles) … who wouldn’t know App. State?”, S.C. State linebacker Marshall McFadden told the Orangeburg (S.C.) Times and Democrat. McFadden added, “They give us the opportunity to let them now know who we are … now they will know Will Ford, Raymond Harrison and Marshall McFadden.”
Strong finish not enough for FAMU: The Rattlers hoped their strong finish would earn an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs, but it wasn’t enough.
Despite a 9-3 record, including three lopsided wins to end the season, FAMU wasn’t one of the 16 teams selected for the playoffs.
“I told the fellows that this year we knocked on the door and next year we will knock it down,” FAMU coach Joe Taylor told the Tallahassee Democrat. “We had a really great season.”
Two sides to every story: Check out what each side had to say about FAMU’s 58-35 victory over rival Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic.
FAMU lineman Anthony Collins said the team dominated by playing “old-fashioned football” while Bethune-Cookman QB McKinson Souverain, who had four of his team’s six lost fumbles, summed up the loss by saying, “You can’t turn the ball over like that and expect to win against any team.”
Editor’s Note: For the latest news and notes on Black College football, click here and visit the AJC’s HBCU football page.
Comments
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By Mr. Bulldog
November 24, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Good to see SCSU in the playoffs, but couldn’t we have gotten someone else other than App State? Well, guess we’ll have to start by beating the Big Dog. Good luck Bulldogs!
By TSU Fan
November 24, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
What happened to Tennessee State? I thought the Tigers would have made the playoffs for sure.
By Leo Willingham
November 24, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
TSU Fan, Tennessee State was sitting pretty a few weeks ago, but back-to-back losses to Jacksonville State and Murray State were killer. The Jax State loss was the big one because they were leading the Ohio Valley Conference at that time and could’ve won out and earned a playoff bid.
By Famu Fan
November 24, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Remember Bulldog fans, it is possible to go on the road and win in the playoffs. Famu did it against App state and almost beat Youngstown state after crushing Western Illinois at home.
By noneya
November 24, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Yeah TSU blew it this year. One of the more talented teams we had in years. They’ll look back on this season with a lot of regrets.
Still proud TSU Alum.
By Brian
November 24, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Congrats I’m sure SCSU will represent HBCU’s to the fullest. Too bad we couldn’t get another school in.
By Leo Willingham
November 24, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
I agree with you Brian. Would have been nice to have another black college team in the playoffs. Tennessee State had the pieces to make some noise. The eventual SWAC winner would have made some noise and Tuskegee might’ve left a lot of teams disappointed in Division II. However, it is what it is and SCSU is the lone survivor right now (Albany State lost in the first round of the Division II playoffs).
By richbrave
November 24, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
What do you think of DELEWARE STATE and HOWARD joining the CAA North and HAMPTON and NORFOLK STATE in the CAA South.? This league hogs most of the playoff slots. That’s why more HBCU schools are not in the championship series in my estimation.
As a recent UNIVERSITY of RICHMOND (‘09) alum, I’m proud to see my alma mater ranked #7 and in the big dance, but five members of the league still playing.? Maybe the championship format should be expanded by one game so more quality programs can participate (32).
By Kboozer
November 24, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
hehehe….go App. State!….I’ll be there and I’m hoping for a blowout.
By tim
November 25, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
GO APPS!
Best of luck to the Bulldogs, just not a whole lot of it.
The CAA has some weird pull…they always seem to get more teams than they deserve—lots of first round losers; just watch this year and see what happens.
The Rock is a fun place to watch a game—dress warm and we’ll see you there.
Tailgate starts at 9 :)
GO! FIGHT! KICK A$$!
By Leo Willingham
November 25, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Richbrave, Not sure if anyone of the HBCUs would consider moving to another conference, but I definitely agree that the NCAA should explore expanding the playoffs by one round. If the SWAC allowed itself to enter the playoff fray, there would likely be a team or two in the mix each year. The MEAC champ is assured a spot each year and a second team usually gets in or gets a long look. FAMU probably should’ve been included this year, but wasn’t.
By lipo1975
November 25, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
Garnet and Blue we love you!!! Roof! RooF! Go Dogs! South Carolina’s Home of NFL Hall of Famers!
By richbrave
November 25, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
And more’s the pity Mr. WILLINGHAM. JOE TAYLOR will be heard from for many years to come even with a 16 team format. I don’t really have a man-crush on the coach although it seems so. Its just that I got to see he and WILLARD BAILEY in person. VIRGINIA UNION was within walking distance of my first home, and I used to attend some of their practice sessions and games. Had BAILEY as a student after he left NORFOLK STATE and before his return to UNION. BTW I graduated from UofR this summer, MBA (‘08) not ‘09 as I posted earlier. And I’m 65 years of age for the record.
By rattlersqueeze
November 25, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
There is no way that five teams from one conference should make the 16-team field in any season!! I really was hopeful that my FAMU Rattlers would make the playoffs, but losing Homecoming to Morgan State cooked our goose!! I’m not angry that we didn’t make it, but there has to be some other deserving FCS school that should have.
Leo, I know it’s been a long time since the MEAC got an at-large bid. Can you help a brother out and research that question for me?? I think FAMU got one in ‘98 (and went all the way to the semifinals)!
By caafootball
November 25, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
Congrats to SC State but why the complaints of the CAA? They were champions in ‘03 with Delaware, ‘04 JMU, Runner-up in ‘06 UMass and last year Delaware. JMU lost first round at App. St. last year by 1 point after fumbling inside the 10 with seconds to go and a chipshot field goal away from winning and Richmond made the semis. Umass made the quarters and New Hampshire went on the road and lost by 3 to the #1 seed Northern Iowa. That’s right the 5th best team in the CAA last year lost by a field goal to #1. This year Vilanova, Richmond, and JMU are all legit. App. State is nasty again and one cannot but be impressed by Cal-Poly’s performance at Wisconsin.