Watch the scores rotate on the bottom of our TV screen this college football season, and they will raise some eyebrows.
There's a growing list of BCS schools falling victim to lowly I-AA (or FCS) squads. In just two weeks, six I-AA teams have defeated their higher division opponents, none more shocking than James Madison's 21-16 upset over then No. 13 Virgina Tech at Lane Stadium.
Others are the Ole Miss Rebels home loss to Jacksonville State 49-48 in double overtime, North Dakota State upset at Kansas 6-3, South Dakota trouncing Minnesota 41-38, Gardner-Webb knocking off Akron 38-37 in overtime and Liberty defeating Ball State 27-23. That doesn't including some close calls experienced by Washington State, Purdue and Temple, all who eeked out W's.
Add it up, and after a handful of schools like Alabama's, Oklahoma's and Ohio State's, it's a muddled middle of parity where any school can win on a given Saturday.
And the great equalizer in the college game is television.
Just look at the number of games carried by ESPN on a weekly basis, it's in the dozens, not to mention other cable and network outlets. Prep stars realize if they want to play and move onto the NFL, it can be anywhere, because you'll get five or six games on TV minimum. That phenomenon is starting show in the NFL.
Look back at last NFL Draft results. Sure there were plenty of players from the blue blood schools drafted, especially in the first 10 picks. But two players were taken in the first round from Idaho WAC schools, multiple late-round picks came from I-AA schools like James Madison and a few picks were made from the D-II ranks like Hillsdale and Indiana (Pa.).
After his team's upset, James Madison coach Mickey Matthews said "the dirty little secret is the top six to eight teams at our level (I-AA) can play with anyone." I'm not so sure that's a secret anymore.
3 comments:
Agreed, agreed, agreed! The 49ers chose offensive linemen in the first round from Rutgers and Idaho after last season. I think the TV factor does not play into it as much as the scouting that NFL teams are able to do from their desks. The internet has opened up the world of easily shared video...something that would have been a revelation to scouts even 10 years ago. Good post!
Great point. There's no doubt that TV has given scouts more accessibility than ever to the once lowly teams of divisions I-AA, II, and even III. I wonder how much talent went undiscovered at these levels in the past. Certainly increased visibility has improved parody at all levels of college football, but it's interesting to think about the talent that went undiscovered before that happened.
As somewhat of a side note, give props to teams like the Titans for going after these guys. Have you seen their roster? Nine of the 52 players on their active roster came from I-AA or lower division schools. I think the game is better for it!
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