New polls

[Bisonguy]

Looks like NDSU moved up two spots in the Don Hansen poll, SDSU also moved into the 19 spot.

September 14, 2003
NCAA II Top 40
1 GRAND VALLEY STATE MI 2-0 21 TUSKEGEE AL 2-1
2 VALDOSTA STATE GA 2-0 22 CHADRON STATE NE 2-0
3 CARSON-NEWMAN TN 3-0 23 SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 2-0
4 TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE 0-1 24 FINDLAY OH 2-0
5 INDIANA PA 2-0 25 TARLETON STATE TX 1-1
6 SAGINAW VALLEY MI 2-0 26 EMPORIA STATE KS 2-0
7 CENTRAL MISSOURI 2-0 27 OUACHITS BAPTIST AR 1-0
8 NEBRASKA-OMAHA 2-1 28 PRESBYTERIAN SC 1-1
9 CATAWBA NC 2-0 29 ST. CLOUD STATE MN 2-1
10 PITTSBURG STATE KS 2-0 30 NORTH ALABAMA 2-0
11 EAST STROUDSBURG PA 2-0 31 NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 1-1
12 HARDING AR 1-0 32 BENTLEY MA 2-0
13 MINNESOTA-DULUTH 1-1 33 ALBANY STATE GA 2-1
14 WINONA STATE MN 3-0 34 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 2-0
15 FAYETTEVILLE NC 2-0 35 DELTA STATE MS 2-0
16 CENTRAL WASHINGTON 1-2 36 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 2-0
17 NORTH DAKOTA STATE 2-1 37 EASTERN NEW MEXICO 2-0
18 NORTHWEST MISSOURI 1-1 38 WINSTON-SALEM NC 2-1
19 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1-1 39 BLOOMSBURG PA 1-1
20 SHIPPENSBURG PA 2-0 40 SOUTH DAKOTA 2-0

[SDbison]

What is the story with Minnesota Duluth. Are they really that good to stay high in the polls even after losing to South Dakota? Why were they placed so high in the first place. Did they win one of their playoff games last year? I don't believe Minnesota Duluth recently defeated one of the top teams in the NCC. I know they did beat South Dakota last year. Do you think some of the higher rankings for Winona and Duluth are politically motivated to recognize the relatively new D2 NSIC? I guess it may be too early to be concerned about but I can see the Bison getting into the playoffs and having to play away games since Duluth or others would be playing a weaker schedule and might have a better record. The D2 regional ranking system sucks and you know they will not provide any breaks to a team that is on its way out of D2. Any thoughts?

[Bisonguy]

Here's the D2football.com poll. You can tell there' way too many NWMSU fans on the poll. No way they should move up after beating Mankato by one TD.

D2Football.com Poll

Rank Team Last Week
1 Valdosta State (2-0) 1
2 Grand Valley State (2-0) 2
3 Carson-Newman (3-0) 3
4 Saginaw Valley State (2-0) 4
5 IUP (2-0) 5
6 Catawba (2-0) 6
7 Central Missouri (2-0) 8
8 Pittsburg State (2-0) 10
9 Texas A&M-Kingsville (0-1) 9
10 Northwest Missouri (1-1) 14
11 Chadron State (2-0) 16
12 Fayetteville State (2-0) 17
13 St. Cloud State (2-1) 7
14 Central Arkansas (2-0) 18
15 Southern Arkansas (2-0) 19
16 Emporia State (2-0) 20
17 Nebraska-Omaha (2-1) 21
18 North Dakota State (2-1) 15
19 Tuskegee (2-1) 22
20 Winona State (3-0) 23
21 Harding (1-0) 24
22 Tarleton State (1-1) 25
23 East Stroudsburg (2-0) NR
24 Minnesota-Duluth (1-1) 11
25 Bloomsburg (1-1) 13

[tony]

Polls (*snort*)!

I don't mind NWMSU but I've heard about six years of "quit talking about the past" from them. Their last national championship was in the '90s too :) and they haven't beat an NCC team since then. Maybe it's KARMA.

Fortunately, if NDSU gets shutout by SDSU 21-0 and then comes from behind to beat Mankato, we should pop up into the top 10... not.

These polls don't mean anything.

[GFBisonFan]

I agree that NWMS must have alumni on the poll commitee. They were beat by SDSU (not to take anything away from SDSU) and went to the wire with a team that was beat by Bemidji St. Come on!

The bad thing about Duluth and Winona is that they for the most part only have each other to play and the rest of the powerhouse NSIC, which means that one team will run the rest of the schedule and possibly make the playoffs, which is crap. They would be plastered by a top NCC team. We beat Winona last year with a team that was one of the worst (record wise) in bison history. Duluth lost to USD.

The good thing is that it is a long season and generally things work themselves out in the end. I don't lend much credence to D2 polls this time of the year anyway, because voters only see scores and don't always know the quality of the teams that are being beat or teams that are doing the beating. The recognition is nice, but we can only control the things we can. Win one game at a time and try to secure our first home playoff game!!!!

Not only did NWMS move up but how about Chadron State's move after their tough game at Bemidji!

[BisonInTexas]

Jeff Harlin (author of the Midwest Notebook) is an NWMSU alum. Not sure who else votes on the D2Football.com poll, but at least he is helping boost the ratings. I have always felt that there is an overall bias MIAA bias in the D2Football.com poll, not so much in NWMSU, but the middle rung teams like Emporia St. and Central Missouri always get ranked above their abilities, IMO.

The Don Hansen poll always has some wacky rankings - Central Washington is ranked 16th with a 1-2 record (and one loss was to Carroll College - an NAIA school)?, Harding is ranked 12th? WTF?

I agree with Tony - these polls aren't worth the web page they are printed on. With the regional system in place for DII rankings, it artificially increases the importance of the NSIC, who have never beaten anyone other than bottom feeder NCC programs. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota-Duluth fares next year in the NCC. I predict they will be .500 at best. They better get in the playoffs this year because it might be a while until they have a team that can make it throught the NCC schedule (even without SDSU and NDSU) with a good enough record to make the playoffs.

Yet another reason to say good riddance to DII. I hope the remaining NCC teams enjoy watching Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul get playoff spots and bogus rankings in the future. It pains me everytime I see rankings such as these when I know the Bison would beat teams like these by at least two touchdowns even on a bad year (like last year).

Craig

[Hammerhead]

D 1-AA probably also has debates about which conference is better just like D-II. At least most of the contenders have bigger travel budgets so we can see good inter-region games like Montana vs. Maine.


BisonInTexas -- I like your picture. I must have been standing next to the photographer when I took my photo on the field after the 1986 national championship game. :)

[Bisonguy]

My new favorite poll for the week- The Dopke poll (http://www.dopke.com/DIIRankings.htm)
NWMSU is about where they belong, along with someone else. ;D


Dopke 2003 Division II Route 66 Rankings

September 15, 2003
1 Grand Valley State (2-0) Lakers still have plenty of offensive punch to defend their title.
2 Valdosta State (2-0) Blazers perched atop the lethal Gulf South.
3 Central Missouri State (2-0) Mules have their opportunities awaiting them already.
4 Carson-Newman (3-0) Eagles winning their feathers quickly.
5 Pittsburg State (2-0) Gorillas poised for big things.
6 North Dakota State (2-1) Bison not ducking any opponents.
7 Indiana, PA (2-0) Indians are just plain tough stuff.
8 Central Arkansas (2-0) Bears becoming more balanced on offense.
9 Catawba (2-0) Indians need more punch on offense.
10 Winona State (3-0) Warriors are making a statement.
11 Saginaw Valley State (2-0) Cardinals need to stiffen on defense.
12 East Stroudsburg (2-0) Warriors have their hands full in the PSAC.
13 Southern Arkansas (2-0) Muleriders one of the many solid GSC clubs.
14 North Alabama (2-0) Lions are looking to be Kings of the Gulf South.
15 Texas A&M-Kingsville (0-1) Javelinas record tarnished by tough schedule.
16 Findlay (2-0) Oilers will get their chance to show their stuff.
17 Delta State (2-0) Statesmen are another lethal ingredient to the GSC mix.
18 Emporia State (2-0) Hornets will have their shot to show their sting.
19 Nebraska-Omaha (2-1) Mavericks cannot be ignored in the NCC.
20 South Dakota State (1-1) Jacks learning the tough lessons of stiff scheduling.
21 Tarleton State (1-1) Texans are a failed field goal away from perfection.
22 Shippensburg (2-0) Shipps getting it done on both sides of the ball.
23 South Dakota (2-0) Coyotes start is far from being ugly.
24 St. Cloud State (2-1) Huskies will need to regroup as the nCC looks tough.
25 Fayetteville State (2-0) Broncos need to pull it together if they're to repeat.
26 Northwest Missouri (1-1)
..........
63 Mesa State (1-1)
64 Adams State (1-1)
65 Arkansas Tech (1-1)
66 North Dakota (1-1)

[Bisonguy]

On the new Don Hansen poll, NDSU is #17 and SDSU is #18. That should make for a good game on saturday ;D.l

[Bisonguy]

NDSU moved up to the #15 spot on the D2football.com poll.

[iamabison]

Knowing how d2football.com works, I'm suprised NWMSU isn't still in their top 15 with a comment like "Bearcats have played top competition tough, still the team to beat in the region"
:)

iamabison

yes, that's a shot at the homers of d2football.com

[Bisonguy]

I think Brandon (one of the D2football.com homers) was upset that people still were ranking NWMSU so high in the previous poll. Unfortunately a lot of the pollsters have a "what have you done for me lately" attitude, but it only applies to some teams. Others will still get ranked if they're performing poorly.

On to good news- NDSU holds onto the #6 spot on the Dopke poll for the this week. ;D ;D ;D