Your Two Cents on "Other" Programs

[KattTx]

Aside from the DIV I - Big XII schools that get most of the conversational attention (and aside from UNT), what programs deserve attention? There are more players considering these types of schools than the majors and some information on them would be useful, I think.

I know of kids getting information from Duke, Houston, SMU, New Mexico, TCU, Brigham Young etc.. What say you??

[Firebird]

Houston-- If you are looking for the "real" rising power right now in mid-major Texas football, this is it for my money. They just put together a winning season, won the C-USA championship, and they gave teams like Miami and South Carolina a run for their money. Art Briles is a coveted coach who has proven he can develop talent at the college level. Kevin Kolb might very well be the 3rd best QB in this year's draft. He has steadily improved his recruiting down there every year. Houston was a winner back in the 1980's and 1990's, and I can easily see it dominating C-USA.

[svhorns]

USF... University of South Florida... I could see this school coming up soon

[North Texas Football]

Just to name a few:

Central Florida
Central Michigan
Fresno State
Houston
Rutgers
Wake Forest
Washington (been there before, and never should have left)

[farmerfan]

I am waiting for the day taht North Dakota State takes off and explodes. It's bound to happen :eek: :D

[slorch]

I am waiting for the day taht North Dakota State takes off and explodes. It's bound to happen :eek: :D

awesome hockey, though...

[Leander 6136]

D1-AA Texas State Bobcats

[chpanther]

TCU

[KattTx]

TCU keeps popping up in similar conversations I've had about this. From the way most think, they should be making a huge splash soon. But then I think, the same has been said about UTEP - never to see it come to pass.

[jtk1519]

TCU should have already made a splash. They wont get any higher than they already have. I want to hear more about Cougar High.

[AZTiger]

People always say UCF and USF, because they think they'll get the left over talent in FL, which is still pretty good...but that's not happening like they thought.

I will tell you the biggest underachieving program in DI, and that's Arizona State. The largest school in the country (top 3 at least I think), lots of awesome built in recruiting advantages, and for some reason, they can't recruit their own state and can't find good coaching. There is no reason why this school should not be a top 15 program yearly.

[North Texas Football]

I said Central Florida because of their recent success coming from where they were 10 years ago. They have started winning on a regular basis. Attendance is way up. New $75 million dollar stadium on the way. I would say those are plenty of reasons on why the Golden Knights have an up and coming program not in a major conference. It does have a little bit to do with location, however all of the Southeastern schools receive players from Florida. The reason Rutgers and Wake Forest are all of a sudden something... Florida players. Schiano and Grobe have said forget Bowden, Shannan, and Urban, we are going to try and recruit the players they are after as well. And as you can see...it has worked. I would say that Central Florida is most likely battling the likes of Rutgers and WF for keeping those kids in the state.

No offense to Arizona HS football, but ASU has got to recruit successfully outside of AZ, i.e. California to be successful against USC, Cal, UCLA, etc. You bring up a good point though...and it is very interesting as to why ASU isn't better. Large school, great campus, one of the nicest metropolitan areas in the country, and you still can't be very good. Seems to me like the resources are there, however they refuse to spend the money on a frontline coach. I think you hit the nail on the head by saying they are very much underacheiving!

[AZTiger]

They lose out in-state recruits to all the California schools...that can't happen.

[syzygy]

UCF!? University of Central Florida!? No way. UCF just finished the season 4-8. I've been told it should not be a problem obtaining tickets to see #1-5 Texas practice against #100 UCF September 15th.

[North Texas Football]

The UCF program has had more success lately than in the past. They are winning more (lost 7 of their games by a total of 56 points this year), raising money, building new facilities, etc.

That, in my opinion, is a program on the rise...