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Firebird
08-17-2007, 01:51 AM
D2football.com released their top 25 media poll. I think it's the best source out there. Texas teams ranked:

15 West Texas A&M
16 Abilene Christian
18 Midwestern

Looks like a dogfight again for the LSC South. IMHO, I would have given ACU the edge over WTAMU. ACU beat WTAMU once last year at home, then barley fell in overtime in the DII PO's. WTAMU loses a lot, including perpetual all-America QB Dalton Bell. ACU returns two preseason All-Americans on D, the conference's second leading passer in Billy Malone, a loaded backfield with Taber Minner and Chancy Campbell leading the attack, and all-conference WR Jerale Bradon.

Still, there is something to the saying that "to be the man you gotta beat the man", and WTAMU is the man two seasons in a row. They lose a lot, but have gotten in some pretty good transfer talent from what I hear. Still, I think ACU's proven commodities will carry the day.

Midwestern's QB Daniel Polk is probably the best athlete in the conference.

I hope this is the year that the LSC gets past the MIAA (home to perpetual power Pittsburg State) in the playoffs. Until that happens, none of our teams will sniff the top 10. I think three teams from the LSC will get in

WTAMU, ACU, and Midwestern are all about even in their chances. I think all three will go, but I will be shocked if less than two go. Tarleton will contend in the South, and A&M Commerce could be a darkhorse, especially since it gets to play in the weaker North division this year. Texas A&M Kingsville is still a few years away from getting back to form.

Firebird
08-17-2007, 02:10 AM
By the way, if you are looking for the most dominant era ever for Texas college football, look to the ranks of the schools that are now DII (and one DII). Back then they played in the NAIA, when the NAIA was theconference for the smaller schools. If all you know is the modern NAIA, it's hard to believe, but there used to be some good football played in the NAIA before it's better programs went to NCAA DII and DIII. The NFL used to be littered with NAIA players. Anyway, here is a list of Texas NAIA DI and DII national champs from 1969 to 1979

1969: Texas A&I (now Kingsville)
1970 DI: Texas A&I
1972 DI: East Texas State (now A&M Commerce)
1973 DI: ACU
1974 DI: Texas A&I
DII: Texas Lutheran
1975 DI: Texas A&I
DII: Texas Lutheran
1976 DI: Texas A&I
1977 DI: ACU
1978 DI: Angelo State
1979 DI: Texas A&I

Over a decade, that is only one year (1971) when a Texas team didn't win the DI championship. And what else is incredible is the different teams that did it. A&I was the best, but ACU won two and ETSU and Angelo one apiece. Also, there were LSC teams making lots of noise in the playoffs, but only one winning...I know that ACU made plenty of noise some years. I'd like to see the LSC return to that level in DII.

There were some great players from those teams too: Wilbur Montogmery (Eagles) for ACU, several NFL'ers for the hoggies in Kingsville.

BTW, from 1978-79 the NAIA DI football championship game was played in McAllen at the "Palm Bowl".