FIVE SCHOOLS THAT SECRETLY WORRY THEIR P5 INSTATE BROTHERS

Arkansas State: Whatever Arkansas State has recently  put into their University water system , I would like to bottle and sell internationally. The Red Wolves have been nothing short of impressive for the past 3 years.  With 27 wins in three years, under 3 different coaching staffs no less, it is hard not to be excited about the long term potential for  Arkansas State. With only one other  school in the state, Arkansas, vying for recruits in the talent rich deep south, the Razorbacks are no doubt keeping a sharp eyed trained on what is happening in Jonesboro. Blake Anderson, head coach number 3, looks to be like another good hire for the Red Wolves.

Georgia Southern:  If only someone at Georgia Southern would have had  the vision  in the mid to late 80's to push for D1 status, Georgia Southern would now easily hold the number 2 football position in Georgia, instead of Georgia Tech. If only someone at Georgia Southern would have capitalized on the enigmatic and legendary Georgia Southern Coach, Erk Russell, Georgia Southern might actually be comfy, cozy, sitting fat and happy in a P5 conference. Erk's teams in the 80's were hotter than Georgia asphalt in August. Alas, the faithful in Statesboro, now join the ranks of those who failed to invest in the bottled water explosion in the late 20th century, that is , they are lamenting the lost opportunity. All is not dark  however for Eagle fans, as their brethren in Athens are well aware that you are now part of the D1 world. They are however, breathing a sigh of relief that it finally happened in 2014 not 1989. Still, they are a bit worried. Don't believe them when they say they are not.

ODU: 757, 757, 757, did I mention 757. Has there ever been a team born in the midst of so much football talent.  Head Coach Bobby Wilder, has to be the happiest start up coach in the history of sports. Oh, and um, ODU is also the only D1 football program in the Va Beach/Norfolk area, also known as Hampton Roads for all you geographically challenged fans.  This large area covers 5 counties and 9 cities and has 1.7 million people who call  this region home. No wonder Wilder smiles all the time.  ODU might be the first  pre-fab football school in history,  add a few nails, put in some piping and boom, you have a school that Va Tech, and UVA are looking at with a nervous twitch. Be nice to them  Mr. Wilder, they have feelings too.

MEMPHIS: Let's begin with a line from the  Pat Benatar song , "Hit me with your best shot" shall we. Memphis, "your a real tough cookie with a long  history, of breaking little hearts like the one in me". Okay, I feel better now, don't you. With only one competitive SEC school in Tennessee, Memphis has no right to struggle in football the way they do. Basketball of course, is another story. Football however, has been the achilles heel of this fine institution. Still, the Volunteer coaching staff, has to breathe a sigh of relief every time Memphis puts a bad product on the football field. If, and that is a big if, Memphis ever lives into their potential in football, not only will they be an excellent candidate to join a P5 league, but they also have the potential to be the heart burn in many coaching careers at that other school in Knoxville. Come on Memphis, hit me with your best shot..or er, um something like that.

UMASS: Okay, wait before you get that superior sports grin on your face buddy. What is not to like about UMASS football? Let's do the check list before we pretend we know more than the guy writing this column shall we:
Located in sports hungry state: check
Located in a populous state or region: check
Located in a region or state where there is limited D1 competition: check, or should I say, check mate, oh in your face.

UMASS has everything needed to make it a school on the rise and one that would make its fellow D1 competition at Boston College stand up and take notice. UMASS needs a couple to things to come together before it can fully live into its full potential. All the ingredients however, are there for UMASS to be a very good football team. (Hey Sun Belt, if you are are absolutely OCD on getting a 12th member how about UMASS. UMASS did not fare well in the MAC, but maybe they have learned from their mistakes.)