The gap is closing.
While teams like Florida, Ohio State and Southern Cal will always attract top-notch players and be atop the Football Bowl Subdivision rankings, the talent gap is shrinking between perennial powers and the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA).
If fifth-ranked Michigan?s stunning loss to Appalachian State proved anything, it?s that it shouldn?t be that stunning at all, said Towson coach Gordy Combs.
“Appalachian State is the national champions two years in a row so it?s not that much of a fluke,” Combs said. “I could see it being more stunning if it was a team that wasn?t ranked in our top 25.”
Towson, which opened its season with a 20-10 victory over Central Connecticut State, plays in the Colonial Athletic Association, one of the toughest conferences in the subdivision. The league improved its credibility last year when two members beat FBS schools. Richmond won 13-0 at the Atlantic Coast Conference?s Duke and New Hampshire won 34-17 at the Big Ten?s Northwestern. But those don?t compare to what the Mountaineers did to Michigan?regarded by many as a contender for the national title? in Ann Arbor. The Mountaineers became the first FCS team to defeat a team ranked in the Associated Press? Top 25.
“Anytime you get a win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team that is great,” Combs said. ” But this was Michigan in the Big House.”
Towson will get its chance action against the FBS starting next year when the Tigers play at Navy. Future matchups include Northwestern in 2009, Indiana in 2010 and an anticipated trip to CollegePark to play Maryland in 2011.
But the talent that FCS schools are able to amass now is making these traditional mismatches more competitive, Combs said.
“It?s not like the old days where they could run the ball down your throat and were more physical and faster,” he said. “Your top three, four guys can matchup now and there are plenty of guys who can play at that level.”
And Towson has shown it can recruit top-notch talent. Before transferring to Maryland, defensive back Madieu Williams started in 22 games for the Tigers in 1999 and 2000. He is now a starter for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Last year, Combs landed Penn State transfer Antonio Logan-El, one of the top recruits in Maryland in 2006.
“Wins like this are a great thing for the Football Championship Subdivision,” Combs said. “And I love it.”
