Pre-season Game of the Night - Season 140
Previous GotN Prediction/Result: N/A
Intro/comments/match-up: Another season is getting ready to begin. The off-season had some dramatic changes take place. #9 Western New Mexico has a new coach in Greenchain. #12 Ferris State has a new coach in what sounds like a fantastic name of Cowboy90s. #13 Valdosta State was taken over by the "smart dog" favorite coach OMCS1981. Saginaw Valley State at #21 got its second new coach in two seasons with AJ Scarlato. And lastly, Coachoatie left Ferris State to take on a major rebuilding challenge at West Virginia Wesleyan. There were probably more changes but I didn't have the time to research further.
Before we get to the match-up, just a reminder the Rockne Top Ten poll will start up following the fourth game of the season. Like last season, any coach can participate by submitting their top ten by a site mail to omcs1981 by 8PM central time. You can vote each day, just on weekends, or just when you have the time.
The pre-season Game of the Night is a slight variation with Valdosta State replacing Hillsdale after the coaching change. Tusculum remains the same as coach Clememp is in the process of getting everything at Tusculum renamed in his honor.
Team: Tusculum
Coach: Clememp # of Seasons: 60
Roster Breakdown:
Seniors: 15
Juniors: 14
Sophomores: 14
Freshmen: 7
Offensive Formations: I, Trips
Defensive Formations: 4-3, Nickel
Key Wins: N/A
Losses: N/A
Comments: Coach Clememp has a talented team that should finish between 11-2 and 13-0 this season. Defense is stacked with 8 seniors and 7 juniors. The offense will be a deciding factor with red-shirt juniors leading the way at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. The concern will be how effective they can be when playing some of the top defenses come playoff time.
Team: Valdosta State
Coach: OMCS1981 # of Seasons: 1
Roster Breakdown:
Seniors: 14
Juniors: 7
Sophomores: 11
Freshmen: 18
Offensive Formations: Trips
Defensive Formations: 3-4
Key Wins: N/A
Losses: N/A
Comments: Valdosta State has been performing below their high standards the last three seasons with just one playoff win in their last four games. Additionally, coach OMCS1981 will be attempting to find his former magic that led to four titles before enduring an ongoing 21-season dry spell.
Tonight's Prediction: Tusculum comes into the game ranked #11 in the Press polls with Valdosta State behind them at #13. Tusculum is coming off a disappointing blow-out loss to Texas A&M-Commerce while Valdosta State is still trying to figure out what they are doing after losses to #17 and SIM Hillsdale and #16 Southern Connecticut State. The view from here pictures Valdosta State going 0 for the preseason as Tusculum wins again 35-24.