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Forbes
4 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
These Teams Head Into The 2025 Season With The Nation's Longest Bowl Droughts
The droughts have been coming off the board. Nebraska had the longest dry spell (seven years) among power conference teams before returning to postseason play in 2024. Texas State went to its first bowl in 2023, its 11th year as an FBS member. UNLV snapped a nine-year bowl drought that same season. In 2022, Kansas halted a hefty string of 13 years without making a bowl reservation. This year? Louisiana-Monroe and UMass, which has not been to a bowl since elevating to the FBS, will attempt to make the cut. As noted below, the Warhawks have at least been bowl eligible. Louisiana-Monroe: 12 Seasons It appeared the Warhawks were on the way to snapping their drought in Bryant Vincent's first season as the program's head coach a year ago. Certainly, they would win one game in the season's back half after a fruitful first half in which they went 5-1, including 3-0 in Sun Belt play, wouldn't they? Instead, ULM enters 2025 with a six-game losing streak and a 12-year bowl drought. ULM achieved bowl eligibility twice during the period in question. Todd Berry's squad went 6-6 in 2013 and the Warhawks went 6-6 in 2018 under Matt Viator, but were passed over both times. ULM has been competing at the FBS level the past 21 seasons and has only a single postseason appearance, a 2012 Independence Bowl loss to Ohio under Berry. The Warhawks also played at the highest level, then known as I-A, from 1975 to 1981 without a bowl appearance before dropping down to what was then I-AA, now the FCS. UMass: 12 Seasons Thirteen seasons have been played since the Minutemen elevated to the FBS, though they did not take the field in pandemic-disrupted 2020. When the program transitioned to the FBS in 2012, the Minutemen were not eligible to participate in a bowl unless they won at least six games and there were not enough bowl eligible teams to fill all slots. It did not matter thanks to going 1-11. Though fully eligible for bowl play in 11 of their 12 seasons since taking the field as an FBS program, we will call it a 12-season drought since there was a chance heading into 2012 that Charley Molnar's team could have played in a bowl. At any rate, this is a program there has not won as many as five games in a season as an FBS member while sporting a record of 26-122 (.175) since elevating. Back-to-back 4-8 campaigns in 2017 and 2018 is as good as it has been. Joe Harasymiak, who was the DC at Rutgers the past three seasons, is the fourth head coach in the FBS era in Amherst, which beginning this year includes a second stint (also 2012 to 2015) as a MAC member. UMass appeared in a pair of bowl games as a member of the Yankee Conference prior to Division-I splitting into I-A (FBS) and I-AA (FCS) in 1978. The Minutemen lost to East Carolina in the 1964 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando and defeated UC-Davis in the 1972 Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City. New Mexico: 8 Seasons The Lobos traveled to Hawaii for their 2024 regular-season finale needing to defeat the Rainbow Warriors to pick up a sixth win and become bowl eligible. They spent all afternoon playing from behind in a 38-30 loss to finish 5-7, their best record since the most recent bowl season of 2016. At least the Lobos were in the postseason conversation last year. After all, they went 19-60 (.240) over the previous seven years under Danny Gonzalez and Bob Davie, a stretch that put the program near the bottom of the FBS. Speaking of coaches, it is now three in as many years in Albuquerque. Bronco Mendenhall took over for Gonzalez and lasted one season before departing for Utah State. Jason Eck arrived from Idaho and will attempt to get the Lobos over the hump and back into the bowl picture. A very difficult road schedule – Michigan, UCLA, San Jose State, Boise State, UNLV and Air Force -- could conspire against doing just that. Akron: 7 Seasons Joe Moorehead's Zips went 3-5 in MAC play last year. That is noteworthy because it was Akron's most conference wins since the last time it went to a bowl, which was 2017. The Zips went 4-8 last season, Moorehead's third running the show. He took over a very challenging situation in 2022 as the Zips had won only three of their previous 35 games. Akron has certainly been much more competitive under the former Mississippi State coach. Though the Zips were predictably blown out by Ohio State, Rutgers and South Carolina last season, and by a combined 151-30, they not only won three games in conference play, but only one of the five losses was by more than 13 points. Their chances this season in Moorehead's fourth year at the helm? Well, Ben Finley returns at quarterback for his final season of eligibility and the non-conference slate is far less daunting as Wyoming, Nebraska and UAB are the trio of non-conference FBS opponents. Stanford: 6 Seasons The Cardinal have been nothing if not consistent in going 3-9 each of the past four seasons, which is the longest active stretch of sub-.500 campaigns among power conference teams. The six-season run without postseason play includes pandemic-abbreviated 2020 when David Shaw's squad went 4-2 and opted against playing in a bowl after a revised Santa Clara County health order made doing anything a chore. That would have been Stanford's only bowl season since a 2018 Sun Bowl win over Pitt. The Cardinal is 16-44 in five 12-game seasons since then. Frank Reich took over on an interim basis after Troy Taylor was fired in March. This second season as an ACC member will be a test of endurance as the Cardinal take three trips east for conference games against Viriginia, Miami and North Carolina. The season opens with a Week 0 trip to Hawaii then, following an off week, Stanford travels to BYU. Virginia: 6 Seasons The Cavaliers been bowl eligible during their six years run without playing in a bowl. In fact, they could have had back-to-back bowl appearances. Like Stanford, Virginia declined to play in a bowl in 2020 due to the virus. The pandemic continued to take its toll in 2021 when Bronco Mendenhall's team went 6-6 and was set to meet SMU in the Fenway Bowl -- until multiple players tested positive and the game was cancelled. It appeared as though the Cavaliers would finally return to a bowl last season when they started 4-1. Alas, Tony Elliott's team went 1-6 the rest of the way, including losing the last three games while needing one win to break even and become bowl eligible.
American Press
31-07-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Jim Gazzolo column: A winning night for everyone
On a hot summer evening, a lone running back took the handoff and began to race around the right end of the offensive line. After a few steps, he stopped and looked to throw a pass. After a few seconds, he began running again, surrounded now by a host of McNeese players, some blocking for him, others diving at his feet. With the voice of McNeese, Bruce Merchant, announcing his moves, the runner races toward the end zone and crosses the goal line, spiking the football in triumph. Players celebrated with him. At the other end of the field, kids from the ages of 8-18 tried on football equipment, kicked footballs through the goalpost, and attacked tackling dummies like they were linebackers on a Saturday evening. Tuesday night, on the eve of opening up their training camp, McNeese players and coaches took to the field in Navarre Stadium for an important workout with a bunch of kids who would otherwise never get a chance to experience such moments. All this took place during the fourth annual Victory Day at McNeese, when the Cowboys host children with special needs for a night of football and fun. It was an easy decision for the current Cowboy head coach, Matt Viator, to keep it going. In fact, he moved the event back to the start of training camp so that his entire team could participate. 'I think this is a great thing for our community,' said Viator. 'To see the smile on the kids and our players is great. 'The whole thing was great. To hear Bruce's voice that I have been hearing for years, was great. It's about the kids and our players, our players made the difference.' Started by former head coach Gary Goff, the mini camp has become a big hit with kids and their parents. The kids are given a few moments of living out their dreams while their parents take pride in watching. This night is close to the heart of McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer, who has a son on the spectrum. 'People know what this means to me,' said Schroyer. 'To see the joy the kids get out of taking part in this is special. I think the players get something out of it also.' Players in the past have talked about what the day meant to them, giving them a different perspective. For most of the campers, just getting to run out on the field as their names are announced would be enough. They get to race between a line of cheering players in what resembles the start of any football game. Running with them is their camp buddy, who spends the rest of the time as their sort of tour guide for the night. There are a lot of things wrong with college athletics these days. Players are moving from school to school, money is being spent on players, and fans are confused about the future and team loyalty. Victory Day shows the good of college sports. A group of players helping a community they have become a part of just recently. This is a win for everybody and shows that college football isn't always about wins and losses, NIL deals, and the transfer portal. It can still be about putting a smile on a child's face. That's what victory looks like. • Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese State athletics for the American Press. Email him at jimgazzolo@
American Press
18-07-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Media Day Questions
The Southland Conference will hold its football preseason media event Monday in San Antonio. With the addition of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, the league will be back up to 10 football-playing schools for the first time since the 2019 season. Here is a look at the most significant question facing each of the clubs heading into their camps. McNeese State Biggest Question: Can Matt Viator go back home? The Cowboys aim to return to their glory days by bringing back the winningest coach in program history. The move back to Viator after nine playoff-less seasons has generated fan interest and sold some tickets, but it's wins that matter most. The 14-time Southland champions aim to get back into the race, but will need one of their quarterbacks, likely either Jake Strong or Alex Flores, to step up and become a leader in the huddle that the program has been lacking over the last few years. East Texas A&M Biggest Question: Can the Lions build on winning two of their last three last fall? East Texas is in its first year as a playoff-eligible team after moving up from the Division II level. The Lions return eight starters on offense and hope to get off to a much better start than last year, when they went 1-8 to open. Senior linebacker Kyree Anderson must play big, especially early as he is just one of two starters returning on defense. He racked up 96 tackles last season with an interception and forced two fumbles. Houston Christian Biggest Question: Can the Huskies take the next step? With 24 transfers from the FBS level, HCU has a chance to be a big surprise after going 5-7 last year. Three quarterbacks from the FBS level, including Jake Weir from Mississippi State, will battle for the starting role. Running back Champ Dozier is expected to have a bigger role in the offense after 788 all-purpose yards last season. He began his career at TCU, but the Huskies return just five starters, so it may take some time for this club to click. Incarnate Word Biggest Question: Can the Cardinals stay atop the conference? Incarnate Word has become the Southland's top team, spending 50 straight weeks in the FCS Top 25. Six Cardinals have been named to the Stats Perform Preseason All-American team. Receiver Jalen Walthall is back after finishing third in both receiving yards and touchdowns in the nation last season. Can he work with the new quarterback and keep the Cardinal offense clicking will be the biggest key to the UIW season. Lamar Biggest Question: Are these Cardinals ready for a title run? Two seasons under head coach Pete Rossomando have resulted in 13 victories and Lamar's first back-to-back winning campaigns since the 1971-72 season. With 14 starters back, I hope in Beaumont, Texas, that the winning streak will continue. Lamar returns its top two QBs but will need to find help on defense to keep things going. Eight new starters will be on the defensive side for the Cards, who, for the first time in program history, made the Top 25 in 2024. Nicholls Biggest Question: Will the Colonels stay the course? Tommy Rybacki takes over for Tim Rebowe as head coach at Nicholls after serving as an assistant since 2015. Rybacki promises to have the same team toughness that Rebowe's clubs have had over the years. The drop-off won't be too significant, as the program consistently finds a way to have tough running backs and play solid defense, a task Rybacki has overseen. The transition should be fairly smooth. Northwestern State Biggest Question: When will the Demons get a win? Having gone the last two seasons winless, Northwestern State is hoping for brighter days as Blaine McCorkle enters his second season as the Demons' head coach. This is still a program trying to recover from the tragic events of two years ago when one of its players was shot and killed during the season. Southeastern Louisiana Biggest Question: Can Lions survive a demanding early schedule? With games at Louisiana Tech and LSU in the first four weeks, Southeastern will be hard pressed physically to stay healthy heading into Southland play. But a 2-2 start could spell a big fall in Hammond, America. Head coach Frank Scelfo consistently finds a way to keep his team in the mix down the stretch, going 7-1 in the SLC last season. However, the Lions did not receive a playoff invitation, which could be something they rally around. Stephen F. Austin Biggest Question: Can the Lumberjacks win the league? With the return of quarterback Sam Vidlak to direct an offense that scored just over 36 points a game last season, SFA has the look of a title contender. Back in the Southland for a second season, this team has more than enough talent to make the postseason. SFA has a very favorable schedule this fall, with only one trip out of state, to Nicholls. Things are set up nicely for the Lumberjacks, who, but for a few tough breaks, may have made the playoffs last season. Texas Rio-Grande Valley Biggest Question: What will the Vaqueros look like? For the first time in school history, UTRGV will field a football team. Head coach Travis Bush will be the one guiding the Vaqueros through their first fall as a program in just their second season as members of the Southland. One thing is clear: fans down on the border seem ready. All 6,000 of their season tickets have been sold for the 12,500-seat stadium UTRGV will call home. That easily puts the team in the top half of the conference in attendance before every game. How we pick the SLC Stephen F. Austin Incarnate Word McNeese State Lamar Southeastern LA Houston Christian Nicholls East Texas A&M Texas Rio-Grande Valley Northwestern State
American Press
10-07-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Jim Gazzolo column: SLC needs its media darlings
(Rodrick Anderson / American Press) In just 11 days, the Southland Conference will host its annual Football Media Day in San Antonio. The league will once again welcome a newcomer, a trend that has been happening frequently in the Southland recently. The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley will kick off its football program this fall, bringing the league to 10 teams in the sport. It is the most football teams the league has had since five left in the summer of 2021. It's not that long ago since the league was on the verge of extension, meaning this is a good time to celebrate and look ahead. All 10 head coaches will be on hand, accompanied by a player from both sides of the football, on July 21. The one-day event will be broadcast live on the SLC YouTube channel starting at 9 a.m. Matt Viator, back as the Cowboys head coach after a nine-year absence, will be joined by junior defensive end Masey Lewis and senior offensive lineman William Bressi in representing McNeese State. What makes this group so interesting is that only one quarterback, Sam Vidlak from Stephen F. Austin, will be on hand. It is hard to think of many other conferences that will have just one of their 20 representatives be a quarterback. Vidlak is considered the best returning quarterback in the league, but there is also only one running back, Houston Christian's Champ Dozier. Most of the players attending play on the lines. That is a significant issue when trying to market a conference. It also shows the change in college football. Skill positions are often the quickest to hit the NCAA transfer portal. At least at the start of this season, the Southland appears to be void of returning big-name stars. That makes things interesting this fall. It also makes things hard to predict. Southland football might be in a better place than it was a couple of years ago, but where it is exactly compared to the rest of the Football Championship Subdivision is a more important question. Last year the league managed to get one team into the 24-team playoffs, a huge disappointment. Since 2013, when the playoffs expanded from 20 to 24 teams, the years the league could count on two, sometimes three of its teams into postseason. Not last year. This season the league must find out if that is a trend or a one-time thing. That is what makes this fall so crucial for the league, which used to be one of the best in the nation on the FCS level. So maybe the SLC hasn't fully recovered from the losses of four years ago. That helps put into focus what this league needs most. The Southland needs to make a statement in big games. The only team to have done that consistently of late is Incarnate Word, which was also the lone program to make the playoffs last year. McNeese had perhaps the biggest nonconference win for the Southland when it beat Weber State on the road. Weber State was ranked No. 25 in the nation at the time. However, the Cowboys finished the season 6-6. With two games against mid-major Football Bowl Subdivision programs (Louisiana-Lafayette and Utah State) along with a home game against Weber, McNeese has a chance to make a statement or two in not only its own favor but that of the league as well. Southland Commissioner Chris Grant has said it's one thing to schedule these games, but it's winning them that will send the message the league is back. For now, we will start with Media Day and just getting some fresh names out there for the SLC. a Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese State athletics for the American Press. Email him at jimgazzolo@
American Press
20-06-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Jim Gazzolo column: McNeese keeps travel bag handy
Matt Viator will return to the McNeese Cowboys. (American Press Archives) The bosses at McNeese have made it clear: if asked, the school is ready to jump at the next opportunity toward the Football Bowl Subdivision level. Having missed one if not two chances, time might be running out. Facing the hard truth, McNeese, a Football Championship Subdivision school, wasn't ready to move up over the last five years despite what it had talked about. The facilities were a mess, the football program was in disarray and, although funding was improving, it was far from ready to compete at that level. Many of those issues have been corrected or addressed. The hurricanes of 2020 forced the fixing and modernization of all sports facilities. Most of the work has been completed, but there are still projects on the board that need to be finished. The fact that things have been fixed and improved, though, does show that any league looking at it would see that the commitment from the administration is there. There has also been significant growth in funding, and McNeese is a leader at its level in the work of the name, image, and likeness department. Credit Athletic Director Heath Schroyer and his crew for thinking ahead of the curve the past few years. That, however, doesn't mean leagues will be fighting over the Cowboys. The truth is that it's a buyer's market with numerous teams looking for invitations. And while it has greatly improved its financial situation over the last half decade, McNeese's sports budget is still well behind that of places like Tarleton State, for example. That is still an uphill climb. As for the McNeese programs, it is clear that men's basketball has demonstrated its ability to compete at higher levels. Baseball and softball have also experienced similar trends over the years. Women's basketball and football need work, with a lot of eyes on the gridiron this fall. One thing McNeese has over many schools looking to move is its football tradition. Recently, that has not been the case; however, this year the Cowboys went back in time to change the direction of their future, rehiring Matt Viator as head football coach. Still, there is a lot of politicking and positioning behind the scenes that will be done if any movement is to follow for McNeese or the rest. Schroyer is, of course, good at this. While he said this week he doesn't expect an invitation to be extended, he will make a few calls just to let people know the Cowboys are interested if there is a good fit. That is why a lot is riding on this football season. And, while those games will be played out in public, there will also be a lot of talks behind the scenes that could lead to much more for McNeese. • Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese State athletics for the American Press. Email him at jimgazzolo@
