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College football's misfits

Sporting News, The, Oct 11, 2004

Rudolph could sympathize. On the Island of Misfit Teams, Temple is Hermey the wannabe dentist, banished from a league full of programs shunned by the new ACC. Unable to generate wins or a decent-sized fan base, Temple is struggling to fit in as a D-I-A program.

In over its head. Baylor is a Conference USA-caliber program stuck in the tough half of one of the nation's toughest leagues. The Bears haven't won more than one Big 12 game in a season since joining the league in 1996 and don't have reason to expect more,

An Army of done. That groan you heard was from Conference USA teams, sad that Army is leaving to become an independent. The Black Knights have been a doormat in league play, struggling to fit in as a D-I-A team over the past few years.

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Palm bees on Main Street. It's called the Mid-American Conference, conjuring images of salt-of-the-earth programs from industrious Midwestern towns. Central Florida, in vacation-capital Orlando, is a fun November road trip, but the city doesn't fit the league's image.

The force is with them. The San Diego chamber of commerce promotes the city's sun, but San Diego State is looking for a blackout, billing its defense as the "Dark Side." It is led by perhaps the best pair of linebackers in town, Kirk Morrison and Matt McCoy.

Golden oldie. It's tough to be Liza in a world full of Britneys, but Washington State's Bill Doba, 64, has succeeded. He was 2003 Pac-10 Coach of the Year along with USC's Pete Carroll. Doba is thriving in a league full of young, red-hot coaching stars.

Quite a haul. 2,558 miles. That's how far Moscow, Idaho, is from Troy, Ala., home of league rival Troy State. Idaho hasn't fit in the Sun Belt--on the field or geographically--since joining in 2001. The Vandals are an additional 17,389 miles from being in the Sun Belt title race.

Welcome to the 21st century. Fresno State coach Pat Hill is an intimidating coach and personality. Unfortunately, he is so intense that no one has been able to tell him it's 2004 and his Fu Manchu mustache just doesn't work at any level.

College football's misfits

Sporting News, The, Oct 11, 2004

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