The Wiz of Odds

Georgia Southern

Georgia Southern is another Division I-AA program beginning the transition to I-A. The Eagles will play a I-AA schedule this season — the exception being the Nov. 23 finale at Florida — and compete in the Southern Conference. However, they will not be eligible for either the conference title or I-AA playoffs.

In 2014, the program will join the Sun Belt Conference but will not be eligible to play in a bowl game until 2015.

Reader Art set us the poster and pointed out two items of note. You'll see that the football has "K-Mart" written on it. That is a reference to the program's humble beginnings.

The school dropped football in 1941 because of World War II and started it up again in 1981. Erk Russell was hired as coach and the school needed a football to serve as a prop during the news conference. Bucky Wagner, the athletics director at the time, went to the local K-Mart to purchase one.

The black flag being held by the player in the back row on the right end is something that was instituted by current coach Jeff Monken, who wants his players to take no prisoners.

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Cal Poly

Division I-AA Cal Poly finished 9-3 in 2012, losing to Sam Houston State in a first-round playoff game. The No. 14 Mustangs are one of four Big Sky Conference teams ranked by The Sports Network.

Cal Poly plays at Fresno State and at Colorado State in the first month of the season.

Thanks to Stacia.

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Austin Peay

It's a tough time to be a fan of Division I-AA Austin Peay, which has won only 13 games the past five seasons. Kirby Cannon, who spent the last three seasons as secondary coach at Central Michigan, is the Governors' new coach. He replaces Rick Christophel, who left to become tight ends coach for the Arizona Cardinals.

Austin Peay opens Aug. 31 against Tennessee.

Poster designed by Score Creative. Thanks to Steve.

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Savannah State

Sharp poster from Division I-AA Savannah State, which gained notoriety last season by playing two "paycheck games." For those unaware of what that means, well it's not good. Division I-A teams looking for a cheap victory to pad their bowl resumes bring in I-AA teams. Granted, once in a blue moon a I-AA team rises up and strikes down the team writing the check, but you can count those occurrences on one hand.

The problem with the Tigers is that they will take next to nothing to get trampled. Last year the team played at Oklahoma State and Florida State. The total payout was $860,000. Then somebody figured out that Savannah State had to forfeit $200,000 to Northern Iowa in an exit-fee agreement that kicked in when the Tigers dropped the Panthers to play the Seminoles. So the total take was $660,000.

The going rate to get pummeled once is often more than that. Deadspin called Savannah State "a relatively cheap date."

But it's the sacrifice teams are often willing to take in order to build their program. Unfortunately, Savannah State has put together three consecutive 1-10 seasons and has only 18 victories over the past 12 seasons.

The Tigers play at Miami on Sept. 21. Savannah State will receive $375,000 to serve as the punching bag.

The poster was designed by Summit Athletics. Thanks to Adam.

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John Hopkins

John Hopkins enters this fall ranked among the top 20 teams in Division III. The Blue Jays, coached by Jim Margraff, were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs last season by eventual champion Mount Union.

The poster was designed by Summit Athletics. Thanks to Adam.

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Presbyterian College

Division I-AA Presbyterian College, located in Clinton, S.C., is a member of the Big South Conference. The Blue Hose play at Wake Forest on Aug. 29, the opening night of the season.

Poster designed by Old Hat Creative.

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