When it comes to I-AA national championship games, there are three teams that immediately spring to mind: Georgia Southern, Marshall and Youngstown.

Combined, the three have made 20 appearances in the last 16 title games. Not since 1984 has I-AA held a championship game that did not include at least one of those three.

Two-time defending I-AA champion Georgia Southern is seeded No. 2 and is pursuing its fourth straight trip to the title game. Marshall has moved on to I-A and the Mid-American Conference. So, where's Youngstown?

That question is being asked with great volume in Ohio, by alumni, administrators, and media. The headline atop a Monday morning column in the Warren (Ohio) Tribune Chronicle read, "Committee is grinch that stole YSU's playoff berth."

Youngstown finished 8-3 after a narrow loss Saturday night at Marshall. Despite the 38-24 score, the game wasn't decided until the final seconds. The Penguins' other two losses were to Gateway Football Conference champions Northern Iowa and to at-large playoff entrant Western Kentucky (also of the GFC), who also finished 8-3.

"I'm not complaining, because we didn't take care of our end," said first-year Youngstown coach Jon Heacock. "But I have yet to hear any reason as to why (YSU did not receive an at-large berth)."

"My concern is for our whole conference, starting at the top, with Northern Iowa. They won our league and now have to take an eight-hour bus ride. Western Kentucky beat McNeese but has to go on the road. I feel bad for (UNI and WKU)."

Western Kentucky, McNeese State, Appalachian State, Northern Arizona, Maine, William & Mary, and Northwestern State all finished with 8-3 records, but each got the at-large invite that YSU didn't.

The reason can be found in the NCAA's selection criteria, which is widely available and easily accessed.

Although the Warren Tribune Chronicle columnist may not "... care if the Penguins played teams of sportswriters and cheerleaders in their first two games," the NCAA does care.

Once the eight automatic qualifiers (winners of the Atlantic 10, Big Sky, Gateway, Mid-Eastern Athletic, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, and Southland leagues) are determined, the eight at-large teams are selected.

The playoff selection committee applies several specific guidelines. Among them are: "The won-lost record of a team will be scrutinized to determine a team's strength of schedule ..." and "The committee may give more consideration to those teams that have played all Division I opponents ..."

Therein lies the rub, as far as YSU goes. None of the 16 teams participating in this year's tournament played two Division II opponents. Rhode Island (8-3) played no D-II's and even defeated two playoff teams (Hofstra and William & Mary) but was uninvited. Same for 8-3 Tennessee State, which played no D-II's and defeated Florida A&M.

Villanova and Eastern Kentucky each had a single D-II game and were left out at 8-3 and 8-2, respectively. Hofstra was one Villanova victim, but the Wildcats lost their D-II game. Eastern Kentucky, like YSU, could not claim a "quality win."

Depending upon conference races and records, in some seasons an 8-3 team playing a single D-II opponent can gain entry as an at-large team. A 9-2 team playing two D-II's also might get in, as Youngstown did last year. But short of going 10-1 overall, the surest playoff route for a team playing two D-II's is to win an automatic bid.

"The D-II's have nothing to do with us getting into the playoffs," said Heacock, adding, "The answer is to be first -- to win the conference. That's guaranteed."

Notes, quotes, anecdotes

BIG SKY CONFERENCE
EASTERN WASHINGTON
The Eagles' 2001 odyssey began with a cross-country trip and a 35-17 win at Connecticut and ended with a 7-4 (3-4 Big Sky) record. EWU's season-ending 48-45 win at Idaho State effectively summed up a season in which the Eagles offense was unstoppable and the Eagles defense was missing in action. The winning points came on a 41-yard field goal by Troy Griggs with eight seconds remaining. Although EWU boasts a third straight winning season for the first time since 1984-86, it was a disappointing year for a team picked to finish second. RB Jesse Chatman finished with 2,096 yards rushing and in his 31-game career has gained 4,173 yards and scored 53 touchdowns. If he graduates in the offseason, Chatman can return next fall. Quarterback Fred Salanoa moves on after setting school records of 3,507 yards and 26 touchdowns for a season.

IDAHO STATE
Larry Lewis' young Bengals (4-7, 1-6) lost a heartbreaker at home to Eastern Washington to cap a seventh-place finish. Lewis replaced eight starters on each side of the ball and installed a new pass-oriented offense. QB Doug Baughman was the right man to run the system, and he returns in 2002 along with Isaac Mitchell, who carried 26 times for 186 yards and four TDs in the EWU loss. "What I feel like is we've got great young men," said head coach Larry Lewis. "We're real close to being real good."

MONTANA
It's hard to imagine the I-AA playoffs without Montana (11-1, 7-0). Heck, it's hard to remember the I-AA playoffs without the Griz', who are home against Northwestern (La.) State to open the 2001 postseason. Montana is making its 10th straight appearance in the tournament. Montana is fresh off two hard-fought, emotional wins, over Montana State and I-A Idaho. The only blemish is a 30-12 loss at Hawaii on Sept. 9.

Since then, UM has won 10 straight, including two in overtime. In Joe Glenn's first season as UM head coach in 2000, the Griz' lost in a tight national title game to Georgia Southern.

MONTANA STATE
After being picked to finish last, the Bobcats became Big Sky darlings in 2001. Mike Kramer's team bettered last season's 0-11 finish with a 5-6 mark that included losses at UAB and Washington State. MSU remained in league contention until a loss at Portland State when Kramer was suspended by the league for criticizing officials.

New offensive coordinator Don Bailey sparked a rejuvenated Bobcats offense featuring TB Ryan Johnson and QB Tyler Thomas, an Oregon State transfer. "We ain't done," said Thomas. "We've got 10 guys coming back on offense next year. We lose some great players on defense ... but we're going to be a hell of a team."

NORTHERN ARIZONA
Not much was expected of the 2001 Lumberjacks. Big Sky coaches picked them to finish seventh, and media members picked them fifth. Head coach Jerome Souers had a surprise for the pundits, guiding the 'Jacks (8-3, 5-2) to second place in the BSC and a I-AA playoff berth. Saturday, NAU travels to Sam Houston State for its opening-round game. Its offense is led by tailback Marcus King and backup Brian Bingham and quarterback Preston Parsons. The Lumberjacks lost to Montana on Oct. 20, then won three straight before ending the regular season with a loss at Oregon State.

PORTLAND STATE
The Vikings' final record of 7-4 (5-2, BSC) was deceptive. PSU won its last four and stayed close in every game, with the exception of a 33-21 loss at Montana. The capper was a 52-33 win over Sacramento State on Saturday in which the Vikes rolled up 724 offensive yards. Juston Wood threw for 373 yards and two TDs, and Ryan Fuqua gained 245 yards on 33 carries to continue a torrid three-game stretch in which the redshirt freshman gained 906 yards. Fuqua, who began the season No. 3 on the depth chart and didn't see significant playing time until the fourth game, finished 2001 with 1,586 rushing yards. Another returning star is WR Jesse Levin, who has some big shoes to fill. The school's best wideout ever, Terry Charles completed a great career with more than 1,000 yards receiving and 12 TD catches in 2001.

SACRAMENTO STATE
Injuries and inexperience conspired to swat the Hornets' hopes in 2001. Following the graduation of Charles Roberts, the best running back in school history and now a CFL star, Sac State (2-9, 1-6) suffered another huge loss when preseason All-America Santi Hall became a springtime academic casualty. In the opener, it took an extra period to dispatch Saint Mary's. Consecutive road losses at Cal Poly and Weber State were sandwiched around a win over Idaho State, but the injuries mounted and Sacramento State finished with eight straight losses, including a 52-33 setback at Portland State on Saturday. Freshman quarterback Ryan Leadingham, who spent much of 2001 running for his life, completed 26 of 44 passes against PSU and also ran five times for 54 more. Coach John Volek will work hard to land some reinforcements for Leadingham in the offseason.

WEBER STATE
WSU (3-8, 2-5) was another young team in 2001. While the defense was horrendous, yielding an average of more than 40 points and 504 yards per game, there is offensive promise. Quarterback Tyler Gladwell was brilliant in spots, including a 27-48, 337-yard passing day in the finale against I-A Utah State. The Wildcats lose RB Johnnie Gray (1,571 yards rushing and 15 TDs) and WR Damon Greenberry (56 catches and 11 touchdowns), but Gladwell (2,733 yards passing, 22 TD tosses) and WR Justin DeFour (52 catches, 826 yards, four TDs) return. The 3-8 mark was WSU's worst since 1989, but coach Jerry Graybeal sees brighter days ahead. "We'll be a good football team in the next couple of years," said Graybeal.

GATEWAY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
ILLINOIS STATE
The Redbirds (2-9, 2-5) fans are growing weary of terrible starts; ISU was pretty much out of contention by October for the second straight year. Denver Johnson's second ISU team lost seven straight before upsetting eventual league champion Northern Iowa. A preseason No. 4 GFC pick, the Redbirds finished seventh. This winter will be an extremely important recruiting season for Johnson because his offense loses key skill-position personnel and the defense, which gave up 375 points, requires major improvement.

INDIANA STATE
Coach Tim McGuire's Sycamores (3-8, 2-5) surprised some by finishing sixth in the conference. Perhaps most surprised was I-A Eastern Michigan, ambushed by the Sycamores 21-14 on Sept. 22. Junior wide receiver Kevin Dean had the biggest year for a Sycamores wideout since 1996.

NORTHERN IOWA
The Panthers (9-2, 6-1) won their last three to take the conference title for the first time since 1996 and their first I-AA playoff appearance since the same year. UNI visits No. 4 seed Eastern Illinois to open the postseason. Mark Farley's first year already has been a smashing success, ending a frustrating four-year run of missing the postseason with 7-4 and 8-3 finishes that were never quite enough to earn UNI a berth. Picked by coaches and media to finish fifth, the Panthers boast two talented quarterbacks, redshirt freshman Tom Petrie and junior college transfer Griff Jurgens. On special teams, watch out for Brent Browner, who has blocked three field goal tries this year.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
So what's new in Carbondale? No surprises on the SIU football front as head coach Jerry Kill's Salukis (1-10, 1-6) finished at the bottom of the GFC and Tom Koutsos topped the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season. Koutsos increased his career total to 3,531 in a 56-12 loss at Baylor on Saturday. Despite Koutsos' rushing prowess, SIU scored just 109 points in seven GFC games (16 ppg).

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
Randy Ball's Bears (6-5, 3-4) finished 2001 with a four-game win streak. During the streak, TB Eddie Linscomb gained more than 100 yards in each game to lead an offense that generated an average of 546 yards per game. Junior WR Mark Marcos set school records with 59 catches for 905 yards in 2001.

WESTERN ILLINOIS
WIU (5-5, 4-3) opened the season by defeating GFC newcomer Western Kentucky. After defeating Illinois State on Oct. 13, the Leathernecks were 4-1 (3-1 GFC) and looking like a playoff team, but four straight defeats ended WIU's postseason hopes. Two of the biggest losses for coach Don Patterson are QB Sam Clemons and QB-WR Frisman Jackson. The duo helped make the 2001 Leathernecks the top passing team in school history.

WESTERN KENTUCKY
The preseason favorites in their first year in the Gateway, the Hilltoppers (8-3, 5-2) achieved well enough to make the I-AA playoff field in 2001. Not bad considering the 'Toppers lost their first league game, in August at Western Illinois. WKU still could have won the league were it not for a squandered late-game advantage in the Nov. 10 loss to Northern Iowa. The stifling WKU defense gave up just 11 points per game and faces twin threats TB Louis Ivory and QB Billy Napier when it opens the playoffs at Furman. Cornerbacks Bobby Sippio and Joseph Jefferson are scoring threats for coach Jack Harbaugh's defense, and the secondary is anchored by Mel Mitchell at safety. The Big Red option offense ranked second in the nation in rushing.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Strength of schedule kept first-year head coach Jon Heacock's Penguins (8-3, 5-2) out of the 2001 I-AA playoff field. YSU began the season with wins over two D-II programs and finished with a near-upset of nationally ranked Marshall of the MAC. The Penguins' playoff hopes were iced by losses at Northern Iowa and at home against Western Kentucky. In the 38-24 loss to Marshall, YSU had a chance to tie it late, but a Jeff Ryan pass was intercepted and returned 76 yards for a TD with 11 seconds remaining for the final margin. P.J. Mays rushed for 201 yards and three TDs to lead the YSU offense. The junior running back had a 1,000-yard, 21-TD season.

OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE
EASTERN ILLINOIS
The Panthers (9-1, 6-0) enter the I-AA playoffs as the No. 4 seed and are home against Gateway Conference champion Northern Iowa in the opening round. If EIU's Panthers can beat UNI's Panthers, they would be home against the winner of the Maine-McNeese State game. EIU has won six straight since its loss to San Diego State. The Panthers took last week off to prepare for the postseason. To advance, quarterback Tony Romo, tailback J.R. Taylor and wide receiver Frank Cutolo will have to pick up the slack for injured all-purpose player Andre Raymond, out with a broken leg. EIU's last challenge was on Oct. 27, when the Panthers nipped Tennessee State in a key OVC game.

EASTERN KENTUCKY
Roy Kidd's Colonels (8-2, 5-1) are on the outside of the I-AA playoffs, and they're not happy about it. The Sept. 15 game at Elon, which might have improved their strength-of-schedule rating, was not rescheduled. After dropping a 21-17 decision to OVC champion Eastern Illinois, EKU won its final seven games. The only other loss in a landmark season came in the opener at Central Michigan. The 2001 season will be most remembered for

Kidd's 300th victory. Top returnees include All-America defensive back Yerehmiah Bell and sensational freshman running back C.J. Hudson.

MURRAY STATE
The Racers (4-6, 2-4) played just three home games en route to a disappointing finish. The 10-game schedule included games at Mississippi and Minnesota, and a Sept. 15 game against a D-II team was canceled because of the terrorist attacks. The Racers were picked fourth in the preseason and finished one notch lower, but outstanding quarterback Stewart Childress will only get better. After just two seasons and only 21 college games, Childress is already the No. 4 all-time passer in MSU history, with 4,997 yards.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE
The Indians (4-7, 1-5) finished on the upswing with a win over D-II Quincy on Nov. 10. Although SEMO finished exactly where predicted -- one step above the OVC bottom, in sixth place -- it was close in almost every game in 2001. Willie Ponder returns in 2002, eager to add to his 99-yard-per-game receiving average. "We got stronger, but so did the rest of the OVC," said coach Tim Billings. "We've tightened the gap in the OVC. Of course, we're not there yet."

TENNESSEE-MARTIN
It was another excruciating season for the Skyhawks (1-10, 0-6), who have not won a league game in more than five years, a span of 36 straight OVC losses. In six league games, UTM managed only 87 total points (15 ppg). Coach Sam McCorkle made staff changes before the season, but more than anything, the program could use more resources. UTM competes with one of the lowest scholarship totals in all of the I-AA playoff leagues.

TENNESSEE STATE
The Tigers' low point came Nov. 10 when they were lambasted by Tennessee Tech 63-13, an upset that probably kept coach James Reese's team out of the playoffs. Otherwise, it was a fine comeback season for the Tigers (8-3, 3-3), who were picked to finish fifth in the OVC. TSU was 6-0 before losing to Eastern Illinois 52-49. The other losses came on conference road trips; the Tigers were unbeatable (7-0) at home. On Thanksgiving Day, Shannon Harris threw seven TD passes in his career finale to lead TSU to a 64-33 win over Jackson State. "It's really gratifying to end the season like this," said Reese, whose first season ended with a 3-8 record in 2000. "This was our bowl game."

TENNESSEE TECH
Lindy's preseason magazine said, "To make the playoffs, the Eagles will have to beat one of these: Air Force, EKU, EIU." The Golden Eagles (7-3, 4-2) beat everyone except that trio and therefore finished out of the playoffs. TTU went unbeaten in five games at home, where it has lost just once since 1999. Senior QB Grant Swallows graduates, but defensive end D.J. Bleisath returns. Bleisath made 24 tackles for losses in 2001 to tie an Ohio Valley Conference record.

PIONEER LEAGUE
NORTH DIVISION
BUTLER
As usual, coach Ken LaRose's Bulldogs (5-5, 3-2) were in the PFL race. Senior QB DeWayne Ewing was stellar, becoming the first Butler quarterback to throw for more than 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons. Ewing's replacement will team with two first-team all-PFL North performers, WR Kyle Derickson and RB Roman Speron, plus honorable mention all-league WR Adam Lafferty.

DAYTON
The Flyers (10-1, 5-0) won the first PFL championship game at Welcome Stadium, where UD finished 6-0 on the season. The lone defeat was a 41-7 pasting at Saint Mary's. For most of the season, the Flyers were rated the top non-scholarship team in I-AA. Senior running back Jermaine Bailey topped the 100-yard mark four times, but the real story was a dominating defense that picked off 31 passes, nine by junior Mark Kasmer. Coach Mike Kelly is one of the profession's shining stars, with a 195-40-1 mark in 20 years, all of them winning seasons.

DRAKE
Although it finished strong, 2001 was a disappointing season for Drake (5-5, 2-3), which had won at least seven games in each of the previous nine years under Rob Ash. The highlight was a 41-39 win over Butler on Oct. 27 for Drake's 500th all-time victory. The Bulldogs became just the 18th NCAA program to reach that mark. Two weeks later, the Bulldogs topped PFL-South champion Jacksonville. Graduation losses will be heavy with the loss of All-American kicker Billy Cundiff foremost, but all-PFL North QB Ira Vandever returns.

SAN DIEGO
The Toreros (6-3, 2-2) finished with their best record since 1997 but must replace five first-team all-PFL North performers, including TE Matt Guardia, OL Justin Dixon, DL Anthony Banovac, DB Kyle Slusser and WR Dylan Mora, who also handled the punting and PK duties. Sophomore QB Eric Rasmussen made honorable mention all-league.

VALPARAISO
Following VU's first conference championship in 32 years in 2000, the Crusaders (3-8, 1-4) came crashing back to earth in 2001. Tom Horne's team finished with three straight defeats, including a 49-3 revenge special at Dayton, whom the Crusaders had upset the previous season.

NORTH DIVISION
AUSTIN PEAY
In their first PFL season, the Governors (3-7, 0-3) played well defensively but had trouble scoring. Junior RB Jay Bailey returns in 2002, having earned first-team all-PFL South honors in 2001. QB Brian Baker is lost to graduation, but Matt Schmitz (son of head coach Bill Schmitz) is back for his senior season, with starting experience.

DAVIDSON
First-year head coach Mike Toop inherited a 17-game winning streak and a fair amount of talent but also faced new challenges moving the former independents into the Pioneer Football League. The Wildcats finished 5-4 (1-2, PFL-South) after suffering their first loss since 1999, in the season's second week against eventual division champion Jacksonville. All-league DB Graham Elmore and twin brother Adam anchor the defense.

JACKSONVILLE
This year was the first winning season in JU's four-year football history. The Dolphins (6-5, 3-0) clinched the PFL South title on Sept. 29 before embarking on a murderous stretch of four straight games against scholarship programs. They emerged 2-2 from that stretch but lost their last three, including the first PFL championship game, 46-14 to North Division champion Dayton. Head coach Steve Gilbert might meet his biggest challenge yet in 2002 -- he faces significant graduation losses.

MOREHEAD STATE
Matt Ballard's Golden Eagles (6-5, 2-3) finished with a flourish in 2001, winning in six of the last seven weeks. Next year looks bright for the Eagles, whose roster was dominated by underclassmen. The biggest loss is Toby Moeves, a big-play threat at WR/KR.

INDEPENDENTS

CAL POLY
The Mustangs (6-5) ended on the upswing with their first shutout since 1997, a 10-0 victory over intrastate rival Saint Mary's. Expectations were high going into the season, and CP finished at the top of the I-AA independents standings. Not bad after three straight 3-8 seasons, especially considering that the most athletic Mustang, WR Kassim Osgood, abruptly transferred to San Diego State just weeks into the season. Luckily, first-year coach Rich Ellerson also had Seth Burford at quarterback. When Burford was injured late in the season, the Mustangs lost three straight to end their playoff hopes, before Burford returned for the finale against SMC.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE
As expected, CSUN president Jolene Koester officially pulled the plug on the Matadors football program days after the final game of 2001. The final season of Northridge football was thrilling -- the Matadors (3-7) were in every game into the fourth quarter, scored 34 points per game and yielded 39 ppg. Senior Marcus Brady, an athletic quarterback who broke school and national records, is likely to become a Sunday star. Favorite target Drew Amerson also graduates, but there are some talented underclassmen who are eligible to transfer to other Division I schools without losing a year of eligibility.

SAINT MARY'S
Tim Landia's 2001 Gaels (6-5) were the most traveled team in college football, racking up more than 20,000 frequent-flier miles en route to a 6-5 finish. SMC road trips included Bucknell (Lewisburg, Pa.), Montana, Florida Atlantic, and Northeastern (Boston). The finale was a muddy, disappointing 10-0 home loss to Cal Poly. The defense played well, led by senior DT Travis White. Another senior was QB Gus Papanikolas, who summed up the emotions of the 19 last-year Gaels. "It's disappointing, but this team has nothing to hang our heads about. "We brought this program from the ashes."

SOUTHERN UTAH
A disappointing 2-9 season matched the worst finish in SUU history and included a victory drought from Sept. 1 (Weber State) to Nov. 10 (Butler). The Thunderbirds gained more than 340 yards per game but were ineffective in the red zone, plagued by penalties (84 ypg) and 24 turnovers. Coach C. Ray Gregory's signed a five-year contract extension before the season.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"To be a part of the field of 16 is a tremendous opportunity. We were hoping to be able to participate, but after the Northern Iowa game we took that decision out of our hands and put it in someone else's. I don't know if there's ever been a better field. We're proud to be a part of it." -- Western Kentucky head coach Jack Harbaugh.

ODDS AND ENDS
Eastern Washington kicker Troy Griggs nailed the game-winning field goal against Idaho State with a new shoe, and a cheap one, to boot. Apparently, Griggs lost his shoe on the flight to ISU, so his mother went out Saturday morning and bought him a $10 pair. Griggs tried the shoe in pregame practice, then contributed 12 points to the Eagles' season-ending victory. ... With the demise of the Cal State Northridge football program, players are free to transfer to other schools without losing eligibility or sitting out. The first to take advantage of the opportunity is wide receiver D.J. Hackett, who is transferring to Colorado. Hackett was on the sidelines for the Buffs' big win over Nebraska.

Strategy and personnel

GAME OF THE WEEK
Eastern Washington 48, Idaho State 45 -- PK Troy Griggs' 41-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining was the difference. EWU tailback and Payton Award candidate Jesse Chatman increased his season-rushing total to 2,096 yards and scored his 26th, 27th and 28th touchdowns of the season. EWU scored on its first possession before falling behind 17-7. Idaho State began a potential game-winning drive but fumbled at the 1:43 mark. The Eagles ran three plays to set up Griggs' heroics.

TOP QB PERFORMANCE
Shannon Harris, Tennessee State -- Completed 23 of 46 passes for 360 yards and seven touchdowns.

TOP RB PERFORMANCES
Ryan Fuqua, Portland State -- The freshman star rushed 33 times for 243 yards and three touchdowns.

Jesse Chatman, Eastern Washington -- Carried 29 times for 212 rushing yards, made three catches for 48 yards, and scored three TDs.

TOP WR PERFORMANCE
Etu Molden, Montana -- Caught seven passes for 145 yards and a TD.

TOP DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Eastern Washington's Luke had 11 tackles, three for losses, and two sacks. ... LB Kevin Hastin of Portland State made 11 stops, one for a loss, intercepted one pass, and broke up two others.

TOP SPECIAL TEAMS PERFORMANCES
Tennessee State's B. Giddens blocked two punts, both of which led to Tigers touchdowns.

-- Otto C. Fad/The Sports Xchange
Copyright (C) 2001 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.