By Corey Stewart
SouthernPigskin.com

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The SoCon is one of the best conferences in FCS football with its storied tradition, pageantry, and level of talent. In many ways, it is a lot like one of the best shows ever – Seinfeld.

nFirst off, letxe2x80x99s all celebrate the fact itxe2x80x99s late August. This has to be the best time of year. School is back inxc2xa0session and we no longer have to ask ourselves, xe2x80x9cWhat are you going to do this weekend?xe2x80x9d Whyxe2x80xa6because football is finally here again! Ixe2x80x99ve followed the Southern Conference now for over 15 years as a fan, athlete, and broadcaster. I think itxe2x80x99s one of the best conferences in FCS football with its storied tradition, pageantry, and level of talent. In many ways, it is a lot like one of the best shows ever – Seinfeld. This year I will have the pleasure of writing for Southern Pigskin recapping the weekendxe2x80x99s events in SoCon play, and what better way to do that than by tying in each week’s events with a comparison in Seinfeld? Because, really, when you get down to it, SoCon football is about everything and nothing all at the same time. Ixe2x80x99ll do my best not to xe2x80x9cyadda yaddaxe2x80x9d over the best parts. But to start; here are our cast of characters for the 2015 season.
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n1) xc2xa0 xc2xa0 xc2xa0Chattanooga (Jerry Seinfeld) xe2x80x93 Every show has to have a central figure, the character all the others envy. In the SoCon, no team is better suited to be our Jerry Seinfeld than Chattanooga. The Mocs enter this season the defending back-to-back SoCon champions, and were just a few plays shy of reaching the NCAA Semifinals in 2014. Coach Huesman has taken a program that, for the most part, was a laughingstock of the conference just a few years ago and has turned it into a powerhouse in the FCS. This year the Mocs remain, xe2x80x9cMasters of Their Domainxe2x80x9d, and have once again been picked as preseason favorites in the conference; and rightfully so. The Mocxe2x80x99s return starting QB Jacob Huesman for his senior campaign in what could be his run to SoCon Player of the Year honors and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Make no mistake, the Mocs are loaded this year, but they are not without their flaws. The offense remains fairly intact, but the defense has some holes it must replace, especially with the loss of Davis Tull on defense. Wexe2x80x99ll find out how good they are week one when they host FCS power Jacksonville State at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.

n2)xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0 Samford (George Costanza) xe2x80x93 Itxe2x80x99s the summer of George! With the Pat Sullivan campaign ending, and Chris Hatcher taking over the reins in Birmingham, the horizon has never been brighter for the Bulldogs. After finishing 7-4 last year, the Bulldogs look to ascend back to the top of the SoCon by implementing Hatcher’s up-tempo style of play with its emphasis on athleticism. The Bulldogs will benefit from the return of senior QB Michael Eubank, who threw for over 2,100 yards last year, as well as Karel Hamilton, the teamxe2x80x99s leading receiver, and Denzel Williams, their leading rusher. Defensively, the Bulldogs return Jamerson Blount and James Bradberry in the secondary (both preseason All-SoCon selections), but will have to develop more depth across the front line to stay in games, and must rely on turnover creation to win the game. The schedule bodes well for Samford with its first three games at home, including the SoCon opener against Chattanooga on September 19th.

n3)xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0 Western Carolina (Kramer) xe2x80x93 I donxe2x80x99t even want to hear it, Western fans. No team is better-suited to be Kramer in our satire than you. 2014 was a renaissance in Cullowhee, and 2015 could prove to be the breakout season that puts Western on the map for many FCS pundits. Troy Mitchell returns for his senior year and heads up a Western team that could be more prolific than last year. WR Spearman Robinson is poised to break school records at the position, and the defense is playing a new brand of physical football with the help of preseason All-SoCon performer Trey Morgan. With their first Top 25 ranking in the polls since the school was playing for national titles in the early 80xe2x80x99s, it all seems so simple for the Catamounts this year. But itxe2x80x99s too early to tell if Western has outgrown its old ways. All Catamount fans repeat after me -xc2xa0 xe2x80x9cThese pretzels are making me thirsty!xe2x80x9d.

n4)xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0 Wofford (Elaine) xe2x80x93 Wofford is Elaine, and Elaine is Wofford. And who better to work through their issues in 2015 than Wofford and Elaine, Elaine and Wofford! This will be Mike Ayers’ 28th year as head coach. And with 21 starters returning, the fans in Sparkle City think this could be the year that Wofford returns to prominence in the SoCon. The only serious question to answer is xe2x80x93 who will play QB? Evan Jacks and Michael Weimer split time at the position last year, leading the Terriers to over 296 yards a game on the ground in 2014. For the offense to remain effective this year, consistency under center will be key. If the defense can develop some depth and create more turnovers than in 2014 (-.18 in 2014), the Terriers could be in a position to celebrate their first SoCon title since the 2012 season. Herexe2x80x99s to hoping that, if they do, Mike Ayers is a better dancer than Elaine.

n5)xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0 Furman (J. Peterman) xe2x80x93 Admit it, Furman fans, the Purple nation is never short of stories from yester-year to tell. If there ever was a J. Peterman in our satire, itxe2x80x99s the Paladins. But the folks in Greenville hope this is the year the Paladins are able to write a new chapter in their storied history, rather than another version of the xe2x80x9cUrban Sombreroxe2x80x9d. Reece Hannon will be under center for Furman after missing essentially the entirety of the 2014 campaign with an ankle injury. His return is paramount to turning around a Furman offense that ranked near the bottom of the conference in yards per game last year. Hannon will be looking to get on track by locating All-SoCon TE Duncan Fletcher, who also happens to have a xe2x80x9cWxe2x80x9d under his belt as a starting QB from the 2013 season. The Paladin defense was riddled with injuries last year, but developed significant depth during the offseason and will be led by preseason All-SoCon performer Cory Magwood at LB and John Mackey at DT. If Furman can hang tough through a brutal September (Coastal Carolina, Virginia Tech, UCF), the Paladins stand a chance to make some noise in SoCon play with a favorable October slate. But if things get out of hand again this year, it might be inevitable that some xe2x80x9cHimalayan Walking Shoesxe2x80x9d will be distributed around the practice facilities in Greenville.

n6)xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0 Mercer (Newman) xe2x80x93 Just hold off for a second Mercer fans xe2x80x93 every show needs a antagonist. The Bears are the SoConxe2x80x99s version of the anti-hero. Itxe2x80x99s nothing short of amazing what Bobby Lamb has accomplished in three short years in Middle Georgia. Macon has rallied around this team and adopted it as their own. And just like Jerry opening his apartment door to Newman (xe2x80x9cHeelllooo Newmanxe2x80x9d), no team wants to see Mercer on the schedule this year. The Bears return the deepest roster in the conference, coming off a solid 6-6 2014 campaign. In 2015, though, the schedule is no longer cushioned with the likes of Ave Maria and Stetson. The Bears will be stepping up in season play and are going to need every able body in uniform to improve upon their previous season record. Offensively, RB Alex Lakes returns to see if he can surpass his 2014 success of 1,107 yards and 17 touchdowns, and John Russ looks to remain one of the most adaptable dual-threat QBs in the county. Defensively, the Bears have three All-SoCon performers returning, but must develop better depth to stay competitive in games late into the fourth quarter. Circle November 14th on the calendar when the Bears visit Furman. It will be Bobby Lambxe2x80x99s return to his alma mater, and if both teams are competitive this year, it could be a deciding game in the race to the SoCon title.

n7)xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0 The Citadel (Jackie Chiles) xe2x80x93 Things are looking up in the Low Country. Mike Houston had the Bulldogs playing competitive football for a change in 2014, and the team won some games late that they historically tended to give away. All that means, however, that the pressure is on in 2015. Fortunately, the Bulldogs will benefit from the return of ten starters on offense, including All-SoCon lineman Sam Frye. If they can find a replacement at QB for Aaron Miller, the Bulldogs could be a potent offense to defend this season. The greatest challenge this year will be improving a defense that gave up over 440 yards a game in 2014. With only one preseason nod on the all-conference team (DL Mitchell Jeter), some new faces will have to emerge defensively to ensure the Bulldogs improve over last year. Otherwise, Citadel alumni will continue to leave Johnson Hagood stadium lamenting, xe2x80x9cThis is the most public yet of my many humiliations!xe2x80x9d

n8)xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0 Virginia Military Institute (Frank Costanza) xe2x80x93 Whoxe2x80x99s ready to perform some xe2x80x9cFeats of Strengthxe2x80x9d!?!? If youxe2x80x99re a Keydet at VMI, thatxe2x80x99s just another day at the office. A year after returning to the SoCon with a 2-10 record, the folks in Lexington have turned to a new man to lead their team onto the field in 2015. Coach Scott Wachenheim takes over a squad with 39 returning letterman and 16 returning starters. While the 2014 campaign was rough for the Keydets, there were some bright spots to build off of going into this season. Al Cobb returns at QB after his outstanding redshirt freshman campaign saw him amass over 2,900 yards passing and 20 TDxe2x80x99s. Hexe2x80x99ll be looking to hook up again with his favorite target, WR Aaron Sanders, in hopes of putting up more points than the other guy, because the defense will be facing an uphill battle after almost giving up 500 yards per game in 2014. Therexe2x80x99s no telling what will come out of Lexington this year, but one thing is for sure: Wachenheim will definitely be trying to stay calm with a little xe2x80x9cSerenity Nowxe2x80x9d mantra on the sidelines.