Coastal Carolina Football Deserves Power Five Consideration

Photo from Coastal Carolina Athletics

The Coastal Carolina University football team has burst onto the scene. In the 2020-2021 season, they were the darling of college football. The season was capped by going undefeated and beating the Zach Wilson (now the Jets QB) led BYU Cougars. Of course, the playoff committee has not even remotely considered them a playoff team. Speaking of BYU, they along with Central Florida, Houston, and Cincinnati are going to be added to the Big 12. BYU usually plays independent, but the other schools are in what we know as “Group Five” conferences. Those conferences are the Sun Belt (where Coastal Carolina plays), the Mountain West (where Boise State plays), the Mid American, Conference USA, and the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Coastal Carolina is another team that should make a move.

Lions And Tigers And…Chanticleers?

Yes, they are called the Chanticleers. A chanticleer is a fierce roster, and the origin of the name comes from the Canterbury Tales. The team was originally called the Trojans in the 1960s. The name was changed after Cal F. Maddox, who served as an English professor and basketball coach proposed the name change along with a group of his students. The name has stuck ever since. Football began at the school in 2003 as a member of the Big South Conference before joining the Sun Belt in 2016 after years of domination.

What Conference Would They Join?

The conference that makes the most sense is the ACC. First of all, the proximity aligns with two other ACC schools. Those schools are North Carolina and Clemson. Second of all, talent wise they are able to compete in the ACC. Am I saying they can run with Clemson right now? Heck no. But, joining the ACC could help them recruit players to do that. We all know that being a Power 5 schools has significant recruiting advantages. Even as a member of the Sun Belt, you can make the case that CCU is just as good or better than most of the ACC teams right now. The obvious exceptions to that are Clemson, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and probably Miami. We have to through Wake Forest in that conversation as well because of the year they had.

How They Play

They have become a great program with an even better culture. The offensive playbook is basically a stand up triple option as the foundation. They run the ball well and that sets up the play action pass, but the option is what they do best. Coastal Carolina is the best team in college football running that scheme, and Kansas learned that the hard way. Defensively they are also a good unit, and former defensive end Tarron Jackson was selected in the sixth round round by the Eagles in the last draft. They were in the top 25 multiple times for a reason, and finished the 2021 season 11-2. Albeit this was against a pretty easy schedule, but it’s still a good year.

As a program, they are ready to add better competition to their schedule on a more consistent basis. One way to get that is to move out of the Sun Belt. What this team has been able to build these last few years is very impressive and people are starting to take notice. Keep your eyes on the Chanticleers and the teal “surf turf” they play on. This team is really fun to watch.

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