The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are jumping into the deep end of the pool. The young program, which had been part of the Football Championship Subdivision, now moves to the Football Bowl Subdivision, the higher (highest) classification of college football. Unfortunately, the Chanticleers are doing so under an adjusted set of circumstances which are generally not favorable. Here is a look at our preview of the 2017 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
How Did They End 2016
Playing an FCS schedule, not an FBS schedule, in their year before moving classifications, the Chanticleers put together a 10-2 season. (They were not eligible for the playoffs because they were moving to the FBS.) The first half was decent but involved a few very close ins. In the final five games of the season, however, Coastal Carolina won each time, four times by at least 19 points or more. This team’s defense became very comfortable, but that was against a lower level of competition the Chanticleers won’t face often this year.
Offseason Changes
The change of divisions is the biggest change, but in terms of a change in personnel, an alarming development has come at the worst possible time for Coastal Carolina: Head coach and former entrepreneur Joe Moglia will not coach this season. Moglia led Coastal Carolina out of the darkness and into FCS success. The Chanticleers made multiple appearances in the FCS playoffs. They won a lot of games. Moglia finished 51-15 in his career to date at Coastal, not knowing if he will be offered a second act. Meanwhile, an interim staff will be assembled to carry on the program without him. It’s brutal timing for a man who greatly looked forward to this moment, when his program reaches the next level. Coastal Carolina fielded an aggressive and innovative offense which might now become easier to read and prepare for.
Team X-Factor
Syracuse graduate transfer Austin Wilson will take the reins at quarterback. Without his expected head coach (Moglia) and without any real template for knowing how his receivers will react to prime opposition, Wilson will enter the season under highly daunting circumstances. He will need help from his offensive line, but Wilson doesn’t come naturally equipped with all the capabilities needed to handle an offense at the FBS level. Anything Coastal Carolina can get from its running game – thereby taking pressure off Wilson’s back – will be substantial, more so than at other programs without urgent quarterback situations.
What To Expect From The Chanticleers This Year
It is hard to see this season in an optimistic way. Going upward in terms of weight class is rarely if ever a way to make a positive first impression, but now Coastal Carolina has to try to make that upward move without its beloved (and talented, and charismatic) head coach. The move to the FBS would have been hard enough with a veteran quarterback calling the shots, but now it is exponentially more difficult.
Record Last 5 Seasons
2016: 10-2
2015: 9-3
2014: 12-2
2013: 12-3
2012: 8-5
Schedule and Outlook
The Chanticleers will open the schedule against UMass in a game that is currently off the board. It’ll be interesting to see how the Chanticleers handle their first home game of the 2017 season as they are sure to be jacked up. From there, they’ll go to UAB in Week 2 before coming back home to host Western Illinois in Week 3. That’s a matchup against an FCS school, so at the very least, that’ll be a manageable opponent. Also on the schedule this season is Georgia Southern and Georgia State – a pair of teams that also made the transition from FCS to FBS – so that will be a couple of other opportunities where the Chanticleers won’t be overly overmatched.
On the whole, though, the Chanticleers will be favored in no more than one Sun Belt game this season: against Texas State. Even that game will be no layup. Coastal Carolina should consider itself lucky to have drawn Texas State on the conference schedule, but even that won’t save the Chanticleers in 2017. To get the over, you’ll have to hit five games and that seems like a stretch.
Regular Season Win Prediction: Under 4
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