Track I-AA’s finest by checking the Czar’s official weekly ballot for The Sports Network I-AA Top 25 poll. Along with each top team’s rank, reference my previous ballot position and read a one-line brief on each team’s ascent or descent.

This regular feature should have been online Sunday, but Hurricane Frances had our servers down. Hey, it’s only fitting that our hardware is also located in the college football capital of the world.

So, better late than never, but in future weeks my ballot will be posted online in time for regular readers who may be searching for expert input before casting their own votes in The Sports Network poll.

05 SEPTEMBER 2004

1.       (3)   S. Illinois        1-0        After big opening win over SEMO, Salukis are easy top pick; MAC power NIU is next.

2.       (4)   Montana          1-0        Griz’ defeated toughest foe of any I-AA Week One winner, Hofstra is second A-10 visitor.

3.       (5)   McNeese St.   1-0        McCowboys topped talented SWAC foe on Southern’s home turf; Mumme & Co. this week.

4.       (6)   E. Kentucky     0-0        Colonels were on leave, now head for the mountains to face App State in Boone.

5.       (7)   Wofford            0-0        Terriers took the week off, travel to tussle with intrastate foe South Carolina State.

6.       (2)   GA Southern   0-1        Eagles gave BCS’ No. 3 team all it wanted most of the game; next: breather vs. JC Smith.

7.       (8)   Villanova         1-0        ‘Cats took their time putting Bucknell away, face second straight PL team in Lehigh.

8.       (1)   Delaware         0-1        10-game home streak broken in non-league loss to A-10 foe, Towson visits this week.

9.       (9)   Colgate           0-0        Raiders rested last week, open in Amherst against UMass.

10.    (10) B-Cookman    0-0        A sure win was lost to Hurricane Frances when SSU game was cancelled.

11.    (12) Northeastern 1-0        Hager’s Huskies dominate D2 fodder, but meet more resistance Saturday in Annapolis.

12.    (15) Furman           1-0       Ingle Martin gets reps, Paladins take glorified exhibition over D2 foe; at Samford Saturday.

13.    (13) Montana St.    0-0        Bobcats bided their time, host D2 foe Adams State in opener.

14.    (16) UMass        1-0        Don Brown had great seat for DelState trouncing; Revenge game vs. Colgate Saturday.

15.    (11) Northern Iowa 0-1      Panthers were own worst enemies in shellacking at Iowa State; D2 home opener this week.

16.    (14) N. Arizona        0-1      Lumberjacks worked all day in loss at U.Arizona; prepare for SLC foe Stephen F. Austin.

17.    (NR) W. Kentucky    0-1        ‘Toppers were physical in loss at BCS No. 12 Kansas State; should breeze past Concord.

18.    (19) Nicholls St.     1-0        Despite Daryl Daye’s departure, Colonels easily outpace strong EWU team; next: WCU.

19.    (17) NW State         0-1        Déjà vu -- Demons “shoulda, coulda” won at I-A foe again; trip to Jackson State is next.

20.    (18) W. Illinois        0-1       ‘Necks were the nation’s guinea pigs against new Nebraska offense; poor D2 foe visits Sat.

21.    (22) Lehigh             1-0        Sacked five times by NEC foe Stony Brook, Hawks now prep for Villanova.

22.    (21) Samford         1-1        Bulldogs started slow at Georgia Tech, \ finished strong. Revealing test vs. Furman is next.

23.    (20) Southern        0-1        Hats off to Jags for taking on the second best team in Louisiana; next foe is MVSU.

24.    (23) Maine              0-1        Black Bears fell at Griz’, now readying for Northern Colorado visit.

25.    (NR) S.F. Austin     1-0        Narrow win over D2 foe nets tentative recognition. We’ll see in tilt vs. Northern Arizona.

Previously ranked…

NR (25) Appalachian St.   0-1     Too soon to tell, but we expected more of a battle at Wyoming. Resurgent EKU is next.

NR (24) Grambling State   0-1    Stick a fork in Tigers if Bruce Eugene’s knee is as bad as feared; Alabama A&M Saturday.