Must be one rugged neighborhood.

"Sometimes, fourth in our division could mean we're [still] a playoff team," head 'Cat Andy Talley said at yesterday's CAA media event at the ESPN Zone in the Inner Harbor. "We have that capability. I think we're finally back, to where we want to be. We're excited about the national ranking. Traditionally, four or even five of our teams are going to the playoffs. In a league like that, maybe being picked fourth isn't so bad."

The program has only made it to the postseason once in the last decade. That was a 2002 run to the semifinals. The 'Cats barely missed out last year, when they went 7-4 despite playing the last five games without starting quarterback Antwon Young (knee injury). Five CAA teams did get in, including 7-4 New Hampshire. Delaware, a team Villanova beat in its finale, made it to the title game.

The 'Cats have 17 starters back, including the entire offensive line. And Young, a redshirt junior, has apparently made a full recovery.

"I'm anxious to get back in there," he said. "We're trying not to let us being ranked really get to us that much. If we're ranked 17th [after the season], we'll still be out of the playoffs. We just want to come out and make a name for ourselves, show everyone we can compete with the top teams in our league.

"Every once in a while, we might mention [the playoffs]. I think there's an added motivation. We let a game go [last season]. Out of the games we lost, one of them we actually could have won. I feel like we can get the job done."

The 'Cats did lose at playoff-bound Massachusetts in four overtimes, in freshman Chris Whitney's first start at QB for Villanova. This season's schedule, which starts with a trip to I-A West Virginia on Labor Day weekend, appears favorable. 'Nova doesn't don't play UMass, the top pick in the North Division. Or Hofstra and Maine, the third and fourth choices in the North. They get James Madison and Richmond, two teams they lost to a year ago on the Main Line. But . . .

"There's no margin for error," Talley said, correctly. "I like the high-expectation level. That's where we all want to be, on stage as one of the teams to beat. I think we're one of those dangerous teams that nobody knows a lot about."

Did we mention that this conference has produced three different national champions in the last 10 years? Or that three different teams have played in four finals in the last five?

Delaware coach K.C. Keeler understands. His Blue Hens were picked third in the South, even though he has to replace quarterback Joe Flacco, the Baltimore Ravens' first-round draft pick, and running back Omar Cuff, who had 39 touchdowns in '07.

"It's fun to play in [this league], but it's brutal," Keeler explained. "It ages you. Towson beat Richmond [last year] and [Rhode Island] beat Mass. That's not uncommon in our league. My first year [2002], we went 6-6 but beat Northeastern, which was No. 5 in the country. We won it all the next year. James Madison was 6-6 the year before they won it [in 2004]. It's a crapshoot. It's not like it's the same teams every year.

Keeler added that "there's a chance" the CAA could get five teams in the playoffs again.

"We had three teams win first-round games, and all five should have won," he said. "The interesting thing is, it might be five different teams. That's the thing about this league. It's very feasible."

Daunting, too. *