The big question in the South Independent Rugby Conference is, what is going to happen to Florida International?

After beating Central Florida in the opening week of the season, FIU put themselves in position to be a conference contender. But they are in trouble now because they used an ineligible player - someone who had used up his period of eligibility - and could see at least one victory vacated as a result.

The situation is under appeal. Meanwhile, FIU won two games in the Florida division over the weekend, and UCF keeps winning, also.

Meanwhile, in the North, it might all come down to this coming weekend already. Middle Tennessee State beat Georgia Tech 54-30 to move to 3-0, and they face idle Georgia Southern, sitting at 2-0, this weekend.

“We took on a lot of games early in the year and that was good experience but we picked up some injuries, too,” said MTSU Head Coach Jody Hensley. “Some of those guys are coming back, but we’ve lost two for the year. It’s been good to see the guys who had to step in taking over those positions and playing well. We’re getting there - we’re looking like a rugby team.”

MTSU was on its way to being spoken of in the same sentence as high-profile programs about ten years ago, but slipped since then. The comeback, said Hensley, has been the product of “a lot of sleepless nights.”

The team and the program is still developing, and they are beginning to get more and more support from the alumni.

“We are trying to build a program that the alumni want to invest in,” said Hensley. “So we’re being as professional as we can. Our goal has always been to get back on the national scene.”

This season’s team looks solid. Hensley says everyone understands his job and the team is building depth, as well.

“They are working hard, doing extra weight sessions and sessions in the pool,” said Hensley of his players. “We have good leaders.”

Among them, Josh Pentecost is a former USA age-grade prospect who is captaining the team and leads by example. Scrumhalf Coty Baker is scrappy and aggressive, and just picked up the sport 18 months ago. He is among their leading try-scorers.

They take on a Georgia Southern team that is quietly moving up the ranks, and have some players with high school experience, including some talent from the Steven Lynch’s efforts to teach rugby to kids and servicemen at Guantanemo Bay.

“We know they can give teams fits,” said Hensley.

MTSU might fit that description, too.