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His mere name strikes fear into every one of us Tennessee people. I also figured the few of you that read my site hadn’t heard his name enough so I decided to use it. And here’s that name a few more times just for the hell of it…
Incredible editing job there. Anyways, the Gates have gotten so much publicity and are so loved by ESPN, who showed their spring game, that everyone forgets they were 9-4 last year and lost to Michigan in the bowl game. Of course they absolutely crushed Tennessee (I know, I was there) so that’s probably why we Vol fans have reservations about our chances of beating Florida this year.
Tebow scored 55 TDs last year. Think about that. It’s ridiculous! Then again, when you’re your team’s QB and short-yardage/goal-line running back you’ll score…alot. And he did. He perfectly fits the gimmicky offense of his lover coach Urban Meyer. To Meyer’s credit (about the only thing I can credit the man for), he’s recruited the fastest bunch of players this side of the Jamaican track team.
Percy Harvin, Chris Rainey, Brandon James, Mon Williams, Kestahn Moore, Jeff Demps, Louis Murphy, Riley Cooper (ask LaMarcus Coker), all have blazing speed and can turn a simple end-around into six with a missed tackle. However, a huge part of that offense, TE Cornelius Ingram, a mismatch nightmare for defensive coordinators around the world, tore his ACL and won’t play a down this year. I honestly felt horrible for the guy since he withdrew from the NFL Draft to come back. The health of Harvin has also been a little in doubt with his nagging heel injury that required surgery in the offseason.
The wildcard for the Gators is USC transfer Emmanuel Moody. Florida’s leading rushers last year were Tebow and Harvin and the use of a halfback was minimal at best. They still averaged 42.5 points/game, why would they add in a halfback now? I’m not sure how I can see Moody fitting in to the offense, but Meyer will have to find some way to take care of Tebow and not let him get as banged up as he did last year. Another possibility is using backup QB Cam Newton a la Tebow 2006. Ask Dennis Rogan about Newton (although Rogan has come so far since that awful September afternoon).
I still wonder how good Florida is along the lines, since line play is essential to winning championships. The OL should be pretty good with the Pouncey brothers, and senior returning starters Jim Tartt and Jason Watkins. Also back in the mix is Phil Trautwein, a 2006 2nd Team All-SEC selection who missed all of last year. So that’s a group that might have improved, and they only gave up 13 sacks last year as it was.
Florida’s defense was iffy last year and the reason they lost four games with the Heisman winner. It wasn’t necessarily the front seven that was the trouble, it was the secondary that had a tendency to give up big plays.
Up front Florida did a decent job for replacing an entire line that’s in the NFL (or in jail) now. Still, I want to see what Urban does when he doesn’t have Ron Zook’s linemen. The ends are scary – Jermaine Cunningham had 6.5 sacks last year and Carlos Dunlap has NFL potential – but DT depth is a concern after the no-show of Torrey Davis, despite the return of Mr. AK-47 himself Ronnie Wilson. The front needs to be able to allow the fast LB corps of Brandon Spikes (#51), Dustin Doe, and A.J. Jones to range and make plays.
As for that iffy secondary, the CBs – Jacques Rickerson, Joe Haden, Wondy Pierre-Louis, and Markihe Anderson better have improved. The safety siutation is a total mess – Dorian Munroe and John Curtis will miss the season, leaving Major Wright (#21) and possibly highly-touted Will Hill – and of utmost concern.
The bottom line is as long as the defense improves just a little bit, the offense should be enough to win games for Florida. The best way to stop this offense seems to be to (a) not let them get into any sort of rhythm, (b) make Tebow beat you with his arm, and (3) hit them in the mouth many times. Auburn and Georgia were both really physical with the Gators, and Michigan wasn’t exactly love-tapping them either. That and hope to force turnovers or you’re gonna have to score 40+ to win.
Of the three East contenders (sorry South Carolina), Florida has the most favorable schedule, drawing Ole Miss and Arkansas out of the West and getting LSU at home. Since 1992 Florida has lost ten more games to SEC West teams than to SEC East teams despite playing 36 less games against West teams (thank you Phil Steele). A split against Tennessee and Georgia isn’t undoable, so that alone has me putting Florida as the team to beat in the East.
Yes, that’s what Arkansas is going to be doing this year with the previously discussed Houston Nutt gone to Oxford. Bobby Petrino without a doubt pulled a Nick Saban by lying to the Atlanta Falcons and going to Arkansas, which hasn’t helped the media’s perception of him. I can’t blame the guy, though – it was the Falcons.
Petrino “Calling the Hogs” at his first press conference was silly in my book
The Hogs will find themselves in the same boat as Michigan this year, with the brimming hopefulness and excitement of a change to a new, previously successful coach with an almost entirely new system. Both are going to have to growing pains, but Arkansas finds themselves in a different situation than Michigan – i.e., they lost even more and they play in the nation’s toughest conference.
Petrino is eventually going to change Arkansas from the run-oriented team in recent years with HFL HBs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to a much more pass-oriented team, like the Louisville team that won the Orange Bowl in 2006 with Brian Brohm. The future looks good, as next year Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett, the top-rated QB coming out of high school in 2007, will become eligible after being denied eligibility this year.
Petrino won’t have Brohm this year though. He’ll have Casey Dick, who most SEC fans consider to be a fairly incompetent QB. As good as McFadden and Jones were, Arkansas was just 22-16 in their three years in Fayetteville. It’s not like Arkansas was giving up 40 points/game in this period either, they’ve had some decent defenses. I don’t know if that was coaching, the strength of the SEC, but I think lots of people would argue the lack of a strong QB was to blame.
By some accounts, Dick had an incredible spring. He’s going to have to be better to make up for not only the loss of McFadden and Jones (arguably who were the offense), but Marcus Monk graduated as well. Michael Smith and freshman De’Anthony Curtis (despite a knee injury last week), a Rivals 100 player, will take over at the HB position, and the top returning WRs are Lucas Miller and London Crawford, who combined for 20 catches last year. Crawford also had this gem against Alabama:
Reggie Fish is still there, and freshman Joe Adams was the #2-rated player in Arkansas last year (behind the aforementioned Curtis). The best part for the Arkansas offense is usually their OL, and this year they have All-American/Rimington Winner (nation’s top center) Jonathan Luigs back, along with 2nd Team All-SEC G Mitch Petrus. It will be interesting to see how they respond to having to do more pass-blocking this season.
Defensively, Arkansas will struggle. They lost their top five tacklers to graduation, and then LB Freddie Fairchild was dismissed from the team in June. Up front the Hogs are pretty strong with Ernest Mitchell, Adrian Davis, Malcolm Sheppard, and Antwain Robinson, who had 8.5 sacks in 2006.
DE Antwain Robinson, seen here picking off a shovel pass and taking it for six in the ‘06 SEC Title Game had 8.5 sacks that year, but just three last year
With Fairchild’s dismissal, LB Elston Forte in the lone Arkansas returning starter in the back seven. The secondary will have all new starters, though two seniors and two juniors are projected to start back there. After giving up 26.5 points/game last year, I would expect for Arkansas to give up more than 30 this year.
Arkansas gets underway by hosting Western Illinois and UL Monroe (uh oh…) before traveling to old-school rival Texas (remember Matt Jones’ performance in Austin in 2003?). Pretty good home schedule for Arkansas: Bama, Florida, Nutt brings Ole Miss in October 25, and LSU visits Little Rock. How the Hogs fare against the same-tier teams – Ole Miss, trips to Lexington and Starkville – may determine if they can make a bowl, which would be a good start to the Bobby Petrino era – of course assuming he stays longer than a couple years.
Ah yes, hope for football success has been renewed down in Oxford, Mississippi, thanks to the hire of Houston Nutt from Arkansas. And after an 0-8 SEC record in 2007, there’s only one way to go for the potentially dangerous Rebels…up.
Now I don’t mean “dangerous” as in the Ole Miss is going to win the SEC West or anything. I mean that I really think the Rebels will be a much MUCH improved team in 2008, improved enough to make a bowl game. Yes, going from 0-8 in the SEC to a bowl is a pretty big jump.
Why do I think this will happen? Simply because they don’t have a bumbling idiot in Ed Orgeron as a coach. Look at the Mississippi State game to see what I mean: Ole Miss is up 14-0 and the defense is playing well. A 4th-and-1 around midfield, with momentum on your side, no-brainer punt with 10 minutes left, right? Not if you’re Ed Orgeron…
State gained momentum and stormed back to win 17-14 and it was bye-bye Coach O. Nutt is a pretty good coach in my opinion although I know most Arkansas fans would argue against that. Still, I highly doubt any Arkansas fans are going to argue that Coach O is a better coach than Nutt.
That said, Orgeron did get some talented players to come to Oxford and Nutt inherits a somewhat decent team in the repect. The biggest news is Texas transfer QB Jevan Snead comes into to lead the Rebels’ offense and without a doubt how good his play his will determine just how good this Ole Miss team will be. Last year Brent Schaeffer and Seth Adams combined for 17 TDs and 20 INTs, so it should be interesting to see just how much of an improvement Snead is at the QB spot, and you have to think he already will be an improvement.
The Rebs lose their best offensive skill player in BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but Cordera Eason and Enrique Davis, who was ranked in the top 10 for Florida high school players in 2007 and originally signed with Auburn, will likely replace him at HB. WRs Shay Hodge and Mike Wallace, both of whom caught 6 TDs last year, return.
Where Ole Miss has some underrated strength is in the trenches. Certain 2009 NFL first-rounder T Michael Oher anchors an offensive line that returns four starters, and the defensive line might have been one of the SEC’s best before 1st Team All-SEC DE Greg Hardy was injured earlier this week. With Hardy missing the first half of the season at the least, the addition of Jerrell Powe – alongside Peria Jerry at DT – becomes that much more important. Obviously losing Hardy is a major, major blow for the Rebels, but this defensive front is still pretty stout. LBs Ashlee Palmer and Tony Fein and SS Jamarca Sanford are the best players in the back seven, and the Rebels return their top 14 tacklers.
Ole Miss was close to winning some big games last year and failed to close out games under Orgeron – Alabama the past two years, Georgia in 2006 and Florida last year, they had LSU beat in 2006 (in Baton Rouge) and outgained the Tigers last year in a loss, and have played Auburn tough the past two seasons. That’s what I’m most interested to see from Ole Miss this year – can they do better in close games? I think they do and (call me crazy) reach a bowl game in the process.
Having grown up in Memphis and been a lifetime Tennessee fan, I would have to say that other than the SEC, the most contact I’ve had with any other college football has been Conference USA.
First, Tennessee enjoys playing C-USA teams, seemingly every year (the Vols are 33-0 in home games against C-USA teams). Secondly, living in Memphis, obviously the Tigers are there, and I’ve had to deal with them for my whole life, though my feelings towards the football Tigers are much less hateful than the basketball Tigers. Finally, I’ve been to the Liberty Bowl every now and then, and C-USA’s champion is usually playing in that game (I saw 3 great games in 2004, 2005, and 2006).
Other than that, I don’t really have anything about Conference USA like I did/will for these other leagues. It’s not as good as the MWC, but not at the lower level of the Sun Belt – just an in-between. The league has lost some respectability, and has seemingly struggled in the non-conference the last couple of years. However the league has finally found sensible geographical balance – no more USF, Cincinnati, or Army of the older C-USA.
C-USA in 2007 was full of offense, but many of the top offensive players in the league – Tulsa QB Paul Smith and Tulane HB Matt Forte, among others – have departed
That said, it’s generally a wide-open league, and last year was not an exception. In conference games, nine teams averaged over 30 points per game (the other 3 were Marshall, Tulane, and UAB). Compare that to the SEC, where just five teams had such offenses. The two division champions, UCF and Tulsa, each averaged over 40 points per game.
However, 4 of the top 10 QBs pass efficiency-wise are gone, and 6 of the top 10 rushers are gone. Just four players of the top 10 in total offense last year return. Some of the losses: HBs Kevin Smith (UCF), Matt Forte (Tulane), Anthony Alridge (Houston), and Chris Johnson (East Carolina); QBs Paul Smith (Tulsa), Martin Hankins (Memphis), and Bernard Morris (Marshall).
Here’s a look at the West…
TULSA
Last Year: 10-4, West Champs, huge bowl win – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
HB Tarrion Adams, along with returning 2006 leading rusher Courtney Tennial, must help Tulsa break in a new QB in Tulsa’s West Division defense
The Golden Hurricane, brought out of being awful by current Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe, have won the C-USA West two out of the last three years, but star QB Paul Smith has graduated. However, nine starters return from the NCAA’s #1 offense from last year, an up-tempo, shotgun style run by former Arkansas OC Gus Malzahn. Think Texas Tech. The QB? Either Sr. David Johnson, So. Clark Harrell, or JUCO transfer/spring enrollee Jacob Bower.
Star HB Tarrion Adams, who ran for 1,225 yards last year and scored 11 total TDs, is back, and HB Courtney Tennial, who missed 2007 due to injury, was granted a 6th year. “FB” Charles Clay had over 1,000 yards receiving and 7 TD catches last year. By a “fullback”? Two 1,000 yard, double-digit TD reception WRs – Brennan Marion and Trae Johnson – are back, with four returning OL.
Just five defensive starters are back, and the top 4 tacklers are gone. Among the best returning defenders – FS Charles Davis, LB George Clinkscale, DB Roy Roberts, and DE Moton Hopkins. Despite the QB and defense questions, Tulsa could win the West again, and win 10 games – their toughest games are trips to Houston, SMU, Marshall, and Arkansas.
UTEP
Last Year: 4-8 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
UTEP QB Trevor Vittatoe enters his second year as the Miners’ starter
Last year the Miners had to replace their all-time career passing leader Jordan Palmer (yes, Carson’s little brother). They couldn’t stop anybody either (giving up 6, 45, 29, 12, 45, 47, 45, 34, 56, 34, 56, and 36 points). Five offensive starters return, including QB Trevor Vittatoe (25 TDs, 7 INTs last year) and WR Jeff Moturi (13 TD catches). They must replace HB Marcus Thomas, but 3 OL return, so the HB position may be the real only question mark, along with WR depth.
As mentioned, UTEP struggled stopping people last year. Seven defenders return, but 3 of the top 5 tacklers are gone. LB Adam Vincent and SS Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith are back, and the DL, which gave up over 200 yards rushing/game last year, returns 3 starters. Head Coach Mike Price needs two LBs, but 3 secondary starters are back. With 3 winnable non-conference games (the other being a rare home game against Texas September 6), UTEP could find themselves a part of the bowl season.
HOUSTON
Last Year: 8-5, lost Texas Bowl – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Houston QB Case Keenum had 23 total TDs last year while splitting time with fellow QB Blake Joseph
Bama fans remember Houston from their near-win in Tuscaloosa last year, and Houston has been one of C-USA’s most consistent teams the past 5 years under the departed Art Briles, who’s now at Baylor (why I have no clue). The Cougs were co-West Champs last year, but Tulsa blasted them 56-7 to earn the title game berth.
Last year QBs Case Keenum and Blake Joseph split snaps, throwing for a combined 3,500+ yards and 23 TDs, and both return this year. Keenum also ran for 9 TDs last year, and Houston must find a new top RB. TE Mark Hafner is the only returning player who had double-digit catches last year, so there’s certainly a question mark. Eight of the top 10 OL return, though, so it should be interesting how Houston fares under new coach Kevin Sumlin. Under Briles, Houston was a pretty explosive offense – I know, I saw them (with Kevin Kolb) go at it with South Carolina in the ‘06 Liberty Bowl.
Seven defensive starters return, but leading tackler SS Rocky Schwartz is gone. LB Ernest Miller moves to SS alongside FS Kenneth Fontenette, and CB Brandon Brinkley returns to form a stronger secondary. The 3 starting DL return, including former Tennessee signee DE Ell Ash. The Cougars are fine at LB, so this could be a pretty solid D. Despite the coaching change, there’s enough returning for another bowl season for Houston.
SMU
Last Year: 1-11 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
SMU’s leading rusher and passer last year QB Justin Willis now will be running a June Jones offense
June Jones jumped (sinking) ship at Hawaii and is now at SMU. The Mustangs’ lone win last year was North Texas, but they lost 3 games in OT and another by a point. Leading passer and rusher QB Justin Willis is back, and the top two HBs James Mapps and DeMyron Martin are back. WR Emmanuel Sanders return, but Zack Sledge and his 10 TD receptions are gone. On the OL, just 48 career starts return, and they must learn the Jones offense.
SMU gave up 40 points per game last year, but 7 starters are back. Top tacklers LB Will Bonilla and SS Bryce Hudman return, as do DBs Bryan McCann and David Haynes. The DL returns just two sacks, but two Big XII LB transfers (Chase Kennemer and Alex Odiari) should help. In Jones’ first year at Hawaii, he took the Warriors from 0-12 to 9-4 and a bowl game. Could it be the same story for him at SMU?
RICE
Last Year: 3-9 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Rice Sr. WR Jarrett Dillard is looking for his third straight 1,000-yd receiving year in ‘08
In 2006 Rice snuck up on everybody, went 7-5 and played in a bowl game (where Troy crushed them). Last year it was back to reality though, as new coach David Bailiff struggled. Rice returns nine offensive starters, including QB Chase Clement, who threw for nearly 3,400 yards with 37 total TDs last year, and WR Jarrett Dillard, an All-American in 2006. Just two OL starters need replacing, and the OL has 83 career returning starts.
Seven defensive starters return, including the top five 2007 tacklers – FS Andrew Sendejo, LBs Brian Raines and Vernon James, DE Scott Solomon, and CB Brandon King. Rice may have some questions at DT, however, but the defense should be better than the one that gave up 43 points/game last season. Four of the Owls’ first six games are on the road (Memphis, Vanderbilt, Texas, and Tulsa), so how they fare in those games will show us what Rice has in store for 2008.
TULANE
Last Year: 4-8 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Green Wave MLB Evan Lee led Tulane in tackles last year
The Green Wave have only been to one bowl (2002 Hawaii Bowl) since the undefeated, Shaun King-led 1998 season, and coach Bob Toledo enters his second year in New Orleans. His main task this year is replacing HB Matt Forte’s 2,127 yards and 23 rushing TDs. All three QBs who saw significant time last year – Anthony Scelfo, Scott Elliott, and Kevin Moore – return, but those three threw a combined 10 TDs and 12 INTs last year. The top two WRs – Jeremy Williams and Brian King – are back, along with 4 OL starters and 80 combined career starts.
Oh look! another team in this division returning seven defensive starters. Leading 2007 tackler MLB Evan Lee is back, along with CB Josh Lumar, LB David Skehan, and FS Chinonso Echebelem. While the LBs and secondary should be fine, Tulane loses its top three DTs – Avery Williams, Antonio Harris, and Frank Morton. Tulane plays at Alabama and LSU this year, as well as UTEP, Houston, and Tulsa. Replacing Forte will be hard enough, so it could be a tough year for Tulane.
Entering just it’s 8th year of being a football conference, I think it’s safe to say the Sun Belt has come a ways. For most of its existence it’s been regarded easily as the weakest I-A conference. Heck, some fans of schools that play SBC teams think its teams aren’t even I-A.
It’s first noise-making game was Troy’s televised stunning 2004 win over a top 25 Missouri team that had do-everything QB Brad Smith. In 2006, the league went 0-24 against BCS conference opponents, but took a big step last year: eventual league champion FAU dominated hapless Minnesota (the Gophers have been making numerous appearances in these lower conference previews – not a good thing), Troy smacked another Big 12 team in Oklahoma State, and, of course my favorite, UL Monroe beat Alabama. They were actually 4-4 against Conference USA as well.
Probably the two biggest non-conference wins in the Sun Belt’s short history – a 2004 win over ranked Missouri for Troy and current Dallas Cowboy DeMarcus Ware and last year’s stunning 21-14 win in Tuscaloosa by UL Monroe
Add to that the Sun Belt’s two wins (Troy dominating Rice and Florida Atlantic beating Memphis) in the last two New Orleans Bowls, and the league is starting to make a little noise. Granted, it’s still the bottom of I-A with the MAC, and it’s teams make for nice homecoming wins for SEC teams, but give the league a little bit of credit.
I really think it was just a matter of time before this league made some noise. This league is in some talent-rich states – Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Alabama – so they get the kids that are overlooked by the SEC schools. Size and depth is still the big difference, but there’s some talent: see DeMarcus Ware, Osi Umenyiora, Lawrence Tynes of Troy (the last two just won a Super Bowl), and Leodis McKelvin (Troy) and Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas State) were drafted in the first and second rounds this past April.
North Texas dominated the league’s early years, as the Mean Green/Eagles won the first four titles with an incredible 25-1 conference record. In the last 3 years, though, the league favorite has lost a late season game that cost them a conference title: a 3-way tie with Arkansas State coming out on top in 2005, MTSU fell to Troy at home in 2006, and last year FAU stunned Troy to earn the league’s lone bowl tie-in to New Orleans, which has recently changed. Here’s the 2008 preview.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Last Year: 8-5, SBC Champ and won New Orleans Bowl – 2007 Schedule -2008 Schedule
QB Rusty Smith (32 TDs, 9 INTs in 2007) leads the defending Sun Belt champion FAU Owls
The Owls stunned favored Troy to win the league last year and continued that into the bowl win where they were too much for Memphis. They have to be the favorite this year because they return pretty much everybody. Jr. QB Rusty Smith returns after throwing for 32 TDs and just 9 INTs last year. RBs Charles Pierre and Willie Rose, also big receiving threats, return, along with 1,000-yd WR Cortez Grant. Their top 9 receivers from ‘07 are back, including Dilvory Edgecomb, who was the bowl star. The OL returns 101 combined career starts, the 8th best in I-A.
The defense loses LB Cergile Sincere and safeties Taheem Acevedo and Kris Bartels, but the whole defensive line returns. MLB Frantz Joseph had a team-high 131 tackles last year, and he’s back. They host UAB and more importantly Troy, and play at Texas, Michigan State, and Minnesota. Former National Championship-winning Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger has brought FAU to the top of the Sun Belt, and FAU just started playing football in 2001 (went I-A in 2004).
TROY
Last Year: 8-4 and NO BOWL – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
So. DuJuan Harris will split backfield time with former Colorado signee Maurice Greer behind an experienced offensive line as the Trojans break in new QB and WRs
Troy has been the most notable Sun Belt team post-North Texas’ dominance. They beat Missouri in 2004, Oklahoma State last year, and scared Florida State in 2006, losing 24-17. They have become the Fresno State of the South, not afraid to play any big teams. Case in point: last year, they faced Arkansas, Florida, and Georgia all on the road, and showed well in those games.
This year they lose quite a bit of offensive production – stud QB Omar Haugabrook most notably, the top two rushers and top three receivers. However, reasons for hope: HB DuJuan Harris averaged almost 5 yards in his 82 carries last year, and the entire offensive line is back. Anytime you have a good OL, you can be good offensively.
Defensively, despite some losses, they should be strong again. The top 3 tacklers – LBs Boris Lee and Terence Moore and SS Tavares Williams – are back, and overall Troy is at the top of league talent-wise, so they should be yet again a major player in the SBC. Again, a brutal non-conference slate: trips to LSU, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State.
UL MONROE
Last Year: 6-6 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Sr. Kinsmon Lancaster enters his third year as the starting QB for ULM
The Warhawks placed themselves with/next to Appalachian State by stunning Alabama in Tuscaloosa 21-14 last November. After a tough first year, coach Charlie Weatherbie has had ULM in the middle of the SBC the last few years. They return 15 starters this year, but have to replace HB Calvin Dawson, their best offensive player. However, Sr. QB Kinsmon Lancaster enters his third year as starter, and the top 3 WRs return. HB Frank Goodin ran for nearly 600 yards last year, and the OL adds two JUCO players expected to replace three departed starters.
Defensively 8 starters are back, including the top 4 tacklers. 3 DL are back, and the entire LB group – Josh Thomas, Cardia Jackson, and James Truxillo – return as well. Leading INT man FS Greg James is back too. Hey, they D’ed up Alabama 27 points better than Tennessee did (actually guarding D.J. Hall helps), so they have to be decent, right? No Bama this year, but they do play at Auburn, Arkansas, and Ole Miss. Reason they could win the SBC? They host both FAU and Troy.
UL LAFAYETTE
Last Year: 3-9 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Not sure I would want to tackle Cajun HB Tyrell Fenroy either…
I know from seeing the Cajuns in Knoxville last year that they were a pretty bad football team. ULL should be better this year though, as they return pretty much every skill player on an offense that runs the spread option – 1,000-yd rushing QB Michael Desormeaux, HB-with-a-cowboy-collar Tyrell Fenroy (he looks like a beast though), and WRs Derrick Smith, Jason Chery and Deon Wallace. 4 OL return to lead the SBC’s best running game.
The defense was last in the SBC overall last year, but they should improve despite losing 5 starters. The top 3 tacklers – LBs Antwyne Zanders, Grant Fleming and Brian Burkhalter – are back. Just one defensive lineman returns (DT LaQuincy Williams), so that should be something to watch for the Cajuns. Trips to Southern Miss, Illinois, Kansas State, Florida Atlantic, and Troy could shoot down any hopes of a winning season for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
ARKANSAS STATE
Last Year: 5-7 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
After missing the spring due to injury, Jr. Corey Leonard looks to lead the newly named Arkansas State Red Wolves into 2008
I know from experience, Arkansas State was better than ULL was last year. In fact, I was actually worried they would hang with Tennessee (that was the week after the Florida embarrassment when we couldn’t stop anyone and ASU outgained Texas in their opener). The Indians Red Wolves (I don’t like the new name) also run a spread option type offense, led by QB Corey Leonard and 1,000-yd HB Reggie Arnold. Four of the top 5 WRs are back, but the OL has just 12 returning starts. Uh oh going to Texas A&M and Alabama.
Just 5 defensive starters return, including just 1 of the top 5 tacklers from last year – MLB Ben Owens. The two DEs – Brian Flagg and Alex Carrington – return, but ASU has to replace the entire secondary. Just 5 home games this year, so it could be a rebuilding year of sorts for Arky State.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
Last Year: 5-7 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
QB Dwight Dasher had a solid freshman season for MTSU last year
Despite losing QB Joe Craddock in the middle of last year, MTSU entered their final two conference games at 4-1 with a chance at a title. They lost to ULL and were then blown out by Troy. Thanks to true freshman QB Dwight Dasher they were in the race in the first place. Dasher scored 12 total TDs last season, and Craddock returns as well (two-QB system?). HB/WR Desmond Gee also returns as a full-time HB, but the Blue Raiders need to find some other WRs, and have just 29 career returning starts on the OL.
Like the offense, the defense returns just 6 starters. The leading returning tackler is CB Alex Suber, so it could be a tough year stopping people for MTSU. After hosting (and nearly beating) Virginia last year, Maryland travels to Murfreesboro this year, but the Raiders play Kentucky, Louisville, and Mississippi State all on the road. We’ll find out how good this MTSU team the opening Thursday night – they host Troy.
NORTH TEXAS
Last Year: 2-10 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Sr. WR Casey Fitzgerald had over 1,300 yards receiving and 12 TDs for North Texas last year
Statistically North Texas was in the middle of the SBC pack, but after a season-closing loss to winless FIU, they finished last in the league. So. QB returns Giovanni Vizza is back, but will have to battle incoming freshman/coach’s son Riley Dodge, who ran the same system in high school (obviously) for the starting spot. Also returning is 1,300-yd, 12 TD WR Casey Fitzgerald. After being a rushing juggernaut with Patrick Cobbs and the first two years of Jamario Thomas, UNT averaged just 117 and 119 ypg rushing the past two season. Next in the HB line is So. Michael Mosley. 4 OL return, with the addition of some JUCO players as well.
The North Texas defense gave up 45 points a game last year, thanks mostly to Oklahoma’s 79, Arkansas’ 66, and Navy’s 74. Just 6 starters are back, and the Mean Green/Eagles lose their top 5 tacklers. The leading returning tackler is actually a DT (Joseph Miller), so it could be another long year of giving up bunches of points for North Texas. That defense won’t help in road trips to Kansas State and LSU or games against the high-powered C-USA offenses of Tulsa and Rice.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
Last Year: 1-11 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
FIU struggled last year, losing by 24 points a game, and despite, just one win the last two seasons (their last game), should be better in 2008
As of late last year, all FIU was known for was brawling with Miami in 2006 and having the nation’s longest losing streak – 23 games. They beat North Texas 38-19 in the finale to end that, so they enter this year with a winning streak (sort of). FIU was horrible last year, losing by an average of 24 a game. They should be much more improved this year, but they do have quite a ways to go to get there.
Nine returners are back on each side of the ball. The offensive skill guys are all back – literally, very few yards gained from last year are gone. They have to replace a DE and a S from last year, but leading tackler from last year OLB Scott Bryant returns. However, a tough schedule won’t help – trips to Kansas, Iowa, Toledo, and their out of conference home game? USF.
WESTERN KENTUCKY
Last Year: 7-5 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Western Kentucky and QB K.J. Black (now #5) made their official jump to I-A last year, welcomed with a 49-3 blowout at Florida
Western played a half-and-half schedule last year – 6 I-A teams, 6 lower-division schools. Most importantly, they were 1-2 against the SBC, beating MTSU and losing by just a combined 5 points to Troy and North Texas. They were I-AA champions in 2002, and have finally made the I-A jump last year. They play just two I-AA teams this year (or as many as Texas Tech…another rant for another time…)
Last year WKU used a 2-QB system with current Sr. David Wolke and So. K.J. Black and should continue that in ‘08. HB Tyrell Hayden, a 1,100-yd rusher last year, is back, but the Hilltoppers must replace the career leading WR in WKU history in Curtis Hamilton. 7 of the top 10 OL return as well.
Leading tackler Andre Lewis is gone, as are 4 of the top 6 tacklers from last year. CB Marcus Minor is the leading returning tackler, but defensive improvement is expected. The Toppers play North Texas and MTSU at home and Troy and FIU on the road in the SBC, and play at Indiana, Alabama, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech.
