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…and Auburn went 24-2 in 2004 and 2006, including an undefeated SEC with an SEC Title in ‘04 with a loaded team. This year’s Auburn isn’t near that good, but they should be pretty solid yet again, and with the mystery of the QB situation at LSU and Alabama being very young this year, honestly it’s tough not to have the Warring Tigereagles as the SEC West favorite.
That said, the Tigers at #10 is a little high for a team replacing both coordinators and with questions of their own at QB. The big story down on the Plains is obviously the implementation of the spread, thanks to the hire of Troy’s offensive coordinator Tony Franklin at the end of last year. The Trojans averaged 34 points/game and 453 yards/game in Franklin’s second year, so there’s obvious reason for excitement for Auburn fans.
Honestly, Auburn has had anemic offenses since the Campbell/Cadillac/Ronnie Brown days, especially the past two seasons with the inconsistent Brandon Cox running things, not 100% most of the time. Kodi Burns made an impact as a freshman as more of a running option to counter from Cox, so the obvious question is can he handle throwing the ball looms.
Enter junior college transfer Chris Todd. Todd played under Franklin in high school in Kentucky, and played in five games for Texas Tech in 2006. Todd already knows Franklin’s offense, and I would expect Burns and Todd to split time running the offense, that I have dubbed (though not my own creation) the “Spread Eagle” offense.
The only other question on offense I see is playmakers at the receiver position. Rod Smith and Montez Billings led the way last year, but neither incite a great deal of fear. The group of running backs does though – Ben Tate, Brad Lester, and Mario Fannin, who will be featured as a receiver as well. All three have some ability to make big plays, and the general assumption is that the new offense will automatically improve the QB play – why that is I’m not exactly sure.
Last year the offensive line, with three true freshman, was a liability and most responsible in Cox’s struggles – he had no time to throw and forced things at times. This year, things are a bit different. All five starters return on the OL, which should bode well for the QB combo and group of talented backs.
Of course, Auburn’s strength under Tommy Tuberville has always been defense, and this year looks to be the same. Don’t discount the loss of Will Muschamp to Texas though, though Paul Rhoads, the new defensive coordinator, had Pitt #5 in the nation in terms of yards/game (including the stifling of West Virginia).
Up front there’s Sen’Derrick Marks, one of the most talented DTs in the nation, and Antonio Coleman, who had 8.5 sacks last year and will have to make up for the loss of Quentin Groves. The LBs, always a position of strength for the Tigers, features Tray Blackmon, Merrill Johnson, and Craig Stevens. Those guys average 214 lbs, so you know that can cover some ground.
The secondary took a hit when likely starter Aairon Savage tore his knee completely. CB Jerraud Powers and SS Zac Etheridge are still back there, but the depth is a question with Savage’s injury.
And lately the Auburn practice fights have been getting some pub, and who knows how much stock you can put into those minor scuffles and how they effect team chemistry. Although when a kid transfers, especially to Memphis (that was just too easy…kidding though, I love Memphis), maybe it’s more. I don’t think anyone will even remember those in a couple months.
With all that core group returning back, there’s reason to see Auburn winning the West. The new coordinators could be canceled out by the favorable schedule in the SEC. Auburn gets LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia all at home, where Auburn seems to always win the big games. The road trips are to the Mississippi schools, Vandy, and Bama, where Auburn is going for win #7 in a row against the Tide. There’s also a little Thursday night trip to Morgantown, where Auburn’s going to demonstrate the SEC strength against West Virginia.
Auburn could very well continue it’s good string of even-numbered year success in 2008.
Similar to the hierarchy of the SEC East with Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee, the Big 12 South has been pretty clear-cut for the most part of the last decade. Since Nebraska’s decline, it’s been all about Oklahoma and Texas not only in the South, but in the entire Big 12.
Behind the Horns and Sooners, each and every year it’s a toss-up between Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State, and Baylor is pretty much always last.
However, there’s quite a bit of preseason hype that Texas Tech could very well break through and change that. At first, I look at Texas Tech and see an obviously always strong offense that passes every down and puts up a lot of points, but where’s the defense? And it’s Texas Tech – certainly they pull off a big win once a year, but can they really make a run at bigger, better things?
So obviously my curiosity forced me to look more into Texas Tech and why the thought is they have a chance to not only finish ahead of Texas, but actually win the South. Here’s some things I found:
Why they can win it: As I said before, I wouldn’t want to face that offense. QB Graham Harrell continues the recent run of record-shattering QBs and enters his third year as the starter. The group of receiving threat RBs is there – Shannon Woods, Kobey Lewis, Aaron Crawford, and Baron Batch.
Harrell’s favorite target, the Biletnikoff winner Michael Crabtree will try to match his astonishing freshman season where he had nearly 2,000 yards and caught 22 TDs. They lose Danny Amendola, but WR is never really a problem for Texas Tech. They also return (the two-deep completely intact) a very large OL that only gave up 18 sacks last year, second in the country (to Tennessee).
Of course we know about the offense, but what about defense? Defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich resigned after a 49-45 loss at Oklahoma State, and after Ruffin McNeill took over the Red Raiders actually led the Big 12 in total defense over the last 8 games. They also return 8 starters, including the entire front four.
Then there’s Tech’s traditionally very weak schedule. Out of conference, Texas Tech plays Eastern Washington and Massachusetts, two I-AA schools, SMU (1-11 last year), and travel to Nevada, which could be a tricky game, but Nevada’s not gonna stop Harrell and Company. They do travel to Kansas State, Texas A&M, Kansas, and Oklahoma, but get Texas at home.
Why they won’t win it: Simple – they’re Texas Tech. They’re just 35-29 in the Big 12 the last eight years under Mike Leach. Texas has beaten the Red Raiders the last five years. Colorado has beaten Texas Tech the past two seasons (CU isn’t on the schedule this year).
Texas Tech has lost to Colorado 30-6 and 31-26 the past two seasons, but the Red Raiders don’t face the Buffs in ‘08
Also, I think a good bit of the optimism for Texas Tech stems from the win over Oklahoma in their finale, but Sam Bradford got hurt early in that game. In the Gator Bowl, Tech trailed 28-14 to Virginia, without their QB Jameel Sewell in the 4th quarter, before coming back and winning at the end.
All that said, I’m gonna call the bluff on Texas Tech – third place again.
Oklahoma is once again the Big 12 favorite and a National Title contender. They’ve been great in the regular season but have struggled in BCS Bowls, most notably the blowout to USC, the Boise State upset, and getting run over by West Virginia.
QB Sam Bradford broke the record for the most TD passes as a freshman last year and he hopes to continue that this year. The Sooners lose Malcolm Kelly, but WR Joaquin Iglesias, TE Jermaine Gresham, and WRs Manuel Johnson and Quentin Chaney should make up for Kelly’s loss. Also, OU returns their entire OL, the most experienced (130 career starts) and also one of the biggest in the entire country.
HB Allen Patrick is gone, but there’s little worry in Norman because DeMarco Murray now becomes the Sooners’ feature back. Murray averaged 6 yards/carry last year and is really, really good. Here’s proof:
Yes, I know it was Baylor, but that’s pretty sick. HB Chris Brown comes back as well, and he scored 9 rushing TDs last year. Defensively, just five starters return, but the DL may be one of the nation’s best. The secondary, only returning SS Nic Harris, is the main concern. OU is generally very good defensively, even though WVU ran over, through, and around them in the Fiesta Bowl.
I would argue that Texas has underachieved the last few years – or any year they haven’t had Vince Young. For all the talent that’s in Texas and neighboring Louisiana, and just having to worry about OU in the conference, I would expect they should have more than two conference titles under Mack Brown (1996, 2005). That said, they have had double-digit wins the last 7 years.
“What?! I can’t bring Vince back?!? He’s the only way I can win beat OU and win the Big 12!!
The Longhorns struggled last year more than their final ranking of #10 may have said. They were outgained by Arkansas State, trailed in the 4th against UCF, trailed in the 3rd against TCU, were hammered by Kansas State at home, lost to OU, trailed both Nebraska and Oklahoma State, and lost to A&M for the second straight year.
They did bounce back by hammering overrated Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. QB Colt McCoy returns, but Texas has to replace HB Jamaal Charles and find some new WRs. The OL returns lots of experience, and may be one of the best in the country.
Defensively, Texas gave up 25 points/game last year, the most since 2003 (21) and has to find seven more starters. While the replacements are certainly talented, there’s some inexperience there and depth at some areas may be concerns.
Oklahoma State, with dual-threat QB Zac Robinson returning with two big targets WR Dez Bryant and TE Brandon Pettigrew (they lose Adarius Bowman though) and a very experienced OL, could actually be better than the 7-6 they were last year. They are strong in the defensive back seven, and the front four has some good players that are a little inexperienced.
That said, being in the same division as Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech means OSU will probably do no better standings-wise than in the past.
Texas A&M brings in Mike Sherman, a hire that I’m not so sure was a good one. They do have QB Stephen McGee and HB combo Jorvorksie Lane (#11) and Mike Goodson (#3) back, but some WR losses and a very inexperienced OL could cause problems.
TAMU may go to a 3-3-5 lineup because the secondary is their strength and they return just one player from the front seven, though there are some talented guys along the DL. With the new coach in and the issues along the lines, I would say a bowl game would be a reasonable goal for Sherman in his first year.
Baylor is, well, Baylor. Offensively the Bears have a bunch of experience returning and defensively the Bears probably won’t be any different than in previous years. There’s hope for improvement as Art Briles comes in from Houston, and he had a good run while with the Cougars.
That said, Baylor plays in arguably the second-toughest division in college football in addition to Missouri, Nebraska on the road, and Wake Forest and Washington State at home, and UConn on the road out of the Big 12. Same old same old for Baylor.
I’ve already hashed out the atrocity that was the Big 12 North of a couple years in the ACC Coastal preview a couple days ago, and now it’s time to actually talk about the current state of the Big 12 North.
Nebraska’s struggles – and the rest of the conference living in the shadow of Oklahoma and Texas – damaged the division’s reputation and respectability, and Missouri and Kansas valiantly tried to help repair that last year.
Mizzou reached the top of the polls heading into the Big 12 Title Game, but lost to the Sooners for the second time last year. Meanwhile, KU used a favorable (to say the least) schedule to roll to undefeated season until a 36-28 loss to the Tigers in KC.
The now-departed Aqib Talib’s pick six led Kansas to an unlikely (and undeserved) Orange Bowl win last year
The Tigers finished by crushing Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. Kansas played in the Orange Bowl they totally didn’t deserve, but shut people like me up by beating Virginia Tech. Even with those two teams, I’m not sure how many people thought Mizzou and KU were all that good, which is somewhat understandable given their respective football pasts.
So while there’s been improvement for the North, there’s still a little ways to go, and that has to do with how Nebraska and Kansas State fare this year (more on them later). I for one think that the Big 12 will move past the Pac-10 for the title of second-best conference (behind the SEC of course).
The Big 12 as a whole should be a powerfully offensive league this year, as only Iowa State (Bret Meyer) and Nebraska (Sam Keller) have to find new QBs. You look at the QBs in this league, and you can only be impressed by not only the talent there, but they’ve put up some pretty good stats as well.
Perhaps the best QB is Missouri’s Chase Daniel. 2008 should be another big year for Daniel and the Tigers. Despite the losses of HB Tony Temple, WR Will Franklin, and TE Martin Rucker, the Tigers are pretty set at the skill positions. They will have a new C and new LT, the two most important OL positions, but there won’t be much of a dropoff.
Defensively, Mizzou has one of the top LB corps in the conference with Sean Weatherspoon, Brock Christopher, and Luke Lambert. Three defensive lineman, including the awesomely-named DE Stryker Sulak, return and FS William Moore anchors the secondary. The only games I see as potential losses for Missouri are the opener against Illinois in St. Louis and trips to Nebraska and Texas. Fortunately, Oklahoma is not on the schedule (yet).
WR Jeremy Maclin was a Freshman All-American last year, racking up 2,776 all-purpose yards to go along with 1,055 receiving yards and 16 total TDs
This needs to be said: I’m partial to Missouri, simply because I almost went there…i.e. if I had to pick a second favorite team behind the Vols, it would be Missouri. No, I don’t live-and-die with whether or not they win on Saturdays like it is with Tennessee, but I certainly enjoy seeing them do well. Plus, I think they are fairly exciting to watch as well.
Kansas surprised everyone last year, using a terribly easy schedule and kind Orange Bowl reps to reach their first BCS Bowl, a 24-21 win over Virginia Tech. While much of that team returns intact, the schedule is more challenging this year, so expect a fall back to reality for Kansas.
The Jayhawks face the South’s three best teams (at Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas at home in a three-week span) and play at USF on a Friday night. They go to Nebraska as well, and still play Missouri. QB Todd Reesing returns and will have some new faces on offense, but the production should be about the same.
Overshadowed by the offense last year, Kansas returns 9 starters from a defense that allowed just 16 points/game last year. They have to replace stud CB Aqib Talib, but the LB group of Mike Rivera, Joe Mortensen, and James Holt rivals Missouri’s.
Nebraska’s certainly had a really, really hard fall the past decade. From dominating everyone with the option (seeing the Gators get owned I can always enjoy) here…
…to playing just horrifically bad defense last year (WARNING: it’s long and a poor choice of music)…
Nebraska had owned Kansas for a really long time before 2005, and KU hung 76 on them last year. Interestingly, Nebraska scored 73 the next week in a win over Kansas State, before returning to form by giving up 65 to Colorado in the finale. On the season, Nebraska gave up a school-record 455 points (38 per game) and 5,722 yards.
Nebraska got rid of Bill Callahan, and hired LSU Defensive Coordinator Bo Pelini, a very good hire in my opinion. Pelini obviously will bring a new attitude to the Husker defense, one that will have to rely on its front four in 2008. The same group that gave up 232 yards/game on the ground all returns and can only get better. It’s a little green in the back seven, but Nebraska can’t be much worse defensively than they were last year with Pelini running things.
Offensively, QB Joe Ganz started three games last year, and, in 173 fewer attempts, had more TDs than the highly-touted Sam Keller. The Huskers will rely on the running game this year, and having Marlon Lucky back behind an OL with five players with more than nine career starts. We’ll get to see the new Huskers early – they host Virginia Tech September 27.
After rolling Baylor, Kansas State was 5-3 with a close loss at Auburn and a 41-21 romp at Texas. Then the defense disappeared, giving up 31, 73, 49, and 45 points respectively to Iowa State, Nebraska, Missouri, and Fresno State. Despite just 12 returning starters, K-State should make it back to the postseason.
QB Josh Freeman has led the Wildcats to wins over Texas the past two years
Why? They bring in a whopping 19 junior college transfers. That’s not a typo. 19 junior college players. I’ve never heard of that. QB Josh Freeman and 2006 and 2007 All-Big 12 1st Team DE Ian Campbell returns as well.
Colorado, under first-year coach Dan “Go play intramurals, brother” Hawkins, surprised many and reached a bowl game last year. The highlights included a stunner over #3 Oklahoma on a late FG, a 31-26 win at Texas Tech, and a 65-51 romp over Nebraska. This was pretty cool too…
(Yes, I think South Park’s a great show) CU must replace Charles, Polumbus, Wheatley, and Dizon the Tackle-Machine (he had 173 last year). Hawkins landed Darrell Scott, a highly-ranked RB who could start this year, and his son Cody returns at QB.
I would say Colorado would be a shoe-in for a bowl, but they play a tough schedule: host West Virginia, play Florida State in Jacksonville, play at Kansas, at Missouri, at Texas A&M, at Nebraska, and get Texas at home.
Finally, there’s Iowa State, who started off the Gene Chizik era last year by losing home games to Kent State at Northern Iowa (ouch). It got better, as ISU beat hated Iowa, hung with Oklahoma and beat Kansas State and Colorado late in the year. QB Bret Meyer is gone, there’s improvement everywhere else on the offense. On defense the entire secondary is back, but only three of the front seven return, and the Cyclones have a ways to go to make any noise in the league.
Iowa State’s new logo for 2008
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.
