MeanGreen61

Some interesting Q&A's. http://www.goblueraiders.com/?go=story&doc=4177

IMHO any Belt rumors come from WW seeking a SECOND bowl.

From the official site. http://www.meangreensports.com/PhotoAlbum...._ID=&ZID=106498

http://www.meangreensports.com/ViewArticle...0&ATCLID=167679 2005 Brings Changing Of The Guard On Defensive Line Courtesy: University of North Texas Release: 08/05/2005 In anticipation of two-a-days next week, MeanGreenSports.com breaks down the 2005 North Texas football team position by position. With a heritage of names like Greene, Kennedy and Awasom, the defensive line has become an honored position at North Texas. Who will be the next to take the trenches at Fouts Field? DENTON (8/05/05) - Replacing all four of last season's starting defensive lineman will be the most daunting task facing the Mean Green defense in 2005. Last year's starters Adrian Awasom, Tommy Harrison, Michael Pruitt and Evan Cardwell were mainstays on the North Texas defense, combining for 98 career starts and five all-conference selections. In their void, a host of young talent will be vying for the start at one of the program's most celebrated positions. While the group is short on collegiate experience, they make up for it with ability. At defensive end, Eli Hutchinson, Jeremiah Chapman and Blake Burruss will ignite a battle for the starting job in two-a-days. Hutchinson saw action in every game last season and recorded 18 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss after transferring from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Chapman tallied 10 tackles and two sacks last year, and after an impressive spring will figure into the two-deep roster. Burruss played in nearly every game as a freshman last year, beginning his career on a high note with a two-tackle performance at Texas. Defensive tackle is one of the team's most unsettled positions heading into the 2005 season. A committee of players will get their shot at the two open slots when training begins next Wednesday. At nose tackle the front runners include Chris Miller, T.J. Raymond and Issac Thomas. Miller is a two-year letterman that has played in nearly every game for the past two seasons. In 2004, he registered 11 tackles for the Mean Green. At 6 foot 2, 310 pounds, Raymond has the size to contend for the starting job, but this will be the sophomore's first season of action. Thomas is coming off his redshirt season and will make his case for the two deep this August. Sky Pruitt and Montey Stevenson are the candidates for the other tackle position. Pruitt is a run-stopping tackle that pulled in four tackles in eight appearances last season. Stevenson registered 11 tackles and two tackles for loss in 2004. Tomorrow, MeanGreenSports.com looks at the backbone of the Mean Green defense, the linebackers.

Posted on the CUSA board. a FWIW post with some interesting comments about the Sun Belt. ================================== CUSA board thread http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/confusa/invi...ST&f=22&t=27671 Take it for what it is worth....................... The Liberty Bowl is working on a shared deal to include CUSA. The LB will pit BE#3 vs SEC#7 OR #8. Should there be no SEC team available, CUSA gets in, or if a CUSA team is ranked with a very good record and the SEC team is a 6-6 team, CUSA would get the slot over the SEC. Houston Bowl........ Will have a new sponsor and will be apart of the CUSA bowl line-up 2006. What order in bowl line-up is still up in the air. If the money is right, HN could be the next home for CUSA Champ. And the HB will also get the MWC Champ. Fort Worth Bowl will be apart of CUSA bowl line-up for 2006. minimum payout bowl will feature MWC(TCU most years) vs CUSA West or best CUSA available. SBC talking about putting their champ in this bowl too. If so, then it would be SBC vs MWC(TCU) GMAC Bowl...................is talking to WAC again about getting WAC champ vs CUSA. MAC tie-in is supposedly on its last legs as Marshall/UCF are now in CUSA. BIG12 is also being talked to for 2006. Another case of a shared spot is in the works here to. Hawaii Bowl...................Is on the verge of going belly up. If it remains up and running, it will still be a CUSA tie-in. New Orleans Bowl.............. good for CUSA. SBC might leave for Fort Worth or end up with 2 bowls. MAC commish has been hanging around New Orleans Bowl people. He is working his hand on getting MAC another bowl. more info............... SBC is working hard on a possible 2nd bowl game. If they can't get a current bowl, there is talk of creating a new bowl for their champ in the southeast or maybe again in Miami, FL. MAC has eyes on Toronto Bowl 2006 being certified. But Commish Chryst has been shaking hands and talking with anyone who will listen. Especially the New Orleans Bowl. MAC and WAC are talking of playing a champ vs champ bowl whether it be the MCB or Toronto. Well, there's some "rumor" for you all. I just got this info tonight and put it on as soon as I got it. But remember, it is rumor and "take it for what it is worth".

Go home child, you're boring

They must realize that most MUTS are maxed out on their credit

Or maybe he was buying the next round (Just kidding). ========== " I visited Boston College on Junior day, they had 16 inches of snow and 12 degrees". I Can relate to this, having spent a miserable winter in Boston

Great numbers! Looks like the clinic had a successful debut.

How was the attendance ?

Post by DogsWin on the Tech board. Some pretty good info on the Tech team Louisiana Tech playing another tough schedule August 4, 2005 By DARRELL MOODY Nevada Appeal Sports Writer If you have followed Western Athletic Conference football over the years, the one thing that stands out about Louisiana Tech is its willingness to play big-name opponents. During Jack Bicknell's six-year tenure at Louisiana Tech, the Bulldogs have played 22 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) schools, 18 games against Top 25 teams and 26 games against bowl teams. Whether it's been a money grab or not, the Bulldogs haven't shied away from anybody, and that list includes Miami, USC, Alabama, Kansas State, Clemson, Michigan State, Florida State, Texas A&M, Penn State, LSU and Oklahoma State. Last year's schedule was a killer, and in the stretch of four weeks, the 'Dogs played Miami, Tennessee, Auburn and Fresno State. This year's is nearly as tough. Louisiana Tech opens at Florida and then plays at Kansas. Later in the year, the Bulldogs host perennial bowl participant North Texas from the Sun Belt Conference. "It was a tough schedule (last year)," Bicknell said at the WAC Media Day recently in Reno. "To go 6-6, I think we had an excellent year. Auburn, Miami and Tennessee, that was tough. Once you play a team in the top 10 it's a big difference. I anticipate Florida will be a top 10 team. North Texas has proven they can win. "I think so (feeling pressure). There has been a lot of pressure the last two years, but that's the way college football is It's inherent to the job. We're just going to play as hard as we can and see what happens." The biggest questions are can the Bulldogs win without Ryan Moats and are quarterbacks Matt Kubik and Donald Allen capable of winning games throwing the football. Moats, who was the WAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004, gained 3,112 yards in his three-year career, including 1,774 and 18 rushing touchdowns last year. His ability has enabled Bicknell to control the ball on the ground, and Moats single-handedly was able to beat teams. "He was a great player," Bicknell said. "We pretty much relied on him last year." Freddie Franklin (204 yards rushing) and Mark Dillard (20 yards rushing) will compete to replace Moats. Franklin backed up Moats a year ago. "We think Freddie is going to be an excellent player," Bicknell said. "He's deceptively fast. He can do a lot of things. He's almost like a receiver out of the backfield. Mark is a tough runner with a burst. He's got speed. He's more of a straight line guy, but he can make the first guy miss." A year ago, neither Kubik or Allen had ever thrown a collegiate pass. Allen was hurt throughout much of the year, finishing with 317 yards and a score. Kubik passed for 1,818 yards and 10 scores. "We have two guys that can definitely play and we can definitely win with," Bicknell said. "As a group our quarterbacks (Allen, Kubik and Zac Champion) can run. They have all shown they can be effective running the option out of our new offensive scheme. "Donald and Matt are getting equal reps. They both deserve to play, and I really think they both will. We will go with who best gives us a chance to win that week. I wish one of them was clearly better, but that isn't the way it is." Both Allen and Kubik will be trying to get the ball to speedy junior wide receiver Jon Holland, who ran a 10.26 at the Texas Relays recently. Holland averaged 22 yards a grab on his 19 receptions a year ago, and he's being counted on for bigger things this year. "He can loosen up defenses," Bicknell said. "We really need to get him the ball. I really think this could be a year where he breaks out. He can run by any corner. We saw that against Miami, Tennessee and Auburn." Seniors Eric Newman (19-265-3) and Seneca Chambers (12-147-0) also return. Anthony James (3-32-0) is penciled into the starting role at tight end. Bicknell's concern on the offensive line is building depth. The 'Dogs return three starters - left guard Aaron Lips (6-5, 317), center Marcus Stewart (6-3, 300) and guard-tackle Marcus Lindsey (6-7, 375). Ryan Considine (6-5, 290) takes over at right guard and Tyler Miller (6-7, 296) takes over at left tackle. Things are a little more unsettled on the defensive side of the ball. The entire defensive line needs to be replaced and the Dogs will have three new starters in the secondary. "We lost a lot of guys to graduation," Bicknell said. "No doubt that hurts from an experience standpoint. We need the younger guys to grow up in a hurry." The linebacking corps of Byron Santiago (6-2, 222, 82 tackles), Jeremy Hamilton (5-11, 218), who had 75 tackles last season, Barry Robertson (6-3, 240), who finished with 71 stops, and Brannon Jackson (6-2, 220), who had 10 stops, is the most experienced group. "The kid (Santiago) simply makes plays," Bicknell said. "He has great speed and a nose for being around the ball. Hamilton loves to hit, and I would be surprised if he doesn't have a big year." Cornerback Tramon Williams (6-0, 180) is the only returning starter in the secondary. Cornerback Delone Williams (6-1, 191), strong safety Bo Cox (6-2, 200) and free safety) Dez Abrams (6-0, 186) are the starters heading into fall camp. Williams had 45 stops and four interceptions last year. "It's a little scary when you are inexperienced in the secondary," Bicknell said. "We have a lot of speed back there. We'll see how they react in a game. You can't afford for those guys to make mistakes because it means seven for the other team." Moqut Ruffins (6-5, 277), Ladarius Love (6-4, 330) and Quarvey Winbush (6-5, 255) are the starters up front heading into fall camp. Ruffins had 27 stops a year ago, Love 24 and Winbush 13. Danny Horwedel, Brad Oestriecher and Zach Myatt will compete for the place-kicking spot. Horwedel connected on 27 of 28 extra points and 8 of 14 field goals. Oestriecher converted 2 for 5 on field goals and 9 of 10 on PATs.

Harmon Forecast for opening week games. Has the Mean Green vs LSU game closer than most. LSU 23 North Texas 14 Kansas 24 FAU 21 Kansas State 37 FIU 7 Alabama 20 Muts 7 ULM 34 NW State 14 Missouri 31 ASU 9 Texas 38 ULL 12 (Troy not listed) http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/5625861

Wonder how this will affect CUSA and the Liberty Bowl? Aug. 3, 2005, 9:53PM The EV1.net Houston Bowl is preparing to cut ties with the Southeastern Conference after this season and is in talks with Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference as possible replacements, sources said Wednesday. The Houston Bowl also remains in talks with the Big 12 to maintain its six-year relationship beyond 2005. Although a renewal is in doubt, a Big 12 spokesman said the conference "remains interested" in Houston. Full article http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/s.../fb/fbc/3295491

http://www.meangreensports.com/ViewArticle...0&ATCLID=167620 Quarterback Job Up For Grabs Heading Into Two-A-Days Courtesy: University of North Texas Release: 08/04/2005 In anticipation of two-a-days next week, MeanGreenSports.com breaks down the 2005 North Texas football team position by position. Today, we look at which Mean Green strong arm will lead North Texas this season. DENTON (8/04/05) - Only one thing is certain about the North Texas quarterback job heading into fall ball. The man that leads the Mean Green in 2005 will have tough shoes to fill. Whoever wins the job in two-a-days will be taking over for one of the most accurate throwers in school history, Scott Hall. Hall graduated as the all-time Mean Green passing efficiency leader and helped the program to its first bowl berth since 1959. With fall drills right around the corner, all six quarterback candidates are on equal ground for the starting job. Two-a-days will determine which player will lead the Mean Green into the opener at Louisiana State. Daniel Meager was vying for the starting job in spring practices but sustained a shoulder injury that caused him to miss half of the spring. However, the redshirt freshman is back to 100 percent and is ready to compete for the starting job. In high school Meager was considered one of the top five quarterbacks in the state as a junior before injuring his leg prior to his senior season. He was able to overcome his injury and led his team to the second round of the playoffs while throwing for 1,629 yards and 16 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Also a mobile quarterback, Meager rushed for 397 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final season. Just check the records section in Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine to find out what Kellen Haynes did in high school. Named the Most Valuable Player of District 19-4A in 2003, Haynes made the all-time record books for single-game passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass attempts, career passing attempts and pass completions. The redshirt freshman threw for 4,130 yards and 40 touchdowns in his senior season, earning an Honorable Mention All-State selection and a spot in the 2004 Texas Coaches Association All-Star Game. Jonathan Ieans came to North Texas as a quarterback, but was moved to receiver once he arrived because of his height and speed. A District 18-5A First Team selection at quarterback as a senior, Ieans threw for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns in a predominantly running offense. A two-sport star in high school, Ieans averaged close to 10 points per game as a basketball player, including a season-high 23-point performance in an upset against Houston Washington. The most experienced quarterback in the group, Cullen Mills is also a threat to move in to the starting job. The junior was named honorable mention all-state in both his junior and senior seasons in high school. Mills threw for 2,147 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior and 1,995 yards and 20 scores as a senior. One of the best all-around athletes on the team, Mills also lettered in basketball, baseball and golf. A dual threat quarterback, Matt Phillips led the Lake View Chiefs to a share of the District 4-4A championship last season. Phillips was named the District 4-4A Offensive Most Valuable Player after throwing for 1,950 yards and 11 touchdowns in his senior year. He also scrambled for 485 yards and 14 touchdowns. Phillips was named the All-West Texas Super Team MVP by the San Angelo Standard-Times, and went 11 of 15 for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the FCA Myrle Greathouse All-Star Classic. Also a two-sport star, he was a two-time all-district catcher for the Lake View baseball team. Steve Warren was the Offensive MVP of District 4-5A last season. Warren threw for 489 yards and rushed for 951 more as a senior. Finding the end zone was a regular occurrence for Warren last season as he ran for 10 scores and threw for four more. Warren was also a pitcher his high school baseball team and was clocked at 10.7 in the 100-meter dash for the track team. Tomorrow, MeanGreenSports.com will take a look at North Texas' revamped defensive line.

Sun Belt Preview from College Football Poll. http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/analysis_sunbelt.html Mean Green schedule and projections. http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/analysi...nbelt_ntex.html

#61 North Texas #63 Troy #89 Muts #102 ULM #104 ULL #106 Arkansas State FIU & FAU (#118&119 not shown & these 2 not listed) Others of interest #12 LSU #57 Kansas State #71 La Tech #91 Tulsa #74 TCU #97 Smoo http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/polls/117/index2

Wednesday update and photo gallery. http://www.meangreensports.com/ViewArticle...0&ATCLID=167589

"As a Memphian, I'm insulted the SEC wants to send its seventh-place team to the Liberty Bowl and dictate who they want to play," Memphis Coach Tommy West told reporters Tuesday at Conference USA media day in Memphis". http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college...=tf-main-sports Future with Liberty still in discussion By Alan Schmadtke Sentinel Staff Writer Posted August 3 2005 Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky is unconcerned about the tempest that has become the Liberty Bowl, his league's lead bowl for nearly a decade. C-USA wants to keep the Liberty in the lead position after this football season, but there are no guarantees. "I'm not concerned," Banowsky said. "Our game for this year is set, and we have a chance to look at a situation beyond this year. But if it doesn't work out, we're going to have options. What those are, I'm not going to speculate, but we'll have other options." Meanwhile, emotions are stirring, some down deep, some not so deep. The Southeastern Conference is talking to the Liberty about sending an SEC team to the Memphis bowl from 2006 through 2009, but SEC Commissioner Mike Slive last week said he preferred all his league's bowl tie-ins to be opposite teams from other power leagues. Read: Not C-USA. "As a Memphian, I'm insulted the SEC wants to send its seventh-place team to the Liberty Bowl and dictate who they want to play," Memphis Coach Tommy West told reporters Tuesday at Conference USA media day in Memphis. Said Liberty Executive Director Steve Ehrhart: "I'm not going to touch that." Banowsky, West, Southern Miss Athletic Director Richard Giannini and Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson met Tuesday morning with the Liberty's board of directors to sell the board on another contract with the league. "It was a listening session," Ehrhart said. "We'll absorb and continue to listen." Ehrhart said his bowl has no timetable for finalizing its next contact but doubted it would drag on much beyond the start of this season.

Looks like Howard is getting publicity all over the place. This article is from the Baton Rouge Advocate. http://2theadvocate.com/stories/080205/spo_timeout001.shtml 08/02/05 Weathers: Florida Atlantic moving at 'Schnell's pace' By WILLIAM WEATHERS wweathers@theadvocate.com Advocate sportswriter If you thought Howard Schnellenberger looked somewhat out of place on the sideline of upstart Florida Atlantic University, consider his plight just eight years ago. Schnellenberger was a year removed from the one stain on his coaching résumé -- a 5-5-1 record in one season at the University of Oklahoma -- before deciding to pick up his ball and return to Miami. He had come to the realization that after more than three decades in coaching, it was perhaps over. Schnellenberger actually let go of his headset long enough to sell stocks and bonds for two years. That was until, as he describes it, "a fire alarm went off." It turned out to be the four to five-alarm variety that would bring Schnellenberger with his trademark fluffy white mustache and deep baritone voice, back to coaching, the chance to again douse the passion that obviously was ablaze within. The one caveat in this proposition for Schnellenberger, who led the University of Miami to the 1983 national championship, was that there were a myriad of challenges that stood in his way before he would ever coach a game at FAU. There were no footballs, no helmets and more importantly, no players. FAU turned to the sage Schnellenberger, 64 at the time, to build a program from the sand up in Boca Raton, an hour north of Miami. Even though Schnellenberger was credited with reviving Miami's sagging program in the early 1980s, and breathing life into Louisville's thought-to-be dormant program for the decade he spent there, this move appeared to be a desperate act to get back on a college sideline. What did such an accomplished coach like Schnellenberger need with the headache of starting from scratch? This is the same coach who was part of two Super Bowl staffs with Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins, including the famed undefeated 1972 team. He was also part of Bear Bryant's staff at Alabama when the Tide helped to create today's unbearable expectations with three national championships. "When I was asked to be the point guy, to put in this program, it was too exciting, it was too much to pass up," Schnellenberger said. Schnellenberger's first order of business was to help raise $15 million and then he really get to work, assembling a coaching staff and recruiting players. By 2000, he gathered 164 players for his first practice and a year later the fledgling FAU program kicked off. Two games later the Owls became the fastest start-up program to defeat a ranked opponent -- 31-28 over No. 22 Bethune-Cookman. It wouldn't be the last time Schnellenberger, one of 10 active coaches to win a national title, stopped turning heads. FAU needed only 22 games, or 24 fewer than South Florida, to become the quickest start-up program to knock off a Division I team (current Sun Belt member Middle Tennessee) or record a victory over a bowl team with a 35-28 overtime win at Hawaii to open last season. After four years and 26 victories, Schnellenberger equates FAU's growth to the steps taken by a new-born baby. The Owls are now Division I, a full-fledged member of the Sun Belt Conference and hopeful a new 40,000-seat domed stadium will be complete in 2007. "This gives me an uncommon thrill," Schnellenberger said. "The kind of the thrill that very few coaches will ever have."

http://www.goblueraiders.com/?go=story&doc=4174 Football - August 2, 2005 Ticket Office expects more than 3,000 Blue Raiders in Tuscaloosa MT Media Relations MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee Athletic Ticket Office announced today that it has sold out of the Blue Raiders' allotment of tickets for the Alabama game on Sept. 3. The ticket office expects more than 3,000 Blue Raider fans to be in attendance for the 2005 season opener. For Middle Tennessee students there is a package deal consisting of a ticket to the game, a bus ride, and hotel accommodations. Any student wishing to take part in this should contact the Student Government Association at 615-898-2464. "Tickets sales for the Alabama game went well and there seems to be a lot of excitement for Blue Raider football this year," said John Brooks, ticket manager. The athletic department will now turn its focus toward ticket sales for the home opener against North Texas on Sept. 10. "We are pleased with the way the Alabama tickets sold and our focus now is selling out our home opener against conference power North Texas," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "It should be a great game to bring your family and friends." The Mean Green will come to Murfreesboro as the four-time defending Sun Belt Conference champions and riding an NCAA-best 25-game conference winning streak. Middle Tennessee and North Texas have had close, exciting games in the past and this one is shaping up as another must-see contest at Floyd Stadium. To reserve a seat in Floyd Stadium, please call the Blue Raider Ticket Office at 615-898-2103 or 1-888-YES-MTSU. Fans can also purchase season and single-game tickets on the internet at GoBlueRaiders.com.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3290326 C-USA MEDIA DAYS Rice's new league a saving grace Owls will benefit from less travel, more visiting fans By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER Mike Pede was not being disrespectful when he laughed at the question posed to him that had a most obvious answer. Will Rice be better off in its new conference? Pede, the director of marketing and promotions at Rice, has toiled for a dozen years to make lemonade out of lemons. For most of his time on South Main, Pede has worked alone, and only recently did his staff grow to three full-time employees. Most any marketing idea was plausible, no matter how far-fetched. After all, with identity-challenged San Jose State on the Owls' schedule, there was only so much Pede and his staff could do. For the most part, those days are over. After nine athletically successful and financially challenging years in the Western Athletic Conference, Rice joined Conference USA this summer. The change is expected to provide a financial boost for its athletic department, with several factors impacting the number of dollars flowing in and out of its coffers. "The extra revenue is fantastic for the bottom line of our athletic program," Pede said enthusiastically. "We don't necessarily get to turn around and re-spend that, but from what we're doing in a marketing standpoint, it's been made easier in a couple of ways." Significant savings The jump to C-USA could save Rice $1 million or more in annual travel costs. Direct flights to WAC destinations were either exorbitantly priced (Hawaii) or impossible to secure (Fresno). Rice teams made nine trips to Hawaii in the 2004-05 academic year — two for women's soccer — at a cost of $300,000 to the athletic department. With shorter flights and more frequent departures, Rice immediately cuts its travel costs. More flights to choose from also provides a chance to return home earlier than in previous years, saving on hotels, meal money and fatigue "On the West Coast ... you play a late-night game over there — you've already lost two hours — and it was nothing to get back here at four or five in the morning," Rice football coach Ken Hatfield said. "That just zapped you and cost you one whole day to recover." In baseball, Rice visited five WAC opponents. In C-USA, Rice will make four trips in 2006, and one of those is at Tulane in New Orleans, reachable by chartered bus. Rice will save about $25,000 by eliminating one trip through the air and additional money by exchanging a flight west for a bus trip to New Orleans. In basketball, Rice endured five-day, two-game road swings, leaving on Wednesday, playing on Thursday, then traveling on Friday to play on Saturday before returning Sunday. In C-USA, Rice will fly to and from each destination, not only saving money but preserving class time. Visiting fans welcome The visiting team revenue generated from the move to C-USA could be significant. In football, C-USA programs Tulane, Southern Mississippi, Memphis and UAB purchase an average of 2,000 tickets for road contests — four times what Rice's opponents in the WAC typically requested. Should those numbers hold to form, Rice could generate $64,000 annually from ticket sales alone. That figure doesn't include the windfall Rice could reap in concessions with additional fans. In baseball, Rice recorded an average attendance of more than 2,800 fans for WAC games, a number that essentially matches its season ticket base. The lack of quality conference opponents — Fresno State (1997, 2000-01) and San Jose State (2000, '02) were the only other WAC schools to qualify for the NCAA Tournament since 1997 — hurt Rice at the gate. In C-USA, where at least four programs reached the NCAA tournament in each of the last four seasons, Rice should witness a spike in attendance. "We had to do such an education process in every ad ... on who was Fresno and where is Fresno and how good they are and how long they've been good, and that's completely changed now," Pede said. "We have found that our fans in this market know 80 percent of the teams that we are playing real well. "Name recognition in this league has made selling sponsorships and activities around games much easier. That hurdle is easier to get over because of the other side of the equation." Accounting for the tube Rice's residual resources also should grow. With a more lucrative and comprehensive television contract (with ESPN and CSTV as the leading partners), to a vastly improved Web site managed by CSTV, to the dollars generated by a championship game in football and five C-USA bowl tie-ins, Rice will gain on a number of fronts. Rice will have five football games televised this season, compared with two in 2005. Games at UCLA (Sept. 10) and Texas (Sept. 17) will be carried on FSN Houston; CSTV will show UTEP-Rice (Oct. 29), Rice-SMU (Nov. 5) and Rice-UH (Nov. 26). ESPN broadcasts twice as many C-USA games (16) than it does for the WAC. CSTV will televise some 160 C-USA games. "Anytime you can improve the bottom line, it's going to be important," Rice athletic director Bobby May said. "And we are every bit about doing that. Of course, Rice is as committed to winning championships, 26 of which were claimed in the WAC. Rice hopes switching conferences will yield an even greater bounty. "I think it's a plus in every sense — financially and competitively," May said. "We felt like it was a place for us to be because of where Conference USA will be over time. We're really excited about competing for league championships in Conference USA. We had success in the WAC and we're excited about seeing how we can do in Conference USA."

http://www.jonesborosun.com/story.asp?ID=10984 “The one thing that separates North Texas is mental toughness,” Indians working on mental toughness BY GRAHAM THOMAS SUN STAFF WRITER NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Mental toughness. It’s a trait that North Texas has and one that the Arkansas State football team is trying to build. It’s why the Mean Green can start off their season each year 0-4 and rebound to win the Sun Belt Conference title each season, according to ASU assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator Kevin Corless. “The one thing that separates North Texas is mental toughness,” Corless said. “I think that is something that we have really worked hard to develop with our players. We’ve got to be mentally tough. We’ve got to avoid the highs and lows that come with a season. I think with a young football team, it’s easy to fall victim to that.” Mental toughness, a young football team and a hope of tomorrow were the topics of discussion Wednesday as Corless represented ASU at the Arkansas Associated Press Sports Writers Association meeting. Head football coach Steve Roberts was in New Orleans for SBC Media Days and could not attend. The mental toughness is something the Indians are working on through intense winter, spring and summer workouts. The overall team is a year older after going 3-8 in 2004, and according to Corless, that should make a difference this season along with a lighter beginning of the schedule. “I’ve been coaching for 20 years now and we’ve had two of the hardest winters that we’ve put our team through,” Corless said. “I think you create mental toughness in that way.” ASU also opened the 2004 season with games at Missouri, at LSU and hosting Memphis, all top 25 teams at the time. “The thing that sticks out the most schedule-wise (last year) was the fact that we opened up with three top 25 teams to start the season,” Corless said. “That was a rough way to start it. That was the third toughest non-conference schedule in the country. To boot, we played seven of our first nine football games on the road. “I think if you combine the schedule with the youth of our football team, it made for a pretty challenging season. Last year we played a lot of young players and started six freshmen on defense, one of those being a true freshman.” Two of ASU’s losses came by close margins against Memphis and Ole Miss. Had those games gone the other way, it could have been a different season, Corless said. “If you win those two ballgames with the young guys that we’ve got, how does that affect the rest of our season? I think it would have changed it dramatically,” Corless said. “But what we’ve told our players is you cannot let those things dictate your emotion or mentality. Don’t get too low and don’t get too high.” Offensively, the Indians return starting quarterback Nick Noce along with a talented backfield led by Antonio Warren, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2004. However, the Indians have concerns with experience along the offensive line and wide receivers. Defensively, the area of most concern, Corless said, is the linebackers — the position he coaches. “I think defensively, probably the area that scares us the most is the area that I coach, the linebackers,” Corless said. “We do not have a linebacker that started or played a snap of Division I football at linebacker. Now that sounds pretty bad when you say that.” Not having 2004 Freshman All-American linebacker Josh Williams doesn’t help things either. Williams was removed from the team back in the spring. The Indians’ defense begins with its defensive line, which Corless said has the most talent since the days of NFL players Jon Bradley and Corey Williams. The secondary is also talented and quick, Corless said. “The greatest asset of our defense, I’d say it’s two things: Their ability to run and their willingness to run,” Corless said. “Those guys have worked hard in conditioning and they are ready and willing to run to the football. We’re excited about that.” Overall, Corless said the program, in its fourth season under Roberts, is headed in the right direction. ASU is 14-22 during that span. “We’re awfully proud of what we’ve done. We’re proud of the image our players produce and proud of the things they’re doing academically,” Corless said. “Over the course of the last three seasons, we’ve won more football games than any three seasons combined going back to the mid-to-late 80s at Arkansas State. We’re proud of that and we’re proud of the players that we’ve got, and I really believe Indian football is on the rise.”

http://www.jonesborosun.com/story.asp?ID=10982 NCAA’s last two leading rushers both in UNT backfield By Matthew V. Roberson Sun staff writer NEW ORLEANS — There simply aren’t enough footballs to go around this year at North Texas. This season the Mean Green has a dilemma like no other school in the history of college football. Who does UNT coach Darrell Dickey decide to give the football to? It’s a choice most schools would relish the opportunity to have to make. With senior Patrick Cobbs and sophomore Jamario Thomas in the North Texas backfield, it’s a choice that can’t go wrong. Cobbs and Thomas are the only pair of teammates in college football history to lead the NCAA in rushing in back-to-back seasons. Cobbs ran for 1,680 yards in 2003, while Thomas followed up with 1,801 yards last season. This season, they’ll be side by side as North Texas attempts to win the Sun Belt Conference a fifth straight time. While Dickey has said the pair will split the ball-carrying duties, neither player seems to mind the change in workload. “We’ll both get about 20 carries instead of 30,” Cobbs said Tuesday at the SBC Media Days. “I think it will keep us both fresh and I don’t think our yards will decrease because of that.” Now that’s a scary thought. Cobbs averaged nearly 153 yards a game and scored 19 touchdowns two seasons ago. He topped 100 yards in nine games and broke the 200-yard mark four times. Thomas was even better in 2004. As a freshman, Thomas barreled through opposing defenses to average 180 yards a game on the ground last fall. His best effort came in a 51-29 victory over Idaho when he rushed for 291 yards and scored four touchdowns. For the season, Thomas scored 17 TDs and surpassed 200 yards rushing on six different occasions. So is Thomas worried about not getting as many carries with Cobbs back in the backfield after he missed most of last year with a knee injury? “I’m really not even concerned about that,” Thomas said. “We’ll both get plenty of carries and I think we’ll both stay fresh. I just want to go out and give it my best and get back to the New Orleans Bowl.” And while it might seem an awkward situation for the two North Texas running backs, the pair insist they’re fine with it. Dickey said he’s not worried about a potential problem developing. “The biggest thing about them is they’re both unselfish,” Dickey said. “I would be worried going into this season if one of them was all about himself. But they are both looking forward to being in the backfield together.” Cobbs originally helped recruit Thomas to North Texas, showing him around campus and accommodating him on his visit to the school. Now the pair are roommates and share a friendship that goes beyond the football field. “We’ve always been close,” Cobbs said. “Pat’s a good guy and I know he can handle the job as well as I can,” Thomas added. Were it not for their jersey numbers, opponents might confuse Cobbs and Thomas for one another. Both players have similar size, speed and moves. Cobbs is 5-9 and 198 pounds, while Thomas is 5-11 and 195. Each runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds. Both players also contribute on special teams in punt and kickoff coverage. “They are very similar,” Dickey said. “They are both very strong inside runners. They have great vision, outstanding quickness and speed.” Cobbs played in just two games last season before enduring a partial tear of his MCL against Florida Atlantic. Although the knee injury did not require surgery, he was unable to return and received a medical redshirt from the NCAA. He said the knee feels as strong as ever now. “It’s completely healed,” Cobbs said. “I went through spring and took hits and it felt great. I maxed out in the spring on my knee squatting and did 650 (pounds) on it. So my knee feels good.” No matter who gets the most carries, scores the most touchdowns or piles up the most yards, both just want to help each other and the Mean Green succeed. “We’re really two unselfish people,” Cobbs said. “I mean, whatever we have to do to get a win, that’s it. Whatever it takes to get a win, we’ll both be happy with. That’s what it’s all about.” mroberson@jonesborosun.com

College Football News has listed 13 Sun Belt players as among the Top 25 for their position. Beleive this is the most that have been on this list. Coongrats to all ! North Texas - 4 players Troy - 4 players UL-Monroe 3 players Middle Tennessee - 1 player Florida International - 1 player RUNNING BACKS (2) Patrick Cobbs (Sr.) North Texas Jamario Thomas (So) North Texas TIGHT ENDS (2) Samuel Smith (Jr) FIU Joel Trappey (Sr) UL-Monroe OFFENSIVE GUARDS (1) Dylan Lineberry (Jr) North Texas DEFENSIVE ENDS (2) Larry Brown (Sr) Troy Brandon Guillory (Sr) UL-Monroe LINEBACKERS (1) Bernard Davis (Sr) Troy KICKERS (2) Colby Smith (Jr) Middle Tennessee Nick Bazaldua (Sr) North Texas PUNTERS (2) Joel Stelly (Sr) UL-Monroe Thomas Olmsted (Sr) Troy KICK RETURNERS (1) Leodis McKelvin (So) Troy

Bazaldua & the MUTS Colby Smith make Top 25 Kicker list. http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2005/Pr.../AA_Kickers.htm