Seminole Indian

I think it is pretty safe to say that the GAP no longer exists. ←

Very well could happen to ASU this year.

Enjoyed reading the post about your team’s progress this spring. Obviously everyone expects UNT to be better that last year and it sounds like a lot of questions are being answered. At ASU there is really only one question and that is will there be a big drop-off at the QB position. Every other position will be stronger including RB. People talk about ASU losing their top two running backs but in reality they are returning their top running back from two years ago and the younger players are more than adequate and their fullback just got a 6th year by the NCAA. I am going o follow them this spring and see how the QB’s look because, s we all know, that position can trash a team. Bottom line, this is the when we find out if ASU, or anyone in the SBC for that matter, has really closed the gap that has existed between UNT and the rest of us. I think ASU has, but how much I really do not know. I like the fact that we have a program that will insure we have a lot of 4th and 5th year players in the two deep who have been in the program, a solid defense and good team speed. By the way I am still predicting a 5-2 Conference record for ASU so that means I am predicting a win over UNT at Jonesboro. I may change my mind after watching the team this spring. ULL is my early favorite to win the championship with UNT or ASU 2nd.

Just wanted to add that while I have been posting about ASU, our program, and the other SBC programs, have not caught-up with UNT. Do not let this season fool you even a solid program has a bad year now and then, I am a Tennessee fan so I know, but they get over it. UNT will and they will do it fast.

Hard to tell but not very many. It is an open question as to whether or not Josh Williams’s (freshman All-American linebacker) dismissal was for academic reasons but he was the only one last year and he should be back this year and there were none the previous two years. This staff really emphasizes academics and player retention. Most freshmen red-shirt and that really helps them realize that academics are a part of the deal.

That position and depth at RB are the only real question marks at ASU. Probably Travis Hewitt to start the season. He is a red shirt sophomore who was strung out by Louisville a couple of years ago and we were his safety net. The insiders say that Corey Leonard , who was headed to South Carolina prior to Holts leaving and selected us over Ole Miss, will overtake him before the year is out. Also the freshman, Daniel Stegall who is a rare Arkansas QB prospects considered as 1A material, might be in the mix, but if he is then ASU has problems. The real reason for optimism on the O-Side is that ASU will have the best OL in the Belt next year and there is some real young talent backing them up. All ASU’s receivers return, as does the starting fullback (he just got a year back by the NCAA) and Chris Easley, who the #1 TB back prior to his injury, also returns. ASU only lost a couple on the defense side so a lot of improvement is expected there, especially if Josh Williams is reinstated, which is the current rumor, and the injured players get healthy. Might be the best D in the league if things fall right but should be in top three if they do not. ASU will be better than last year.

I’m a fan of ASU, Tennessee and UNT (use to live in Dallas n early 80’s and dated a beautiful UNT coed) in that order and I like to spend the off season away from the ASU message board. To be honest, most message boards become pretty useless when it comes to really evaluating such things as recruiting and prospects for next season for that school. I am also a big SBC fan because of the opportunities it gives schools like ASU, and lets face it, all SBC schools owe UNT for keeping this league together. Most schools would have ridden their success right out of town but you guys did not and the rest of us are to a degree riding your coattail. Believe it or not I also find this board to be the best source of objectivity and besides I know I’m not getting a ‘homers’ view if I choose to discuss ASU or the SBC in general. Let me start by saying that I am predicting a 5-2 record for ASU next year (undefeated at home and 50/50 on the road) which means a victory over the Mean Green who, along with ULL are my early front runners for the trip to NO. Best of luck recruiting.

Well, because I was not there and do not know the circumstances I am not in a position to argue the point. I do know that Texas Tech said that their only reason for not offering him was his height. That was not a problem for TCU, SMU or ASU.

Lets face it almost every player that signs with a Non-BCS school probably has a few short comings (height, weight, speed) compared to those that do. I seem to recall a DL who recently played at UNT who was too short. The bottom line is that the kids ASU is getting from Texas are probably the big reason we have closed the gap that existed between us and UNT, so if you don't mind I'll trust our (and the SMU and TCU) coaches opinion over yours. Beside ASU is not recruiting against UNT for players, theyare recruiting against SMU, TCU, Tulsa,UTEP, Rice and Houston in most cases.

I agree and there is also the issue of quick PT and the fact that their are more 1A prospects in Texas than there are 1A Texas schools for them to go to. You guys have the luxury of being able to selectively recruit by position to meet your needs because you are assured that there will be quality players available at that position. In Arkansas we simply have to take the 1A-caliber players that are available. Almost every year in Arkansas there are positions where there are no 1A caliber prospects available to recruit ( especially at the QB position).

Add Prince Hickman and Kelvin Cox to that list.

Well stupidity, excuse me rationalization, is a common thing when it comes to the recruiting wars. I look for ASU to do very well in Texas this year because we have done well in the past, and we are playing a lot of Texans. Guys like Myron Anderson, Quinton Thomas, Devertt Wade, Montice Harrison, Reggie Green, Zelos Abby, Brandon Rollins, Josh Williams, Curtis Bonds, Troy White, and Chris Easley , have all played key roles in ASU’s turnaround. Look for red-shirts like L.J. Williams, Travis Jones, Jerrell Norman and Jonathan Hissam to contribute next year. Hey, if we could not beat you guys with non-Texans, might as well try it with Texans, right?

So, please no more posts on how great it was to win 4 conference championships in the absolutely worst conference in Division I-A and to go to the worst bowl game there is. What else does it say about the program that when we go to the worst bowl game that we get smoked 3 out of the 4 years. While I think the attitude of not accepting mediocrity is one of the reasons UNT won four SBC, I can assure you that ASU would be thrilled to death to win another title especially when the SBC will get stronger from here on out. While winning another SBC title will not stroke your ego, look for UNT to be a strong contender next year in a much-improved SBC.

The other Conference members were sure that you guys let the other teams enjoy the ‘thrill of victory’ this year to break the monotony. So many of your fans seemed to have grown bored with the prospects of winning the another SBC title prior to the season starting, that probably the only way to renew interest was NOT to win one. It will seem like fun again next year.

I could see UNT winning the Belt because you are 2-1 with two road wins, even though I think right now you may be the worse team in the Belt. The thing that jumped out at me at the last two ASU games is how mentally frail they are. It was not so much that they won as it was that ULL and FAU lost. Apparently the same thing can be said for some others (ie MTSU). Playing the Mean Green just seems to push all the wrong buttons for the other SBC teams.

This could be a bigger issue for other schools, if it goes to court. ASU’s deal with Addis is not that lucrative compared to the agreements at other, bigger, schools. Funny how ASU has been pushed into the spotlight by some odd issues this year. The Native American mascot issue is a long way from over and this issue has the potential to have a bigger impact and step on more toes than that issue.

[ I view FIU as only a few steps higher than a D-II school. Boy, I hope your players and coaches don't think like that. If they do that 'W' could turn into a 'L' real fast.

Please try to remember that ASU started seven 1st year players on defense last year. That said, and as I said on the Sun Belt message board, getting the ASU game moved to the end of the year could be to NT's advantage, depending on what happens between now and then. ASU looks a little stronger to me now but because NT is so young, who is to say that that will be the case in November. Of course ULL, ULM, MTSU and Troy are just as capable as NT or ASU. Even with one loss MTSU is as talented as anyone in the league. While the league is down this year overall the young talent in this league makes me think that it is going to get a lot better very soon. ASU, whether they beat you guys are not, are a very talented, young football team. It is my understanding that being a young is the common denominator in the Belt this year with perhaps MTSU and FIU being the exceptions. Also,FAU and FIU have more to offer to the league’s strength, long-term, than Utah St, Idaho or NMSU offered.

I should have made it clear that Troy plays Cal Poly and UAB at Home and whereas UNT only has Tulsa at Home before their game. That is why I feel it is much more grueling for UNT.

That could be my bad and I may have been thinking of the scuttlebutt that Jyles (ULM) is returning. If that is the case then I would say it is a big plus for UNT. Troy’s #2 QB, Meadows, has starting experience at E Tenn St but I do not know how well that will help him as far as being ready for a 1A game.

Yes. Also, special teams between the two are a wash with both expected to be outstanding. The only reason I am going with Troy is they will have played a less grueling schedule and they have a QB with a year’s experience. That’s it.

I am basing it on the fact that Troy was probably as good as any team in the league last year even without an offence and they return their starting QB. That is big. They had the best depth on defense of any Belt team. Also, Troy return 8 starters (4/4) and 37 lettermen (19,16,2) and UNT returns 9 starters (5/4) and 33 letterman (14,17,2) (not counting Cobbs). Both teams will be coming off similarly tough road games the previous week (Troy at SC and UNT at KSt) but UNT’s early schedule (LSU, MTSU, Tulsa, and K St) is a much more grueling than Troy’s (Cal Poly, UAB, Missouri, South Carolina). Factor in my predicted loss to MTSU and I think that UNT will be a less than full steam for this game and it will be the first conference game for Troy.

Well I had a few and as a result I am revising my Sun Belt football predictions for this season. I’ll leave you guys alone and at the end of the year see how close I came. I’m sure you guys will save a nice big peace of fresh cooked crow for me. Anyway have a good year and best of luck to everyone. Sun Belt Record / Overall Record and who they get beat by in the conference. #1 MTSU 6-1 / 8-3 (Troy) #2 UNT 5-2 / 6-5 (Troy, MTSU) & ULM 5-2 / 6-5 (UNT, MTSU) #4 ASU 4-3 / 6-5 (ULM, UNT, MTSU) & Troy 4-3 / 5-6 (ULM, ULL, ASU) #6 ULL 3-4 / 5-6 (ASU, MTSU,UNT, ULM) #7 FIU 1-6 / 2-11 (All but FAU) #8 FAU 0-7 / 0-11 (All) I am assuming Jyles will be available at ULM.

It is nice to see another school, along with Troy last year, come into the Belt with the idea of putting a championship team on the field. UNT cannot carry this league by itself so we need a couple of other schools, other than Troy who already is, playing good football in the Belt. If that happens, then the Belt will move past the MAC (if it has not already) and close in on the WAC.

Train Wreck? The MWC is really a step up from CUSA, is it not? I think that current wisdom is that there are still conferences (i.e. LaTech in WAC, Arkansas in SEC, Baylor in Big 12,UCF in CUSA) with schools that really would be rather be, or would be better fits somewhere else, in the long term. Most do not expect the current conference configurations to last very long.