Pre-season rankings #100-#119

[MeanGreen61]

As usual, most of the Sun Belt is in this group

104. Muts

107. ULM

112. ULL

117. ASU

118. FIU

119. FAU

Smoo is at #114.

Conferences with teams in the bottom 19:

MAC - 7 (Included Temple)

Sun Belt - 6

WAC - 3

CUSA - 2

Independent - 1

http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2005/Ra...005_101_119.htm

Edited June 22, 2005 by MeanGreen61

[mad dog]

ULM above ULL???

The team with a punter as the team's star over a team with Jerry Babb??

WHA???

Do these people have any clue, or are they just drawing the bottom 20 names out of a hat?

Edited June 22, 2005 by illuvius32

[MeanGreen61]

ULM above ULL???

The team with a punter as the team's star over a team with Jerry Babb??

WHA???

Do these people have any clue, or are they just drawing the bottom 20 names out of a hat?

Err. ULM is returning quite a few starters & they have beaten the Cajuns 2 or 3 straight. They've also got a pretty good QB in Jyles.

[Cerebus]

ULM above ULL???

The team with a punter as the team's star over a team with Jerry Babb??

WHA???

Do these people have any clue, or are they just drawing the bottom 20 names out of a hat?

I'll take ULM over ULL.

ULM has a better defense, and ULM has a better skill players.

I'll take Stephen Jyles over Jerry Babb anyday. While they had very similiar yardage numbers ( Jyles: 2322 Pass / 587 Rush vs Babb: 2345 Pass / 498 Rush) Babb threw more INT's than TD's, only ran for 4 scores vs Jyles 8, and took 21 sacks to Jyles 9.

Heck, I wish Jyles was in a Mean Green next year.

And lets not forget ULM has beaten ULL 3 straight times and the conference records last year: ULM 4-3 / ULL 2-5

[mad dog]

Maybe it is just a gut feeling, then: a case of stats not telling the whole story. I think ULL is poised for a breakout year, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to have them be the sleeper team in the conference.

Really, the only significant difference in the QB play of these two schools is the differential in sacks. I think Babb's 21 sacks might reflect perhaps on substandard o-line play, or perhaps because he was forced out of the pocket by a heavy pass rush. He carried this team on his back last year, and didn't have a viable threat out the backfield to help him out. If you only have to key on one guy, and aren't worried about a back busting one to the house, I think it is a lot more difficult to have success.

Enter Deon Wallace. This three star Rivals prospect could be ULL's biggest signing in their Sun Belt tenure. His 4.45 40 speed and heralded shiftiness will add another dimension to the Ragin Cajun offense that was sorely lacking. No Cajun running back had a run longer than 40 yards last season. Put in a burner like Wallace and those 40 yard runs turn into 60 or 70 yard runs. Now you have to worry about more than just Babb and, suddenly, with a little breathing room, your good QB becomes great.

Throw in the fact that ULL brought in 5-6 very promising O-Line recruits, as well as ULM's lack of a big time RB threat, and you have my reasoning for this.

But I do, at least, see the argument now for ULM ahead of ULL, even if I don't agree.

[Cerebus]

I think ULL is poised for a breakout year, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to have them be the sleeper team in the conference.

After having that feeling for three years now, its worn off, I am worried about ULM, especially since lest we forget, they have handed us our only loss in conference so far.

Really, the only significant difference in the QB play of these two schools is the differential in sacks.  I think Babb's 21 sacks might reflect perhaps on substandard o-line play, or perhaps because he was forced out of the pocket by a heavy pass rush.  He carried this team on his back last year, and didn't have a viable threat out the backfield to help him out.  If you only have to key on one guy, and aren't worried about a back busting one to the house, I think it is a lot more difficult to have success.

Neither of them had a great OL or any help at RB (they both lead thier team in rushing). Both of them where the #1 thing DC's had to worry about.

What it comes down to me is that both ULL/ULM have potential, but ULM worries me more because they have had more success vs the same opponents and they haven't lost to ULL since the conference started.

Agree that the new RB could improve the offense alot.

[mad dog]

I'll concede that maybe ULM has been the better team in year's past. Where I'll make my stand is that they'll be better this year.

[Cerebus]

Where I'll make my stand is that they'll be better this year.

Well, obviously, there is only >one way to settle this.

I await word from your second, sir.

[mad dog]

Well, obviously, there is only >one way to settle this.

I await word from your second, sir.

Here's my second:

"Chris Matthews, I wish we lived in the day where you could challenge a person to a duel."

Edited June 22, 2005 by illuvius32

[good_ken]

I have a different take on this list. I am not sure if you can differentiate too much between the 101st and the 110th team; but it does disturb me that so many Sunbelt school are still in the bottom percentiles....we (as a conference) need some of these schools to improve relative to the the overall field.

[GreenBrigadeDebbie]

I hope that the Belt teams can wiggle their way out of the ranking dungeons. Having that many teams ranked that low is kinda embarrassing.

[j0nat8an]

I hope that the Belt teams can wiggle their way out of the ranking dungeons.  Having that many teams ranked that low is kinda embarrassing.

kinda?