ULM ready to contend ?

[MeanGreen61]

Monroe News Star article.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../506300336/1006

Ready to contend?

Preseason magazines take note of ULM's progress in Sun Belt

By Paul J. Letlow

pletlow@thenewsstar.com

Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver Drouzon Quillen has been catching up on his reading this summer.

Like most college football fans, Quillen is intrigued with the preseason predictions aimed at his team in the various preview magazines that are now out on the bookracks.

"I try to take a look at all of them," said Quillen, who caught 44 passes and seven touchdowns last year. "Coach printed them out for me and was showing me what they're saying about us. I've been taking a good look at them."

There is no consensus on ULM among five of the prominent magazines — Athlon, Lindy's, Sporting News, Street & Smith's and Phil Steele's.

The Indians, who were 5-6 overall and 4-3 in the Sun Belt Conference in 2004, are picked anywhere from second to fifth in the previews. Average them all together and ULM ranks fourth in the eight-team league.

"In recent years, we didn't prove to people that we're capable of being first and second," ULM punter Joel Stelly said. "But I know the way our team is now. As hard as they're working, I know we're going to show everyone at the end of the season where we should be."

Although he's interested in the positive press, Quillen doesn't necessarily take any of it to heart.

"That's just magazines," Quillen said. "It's good they're showing us respect. But it's good that some of them didn't. It just makes us hungrier."

Defensive end Brandon Guillory, one of the brightest returning stars in the Sun Belt, said that his teammates are working hard this summer with a championship in mind. Just two years ago, the Indians were 1-11.

"The big thing I recognize out of this team is a lot of commitment," Guillory said. "I also see a lot of young guys on this team stepping up and showing that they're ready to play a role."

EXPERIENCE COUNTS

Street & Smith's offers the highest prediction for the Indians, projecting ULM second behind North Texas. The magazine notes that ULM has 19 returning starters back, which should make a difference in league play.

"The Indians' claim to such a lofty position in the Sun Belt is determined by one factor, but a factor that gives them a rare edge over the remainder of the league — experience," Street & Smith's offered.

In Phil Steele's College Football Preview, the Indians are ranked third behind Middle Tennessee and North Texas. Phil Steele's pointed to a Sun Belt schedule that gives ULM home games against Arkansas State, Troy, Florida International and Louisiana-Lafayette. ULM plays league games at Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Middle Tennessee.

"The schedule maker was kind to ULM as they get four home games in league play and that has me calling for an upper-half finish this season," the Phil Steele preview predicted.

In Lindy's, Coach Charlie Weatherbie is given credit for his track record of success at Utah State and Navy. Weatherbie led both schools to bowl games and is trying to help the Indians reach the New Orleans Bowl.

"Weatherbie has a track record of turning programs around and appears to be on the right track at ULM," Lindy's noted. "A winning season and upper-echelon finish in the Sun Belt is definitely a possibility."

Athlon and The Sporting News weren't as generous in their predictions, with both magazines ranking ULM fifth.

Athlon hedges its bet by touting the talents of ULM quarterback Steven Jyles, who is back for his fourth year as a starter. Jyles is not only the No. 2 returning passer in the Sun Belt, but also the No. 3 returning rusher after gaining 587 yards on the ground.

"ULM's Indians improved from 1-11 to 5-6 last year under coach Charlie Weatherbie and won five of their last seven after a rough start," Athlon recalled. "Quarterback Steven Jyles alone will make ULM dangerous."

The Sporting News projects that ULM has the experienced offense to make vast improvements after averaging just 19.2 points in 2004.

"The Indians will score points in bunches, but their inexperienced defense could surrender just as many," The Sporting News predicted. "The Indians will have to show they can win on the road if they want to contend for the Sun Belt title."

FAMILIAR FACES

With a roster full of recognizable names, the experienced Indians could be a well-decorated team individually.

Guillory is a consensus preseason All-Sun Belt selection, appearing as a first-teamer in all five magazines. Guillory, a speed rush specialist who made 5½ sacks last year, is also named the league's "Most Underrated" player by The Sporting News. Fellow defensive lineman Marbrae Wilson was a first-team pick by Lindy's.

Jyles and Middle Tennessee's accurate quarterback Clint Marks are touted as the top signal-callers in the Sun Belt. Jyles is a first-team pick by The Sporting News, Street & Smith's and Phil Steele's. Lindy's credits Jyles with having the strongest arm while Street & Smith's calls the senior the best under pressure and the best passing quarterback.

Quillen, the Sun Belt's No. 2 returning receiver, is a first-team pick by Lindys, The Sporting News and Phil Steele's. The 6-6 junior is called the league's most dangerous deep threat by Lindy's and the fastest receiver by Street & Smith's. Lindy's rates Quillen as the Sun Belt's No. 10 NFL talent.

Stelly was almost a consensus pick after averaging 45.1 yards per punt last season. Phil Steele's rated the senior punter as a third-team selection. Stelly is also ranked as the No. 8 NFL talent in the league by Lindy's.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

The Sun Belt will have a new look this year as it adds Florida Atlantic and Florida International. In a regional realignment, Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State departed to play in the Western Athletic Conference.

But to win the Sun Belt championship, someone will have to knock off North Texas. The Mean Green have won the first four Sun Belt titles since the league's beginning in 2001.

North Texas is the pick of every magazine except Phil Steele's, which predicts that Middle Tennessee State will end the dynasty in Denton.

ULM in 2001 is the only Sun Belt team with a win over the Mean Green in that span. In what could be one of the league's big games this year, ULM plays at North Texas on Oct. 29.

ULM had a three-game winning streak heading into Denton last year before the Mean Green routed the Indians 45-30.

"We're ready for them," Guillory said. "We're focused. We've got a lot on our chests and we've got a lot to prove against them.

"There's just one word for what happened to us last year — cracked. We just cracked."

Originally published June 30, 2005

Edited July 1, 2005 by MeanGreen61