2008 CFN Conference USA Preview
Team Previews &
Predictions
East
East Carolina
|
Marshall
|
Memphis
|
So. Miss
|
UAB
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UCF
West
Houston
|
Rice
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SMU
|
Tulane
|
Tulsa
|
UTEP
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CFN All-Conference USA Team &
Top 30 Players
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Capsules
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Rankings
- Conference USA Schedules &
Predictions
By
Richard Cirminiello
Message to
Conference USA coaches: Start making defensive backs the priority
during the recruiting season.
In a matter of a couple of years, this disjointed collection of 12 teams
has morphed into one of the most pass-happy leagues in the country. More
than half of its members threw for at least 3,000 yards, including West
Division champion Tulsa, which topped the 5,000-yard mark. But wait,
there’s more. In the offseason, Conference USA lost five of its top six
rushers to the NFL and added June Jones at SMU, Larry Fedora at Southern
Miss, and Kevin Sumlin at Houston. While Jones will be installing the
run-and-shoot on the Hilltop, Fedora is scrapping Jeff Bower’s
conservative offense in favor of the no-huddle spread. All Sumlin plans
to do is emulate Mike Leach’s aerial assault at Texas Tech. Lure BYU out
of the Mountain West, and you’ve got a modern-day version of the 1980’s
WAC Conference.
Last season’s representatives in the league title game, UCF and Tulsa,
are slight favorites to meet again on Dec. 6. However, both schools have
a ton of holes to plug first. The Knights will be without the nation’s
rushing leader Kevin Smith, while the Hurricane has to replace QB Paul
Smith, who amassed Arena Football League numbers in his only year with
offensive mad scientist Gus Malzahn.
The East is flush with five schools capable of copping the division.
Only UAB is on the outside looking in, as Neil Callaway continues his
reclamation project in Birmingham. East Carolina is UCF’s stiffest
competition, a veteran program that’s still bitter about squandering the
division lead last November. Marshall could surprise if a capable
quarterback emerges.
Until the others can play some defense, the West is a two-team race
between Tulsa and Houston. The pair meets in Texas on Nov.15, with the
division probably hanging on the outcome. The Cougars lost head coach
Art Briles to Baylor, but Sumlin plans to keep the offense cranking with
coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who’s destined to become this year’s Malzahn.
Although Jones will bring national notoriety to SMU, the wins may not
follow for another year or two.
Conference USA doesn’t appear to have a Hawaii or Utah that can run the
table and demand entry into a BCS bowl game. It does, however, have a
slew of innovative offenses capable of rewriting school record books.
And that should be enough reason to pay attention to the league this
fall.
Team That'll Surprise
Marshall – The Herd is a competent quarterback away from being a
dangerous sleeper. Fueled by a positive finish, a sense of urgency, and
as much depth as it’s had under Mark Snyder, Marshall is poised for a
postseason return. The program boasts its best collection of skill
position players in years and a defense that’ll get a huge boost from
the return of DE Albert McClellan, the league’s 2006 Defensive Player of
the Year. Now all the Herd has to do is develop its next Chad Pennington
out of Mark Cann, Jonathan Garner, or Brian Anderson.
Team That'll Disappoint
UCF – It’s asking a lot to keep the momentum going after ten wins and a
league championship. The Knights have been schizophrenic under George
O’Leary, disappointing when expectations are high and overachieving when
no one is paying attention. The departure of RB Kevin Smith leaves a
gaping hole in an offense that’s breaking in a new quarterback and three
offensive linemen. UCF needed help winning the East, but won’t be as
fortunate in a division that’s more competitive than a year ago.
Game of the Year … UCF at Tulsa, Oct. 26. A rematch of last
year’s championship tilt might also be a preview of this December’s
game. The match up of the Hurricane receivers versus the ball-hawking
Knight secondary alone will be worth tuning in for the Sunday night Game
of the Week.
5 Big-Time Players Who Deserve a Bigger Spotlight
...
1. WR Brennan Marion, Sr. Tulsa
2. QB Chase Clement, Sr. Rice
3. RB Damion Fletcher, Jr. Southern Miss
4. DE Phillip Hunt, Sr. Houston
5. TE Cody Slate, Jr. Marshall
Coach on the Hot
Seat
Mark
Snyder, Marshall – After barely surviving last season’s 3-9 debacle,
Snyder won’t get a fifth year in Huntington if the Herd doesn’t make it
to the postseason. Hailed as a coach that would get the program back to
winning championship, he’s gone just 12-23, finishing no higher than
third place in the East Division.
Bold Prediction … Rice will be forced to assemble a makeshift
Heisman campaign for QB Chase Clement a month into the season. He won’t
contend for the award, of course, but he will put up the kind of numbers
on the ground and through the air that attract national attention.
5 Non-Conference Games Conference USA had better take very, very
seriously
1. Air Force at Houston, Sept. 13
2. UTEP at Buffalo, Aug. 28
3. New Mexico at Tulsa, Sept. 20
4. North Texas at Rice, Sept. 27
5. UL-Monroe at Tulane, Sept. 20
5 Best Pro Prospects
1. LB Gerald McRath, Jr. Southern Miss
2. TE Shawn Nelson, Sr. Southern Miss
3. RB Damion Fletcher, Jr. Southern Miss
4. TE Cody Slate, Jr. Marshall
5. CB Joe Burnett, Sr. UCF
5 Biggest Shoes to Fill
1. Phillip Smith
for RB Kevin
Smith, Jr. UCF
2. David Johnson
for QB Paul
Smith, Sr. Tulsa
3. Andre Anderson
for
RB Matt Forte, Sr. Tulane
4. Andre Kohn or Terrance Ganaway for RB Anthony Alridge, Sr. Houston
5. Dominique Lindsay
for RB Chris Johnson, Sr. ECU