Under head coach George O’Leary, the University of Central Florida has increased its visibility in the world of college football from directional school status to a highly respected program headed for future greatness. Considering the general direction of the landscape of college football, that’s definitely a good thing. UCF is poised to be ready for the next major shift of conference re-alignments, something many C-USA teams are hoping to be able to do come 2010.
Too bad Kevin Smith is gone.
Smith, the All-American running back that ran for over 2,567 yards (not a misprint) and 29 TDs, won’t be there to carry the load for the returning C-USA favorites again this year, and the Knights will need someone to throw the ball as well. QB Kyle Israel is no longer strapping it up for UCF, and the loss of 2 players at key offensive positions may leave room for someone else is the conference to step it up.
Does that mean the Golden Knights are under a tremendous amount of pressure to continue their winning ways? Probably, but don’t cry for Coach O’Leary because he’s got nothing to work with. UCF returns 37 lettermen and 9 defensive starters from a team that rolled through the conference with a 7-1 record and tallied 10 total wins.
Conference Favorites
UCF may be the team to beat in the East, but the West looks loaded with a solid group of teams that hope to make it to the Liberty Bowl, too.
Heading that list this year is the University of Houston. New head coach Kevin Sumlin brings a steady experience from several successful BCS programs, and he’s bringing an even more wide-open offensive attack than departed coach Art Briles employed.
Running the offense is probably the most exciting player you haven’t heard of (yet), QB Case Keenum. Keenum’s unusual giftedness at making big plays with his feet, and even bigger plays with his arm, give him a leg up on rival Blake Joseph. Both battled for playing time last season before Keenum took over. Keenum completed 68.5% of his passes last season, and he’s more than capable of putting up some pretty gaudy numbers this season in the Coogs’ new pass-happy offense.
Tulsa represented the West in last year’s C-USA championship game, and many predict Coach Todd Graham will have them back their again this year. The Golden Hurricane crew returns a solid group of talented players, and should be able to put up enough offensive numbers to beat anybody, especially if several key newcomers can step it up. Tulsa finished 10-4 last season, and trounced Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl 63-7. Still, it should be difficult to replace QB Paul Smith, who ran the offense to perfection. Helping ease the burden of that loss is talented RB Tarrion Adams, who many feel could become the next great C-USA runner.
SMU hired a new coach this year, and June Jones plans to crash the BCS party just like he did with Hawaii. The Mustangs are long on talent, and its up to Jones to lead them to the promised land. Speaking of talent, there isn’t a more talented player in the conference than QB Justin Willis. Willis has the arms, legs and overall athletic ability to become the most feared player in college football, especially in Jones’ patented Run-N-Shoot offense, but can he get past some off-the-field problems. Still, SMU is poised for greater things this season, and Mustang fans are clamoring for a conference championship sooner rather than later.
Darkhorses
If Skip Holtz can find a replacement for the uber-talented Chris Johnson this season, then East Carolina could end up winning the East. The Pirates return a solid core of players from last year’s 8-5 team, but they’ll need time to figure out who will carry the offensive burden, which isn’t a good sign for a team so challenged defensively. The good news is at quarterback. Both Patrick Pinkney and Robb Kass are capable signal callers and should help lead the team to at least another bowl berth.
Call me crazy, but the Rice Owls just may have a shot a some good things this year. The returning tandem of QB Chase Clement (3,377 yards, 29 TDs) and WR Jarret Dillard (79 receptions, 14 TDs) is one of the best of its kind in the nation. The Owls offense puts up a ton of points, and Coach David Bailiff expects much better things from his defense this year. If he’s right, the Owls could be on their way to the C-USA title game and a Liberty Bowl berth.
Southern Mississippi has a new coach and a new offensive attitude. Coach Larry Fedora brings in a swagger off the field he hopes translates into offensive fireworks on the field. Departed legendary coach Jeff Bower left Fedora with a full cupboard, and Fedora brought in a talented class of recruits. If the players can deal with the tremendous change in coaching philosophies, then the Golden Eagles should be back in the title hunt. RB Damion Fletcher (1,538 yards, 15 TDs) gives this team a chance to run, run, run all the way to the Liberty Bowl.
Mike Price has built a solid program at the University of Texas-El Paso since his forgettable mishap at Alabama. Price’s team took a step back last season, but UTEP expects to get back in the bowl picture behind the arm of talented signal-caller Trevor Vittatoe (3,101 yards and 25 TDs) and the girth of one of the best offensive lines in the nation.
With Vittatoe leading a talented offensive group that set school records for points and total yards last year, the Miners just need someone (or someones) to step up on the other side of the ball. The Miners return 7 starters from defense, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing. UTEP’s defense was legendarily terrible, and it will need to improve for the Miners to have a legit shot of rebounding from last year’s 4-8 finish.
The Rest
Tulane has a good shot at missing departed RB Matt Forte early and often in 2008. Finishing with only 4 wins last season, the Green Wave hope to rebound using a new West Coast-based attack. The Green Wave do return many starters on both sides of the ball, so don’t be surprised to see some minor improvements. Still, it won’t be enough to get them out of the basement in the tough West division.
Marshall hasn’t had a good year since We Are Marshall came out at the box office. That being said, coach Mark Snyder is optimistic about this year as several players lost to injury last season are back and ready to play. The biggest return is that of DE Albert McClellan, who eats up opposing offensive players like they were covered in fried cheese. McClellan was the 2006 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and should help boost the Thundering Herd defense.
Memphis has one of the nation’s top hoops programs, but coach Tommy West hopes to get the Tigers to that point on the gridiron. He did a good job last season, leading the Tigers to a 7-6 record and a New Orleans Bowl berth, their fourth postseason trip in five seasons. Memphis returns most of their starters from a team that won six of their last seven regular-season games. Incoming QB Arkelon Hall will need to pick up the offense quickly if the Tigers are to have the same amount of success this year.
Coach Neil Callaway is beginning his 2nd season at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and the rebuilding job is still incomplete. Still, the Blazers return a slew of starters and have the playmaking ability of WR Frantrall Frost to help them find their way this year. QB Joseph Webb will need a superb year, and the defense will need to play big for the Blazers to make some noise.
Conference Predictions
EAST
1. Central Florida: The Golden Knights are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and word on the street is RB Phillip Smith is ready to take over in the backfield.
2. East Carolina: Skip Holtz continues his excellent work for the Pirates, and ECU finds its way back to a bowl berth this season.
3. Southern Miss: Damion Fletcher runs his way to All-American status, but Southern Miss just misses out on a conference championship. Still, the Eagles land in a bowl and have another great year in Hattiesburg.
4. Memphis: Memphis won’t get to 6 wins, but they’ll have plenty to build on for next season.
5. Marshall: Where’s Randy Moss when you need him?
6. UAB: The Blazers just don’t have enough talent to get substantially better this year.
WEST
1. Houston: Sumlin, Keenum and the Air Coog offense put up points, break records, and cause a stir all the way to a championship showdown the the Golden Knights. A much improved defense and special teams don’t hurt either.
2. Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane struggle to find a quarterback early, but by the end of the season are again a nightmare for opposing defenses.
3. SMU: June Jones works his magic and gets the Ponies over the 6 win threshold. Justin Willis sets school records for passing yards and touchdowns (again), and Pony Nation is all smiles.
4. Rice: Chase Clement and Jarret Dillard live up the the hype, but the Owl defense just isn’t strong enough for Rice to make any significant noise in 2008.
5. UTEP: If the defense doesn’t step up, Coach Mike Price will end the season on the hot seat, despite great play from Vittatoe.
6. Tulane: Tulane struggles again, and Green Wave fans question their sanity.
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C-USA Championship: UCF over Houston
Click here for Part II of the Conference USA Preview
