In 2007, Derek Dooley, son of legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley, took over as head coach. Though he inherited a 3-10 team, the cupboard wasn’t bare, as 15 starters returned. In Dooley’s first season, the Bulldogs played in numerous close games and almost stopped Hawaii’s dream season before it began, as they lost to the Warriors in an overtime thriller.
This season, Louisiana Tech has the talent to make a push for a bowl game and potentially make a surprise run towards the top of the WAC.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Coach: Derek Dooley (2nd year at Louisiana Tech, 5-7)
2007 Record: 5-7, 4-4 WAC
Starters Returning: 13 (8 offense, 5 defense)
Top Returnees: RB Patrick Johnson, RB Daniel Porter, WR Phillip Livas, WR Philip Beck, TE Dustin Mitchell, TE Anthony Harrison, C Lon Roberts, DT D’Anthony Smith, LB Quin Harris, MLB Brannon Jackson, FS Antonio Baker, SS Deon Young, CB Weldon Brown
Key Losses: QB Zac Champion, RT Ryan Considine, LT Tyler Miller, DE Ben McGilton, DE Chris Pugh, DL Joshua Muse, CB Tony Moss
2008 Schedule
Aug. 30 Mississippi St
Sept. 6 @ Kansas
Sept. 20 SE Louisiana
Oct. 1 @ Boise St
Oct. 11 @ Hawaii
Oct. 18 Idaho
Oct. 25 @ Army
Nov. 1 Fresno St
Nov. 8 @ San Jose St
Nov. 15 Utah St
Nov. 22 @ New Mexico St
Nov. 29 Nevada
Key game: Aug. 30 vs. Mississippi State. If there’s a way to start off the year right, it’d be by knocking off the Bulldogs from Starkville in their season opener in Ruston. MSU is coming off of a resurgent 2007 season, and like Louisiana Tech, they have high hopes for this season. You can be rest assured that Sylvester Croom’s bunch won’t be looking past this game, because it stands to be a dogfight (pun intended).
2008 Outlook
In 2008, the Bulldogs will look to continue to improve in Dooley’s second season and stay healthy as they make a quest for a postseason berth. They will see 13 starters return, including eight on offense.
Starting QB Zac Champion graduated and backup QB Michael Mosley has been moved to wide receiver. So who will start for the Bulldogs in 2008? Look for an intense competition between three transfer players. QB Steve Ensminger comes over from Auburn, where he red-shirted in 2006, QB Taylor Bennett transferred from Georgia Tech, where he started last season and threw for 2,136 yards and 7 touchdowns and Grambling State transfer Al Hawkins is the third player competing for the starter’s role.
2007’s leading rusher, RB Patrick Jackson (950 yards rushing, 8 touchdowns) is back for his senior year and has been a Second-Team All-WAC honoree the last two seasons. Jackson was hampered with injuries in ’07 and had off-season surgery to correct the problem, which should see him be in tip-top shape for 2008. RB Daniel Porter returns as the backup, where he put up 592 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns in that role last year.
The new starting quarterback will have an experienced group of targets to work with. Last season’s leading receiver, WR Phillip Livas started in just five games as a freshman, but had a solid campaign with 504 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns. The Bulldogs use a two tight end formation that features TE Dustin Mitchell (198 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns) and TE Anthony Harrison (293 yards receiving). Both are big, strong and very athletic. WR Philip Beck (359 yards receiving, 1 touchdown) should also get plenty of passes thrown his way.
The Bulldogs have seven players with starting experience on the O-line, but do lose a pair of three year starters in LT Tyler Miller and RT Ryan Considine.
Louisiana Tech has just five starters returning on defense, and just five of their top 14 tacklers return. However, four of those five were among their top five tacklers on the team.
The D-line sees three starters, Second-Team All-WAC DE Chris Pugh, DE Ben McGilton and DT Joshua Muse all leave school, which leaves DT D’Anthony Smith (42 tackles, 3 sacks) as the lone returning starter. The defensive line could does get a huge boost, however, as Dooley added two fantastic recruits in JUCO DE Kwame Jordan, who recorded 17.5 sacks last season, and NT Rolando Melancon (ranked #21 among DL in 2007), who originally signed with Tennessee.
The back seven will be a source of strength for the defense this year. FS Antonio Baker led the team last season in tackles with 118 and also had 3 interceptions. SS Deon Young started in nine games in ’07 and made 72 tackles with 3 interceptions, while CB Weldon Brown finished the year with 62 tackles and 4 interceptions.
At linebacker, Quin Harris returns after posting 102 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2007. He will be joined by Brannon Harris, who missed all of last season with an injury, but was a vital starter in ’05 and ’06. Alabama transfer Zach Schreiber will be the third starter in the middle of the defense for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs will continue to improve under the guidance of Dooley and his “Eat, Sleep and Breathe Football” mentality. Dooley will have to rely heavily on his key returning starters and hope his transfers and JUCO recruits pan out. A serious challenge for the WAC title may be a little too much to ask for Louisiana Tech this season, but a one or two-win improvement over last year’s record could get the Bulldogs in their first bowl game since 2001.
