Will the Owls soar to even bigger heights after landmark season?

In September 2001, Florida Atlantic played its first football game, a 40-7 loss to Slippery Rock. The Owls have indeed had a slippery slope to climb, going from starting from the ground up as a I-AA school to succeeding in I-A in a relatively short time. But they've navigated it well, and ... Continue Reading

Will the Cajuns be all the rage in the Sun Belt this season?

Posted By Eddie Griffin On Monday, May 19th 2008. Under NCAA Football Tags: Antwyne Zanders, Deon Wallace, Derik Keyes, Dwight Bentley, Gerren Blount, Hall Davis, Jason Chery, Jesse Newman, Justin Branden, LaQuincy Williams, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, Michael Desormeaux, Orkeys Auriene, Rickey Bustle, Seth Adams, Sun Belt Conference, Terrell Richardson, Tyrell Fenroy, ULL, ULL Ragin' Cajuns

Having one 1,000 yard rusher is pretty good. Now, if you have two, you're in pretty elite company. Last season, UL-Lafayette had a duo of 1,000 yard rushers in QB Michael Desormeaux, who ran for 1,141 yards and seven touchdowns, and RB Tyrell Fenroy, who had his third straight 1,000 yard ... Continue Reading

Can ULM parlay last season’s strong finish into a Sun Belt title run in 2008?

Posted By Eddie Griffin On Sunday, May 18th 2008. Under NCAA Football Tags: Aaron Morgan, Aaron Williams, Alaric Coleman, Alex Ford, Calvin Dawson, Cardia Jackson, Charlie Weatherbie, Darrell McNeal, David Cooper, Frank Goodin, Greg James, James Truxillo, Jared Berry, Josh Thompson, Kendall Mouton, Kinsmon Lancaster, LaGregory Sapp, Luther Ambrose, Nate Brown, Otis Stamps, Radi Jabour, Scott Love, Sun Belt Conference, Tay Ogletree, Thomas Robinson, ULM Warhawks, Zeek Zacharie

Losing a 1,400 yard rusher is never easy, no matter how you shake it. But the ULM Warhawks are in a pretty good position to challenge for the Sun Belt title this season, even without Calvin Dawson. While Sun Belt defenses are no doubt happy that Dawson is off to the NFL, ... Continue Reading

For Arkansas St. and Troy, it’s about reloading, not rebuilding

Posted By Eddie Griffin On Saturday, May 17th 2008. Under NCAA Football Tags: Arkansas State, Ben Owens, Boris Lee, Brandon Thompkins, Brian Flagg, Cameron Sheffield, Corey Leonard, DaJuan Harris, Dion Gales, Gregory Hardy, Javon McKinnon, Kenny Mainor, Larry Blakeney, Leodis McKelvin, Reggie Arnold, Sherrod Martin, Steve Roberts, Sun Belt Conference, Tavares Williams, Terence Moore, Troy Trojans, Tyrell Johnson

Troy and Arkansas St. had the honor of having defensive standouts drafted on the first day of the recent NFL draft, as Trojans cornerback Leodis McKelvin was the first corner taken, going #11 overall to the Buffalo Bills, which ASU safety Tyrell Johnson was taken in the second round by ... Continue Reading

Blue Raiders face quarterback ‘controversy’ (read: luxury) heading into 2008 season

Posted By Eddie Griffin On Thursday, May 15th 2008. Under NCAA Football Tags: Alex Suber, Dwight Dasher, Jeremy Kellem, Joe Craddock, Lonnie Clemons, middle tennessee state, Philip Tanner, Rick Stockstill, Sun Belt Conference

I'm of the opinion that it's a lot better to have a surplus than to not have enough of something. That's the situation facing Middle Tennessee St. coach Rick Stockstill heading into the 2008 season, as he has not one, but two, proven, talented quarterbacks who are both worthy of starting. ... Continue Reading

Rebuilding North Texas and FIU should make big strides in 2008

Posted By Eddie Griffin On Thursday, May 15th 2008. Under NCAA Football Tags: A'mod Ned, Cam Montgomery, Casey Fitzgerald, FIU, Florida International, Giovanni Vizza, Mario Cristobal, Micah Mosley, North Texas, Riley Dodge, Scott Bryant, Sun Belt Conference, Todd Dodge, UNT, Wayne Younger

Rebuilding is never an easy job, and along the way, there are going to be a lot of lumps and bumps. Last year was a rough one for first-year coaches Todd Dodge (North Texas) and Mario Cristobal (FIU), but what a difference a year can make - even if it was ... Continue Reading

2008 Sun Belt Conference Preview Part II

Posted By Eddie Griffin On Monday, May 12th 2008. Under NCAA Football Tags: Arkansas State, FIU, Florida Atlantic Owls, Florida International, middle tennessee state, North Texas Mean Green, Sun Belt Conference, Troy Trojans, ULL Ragin' Cajuns, ULM Warhawks

A few days ago, I posted the first part of the 2008 Sun Belt preview, which you can see here. In the second half of the preview, I give my take on 2008's key games, impact newcomers, and all-conference performers. Key Non-Conference Games Arkansas State went to Texas in their 2007 ... Continue Reading

Which non-BCS teams could crash the BCS party in 2008?

Posted By Eddie Griffin On Tuesday, May 6th 2008. Under NCAA Football Tags: A.J. Jefferson, Andy Dalton, Boise State Broncos, Brennan Marion, Brian Johnson, BYU Cougars, Central Florida, Central Michigan Chippewas, Conference USA, Dan LeFevour, Florida Atlantic Owls, Fresno State Bulldogs, Harvey Unga, Ian Johnson, Kevin Smith, MAC, Max Hall, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, MWC, Rusty Smith, Sun Belt Conference, Tarrion Adams, TCU Horned Frogs, Tom Brandstater, Tulsa Golden Hurricane, UCF Golden Knights, Utah Utes, WAC, Western Athletic Conference

Three of the last four seasons, the BCS party has been crashed by an ambitious team from one of the 'Group of Five,' or in other words, the non-BCS conferences. There are a few teams who could crash the bash this season, but each of them have tests that ... Continue Reading

The Red Zone Report