Spring Break
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF C-USA
THE DAILY CAMPUS 2007 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Jordan Hofeditz, Sports Editor, jhofedit@smu.edu
Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: News
The Mustangs enter the season with everything to prove. This may be a make or break season for head coach Phil Bennett who is in his sixth season with SMU.
With the return of freshman phenom quarterback Justin Willis and other key members of the offense including Emmanuel Sanders and DeMyron Martin, expect the SMU offense to put up some big numbers. The question will be if the new SMU defense can keep the Mustangs in big games.
The Mustangs made progress last season with a 6-6 record and bowl eligibility, but it wasn't enough to get SMU into a post-season game. This year that will be expected to change.
Tulane
The Green Wave endured a tough season last year (4-8, 2-6) and this season doesn't look like it will be much better.
A new head coach could be just what the doctor ordered, however, and Bob Toledo will look to make a difference. The offense took a big hit in graduating seniors, losing parts of the offensive line, tight end and quarterback.
The schedule for Tulane doesn't help its cause with non-conference games against Mississippi State and LSU. The only thing going for it is that those games are at home.
Tulsa
This season will also see the return of Todd Graham to the Tulsa sidelines. Before turning the Rice program around last season Graham was an assistant in Tulsa's 2005 C-USA Championship team. The Golden Hurricanes are preseason favorites, and rightfully so.
Tulsa also meets their two toughest opponents, SMU and Houston at home, with pretty meaningless games surrounding them-- UCF, Tulane and Army.
UTEP
After just missing out on the conference championship game in 2005, the Miners fell off the map last season. Their record fell from 5-3 to 3-5 in just one season.
If there is something that UTEP can take pride in it is the return of running back Marcus Thomas. But losses of Jordan Palmer and Johnnie Lee Higgins could be too much to overcome for the Miners this season.
Look for head coach Mike Price to use this season as learning experience for some of the young players. This will definitely be a rebuilding year.
With the return of freshman phenom quarterback Justin Willis and other key members of the offense including Emmanuel Sanders and DeMyron Martin, expect the SMU offense to put up some big numbers. The question will be if the new SMU defense can keep the Mustangs in big games.
The Mustangs made progress last season with a 6-6 record and bowl eligibility, but it wasn't enough to get SMU into a post-season game. This year that will be expected to change.
Tulane
The Green Wave endured a tough season last year (4-8, 2-6) and this season doesn't look like it will be much better.
A new head coach could be just what the doctor ordered, however, and Bob Toledo will look to make a difference. The offense took a big hit in graduating seniors, losing parts of the offensive line, tight end and quarterback.
The schedule for Tulane doesn't help its cause with non-conference games against Mississippi State and LSU. The only thing going for it is that those games are at home.
Tulsa
This season will also see the return of Todd Graham to the Tulsa sidelines. Before turning the Rice program around last season Graham was an assistant in Tulsa's 2005 C-USA Championship team. The Golden Hurricanes are preseason favorites, and rightfully so.
Tulsa also meets their two toughest opponents, SMU and Houston at home, with pretty meaningless games surrounding them-- UCF, Tulane and Army.
UTEP
After just missing out on the conference championship game in 2005, the Miners fell off the map last season. Their record fell from 5-3 to 3-5 in just one season.
If there is something that UTEP can take pride in it is the return of running back Marcus Thomas. But losses of Jordan Palmer and Johnnie Lee Higgins could be too much to overcome for the Miners this season.
Look for head coach Mike Price to use this season as learning experience for some of the young players. This will definitely be a rebuilding year.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
TM
posted 8/30/07 @ 9:49 AM CST
Your Rice preview is all wrong. You say that they are led by "football savior" Todd Graham. Graham is obviously coaching at Tulsa now and you eevn talk about his arrival in their preview. (Continued…)
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