2009 Record: 6-6
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (First year at Notre Dame, 171-57-2 All-Time)
Schedule: Purdue (9/4), Michigan (9/11), at Michigan St (9/18), Stanford (9/25), at Boston College (10/2), Pittsburgh (10/9), Western Michigan (10/16), Navy (10/23), Tulsa (10/30), Utah (11/13), Army (11/20), at USC (11/27)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 30.1 points per game (32nd in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 128 (84th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game:232 (5th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 451 (8th in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 25.9 points per game (63rd in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 170 (89th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 227 (76th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 397 (86th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.42 per game (29th in Nation)
Penalties: 55 yards per game (73rd in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 6
Defense: 9
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Dayne Crist, Jr (10 of 20 for 130 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: QB Armando Allen, Sr (142 carries for 697 yds, 3 TD, 4.9 ypc, 69 ypg)
Receiving: WR Michael Floyd, Jr (44 rec,795 yds, 18.07 yds/rec, 9 TD, 6.3 rec/game)
Tackles: LB Brian Smith, Sr (71); SS Harrison Smith, Sr (69)
Sacks: DE Ethan Johnson, Jr (4.0)
Interceptions: LB Brian Smith, Sr (2); CB Robert Blanton, Jr (2)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #26
Phil Steele: #16
Sporting News: #29
2010 Pre-Season Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Champs Sports Bowl (vs. Miami, Fl)
Phil Steele: Champs Sports Bowl (vs. Virginia Tech)
The good news for Notre Dame's defense this year is that they have 9 starters returning. Or is that bad news? Notre Dame was just not very good on defense last year. They ranked in the bottom half of the country in all major defensive categories and gave up more yardage than 3-9 Colorado State, 2-10 Maryland and 1-11 Miami (Ohio). Notre Dame made the long awaited change this off-season from Charlie Weiss to Brian Kelly. Kelly went 34-6 at Cincinnati (17-4 in the Big East) and has led his teams to 5 consecutive bowl appearances. Notre Dame has a tough but manageable schedule with the toughest match-ups looking to be against Boston College, Pitt, Utah and USC (they also start off with 3 Big Ten games and then Stanford that will really determine how good Notre Dame can be this year). An interesting note is that Notre Dame is only playing 3 true road games (2 games are at "neutral locations"). We like to get different perspectives here at CFBZ so, like we did with our Auburn preview, we turned to a fan of Notre Dame to take the proverbial temperature of the program. Here is what "Friend of the Blog" Craig Hudak had to say about Notre Dame's 2010 team:
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of Notre Dame?
Offense was the only strength last year as the defense gave up way too many points. Somehow, OC Charlie Weis and Jimmy Clausen, along with Golden Tate, Kyle Rudolph, and for a smaller portion of the season, Michael Floyd, kept the team in most of the games they played. The defense was so bad and slow last year that you have to believe that the biggest strength is still going to be the teams ability to stretch the defense. The biggest question is going to be Dayne Crist's knee though, because if that doesn't hold up, I think Coach Brian Kelly and OC Charley Molnar's playbook for offense becomes a liability. I have faith in Molnar though, given what he's been able to do with other quarterbacks.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test?
The first major test is obviously Purdue. Purdue is going to be a legit threat this year and could very well be playing in a bowl game that isn't on at 3:24 AM on the History Channel, or wherever they put the bottom of the barrel bowl games now. They're not a BCS bowl team, but they're certainly better than they were last year. They nearly beat Notre Dame last year, and unless the defense has improved, I see Purdue beating Notre Dame. And don't forget, after Purdue, there's Michigan and Michigan State. Notre Dame NEVER beats Michigan and Michigan State both in the same season. Lose to Purdue, but beat those guys, and you really start to change the culture in South Bend. It's going to be a rough few games to open the season though, and the biggest test may be keeping their health good as they play three of their biggest rivals.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
Michigan, Michigan State, Tulsa? It's a tough schedule, it's always a tough schedule because it's Notre Dame. Even when it looks weak, Notre Dame fans know that every game is a tough test and you really have to fear all of these teams.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Duval Kamara. He's not the best player, but he's definitely the best player that no one talks about. He's a monster at 6'5" and he should be greatly improved over last year. While Floyd gets double coverage, look for Kamara going up for jump ball after jump ball. He's got a decent vertical leap, and at 6'5", who is going to get up higher than him?
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph is another in a long line of great Notre Dame tight ends. He plays as well as a wide receiver, has amazing hands, and he's built like a linebacker. He's a monster and a playmaker. Floyd is the best wide receiver on the team, but his health is always in question, and you can always count on Rudolph for that big 3rd down play.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Manti Te'o. This is the year where Te'o breaks out. Somehow, Charlie Weis recruited a player who is perfect for Bryan Kelly. He's a beast and if he can step up for 12 games this year, the defense should be good.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
Manti Te'o. He really needs to understand who he is and lead the defense on the field. If he is playing to his full potential, far too much attention is going to be paid to him by the offense, mistakes will be made, and the rest of the Notre Dame defense should come up big.
Who do you consider to be your biggest rivals and who is the team that you just can't stand to lose to?
Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Navy, USC, etc. Out of all of those teams though, I hate losing to Michigan and Navy. Navy, for so long, was an automatic win for this team, and in recent years, they've embarrassed Notre Dame. It's so pathetic and sad. As for Michigan, well, when you're born into being a Notre Dame fan, when you live a couple minutes from the campus, and when you've seen well over 200 games, hating Michigan is only natural. Others will say USC, but in recent years, USC has been so good and so impressive, that it's only natural they would beat Notre Dame over and over again.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season?
8-4
What makes Brian Kelly's first year a successful season in your eyes?
The defense needs to come up big. The Notre Dame offense will be the same Notre Dame offense you've always seen, but the defense needs to be something we haven't seen before. If they play like a Brian Kelly defense, then this team should be OK. Anything less than 8-4 at the end of the season though, and Kelly is going to have a rough start to his time in South Bend.
Next Preview: Indiana Hoosiers
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, Stanford Cardinal, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
Showing posts with label Independent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Independent. Show all posts
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: Army Black Knights
2009 Record: 5-7
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Rich Ellerson (5-7 at Army, 63-45 All-Time)
Schedule: at Eastern Michigan (9/4), Hawaii (9/11), North Texas (9/18), at Duke (9/25), Temple (10/2), at Tulane (10/9), at Rutgers (10/16), VMI (10/30), Air Force (11/6), at Kent State (11/13), Notre Dame (11/20), at Navy (12/11)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 15.3 points per game (117th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 203 (16th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 71 (120th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 275 (117th in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 21.9 points per game (35th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 152 (71th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 153 (4th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 305 (16th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.42 per game (29th in Nation)
Penalties: 43 yards per game (17th in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 8
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Trent Steelman, Soph (54 of 110 for 637 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: QB Trent Steelman, Soph (202 carries for 706 yds, 5 TD, 3.5 ypc, 58 ypg)
Rushing: RB Patrick Mealy, Sr (110 carries for 673 yds, 3 TD, 6.1 ypc, 56 ypg)
Receiving: WR Jameson Carter, Sr (4 rec, 46 yds)
Tackles: LB Andrew Rodriguez, Jr (85); LB Stephen Anderson, Sr (83)
Sacks: DE Josh McNary, Sr (13.5)
Interceptions: FS Donovan Travis, Sr (4)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #85
Pre-Snap Read: #85
Sporting News: #79
2010 Pre-Season Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Armed Forces Bowl (vs. Wyoming)
Phil Steele: Armed Forces Bowl (vs. Tulsa)
In Rich Ellerson's debut Army went 5-7 last year and missed their first bowl trip since 1996. Ellerson has 16 returning starters on offense/defense and returns his leading passer, rusher, tackler, sack leader and interception leader. The big issue for Army last year was not the defense but a lack of offensive production and scoring. Army's schedule looks about the same as it did last year so I would think that they should be able to get to at least 6-6 and get to a bowl. Phil Steele calls this "easily Army's best team since their 1996 bowl squad." We wanted to find out more about Army football so we turned to the Army blog The Unbalanced Line.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of Army?
Strengths:
A. The Offensive Line: The line brings back four, which, after returning just one starter in 2009 should be a more effective unit in 2010. Four starters with a year of experience in the triple option and the addition of a new fullback suggest that the O-line should be an area of strength this year.
B. Defensive scheme/execution: Ellerson's defense really stood out last year. Army uses the Double Eagle Flex which seemed like it caused teams trouble in 2009 as none of Army's opponents had played against it before. Personnel-wise Army warmed up pretty quickly to the scheme and had players racking up stats.
C. Schedule: There are a lot of teams with low expectations appear on the schedule. Tests will come in the neutral site games against Navy, Rutgers and Notre Dame. Home games against Hawaii, North Texas, Temple, VMI and Air Force should afford Army a usable home field edge. The away games are all winnable, and I truly can't find a softer schedule in all of FBS. This schedule is the main reason Army has been in the bowl candidate conversation.
Weaknesses:
A. Army's most glaring weakness is the one-dimensional offense, last year the Black Knights attack was simply awful and the team relied way too much on the defense to keep them in games. We saw the offense gack games away at Temple and against Duke, and they were lucky to hang in the games they did. Army scored just 18 total offensive TDs in 2009. and averaged just 15.3 points per game. If those numbers repeat in 2010 the Black Knights will be lucky to win three games.
B. Kicking game: Spring practice revealed that Army's kicking game has taken a bit of a step back over the break. Last year's kicker Alex Carlton might have to compete for the placekicking duties as he has struggled with consistency over the spring. A positive is that Carlton and 2008 placekicker Matt Campbell (KO specialist in 2009) each have had success kicking during the regular season, but having such uncertainty going into the preseason practice is a little unsettling.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
I've remained pretty optimistic this offseason, and I'd like to think I have a good idea of what Army is capable of in 2010. There are some games that Army should definitely win and some games that look like sure losses. With that said, it's the toss-ups that have me biting my nails. A loss to Hawaii in the home opener could put Army's bowl hopes in a huge hole - keep in mind that Army will need six wins before the Army/Navy game to be bowl eligible. So just as Army can count on some wins, they can also count on some losses - but it's those 'toss-up' games that are going to make or break the 2010 season.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Every game should be interesting, but the first serious challenge will be the away game at Duke. That game is just a tough situation for Army... an away game on grass and Duke will be coming off a home game against Alabama. Army hung with Duke last year and the Black Knights will have revenge on their minds. I look at this one as another one of those toss-ups: could be an important win... could be a tough loss.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
I've been impressed with the role that Chip Bowden has played under the new head coach. Bowden was being groomed as the starting quarterback before Ellerson took over and stepped in for Steelman in a few games last year when Trent was dinged up. He contributed on special teams in kick coverage until he was injured in the Air Force game. The injury (ACL) forced Bowden out of spring practice, but he should be able to practice in August. I haven't heard much about his recovery, but if he's anywhere close to 100% I would expect to see him find the field on special teams. The latest depth chart has Chip listed as the backup to QB Steelman, so I'm optimistic about his recovery.
Honorable mention:
ROV Steve Erzinger 71 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss.
DT Mike Gann 34 Tackles, 6 tackles for loss
SB Patrick Mealy 110 rushes, 673 yards 3 TDs
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
The best offensive player returning from 2009 is QB Trent Steelman. He is simply the most productive player from last year's offense. Trent cracked a rib in the first game of the season, but persevered and became the first freshman QB to start all 12 games for Army. His 2009 numbers were unspectacular - 706 rush yards (5 TDs) 637 pass yards(3 TDs), but his toughness and ability to manage the offense have been proven. He's going to be the QB for the next 3 years and considering his performance in 2009 we can count on Steelman having a breakthrough season sooner rather than later.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Whether or not it was the Double Eagle Flex system that led to his individual success, Army's stand-out defensive player is Josh McNary. McNary ended up 5th in the nation in sacks last year finishing with 12.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss. He has been named to a number of preseason All-America teams and made the preseason watch list for the Ronnie Lott Trophy awarded to the national defensive player of the year.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
On offense the addition of transfer fullback Jared Hassin should make the offense more potent, but I'll touch on that in a minute. On defense one of the team leaders last year was Steve Anderson. Like Chip Bowden, Anderson suffered a knee injury against Air Force and like Bowden, Anderson also had offseason ACL surgery. Anderson flew around the field making plays last year and though he played in only 9 games, finished #2 on the team with 83 tackles. After the injury Anderson remained involved with the team by mentoring his backups through spring ball, but as long as he's healthy, Anderson's role on the field will be a lot more important for the 2010 Black Knights.
Who is the top newcomer that can make an impact this year?
There is a lot of hype surrounding soph. transfer Jared Hassin who should provide both speed and a physical presence at the fullback spot. The hope is that Hassin will root out yards on the inside which would make the triple option's outside runs more of a threat. Last year Kingsley Ehie played fullback, and he did a good job of finding holes (114 rushes, 473 yards, 2TDs) - in fact Ehie did well enough finding holes on offense that he has moved over to Linebacker this year to compete for downs on Ellerson's read/react defense.
Navy has beaten Army 8 straight times. What does Army need to do differently to have a shot at ending the streak this year?
I think Rich Ellerson is on the right track. Whether it's fair or not, the success of Army's program is to a large degree judged in comparison to Navy. In that respect the 2000's were an awful stretch for Army as Navy has enjoyed some spectacular success while Army has been just terrible. This year's team has had a full year with the triple option and Ellerson's defense has proven it can impact games. As long as there is stability with at the coaching spot Army is in good shape moving forward.
Can Army beat Navy this year? Sure. I don't think the Black Knights will be favored, but if the Cadets can eliminate turnovers and play sound ball control football, they can position themselves to win a close game.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
I don't usually do predictions, but I'm in this far, so...
The Black Knights will need to accumulate a lot of good fortune in order to finish 8-4. I think most people would agree that the 2010 team has improved in almost every phase from the 2009 team. Even considering the team's improvements an 8-4 year could be achieved only by playing absolutely flawless football. I'm talking zero injuries, +15 turnovers and a serious improvement in all phases of the kicking game. In light of that, I don't see 8-4 as realistic.
I didn't graduate from West Point so I don't consider Army's yearly success defined by a win over Navy. I think Army can go 6-6, but as I mentioned above Army needs 6 wins by November 20th in order to garner the Bell Helicopters Bowl bid. We might see a situation where Army goes into the Army/Navy game at 5-6, wins that game and still doesn't go bowling due to how the bowl contract was set up. To me that version of a 6-6 season would be a failure - but reverse that scenario... Army comes into Army/Navy at 6-5... loses to Navy, but backs into the Bell Helicopter bowl bid. I really can't say I prefer that situation either, so I think it's important for Army to have very high expectations of their season. For Army a 7-5 season is possible, but it leaves a very slim margin for error.
Next Preview: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Navy Midshipmen
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, Stanford Cardinal, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Rich Ellerson (5-7 at Army, 63-45 All-Time)
Schedule: at Eastern Michigan (9/4), Hawaii (9/11), North Texas (9/18), at Duke (9/25), Temple (10/2), at Tulane (10/9), at Rutgers (10/16), VMI (10/30), Air Force (11/6), at Kent State (11/13), Notre Dame (11/20), at Navy (12/11)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 15.3 points per game (117th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 203 (16th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 71 (120th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 275 (117th in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 21.9 points per game (35th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 152 (71th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 153 (4th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 305 (16th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.42 per game (29th in Nation)
Penalties: 43 yards per game (17th in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 8
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Trent Steelman, Soph (54 of 110 for 637 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: QB Trent Steelman, Soph (202 carries for 706 yds, 5 TD, 3.5 ypc, 58 ypg)
Rushing: RB Patrick Mealy, Sr (110 carries for 673 yds, 3 TD, 6.1 ypc, 56 ypg)
Receiving: WR Jameson Carter, Sr (4 rec, 46 yds)
Tackles: LB Andrew Rodriguez, Jr (85); LB Stephen Anderson, Sr (83)
Sacks: DE Josh McNary, Sr (13.5)
Interceptions: FS Donovan Travis, Sr (4)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #85
Pre-Snap Read: #85
Sporting News: #79
2010 Pre-Season Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Armed Forces Bowl (vs. Wyoming)
Phil Steele: Armed Forces Bowl (vs. Tulsa)
In Rich Ellerson's debut Army went 5-7 last year and missed their first bowl trip since 1996. Ellerson has 16 returning starters on offense/defense and returns his leading passer, rusher, tackler, sack leader and interception leader. The big issue for Army last year was not the defense but a lack of offensive production and scoring. Army's schedule looks about the same as it did last year so I would think that they should be able to get to at least 6-6 and get to a bowl. Phil Steele calls this "easily Army's best team since their 1996 bowl squad." We wanted to find out more about Army football so we turned to the Army blog The Unbalanced Line.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of Army?
Strengths:
A. The Offensive Line: The line brings back four, which, after returning just one starter in 2009 should be a more effective unit in 2010. Four starters with a year of experience in the triple option and the addition of a new fullback suggest that the O-line should be an area of strength this year.
B. Defensive scheme/execution: Ellerson's defense really stood out last year. Army uses the Double Eagle Flex which seemed like it caused teams trouble in 2009 as none of Army's opponents had played against it before. Personnel-wise Army warmed up pretty quickly to the scheme and had players racking up stats.
C. Schedule: There are a lot of teams with low expectations appear on the schedule. Tests will come in the neutral site games against Navy, Rutgers and Notre Dame. Home games against Hawaii, North Texas, Temple, VMI and Air Force should afford Army a usable home field edge. The away games are all winnable, and I truly can't find a softer schedule in all of FBS. This schedule is the main reason Army has been in the bowl candidate conversation.
Weaknesses:
A. Army's most glaring weakness is the one-dimensional offense, last year the Black Knights attack was simply awful and the team relied way too much on the defense to keep them in games. We saw the offense gack games away at Temple and against Duke, and they were lucky to hang in the games they did. Army scored just 18 total offensive TDs in 2009. and averaged just 15.3 points per game. If those numbers repeat in 2010 the Black Knights will be lucky to win three games.
B. Kicking game: Spring practice revealed that Army's kicking game has taken a bit of a step back over the break. Last year's kicker Alex Carlton might have to compete for the placekicking duties as he has struggled with consistency over the spring. A positive is that Carlton and 2008 placekicker Matt Campbell (KO specialist in 2009) each have had success kicking during the regular season, but having such uncertainty going into the preseason practice is a little unsettling.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
I've remained pretty optimistic this offseason, and I'd like to think I have a good idea of what Army is capable of in 2010. There are some games that Army should definitely win and some games that look like sure losses. With that said, it's the toss-ups that have me biting my nails. A loss to Hawaii in the home opener could put Army's bowl hopes in a huge hole - keep in mind that Army will need six wins before the Army/Navy game to be bowl eligible. So just as Army can count on some wins, they can also count on some losses - but it's those 'toss-up' games that are going to make or break the 2010 season.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Every game should be interesting, but the first serious challenge will be the away game at Duke. That game is just a tough situation for Army... an away game on grass and Duke will be coming off a home game against Alabama. Army hung with Duke last year and the Black Knights will have revenge on their minds. I look at this one as another one of those toss-ups: could be an important win... could be a tough loss.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
I've been impressed with the role that Chip Bowden has played under the new head coach. Bowden was being groomed as the starting quarterback before Ellerson took over and stepped in for Steelman in a few games last year when Trent was dinged up. He contributed on special teams in kick coverage until he was injured in the Air Force game. The injury (ACL) forced Bowden out of spring practice, but he should be able to practice in August. I haven't heard much about his recovery, but if he's anywhere close to 100% I would expect to see him find the field on special teams. The latest depth chart has Chip listed as the backup to QB Steelman, so I'm optimistic about his recovery.
Honorable mention:
ROV Steve Erzinger 71 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss.
DT Mike Gann 34 Tackles, 6 tackles for loss
SB Patrick Mealy 110 rushes, 673 yards 3 TDs
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
The best offensive player returning from 2009 is QB Trent Steelman. He is simply the most productive player from last year's offense. Trent cracked a rib in the first game of the season, but persevered and became the first freshman QB to start all 12 games for Army. His 2009 numbers were unspectacular - 706 rush yards (5 TDs) 637 pass yards(3 TDs), but his toughness and ability to manage the offense have been proven. He's going to be the QB for the next 3 years and considering his performance in 2009 we can count on Steelman having a breakthrough season sooner rather than later.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Whether or not it was the Double Eagle Flex system that led to his individual success, Army's stand-out defensive player is Josh McNary. McNary ended up 5th in the nation in sacks last year finishing with 12.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss. He has been named to a number of preseason All-America teams and made the preseason watch list for the Ronnie Lott Trophy awarded to the national defensive player of the year.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
On offense the addition of transfer fullback Jared Hassin should make the offense more potent, but I'll touch on that in a minute. On defense one of the team leaders last year was Steve Anderson. Like Chip Bowden, Anderson suffered a knee injury against Air Force and like Bowden, Anderson also had offseason ACL surgery. Anderson flew around the field making plays last year and though he played in only 9 games, finished #2 on the team with 83 tackles. After the injury Anderson remained involved with the team by mentoring his backups through spring ball, but as long as he's healthy, Anderson's role on the field will be a lot more important for the 2010 Black Knights.
Who is the top newcomer that can make an impact this year?
There is a lot of hype surrounding soph. transfer Jared Hassin who should provide both speed and a physical presence at the fullback spot. The hope is that Hassin will root out yards on the inside which would make the triple option's outside runs more of a threat. Last year Kingsley Ehie played fullback, and he did a good job of finding holes (114 rushes, 473 yards, 2TDs) - in fact Ehie did well enough finding holes on offense that he has moved over to Linebacker this year to compete for downs on Ellerson's read/react defense.
Navy has beaten Army 8 straight times. What does Army need to do differently to have a shot at ending the streak this year?
I think Rich Ellerson is on the right track. Whether it's fair or not, the success of Army's program is to a large degree judged in comparison to Navy. In that respect the 2000's were an awful stretch for Army as Navy has enjoyed some spectacular success while Army has been just terrible. This year's team has had a full year with the triple option and Ellerson's defense has proven it can impact games. As long as there is stability with at the coaching spot Army is in good shape moving forward.
Can Army beat Navy this year? Sure. I don't think the Black Knights will be favored, but if the Cadets can eliminate turnovers and play sound ball control football, they can position themselves to win a close game.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
I don't usually do predictions, but I'm in this far, so...
The Black Knights will need to accumulate a lot of good fortune in order to finish 8-4. I think most people would agree that the 2010 team has improved in almost every phase from the 2009 team. Even considering the team's improvements an 8-4 year could be achieved only by playing absolutely flawless football. I'm talking zero injuries, +15 turnovers and a serious improvement in all phases of the kicking game. In light of that, I don't see 8-4 as realistic.
I didn't graduate from West Point so I don't consider Army's yearly success defined by a win over Navy. I think Army can go 6-6, but as I mentioned above Army needs 6 wins by November 20th in order to garner the Bell Helicopters Bowl bid. We might see a situation where Army goes into the Army/Navy game at 5-6, wins that game and still doesn't go bowling due to how the bowl contract was set up. To me that version of a 6-6 season would be a failure - but reverse that scenario... Army comes into Army/Navy at 6-5... loses to Navy, but backs into the Bell Helicopter bowl bid. I really can't say I prefer that situation either, so I think it's important for Army to have very high expectations of their season. For Army a 7-5 season is possible, but it leaves a very slim margin for error.
Next Preview: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Navy Midshipmen
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, Stanford Cardinal, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: Navy Midshipmen
2009 Record: 10-4
2009 Bowl: Texas Bowl (beat Missouri 35-13)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked (received 85 points placing them 28th)
Head Coach: Ken Niumatalolo (18-10 All-Time)
Schedule: Maryland (9/6), Georgia Southern (9/11), at Louisiana Tech (9/18), at Air Force (10/2), at Wake Forest (10/9), SMU (10/16), Notre Dame (10/23), Duke (10/30), at East Carolina (11/6), Central Michigan (11/13), Arkansas State (11/20), Army (12/11)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 28.0 points per game (57th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 280 (4th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 75 (119th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 356 (77th in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 19.4 points per game (18th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 122 (30th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 213 (50th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 335 (34th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.64 per game (15th in Nation)
Penalties: 29 yards per game (1st in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 5
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Ricky Dobbs, Sr (56 of 105 for 1031 yds, 6 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: QB Ricky Dobbs, Sr (315 carries for 1192 yds, 27 TD, 3.7 ypc, 91 ypg)
Rushing: RB Vince Murray, Sr (182 carries for 971 yds, 6 TD, 5.3 ypc, 69 ypg)
Receiving: WR Greg Jones, Sr (5 rec, 142 yds, 1 TD)
Tackles: S Wyatt Middleton, Sr (68); LB Tyler Simmons, Sr (68)
Sacks: DE Jabaree Tuani, Jr (3.5)
Interceptions: S Wyatt Middleton, Sr (4)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #33
Mark Schlabach: #25
Phil Steele: #48
Sporting News: #37
2010 Pre-Season Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Poinsettia Bowl (vs. Utah)
Phil Steele: Poinsettia Bowl (vs. BYU)
Navy returns 8 starters from an offense that was #4 in the Nation in rushing last year. They also return QB Ricky Dobbs who rushed for 27 TDs and passed for 6 more. Navy has a much easier schedule this year as they don't play Ohio State or Pittsburgh like they did last year. Last year they lost to Ohio State, Pitt, Temple and Hawaii by a combined 27 points. Every game on Navy's schedule looks winnable to me. Of course looking winnable and actually winning are two separate entities. We caught up with Adam Nettina, a member of the Football Writers Association of America and a writer for Scout.com's Navy affiliate GoMids.com.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team?
Experience and athleticism at key positions. Not only does Navy return Ricky Dobbs at quarterback (who set the NCAA record for rushing TDs by a QB in 2009 with 27 scores), but the Mids return a fairly experienced offensive line as well as their top two fullbacks in Vince Murray and Alex Teich. On defense, Navy has a veteran group up front, and should have one of its best secondaries in years with the safety combination of Wyatt Middleton and Emmett Merchant. Keep in mind that experience isn’t just a meaningless statistic: this was a resourceful team in 2009, and one which didn’t back down to anyone. They took Ohio State to the wire and beat Notre Dame on the road, while also blowing out Missouri in the bowl game. If there is one team in the country that embodies the intangible of ‘focus,’ it’s Navy.
That being said, the linebacker corps will need an overhaul. Only one starter returns in Navy’s 3-4 scheme from last year, and the Mids will likely miss the absence of key leaders like Ram Vela and Craig Schafer. There is still some question as to how much depth there is on the defensive line and in the secondary, and the team will be searching for a playmaker at slotback after last year’s breakout star, Marcus Curry, was dismissed from the team.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Right out the gate the team will be tested against the Maryland Terrapins. While the Terps were a paltry 2-10 in 2009, they have no shortage of talent. Navy fell to the Terps in a game they should have won in 2005, and also struggled mightily on offense against UMass in 2006. Why does that matter? Well, Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown was the head coach of that UMass team, and is considered by many to be among the best coaches in the country at scheming against the flexbone option. If Navy can find offensive success against Brown’s defense and pull out the win, it’ll likely be an omen for a strong offensive showing through the rest of the season.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
The answer for Navy is always “the next team.” This is a team and a program which takes each week at a time, and isn’t likely to overlook anybody on the schedule. That was the philosophy of Paul Johnson, and it’s the philosophy of Ken Niumatalolo. Even without that philosophy, however, I think it’s Maryland. The Terps may not look too good on paper, but they have the potential to give Navy a rude awakening if the Mids don’t show up with their helmets strapped.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
QB Ricky Dobbs and S Wyatt Middleton get most of the attention -- and with good reason – but on offense I think you look at a guy like center Eric Douglass and on defense you take a look at cornerback Kevin Edwards. Edwards had a huge game against Notre Dame last year, and was really instrumental in containing Golden Tate. He may not look like a lock-down corner, but he’s gone up against numerous high-round NFL draft picks in his long Navy career, and brings a fiery attitude and physicality to the position. Douglass only started four games at center last year, but I think he gives the team a big boost at the position. More and more teams are lining up in odd man fronts against Navy, and that philosophy makes having a powerful center very important. Douglass – a former nose guard – has the strength to compete against bigger run-stoppers inside.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Without a doubt, quarterback Ricky Dobbs. You don’t rush for 27 touchdowns in a season without having some talent. Dobbs has incredible strength and an amazing leg drive as a runner, but he’s also heady and displays a strong, accurate arm as a passer. A master of the reads in the triple option system, many consider him to be the greatest Navy quarterback since Roger Staubach.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Jabaree Tuani. He’s undersized as a defensive end, but he plays with the quickness of an outside linebacker and displays great leverage and use of his hands when coming off the ball. He’s a guy who’ll fight off multiple blocks to stretch out run plays, and he’ll outwork any offensive tackle in the game.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach its full capability?
Michael Stukel. A former quarterback with 4.5 speed and good size, he has the athletic ability to step in for the departed Curry at slotback right away. The question will be whether or not he can become consistent enough in the blocking game to earn his way onto the field on a regular basis. If he does, he has big-play ability written all over him.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Josh Cabral. The interior of the offensive line could be a question mark, but this former Southern California prep star (who was one of the most highly touted recruits to sign at Navy in the past decade) should fill in nicely. Because of Navy’s system the guard position is a little more important than on some teams, so it’ll be essential for the team’s success that Cabral doesn’t miss a beat.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
OLB Jerry Hauburger. He’s a senior who has just never reached his full potential because of injuries and the players on the depth chart ahead of him, but he’s in position to have a groundbreaking 2010 if he can stay healthy. He has safety-like athleticism and plays with a lot of aggressiveness, and the Mids will benefit from his versatility against spread offenses.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
I think the team finishes 9-3 during the regular season. As always, a bowl berth (with a win) and victories over rivals Air Force and Army make any Navy season a success.
Thanks to Adam Nettina from GoMids.com for answering our questions. He also serves as the Sports Editor of the Utah Statesman.
Next Up: Texas Longhorns
2010 Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Tech Hokies
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- Troy Trojans
WAC- New Mexico State Aggies
2009 Bowl: Texas Bowl (beat Missouri 35-13)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked (received 85 points placing them 28th)
Head Coach: Ken Niumatalolo (18-10 All-Time)
Schedule: Maryland (9/6), Georgia Southern (9/11), at Louisiana Tech (9/18), at Air Force (10/2), at Wake Forest (10/9), SMU (10/16), Notre Dame (10/23), Duke (10/30), at East Carolina (11/6), Central Michigan (11/13), Arkansas State (11/20), Army (12/11)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 28.0 points per game (57th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 280 (4th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 75 (119th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 356 (77th in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 19.4 points per game (18th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 122 (30th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 213 (50th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 335 (34th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.64 per game (15th in Nation)
Penalties: 29 yards per game (1st in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 5
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Ricky Dobbs, Sr (56 of 105 for 1031 yds, 6 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: QB Ricky Dobbs, Sr (315 carries for 1192 yds, 27 TD, 3.7 ypc, 91 ypg)
Rushing: RB Vince Murray, Sr (182 carries for 971 yds, 6 TD, 5.3 ypc, 69 ypg)
Receiving: WR Greg Jones, Sr (5 rec, 142 yds, 1 TD)
Tackles: S Wyatt Middleton, Sr (68); LB Tyler Simmons, Sr (68)
Sacks: DE Jabaree Tuani, Jr (3.5)
Interceptions: S Wyatt Middleton, Sr (4)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #33
Mark Schlabach: #25
Phil Steele: #48
Sporting News: #37
2010 Pre-Season Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Poinsettia Bowl (vs. Utah)
Phil Steele: Poinsettia Bowl (vs. BYU)
Navy returns 8 starters from an offense that was #4 in the Nation in rushing last year. They also return QB Ricky Dobbs who rushed for 27 TDs and passed for 6 more. Navy has a much easier schedule this year as they don't play Ohio State or Pittsburgh like they did last year. Last year they lost to Ohio State, Pitt, Temple and Hawaii by a combined 27 points. Every game on Navy's schedule looks winnable to me. Of course looking winnable and actually winning are two separate entities. We caught up with Adam Nettina, a member of the Football Writers Association of America and a writer for Scout.com's Navy affiliate GoMids.com.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team?
Experience and athleticism at key positions. Not only does Navy return Ricky Dobbs at quarterback (who set the NCAA record for rushing TDs by a QB in 2009 with 27 scores), but the Mids return a fairly experienced offensive line as well as their top two fullbacks in Vince Murray and Alex Teich. On defense, Navy has a veteran group up front, and should have one of its best secondaries in years with the safety combination of Wyatt Middleton and Emmett Merchant. Keep in mind that experience isn’t just a meaningless statistic: this was a resourceful team in 2009, and one which didn’t back down to anyone. They took Ohio State to the wire and beat Notre Dame on the road, while also blowing out Missouri in the bowl game. If there is one team in the country that embodies the intangible of ‘focus,’ it’s Navy.
That being said, the linebacker corps will need an overhaul. Only one starter returns in Navy’s 3-4 scheme from last year, and the Mids will likely miss the absence of key leaders like Ram Vela and Craig Schafer. There is still some question as to how much depth there is on the defensive line and in the secondary, and the team will be searching for a playmaker at slotback after last year’s breakout star, Marcus Curry, was dismissed from the team.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Right out the gate the team will be tested against the Maryland Terrapins. While the Terps were a paltry 2-10 in 2009, they have no shortage of talent. Navy fell to the Terps in a game they should have won in 2005, and also struggled mightily on offense against UMass in 2006. Why does that matter? Well, Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown was the head coach of that UMass team, and is considered by many to be among the best coaches in the country at scheming against the flexbone option. If Navy can find offensive success against Brown’s defense and pull out the win, it’ll likely be an omen for a strong offensive showing through the rest of the season.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
The answer for Navy is always “the next team.” This is a team and a program which takes each week at a time, and isn’t likely to overlook anybody on the schedule. That was the philosophy of Paul Johnson, and it’s the philosophy of Ken Niumatalolo. Even without that philosophy, however, I think it’s Maryland. The Terps may not look too good on paper, but they have the potential to give Navy a rude awakening if the Mids don’t show up with their helmets strapped.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
QB Ricky Dobbs and S Wyatt Middleton get most of the attention -- and with good reason – but on offense I think you look at a guy like center Eric Douglass and on defense you take a look at cornerback Kevin Edwards. Edwards had a huge game against Notre Dame last year, and was really instrumental in containing Golden Tate. He may not look like a lock-down corner, but he’s gone up against numerous high-round NFL draft picks in his long Navy career, and brings a fiery attitude and physicality to the position. Douglass only started four games at center last year, but I think he gives the team a big boost at the position. More and more teams are lining up in odd man fronts against Navy, and that philosophy makes having a powerful center very important. Douglass – a former nose guard – has the strength to compete against bigger run-stoppers inside.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Without a doubt, quarterback Ricky Dobbs. You don’t rush for 27 touchdowns in a season without having some talent. Dobbs has incredible strength and an amazing leg drive as a runner, but he’s also heady and displays a strong, accurate arm as a passer. A master of the reads in the triple option system, many consider him to be the greatest Navy quarterback since Roger Staubach.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Jabaree Tuani. He’s undersized as a defensive end, but he plays with the quickness of an outside linebacker and displays great leverage and use of his hands when coming off the ball. He’s a guy who’ll fight off multiple blocks to stretch out run plays, and he’ll outwork any offensive tackle in the game.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach its full capability?
Michael Stukel. A former quarterback with 4.5 speed and good size, he has the athletic ability to step in for the departed Curry at slotback right away. The question will be whether or not he can become consistent enough in the blocking game to earn his way onto the field on a regular basis. If he does, he has big-play ability written all over him.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Josh Cabral. The interior of the offensive line could be a question mark, but this former Southern California prep star (who was one of the most highly touted recruits to sign at Navy in the past decade) should fill in nicely. Because of Navy’s system the guard position is a little more important than on some teams, so it’ll be essential for the team’s success that Cabral doesn’t miss a beat.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
OLB Jerry Hauburger. He’s a senior who has just never reached his full potential because of injuries and the players on the depth chart ahead of him, but he’s in position to have a groundbreaking 2010 if he can stay healthy. He has safety-like athleticism and plays with a lot of aggressiveness, and the Mids will benefit from his versatility against spread offenses.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
I think the team finishes 9-3 during the regular season. As always, a bowl berth (with a win) and victories over rivals Air Force and Army make any Navy season a success.
Thanks to Adam Nettina from GoMids.com for answering our questions. He also serves as the Sports Editor of the Utah Statesman.
Next Up: Texas Longhorns
2010 Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Tech Hokies
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- Troy Trojans
WAC- New Mexico State Aggies
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