Aug. 28, 2006
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Conference USA's 11th football season gets underway on Thursday with a pair of games to open an exciting weekend of conference action. Five games will be featured on national television, beginning with UTEP's Thursday night visit to San Diego State (9:30 p.m. CDT on CSTV). C-USA has four games against Top 25 opponents on opening weekend, including three against Top 10 foes (No. 5 West Virginia, No. 7 Florida and No. 10 Oklahoma). Get ready for all of the action with this week's Conference USA Football Notebook.
TOUGH SLATE
Conference USA is the only league that will open the 2006 season with three games against teams ranked in the preseason top 10 during the opening weekend. Marshall visits No. 5 West Virginia, Southern Miss plays at No. 7 Florida and UAB will be at No. 10 Oklahoma.
TOUGH SLATE II
Conference USA will play a total of 14 games against 10 different teams that are ranked in the preseason Top 25. All but one C-USA team (Tulsa) will face at least one preseason ranked opponent. Here's a look at who C-USA plays:
Rk Opponent C-USA School
2. Texas Rice
4. Auburn Tulane
5. West Virginia Marshall, East Carolina
7. Florida Southern Miss, UCF
10. Oklahoma UAB
11. Florida State Rice
12. Miami (Fla.) Houston
14. Georgia UAB
16. Virginia Tech Southern Miss
23. Tennessee Marshall, Memphis
25. Texas Tech SMU, UTEP
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Here's a look at the returning All-Conference performers this fall:
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Offensive Lineman- George Batiste, Sr., Southern Miss
Offensive Lineman- Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, Sr., UCF
Wide Receiver- Aundrae Allison, Sr., East Carolina
Wide Receiver- Vincent Marshall, Sr., Houston
DEFENSE
Def. Lineman- Larry McSwain, Sr., UAB
Def. Back- Wesley Smith, Sr., Memphis
Def. Back - Bobby Blackshire, Sr., Tulsa
Def. Back- Joe Burnett, So., UCF
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punt Returner- Joe Burnett, So., UCF
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Jordan Palmer, Sr. UTEP
Running Back- Ahmad Bradshaw, Jr., Marshall
Running Back- Kevin Smith, So., UCF
Running Back- Quinton Smith, Sr., Rice
Offensive Lineman- Doug Legursky, Jr., Marshall
Offensive Lineman- Travis Cooley, Sr., Southern Miss
Wide Receiver- Mike Walker, Sr., UCF
Wide Receiver- Johnnie Lee Higgins, Sr., UTEP
DEFENSE
Def. Lineman- Justin Rogers, Sr., SMU
Def. Lineman- Alex Obemese, Sr., UTEP
Linebacker- Nelson Coleman, Jr., Tulsa
Def. Back- Joe Sturdivant, Sr., SMU
Def. Back- Brandon Sumrall, Jr., Southern Miss
Def. Back- Nick Graham, Sr., Tulsa
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker- Darren McCaleb, Sr., Southern Miss
Punter- Michael Gibson, Sr., Memphis
Punt Returner - Johnnie Lee Higgins, Sr., UTEP
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Kevin Kolb, Sr., Houston
Offensive Lineman- SirVincent Rogers, Jr., Houston
Offensive Lineman- Jeff Perrett, Sr., Tulsa
Offensive Lineman- Julius Wilson, Sr., UAB
Tight End- Shawn Nelson, So., Southern Miss
Wide Receiver- Bobby Chase, Sr., SMU
Wide Receiver- Preston Brown, Sr., Tulane
DEFENSE
Defensive Lineman- Marcus Hands, Jr., East Carolina
Defensive Lineman- Adrian Haywood, So., SMU
Linebacker- Troy Collavo, Sr., UTEP
Defensive Back- Rocky Schwartz, Jr., Houston
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick Returner- Jessie Henderson, So., SMU
Punt Returner- Vincent Marshall, Sr., Houston
RETURNING STARTERS
Here's a look at the returning starters on offense, defense and special teams (including punt and kick returners) for each Conference USA school:
School Off. Def. ST
East Carolina 7 6 4
Houston 7 10 4
Marshall 9 8 3
Memphis 8 6 2
Rice 9 6 3
SMU 8 6 2
Southern Miss 8 6 2
Tulane 7 5 2
Tulsa 7 9 1
UAB 6 6 3
UCF 9 9 2
UTEP 8 9 4
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS
Here's a look at the number of lettermen returning and lost for each C-USA school:
School Ret. Lost
East Carolina 42 26
Houston 48 20
Marshall 48 12
Memphis 57 16
Rice 47 18
SMU 41 15
Southern Miss 47 16
Tulane 41 15
Tulsa 43 15
UAB 57 16
UCF 42 15
UTEP 45 23
CONSECUTIVE STARTS
There are 10 quarterback s in division I-A that enter the 2006 season having started 24 or more games and C-USA has three of them. Houston's Kevin Kolb leads the way with 36 consecutive starts. East Carolina's James Pinkney is tied for fourth with 25 starts in a row, while UTEP's Jordan Palmer is tied for seventh with 24.
Kevin Kolb Sr. Houston 36
Brady Quinn Sr. Notre Dame 34
Chris Leak Sr. Florida 33
James Pinkney Sr. East Carolina 25
John Stocco Sr. Wisconsin 25
Jared Zabransky Sr. Boise State 25
Chad Henne Jr. Michigan 24
Bret Meyer Jr. Iowa State 24
Jordan Palmer Sr. UTEP 24
Drew Tate Jr. Iowa 24
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
Houston is one of only three Division I-A programs that will open the 2006 season with back-to-back conference games. UH will play at Rice on Sept. 2 and will host Tulane on Sept. 9. The Cougars are joined by Mississippi State and South Carolina in playing a pair of league games to open the season.
PRESEASON HONORS
Several Conference USA teams and student-athletes have received preseason accolades:
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Athlon Sports
First Team
Joe Burnett, PR, UCF
Second Team
Joe Burnett, CB, UCF
Third Team
Bobby Blackshire, S, Tulsa
CBSSportsLine.com
Second Team
Joe Burnett, PR, UCF
College FootballNews.com
Honorable Mention
Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, C, UCF
George Batiste, G, Southern Miss
Blake Butler, G, Memphis
Wesley Smith, S, Memphis
Darren McCaleb, PK, Southern Miss
NationalChamps.net
Second Team
Wesley Smith, DB, Memphis
Honorable Mention
Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston
Jordan Palmer, QB, UTEP
Aundrae Allison, WR, East Carolina
Johnny Lee Higgins, WR, UTEP
George Batiste, OL, Southern Miss
Travis Cooley, OL, Southern Miss
Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, C, UCF
Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
Darren McCaleb, PK, Southern Miss
Jessie Henderson, KR, SMU
Larry McSwain, DE, UAB
Alex Obomese, DE, UTEP
Nelson Coleman, LB, Tulsa
Bobby Blackshire, DB, Tulsa
Joe Burnett, DB/PR, UCF
Nick Graham, DB, Tulsa
Joe Sturdivant, DB, SMU
Brandon Sumrall, DB, Southern Miss
Michael Gibson, P, Memphis
Street & Smith's
Honorable Mention
Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston
Jordan Palmer, QB, UTEP
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Marshall
Aundrae Allison, WR, East Carolina
Vincent Marshall, WR, Houston
Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, C, UCF
Jeff Perrett, C, Tulsa
Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
Darren McCaleb, PK, Southern Miss
Reagan Schneider, PK, UTEP
Jessie Henderson, KR, SMU
Larry McSwain, DE, UAB
Justin Rogers, DE, SMU
Nick Bunting, LB, Tulsa
Wesley Smith, DB, Memphis
Bobby Blackshire, DB, Tulsa
Joe Burnett, DB, UCF
Curtis Keyes, DB, Marshall
Michael Gibson, P, Memphis
PRESEASON NATIONAL UNIT RANKINGS
Athlon Sports
Top Defensive Back Units
5- Tulsa
Top Linebacker Units
10- UTEP
Phil Steele's
Top Quarterback Units
9- Houston
19- UTEP
Top Wide Receiver Units
18- Houston
23- UTEP
Top Offensive Line Units
28- Tulsa
Top Defensive Back Units
22- Tulsa
26- Houston
Top Special Teams Units
10- UTEP
14- East Carolina
WATCH OUT
Several C-USA players have been named to official award watch lists. Here's a look at those players (as of Aug. 28):
BEDNARIK (Top Defensive Player)
Nick Bunting, LB, Tulsa
Larry McSwain, DE, UAB
BILETNIKOFF (Wide Receiver)
TBA
BUTKUS (Linebacker)
Wade Koehl, Houston
Dennis Thornton, Marshall
Nick Bunting, Tulsa
Nelson Coleman, Tulsa
Mastaki Smith, UAB
Troy Collavo, UTEP
Jeremy Jones, UTEP
DAVEY O'BRIEN (Quarterback)
TBA
HENDRICKS (Defensive End)
Larry McSwain, UAB
Alex Obomese, UTEP
LOMBARDI (Top Down Linemen/TE)
SirVincent Rogers, OT, Houston
Doug Legursky, C, Marshall
Justin Rogers, DE, SMU
George Batiste, G, Southern Miss
Jeff Perrett, OT, Tulsa
Larry McSwain, DE, UAB
Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, C, UCF
Alex Obomese, DE, UTEP
LOTT TROPHY (Top Defensive Player)
Larry McSwain, DE, UAB
LOU GROZA (Kicker)
Robert Lee, East Carolina
Darren McCaleb, K, Southern Miss
Reagan Schneider, K, UTEP
JOHN MACKEY (Tight End)
Shawn Nelson, Southern Miss
MANNING (Top Quarterback)
Jordan Palmer, QB, UTEP
MAXWELL (Top Player)
Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston
Jordan Palmer, QB, UTEP
NAGURSKI (Top Defensive Player)
Joe Sturdivant, S, SMU
Nick Bunting, LB, Tulsa
Larry McSwain, DE, UAB
Jeremy Jones, LB, UTEP
OUTLAND (Top Interior Lineman)
SirVincent Rogers, OT, Houston
George Batiste, G, Southern Miss
Jeff Perrett, OT, Tulsa
RIMINGTON (Top Center)
Sterling Doty, Houston
Doug Legursky, Marshall
Stephen Schuh, Memphis
Robby D'Angelo, Southern Miss
Aaron Danenhauer, Tulsa
Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, UCF
Robby Felix, UTEP
THORPE (Defensive Back)
Wesley Smith, S, Memphis
Bobby Blackshire, S, Tulsa
Nick Graham, CB, Tulsa
Joe Burnett, CB, UCF
UNITAS (top Quarterback)
TBA
PRESEASON ALL-C-USA
Here's a look at the official 2006 Conference USA preseason coaches poll:
Predicted Order of Finish
East
1. UCF 65
2. Southern Miss 52
3. Memphis 43
4. Marshall 35
5. UAB 28
6. East Carolina 25
West
1. Tulsa 61
2. UTEP 60
3. Houston 55
4. SMU 39
5. Tulane 20
6. Rice 17
Offensive Player of the Year
Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston
Defensive Player of the Year
Larry McSwain, DE, UAB
Special Teams Player of the Year
Darren McCaleb, K, Southern Miss
First Team Offense
QB Kevin Kolb, Sr., Houston
RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Jr., Marshall
RB Kevin Smith, So., UCF
OL George Batiste, Sr., Southern Miss
OL Travis Cooley, Sr., Southern Miss
OL Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, Sr., UCF
OL Eric Graham, Sr., East Carolina
OL Jeff Perrett, Sr., Tulsa
OL Julius Wilson, Sr., UAB
WR Aundrae Allison, Sr., East Carolina
WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, Sr., UTEP
WR Vincent Marshall, Sr., Houston
TE Shawn Nelson, So., Southern Miss
First Team Defense
DL Antonio Harris, Jr., Tulane
DL Larry McSwain, Sr., UAB
DL Alex Obomese, Sr., UTEP
DL Zach West, Sr., UTEP
LB Nick Bunting, Sr., Tulsa
LB Nelson Coleman, Sr., Tulsa
LB Orlandus King, Sr., UAB
DB Bobby Blackshire, Sr., Tulsa
DB Joe Burnett, So., UCF
DB Caleb Hendrix, Sr., Southern Miss
DB Wesley Smith, Sr., Memphis
First Team Special Teams
K Darren McCaleb, Sr., Southern Miss
P Michael Gibson, Sr., Memphis
KR Jessie Henderson, So., SMU
PR Joe Burnett, So., UCF
EAST CAROLINA PIRATES
East Carolina makes its first-ever visit to Navy on Saturday. CSTV will televise the game to a national audience, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EDT. The Midshipmen are the first of eight teams on this year's Pirates schedule that played in a bowl game last season. ECU's four non-conference foes were a combined 33-15 last year, and all four won bowl games. Senior QB James Pinkney passed for 2,773 yards and 14 TDs last season. The 2,773 yards were the fourth-most in school history and he also rushed for seven scores. Senior WR Aundrae Allison became the first Pirate ever to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season in 2005, catching 83 passes for 1,024 yards and seven TDs. Junior RB Chris Johnson is C-USA's leading returnee in all-purpose yardage (1,499 total, 136.3 per game). He led ECU in rushing for the second straight year (684 yards), was second on the team in receiving (35 catches for 356 yards) and also averaged 21.9 yards per kickoff return.
HOUSTON COUGARS
The Cougars travel just five miles for their season opener, playing at Rice on Saturday in the first C-USA league game of the year. CSTV will air the game nationally, beginning at 8 p.m. CDT. It is the first of nine games that Houston will play in the state of Texas this season, a schedule that includes seven home games. Senior QB Kevin Kolb, the school's all-time total offense leader, enters the season with a UH-record 9,752 yards, which ranks sixth on C-USA's all-time list. He has also thrown 55 TDs, while starting all 36 games of his collegiate career. First team All-C-USA WR Vincent Marshall fell just short of 1,000 yards receiving last year, catching 71 passes for 939 yards and six TDs. The Cougars return 10 starters on defense, including 2003-04 starting safety Will Gulley, who redshirted last season after knee surgery. With Gulley's return, Kenneth Fontenette will move to cornerback.
MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD
The Thundering Herd will open their second season under head coach Mark Snyder armed with 47 returning letterwinners and 18 returning starters. Marshall returns two QBs with starting experience, its top three leading rusher, its top three receivers, and its top three tacklers from last season. The Herd opens a challenging schedule that includes seven road games on Sept. 2 against in-state rival West Virginia. Junior RB Ahmad Bradshaw is the centerpiece to the Marshall offense. Last season, he ranked second only to DeAngelo Williams of Memphis in rushing per game at 90.6 yards per outing. He also ranked sixth in C-USA in receptions (56), third in all-purpose yards per game (125.6) and third in scoring (TDs) with 5.5 points per game. Senior LB Dennis Thornton, the team's leading tackler with 104 stops last season (fifth in C-USA), leads three of the league's top returning tacklers on the Marshall defense. Senior LB Matt Couch, who ranked ninth in the conference with 97 tackles, (9.0 pg) and senior DB Curtis Keyes, who ranked 10th with 88 stops (8.8 pg).
MEMPHIS TIGERS
The Tigers open the season on Sunday at mid-south rival Ole Miss. ESPN will televise the game live, beginning at 3:30 p.m. CDT. Junior Martin Hankins, a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana, is expected to start at quarterback. In his two seasons at SLU, Hankins passed for 7,777 yards and 65 touchdowns and held several I-AA records. Junior RB Joe Doss should see a lot of carries in place of the departed DeAngelo Williams. Last season, he rushed for 465 yards on 85 carries and scored two touchdowns in a back-up role. The Memphis offensive line allowed just nine sacks last season, the lowest total in Conference USA. In 2004, the Tigers surrendered only five sacks in 12 games. Senior FS Wesley Smith is attempting to become just the second player in C-USA history to be named All-C-USA in four straight seasons (Louisville TE Ronnie Ghent from 2000-03).
RICE OWLS
The Todd Graham era will get underway on Saturday at Rice Stadium when the Owls host cross-town rival Houston. CSTV will air the game live nationally, beginning at 8 p.m. CDT. Rice's offensive coordinator, Major Applewhite, is the youngest coordinator in the nation at age 27. The former Texas quarterback holds almost all of the Longhorns' career passing records and most recently served as quarterbacks coach at Syracuse. Senior RB Quinton Smith, a second team All-Conference USA selection in 2005, averaged 6.4 yards on 140 rushing attempts last season. That average equals the fourth-best season mark in Rice history, and his 6.5 career average trails only Rice All-America Dicky Maegle (6.6 in 1952-54).
SMU MUSTANGS
After closing last season on a three-game winning streak, the Mustangs will open the 2006 campaign on Saturday at former Southwest Conference rival Texas Tech. SMU returns two 2005 Freshmen All-Americans - RB DeMyron Martin and KR Jessie Henderson. Martin was sixth in the league in rushing yards with 854 and led the Mustangs with nine touchdowns last season (seven rushing, two receiving). Henderson averaged a league-leading 27.4 yards per kick return last season, which included an 88-yard touchdown against Tulane. Senior SS Joe Sturdivant averaged 10.2 tackles per game last season, second among all C-USA returnees in 2006. SMU led the nation last year in red-zone efficiency, scoring 93.8 percent of the time (30-of-32).
SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES
The Golden Eagles will open the season on the road for the fourth straight year when they play at No. 7 Florida on Saturday. Sun Sports will air the game in the state of Florida and the contest will also be shown on ESPN GamePlan. Tight end Shawn Nelson was named a Freshman All-American last season after catching 35 passes for a team-high 540 yards and five touchdowns. He closed the season with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games and was named Most Valuable Player of the New Orleans Bowl. Senior PK Darren McCaleb set a new Southern Miss single-season record with 23 field goals last season. He also set the USM career record for points with 255. For the third straight season, McCaleb has been named to the Watch List for the Lou Groza Award. Junior RB Cody Hull ran for a career-high 161 yards in the New Orleans Bowl, the most by a Southern Miss player since 1998. He finished the season with 542 yards and three touchdowns.
TULANE GREEN WAVE
The Green Wave are the only Conference USA team that is not in action this weekend. Tulane will open its season on September 9 with a league game at Houston. Quarterback Lester Ricard will enter his senior season ranked seventh all-time in passing yards (3,704), touchdowns (36) and completions (302) and eighth in pass attempts (534) in Tulane history. Senior WR Preston Brown went catchless during his first two seasons at Tulane before leading the Green Wave in nearly all receiving categories last season. He caught 47 passes for 720 yards (15.2 per catch) and six touchdowns. Junior RB Matt Forte carried 27 times for a season-high 137 yards in the season finale against Southern Miss to finish as the team's leading rusher with 655 yards and four touchdowns. He has more than 1,200 yards in his first two seasons at Tulane.
TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE
The Golden Hurricane will be the first Conference USA team to see action in 2006 when it hosts Stephen F. Austin on Thursday night at Skelly Stadium. In Tulsa's 21 wins since Steve Kragthorpe became head coach, the Hurricane has averaged 39.5 points and scored 30-plus points in 19 of those 21 victories. Junior QB Paul Smith's nine 200+ yard passing games last season was the most for a Tulsa quarterback since 1993 when Gus Frerotte had nine. The Golden Hurricane defense ranked third nationally last year for both interceptions (22) and turnovers gained (36). Tulsa returns its top six tacklers from last year's team, including 456 of Tulsa's 808 total tackles. CB Nick Graham returns for his senior season after being ranked sixth in the nation for interceptions in 2005.
UAB BLAZERS
The Blazers will open the season at No. 10 Oklahoma on Saturday. TBS will televise the game to a national audience, beginning at 6 p.m. CDT. The Blazers appear solid in the running game heading into the 2006 campaign. UAB has four seniors returning in the backfield, including Corey White and Dan Burks, both of whom have seen significant starting duty during their careers. White, Burks, and fellow seniors Marculus Elliott and Trey Cheney have combined for 4,464 yards and 32 touchdowns during their careers. Burks has accounted for 1,845 yards and nine TDs while White has 1,553 and 19 scores. Rick Christophel returns to the defensive coordinator position, a role he also served in during the 2001 season when the Blazers ranked first nationally in rushing yards allowed per game and fifth in total defense. Senior DE Larry McSwain headlines the UAB defense. McSwain, who has been named to several preseason award watch lists, is a two-time, first-team All-Conference USA performer.
UCF GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Golden Knights will host Villanova on Saturday at the Florida Citrus Bowl. UCF welcomes back 76 percent of its starters from last season, including 17 letterwinners on offense and 22 letterwinners on the defensive side of the ball. The Golden Knights had 25 freshmen or sophomores start in 2005, including seven true freshman. Running back Kevin Smith, the 2005 C-USA Freshman of the Year, became just the sixth UCF player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, finishing with 1,178 after a 202-yard performance in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. Sophomore Joe Burnett, who was just the third player in school history to return two punts for a touchdown in the same season, earned Freshman All-America honors as a defensive back and a punt returner. He set a UCF single-season record with 463 punt return yards and his five interceptions tied for the second-most in school history.
UTEP MINERS
The Miners open the season on Thursday night at San Diego State. CSTV will broadcast the game live, beginning at 8:30 p.m. MDT. The Miners welcome back 47 letterwinners and 19 starters. Included on the roster are 29 seniors, including nine defensive starters. Senior QB Jordan Palmer is UTEP's all-time leader for passing yardage (7,489), TD passes (62), completions (569), attempts (998), total offense (7,532 yards) and touchdowns responsible for (68). Palmer is only the third Miner signal-caller to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, totaling a league-high 3,503 through the air in 2005. Senior Johnnie Lee Higgins leads the returnees in the receiving game. He caught 49 passes for 837 yards and nine scores a year ago. His 19 career TD catches ranks second in school history. Junior RB Marcus Thomas ran for over 100 yards in each of the final four regular season games and finished the year with a team-high 791 yards on 149 attempts (5.3 avg.) with five touchdowns.
A GLANCE AT THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN at TULSA
Thursday, August 31 Tulsa, Okla.
6:00 p.m. (CDT) Skelly Stadium (35,542)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Skelly Stadium Press Box Phone: (918) 631-2492
Stephen F. Austin (0-0, 0-0 in Southland)
Head Coach: Paul McFarland (McNeese State, '85)
Career Record: 5-6-0 (2nd year)
Record at SFA: 5-6-0 (2nd year)
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. Delta State
Tulsa (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (West Texas State, '87)
Career Record: 21-17 (4th year)
Record at Tulsa: 21-17 (4th year)
2005 Bowl Game: Won AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, at BYU (mtn.)
GAME NOTES: This will be the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron ... Stephen F. Austin received 12 votes in the Division I-AA preseason poll....Tulsa looks to snap a four-game losing streak in season openers...The Golden Hurricane scored 31 points or more in each of its last five games in 2005.
UTEP at SAN DIEGO STATE
Thursday, August 31 San Diego, Calif.
7:30 p.m. (PDT) Qualcomm Stadium (68,019)
All-Time Series: San Diego State leads 18-3
Last Meeting: San Diego State 34, UTEP 0 (September 13, 2003)
Television: CSTV
Announcers: Tom Hart (PxP), Trev Alberts (Analyst)
Qualcomm Stadium Press Box Phone: (304) 696-6666
UTEP (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Mike Price (Puget Sound, '69)
Career Record: 145-130 (25th year)
Record at UTEP: 16-8-0 (3rd year)
2005 Bowl Game: Lost GMAC Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, Texas Tech (CSTV)
San Diego State (0-0, 0-0 in MWC)
Head Coach: Chuck Long (Iowa, '85)
Career Record: 0-0-0 (1st year)
Record at SDSU: 0-0-0 (1st year)
2005 Bowl Game: None
Next Game: Sept. 9, at Wisconsin
GAME NOTES: Teams were Western Athletic Conference rivals from 1978-1998 and the Aztecs carry a seven-game series winning streak into this matchup...SDSU has a 16-day lay-off before their second game of the season, at Wisconsin on Sept. 16...Chuck Long will make his debut as head coach for San Diego State. Long spent the past six seasons as Offensive Coordinator at Oklahoma....UTEP is seeking to win its season opener for the second straight season. The last time that occurred was from 1986-88....The Miners are opening the season on the road for the 12th time in the past 14 seasons.
MARSHALL at (5) WEST VIRGINIA
Saturday, September 2 Morgantown, West Va.
3:30 p.m. (EDT) Milan Puskar Stadium (60,000)
All-Time Series: West Virginia leads 5-0
Last Meeting: West Virginia 42, Marshall 31 (August 30,1997)
Television: ESPN Regional/ESPN GamePlan
Announcers: Dave Sims (PxP), John Congemi (Analyst)
Stadium Press Box Phone: (803) 777-2967
Marshall (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Mark Snyder (Marshall, '88)
Career Record: 4-7 (2nd year)
Record at Marshall: 4-7 (2nd year)
2005 Bowl Game: None
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. Hofstra
West Virginia (0-0, 0-0 in Big East)
Head Coach: Rich Rodriguez (West Virginia '86)
Career Record: 84-58-2 (14th year)
Record at WVU: 39-22-0 (6th year)
2005 Bowl Game: Won Sugar Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, Eastern Washington
GAME NOTES: Game is referred to as the "Friends of Coal Bowl"....Teams are meeting for the first time since 1997...In that meeting, Chad Pennington and Randy Moss led the Thundering Herd into Morgantown for Marshall's first game in Division I-A....Teams had not met since 1923 prior to that matchup....Schools will meet in Huntington next year and in Morgantown in 2008. Whichever school wins two of the next three matchups will get to host the 2009 contest.
SOUTHERN MISS at (7) FLORIDA
Saturday, September 2 Gainesville, Fla.
6:00 p.m. (EDT) Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548)
All-Time Series: Florida leads 4-0
Last Meeting: Florida 21, Southern Miss 6 (August 30, 1997)
Television: Sun Sports/ESPN GamePlan
Announcers: David Steele (PxP), Nat Moore (Analyst)
Stadium Press Box Phone: (918) 631-2492
Southern Miss (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Jeff Bower (Southern Miss, '75)
Career Record: 103-72-1 (16th year)
Record at USM: 103-72-1 (16th year)
2005 Bowl Game: Won New Orleans Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, Southeastern Louisiana
Florida (0-0, 0-0 in SEC)
Head Coach: Urban Meyer (Cincinnati, '86)
Career Record: 48-11 (6th year)
Record at UF: 9-3 (2nd year)
2005 Bowl Game: Won Outback Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. UCF
GAME NOTES: This marks the second time that Southern Miss will open a season with a contest at Florida (1997)...The Golden Eagles have lost the only four previous meetings with the Gators...Florida head coach Urban Meyer is 1-0 all-time against Southern Miss, after his Utah squad secured a 17-0 victory over the Golden Eagles in the 2003 Liberty Bowl...Southern Miss will have a new starting quarterback for the first time in four seasons as the club will have to replace departed signal caller Dustin Almond...The Gators will be the third SEC team that Southern Miss has opened a season with this decade and the sixth team from a BCS Conference...Florida will open with back-to-back C-USA schools, as the Gators host UCF on Sept. 9.
VILLANOVA at UCF
Saturday, September 2 Orlando, Fla.
6:00 p.m. (EDT) Florida Citrus Bowl (65,438)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Florida Citrus Bowl Press Box Phone: (407) 245-0342
Villanova (0-0, 0-0 in A-10)
Head Coach: Andy Talley (Southern Connecticut '73)
Career Record: 170-107-2 (26th year)
Record at Villanova: 142-89-1 (22nd year)
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. Lehigh
UCF (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: George O'Leary (New Hampshire '69)
Career Record: 60-49-0 (10th year)
Record at UCF: 8-16-0 (3rd year)
2005 Bowl Game: Lost Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, at (7) Florida
GAME NOTES: This is the first meeting between the two schools....The Golden Knights are 12-0 against I-AA opponents since making the move to Division I-A in 1996....UCF will look to snap a streak of seven straight season-opening losses....This will be the first year since 1999 (vs. Purdue) that UCF plays its season-opener at the Citrus Bowl....QB Steven Moffett will make his 25th start under center for UCF against the Wildcats....The senior has started three or more games in his previous three seasons for UCF, including all 13 in 2005 when he led the Golden Knights to the C-USA Championship game and the program's first-ever bowl game.
EAST CAROLINA at NAVY
Saturday, September 2 Annapolis, Maryland
5:30 p.m. (EDT) Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Television: CSTV
Announcers: Pete Medhurst (PxP), Scott Zolak (Analyst)
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Press Box Phone: (410) 268-1489
East Carolina (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Skip Holtz (South Carolina '79)
Career Record: 5-6-0 (2nd year)
Record at ECU: 5-6-0 (2nd year)
2005 Bowl Game: None
Next Game: Sept. 9, at UAB
Navy (0-0, Independent)
Head Coach: Paul Johnson (Western Carolina, '79)
Career Record: 90-31 (10th year)
Record at Navy: 28-21-0 (5th year)
2005 Bowl Game: Won Poinsettia Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. Massachusetts
GAME NOTES: This will be the first of four non-conference games for the Pirates against teams that won a bowl game in 2005....ECU is opening the season on the road for the fourth time in five years and the Pirates last won a season opener away from home when they shutout Duke, 38-0, in 2000....Navy's rushing attack will be a challenge for an ECU rush defense. The Midshipmen led the nation in rushing in 2005, averaging 318.7 yards per game on the ground....This is the first game in a scheduled four-game series between ECU and Navy. The Pirates have won eight of the last 11 times they have faced an opponent for the first time.
SMU at (25) TEXAS TECH
Saturday, September 2 Lubbock, Texas
6:00 p.m. (CDT) Jones AT&T Stadium (52,702)
All-Time Series: Texas Tech leads 28-16
Last Meeting: Texas Tech 27, SMU 13 (September 4, 2004)
Jones AT&T Stadium Field Press Box Phone: (806) 742-3688
SMU (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Phil Bennett (Texas A&M, '73)
Career Record: 11-35 (5th year)
Record at SMU: 11-35 (5th year)
2005 Bowl Game: None
Next Game: Sept. 9, at North Texas
Texas Tech (0-0, 0-0 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Mike Leach (BYU, '73)
Career Record: 48-28 (7th year)
Record at TTU: 48-28 (7th year)
2005 Bowl Game: Lost SBC Cotton Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, at UTEP
GAME NOTES: SMU carries a three-game winning streak into the season-opener as it looks to win in its season debut for the first time since 2000 against Kansas....Texas Tech has won 10 straight in the series, dating back to 1989....The Red Raiders are opening the season with back-to-back games against Conference USA schools, as it will visit UTEP on Sept. 9...Texas Tech has passed for nearly 20,000 yards (19,831) over the past four seasons, using four different starting quarterbacks and Graham Harrell will take over behind center this season.
UAB at (10) OKLAHOMA
Saturday, September 2 Norman, Okla.
6:00 p.m. (CDT) Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (82,112)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Television: TBS
Announcers: Ron Thulin (PxP), Charles Davis (Analyst)
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Press Box Phone: (405) 670-3229
UAB (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Watson Brown (Vanderbilt '73)
Career Record: 91-142-1 (22nd year)
Record at UAB: 59-65-0 (12th year)
2005 Bowl Game: None
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. East Carolina
Oklahoma (0-0, 0-0 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Bob Stoops (Iowa, '83)
Career Record: 75-16-0 (9th year)
Record at OU: 75-16-0 (9th year)
2005 Bowl Game: Won Holiday Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. Washington
GAME NOTES: UAB head coach Watson Brown served as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator from 1993-94 before taking over as head coach of the Blazers....This will be just the fifth time that the Blazers have faced a Big 12 opponent. UAB owns two wins over Baylor and has lost once each to Missouri and Nebraska...This is the second year in a row that UAB has opened the season at a Top 10 team. Last year, the Blazers nearly won at No. 3 Tennessee, falling 17-10.
HOUSTON at RICE
Saturday, September 2 Houston, Texas
8:00 p.m. (CDT) Rice Stadium (70,000)
All-Time Series: Houston leads 23-9
Last Meeting: Houston 35, Rice 18 (November 26, 2005)
Television: CSTV
Announcers: Carter Blackburn (PxP), Brian Jones (Analyst)
Rice Stadium Press Box Phone: (713) 266-5523
Houston (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Art Briles (Texas Tech, '79)
Career Record: 16-20-0 (4th year)
Record at Houston: 16-20-0 (4th year)
2005 Bowl Game: Lost Fort Worth Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. Tulane
Rice (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Todd Graham (East Central, '87)
Career Record: 0-0 (1st year)
Record at Rice: 0-0 (1st year)
2005 Bowl Game: None
Next Game: Sept. 9, at UCLA (FSN Prime Ticket)
GAME NOTES: Game will mark the opening of the Todd Graham era at Rice....It is also one of just five conference games being played in Division I-a during the opening weekend of the season....Houston has won three of the last four meetings in the series....This is the first meeting at Rice Stadium since 2002, as the 2004 contest was moved to Reliant Stadium, where the Owls won, 10-7....Last year's game was the regular season finale for both teams, ending a six-year streak of opening the season against each other.
MEMPHIS at MISSISSIPPI
Sunday, September 3 Oxford, Miss.
3:30 p.m. (CDT) Vaught-Hemingway Memorial Stadium (62,380)
All-Time Series: Mississippi leads 50-10-2
Last Meeting: Mississippi 10, Memphis 6 (September 5, 2005)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Dave Barnett (PxP), Bill Curry (Analyst)
Vaught-Hemingway Memorial Stadium Field Press Box Phone: (662) 236-1931
Mississippi (0-0, 0-0 in SEC)
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (Northwestern State, '84)
Career Record: 3-8 (2nd year)
Record at Ole Miss: 3-8 (2nd year)
2005 Bowl Game: None
Next Game: Sept. 9, at Missouri
Memphis (0-0, 0-0 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Tommy West (Tennessee '75)
Career Record: 67-63 (12th year)
Record at Memphis: 32-28 (6th year)
2005 Bowl Game: Won Motor City Bowl
Next Game: Sept. 9, vs. Chattanooga
GAME NOTES: Teams are meeting for the fifth straight season and are opening the season against each other for the third straight time...The last three contests have been decided by an average of seven points....Ole Miss has won nine of its last 10 season openers, with the only loss coming in 2004 to Memphis, 20-13, in the last meeting in Oxford between the teams....The Rebels won last year's meeting at the Liberty Bowl, 10-6, as QB Michael Spurlock passed for 184 yards and ran for a 12-yeard TD in the third quarter that proved to be the game-winner. The Tigers offense failed to produce a touchdown after starting QB Patrick Byrne left the game with a broken leg on the third play of the season. Tiger RB DeAngelo Williams was held to 84 yards on 24 carries.
C-USA BOWL SYNOPSIS
Conference USA has agreements in place with six different bowl games for the 2006 season and is guaranteed a spot in five bowls.
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis will have the first selection of Conference USA teams to face an opponent from the Southeastern Conference in its game. The second selection belongs to the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala., which will pair a C-USA team against an opponent from the Mid-American Conference or the Western Athletic Conference. The league will also provide teams for the Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl, Birmingham Bowl and New Orleans Bowl this season.
Conference USA may also provide a team for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl if the Pac-10 is unable to supply a sixth bowl-eligible team for 2006 and C-USA has six or more bowl-eligible teams.
FUTURE C-USA BOWL SYNOPSIS
Conference USA has agreements in place with seven different bowl games through the 2009 season and is guaranteed a spot in at least five bowls each of those seasons.
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl will have the first selection of Conference USA teams to face an opponent from the Southeastern Conference in its game all four years. The second selection belongs to the GMAC Bowl which will pair a C-USA team against an opponent from the Mid-American Conference or the Western Athletic Conference in each of the four years. The Birmingham Bowl and New Orleans Bowl will both have a selection in each of the next four years. The Armed Forces Bowl will choose a team in 2006 and 2008, while Hawaii and Texas will each have selections in 2007 and 2009.
