College Football Preview -- Sun Belt

Sun Belt Conference Preview

ARKANSAS STATE

2001 record: 2-9

Coach: Steve Roberts

Outlook: The strength of the offensive line is T Garry Johnson, who has started 33 consecutive games and allowed just two sacks, earning him a spot on the Lombardi Award watch list. The quarterback position is up for grabs. Josh Driscoll played six games last season before breaking his collarbone. The Indians will also rely on RB Danny Smith, who is just 5-9 and weighs 171 pounds.

Noteworthy: Roberts returns to his native state to take over head coaching duties after a successful run at Northwestern (La.) State. At 38, he is the second youngest coach in Division I-A and his staff matches Tulane as the average youngest.

Schedule: The Indians play 13 consecutive games without a week off, including the opener at Virginia Tech on Aug. 25 and an Oct. 12 meeting with Mississippi.

IDAHO

2001 record: 1-10

Coach: Tom Cable

Outlook: QB Brian Lindgren has to take over for Josh Welsh, but he is no ordinary backup. Lindgren threw for 1,611 yards last season despite starting just three games. RB Blair Lewis suffered a season-ending knee injury in the sixth game last year, but that didn't stop him from leading the team with 509 yards. A healthy return could make Idaho's offense even better.

Noteworthy: Lindgren went 49 for 71 for 637 yards and five touchdowns in a 70-58 loss to Middle Tennessee. It was the best individual offensive performance in Division I-A in 2001 and he set an NCAA record for total yards by a sophomore.

Schedule: The Vandals test their high powered offense against three Pac-10 teams -- Washington State, Oregon and Washington.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE

2001 record: 3-8

Coach: Rickey Bustle

Outlook: QB Jon Van Cleave is the top signal caller in the Sun Belt. The junior has great size at 6-5, 246 pounds and heads an offense that lost just one starter from a year ago, when he passed for 2499 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Ragin' Cajuns will have to figure out a way to stop the run if they are going to have success. Last year, they were outrushed by nearly 1,000 yards.

Noteworthy: Former Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bustle is taking on his first head coaching job.

Schedule: The Ragin' Cajuns have an Oct. 5 meeting with LSU, a team they haven't played in 60 years.

LOUISIANA-MONROE

2001 record: 2-9

Coach: Bobby Keasler

Outlook: Junior Maurice Sonnier has added 20 pounds since last year, making the best linebacker in the Sun Belt even better. Last year, he led the team in tackles (76), tackles for loss (8.5-39) and sacks (5-36). He will have his work cut out for him. The Indians scored over 20 points only once last season and averaged 13.5.

Noteworthy: Keasler needs to find an offense that works and plans on raising the tempo in 2002. There is no quarterback on the roster who has taken a single snap in a college game.

Schedule: The Indians will have a long November. They play league favorites North Texas and Middle Tennessee on the road, with a game at Auburn in between.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

2001 record: 8-3

Coach: Andy McCollum

Outlook: Coach Andy McCollum loves to pile up the yardage and should be able to do so in 2002, returning eight starters on offense. Their top weapon is 5-11 RB Dwone Hicks, who returns for his senior year after considering the NFL draft. He rushed for 1143 yards and 20 touchdowns last year, earning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors. Junior OL Brandon Westbrook was first team all-conference last season and can play left or right tackle.

Noteworthy: Battling for the starting QB position are two players who have never played a game for the Blue Raiders -- junior college transfer Andrico Hines and freshman Andre Green.

Schedule: The Blue Raiders have a rough a start as anyone in the country with games at Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Last year, they shocked Vanderbilt with a 37-28 win on opening day.

NEW MEXICO STATE

2001 record: 5-7

Coach: Tony Samuel

Outlook: FB Marcus Dixon is the only returning player on offense who found the end zone more than once in 2001. WR P.J. Winston caught 46 passes for 570 yards, but scored only one time last year. QB Buck Pierce takes over the starting job after backing up K.C. Enzminger. SS Siddeeq Shabazz and FS Tyrone Gifford, both seniors, are solid defensive backs.

Noteworthy: Winston has caught passes in 18 straight games while WR H.B. Briscoe has caught a pass in 10 in a row.

Schedule: The Aggies get Middle Tennessee at home but end the season with three straight road games.

NORTH TEXAS

2001 record: 5-7 (lost to Colorado State in New Orleans Bowl)

Coach: Darrell Dickey

Outlook: The Mean Green return 20 starters from the 2001 Sun Belt championship squad and have no reason to believe they shouldn't return. QB Scott Hall threw for two touchdowns in each of the last seven games last season but needs to fully recover from offseason ACL surgery. RB Kevin Galbreath rushed for over 1,000 yards and four scores in 2001.

Noteworthy: North Texas has nine starters back on defense, including four all-conference selections.

Schedule: The Mean Green open against Texas, playing the Longhorns for the first time since 1992. If they want to return to the New Orleans Bowl, a win in the finale at Middle Tennessee will be needed.