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Home , ESPN GamePlan, Lance Dunbar, Larry Blakeney, Mark Hudspeth, Pete Garcia, Sun Belt Conference

2011 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL For Immediate Release: Monday, August 29, 2011 • Week 1 Contact: John McElwain ([email protected])

601 Poydras Street, Suite 2355, , Louisiana 70130 • www.sunbeltsports.org.org • 504.299.9066, ext. 215 2011 FOOTBALL STANDINGS CONFERENCE RECORD OVERALL RECORD SUN BELT IN THE BCS W L For Opp Pct W L For Opp Pct The Sun Belt Conference is a BCS Conference. State 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 In fact, the Sun Belt Conference is one of just FIU 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 11 BCS Conferences. The Sun Belt Confer- Florida Atlantic 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 ence champion will earn an automatic berth Louisiana-Lafayette 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 Louisiana-Monroe 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 in a BCS if that team is ranked in Middle Tennessee 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 the top 12 of the fi nal BCS standings or if that Troy 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 team is ranked in the top 16 of the fi nal BCS North 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 standings and its ranking is higher than that of WKU 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 a champion of a conference that has an annual UPCOMING GAMES automatic berth in one of the of BCS bowls. In the fi rst 10 years of the BCS arrangement, more September 1 * at FIU - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) than $100 million was distributed to confer- (1) Kentucky at Western Kentucky - 8:15 p.m. (ESPNU) ences that do not have an annual automatic September 3 berth to one of the BCS bowls. Nine percent of Middle Tennessee at Purdue - 11:00 a.m. () Arkansas State at Illinois - 2:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network) the net revenues from the BCS arrangement is Louisiana-Monroe at Florida State - 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Troy at Clemson - 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3) guaranteed in aggregate to Conference USA, Florida Atlantic at Florida - 6 p.m. (ESPNU) Louisiana-Lafayette at Oklahoma State - 6 p.m. (Fox Sports) the Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, September 9 and Western Athletic Conferences for their FIU at Louisville - 6 p.m. (ESPN) participation in the BCS arrangement. When a September 10 team from one of those fi ve conferences plays Florida Atlantic at Michigan State - 11 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) Houston at North Texas - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) in BCS bowl game, those conferences receive Tech at Middle Tennessee - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) an additional nine percent of net revenues. Navy at Western Kentucky - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Grambling State at Louisiana-Monroe - 6 p.m. When more than one team from those confer- Louisiana-Lafayette at Kent State - 6 p.m. Memphis at Arkansas State - 6 p.m. ences play in a BCS bowl game, those confer-

All times Central (CT) and subject to change; * denotes Sun Belt Conference game; TV carrier in parenthesis ences will receive an additional $4.5 million for (1) denotes game to be played at LP Field - Nashville, Tenn. each additional team. IT’S GAME WEEK! FOOTBALL SEASON IS BACK!

Toss out all the preseason chatter and will also be the debut of new North Texas head predictions, it’s time to play football. coach Dan McCarney. The season starts Thursday night with two Also laying claim to being one of the games as FIU faces North Texas in an early best offensive players in the Sun Belt is WKU’s season conference affair and WKU faces instate Bobby Rainey who will be featured in the rival Kentucky in Nashville. In total, there are Thursday night ESPNU broadcast against the 15 games scheduled for Thursday night. Wildcats. The contest will be held at LP Field in Thursday’s matchup between the Mean Nashville. Green and Panthers will feature, arguably, the A full slate of non-conference action is two best and most feared offensive players scheduled for Saturday with each game being in the Sun Belt in FIU’s T.Y. Hilton and North broadcast for home viewers to enjoy. Arkansas Texas’ Lance Dunbar, the 2011 SBC Co- State’s and Louisiana-Lafayette’s Preseason Offensive Players of the Year. The will mark their first games as game is set to be broadcast on ESPN3.com and head coaches of their respective programs. 1 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AROUND THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE

SUN BELT FOOTBALL MEMBERSHIP The Sun Belt Conference is currently comprised of nine football playing members – Arkansas State (found- Sun Belt Conference ing football member in 2001), Florida Atlantic (joined league as football member in 2005), FIU (joined Coaches Teleconference Call league as football member in 2005), Louisiana-Lafayette (founding football member in 2001), Louisiana- Contact John McElwain Monroe (founding football member in 2001), Middle Tennessee (founding football member in 2001), North ([email protected]) for info Texas (founding football member in 2001), Troy (joined league as football member in 2004) and Western Conducted every Monday from Kentucky University (joined league as football member in 2009). The league will expand to 10 football August 29 to November 28 playing members when South Alabama enters in 2012. Schedule of Events (All times Central): SUN BELT CONFERENCE BOWL PARTNERS 10:30 a.m. -- Announcements The Sun Belt Conference is currently in the second year of four year partnerships with the GoDaddy.com 10:32 a.m. -- , FAU Bowl and the R+L Carriers . Sun Belt teams will represent the league in the games follow- 10:38 a.m. -- , Troy ing the 2011, 2012 and 2013 regular seasons. 10:44 a.m. – Hugh Freeze, ASU 10:50 a.m. – Mark Hudspeth, ULL BOWL GAME WINNING PERCENTAGES SINCE 2005 10:56 a.m. – Todd Berry, ULM W L % 11:02 a.m. -- , MT 1. MWC 20 8 0.714 11:08 a.m. – Dan McCarney, NT 2. BIG EAST 21 11 0.656 11:14 a.m. -- , FIU 3. SEC 33 19 0.635 4. PAC 10 19 14 0.576 11:20 a.m. – , WKU 5. SUN BELT 6 5 0.545 11:26 a.m. -- Commissioner Wright Waters 6. BIG 12 24 23 0.511 7. ACC 22 28 0.440 Sun Belt Conference Video Feed 8. WAC 10 14 0.417 Contact Travis Llewellyn 9. CUSA 14 21 0.400 ([email protected]) for info. 10. BIG TEN 16 28 0.364 Conducted every Tuesday from 11. MAC 5 18 0.217 August 30 to November 29 - 2:00 p.m. (CT)

Since the 2005 football season – the fi rst season following major realignment – the Sun The Sun Belt Conference will provide a weekly Belt Conference ranks fi fth out of the 11 FBS conferences in postseason bowl game winning percentage. video feed of head coach interviews and game In fact, the Sun Belt Conference ranks ahead of noted “Big Six” leagues – the Big 12, ACC and the Big Ten. highlights each Tuesday during the 2011 football Furthermore, the Sun Belt Conference outpaces its non-automatic qualifying BCS partners in the WAC, season. The video feed will be made available Conference USA and the MAC. exclusively through a digital download this season

SUN BELT CONFERENCE BOWL APPERANCES SINCE 2005 (6-5 Record) using the website https://sunbeltsports.egnyte. 2005 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – Southern Miss 31, Arkansas State 19 com/. New videos made available on this site will 2006 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – Troy 41, Rice 17 be uploaded on Tuesday of each week by 2 p.m. 2006 Motor City Bowl – Central Michigan 31, Middle Tennessee 14 The videos will also be maintained and archived 2007 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – Florida Atlantic 44, Memphis 17 throughout the season. Members of the media 2008 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – Southern Miss 30, Troy 27 (OT) may also fi nd supplementary content on this site 2008 Motor City Bowl – Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21 such as logos and photos. For login informa- 2009 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – Middle Tennessee 42, Southern Miss 32 tion please contact Travis Llewellyn (llewellyn@ 2009 GMAC Bowl - Central Michigan 44, Troy 41 (OT) sunbeltsports.org) or John McElwain (mcelwain@ 2010 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - Troy 48, Ohio 21 sunbeltsports.org). 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - FIU 34, Toledo 32 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl - (Ohio) 35, Middle Tennesee 21

DUNBAR, RAINEY FEATURED IN USA TODAY The Sun Belt Conference’s two most noted running backs, who also happened to be among the national rushing leaders in 2010, were featured in USA Today during the 2011 off season. Will comparing the two running backs in his August 16 article, Greg Rosentien wrote “Dunbar and Rainey both believe they are primed for big senior seasons. But no matter how the two running backs fare this year, one thing is certain: It’ll be fun to watch.”

2 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AROUND THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE

SCHNELLENBERGER TO RETIRE AT SEASONS END 2011 Preseason Sun Belt Poll Florida Atlantic University’s Head Football Coach Howard Schnellenberger announced Thursday, August 11 As voted on by the league’s nine head coaches. that he will retire after the 2011 football season. First place votes in parentheses. School Points Schnellenberger, the only head coach in the FAU football program’s existence, welcomed the idea of bring- 1. FIU 75 (5) ing football to FAU in 1998 and has been the driving force behind the Owls. Since 2001, the Owls have had 2. Troy 66 (2) eight All-Americans, three National Player of the Week honorees, two bowl victories, two bowl MVPs, one T-3. Middle Tennessee 54 defensive MVP, one Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, one preseason Sun Belt Preseason Player of the T-3. Louisiana-Monroe 54 Year and one Sun Belt Conference title. An average of 18.7 football players have earned a 3.0+ each semes- 5. Arkansas State 49 (1) ter, and more than 20 players have signed professional contracts, while two were drafted by the NFL. 6. North Texas 33 7. WKU 28 (1) Schnellenberger’s career has been highly chronicled throughout the years, from winning the fi rst National 8. Louisiana-Lafayette 26 Championship as coach at the in 1983 to ushering the University of Louisville from near 9. Florida Atlantic 20 obscurity to a top-20 national ranking. The legendary program-builder has been at the helm for six bowl games and has a perfect 6-0 bowl game record, the most bowl victories for a coach with a perfect record. Preseason All-Sun Belt Team As voted on by the league’s nine head coaches and Schnellenberger is also among the top-10 active coaches in total victories, and one of 10 active coaches selected media members. who have captured a national title. Schnellenberger has one national title as a head coach and three Off ense national titles while an assistant at the University of Alabama under Head Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Schnel- Corey Robinson (Troy, So., QB) lenberger also was the off ensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and was a part of the staff that earned Lance Dunbar (NT, Sr., RB) a perfect 17-0 season, the only team in the NFL’s history to fi nish the season undefeated and move on to Bobby Rainey (WKU, Sr., RB) win a Super Bowl championship. Dwayne Frampton (ASU, Sr., WR) T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Sr., WR) NORTH TEXAS, FLORIDA ATLANTIC DEBUT NEW STADIUMS Luther Ambrose (ULM, Sr., WR) North Texas will open its brand new, state-of-the-art art football on September 10th against Hous- Ladarius Green (ULL, Sr., TE) ton. Among the features of the new stadium will be bowl seating close to the fi eld with maximum sight Tom Castilaw (ASU, Sr. OL) lines, 21 luxury suites tailor-made for comfort and entertainment and a club level with food and beverage Caylin Hauptmann (FIU, Jr., OL) service and chair-back seating. Ryan McCaul (ULM, Sr., OL) Matt Tomlinson (NT, Sr., OL) Due to open on October 15, FAU Stadium is the fi nal phase of the university’s Innovation Village, a multi- James Brown (Troy, Sr., OL) purpose project which will include four additional apartment-style residence halls and 130,000 square feet Wes Jeff ries (WKU, Sr., OL) of retail shopping space. Two buildings from the Innovation Village, the FAU Alumni Center and the new Defense Recreation and Wellness Center, have recently opened. Dorvus Woods (ASU, Sr., DL) Tourek Williams (FIU, Jr., DL) BLAKENEY, SCHNELLENBERGER IN ACTIVE COACHES TOP TEN Ken Dorsey (ULM, Sr., DL) Troy’s Larry Blakeney and Florida Atlantic’s Howard Schnellenberger fi nd themselves in elite company as Jonathan Massaquoi (Troy, Jr., DL) both rank in the top ten for active career wins by head coaches. The Sun Belt Conference is the only confer- Demario Davis (ASU, Sr., LB) ence with two coaches in the top ten. Winston Fraser (FIU, Jr., LB) Xavier Lamb (Troy, Sr., LB) Yrs. W L T Kelcie McCray (ASU, Sr., DB) 1. Joe Paterno, Penn State 45 401 135 3 Jonathan Cyprien (FIU, Jr., DB) 2. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 30 240 118 4 Marcus Bartels, FAU, Sr., DB) 3. Chris Ault, Nevada 26 219 97 1 Darius Prelow (ULM, Sr., DB) 3. Mack Brown, Texas 27 219 108 1 5. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina 21 186 73 2 Special Teams 6. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame 21 179 62 2 (MT, Sr., Kicker) 7. , Arizona State 22 173 89 1 Mickey Groody (FAU, Sr., Punter) 8. Mike Price, UTEP 29 169 167 0 T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Sr., Return Specialist) 9. Larry Blakeney, Troy 20 160 83 1 10. Howard Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic 26 157 140 3 Co - Preseason Off ensive Players of the Year T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Sr., WR) SUN BELT CONFERENCE DEBUTS THREE NEW COACHES IN 2011 Lance Dunbar (NT, Sr., RB) Arkansas State, North Texas and Louisiana-Lafayette all brought in new head coaches during the 2011 off season. The league has never brought in more than two new coaches in a single season while brining in Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Jonathan Massaquoi (Troy, Jr., DL) two new coaches in three seasons (2009, 2002, 2001), one new head coach on four occasions (2006, 2005, 2004, 2003) and twice going through an off season of no head coaching changes (2008, 2007).

3 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AROUND THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE

2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE PRESEASON AWARDS CANDIDATES USA Today Coaches Poll The Maxwell Award – College Player of the Year: Bobby Rainey, WKU, Sr., RB; The Bednarik Award – Nation’s (Preseason) Top Defensive Player: Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy, Jr., DE; The John Mackey Award – Nation’s Top : Jack Doyle, WKU, Sr., TE and Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., TE; Fred Biletnikoff Award – Nation’s Top : Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., TE and Dwayne Frampton, Arkansas State, Sr., Team Record Points Prev. 1. Oklahoma (42) 0-0 1454 6 WR and T.Y. Hilton, FIU, Sr., WR; Lou Groza Award – Nation’s Best Placekicker: Jack Griffi n, FIU, Jr., K; Bronko 2. Alabama (13) 0-0 1414 11 Nagurski Award – Nation’s Top Defensive Player: Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy, Jr., DE; Outland Trophy – Na- 3. Oregon (2) 0-0 1309 3 tion’s Best Interior Lineman: James Brown – Troy, Sr., OT; Rimington Trophy – Nation’s Best Center: Tom 4. LSU (2) 0-0 1296 8 Castilaw – Arkansas State, Sr., C and Colin Boss – Middle Tennessee, Sr., C; Walter Camp – College Player 5. Florida State 0-0 1116 16 of the Year: Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy, Jr., DE; Davey O’ Brien Award – Nation’s Best : Corey 6. Stanford 0-0 1101 4 Robinson - Troy, So., QB; Lombardi Award – Nation’s Lineman of the Year: Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy, Jr., 7. Boise State 0-0 1065 7 DE; Doak Walker Award – Nation’s Best : Lance Dunbar, North Texas, Sr., RB and Alfred Morris, 8. Oklahoma State 0-0 933 10 Florida Atlantic, Sr., RB and Bobby Rainey, WKU, Sr., RB; Manning Award – Nation’s Best Quarterback: Corey 9. Texas A&M 0-0 885 21 Robinson - Troy, So., QB. 10. Wisconsin 0-0 829 8 11. Nebraska 0-0 814 19 12. South Carolina 0-0 779 22 SUN BELT CONFERENCE SETTING RECORDS FOR TELEVISION BROADCASTS 13. Virginia Tech 0-0 767 15 Over the last fi ve years the Sun Belt Conference has seen its television appearances double. In fact, the 14. Arkansas 0-0 750 12 Sun Belt set a new record for single season telecasts during the 2010-11 season with a total of 72 Sun Belt 15. TCU 0-0 687 2 controlled broadcasts. ESPN has helped with the rise in television numbers as the league saw a record 16. Ohio State 0-0 631 5 21 football games feature Sun Belt teams during the 2010 season. That record number of 21 games has 17. Michigan State 0-0 536 14 already been broken for the 2011 season as 22 games have already been selected to hit the ESPN airwaves - 18. Notre Dame 0-0 440 NR and even more games could be selected for this season. 19. Auburn 0-0 329 1 20. Mississippi State 0-0 301 17 21. Missouri 0-0 266 18 MT’S GENDREAU ON LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD LIST 22. Georgia 0-0 260 NR Middle Tennessee placekicker Alan Gendreau is one of 30 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) student- 23. Florida 0-0 240 NR athletes who excel both on and off the fi eld selected as a candidate today for the 2011 Lowe’s Senior CLASS 24. Texas 0-0 162 NR Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classifi ed as an NCAA Division I FBS senior 25. Penn State 0-0 161 NR and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and compe- ORV: Arizona State 158, West Virginia 149, Utah 50, Miami (FL) 49, tition. The complete list of candidates follows this release. Gendreau is a two-time First Team All-SBC pick Iowa 41, Northwestern 30, Arizona 28, UCF 22, Michigan 19, Air and currently ranks third all-time in fi eld goals made and extra points. The Apopka, Fla., native is the most Force 15, North Carolina 14, Houston 13, South Florida 9, Hawaii 8, Clemson 7, Tennessee 7, Southern Miss 6, Brigham Young 5, North accurate kicker in school history at 79.1 percent (38-48) which includes a career long 55-yard boot in a win Carolina State 4, Northern Illinois 4, Oregon State 4, Pittsburgh 3, at ULL in 2010. Gendreau is a music major who participates in the Schola Cantorum which is designed for Washington 3, Nevada 1, Georgia Tech 1, upper division voice majors. 2011 SUN BELT VS. NON-CONFERENCE (0-0) Associated Press Poll Atlantic Coast ...... 0-0 Mid-American ...... 0-0 (Preseason) Clemson ...... 0-0 Arkron ...... 0-0 Team Record Points Prev. Duke ...... 0-0 Kent State ...... 0-0 1. Oklahoma (36) 0-0 1464 6 Florida State ...... 0-0 2. Alabama (17) 0-0 1439 10 Virginia Tech ...... 0-0 Mountain West ...... 0-0 3. Oregon (4) 0-0 1330 3 TCU...... 0-0 4. LSU (1) 0-0 1286 8 Big 12 ...... 0-0 5. Boise State (2) 0-0 1200 9 Oklahoma State ...... 0-0 Pacifi c 12...... 0-0 6. Florida State 0-0 1168 17 Arizona ...... 0-0 7. Stanford 0-0 1091 4 8. Texas A&M 0-0 965 19 Big East ...... 0-0 9. Oklahoma State 0-0 955 13 Louisville ...... 0-0 Southeastern ...... 0-0 10. Nebraska 0-0 910 20 Arkansas ...... 0-0 11. Wisconsin 0-0 900 7 Big Ten ...... 0-0 Auburn ...... 0-0 12. South Carolina 0-0 848 22 Illinois ...... 0-0 Louisiana State ...... 0-0 13. Virginia Tech 0-0 821 16 Indiana ...... 0-0 South Carolina ...... 0-0 14. TCU 0-0 690 2 Iowa ...... 0-0 Tennessee ...... 0-0 15. Arkansas 0-0 686 12 Michigan State ...... 0-0 16. Notre Dame 0-0 530 NR Top 25 ...... 0-0 17. Michigan State 0-0 519 14 Conference USA ...... 0-0 18. Ohio State 0-0 443 5 19. Georgia 0-0 369 NR Houston ...... 0-0 NOTE: AP Ranking as of time played 20. Mississippi State 0-0 361 15 Memphis ...... 0-0 21. Missouri 0-0 258 18 Tulsa...... 0-0 Football Championship Subdivision...... 0-0 22. Florida 0-0 228 NR UAB ...... 0-0 23. Auburn 0-0 219 1 UCF ...... 0-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference ...... 0-0 24. West Virginia 0-0 207 NR Indiana State ...... 0-0 25. USC 0-0 160 NR Independents/Transitional ...... 0-0 ORV: Texas 114, Penn State 75, Arizona State 67, Miami (FL) 32, Utah 25, Southern Miss 20, Iowa 19, Brigham Young 15, North Carolina Army ...... 0-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference ...... 0-0 State 15, Air Force 14, Houston 13, Pittsburgh 9, Michigan 7, Ten- Navy ...... 0-0 Grambling ...... 0-0 nessee 5, UCF 5, NORIL 4, Hawaii 4, Tulsa 3, Arizona 2, Maryland 2, Nevada 1, Northwestern 1, Washington 1. Southland ...... 0-0 ...... 0-0 Nicholls State ...... 0-0 4 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL 2011 COMPOSITE SCHEDULE

September 1 October 18 * North Texas at FIU - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) * FIU at Arkansas State - 7 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Kentucky at Western Kentucky - 8:15 p.m. (ESPNU) October 22 September 3 * Louisiana-Lafayette at Western Kentucky - 3 p.m. Middle Tennessee at Purdue - 11:00 a.m. (Big Ten Network) * Louisiana-Monroe at North Texas - 6 p.m. Arkansas State at Illinois - 2:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network) * Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic - 7 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) Louisiana-Monroe at Florida State - 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Troy at Clemson - 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3) October 25 Florida Atlantic at Florida - 6 p.m. (ESPNU) * Troy at FIU - 7 p.m. (ESPN2) Louisiana-Lafayette at Oklahoma State - 6 p.m. (Fox College Sports) October 29 September 9 * Western Kentucky at Louisiana-Monroe - 2:30 p.m. FIU at Louisville - 6 p.m. (ESPN) * North Texas at Arkansas State - 6 p.m. * Louisiana-Lafayette at Middle Tennessee - 6:30 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) September 10 Florida Atlantic at Michigan State - 11 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) November 5 Houston at North Texas - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Troy at Navy - 2:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) Georgia Tech at Middle Tennessee - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) * Louisiana-Monroe at Louisiana-Lafayette - 2:30 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) Navy at Western Kentucky - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) * FIU at Western Kentucky - 3 p.m. Grambling State at Louisiana-Monroe - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Middle Tennessee at Tennessee - TBA Louisiana-Lafayette at Kent State - 6 p.m. * Arkansas State at Florida Atlantic - TBA Memphis at Arkansas State - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) November 12 - Sun Belt Network Wildcard Week - 12 p.m. September 17 Western Kentucky at LSU - 7 p.m. Louisiana-Monroe at TCU - 1 p.m. (The Mtn.) * Louisiana-Lafayette at Arkansas State - TBA Arkansas State at Virginia Tech - 3 p.m. (Fox Sports Net) * North Texas at Troy - TBA Central Florida at FIU - 5 p.m. (ESPN3) * Florida Atlantic at FIU - TBA Indiana State at Western Kentucky - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) * Middle Tennessee at Louisiana-Monroe - TBA North Texas at Alabama - 6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports Net) Troy at Arkansas - 6:30 p.m. (CSS) November 19 - Sun Belt Network Wildcard Week - 6 p.m. Nicholls State at Louisiana-Lafayette - TBA (Cox4) * Florida Atlantic at Troy - TBA * Arkansas State at Middle Tennessee - TBA (ESPN3) September 24 * FIU at Louisiana-Monroe - TBA * Middle Tennessee at Troy - 3:30 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) * Western Kentucky at North Texas - TBA * Louisiana-Lafayette at FIU - 5 p.m. (ESPN3) Indiana at North Texas - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) November 26 - Sun Belt Network Wildcard Week - 6:30 p.m. Central Arkansas at Arkansas State - 7 p.m. (ESPN3/KATV) * Troy at Western Kentucky - TBA Louisiana-Monroe at Iowa - TBA * FIU at Middle Tennessee - TBA Florida Atlantic at Auburn - TBA UAB at Florida Atlantic - TBA Louisiana-Lafayette at Arizona - TBA October 1 * Arkansas State at Western Kentucky - 3 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) December 3 - Sun Belt Network Wildcard Week - 4:30 p.m. Duke at FIU - 5 p.m. (ESPN3) * Louisiana-Monroe at Florida Atlantic - TBA Memphis at Middle Tennessee - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) * Troy at Arkansas State - TBA North Texas at Tulsa - 6 p.m. * Middle Tennessee at North Texas - TBA * Florida Atlantic at Louisiana-Lafayette - TBA (Cox4) UAB at Troy - TBA All times Central (CT) and subject to change * denotes Sun Belt Conference game October 6 TV carrier in parenthesis - additional TV games to be announced * Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee - 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) denotes game to be played at LP Field - Nashville, Tenn.

October 8 For the last four weeks of the 11 game Sun Belt Network schedule a wild * Florida Atlantic at North Texas - 6:30 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) card selection will take place to show that week’s most compelling game. * Arkansas State at Louisiana-Monroe - 6 p.m. * Troy at Louisiana-Lafayette - TBA FIU at Akron - 2 p.m.

October 15 * North Texas at Louisiana-Lafayette - 4 p.m. (Cox4) * Louisiana-Monroe at Troy - 6 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) * Western Kentucky at Florida Atlantic - TBA

5 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE AND ESPN

Over the last fi ve years the Sun Belt Conference has 2011 Sun Belt ESPN Schedule September 1 seen its television appearances double. In fact, the Sun Belt * North Texas at FIU - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Kentucky at Western Kentucky - 8:15 p.m. (ESPNU) set a new record for single season telecasts during the 2010- 11 season with a total of 72 broadcasts. September 3 Louisiana-Monroe at Florida State - 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU) The Sun Belt Conference’s incredible rise in televi- Troy at Clemson - 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3) Florida Atlantic at Florida - 6 p.m. (ESPNU) sion appearances is due in large part to the league’s strong September 9 relationship with ESPN. The Sun Belt Conference became FIU at Louisville - 6 p.m. (ESPN) known as a leader in college sports broadcasting in 1979 by September 10 being the fi rst conference to sign a long-term contract with Florida Atlantic at Michigan State - 11 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) Houston at North Texas - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) the ESPN cable network. Since that time the Sun Belt Confer- Georgia Tech at Middle Tennessee - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) ence has had every men’s basketball championship game Navy at Western Kentucky - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Grambling State at Louisiana-Monroe - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) broadcasted live on ESPN – making it the longest partnership Memphis at Arkansas State - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) between ESPN and any collegiate athletic conference. September 17 While men’s basketball was the catalyst for the Sun Central Florida at FIU - 5 p.m. (ESPN3) Indiana State at Western Kentucky - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Belt Conference and ESPN’s partnership during the early years September 24 of both the network and the league, the last decade has seen * Louisiana-Lafayette at FIU - 5 p.m. (ESPN3) a number of new opportunities arrive for the Sun Belt Confer- Indiana at North Texas - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Central Arkansas at Arkansas State - 7 p.m. (ESPN3) ence to showcase itself on the ESPN family of networks. October 1 The Sun Belt Conference and ESPN have agreed to a Memphis at Middle Tennessee - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) continuing partnership which has expanded the conference’s October 6 national television exposure to unprecedented highs. * Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee - 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) The Sun Belt Conference’s two primary bowl partners October 18 are also affi liated with ESPN as both the R+L Carriers New Or- * FIU at Arkansas State - 7 p.m. (ESPN2) leans Bowl and the GoDaddy.com Bowl are annually televised. October 25 * Troy at FIU - 7 p.m. (ESPN2) “It is always a great opportunity for all of us in the November 19 Sun Belt Conference to play in front of the national audi- * Arkansas State at Middle Tennessee - TBA (ESPN3) ence that ESPN provides,” said Troy head football coach Larry All times Central (CT) and subject to change Blakeney. “To be on that grand stage is something that is very Additional games may be added * denotes Sun Belt Conference game exciting for our players and fans. As a coach we look at play- (1) denotes game to be played at LP Field - Nashville, Tenn. ing on these national broadcasts as a great recruiting tool. I am personally very excited about having the opportunity to ESPN senior vice president, college sports programming. showcase our league.” “ESPN’s long relationship with the conference will continue to ESPN continues to air the Sun Belt Conference Men’s grow with additional coverage across our multiple platforms, Basketball Championship game and additional appearances including ESPNU.” for the league’s men’s basketball programs are available Adding to the strength of the Sun Belt Conference’s throughout the season. television coverage is a regional partnership with Comcast Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball, long one Sports Southeast and Television. The partnership of the conference’s most successful sports, has also benefi ted – known as the Sun Belt Network – has resulted in a game of greatly from the partnership with ESPN. Sun Belt Conference the week for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball women’s basketball teams will have a minimum of one game and baseball. annually as ESPNU will televise either the league’s women’s The Sun Belt Network football game of the week will basketball championship game or up to two regular season be available in 13 states across the southeast and is often games. available on ESPN3.com and ESPN GamePlan outside of the “Having a chance to be on ESPN is always a big plus CSS and CST markets. for any league and team and we feel our exposure on ESPN enhances the Sun Belt’s reputation around the nation,” said Middle Tennessee head women’s basketball coach . “We are thrilled to remain the exclusive national tele- vision home for the Sun Belt Conference,” said Burke Magnus,

6 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL THE SUN BELT NETWORK

About The Sun Belt Network CSS Serves the Following Markets The Sun Belt Conference ventured into a deal with regional sport ALABAMA GEORGIA NORTH CAROLINA network partners Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) and Cox Sports Birmingham Albany Charlotte Dothan Television (CST) in the summer of 2009 to form the Sun Belt Network Huntsville Decatur Augusta SOUTH CAROLINA for regional conference television broadcasts. Mobile Pensacola Macon Charleston Montgomery Savannah Charleston-Huntington The 2011 football season will be the third of a four year marketing, Columbia promotion and syndication agreement with CSS and CST that goes ARKANSAS KENTUCKY Greenville Little Rock Bowling Green Spartanburg through the 2012-13 academic year. Lexington FLORIDA Louisville TENNESSEE The agreement between the three parties results in the broadcasting Fort Myers/Naples Paducah Chattanooga of football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, volleyball, Gainesville Cape Girardeau Jackson and softball contests throughout the season. Jacksonville Knoxville Miami LOUISIANA Memphis Fort Lauderdale Monroe Nashville Through additional distribution agreements the reach of the Sun Orlando New Orleans Tri Cities Belt Network has expanded in the states of Texas (Texas Channel and Panama City Shreveport Charter Denton), Florida (Bright House) and Kentucky (WKYU). These Tallahassee TEXAS supplementary distributions beyond CSS and CST provide Sun Belt Tallahassee MISSISSIPPI Houston Thomasville Columbus/Opelika Network broadcasts to over 15 million households during football Tampa Columbus/Tupelo WEST VIRGINIA season throughout the southeast. St. Petersburg Hattiesburg/Laurel Bluefi eld Beckley West Palm Beach Jackson Compared to the previous regional television deals, the Sun Belt Meridian Network saw a 25% increase in football broadcasts, a 37% increase in men’s basketball broadcasts, and a 40% increase in women’s basket- CST Serves the Following Markets ball broadcasts in only the fi rst year. LOUISIANA Sulphur FLORIDA Abbeville Winnfi eld Gainesville This coming season the last four weeks of the 11 game slate a wild Alexandria Ocala card selection will take place to show that week’s most compelling Ascension Parish ARKANSAS Pensacola game. Baker Arkadelphia Fort Walton Bastrop Bentonville The Sun Belt Network football game of the week will be available in 13 Baton Rouge Berryville VIRGINIA states across the southeast and is often available on ESPN3.com and Belle Chasse Fort Smith Fairfax County City of Fairfax ESPN GamePlan outside of the CSS and CST markets. Blanchard Harrison Bossier City Hot Springs City of Falls Church Butte Larose Jonesboro Town of Herndon About Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast Crowley Malvern Town of Vienna CSS is a 24-hour sports channel carrying a full slate of college sports Denham Springs Monticello Town of Clifton programming and can only be found on cable. With over 40 live DeRidder Northwest Fredericksburg football games including the SEC, Sun Belt, Conference USA, and Gulf Franklin Pocahontas Staff ord South Conferences, the channel off ers a comprehensive sports lineup Patterson Russellville Spotsylvania throughout the year. The channel also off ers more than 175 men’s Grammercy Springsdale and women’s live games and over 60 live baseball Houma Siloam Springs GEORGIA Centerville games, as well as a comprehensive mix of sports news and in-depth Jackson/Clinton Batesville Jonesboro Mountain Home Byron sports analysis geared toward fans in the south. Kaplan Heber Springs Macon Lafayette Warner Robins About Lake Charles TEXAS The New Orleans‐based sports network launched on October 28, 2002 Larose Vision Athens MISSISSIPPI in front of 450,000 Louisiana viewers. CST has grown over 400% to Maringo Bloomburg Centreville nearly 2 million in the seven years since launch, making it one of the Morgan City Bryan Gloster fastest growing regional sports networks in the south. CST is cur- Natchitoches Georgetown Hancock/Pearl River rently carried on cable systems in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Natchitoches Gladewater County Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Virginia and is available to Dish New Iberia Henderson New Orleans Jacksonville Network subscribers (Channel 421) in the Baton Rouge and New Plaquemine Paris Orleans markets. CST is owned and operated by Reserve Sulphur Springs Louisiana, LLC. Initially targeted to be a Louisiana sports network, CST Ruston Tyler has secured collegiate, professional and high school events that have St. Martinville Winnsboro expanded the networks reach throughout the south.

7 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL THE SUN BELT NETWORK

Sun Belt Network Broadcast Team Announced 2011 Sun Belt Network Football Schedule The Sun Belt Conference announced that Joe Davis, Cole Cubelic Date Game Time (Central) and Erin Cofi ell will serve as the broadcast team for the Sun Belt Net- Sept. 24 Middle Tennessee at Troy 3:30 p.m. work’s upcoming football television package. Oct. 1 Arkansas State at Western Kentucky 3 p.m. Davis will be on play-by-play duty in the booth this season – his Oct. 8 Florida Atlantic at North Texas 6:30 p.m. fi rst with the Sun Belt Conference. Davis is in his second season as the voice of the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A Affi liate, the Montgomery Oct. 15 Louisiana-Monroe at Troy 6 p.m. Biscuits. Oct. 22 Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic 7 p.m. A native of Potterville, Mich., Davis previously worked for IMG Oct. 29 Louisiana-Lafayette at Middle Tennessee 6:30 p.m. College as a studio host for the Baylor Bears Sports Network and as Nov. 5 Louisiana-Monroe at Louisiana-Lafayette 2:30 p.m. fi ll-in play-by-play for Troy, Auburn and UAB athletics. His TV cred- Nov. 12 Sun Belt Network Wildcard Week 12 p.m. its include play-by-play for the NCAA D-III football and basketball Nov. 19 Sun Belt Network Wildcard Week 6 p.m. national tournaments, college baseball on CSS, and high school state championship events in both Alabama and Nov. 26 Sun Belt Network Wildcard Week 6:30 p.m. Illinois. He got his start in baseball with the Dec. 3 Sun Belt Network Wildcard Week 4:30 p.m. Schaumburg Flyers in suburban Chicago. Back for his second season as color All times Central (CT) analyst on the Sun Belt Network is Cubelic. Schedule is subject to change Cubelic, a former standout at Auburn, cur- rently is the co-host of the “Cubelic & the Kid” weekday mornings on 97.7 WZZN in Huntsville, AL. Joe Davis At center for the Tigers, Cubelic started 20 games and appeared in 38 despite four surgeries while at Auburn. Cole was named a permanent captain of the 2000 team un- der head coach Tommy Tuberville and voted to the SEC Good WorksTeam as well. On the sidelines will be Cofi ell who re- cently relocated back to Baton Rouge after spending a year at WJAR in Providence, RI. There she covered Providence College and Cole Cubelic the Patriots. No stranger to Louisiana Cofi ell, spent two and a half years at WAFB in Baton Rouge. While there, she did a segment called “Darin’ Erin”, challenging local athletes at their given talent. She was also a fi ll in host for Sportsline Friday Nite, a weekly highlight show. This is the third football season of the Sun Belt Network. The Sun Belt Conference Erin Cofi ell entered into partnership with regional sport network partners Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) and Cox Sports Television (CST) in the summer of 2009 to form the Sun Belt Network for regional conference television broadcasts. “We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Sun Belt Conference again for the 2011 season”, said Mark Fuhrman, General Manager for CSS. “CSS strives to provide our viewers the very best in collegiate sports in the south and the Sun Belt is an integral part of that strategy.”

8 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG Contact John McElwain ([email protected]) for login information.

9 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL ARKANSAS STATE (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time (TV) Sept. 3 at Illinois Champaign, Ill. 2:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network) QUICK FACTS SEPT. 10 MEMPHIS JONESBORO, ARK. 6 P.M. (ESPN3) Interim Chancellor...... Dr. Dan Howard Sept. 17 at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. 3 p.m. (Fox Sports Net) Faculty Representative ...... Nonie Wiggins SEPT. 24 CENTRAL ARKANSAS JONESBORO, ARK. 7 P.M. (KATV) Athletics Director ...... Dr. Dean Lee Oct. 1 * at Western Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. 3 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) SWA ...... Stacey Willmott Oct. 8 * at Louisiana-Monroe Monroe, La. 6 p.m. Location ...... Jonesboro, Arkansas Founded ...... 1909 OCT. 18 * FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL JONESBORO, ARK. 7 P.M. (ESPN2) Enrollment ...... 13,239 OCT. 29 * NORTH TEXAS JONESBORO, ARK. 6 P.M. Nickname ...... Red Wolves Nov. 5 * at Florida Atlantic Boca Raton, Fla. TBA Colors ...... Scarlet & Black Website ...... www.astateredwolves.com NOV. 12 * LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE JONESBORO, ARK. TBA Nov. 19 * at Middle Tennessee Murfreesboro, Tenn. TBA (ESPN3) FOOTBALL FACTS DEC. 3 * TROY JONESBORO, ARK. TBA Primary Off ense ...... Multiple Primary Defense...... Multiple * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS All-Time Record ...... 406-459-37 All-Time SBC Record ...... 27-36 2010 Record ...... 4-8 RED WOLVES NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 4-4 (T-4th) SBC Championships ...... 0 After enjoying successful stints as both a head and assistant coach at the NCAA FBS, NAIA and high school levels over the last 18 years, Hugh Freeze was named Arkansas State’s 27th head football coach on Dec. 2, Bowl Appearances...... 7 2010. Bowl Record ...... 2-4-1 Lettermen Returning ...... 55 Arkansas State will kick off off its 97th season of football on Sept. 3 at Illinois. ASU holds a 406-451-37 Off ense ...... 21 record since the inaugural 1911 season and has played in seven bowl games. Defense ...... 27 Specialists ...... 7 Five Arkansas State football players were tabbed Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference, including senior wide Lettermen Lost ...... 21 receiver Dwayne Frampton, senior center Tom Castilaw, senior defensive lineman Dorvus Woods, senior Off ense ...... 11 linebacker Demario Davis and senior safety Kelcie McCray. Defense ...... 7 Specialists ...... 1 Senior center Tom Castilaw is on the 2011 Rimington Award Watch List issued annually to the nation’s top center, making him the second ASU player to ever earn the preseason recognition. Senior linebacker Starters Returning ...... 15 Demario Davis is the fi fth player in school to be named to the Lombardi Award Watch List, issued to the Off ense ...... 7 top college lineman at the end of the season. Senior wide receiver Dwayne Frampton is the fi rst player in Defense ...... 7 school history to ever be named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List for the nation’s top receiver. Specialists ...... 1 Starters Lost ...... 9 The Red Wolves return their leading passer, top fi ve rushers and three of their four most productive receiv- Off ense ...... 4 ers from last year’s team that fi nished second in the Sun Belt Conference in total off ense and broke nine Defense ...... 4 school records. Specialists ...... 1 ASU returns seven starters on defense, including four of its top six tacklers, seven players that accounted for 17.5 of its 27 sacks and fi ve more that recorded eight of its 11 interceptions.

10 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FLORIDA ATLANTIC (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time (TV) Sept. 3 at Florida Gainesville, Fla. 7 p.m. (ESPNU) QUICK FACTS Sept. 10 at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. 11 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) President ...... Dr. Mary Jane Saunders Sept. 24 at Auburn Auburn, Ala. TBA Faculty Representative ...... Dr. Eric Shaw Oct. 1 * at Louisiana-Lafayette Lafayette, La. TBA Athletics Director ...... Craig Angelos Oct. 8 * at North Texas Denton, Texas 6:30 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) SWA ...... Melissa Dawson Location ...... Boca Raton, Fla. OCT. 15 * WESTERN KENTUCKY BOCA RATON, FLA. TBA Founded ...... 1961 OCT. 22 * MIDDLE TENNESSEE BOCA RATON, FLA. 7 P.M. (SUN BELT NETWORK) Enrollment ...... 28,000 NOV. 5 * ARKANSAS STATE BOCA RATON, FLA. TBA Nickname ...... Owls Nov. 12 * at FIU Miami, Fla. TBA Colors ...... Blue & Red Website ...... www.fausports.com Nov. 19 * at Troy Troy, Ala. TBA NOV. 26 UAB BOCA RATON, FLA. TBA FOOTBALL FACTS DEC. 3 * LOUISIANA-MONROE BOCA RATON, FLA. TBA Primary Off ense ...... Pro Set Primary Defense...... 3-4 * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS All-Time Record ...... 57-63 All-Time SBC Record ...... 24-28 2010 Record ...... 4-8 OWL NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 3-5 (T-6th) SBC Championships ...... 1 Florida Atlantic University’s football program is coming off an eventful summer. The on-campus football stadium, a $70 million dollar project, is nearly complete with the royal palms decorating the inside of the Bowl Appearances...... 2 stadium being installed last week. The view of the Atlantic Ocean from the top-three fl oors is sure to im- Bowl Record ...... 2-0 press anyone. The stadium is scheduled to open October 15 when the Owls play host to Western Kentucky. Lettermen Returning ...... 30 Off ense ...... 8 Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger also announced during the fi rst week of camp that the 2011 season Defense ...... 20 will be his fi nal campaign. The legendary coach is the only head coach FAU football has known. Schnellen- Specialists ...... 2 berger came to FAU in 1998 with the mission of exploring the south Florida community on adding another Lettermen Lost ...... 18 football program. Schnellenberger was named head coach a year later, the team took to the fi eld in 2001, Off ense ...... 9 played in the NCAA I-AA play-off s in 2003 and captured bowl victories in 2007 and 2008. He will lead the Defense ...... 7 Owls into the on-campus stadium October 15, 2001. Specialists ...... 2 On the fi eld the Owls have completed camps minus major injuries and will head into the season with Starters Returning ...... 16 several strong weeks of practice. Juniors Graham Wilbert and David Kooi have battled for the start with Off ense ...... 7 Wilbert being named the 2011 opening day starter after last Tuesday’s practice, August 23. FAU’s defense Defense ...... 7 captured the preseason scrimmages pushing the off ense to take care of the ball and to limit their mistakes. Specialists ...... 2 Starters Lost ...... 10 FAU will open the 2011 season at Florida, September 3, and will face three top-25 teams in the fi rst three Off ense ...... 4 weeks of the season in Florida (0-1), Michigan State (0-2) and Auburn (0-0). The Owls will be led off ensively Defense ...... 4 by Alfred Morris who will use the 2011 campaign to become the program’s all-time back. Like Morris, Specialists ...... 2 Marcus Bartels returns for his senior campaign and needs just 23 tackles to become the program’s all-time tackle leader for defensive backs. Mickey Groody also returns to special teams after posting top-20 num- bers as the team’s punter.

11 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIU (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time (TV) SEPT. 1 * NORTH TEXAS MIAMI, FLA. 6 P.M. (ESPN3) QUICK FACTS Sept. 9 at Louisville at Louisville, Ky. 6 p.m. (ESPN) SEPT. 17 UCF MIAMI, FLA. 5 P.M. (ESPN3) President ...... Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg Faculty Representative ...... Dr. Stephen M. Fain SEPT. 24 * LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE MIAMI, FLA. 5 P.M. (ESPN3) Athletics Director ...... OCT. 1 DUKE MIAMI, FLA. 5 P.M. (ESPN3) SWA ...... Julie Berg Oct. 8 at Akron at Akron, Ohio 2 p.m. Location ...... Miami, Fla. Oct. 18 * at Arkansas State at Jonesboro, Ark. 7 p.m. (ESPN2) Opened ...... 1972 OCT. 25 * TROY MIAMI, FLA. 7 P.M. (ESPN2) Enrollment ...... 40,455 Nov. 5 * at WKU at Bowling Green, Ky. 3 p.m. Nickname ...... Golden Panthers Colors ...... Blue & Gold NOV. 12 * FLORIDA ATLANTIC MIAMI, FLA. TBA Website ...... www.fi usports.com Nov. 19 * at Louisiana-Monroe at Monroe, La. TBA FOOTBALL FACTS Nov. 26 * at Middle Tennessee at Murfreesboro, Tenn. TBA Primary Off ense ...... Multiple Primary Defense...... Multiple * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS All-Time Record ...... 31-74 All-Time SBC Record ...... 16-28 2010 Record ...... 7-6 PANTHER NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 6-2 (T-1st) SBC Championships ...... 1 With the start of the 2011 football season, the Panthers embark on their journey towards another Sun Belt Conference championship as they host a Sun Belt rival, the on Thursday, Bowl Appearances...... 1 September 1. Bowl Record ...... 1-0 Lettermen Returning ...... 49 Thursday’s matchup will feature, arguably, the two best and most feared off ensive players in the Sun Belt Off ense ...... 21 in FIU’s T.Y. Hilton and North Texas’ Lance Dunbar, the 2011 SBC Co-Preseason Off ensive Players of the Year. Defense ...... 26 FIU has won the last four meetings against North Texas, including a 34-10 victory in Denton last year. Specialists ...... 2 Lettermen Lost ...... 15 The Panthers and Mean Green have a history together, as they can both stake claim to being the last two Off ense ...... 6 college football teams to play in Miami’s historic . On December 1, 2007 FIU closed out the Defense ...... 8 legendary stadium by beating North Texas 38-19 to snap a 23 game losing streak. Specialists ...... 1 Thursday’s game is being broadcast on ESPN3.com, and along with 14 other contests, it is kicking off the Starters Returning ...... 18 football season as tonight marks the fi rst night of college football in 2011. Off ense ...... 8 Defense ...... 8 For the fi rst time since the program’s inaugural season of 2002, and the fi rst time as an FBS (Division I-A) Specialists ...... 2 program, FIU will open the 2011 season at home when they host the Mean Green. Back in ‘02, FIU began Starters Lost ...... 8 its season with a 27-3 victory over St. Peter’s College. The Panthers will also play six home games in 2011, Off ense ...... 3 marking the fi rst time FIU plays more than fi ve games in “The Cage.” Defense ...... 4 Specialists ...... 1

12 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time (TV) Sept. 3 at Oklahoma State at Stillwater, Okla. 6 p.m. (Fox College Sports) QUICK FACTS Sept.10 at Kent State at Kent, Ohio 6 p.m. SEPT. 17 NICHOLLS STATE LAFAYETTE, LA. TBA (COX4) President ...... Dr. E. Joseph Savoie Faculty Representative ...... Anita Hazelwood Sept. 24 * at FIU at Miami, Fla. 5 p.m. (ESPN3) Interim Director of Athletics ...... Scott Farmer OCT. 1 * FLORIDA ATLANTIC LAFAYETTE, LA. TBA (COX4) SWA ...... Sherry LeBas OCT. 8 * TROY LAFAYETTE, LA. TBA Location ...... Lafayette, La. OCT. 15 * NORTH TEXAS LAFAYETTE, LA. 4 P.M. (COX4) Founded ...... 1898 Oct. 22 * at Western Kentucky at Bowling Green, Ky. 3 p.m. Enrollment ...... 16,763 Oct. 29 * at Middle Tennessee at Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6:30 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) Nickname ...... Ragin’ Cajuns Colors ...... Vermillion & White NOV. 5 * LOUISIANA-MONROE LAFAYETTE, LA. 2:30 P.M. (SUN BELT NETWORK) Website ...... www.ragincajuns.com Nov. 12 * at Arkansas State at Jonesboro, Ark. TBA FOOTBALL FACTS Nov. 26 at Arizona at Tucson, Ariz. TBA Primary Off ense ...... Multiple Primary Defense...... Hybrid 4-3 * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS All-Time Record ...... 481-513-34 All-Time SBC Record ...... 32-36 2010 Record ...... 3-9 RAGIN’ CAJUN NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 3-5 (T-6th) SBC Championships ...... 1 The Cajuns must have a new football coach since the season opens at No. 9 Oklahoma State as three of the last four football coaches at ULL have started their career with a game versus the Cowboys. Nelson Bowl Appearances...... 2 Stokley’s debut began on Sept. 6, 1986 with a tough 21-20 defeat vs. OSU. Jerry Baldwin replaced Stokley Bowl Record ...... 1-1 and his fi rst game saw a 24-7 loss at OSU on Sept. 4, 1999. ’s fi rst game occurred at Texas Lettermen Returning ...... 41 A&M, but new head coach Mark Hudspeth gets his feet wet with OSU. These are the only three times the Off ense ...... 20 teams have met in a seasonopener. Although ULL has never defeated OSU, the Cajuns led last season’s Defense ...... 19 game 21-17 at the half and led 3-0 after the fi rst quarter in the prior meeting in 2003. ULL trailed 7-0 at the Specialists ...... 2 half in 1999. Lettermen Lost ...... 24 Off ense ...... 11 Mackey and Biletnikoff Award candidate Ladarius Green was named a Top 5 draft-eligible tight end by Defense ...... 11 ESPN.com Insider Mel Kiper, Jr. Green was honored by several major publications as a 2011 Pre-Season Specialists ...... 2 All-American following All-American accolades in 2010 by CBSSports.com (2nd Team) and Phil Steele (4th Team). Starters Returning ...... 14 Off ense ...... 5 Since the start of the 2008 season, the Cajuns are 13-3 when allowing 30 points or less. ULL is 2-18 when Defense ...... 7 allowing 31 points. Specialists ...... 2 Starters Lost ...... 12 The Cajuns saw three diff erent pass for over 250 yards in a game during the 2010 season Off ense ...... 6 (Chris Masson – three times; Brad McGuire – 384 at Ohio; Blaine Gautier – 254 at FAU). Defense ...... 4 Specialists ...... 2 True freshman running back Aaron Spikes led the Cajuns in scoring during the 2010 season. He scored eight – six receiving and two rushing.

The Cajuns posted 14 picks, giving them 30 INTs over the last two seasons. 13 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL LOUISIANA-MONROE (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time (TV) Sept. 3 at Florida State at Tallahassee, Fla. 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU) QUICK FACTS SEPT. 10 GRAMBLING STATE MONROE, LA. 6 P.M. (ESPN3) Sept. 17 at TCU at Fort Worth, Texas 1 p.m. (The Mtn.) President ...... Dr. Nick Bruno Faculty Representative ...... Kevin Unter Sept. 24 at Iowa at Iowa City, Iowa TBA Athletics Director ...... Bobby Staub OCT. 8 * ARKANSAS STATE MONROE, LA. 6 P.M. SWA ...... Tasha Fisher Oct. 15 * at Troy at Troy, Ala. 6 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) Location ...... Monroe, Louisiana Oct. 22 * at North Texas at Denton, Texas 6 p.m. Founded ...... 1931 OCT. 29 * WESTERN KENTUCKY MONROE, LA. 2:30 P.M. Enrollment ...... 8,858 Nov. 5 * at Louisiana-Lafayette at Lafayette, La. 2:30 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) Nickname ...... Warhawks Colors ...... Maroon & Gold NOV. 12 * MIDDLE TENNESSEE MONROE, LA. TBA Website ...... www.ulmwarhawks.com NOV. 19 * FIU MONROE, LA. TBA FOOTBALL FACTS Dec. 3 * at Florida Atlantic at Boca Raton, Fla. TBA Primary Off ense ...... Multiple Primary Defense...... 3-3-5 * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS All-Time Record ...... 274-359-8 All-Time SBC Record ...... 33-37 2010 Record ...... 5-7 WARHAWK NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 4-4 (T-4th) SBC Championships ...... 1 Twenty-one freshmen and sophomores are listed on ULM’s off ensive and defensive two-deep heading into the opener at Florida State. Ten of them are listed as starters; last season ULM also started 10 freshmen and Bowl Appearances...... 3 sophomores Bowl Record ...... 2-1 Lettermen Returning ...... 48 ULM has the second best winning percentage in the state of Louisiana among FBS schools over the past Off ense ...... 21 fi ve seasons Defense ...... 23 Specialists ...... 4 The Warhawks have forced at least one turnover in 21-of-24 games under defensive coordinator Troy Ref- Lettermen Lost ...... 13 fett -- ULM has forced 42 turnovers in those 21 games Off ense ...... 6 Defense ...... 7 Sports Illustrated picked the Warhawks to fi nish 8-4 overall and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference; SI prognos- Specialists ...... 0 ticated a three-way tie for the Belt crown with ULM, FIU and Troy Starters Returning ...... 22 ULM has won 14 of its last 19 home games dating back to the 2007 season Off ense ...... 11 Defense ...... 8 Kolton Browning had two of the top six total off ense totals in ULM’s Sun Belt era last season-- 350 at Arkan- Specialists ...... 3 sas State (6th) and 409 at FIU (3rd) Starters Lost ...... 3 Off ense ...... 0 Linebacker R.J. Young graduated from the University of Arizona in just three years before transferring to Defense ...... 3 ULM this summer Specialists ...... 0 Luther Ambrose fi nished third in the 100m dash at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships; he needs two receptions, two catches and 497 receiving yards to move into the top 10 in ULM history in each category. 14 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MIDDLE TENNESSEE (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time (TV) Sept. 3 at Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. 11 a.m. (Big Ten Network) QUICK FACTS SEPT. 10 GEORGIA TECH MURFREESBORO, TENN. 6 P.M. (ESPN3) Sept. 24 * at Troy Troy, Ala. 3:30 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) President ...... Dr. Sidney McPhee Faculty Representative ...... Dr. Terry Whiteside OCT. 1 MEMPHIS MURFREESBORO, TENN. 6 P.M (ESPN3) Athletics Director ...... Chris Massaro OCT. 6 * WKU MURFREESBORO, TENN. 6:30 P.M. (ESPNU) SWA ...... Diane Turnham Oct. 22 * at Florida Atlantic Boca Raton, Fla. 6 p.m. (Sun Belt Network) Location ...... Murfreesboro, Tennessee OCT. 29 * LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE MURFREESBORO, TENN. 6:30 P.M. (SUN BELT NETWORK) Founded ...... 1911 Nov. 5 at Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn. TBA Enrollment ...... 26,432 Nov. 12 * at Louisiana-Monroe Monroe, La. TBA Nickname ...... Blue Raiders Colors ...... Royal Blue & White NOV. 19 * ARKANSAS STATE MURFREESBORO, TENN. TBA (ESPN3) Website ...... www.GoBlueRaiders.com NOV. 26 * FIU MURFREESBORO, TENN. TBA FOOTBALL FACTS Dec. 3 * at North Texas Denton, Texas TBA Primary Off ense ...... Multiple Primary Defense...... 4-3/Multiple * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS All-Time Record ...... 526-382-28 All-Time SBC Record ...... 43-28 2010 Record ...... 6-7 BLUE RAIDER NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 5-3 (3rd) SBC Championships ...... 2 Saturday’s game will mark the fi rst-ever meeting on the gridiron between Middle Tennessee and Purdue. It marks the second straight year the Blue Raiders have opened the season against a Big Ten opponent. Bowl Appearances...... 7 Bowl Record ...... 3-4 Middle Tennessee has an overall mark of 57-37-2 in season-opening games, including a 1-4 mark under Lettermen Returning ...... 50 Rick Stockstill, and has won 18 of its last 30. The Blue Raiders have won their opening game just three Off ense ...... 25 times since elevating to the FBS level in 1999. MT defeated SEC member Vanderbilt in 2001 on the road Defense ...... 21 and then upset Akron on the road in 2004. The Blue Raiders also won the 2006 opener at home against Specialists ...... 4 Florida International. Lettermen Lost ...... 17 Off ense ...... 7 It’s tough to win in college football and even tougher to win games away from home. Under Rick Stockstill, Defense ...... 10 the Blue Raiders have performed well on the road by compiling a mark of 16-21 despite having 15 of the Specialists ...... 0 37 games against the SEC (4), ACC (4), Big East (3), Big 12, and C-USA (3). The Blue Raiders have a mark of 8-6 over their last 14 away games and have won fi ve of their last six road SBC games. Starters Returning ...... 14 Off ense ...... 7 Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill needs one more win to tie Andy McCollum for fourth place Defense ...... 3 on the all-time wins list at Middle Tennessee. Stockstill owns 33 victories and is tied with Frank Faulkinber- Specialists ...... 4 ry for fi fth but needs just three wins this year to move past Alfred Miles for third. Charles Murphy (1947-68) Starters Lost ...... 12 is the all-time winningest coach at Middle Tennessee with a mark of 155-63-8. Off ense ...... 4 Defense ...... 8 Middle Tennessee has an overall mark of 43-28 in Sun Belt action all-time, including a 25-11 record at Specialists ...... 0 home and an 18-17 mark on the road. Middle Tennessee is 25-12 in league games under Rick Stockstill and 12-7 on the road. The 43 league wins rank as the most victories in Sun Belt history with Troy second at 40.

15 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL NORTH TEXAS (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time (TV) Sept. 1 * at FIU at Miami, Fla. 6 p.m. (ESPN3) QUICK FACTS SEPT. 10 HOUSTON DENTON, TEXAS 6 P.M. (ESPN3) Sept. 17 at Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Ala. 6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports) President ...... Dr. V. Lane Rawlins Faculty Representative ...... Dr. Jerry Thomas SEPT. 24 INDIANA DENTON, TEXAS 6 P.M. (ESPN3) Athletics Director ...... Rick Villarreal Oct. 1 at Tulsa at Tulsa, Okla. 6 p.m. SWA ...... Cinnamon Sheffi eld OCT. 8 * FLORIDA ATLANTIC DENTON, TEXAS 6:30 P.M. (SUN BELT NETWORK) Location ...... Denton, Texas Oct. 15 * at Louisiana-Lafayette at Lafayette, La. 4 p.m. Opened ...... 1890 OCT. 22 * LOUISIANA-MONROE DENTON, TEXAS 6 P.M. Enrollment ...... 36,206 Oct. 29 * at Arkansas State at Jonesboro, Ark. 6 p.m. Nickname ...... Mean Green Colors ...... Green & White Nov. 12 * at Troy at Troy, Ala. TBA Website ...... www.meangreensports.com NOV. 19 * WESTERN KENTUCKY DENTON, TEXAS TBA FOOTBALL FACTS DEC. 3 * MIDDLE TENNESSEE DENTON, TEXAS TBA Primary Off ense ...... Spread Primary Defense...... 4-3 * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS All-Time Record ...... 470-451-33 All-Time SBC Record ...... 34-36 2010 Record ...... 3-9 MEAN GREEN NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 3-5 (T-6th) SBC Championships ...... 4 North Texas will begin its 96th season of football when it kicks off the 2011 season at FIU on September 1. Since the inaugural season in 1913, North Texas has accumulated a record of 470-451-33, amassed 25 Bowl Appearances...... 7 conference championships and played in seven bowl games. Bowl Record ...... 2-5 Lettermen Returning ...... 53 The co-preseason Off ensive Players of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference will face off in the fi rst week of Off ense ...... 27 the season with Mean Green running back Lance Dunbar and FIU wide receiver T.Y. Hilton doing battle. Defense ...... 23 Hilton is the returning Player of the Year in the conference while Dunbar was a fi rst team all-conference Specialists ...... 3 selection in 2010. Lettermen Lost ...... 24 Off ense ...... 11 North Texas will be opening the season on a Thursday night television game for the second time in three Defense ...... 13 years. In 2009, the Mean Green traveled to Ball State to open the year on a Thursday night game on ESPNU Specialists ...... 0 and came away with a surprise 20-10 victory. This year’s opener will be on ESPN3 at FIU, where North Texas is again a decided underdog against the Sun Belt Conference preseason favorite. Ironically, the Starters Returning ...... 17 defensive coordinator for Ball State in that 2009 game was Doug Graber, who is also the analyst for this Off ense ...... 7 week’s game vs. FIU on ESPN3. Defense ...... 7 Specialists ...... 3 For the fi rst time since 1952, North Texas will not be playing its home football games at . The Starters Lost ...... 8 Mean Green is beginning a new era with the opening of its brand-new 30,850-seat on Off ense ...... 4 Sept. 10, against Houston. Apogee Stadium is the centerpiece of the recently-developed Mean Green Vil- Defense ...... 4 lage, which encompasses nearly all of the academic, training and competition facilities for the nearly 400 Specialists ...... 0 student-athletes on campus. The stadium was built at a cost of $78 million under the design and construc- tion of award-winning companies HKS and Manhattan Construction. It features 21 luxury suites, 750 club seats, banquet space and a team spirit store. The stadium will feature renewable energy, and is on target to become the fi rst LEED Platinum certifi ed football stadium in the world. 16 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TROY (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time (TV) Sept. 3 * at Clemson Clemson, S.C. 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3) QUICK FACTS Sept. 17 * at Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark. 6:30 p.m. (CSS) Chancellor ...... Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. SEPT. 24 MIDDLE TENNESSEE TROY, ALA. 3:30 P.M. (SUN BELT NETWORK) Faculty Representative ...... Fred Green OCT. 1 UAB TROY, ALA. TBA Athletics Director ...... Steve Dennis Oct. 8 * at Louisiana-Lafayette Lafayette, La. TBA SWA ...... Sandy Atkins OCT. 15 * LOUISIANA-MONROE TROY, ALA. 6 P.M. (SUN BELT NETWORK) Location ...... Troy, Alabama Oct. 25 * at FIU Miami, Fla. 7 p.m. (ESPN2) Opened ...... 1887 Nov. 5 at Navy Annapolis, Md. 2:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) Enrollment ...... 28,225 Nickname ...... Trojans NOV. 12 * NORTH TEXAS TROY, ALA. TBA Colors ...... Cardinal, Silver, and Black NOV. 19 * FLORIDA ATLANTIC TROY, ALA. TBA Website ...... www.troytrojans.com Nov. 26 * at Western Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. TBA FOOTBALL FACTS Dec. 3 * at Arkansas State Jonesboro, Ark. TBA Primary Off ense ...... Spread Primary Defense...... 4-3 * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS All-Time Record ...... 487-357-27 All-Time SBC Record ...... 40-11 2010 Record ...... 8-5 TROJAN NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 6-2 (T-1st) SBC Championships ...... 5 The Trojans and Tigers have never met in football, although the Trojans have faced fi ve other members of the ACC. Coach Blakeney has faced Florida State (2006), Georgia Tech (2006), Virginia (2003) Maryland Bowl Appearances...... 5 (2001) and Miami (2001) since leading the Trojans into the FBS. Troy has played four other schools from Bowl Record ...... 2-3 South Carolina, compiling a 6-10-1 all-time record in games against Charleston Southern (3-0), Newberry Lettermen Returning ...... 47 (1-5-1), Presbyterian (2-2) and USC (0-3). Off ense ...... 20 Defense ...... 24 The Trojans enter the 2011 season picked to fi nish second in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans earned Specialists ...... 3 a share of their fi fth straight league crown in 2010. Troy shared the league title with FIU last year. The Lettermen Lost ...... 18 Panthers are the preseason pick to win the title this year. Off ense ...... 12 Defense ...... 6 Troy has an all-time record of 49-35-6 in 90 season openers. That record includes a 21-23-4 record in road Specialists ...... 0 season openers. Coach Larry Blakeney has posted an overall record of 14-6 in season openers, including a 9-6 mark in road season openers. Starters Returning ...... 16 Off ense ...... 5 Troy is 3-2 all-time in games played on Sept. 3. The Trojans lost at Bowling Green 31-14 (2009) in their last Defense ...... 8 game on this date. Specialists ...... 3 Starters Lost ...... 11 Coach Larry Blakeney has posted an 46-29 record during his career in games played in September and he Off ense ...... 8 is 68-67 overall in his career in home games. Defense ...... 3 Specialists ...... 0

17 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY (0-0 SUN BELT, 0-0 OVERALL)

2011 SCHEDULE

SEPT. 1 (!) KENTUCKY NASHVILLE, TENN. 8:15 P.M. (ESPNU) SEPT. 10 NAVY BOWLING GREEN, KY. 6 P.M (ESPN3) QUICK FACTS SEPT. 17 INDIANA STATE BOWLING GREEN, KY. 6 P.M. President ...... Dr. Gary Ransdell OCT. 1 * ARKANSAS STATE BOWLING GREEN, KY. 3 P.M. (SUN BELT NETWORK) Faculty Representative ...... James Brown Oct. 6 * at Middle Tennessee at Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Athletics Director ...... Ross Bjork Oct. 15 * at Florida Atlantic at Boca Raton, Fla. TBA SWA ...... Pam Herriford OCT. 22 * LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE BOWLING GREEN, KY. 3 P.M. Location ...... Bowling Green, Kentucky Oct. 29 * at Louisiana-Monroe at Monroe, La. 2:30 p.m. Opened ...... 1906 NOV. 5 * FIU BOWLING GREEN, KY. 3 P.M. Enrollment ...... 20,712 Nickname ...... Hilltoppers Nov. 12 at LSU at Baton Rouge, La. 7 p.m. Colors ...... Red & White Nov. 19 * at North Texas at Denton, Texas TBA Website ...... www.wkusports.com FOOTBALL FACTS NOV. 26 * TROY BOWLING GREEN, KY. TBA Primary Off ense ...... West Coast * Denotes Sun Belt game; All times central; Home games in BOLD CAPS Primary Defense...... 4-3 (!) denotes game to be played at LP Field - Nashville, Tenn. All-Time Record ...... 513-360-30 All-Time SBC Record ...... 2-14 2010 Record ...... 2-10 HILLTOPPER NOTES 2010 SBC Record (Finish) ...... 2-6 (9th) SBC Championships ...... 0 WKU is 54-32-5 (62.1%) all time on opening day — no is available for the fi rst game of 1916. The Hilltoppers last opened the season on a Thursday night back in 2005, picking up a 63-3 home victory over Bowl Appearances...... 2 West Virginia Tech. In fact, since 2000 WKU has played three Thursday night season openers, going 2-1 in Bowl Record ...... 2-0 those contests. Lettermen Returning ...... 43 Off ense ...... 17 With September 1 marking the offi cial opening night of the 2011 college football season, the matchup be- Defense ...... 23 tween WKU and Kentucky is one of just 15 games on the slate involving football bowl subdivision teams. Specialists ...... 3 Lettermen Lost ...... 12 Hilltopper junior tight end Ryan Wallace knows both sides of the WKU-UK rivalry, as last season he was Off ense ...... 5 wearing the blue and white of the Wildcats when the two teams met in Lexington. A Bowling Green na- Defense ...... 6 tive, Wallace transferred home to WKU prior to 2011 spring practice, and received a waiver from the NCAA Specialists ...... 1 making him eligible to compete this season. Starters Returning ...... 20 Thanks to a phenomenal end to the 2010 season, senior Bobby Rainey has a chance to make history early Off ense ...... 10 in the year. Rainey rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last fi ve games last season — tying him with Defense ...... 7 Lerron Moore for the second-longest streak of consecutive 100-yard eff orts in WKU history. Antwan Floyd Specialists ...... 3 holds the school record with eight straight 100-yard rushing eff orts stretched over the 1994 and 1995 Starters Lost ...... 7 campaigns. Off ense ...... 4 Defense ...... 3 With a number of underclassmen stepping to the forefront in 2010, the Hilltoppers return nearly all of their Specialists ...... 0 off ensive numbers from a year ago. In fact, WKU racked up 3,818 yards of total off ense a year ago, and the players that accounted for 3,806 of those yards are still on the roster this season. Breaking it down, the Toppers return 99.8 percent of their rushing from last season, 90.1 percent of their receiving yards and 100 percent of their passing yards. 18 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA RELATIONS DIRECTORY

Arkansas State Middle Tennessee 217 Olympic Drive MTSU Box 20 Convocation Center 1500 Greenland Drive Jonesboro, Ark., 72401 Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132 Press Box Phone (870) 972-2541 www.asuredwolves.comww.asuredwolves.co Press Box Phone (615) 898-2312 www.goblueraiders.com Jerry Scott, Director Mark Owens, Director Phone ...... (870) 972-3405 Phone ...... (615) 898-5057 Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... [email protected] Van Provence, Assistant Travis Woods, Assistant Phone ...... (870) 972-2541 Phone ...... (615) 898-5270 Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... [email protected] Anthony Reynolds, Assistant Leslie Wilhite, Assistant Phone ...... (870) 972-3547 Phone ...... (615) 904-8115 Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... [email protected] Florida Atlantic North Texas 777 Glades Road 1301 S. Bonnie Brae Boca Raton, Fla., 33431 Denton, Texas 76207 Press Box Phone (561) 251-5588 Press Box Phone (940) 565-2476 www.meangreensports.com www.fausports.comww fausports co Eric Capper, Director Katrina McCormack, Director Phone ...... (940) 565-2476 Email ...... [email protected] Phone ...... (561) 297-3163 Steven Bartolotta, Assistant Email ...... [email protected] Phone ...... (940) 369-8329 Justin Johnson, Assistant Email ...... [email protected] Phone ...... (561) 302-0461 Stephen Howard, Assistant Email ...... [email protected] Phone ...... (940) 369-8548 Email ...... [email protected] Amy Ruggini, Assistant Phone ...... (940) 369-7980 Email ...... [email protected] FIU Troy 11200 SW 8th Street 5000 Veterans Stadium Drive U.S. Century Bank Arena Troy, Ala., 36082 Miami, Fla., 33199 Press Box Phone (334) 670-3229 Press Box Phone (305) 348-4263 www.fifi ususports.comports www.troytrojans.com Paul Dodson, Director Phone ...... (305) 348-3164 Ricky Hazel, Director Email ...... pdodson@fi u.edu Ivan Irizarry, Associate (Football Contact) Phone ...... (334) 670-3832 Phone ...... (305) 348-6666 Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... iiriz001@fi u.edu Mat Ratner, Assistant Phone ...... (305) 348-1496 Email ...... mratner@fi u.edu Maegan Azpiazu, Assistant Phone ...... (305) 348-0261 Email ...... mazpiazu@fi u.edu

Louisiana-Lafayette Western Kentucky 201 Reinhardt Drive E.A. Diddle Arena, Room 1140 Lafayette, La., 70506 1605 Avenue of Champions Press Box Phone (337) 851-2255 Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-6412 www.ragincajuns.com Press Box Phone (270) 745-6941 www.wkusports.com Todd Stewart, Director Daryl Cetnar, Director Phone ...... (270) 745-3161 Phone ...... (337) 482-6331 Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... [email protected] Chris Glowacki, Associate Phone ...... (270) 745-5388 Matt Hebert, Assistant Email ...... [email protected] Phone ...... (337) 482-6330 Michael Schroeder, Assistant Email ...... [email protected] Phone ...... (270) 745-5045 Email ...... [email protected] Melissa Anderson, Assistant Phone ...... (270) 745-3756 Email ...... [email protected] Louisiana-Monroe Sun Belt Conference 308 Warhawk Way 601 Poydras Street, Suite 2355 Monroe, La., 71209 New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 Press Box Phone (318) 342-5471 www.ulmwarhawks.com www.sunbeltsports.org Adam Prendergast, Director John McElwain, Associate Commissioner Phone ...... (318) 342-5463 Phone ...... (504) 299-9066 ext. 215 Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... [email protected] Jeremy Stevens, Assistant Travis Llewellyn, Assistant Commissioner Phone ...... (318) 342-5462 Phone ...... (504) 299-9066 ext. 216 Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... [email protected] Keith Nunez, Director of Media Relations Phone ...... (504) 299-9066 ext. 218 Email ...... [email protected]

19 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG