Sun Belt Conference Weekly News and Notes
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2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL ForF Immediate Release: Monday, September 5, 2011 • Week 2 Contact: John McElwain ([email protected]) 601 Poydras Street, Suite 2355, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 • www.sunbeltsports.org.org • 504.299.9066, ext. 215 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE 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. FIU 1 0 41 16 1.000 1 0 41 16 1.000 In fact, the Sun Belt Conference is one of just Louisiana-Lafayette 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 34 61 .000 11 BCS Conferences. The Sun Belt Confer- Middle Tennessee 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 24 27 .000 ence champion will earn an automatic berth Troy 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 19 43 .000 Arkansas State 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 15 33 .000 in a BCS bowl game if that team is ranked in Western Kentucky 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 3 14 .000 the top 12 of the fi nal BCS standings or if that Florida Atlantic 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 3 41 .000 team is ranked in the top 16 of the fi nal BCS Louisiana-Monroe 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 34 .000 standings and its ranking is higher than that of North Texas 0 1 16 41 .000 0 1 16 41 .000 a champion of a conference that has an annual UPCOMING GAMES RECENT RESULTS automatic berth in one of the of BCS bowls. In the fi rst 10 years of the BCS arrangement, more September 9 September 1 FIU at Louisville - 6 p.m. (ESPN) * FIU 41, North Texas 16 - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) than $100 million was distributed to confer- (1) Kentucky 14, Western Kentucky 3 - 8:15 p.m. (ESPNU) September 10 ences that do not have an annual automatic Florida Atlantic at Michigan State - 11 a.m. (ESPN2) September 3 berth to one of the BCS bowls. Nine percent of Houston at North Texas - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Purdue 27 , Middle Tennessee 24- 11:00 a.m. (Big Ten Network) Georgia Tech at Middle Tennessee - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Illinois 33, Arkansas State 15 - 2:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network) the net revenues from the BCS arrangement is Navy at Western Kentucky - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) #6 Florida State 34, Louisiana-Monroe 0 - 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU) Grambling State at Louisiana-Monroe - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) Clemson 43, Troy 19 - 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3) guaranteed in aggregate to Conference USA, Memphis at Arkansas State - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) #22 Florida 41, Florida Atlantic 3 - 6 p.m. (ESPNU) Louisiana-Lafayette at Kent State - 6 p.m. #9 Oklahoma State 61, Louisiana-Lafayette 34 - 6 p.m. (Fox College Sports) the Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, and Western Athletic Conferences for their September 17 (1) denotes game to be played at LP Field - Nashville, Tenn. Louisiana-Monroe at TCU - 1 p.m. (The Mtn.) participation in the BCS arrangement. When a Arkansas State at Virginia Tech - 3 p.m. (Fox Sports Net) Central Florida at FIU - 5 p.m. (ESPN3) team from one of those fi ve conferences plays Indiana State at Western Kentucky - 6 p.m. (ESPN3) North Texas at Alabama - 6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports Net) in BCS bowl game, those conferences receive Troy at Arkansas - 6:30 p.m. (CSS) an additional nine percent of net revenues. Nicholls State at Louisiana-Lafayette - TBA (Cox4) When more than one team from those confer- All times Central (CT) and subject to change; * denotes Sun Belt Conference game; TV carrier in parenthesis ences play in a BCS bowl game, those confer- ences will receive an additional $4.5 million for each additional team. FIU HEADS TO PRIMETIME; APOGEE STADIUM UNVEILED; 9/11 OBSERVED A full slate of non-conference action awaits institutions hosting home football games Sun Belt Conference teams in the second week on Saturday, September 10 will join to of the 2011 season. commemorate the tenth anniversary of the FIU, winners of its season opener over North September 11 attacks. Texas, will face Louisville in primetime ESPN Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle action on Friday night. In addition to the Friday Tennessee, North Texas, South Alabama and night game, all but one game this coming Western Kentucky are all scheduled to host weekend will be broadcasted. In fact, 22 of the home games this upcoming Saturday. Each fi rst 23 games of the 2011 season are being school will participate in a moment of silence broadcasted. and a special recognition of fi rst responders. Among the highlights for this weekend will Throughout these home games a total of 3,000 be the grand opening of North Texas’ brand American fl ags will also be given to fans. new, state-of-the-art facility – Apogee Stadium. Some institutions will also have added A full house is expected for the home debut of ceremonies in remembrance as Arkansas State the Mean Green who hosts Houston at 6 p.m. and Western Kentucky are planning fl yovers. Saturday night. Additional ceremonies are taking place Six Sun Belt Conference member throughout the league. 1 - WWW.SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG 2011 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SUN BELT CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Sr., WR) After an off season fi lled with accolades, much pressure and expectations were placed on FIU’s Heisman hope- ful T.Y. Hilton. The senior from Miami delivered in his fi rst game of the season against North Texas (9/1), racking up 283 all-purpose yards, 12 shy of his own school record. The 283 yards were the most by any player in the country on week one. Hilton wasted no time showing why he was named the Co-Preseason Sun Belt Confer- ence Player of the Year as he took the opening kickoff 62 yards to set up the FIU off ense with a short fi eld. On FIU’s next drive, Hilton scored on the fi rst play when he left a defender in the dust for a 60-yard touchdown catch. Hilton fi nished the contest with 132 receiving yards on seven catches, 49 rushing yards on two at- Off ensive tempts, 92 yards on two kickoff returns, and 10 yards on a pair of punt returns. Player of the Week (September 5) Eric Russell (Middle Tennessee, Sr., DB) Russell made the most of his opportunities defensively in the season opener at Purdue. He topped all Middle Tennessee tacklers with 13 stops, including 11 solo. He was credited with his fi rst career sack in the second quarter and added an interception early in the same period to halt a Boilermaker drive. He brought back the turnover 34 yards, the longest interception return of the afternoon. Adding to his versatility, Russell was the main kick and punt returner as well for the Blue Raiders. He fi nished with three kickoff returns for 85 yards, including a long of 40, to set up MT with solid fi eld possession each time. He then tacked on two punt returns for 14 yards. His 133 all-purpose yards led all players. Defensive Player of the Week (September 5) Hendrix Brakefi eld (WKU, So., P) WKU second-year punter Hendrix Brakefi eld averaged 44.6 yards per kick on eight punts in a return to his hometown to face Kentucky Thursday night in Nashville. Of his eight punts, three went for over 50 yards – including a 58 yarder. He also had two punts downed inside the Kentucky 10 yard line. In fact, of the seven punts that forced Kentucky to start in their own territory, the Wildcats were unable to move the ball over midfi eld on fi ve of those possessions. Special Teams Player of the Week (September 5) Off ensive Player of the Week Defensive Player of the Week Special Teams Player of the Week Sept. 5: T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Sr., WR) Sept. 5: Eric Russell (Middle Tennessee, Sr., DB) Sept. 5: Hendrix Brakefi eld (WKU, So., P) Sept. 12: Sept. 12: Sept. 12: Sept. 19: Sept. 19: Sept. 19: Sept. 26: Sept. 26: Sept. 26: Oct. 3: Oct. 3: Oct. 3: Oct. 10: Oct. 10: Oct. 10: Oct. 17: Oct. 17: Oct. 17: Oct. 24: Oct. 24: Oct. 24: Oct. 31: Oct. 31: Oct. 31: Nov. 7: Nov. 7: Nov. 7: Nov. 14: Nov. 14: Nov. 14: Nov. 21: Nov. 21: Nov. 21: Nov. 28: Nov. 28: Nov. 28: Dec. 5: Dec. 5: Dec. 5: 2 - 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.