We’ve made it through six weeks of previews. I’m glad y’all are still here. Now that the competitions is watered down, I figured I would select the fan favorites. These teams aren’t expected to do too much, but they have some of the most loyal fan bases in all of football. Don’t forget now, we are three weeks away from college football. View attachment 55630 Air Force Falcons The Air Force Falcons finished 6-7 last season. Most people would think that is an average record but for the Falcons, that is good. You have to understand that being a military institute, they don’t have the same recruiting advantages that other university’s do. Offense The Falcons return three starters on offense. Junior Kale Pearson is the leader to start at quarterback. Air Force does not throw the ball at will. This is a team that defeated Hawaii 21-7 without throwing a single pbutt. That is supposed to change this season. Air Force will have to replace running back Cody Getz. Leading the way is junior Jon Lee and senior Anthony LaCoste. Senior Ty MacArthur is the only returning non-offensive lineman starter. The offensive line returns two starters in senior center Austin Hayes and senior left guard Drew Kerber. The starting line averages 250 pounds. Compare that to in-state rival Colorado State whose starters average 300 pounds. You see the disadvantage there? The Falcons did have the second best rushing attack in college football last season with paired with the third worst passing attack. It will be interesting to see how much those numbers change with head coach Troy Calhoun emphasizing a change in offensive philosophy. Defense The defense returns three starters as well. The front seven does not return a single starter. The secondary returns a starter at every position except strong safety where sophomore Dexter Walker is expected to take over. Junior safety Christian Spears is the leader of this defense. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aICH3ucXpiM]The Air Force football team beats Wyoming in a wild game in the rain. - YouTube[/ame] End Result The Falcons schedule will it’s tough games with road trips to Boise State, Nevada, Navy, and Colorado State. They do get to host Utah State, San Diego State on a Thursday night, Notre Dame, Army, and UNLV on a Thursday night. If the Falcons can continue to run the ball at will and the defense can stop the run, they could finish 7-5. If the offense regresses at all, they could finish 4-8. View attachment 55631 Army Black Knights The Army Black Knights finished 2-10 last season with those wins coming against Boston College, 34-31, and Air Force, 41-21. The Black Knights will look to improve on that dismal season and improve on their two year bowl drought. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl353BA5nic]Army Football vs Boston College - Final Scoring Drive 2012 - YouTube[/ame] Offense The offense returns seven starters on offense. Quarterback Trent Steelman has graduated, leaving the starting job to sophomore A.J. Schurr. Senior Raymond Maples is back to lead the ground attack. Senior Patrick Laird and junior Chevaughn Lawrence are back to lead the receiving corps. The offensive line brings back three starters. This was the best rushing attack, but the worst passing attack in college football. Don’t expect that to change this year. Defense The defense returns seven starters as well. The defensive line returns two of those starters in junior nose tackle Bobby Kough and sophomore under tackle T.J. Atimalala. The linebacking corps will be breaking in three new starters. The secondary returns three starters. The defense was stingy against the pass but was run through. They must improve against the rush to improve their win total. End Result The Black Knights schedule will not be easy as they travel to Boston College, Temple, Air Force, and Hawaii. They will host Stanford and Wake Forest. As always, they will play Navy at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. If the defense can improve off of last seasons disaster, they could finish 6-6 and find themselves in a bowl game. If the defense does not improve, they could finish 3-9. View attachment 55632 Connecticut Huskies The Connecticut Huskies finished a disappointing 5-7 for the second year in a row. The Huskies high note last year, upsetting Louisville 23-20 in triple overtime. Can the Huskies their first bowl game since the 2010 Fiesta Bowl? Offense The offense brings back seven starters led by junior tailback Lyle McCombs. Junior Chandler Whitmer is back at quarterback. Junior Geremy Davis is the leading returning receiver. The line returns four starters. This offense was atrocious last season finishing in the bottom ten in every major statistical category except passing. That must change. Defense The defense returns five defensive starters, but will have to replace three NFL draft picks. The line brings back two of those starters in senior defensive tackle Shamar Stephen and junior defensive tackle Angelo Pruitt. Junior middle linebacker Yawin Smallwood is the only returning starter of the linebacking corps. The secondary returns two starters in junior cornerback Byron Jones and junior strong safety Ty-Meer Brown. This defense carried the Huskies last year. They will need to keep up the strong play. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLk6gqB9Bd8]UConn's Nick Williams 58 yd punt return TD - YouTube[/ame] End Result The Huskies schedule will have it’s battles. They will travel to Cincinnati, UCF, and SMU while hosting Maryland, Michigan, USF, Louisville, and Rutgers. If the Huskies offense can improve, they could finish 7-5. if the offense continues to struggle, they could finish 5-7 yet again. View attachment 55633 Florida Atlantic Owls The Florida Atlantic Owls finished 3-9 last season. The Owls highlight of the off-season was moving from the Sun Belt to the C-USA. Can the Owls make a splash in their new conference? Offense The Owls return six offensive starters from last season. Senior Melvin German III is the leader to start at quarterback this year. Senior Jonathan Wallace returns to start at running back. Junior William Dukes returns to lead the receiving corps. Only two starters return on the line. The offense must improve on last season’s dismal performance. Defense The defense returns six starters. The line returns two of those starters in sophomore tackle Trevon Coley and senior end Cory Henry. Senior Adarius Glanton is the only returning starter at linebacker. The secondary returns three starters. The defense must improve against the run. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb8s94iRI0s]Florida Atlantic University Football Highlights 2012 - YouTube[/ame] End Result The Owls schedule is hard. They will travel to Miami, East Carolina on a Thursday night, USF, and Auburn. They get to host Middle Tennessee, Marshall, and FIU. If the Owls can stop the run and improve their on rushing attack, they could finish 5-7. If the offense struggles yet again, they could finish 2-10. View attachment 55634 Florida International Golden Panthers The Florida International Golden Panthers had a tough 3-9 season. Head coach Mario Cristobal went from being the toast of college football to fired. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback coach was hired as the new head coach. Can Turner take this program back to bowl season? Offense The Panthers return three starters on offense. Junior Jake Medlock returns once again at quarterback. Senior Kendrick Rhodes was supposed to return at running back but has been dismissed from the team. LSU transfer Jakhari Gore will be thrusted into the starting spot now. Gore is the younger cousin of San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore. Senior Willis Wright will lead the receiving corps. The offensive line does not return a single starter. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh2nPSYtHCo]FIU 37 - Troy 21 - YouTube[/ame] Defense The defense returns four starters from a year ago. Junior defensive tackle Greg Hickman is the only returning starter on the line. The linebacking corps will be breaking in three new starters. The secondary returns both starting cornerbacks but will have to replace Jacksonville Jaguars second round pick Johnathan Cyprien at safety. End Result The Panthers will travel to Maryland, Louisville, and FAU this year. They will host UCF, East Carolina, and Marshall. If the Panthers can find a way to improve, they could finish 6-6. If the Panthers new starters have a hard time, they could finish 1-11. View attachment 55635 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors finished a disappointing 3-9 in Norm Chow’s first season as head coach. Clearly that was unacceptable, but things look to be trending upwards. We all know Hawaii faces some tough obstacles when it comes to recruiting but this team has always found a way to get talented kids to transfer in. Offense The Warriors return eight starters on offense. Ohio State transfer Taylor Graham will start at quarterback this year. The main problem with Graham is that he hasn’t played in a real game in four years. Junior Joey Josefa is back at running back. At 6â€4â€, 240 pounds he is quite the load. Senior Chris Gant and junior Trevor Davis will lead the receiving corps. The line returns four starters. This offense was horrible last season finishing in the bottom 25 of every major statistical category. That must change. Defense The defense returns eight starters as well. The line returns three of those starters. The linebacking corps returns two starters. The secondary returns three starters. believe it or not, this team was tough to throw on. Teams ran wild on them though. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m48K8k5cIkc]2012 University of Hawaii Warriors Football Highlights - YouTube[/ame] End Result The Rainbow Warriors schedule looks daunting. They will travel to Oregon State, Nevada, Utah State, and Navy. They do host USC, Fresno State, San Jose State, and Army. If the Warriors can improve on offense, there is no reason they can’t finish 6-6. If the defense regress, they could finish 1-11. View attachment 55636 Houston Cougars The Houston Cougars finished a disappointing 5-7 in Tony Levine’s first season as head coach. The Cougars are making the jump to the AAC this season. Can they make a charge for the conference title? Offense The Cougars are returning eight offensive starters. It would have been nine, but running back Charles Sims surprised everybody by transferring to West Virginia. Sophomores Kenneth Farrow and Ryan Jackson will be leaned on the replace him. David Piland returns as the starting quarterback, for now. Dewayne Pearce is back to lead a loaded receiving corps. The offensive line four starters. This offense should improve from last years down season. Defense Houston’s defense returns four starters. Junior defensive tackle Joey Mbu is the only returning starter on the line. Junior middle linebacker Derrick Matthews is the only returner at linebacker but he will be joined by LSU transfer Trevon Randle. The secondary returns two starters. This defense was dreadful last season. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxM9qsf9704]Cougar All-Access: Bayou Bucket 2012 - YouTube[/ame] End Result The Cougars schedule is tougher this year. They will travel to Rice, Rutgers, UCF, and Louisville. They will host BYU, USF on a Thursday night, and Cincinnati. If the Cougars defense improve from last year’s abomination, they could finish 8-4. If the Cougars defense does not improve, they could finish 6-6. To be continued...
OMG how I miss June Jones, I know it's been like 6 years but CRAP, my Warriors are again on the bottom looking up...<sigh>
