NORTH TEXAS EAGLES
Last season: 9-4 (7-0)
Last bowl appearance: Lost 27-17 vs. Memphis in 2003 New Orleans.
Coach: Darrell Dickey, 30-41 in 7th year.
Returning starters: 8 offense, 6 defense
Lettermen: Returning 42, lost 13
Offensive star: Senior RB Patrick Cobbs led the NCAA with 1,680 yards rushing (5.5 per carry) and was a first-team SBC selection.
Defensive star: Senior DT Mike Pruitt, a JUCO transfer last year, had 26 tackles and five sacks on a team that allowed only 2.9 yards per rushing.
Stadium: Fouts Field, artificial, 30,500
Schedule:
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S4: at Texas O23: New Mexico St.
S11: Florida Atlantic O30: La.-Monroe
S18: at Colorado N6: at La.-Lafayette
S25: at Baylor N13: Idaho
O2: Middle Tennessee N20: at Arkansas St.
O9: at Utah State
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LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
Last season: 4-8 (4-3)
Last bowl appearance: Lost 26-25 vs. Tennessee State in 1970 Rice.
Coach: Rickey Bustle, 7-17 in 3rd year.
Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense
Lettermen: Returning 37, lost 24
Offensive star: Sophomore QB Jerry Babb started nine times as a true freshman, after starter Eric Rekeita was injured, passing for 1,502 yards (56.4%).
Defensive star: Senior SS C.C. Brown, a second-team SBC pick, was second on the team with 67 tackles, seven for a loss.
Stadium: Cajun Field, grass, 31,000
Schedule:
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S4: Northwestern St. O16: at Idaho State
S11: at Louisiana Tech O23: Arkansas St.
S18: at Kansas State N6: North Texas
S25: Middle Tenn. N13: Troy State
O2: at Florida Int’l N20: La.-Monroe
O9: at New Mexico St.
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MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
Last season: 4-8 (4-3)
Last bowl appearance: none.
Coach: Andy McCollum, 25-32 in 6th year.
Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense
Lettermen: Returning 41, lost 22
Offensive star: Senior WR Kerry Wright (first-team SBC) caught 73 passes (17.5 avg.), amassing 1,280 yards and nine TDs.
Defensive star: Junior DT Jeff Littlejohn started last year after transferring from Miami. He had 31 tackles (two for loss).
Stadium: Johnny “Red” Floyd, artificial, 30,788
Schedule:
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S4: at Florida O23: Idaho
S11: at Akron O30: Utah State
S18: Florida Atlantic N6: at New Mexico St.
S25: at La.-Lafayette N13: La.-Monroe
O2: at North Texas N20: at Troy State
O9: Arkansas State
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ARKANSAS STATE INDIANS
Last season: 5-7 (3-4)
Last bowl appearance: none.
Coach: Steve Roberts, 11-14 in 3rd year, 49-33-1 in Div. I-AA.
Returning starters: 8 offense, 4 defense
Lettermen: Returning 42, lost 26
Offensive star: Junior RB Shermar Bracey rushed for a team-high eight TDs behind 558 yards (4.7 avg).
Defensive star: Senior MLB Steven Tookes was the second-leading tackler with 90 last season.
Stadium: Indian Stadium, grass, 30,694
Schedule:
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S4: at Missouri O16: Troy State
S11: at LSU O23: at La.-Lafayette
S18: Memphis N6: at Idaho
S25: at La.-Monroe N11: Utah State
O2: at Mississippi N18: North Texas
O9: at Middle Tenn.
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UTAH STATE AGGIES
Last season: 3-9 (3-4)
Last bowl appearance: Lost 35-19 vs. Cincinnati in 1997 Humanitarian.
Coach: Mick Dennehy, 16-29 in 5th year, 39-12 in Div. I-AA.
Returning starters: 4 offense, 6 defense
Lettermen: Returning 43, lost 23
Offensive star: Junior RB Emmanuel Marc, a JUCO transfer, averaged 197 yards per game.
Defensive star: Sophomore FS Terrance Washington started eight times as a freshman, tallying 93 tackles and five interceptions.
Stadium: Romney Stadium, artificial, 30,257
Schedule:
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S4: at Alabama O16: at Clemson
S11: Idaho O30: at Middle Tenn.
S18: Utah N6: at La.-Monroe
S25: at UNLV N11: at Arkansas St.
O2: at Troy State N20: New Mexico St.
O9: North Texas
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IDAHO VANDALS
Last season: 3-9 (3-4)
Last bowl appearance: Won 42-35 vs. Southern Mississippi in 1998 Humanitarian.
Coach: Nick Holt, 1st year.
Returning starters: 5 offense, 3 defense
Lettermen: Returning 32, lost 22
Offensive star: Senior WR Orlando Winston led the team with 55 receptions (14.7 avg.), improving his 2002 totals of 50 and 12.5.
Defensive star: Junior DE Mike Anderson moves from LB where he registered 97 tackles last year.
Stadium: Kibbie Dome, artificial, 16,000
Schedule:
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S4: at Boise State O23: at Middle Tenn.
S11: at Utah State O30: at Troy State
S18: at Wash. State-a N6: Arkansas St.-b
S25: at Oregon N13: at North Texas
O2: at Eastern Mich. N20: at Hawaii
O9: La.-Monroe
a-at Pullman, Wash., b-at Martin Stadium
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NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES
Last season: 3-9 (2-5)
Last bowl appearance: Won 20-13 vs. Utah State in 1960 Sun.
Coach: Tony Samuel, 29-51 in 8th year.
Returning starters: 3 offense, 10 defense
Lettermen: Returning 50, lost 20
Offensive star: Senior QB Buck Pierce threw for 1,510 yards, completing 69 percent of his passes and ran for 423 yards.
Defensive star: Junior MLB Jimmy Cottrell has led the team in tackles the past two seasons (102 in 2002, 83 in 2003).
Stadium: Aggie Memorial Stadium, grass, 30,343
Schedule:
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S4: at Arkansas O23: at North Texas
S11: at California O30: Florida Int’l
S18: Troy State N6: Middle Tenn.
S25: New Mexico N13: at Fla. Atlantic
O2: at UTEP N20: at Utah State
O9: La.-Lafayette
%%
LOUISIANA-MONROE INDIANS
Last season: 1-11 (1-6)
Last bowl appearance: none.
Coach: Charlie Weatherbie, 1-11 in 2nd year, 46-75 career in 10 years.
Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense
Lettermen: Returning 47, lost 15
Offensive star: Junior QB Steven Jyles passed for 2,112 yards and 14 TDs in ten starts.
Defensive star: Senior LB John Winchester improved tackle totals, from 74 in 2002 to 91 in 2003.
Stadium: Malone Stadium, grass, 30,427
Schedule:
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S4: at Auburn O23: at Fla. Atlantic
S18: at Arkansas-* O30: at North Texas
S25: Arkansas St. N6: Utah State
O2: at Wyoming N13: at Middle Tenn.
O9: at Idaho N20: La.-Lafayette
O16: Florida Int’l
*-at Little Rock
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TROY STATE TROJANS
Last season: 6-6 as an independent.
Last bowl appearance: None.
Coach: Larry Blakeney, 108-48-1 in 14th year.
Returning starters: 8 offense, 9 defense
Lettermen: Returning 56, lost 10
Offensive star: Senior QB Aaron Leak threw for 1,427 yards and ran for 443 yards in ten starts in 2003.
Defensive star: Senior DE Demarcus Ware registered 62 tackles (10 for loss) in 2003.
Stadium: Movie Gallery Stadium, artificial, 30,000
Schedule:
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S4: at Marshall O23: at LSU
S11: Missouri O30: Idaho
S18: at New Mex. St. N6: Fla. Atlantic
S25: at South Carolina N13: at La.-Lafayette
O2: Utah State N27:Middle Tenn.
O16: at Arkansas St.
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Next: Independents %%
