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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

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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 %%