North Texas and Arkansas State -- 2006 SMU Opponents

[Cheesesteak]

Sun Belt Conference spring recap
By Brett Edgerton - ESPN - May 11, 2006

Arkansas State

2005 Overall record: 6-6
Conference record:5-2

Returning starters
Offense: 6, Defense: 9, Kicker/punter: 0

2005 statistical leaders (*returning)
Rushing: Antonio Warren (1,066 yds)
Passing: Nick Noce (2,052 yds)
Receiving: Levi Dejohnette* (554 yds)
Tackles: Tyrell Johnson* (112)
Sacks: Brian Flagg* (5)
Interceptions: James Johnson (4)

Spring Answers: With an inexperienced quarterback taking over, the Indians will take all the receivers they can get. That's why it was so encouraging to see the continued progression of sophomore Kevin Jones, who really started to develop a rapport with former QB Nick Noce late last season. Coach Steve Roberts is a big fan and he played well enough this spring to move ahead of two former starters at the position. … Maybe the best news of the spring came when the NCAA awarded three-year starting FB Oren O'Neal a sixth year of eligibility. With a three-year starter also at center (Tanner Jenkins), it should help aid the transition of a new quarterback. Also, it's apparent from practice that O'Neal will see a significant increase in carries this year, especially in the one-back offense around the goal line. … In 2004, LB Josh Williams had the most tackles of any freshman in America, but he was dismissed from the team in 2005 due to off-field issues. Well, he paid his way through school, walked on to the squad this spring and already looks better than he did in his first year. Williams bulked up, increased his speed and is in a real battle in the middle with sophomore Ben Owens. That should tell you how impressive Owens was this spring. Don't be surprised if Owens slides over to the strong side so both he and Johnson can be on the field at the same time. … Safeties Tyrell Johnson and Khyyam Burns definitely will be prowling around the secondary at the same time, which will make ASU's last line of defense sturdy enough.

Fall Questions: As mentioned before, the Indians will be breaking in a new quarterback. But just who's it going to be? Well, that hasn't been settled. At the end of spring, redshirt sophomore Travis Hewitt was listed as 1A, while redshirt freshman Corey Leonard was listed as 1B. Leonard, who is faster and has a better arm, will probably win the job at some point this season, but Hewitt is in his third year in the system and will be given a fair chance in August. … How will Arkansas State replace the production of Antonio Warren and Shermar Bracey at tailback? Warren put together two straight 1,000-yard seasons and Bracey was always a nice alternative. Chris Easley actually outrushed Warren and Bracey as a freshman in 2003 before injuring his knee the following spring and getting lost in the shuffle after that. He'll battle it out with the speedy Reggie Arnold (5-foot-9, 217), who often looked unstoppable this spring and has vaulted himself to the top of the depth chart for now. … The two worry spots on defense are at tackle and cornerback. For the Indians to develop any kind of push up the middle, Jamarrow Jones and Prince Hickman are going to have to bulk up and get better. The corner jobs are completely up for grabs. Montis Harrison is the best one there, but he's coming off shoulder surgery. … Eric Neihouse was clutch at both kicker and punter, but he's no longer around. Punting this spring was a player who split his time between fullback and linebacker last year. Two walk-ons handled the kicking, with a true freshman set to join the fray this summer. This could get dicey.


North Texas

2005 overall record:2-9
Conference record:2-5

Returning starters
Offense: 9, Defense: 7, Kicker/punter: 1

2005 statistical leaders (*returning)
Rushing: Patrick Cobbs (1,154 yds)
Passing: Daniel Meager* (941 yds)
Receiving: Johnny Quinn* (591 yds)
Tackles: Aaron Weathers* (113)
Sacks: Jeremiah Chapman* (4)
Interceptions: Aaron Weathers* (3)

Spring Answers: Head coach Darrell Dickey is still trying to find a quarterback, but he's positively giddy about his group of receivers, who aren't just blockers anymore in Denton. Johnny Quinn is a proven commodity, but players like Brandon Jackson have the staff whispering about this being the best set of receivers they've ever had. … Desperate after a dismal offensive showing in 2005, the coaching staff tinkered with its game plan a bit, even including some four- and five-wideout sets during practice. They realize the offense has become too predictable and are trying to do something about it. … Dickey is also trying to do something about the complacency he thinks started to creep into the program after all of those years of near-automatic berths to the New Orleans Bowl. He is tightening the reins, both on and off the field. All of the little stuff that players used to get away with is no longer acceptable. Presumably, neither is nine losses. … Both starters at corner graduated, but there doesn't appear to be much reason to fret. Athletically at least, the replacements are as good as UNT has had in years. Dominique Green and the quick Desmond Chatman are the probable starters, but Antoine Bush is right there.

Fall Questions: All questions have to begin on the offensive side of the ball. When you're coming off a year in which you ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in passing, scoring and total offense, that's usually how it goes. It all starts at quarterback for the Mean Green. Opponents figured out early that the team couldn't pass the ball, so they crowded the line and never allowed the vaunted rushing attack to get going. Daniel Meager's struggles continued this spring, but sophomore Matt Phillips showed at least a glimmer of promise. North Texas needs more than a glimmer, though, if the offense is to improve. … Two years ago, TB Jamario Thomas led the nation in rushing after Patrick Cobbs went down. When Cobbs came back, though, the deadly duo never really materialized. Thomas was bothered by a hamstring injury, but it almost seemed as if he conceded the work load to Cobbs. Can he turn that mental switch back on, now that he's The Man again? … Will 350-pound behemoth T.J. Raymond be able to clog up the middle in what is a young and extremely undersized D-line? The defense is moving to a 3-4 formation in part because of the questions surrounding the front line. If Raymond doesn't get his academics in order by the end of the summer, those questions won't go away.

[PonySnob]

Two "must win" games for 2006!

[PonyPride]

There's been some conversation here in the past about SMU's bowl chances, specifically how many wins above the minimum eligibility would be needed to secure a bid, because of questions about how SMU fans would travel.

My question is this: how did Arkansas State score a bowl bid with a 6-6 record? Are there legions of ASU fans out there that nobody knows about because of the noisy people in the pig hats up in Fayetteville?

[Stallion]

they were SunBelt Conference Champs and won an automatic bid

[MustangIcon]

I believe the Sun Belt has a bowl tie in there where conference champ automaticaly gets the bid. And ASU won conference with that 5-2 record (actually 3 way tie for first, so I assume they had the tie breaker). If this is true, then it wouldn't matter how they travel.


edit****Stallion beat me to it****

[mrydel]

If I remember correctly, the previous year NTSU went to the same conference championship bowl with a 5-6 record. They received a waiver on the rule since they were conference champions.

[PonyPride]

Thought that might be the case. Thanks Stallion, MustangIcon, mrydel....

[The PonyGrad]

By the way, they were 6-5 when they won the bid and then lost to USM (in that bowl game.)

[93Mustang]

I don't know anything about Ark. St., but two years ago I was at NTSU's game at Boulder versus CU when Jamario Thomas made his first start, and he rushed for around 250 yards against a good CU defense. I was surprised he had such a poor season last year. I expect him to rebound this year. He'll be as talented an RB as we'll face - very fast and low center of gravity. I expect us to win this game, but it will not be a gimme and Thomas is capable of breaking a long one on any play.

[LawSchoolPony]

Is ASU still the "Indians?" or did they change their mascot? I know FSU and a couple of other schools changed theirs, but anyone know about ASU?

[PonyPride]

FSU? Florida State isn't the Seminoles anymore?
What rock have I been living under?

[bubba pony]

ref FSU: the Seminoles nation gave the OK to FSU as they apparently were able to prove they treat the mascot symbol with respect. I understand they did research for authenticity and the Seminoles are OK with everything. the Ute in Utah ok'ed the University of Utah mascot as well. The small school in Oklahoma that were the ‘savages’ couldn’t get away with it.

[The PonyGrad]

ASU was 4-1 in games with a margin of 7 or fewer points and one of those was an OT game with Fl Atl. 3-0.

Just thought that might be interesting.

[KnuckleStang]

Anybody know what the SE okie State Savages changed their name to?

[mrydel]

Anybody know what the SE okie State Savages changed their name to?

Maybe to dokie. SE okie dokie state would sound good to me.