Early 2011 Top 25 Preview: SMU #36

[Harry0569]

http://nationalchamps.net/2011/earlybird/index.htm

A Few C-USA teams in the top 50

25. Tulsa

36. SMU
http://nationalchamps.net/2011/earlybird/teams/smu.htm

49. USM

On our schedule for next year is #10 TAMU, #17 TCU, #44 Navy

It's great to see that we are rising up the ranks!

[Harry0569]

HAHA HBPony, We are ahead of USC!

[HB Pony Dad]

HAHA HBPony, We are ahead of USC!

USC is the new NCAA "BAD BOYS" and it is only going to get worse with the scholarship hits!

Just know that USC won't take 25 years to recover.

[Pony!Poni!Pone'!]

HAHA HBPony, We are ahead of USC!

USC is the new NCAA "BAD BOYS" and it is only going to get worse with the scholarship hits!

Just know that USC won't take 25 years to recover.

only if Kiffin/Orgeron clean up their act. They play fast and loose like they always have, and you'll have some more crap to deal with before you know it

[StallionsModelT]

So Tulsa's going to be better with Kinne graduating?

[NickSMU17]

Kinne has another year, only junior this year...1 left to play

[Harry0569]

Kinne has another year, only junior this year...1 left to play

Coupled with Damaris johnson, who seems like he has been playing at TU for 6 years, their offense is going to be nasty. Too bad their D is wider than the open door of a barn.

[Harry0569]

NationalChamps.net has scoured the ranks to come up with our annual Dark Horse candidate that always gets rewarded the No. 25 spot in our Early Bird Preview. Led by quarterback G.J. Kinne and the versatile wideout Damaris Johnson, Tulsa is elite again. The Golden Hurricane currently are ranked 28th in the AP poll and they return 19 starters, including ten players from an offense that ranks in the top 15 nationally in both running and throwing. The first concern that arises in a situation such as this is what the defense is accomplishing. Tulsa's defense has given up gobs of yards this season, and was even cause of criticism early in the season when they started out losing two of their first three contests. But after winning eight out of the last nine games to close the season the defense started to make plays, especially the defensive backs. They have seven players that earned starting roles at some point coming back into the fray. One of those is freshman sensation Marco Nelson who has recorded six interceptions in his first season. Both Nelson and Dexter McCoil rank among the nation's top 10 in interceptions. Quarterback C.J. Kinne really distributes the ball well. He is also the team’s top rusher. Leading receiver Damaris Johnson is also a special teams guru. He is the NCAA's all-time leader in kickoff return yards and still has another year left. He is also set to become the NCAA all-time leader in all-purpose yards. Crazy good, that best describes not only the talents of Johnson, but also the potential of this entire offense under fifth year head coach Todd Graham. Winning the game at Notre Dame this year should be a sign of greater things to come. The schedule with Oklahoma, Boise State and Oklahoma State precludes them from making any BCS type of noise, but they can play with these teams. If they can get better defensively where experience is quite plentiful, watch out for this highflying pigskin circus.

[Wuba]

NationalChamps.net has scoured the ranks to come up with our annual Dark Horse candidate that always gets rewarded the No. 25 spot in our Early Bird Preview. Led by quarterback G.J. Kinne and the versatile wideout Damaris Johnson, Tulsa is elite again. The Golden Hurricane currently are ranked 28th in the AP poll and they return 19 starters, including ten players from an offense that ranks in the top 15 nationally in both running and throwing. The first concern that arises in a situation such as this is what the defense is accomplishing. Tulsa's defense has given up gobs of yards this season, and was even cause of criticism early in the season when they started out losing two of their first three contests. But after winning eight out of the last nine games to close the season the defense started to make plays, especially the defensive backs. They have seven players that earned starting roles at some point coming back into the fray. One of those is freshman sensation Marco Nelson who has recorded six interceptions in his first season. Both Nelson and Dexter McCoil rank among the nation's top 10 in interceptions. Quarterback C.J. Kinne really distributes the ball well. He is also the team’s top rusher. Leading receiver Damaris Johnson is also a special teams guru. He is the NCAA's all-time leader in kickoff return yards and still has another year left. He is also set to become the NCAA all-time leader in all-purpose yards. Crazy good, that best describes not only the talents of Johnson, but also the potential of this entire offense under fifth year head coach Todd Graham. Winning the game at Notre Dame this year should be a sign of greater things to come. The schedule with Oklahoma, Boise State and Oklahoma State precludes them from making any BCS type of noise, but they can play with these teams. If they can get better defensively where experience is quite plentiful, watch out for this highflying pigskin circus.

That is an impressive non-conference schedule for Tulsa.

[NickSMU17]

Almost A&M TCU and Navy...

[SMU2007]

Almost A&M TCU and Navy...

i'll give you the first two, but navy is not worth mentioning in the same sentence as either oklahoma school or boise...

[Donnell88]

This list makes no sense - neither Central Florida or Houston are in the top 50.
When was the last time we beat either of these teams????

[03Mustang]

This list makes no sense - neither Central Florida or Houston are in the top 50.
When was the last time we beat either of these teams????

It's a 2011 ranking list that is out before all the 2010 bowls are even played. By definition it makes no sense.

[PerunaPunch]

Just from their predicted 2011 roster, it's easy to tell that their analysis is superficial at best.

[DiamondM75]

HAHA HBPony, We are ahead of USC!

USC is the new NCAA "BAD BOYS" and it is only going to get worse with the scholarship hits!

Just know that USC won't take 25 years to recover.

I understand that Thadius is already filming USC interviews for the 50 on 50 film series.