Sun Belt predictions

July 20, 2007

By Drew Champlin

Wondering what the consensus is for Sun Belt league predictions. I’ll probably have a column on it either Monday or Tuesday, leading into Sun Belt Media Days.

Right now, without much explanation, I’m thinking this:
1 - Troy
2 - FAU
3 - Arkansas State
4 - UL Monroe
5 - Middle Tennessee
6 - UL Lafayette
7 - North Texas
8 - FIU

There’s just so much that can happen this year. I feel like any of the top 7 has a legit shot at the crown, where last year it was maybe four or five.
The coaches’ vote will be released Monday. I suspect Troy will be at the top, probably unanimously. That’s not a good thing, as the last two top choices - North Texas and UL-Lafayette - stumbled through the conference seasons. I think the coaches’ vote will have Middle Tennessee at 2 and Arkansas State at 3, with any combination of ULM, ULL, UNT and FAU in the next four, and FIU rounding out the No. 8 spot.

It’s a competitive league internally. The next step, which the teams I’d like to think are getting better at, is beating teams out of conference on a more consistent basis. It starts with the Conference USA, MAC, WAC schools, etc., and continues with an upset of a BCS school every now and then.

Around the Sun Belt, July 19

July 19, 2007

By Drew Champlin

Seems like Middle Tennessee quarterback Joe Craddock had knee surgery on the same knee that caused him to miss the 2005 season. He’s supposedly still the starter and there’s a big-time dropoff from him and the other backups. DNJ beat writer Adam Sparks discusses it in his blog. Craddock is in his first season as the starter, replacing longtime guy Clint Marks.

I’ve got to figure that will be bad for MTSU if he can’t get healthy. The first game - at Florida Atlantic - can make or break both teams’ Sun Belt title runs. That’s the bad thing about the opening game of the season being a conference game when you’re in a league that only has one bowl tie-in.

Louisiana-Lafayette has a new athletics director, from the Daily Advertiser.

From the Bowling Green Daily News, Western Kentucky’s football stadium has a new name. That’s a trip I and maybe some of you will be making this year.

Mykeal Terry

July 18, 2007

By Drew Champlin

Had Q and A with Troy wide receiver Mykeal Terry in today’s paper.

I’ll say this - Mykeal Terry is one of my favorite players to cover. He’s exciting to watch, makes plays and just does his job. He’s also very well-spoken. The one thing I regret forgetting to ask is about the unusual spelling of his first name.

In the Troy alum category, former third baseman Jared Keel is tearing it up for his minor-league team. He got some recognition from the big boys today in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

A fantasy football list rates Demarcus Ware as one of the top 30 defenders in the NFL.

All-Sun Belt team

July 17, 2007

By Drew Champlin

QB - Omar Haugabook, Troy
RB - Tyrell Fenroy, UL-Lafayette, Calvin Dawson, UL-Monroe
WR - Gary Banks, Troy, Derrick Smith, UL-Lafayette
TE - Zeek Zacharie, UL-Monroe
OL - Chris Jamison, Troy, Matt Mandich, Arkansas State, Jesse Newman, UL-Lafayette, Kyle Cunningham, UL-Monroe, Franklin Dunbar, Middle Tennessee
DL - Erik Walden, Middle Tennessee, Tavares Jones, Middle Tennessee, Josh Pinnick, Florida Atlantic, Jeremiah Chapman, North Texas
LB - Koby McKinnon, Arkansas State, Cergile Sincere, Florida Atlantic, Boris Lee, Troy
DB - Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State, Aaron Weathers, North Texas, Leodis McKelvin, Troy, Josh Thompson, UL-Monroe
K - Cole Wilson, UL-Monroe
P - Truman Spencer, North Texas (he was the only one on the ballot)
Returner - Damon Nickson, Middle Tennessee
Offensive Player of the Year - Omar Haugabook, Troy
Defensive Player of the Year - Erik Walden, Middle Tennessee

The offensive line is always a crapshoot pick. I feel good about most of them. No one else will pick Boris Lee as a linebacker, but he’s a guy that will be a Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year before he’s done at Troy. The sophomore is that good, in my opinion.

Other Troy players on the ballot were RB Kenny Cattouse, WR Mykeal Terry, DE Kenny Mainor, LB Marcus Richardson, FS Tavares Williams, CB Elbert Mack, K Greg Whibbs, PR Leodis McKelvin, and McKelvin was nominated for Defensive Player of the Year.

I can easily see all of those guys getting postseason recognition, but remember 0-12 Florida International had a bunch of guys on the team and the most players drafted in the NFL last year. Troy had just two players - K Greg Whibbs and PR Leodis McKelvin - on last year’s Preseason All-Sun Belt team.

Good news for the blog, as it will be separated from the rest of the sports blog by the end of the week. That means I’ll have my own Troy blog, Ken Rogers will have his own Alabama blog, and so on.

Coming Wednesday is a Q and A with Mykeal Terry and Sunday is an extensive Q and A with athletics director Steve Dennis.

Back from the beach

July 10, 2007

By Drew Champlin

Trying to find out some basketball news, and talked to head coach Don Maestri. He’s not one to release a ton of information, because at a lot of schools, basketball players/signees are taking summer classes to become eligible or stay eligible.

But Troy did get a transfer from Mississippi State. He’s a guard and his name is Richard Delk. The story is from his hometown paper of Jackson, Tenn., the Sun. His twin brother transferred to Louisville.

Richard can play in the 2008-09 season. No other transfers will likely be taken, unless one pops up that is too good to be true. I’m thinking he’ll have an impact similar to Kendrick Davis of North Texas, who transferred from Arkansas for his last two seasons and scored around 15 ppg.

Nevertheless, look for a football Sherrod Martin Q and A feature Wednesday, and basketball updates in the coming weeks.