#10 Georgia 44, Troy 34

* Arkansas State 27, Florida International 24 (ESPN+)

#24 Tennessee 59, Louisiana-Lafayette 7

* Middle Tennessee 43, Louisiana-Monroe 40


Sun Belt Schedule

November 10

* Louisiana-Lafayette at Middle Tennessee – 2:30 p.m.

Navy at North Texas – 3 p.m.

* Arkansas State at Florida Atlantic – 3 p.m.

Grambling State at Louisiana-Monroe – 4 p.m.

Troy at Western Kentucky University – 4 p.m.

November 17

Florida Atlantic at Florida (PPV) – 12 p.m.

* Louisiana-Lafayette at Florida International – 6 p.m.

Louisiana-Monroe at Alabama  (CSS) – TBA

November 20

* Middle Tennessee at Troy (ESPN2) – 6 p.m.

All times central and subject to change

* denotes Sun Belt Conference game

TV carrier in parenthesis


Sun Belt Conference Notes

Sun Belt 3, CUSA 3

A year after the Sun Belt took its series with Conference USA 4-3, the two conferences are tied up at 3-3 with two games remaining.  Sun Belt wins this year include Arkansas State’s 45-28 win over SMU, ASU’s 35-31 win over Memphis, and Middle Tennessee’s 21-7 triumph over Memphis.  Arkansas State and Southern Mississippi will meet in Hattiesburg on November 24th and the two leagues will face off once again in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on December 21st.

Western Kentucky University Joins Sun Belt Football

Western Kentucky University is currently in transition to become the ninth Sun Belt Conference football playing institution and the 120th Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) member. The Hilltoppers will play six SBC teams in 2008 and will be eligible for the conference title and a bowl berth in 2009. WKU, the 2002 Division I-AA National Champions, will play three contests against current Sun Belt members this season (Middle Tennessee, Troy, and North Texas).  In week two of the season WKU recorded five touchdowns against West Virginia Tech in the first quarter - tying an NCAA I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) record with 49 points in a quarter.  The Hilltoppers would go on to win 87-0.

ULM’s Zeek Zacharie Named John Mackey Tight End of the Week

ULM junior tight end Zeek Zacharie was named John Mackey Tight End of the Week by the Nassau Sports Commission this season. The Cade, La., native recorded six catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in ULM’s 33-30 triple-overtime victory over Florida Atlantic.  This is the second time that Zacharie has received this high honor in his career. He received the award following the Warhawks near upset at Kansas last season. Zacharie caught four passes for 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 21-19 loss to the Jayhawks.  Zacharie is one of 30 players on the John Mackey Award watch list.

ASU’s Leonard Named as Semifinalist for Davey O’Brien Award

Arkansas State sophomore quarterback Corey Leonard has been named as one of 15 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award as announced by the Davey O’Brien Foundation.  Leonard is one of just four players who are not juniors or seniors to make the cut as a semifinalist, and will remain in contention for one of three finalist positions until balloting closes at noon Sunday, Nov. 18. “Obviously this is a great honor for Corey and our program,” said ASU Head Coach Steve Roberts.  “In addition to Corey, a lot of credit for this honor goes to our entire offensive staff and players.”


Sun Belt Conference Team Notes
Arkansas State (2-3 SBC, 4-5 Overall)

This Week at Florida Atlantic: Florida Atlantlic shutout Arkansas State 29-0 last season.  Arkansas State’s two quarterbacks combined to throw five interceptions in that game.  In addition to the turnovers forced by the Owl defense, FAU held ASU to 104 total net yards.  Arkansas State won the only other meeting between the two teams in 2005 - a 3-0 overtime game. ASU must win its final two SBC games to finish with a winning record in the league for the third consecutive year.  ASU must win at least two of its final three games to finish with a .500 or better record for the third consecutive year as well.

Last Week vs. Florida International: Arkansas State improved to 4-1 at home this season with its victory over FIU and is now 12-2 the last three seasons and 21-7 under head coach Steve Roberts at Indian Stadium.  Darren Toney recorded a career-high two interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and career-high eight tackles against FIU to lead the Indians’ defense.  Travis Hewitt started his first game of the season and the fifth of his career, while finishing with career-best numbers of 174 yards passing, 19 completions and 24 yards rushing.  Sophomore running back Reggie Arnold posted a season-high two TD’s vs. FIU and also posted his fourth 100-yard rushing game (120 yards) of the season and the ninth of his career. Khayyam Burns posted a career-tying 11 tackles in the game to give him 302 for his career, passing the old SBC record of 300 for career tackles.  His teammate, Tyrell Johnson, broke the record earlier this season. 


Florida Atlantic (3-1 SBC, 4-4 Overall)

This Week...vs. Arkansas State: Florida Atlantlic shutout Arkansas State 29-0 last season.  Arkansas State’s two quarterbacks combined to throw five interceptions in that game.  In addition to the turnovers forced by the Owl defense, FAU held ASU to 104 total net yards.  Arkansas State won the only other meeting between the two teams in 2005 - a 3-0 overtime game.

Last Week...Bye (Previous) vs. Louisiana-Monroe: Florida Atlantic played its second overtime game in as many games, both against schools from the state of Louisiana, the only difference is the Owls came up three points short against ULM. Rusty Smith took all the snaps for FAU and was 35-for-54 on the night for 317 yards and one TD.  Charles Pierre led the ground attack with 73 yards while Cortez Gent had 142 yard through the air.  Frantz Joseph, the league’s leading tackler had a team and game-high 15 tackles, including five for a loss of five.


Florida International (0-4 SBC, 0-9 Overall)

This Week...Bye (Next: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette): Florida International will get a much needed rest after having played six 2006 bowl teams in its first nine games this season.  After the week off, FIU will play host to three consecutive Sun Belt opponents to close out the season.  Louisiana-Lafayette will be the first team to visit the Orange Bowl.  ULL leads the all-time series against FIU 4-0.

Last Week at Arkansas State: Freshman walk-on LB Toronto Smith recorded a career-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss.  The 1.5 sacks were the first of Smith’s career.  DB Cory Fleming’s sack of Travis Hewitt in the first quarter was his first of the season and the second of his career (Nov. 18, 2006 vs. La.-Lafayette). Smith and Fleming are the 13th and 14th Golden Panther to record sacks this season.  The safety FIU scored in the second quarter was its first since recording a safety against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 23, 2002.


Louisiana-Lafayette (1-4 SBC, 1-8 Overall)

This Week at Middle Tennessee: Louisiana-Lafayette travels to the state of Tennessee for the second consecutive week, having played in Knoxville the previous week.  The series between the Blue Raiders and Ragin’ Cajuns is tied at 4 games apiece.  MT won last seasons meeting against ULL 34-20 backed by Damon Nickson’s four interceptions.  Nickson was named national player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and FWAA for his performance. 

Last Week at Tennessee: Quarterback Michael Desormeaux is on the verge of becoming just the third player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.  He is 70 yards shy of that plateau and is only 43 yards away from the Cajuns career top 10 in rushing.  Tyrell Fenroy ran for 113 yards and a TD at Tennessee.  It marked his 14th career 100-yard game, tying him with Brian Mitchell for the most in school history.  Mitchell leads all Cajuns with 47 career rushing touchdowns.  Fenroy trails Mitchell’s school record for rushing yards by just 452 yards.  Fenroy has scored at least one rushing touchdown against every team in the Sun Belt except Middle Tennessee.  Fenroy has 29 carries for 143 yards in two meetings.


Louisiana-Monroe (3-3 SBC, 3-6 Overall)

This Week vs. Grambling State: Louisiana-Monroe’s home game against Grambling State is only the second game of the season between a Sun Belt member and a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA).  The two games against FCS members is tied for the fewest by any FBS conference this season (Pac-10 also plays two FCS opponents).  This will be the first meeting between ULM and Grambling.

Last Week vs. Middle Tennessee: ULM rushed for 360 yards against Middle Tennessee, who entered the game as the leading rush defense in the Sun Belt.  Calvin Dawson and Kinsmon Lancaster both went over 100 yards, 180 and 138 respectively, marking the second time this has happened this season for ULM after 13 years of it never happening.  Dawson set four school records in the game; career rushing, career 100-yard games, single-season 100-yard game and single-game all-purpose yards. The Warhawks totaled 624 yards of total offense, the most under head coach Charlie Weatherbie and the most since ULM put up 654 yards against Utah State in 2002.  The Warhawks totaled 624 yards of total offense, the most under head coach Charlie Weatherbie and the most since ULM put up 654 yards against Utah State in 2002.


Middle Tennessee (4-1 SBC, 5-5 Overall)

This Week vs. Louisiana-Lafayette: Louisiana-Lafayette travels to the state of Tennessee for the second consecutive week, having played in Knoxville the previous week.  The series between the Blue Raiders and Ragin’ Cajuns is tied at 4 games apiece.  MT won last seasons meeting against ULL 34-20 backed by Damon Nickson’s four interceptions.  Nickson was named national player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and FWAA for his performance. 

Last Week at Louisiana-Monroe: Junior Joe Craddock, who earned the start following the injury to Dwight Dasher in last week’s win over North Texas, was solid in his first start since the LSU game. The Birmingham, Ala., native threw for a career-high 401 yards and a personal-best four touchdowns, including 229 yards in the first half while also rushing for a career-best 70 yards. Craddock’s 401 passing yards went down as the third most for a single-game in school history.  For the first time under Rick Stockstill and the first time since 2004, Middle Tennessee had two players register more than 100 yards receiving. Desmond Gee collected 139 receiving yards while Jonathan Grigsby added a career-best 109 yards. Senior Bradley Robinson came up with his fourth pick of the year in the fourth quarter. Robinson’s 13th career interception moved him into a tie for third place on the all-time list with Ray Oldham and Don Griffin and he needs one more to tie Cedric Stegall for second place. Robinson also ranks third all-time in Sun Belt Conference history with his 13 interceptions and is just one shy of equaling the all-time mark.


North Texas (1-4 SBC, 1-7 Overall)

This Week vs. Navy: North Texas had an extra week to prepare for Navy’s spread option offense.  Navy and North Texas will be meeting for the first time.  In fact, it is the first time that a Sun Belt opponent will face Navy. Todd Dodge and Paul Johnson are two of only 14 head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision that calls all the plays on offense.

Last Week...Bye (Previous: vs. Middle Tennessee): Jamario Thomas’ 77 yard touchdown scamper is North Texas’ longest rushing play of the season, and moved the senior into second place in school history in career rushing yards.  Giovanni Vizza has thrown for 1,295 yards this season, the most ever by a Mean Green freshman quarterback. Vizza racked up 296 yards against the Blue Raiders to pass Andrew Smith (1,206 in 2002) for the mark.  North Texas opponents have combined for 54 scoring drives, 33 of which have consumed less than two minutes of play clock. Middle Tennessee had two scoring drives that fit in that category.


Troy (5-0 SBC, 6-3 Overall)

This Week at WKU: This will be the second meeting of the season between a current Sun Belt school and future Sun Belt member Western Kentucky University.  WKU will also meet North Texas this season.  This will be the only game of the three played in Bowling Green, Ky.  Troy leads the all-time series with WKU 4-0-1.

Last Week at Georgia: For the first time in 21 games, the Trojans opened play with someone other than Omar Haugabook at quarterback. Freshman Jamie Hampton started his first career game against UGA, and took a throwback pass from senior Gary Banks for 17 yards on the first play from scrimmage. Hampton became the 19th different Trojan to record a reception this year.  For those who thought Hampton’s start was a result of Haugabook’s hamstring injury, that was completely put to rest when the senior entered on the game’s second play and proceeded to throw for 310 yards on 29-of-45 passing with two touchdowns. Haugabook did manage only minus one rushing yard, thanks in part to a season-high three sacks for 28 negative yards. He did have a one-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.