The Longest Three Feet: A NCAA 12 Dynasty

[Knickerbocker91]

Pre-season Top 25
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Stanford
4. LSU
5. Oregon
6. Ohio State
7. Oklahoma State
8. Boise State
9. Texas A&M
10. Florida State
11. Wisconsin
12. Auburn
13. South Carolina
14. TCU
15. Michigan State
16. Nebraska
17. Virginia Tech
18. Arkansas
19. Mississippi State
20. Florida
21. Notre Dame
22. Texas
23. Missouri
24. NC State
25. Arizona State

[Deuce2223]

Will be following. Are you running as Mike Price or are you doing a coaching dynasty?

[Knickerbocker91]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deuce2223

Will be following. Are you running as Mike Price or are you doing a coaching dynasty?

Running it as Price. I figured it'd be easier to do as a coach whose already had 8 years of experience with the team than jump in as a new head coach with no experience at all of a D-I FBS school. I thought about doing the offensive coordinator thing, but I felt like this would be better.

[Knickerbocker91]

2011 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE PREVIEW

1. #8 Boise State Broncos
Last Season: 12-1, W 26-3 vs #20 Utah in Las Vegas Bowl
Last season the Broncos were all but heading to a BCS Championship Game before disaster struck in Nevada. Pre-season Heisman hopeful QB Kellen Moore returns for his senior season looking to finally have the boys of Boise playing for a title.


2. #14 Texas Christian Horned Frogs
Last Season: 13-0, W 21-19 vs #4 Wisconsin in Rose Bowl
QB Andy Dalton is gone and TCU returns just 3 starters to the offensive side of the ball that averaged 41.6 points per game last season, but the Horned Frogs are still favored to contend at the top of the MWC. TCU's defense remains a force to be reckoned with, not allowing more than 13 points per game in a season since 2007 (8-5 record, allowed 18.7).


3. Brigham Young Cougars
Last Season: 7-6, W 52-24 vs UTEP in New Mexico Bowl
BYU decided to stay in the MWC and returns all but one starter to their offense so the experience is there. But with TCU and Boise State on their schedule, do the Cougars have a shot at winning the MWC?


4. Wyoming Cowboys
Last Season: 3-9, No Bowl Game
In Head Coach Dave Christensen's 3rd year in Laramie, the big question for Wyoming is defense. They allowed 30 or more points in a game seven times last season, but with seven returning starters the Cowboys will hope to improve and go bowling for the second time in three years.


5. Colorado State Rams
Last Season: 3-9, No Bowl Game
Colorado State has had just one winning season in the last seven years, but sports people are saying that this is the most improved team Head Coach Steve Fairchild has had in his 4 years in Fort Collins.


6. Texas-El Paso Miners
Last Season: 6-7, L 52-24 vs BYU in New Mexico Bowl
Making the transition from the C-USA to a conference with more regional opponents, UTEP has a lot of question marks on the offensive side of the ball. With career passing leader Trevor Vittatoe gone, the offense needs a new face and Head Coach Mike Price plans to find it and send his team bowling for a second straight season.


7. New Mexico Lobos
Last Season: 1-11, No Bowl Game
New Mexico has had back-to-back 1-11 seasons, but with 15 returning starters including their leading passer, rusher, receiver, and tackler. The schedule will be tough, but the experience the Lobos have should allow them to win more this year than the last two combined.


8. New Mexico State Aggies
Last Season: 2-10, No Bowl Game
New Mexico State hasn't been to a bowl game since 1960 and that's not changing anytime soon. The Aggies defense returns seven starters to a team that gave up 39.5 points per game and 207 rushing yard per game. Experience or not, the Aggies are the clear bottom feeder of the Mountain West.

[Knickerbocker91]

COACHES ON THE HOT SEAT

Five coaches who have a lot riding on a winning season in 2011.

1. DeWayne Walker, New Mexico State (56%)

Walker has just 5 wins in his first two season in Las Cruces and while New Mexico State hasn't had a winning season since 2002, they want to start seeing improvements and soon.

2. Dan McCarney, North Texas (56%)

McCarney enters his first year at the helm of North Texas, but the leash is short if they don't start improving. North Texas hasn't won more than 3 games since 2004, and playing the Big XII this season does not help.

3. Bill Cubit, Western Michigan (56%)

Western Michigan has high hopes for their team this season, and it's up to Cubit to make them a reality. The Broncos are expected to contend for the MAC title and go bowling for the 3rd time in Cubit's 7th season here.

4. Willie Taggart, Western Kentucky (56%)

In Taggart's second year at Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers believe they've officially gotten their feet wet in FBS football. While the Sun Belt will be no pushover for them, it's time for this team to get out of the doldrums.

5. Todd Berry, UL-Monroe (56%)

Berry's seat has the greatest opportunity to cool off out of these five. With two chances to make the biggest upsets in school history (at #10 Florida State, at #14 TCU), UL-Monroe has a tough schedule set before them. It's .500 or more than likely bust.

[Knickerbocker91]

2011 UTEP SCHEDULE

2011 is going to be a tough season for the Miners. With three members of the Top 25 polls on their schedule, not to mention they play two of those teams in the final three weeks AND they play their last four games all of the road, the path is clearly uphill.

Week 1
BYE

Week 2

9/3 at #25 Arizona State

Week 3
BYE

Week 4

9/17 vs New Mexico State*

Week 5

9/24 vs Tulsa

Week 6

10/1 vs Southern Mississippi

Week 7

10/8 at Tulane

Week 8

10/15 vs BYU* (Orange Game)

Week 9

10/22 vs Colorado State* (Homecoming)

Week 10
BYE

Week 11

11/5 vs Rice (Senior Night)

Week 12

11/12 at Wyoming*

Week 13

11/19 at #8 Boise State*

Week 14

11/26 at New Mexico*

Week 15

12/3 at #14 TCU*

(conference games have * next to them)

[nredfoot]

This is looking good man! I'll be following for sure! This MWC is gonna be brutal with both Boise and TCU

[Knickerbocker91]

Week 1 Top 25 Games
Maryland at #4 LSU
#7 Oklahoma State at Baylor
Louisville at #21 Notre Dame

(the only other game scheduled for Week 1 is MTSU at UAB)