75.) Ball State (written by SarCoog)
’08 Record: 12-2 (8-0 MAC)
Overview: Anything that happens this year for the Ball State program is going to be a let down after a magical ’08 campaign which saw the Cardinals rattle off a 12-0 regular season and an appearance in the conference championship game. Sure the 42-24 loss to Buffalo in the title game was disappointing and the shellacking the Cards received in the GMAC Bowl at the hands of Tulsa was disappointing as well. However it’s worth noting that they were ranked as high as #12 in the country and spent more than half the season in the top 25 polls, while getting national attention along the way. Most non-BCS programs (my Houston Cougars included) would love to have a season like that. Former coach Brady Hoke left Muncie for the same position at San Diego State, but OC Stan Parrish has taken over and the BSU faithful hope the continuity will lead to more success.
It’s going to be tough to replace the production of former QB Nate Davis who threw for 3,591 yards and 26 TDs last year before declaring for the NFL draft. Davis leaves BSU as the program’s all-time leading passer (9,233 yards) by a wide margin. But the team does have redshirt freshman Kelly Page as an anointed successor. Page comes to the Cardinals by way of Mesquite, Texas and seems to have locked the job up for the coming year. The key to the offensive success will be senior RB MiQuale Lewis (1,736 rushing yards, 5.4 yards/carry, 22 TD) who was the top back in the MAC last year and#5 in the country in rushing yards per game. But Lewis is going to need to stay healthy and avoid the injuries that cost him much of the ’06 and ’07 seasons. Another guy worth keeping an eye on is diminutive speedster sophomore Cory Sykes (428 yards, 5.5 yards/carry, 3 TD) who should spell Lewis at times. The receiving corps lost its #2 and #3 all-time receivers in Dante Love and Darius Hill, but sophomore Briggs Osborn (68 receptions, 813 yards, 5 TD) returns after leading the team in receptions and yards last year. Another returnee is senior TE Madaris Grant (26 receptions, 285 yards) who could see more of a role in the offense. The biggest issues will come on the offensive line, where the Cardinals lose three 1st team All-MAC selections and four previous starters. The only returning guy is junior OG Michael Switzer, who’ll be starting his 3rd consecutive season at the left guard position. Sophomore C Kreg Hunter started 4 games last year at right guard and will move to center this fall. If the line can keep the QB Page upright and open up holes for Lewis, the Cardinals should still have one of the best offenses in the MAC.
Whereas the Cards offense carried the team last year, it’ll but up to the boys on defense to win games in the coming season. The defensive line returns all four upperclassman starters, including senior DE Brandon Crawford (31 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks) who was a 2nd team All-MAC selection in ’08. Other returning starters are junior DE Robert Eddins (45 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4 sacks) and junior DT Rene Perry (20 tackles, 5 TFL). The linebacking corps is considerably less experienced, with junior Davyd Jones (85 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks) being the only returning starter there. However the secondary is more experienced and has the top two returning tacklers. Sophomore SS Sean Baker (94 tackles, 4 TFL, 6 INT) was the MAC freshman of the year and was tied for most interceptions in the conference. The top tackler last year: senior FS Alex Knipp (96 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT) returns and will be entering his second year as a full-time starter. It’s worth noting that the Cardinals have to replace a pair of All-MAC corners: B.J. Hill and Trey Lewis. Overall the Cardinal defense is still one of the better units in the MAC, but will probably see at least a small decline in production this year.
Reasons for Optimism: Has there ever been a better time to be a Ball State football fan? Although I am still relatively ‘green’ when it comes to college football experiences, the two things I thought of when it came to Ball State before last season were: David Letterman and the 21 game losing streak. But the Cardinals have gone to bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. There’s also a relatively easy non-conference schedule that could help the Cardinals go back for their 3rd straight bowl. Finally, if the offensive line gets it together then the Cards will be able to give the ball to the best back in the conference: MiQuale Lewis.
Reasons for Pessimism: I realize that Stan Parrish was hired to avoid a rough transition to a new head coach, but he hasn’t run a program in over 20 years. While Parrish was a part of the turnaround of the Marshall program in the mid-1980s, he also led Kansas State to a 2-30-1 record in three years as head coach there. It’s near impossible to replace a QB like Nate Davis and the Cardinals will have to break in a guy who’s never taken a college snap, behind a very inexperienced offensive line. The success of this offense seems to be based on MiQuale Lewis staying healthy, which is not a given… if the past has taught us anything.
Season Prediction: If nothing else the non-conference schedule is generally easy enough so as to allow the Cardinals to start MAC play with a 3-1 record. There is something really wrong with this team if they can’t take care of business against 2 of the worst teams in the nation (Army, North Texas) and a Division 1-FCS team (New Hampshire). The MAC schedule does feature road trips to Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Temple who all look like bowl teams in ’09. Also home games against Ohio and Central Michigan will prove to be big challenges. I think the Cardinals will be in the hunt for the MAC East crown and win either 7 or 8 games this coming fall. It may be a step back, but I doubt the record would be much different if Coach Hoke was still running the show in Muncie.
Top Web Destination: BSU Fans
74.) Maryland (written by SarCoog)
’08 Record: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)
Overview: The first few years of Ralph Friedgen‘s tenure as head coach were quite successful, but things have been a little leaner during recent seasons in College Park. The results have never been ‘bad’ per se, but some have wondered if the Terps program has stagnated after Friedgen won 31 games in first 3 seasons. Last season started on a rough note, with a squeaker against D1-FCS Delaware and a 24-14 loss to Middle Tennessee State. But they did have wins over top 25 teams like Cal, Clemson, Wake Forest and North Carolina… along with a flummoxing 31-0 loss to Virginia.
The Terps do return their #1 signal caller from last season, senior Chris Turner (214-374, 2,516 yards, 13 TD, 11 INT), is back and could be improved after a full season as the starter under his belt. Turner will be asked mainly to manage the game and not make too many mistakes in the Terps’ offense. Returning in the backfield is junior Da’Rel Scott (1,133 rushing yards, 5.4 yards/carry, 8 TD) who was a 1st team All-ACC selection last year and the #2 back sophomore Davin Meggett (457 rushing yards, 5.1 yards/carry, 4 TD) also returns. The biggest loss on the team is leading receiver Darius Heyward-Bey, who was picked7th overall in the NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. Other big losses are WR Danny Oquendo and TE Dan Gronkowski. The top returning receiver is sophomore Torrey Smith (24 receptions, 336 receiving yards, 2 TD) who started 6 games as a redshirt freshman last season. Another area hit hard by graduation was the offensive line, where the Terps lost 4 multi-year starters and the returning guys have combined for only 27 starts (thanks for the fun fact Phil Steele). Junior OT Bruce Campbell started 7 games last year and senior C Phil Costa has started 19 games total at guard, while moving to center during spring drills. The Terps have an experienced QB and backs, but they’ll struggle at times because they’re so inexperienced up front.
There will also be a challenge on the defensive side of the ball, where only 4 starters, along with 1 of the top 6 tacklers return and the defensive line and linebackers are less experienced. Senior DT Travis Ivey (26 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack) is the most experienced lineman and started 4 games in an injury-plagued junior campaign. Also, sophomore NT Dion Armstrong (22 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack) started 3 games in ’08 and senior Jared Harrell (17 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks) will be the full time starter at the ‘Anchor’ position (a pass rushing DE). The Terps lose 2 starters in the linebacking corps, but return tackling machine junior Alex Wujciak (133 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1 sack) who was a 2nd team All-ACC selection last year. Another guy who has some experience is junior Adrian Moten (24 tackles, 1.5 sacks) who missed some time in ’08 due to a wrist injury. Really, the only unit that could be improved is the Terps secondary. Senior FS Terrell Skinner (63 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT) is the #2 returning tackler and senior SS Jamari McCollough (37 tackles, 1 sack, 4 INT) led the team in interceptions last season. In total, all the projected starters in the Terps secondary should have at least some amount of starting experience. I’ll be interested to see how new DC Don Brown does with this unit after serving as the head coach at UMass for the last 5 seasons (43-19 overall record at UMass).
Reasons for Optimism: In his third year as a starter, Chris Turner could be poised for a successful senior campaign and may be ready to do more than simply ‘manage’ the game. Also, Da’Rel Scott is one of the best backs in the ACC and is a go-to guy in an offense that has a fair number of question marks. With the exception of Turner, all the Terps’ skill guys are underclassmen and that could pay dividends down the road as these young guys get valuable experience. I think Don Brown could be a great DC and his defenses at UMass were among the better units in Division 1-FCS.
Reasons for Pessimism: The Terps not only lost a large number of starters, but also a little under half of all their lettermen from last season. The key to successful offense is typically an experienced offensive line and the Terps have only a few guys with significant in game experience. It won’t matter how good Chris Turner and Da’Rel Scott play if Turner is lying on his back half the time and Scott can’t find a hole to run through. It’s an inexperienced offense and that doesn’t bode well, since Friedgen’s teams haven’t been great on offense since the 2003 season. On defense the front seven only returns a couple guys with starting experience and that doesn’t bode well for a rushing defense that finished 71st in the nation last year.
Season Prediction: There have been instances where teams chock full of newcomers have performed higher than the expectations and surprised the college football world. I don’t think this is one of those instances. The last 2 times the Terps returned 10 or fewer starters (2004 and ’05) they finished with a losing record. The non-conference schedule features a Division 1-FCS cupcake (James Madison) and Middle Tennessee State. I think those two games are wins, but the Terps shouldn’t take the MTSU game for granted after last year’s upset. Rutgers could be a pre-season top 25 team, but the Terps are 24-2 recently against non-conference opponents (thanks again Phil Steele). The Terps will have to play potential toss-up games on the road against UNC, Wake Forest and Duke, with tough road trips to Cal (in non-conference) and Florida State. I’m predicting a 5-7 season for the Terps and Friedgen may just decide to call it a career with OC James Franklin waiting in the wings to take over as head man.
Top Web Destinations: Turtle Sports Report or Inside MD Sports
73.) Hawaii (written by ElViento)
’08 Record: 7-7 (5-3 WAC)
Overview: Minstrels have written myriad songs about June Jones, and his taking Hawaii from a winless season in 1998 to a 9-win season in ’99, the biggest turnaround in NCAA history. So, too, have they waxed poetic about Jones’s success with the Run & Shoot offense (originally pioneered by Mouse Davis and others), and the gaudy numbers put up by quarterbacks such as Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan under his tutelage. (The former should not be confused with this…we’re talking about a record-breaking college QB, not a purveyor of delicious, MSG-filled foods, okay? Okay.)
The Jones reign at Hawaii reached its peak at the end of the 2007 regular season. The Warriors were 12-0, WAC champs, with debate raging as to exactly which BCS bowl the team belonged in. The program was at its peak, but then came harsh reality. Hawaii didn’t look like it belonged on the same field as Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, ultimately losing 41-10. After the season, Jones left the Hawaii program, citing lack of support and broken promises from the University, despite a huge public outpouring of support that reached as high as the governor’s office.
Here’s guessing that those minstrels won’t be writing about Jones’s Mustangs not beating a single Division 1-A team in his first year at SMU. (Their sole win came despite giving up 36 points to Texas State.) Back on the islands, the drop-off from the departures of Jones, Brennan and a shocking number of senior contributors from the Warrior program didn’t have nearly the adverse effects that many expected. No, the team didn’t win double-digit games or go to a BCS bowl, but first-year head coach Greg McMackin (promoted from the defensive coordinator position) deserves a lot of credit for getting seven wins out of a team that returned just four starters on either side of the ball.
The defense was only marginally worse in McMackin’s first year as “The Guy”, but it was the offense which suffered a serious downturn. Hawaii per-game scoring dropped nearly 20 points (!!) from 43.4 to 24.6. The team twice did something it had not done since 2004: managed only single-digit points in a game. Passing yards per game fell from 439 to 251. Pass completion percentage fell 10 points. Hawaii gave up (a nearly NCAA-record) 57 sacks, 22 more than the previous season. Still, the offense was not without silver linings, most notably the second-half emergence of QB Greg Alexander.
Inoke Funaki (moved to RB) and Tyler Graunke (graduated) got some time under center early on, but it was Alexander who ultimately won the job. He made his second start of the year against Nevada, throwing for 205 yards, no picks, and two fourth-quarter TDs, including a last-second 24-yard score to Malcolm Lane to seal the win. He ended the season with impressive numbers: 154-245 (62.9%), 1,895 yards, 14 TD, 5 INT. Most importantly, Hawaii went 4-2 in his last six regular season starts.
Reasons for Optimism: The offense figures to be much improved in year two of the HC McMackin/offensive coordinator Ron Lee era. Alexander is back for his senior season, and the running game, which features a healthy stable of backs to choose from, might again become the compliment to the passing game that it hasn’t been for the last two years. While a number of backs figure to see time, former Nebraska transfer Leon Wright-Jackson looks like he’ll be the starter. Hawaii was 4-2 in 2008 when rushing for 100+ yards as a team, and 1-5 when rushing for 60 yards or fewer, so don’t underestimate the importance of the Warrior running game.
The receiving corps looks solid, as well, with Greg Salas (57 rec, 831 yards, 3 TD) and Lane (35 rec, 613 yards, 6 TD) back. Junior Oahu native Kealoha Pilares (246 yards, 2 TD) is a candidate for a potential breakout season.
The offensive line…well, can’t get much worse than last year, can it? Fifty-seven sacks is a lot. Senior John Estes anchors the line from the Center position, having started all 41 games of his collegiate career. Apart from him, I’m not sure having anyone else return from last year’s O-line would be a good thing. Hawaii’s spring prospectus projects a starting line which would feature four seniors and a junior, and an average weight of around 305. That, plus common sense, points to improved production from the O-line. Especially if Yorba Linda, CA native Austin Hansen (woot!) sees some time on the field.
Reasons for Pessimism: I can sum up the major reason for pessimism this year for Hawaii in one word: defense. The breakdown of Hawaii players who have started a game on defense in their division-1 collegiate careers is as follows: John Fonoti, DE (14); Brashton Satele, LB (8); R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, LB (4); Vaughn Meatoga, DT (2). Fonoti and Satele are both solid-looking college football players, but two guys can only lead a defense so far. Hopefully former Oregon State transfer and native Hawaiian Mana Silva can step up and lead the nation’s most inexperienced secondary from the safety position.
The improvement shown by the defense from 2005 to 2006 was very impressive, as the Warriors saw points allowed drop from 35.7 to 24.1. The last two years have showed slow regression, however, and with the lack of experience on D, this year figures to be more of the same. McMackin (who has heavily emphasized recruiting speed on defense) pretty clearly knows what he’s doing, and will eventually have this unit looking better, but Jones left the team rather bereft of talent on the “other” side of the ball. (This should sound awfully familiar to Cougar fans, and the situation currently facing Kevin Sumlin and DC John Skladany in the wake of the departure of some Baylor coach whose name I can’t recall.)
If second-year DC Cal Lee (brother of Hawaii’s OC) can guide a unit that holds opponents under 30 points per game, well actually, that might just be a function of playing one of the weakest schedules in the nation. But he’d still deserve to win some awards in that scenario, as would McMackin.
Season Prediction: Hawaii fans can expect to see something along the lines of their 2003-2005 era teams in 2009. The offense will put up very solid, if not eye-popping numbers, the defense will struggle, and the Warriors will win 4-5 WAC games and be fun to watch. The non-conference schedule is tough to gauge, with winnable road games (Washington State, UNLV) early, and tough home games (Navy, Wisconsin) late. I see Hawaii as a 6-7 win team (out of 13 regular season games) on the bubble for bowl eligibility. With one of the biggest home field advantages in the WAC – stemming from the travel time to Hawaii, and a home crowd that opponents (Houston Cougar fans who made the ’03 Hawaii Bowl trip included) love to hate – don’t be surprised if this team upsets someone like Boise State or Wisconsin at home.
Top Web Destination: Warrior Sports Network or Sports Hawaii
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Scott & Holman: Houston, Sports and All Things In Between 
