Tweet
Steve Spurrier taking over at South Carolina and Urban Meyer moving onto Florida were the two big off-season coaching changes but there are 21 other head coaches in new places this upcoming season. Everyone from the perennial top ten teams to the doormats will be experiencing new mentors and it’s my job to find out who succeeds and who doesn’t.
With 119 Division I teams in the nation, that means over 19 percent of the country is going to be under new leadership come fall. That is a huge number of changes and with college coaching being a huge factor to the on field outcomes, we need to analyze these moves and find out how it is going to affect each team.
Who will be the next Mike Price and lead his team to a bowl game in his first year or who simply has no shot at turning around already flattened programs? It’s time to dust off those headsets and take a look at the first seven teams with new coaches for 2005.
BYU Cougars
Out - Gary Crowton
In - Bronco Mendenhall
Crowton was unable to return BYU to its normal spot atop the Mountain West Conference and now it’s up to his defensive coordinator to try and accomplish that. Mendenhall possesses a strong defensive mind and BYU showed flashes of brilliance at times last season on that side of the ball. The Cougars had a six game stretch of allowing 18.7 ppg before giving up 52 points to Utah in their final game thus keeping them out of the postseason with a 5-6 record.
The high-powered offenses of BYU past programs have been non-existent recently but that could change this season. A new look on offense will be implemented this season as the Cougars will be running a spread offense that will try and open things up. They return seven starters on that side of the ball so they have a chance to make things exciting. The problem is that it will take a while to get going so BYU is fortunate that the first three games of the season are at home.
BYU wasn’t awful last year but Crowton finished 14-23 over his last 37 games and it was simply time for a change. The Cougars have a chance to be better but anything better than a 6-5 record will be a big accomplishment.
East Carolina Pirates
Out - John Thompson
In - Skip Holtz
East Carolina has taken a fall on hard times after being a power team for many years. Thompson came in three years ago but seven total wins later and he was out just as quickly. The Pirates have a lot of returning players this season but that might not be a good thing as they are coming off only two wins last year. Holtz will try to rejuvenate the offense, as he was on the offensive side while coaching for his father at South Carolina but he will have his work cut out for him with hardly any experience at the quarterback position.
The defense needs to tighten up as the Pirates allowed 31 or more points in eight of their 11 games last year and they allowed a whopping 35 rushing touchdowns. Nine players come back on that side of the ball so the experience is there and things really cannot get any worse for the stop unit. East Carolina will have a good chance at surpassing last season’s win total however as two isn’t that difficult to beat plus the schedule is more in its favor this time around.
Cincinnati, Louisville and NC State are gone with SMU, Rice and Marshall taking their spots. Those games won’t be gimmies but they will be a lot easier to try and take. Four wins are likely and there is the possibility of six victories if the defense tightens up.
Florida Gators
Out - Ron Zook
In - Urban Meyer
I for one thought Zook got a raw deal and it showed as the Gators played for coach winning three of its last four regular season games and almost upsetting Georgia. Zook is taking over the program at Illinois and in steps Meyer who did terrific jobs in turning programs around at Bowling Green and Utah. The difference now is that Florida is already stacked with athletes and there will be no two or three year plan to put in place. The winning has to start now.
The Gators are a top ten team heading into the season and it’s up to Meyer to keep pushing them up higher. Playing in the SEC is not like playing in the MAC or MWC so we will really see how good of a coach Meyer really is. I’m thinking he will do just fine especially with the talent already in place. The schedule will be a challenge like any other season but it’s doable. Two home warm-ups start the season before the big showdown with Tennessee.
Games at LSU and Alabama will be the two toughest games on the slate and the Gators finish the season hosting rival Florida St. They miss Miami which is always a plus and a shot at the SEC Championship is well within reach in Meyer’s first season.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Out - Ron Turner
In - Ron Zook
It didn’t take Zook long to grab a high profile job and while Illinois has been the recent doormat of the Big Ten, it is still a program in a big time conference. Turner could not turn around the program despite a lot of good recruits and athletes coming into Champaign. The Illini have had losing seasons in eight of the last 10 years so a change was definitely needed as it was starting to get pretty stale. Zook will bring enthusiasm into this program, something that was definitely missing.
Zook is known as one of the best recruiters in the country and will eventually keep a lot of the best Illinois talent home, something that hasn’t been the case. It will take a couple years for the transformation to take place so don’t expect huge things from the Illini just yet. One thing is for sure and that is the fact that the players are going to put in 110 percent effort for Zook. He won 67 percent of his SEC games at Florida and that is an excellent percentage but not by Florida standards.
The schedule this year is bottom heavy with tough Big Ten games in four of the last five games. Illinois should start 2-0 and there are five games on the slate that can be won so a winning record isn’t a complete pipedream but I’ll give this team another year to make some noise.
Indiana Hoosiers
Out - Gerry DiNardo
In - Terry Hoeppner
I knew when DiNardo was hired here he wasn’t the right fit and that was definitely proven correct. He got nothing out of his players and while Hoeppner has a huge resume of winning, it has only been at one school from a mid-major conference. He spent 20 years in the Miami program that won on a consistent basis so the RedHawks were able to get the best talent available after the big schools got their take. At Indiana, he will not have that luxury as recruiting will be concern number one.
It’s tough for anyone to come into a basketball school and start winning, let alone right away. There are a fair number of players returning on both sides of the ball but while experience comes with that, the talent is just not there. Hoeppner is not the type of coach that is going to get the best athletes down the road especially coming over from a different state. The Hoosiers will be better as the schedule is in their favor but anything relating to a winning record or a bowl game is a little too aggressive at this point.
A very favorable non-conference schedule could have Indiana starting the season 3-0 but once the conference games begin, it looks dark. Seven of the final eight games are again likely bowl teams so a four win season is about all that can be expected.
LSU Tigers
Out - Nick Saban
In - Les Miles
Who can blame Saban for going to the NFL to take over one of the most coveted jobs in professional football? The Tigers will miss him and he will definitely miss the Tigers as there is a ton of talent remaining. Miles is walking into a perfect situation as he is taking over a team with 18 returning starters, an offense that can run on anyone and a defense that is still one of the best in the country. He won at Oklahoma St. and steered that program in the right direction and he should have no problem keeping LSU afloat.
Miles is a great offensive coach and if there was one weakness that plagued the Tigers, that was it. Miles brings in Bo Pelini, a great defensive coordinator, to try and keep the defense stout. It’s a new system on that side of the ball so it might take a little time to get going but there is enough talent and depth to have enough success right away. This is the position every new coach wants to be in and while things were going very good with the Cowboys, Miles couldn’t turn this opportunity down.
For being in the SEC, the schedule could be worse. Tennessee, Florida and Auburn come to Baton Rouge with the only tough road game being at Alabama. Mississippi St., Mississippi and Vandy are the only other road games so another National Championship run is possible.
Miami University RedHawks
Out - Terry Hoeppner
In - Shane Montgomery
Montgomery will have a much smoother transition than Hoeppner will have at Indiana and because he is an internal hire, Miami is not going to miss a beat, especially on offense. He has been the RedHawks offensive coordinator the past four years so the high scoring, huge yardage averages aren’t going to be leaving. Overall, 16 players are returning with eight of those on offense including a big line and experienced quarterback. Miami thought about going outside to find a new coach but staying internal was probably the right move.
The biggest downfall of Montgomery is his lack of experience as he has never been a head coach and has been around the division 1 ranks only five years. However, his offense has dominated most teams so what he lacks in experience, he will make up for in results. The RedHawks will be looking to make it to the MAC Championship for a third straight season and the only thing standing in its way is a visit from Bowling Green, who has moved into the same division as Miami beginning this season.
Besides Bowling Green, the MAC schedule is a cakewalk with the exception of a trip to Northern Illinois. The opener at Ohio St. will most likely be a loss but could give us an idea of how far this team can go.
Mississippi Rebels
Out - David Cutcliffe
In - Ed Orgeron
Winning is very important in Mississippi but getting to the next level must be more important. Even though the Rebels had a down season in 2004, Cutcliffe was let go rather abruptly seeing that he won over 60 percent of his games over six years. It could be a blessing in disguise however as Cutcliffe was forced to leave his new job at Notre Dame because of health reasons. Orgeron comes over from USC where he did nothing but win as the assistant head coach for the Trojans. He is not a high profile name but his winning attitude is big.
One of the big assets that Orgeron brings to the Rebels is his recruiting ability as we all saw what type of talent he brought to Southern California. It might take a couple years to see the full effects of that but he comes into 2005 with a lot coming back from a decent defense. That is important since the defense is going to have to step up big in the early part of the season with a new offensive scheme being put into place. A new West Coast offense should help improve an offense that ranked 77th in total yards and 103rd in scoring. The athletes are there to make a solid showing.
The schedule isn’t easy but it isn’t out of control either. The problem lies early with three of the first four games coming on the road but games at Vanderbilt and at Memphis can be won. The Rebels finish with home games in five of their final six games before their showdown with rival Mississippi St. Five wins are likely and an upset or two can get them to a bowl but anything more than that is unlikely in year one under Orgeron.
New Mexico State Aggies
Out - Tony Samuel
In - Hal Mumme
The Aggies start their first season in the WAC with a new coach and a new offense. Mumme was very successful at Kentucky with his run and gun offense until he was forced out. He will bring that type of firepower to New Mexico St., who was is in desperate need of a makeover on offense after running a three back set previously. The good news is that there will be mostly new players on that side of the ball so a new offense will be much easier to install. Any change is a good change at this point.
The Aggies finished 58th in total offense last season in the very weak Sun Belt Conference so an upgrade to the WAC would normally cause problems. However, in Mumme’s first season at Kentucky, he turned around an offense that ranked 109th into one that ranked 6th the following season. The WAC is known for big time offense and the Aggies will fit right in. Defensively they will most likely struggle even though the Aggies bring back the majority of their defense. The problem is that the defense ranked 91st total defense and 97th in scoring defense. This will be a fun team to watch if nothing else.
A conference switch will no doubt make for a tougher schedule and this one is difficult right from the opening kickoff. An 0-7 start looms for the Aggies as their first winnable game isn’t until Idaho comes to visit at the end of October. Their first three home games are all against teams that will be going bowling but they can win four of their final five games with the only definite loss being a trip to Boise St.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Out - Tyrone Willingham
In - Charlie Weis
Weis inherits a huge challenge to turn around a storied Notre Dame program that has been stuck in neutral for way too long. Many people thought Willingham wasn’t given enough time and I for one believe that but the Irish wanted their man and went after him but didn’t get him. Urban Meyer surprised many people by going to Florida instead and Notre Dame was forced to look elsewhere. Weis is a fine second choice even though he brings in no head coaching experience above the high school level. He is a players coach and he knows how to win, something desperately needed in South Bend.
Notre Dame made it to a bowl last season but it was beaten badly by a mediocre Oregon St. team. The Irish bring back the entire offense and with Weis in control, things will be opened up which is much needed as they finished 81st in total offense last season. They might be forced to outscore opponents as the passing defense was one of the worst in the country a season ago. Making it back to a bowl game will be difficult and the transformation of Notre Dame to bring it back into the elite status may take some time.
The schedule is one of the hardest in the country which is typical for Notre Dame football. Four of the first five games are on the road with a trip to Washington being the closest thing to a sure win. Five straight home games follow that which includes visits from USC, Tennessee and BYU so there is not even a guarantee of a winning homestand. Four wins are a definite and with some breaks, another bowl game is possible.
Ohio Bobcats
Out - Brian Knorr
In - Frank Solich
The Bobcats are hoping a high profile coach can turn the program around. It might take more than that however as Ohio has had winning seasons in just two of the past 23 years and this transformation won’t happen overnight. Solich brings in a history of winning which is something that has never been present at Ohio and that could mean a couple extra wins right there. He knows offense and that is what the biggest turnaround needs to be as the Bobcats were horrendous last season, finishing 105th in total offense and scoring no more than 19 points in each of their final six games.
The defense finished a very solid 22nd in total defense last year and Ohio returns seven starters to that unit which will be the strength once again. The problem is that Solich had a ton more talent in his tenure at Nebraska so trying to get the same job done here will be difficult until recruiting brings in some more athletes. The good news is that he is an Ohio native and should be able to keep some of the homegrown players in state down the road. It will be a tough start but this program can go nowhere but up at this point.
The schedule does them no favors although three of the four MAC road games can be won with Bowling Green being the exception. The problem is the first three games against Northwestern, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech cannot be won and while they might get them ready for conference play, blowout losses could kill any confidence. Don’t expect much this season.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Out - Les Miles
In - Mike Gundy
This is a program that is currently on top of things and while Miles was the leader in turning the Cowboys around, they will be just fine. Oklahoma St. stayed within the program for its new head coach and that was the right thing to do as Gundy has been here for over 10 years as an assistant. He spent the last four years as the offensive coordinator and while he is giving up those duties, the offense will bring in a new no huddle attack and could be even more explosive than its 17th ranked scoring offense from a season ago. Finding a new rushing attack is the biggest hurdle.
The defense is changing as well and that will hopefully help the unit that was 74th in total defense last season. They will be more aggressive in the 4-3 scheme and a new defensive coordinator coming from the NFL will make that happen. There is a completely new staff in place all around and that could lead to some early season struggles but the Cowboys should be coming together right around conference time which is never an easy task to handle. Oklahoma St. will need to find a go to tailback to keep the tough defenses in the Big XII honest.
The Cowboys won’t face a challenge until October and even then, this team should be 5-0 before a huge game at Texas A&M that starts a tough four game stretch including Texas and Oklahoma. The Big XII South is extremely difficult once again and while a winning record is probable, nothing much more should be expected.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Out - Walt Harris
In - Dave Wannstedt
Wannstedt couldn’t be walking into a better situation. He hasn’t been in the collegiate ranks in nearly two decades but he is a Pittsburgh graduate and he inherits a team that is loaded and will contend for the Big East title once again. Harris left on his own to take over a struggling Stanford program, but he left a lot behind so Pittsburgh will be just fine. The Panthers bring back 17 starters from their Fiesta Bowl team from last year and even though many feel they didn’t deserve to go to a BSC game, they will be out to prove it was no accident.
Pittsburgh was a very average 72nd in total offense and 73rd in total defense and while neither unit was dominant, both were able to step up when needed. Both will be improved this season with all of the talent coming back and Wannstedt is making sure that he is getting the most out of what he has. He will look for more balance on offense and more speed on defense but it will be his experience and teaching abilities that will give this team success once again. The conference is watered down this year with the loss of Miami and Boston College and the Panthers the best holdover that can bring home the championship.
Notre Dame and Nebraska are two of the first three games this season but both can be won and the Panthers should at least gain a split. Games at Louisville and at West Virginia at the end of the season will most likely determine who will be traveling to the BSC game this year. The Panthers have a great shot at going back.
San Jose State Spartans
Out - Fitz Hill
In - Dick Tomey
Tomey returns to head coaching after a stint with Texas as an assistant but this is going to be a tough task. He had successful campaigns at Hawaii and Arizona and will look for the same turnaround with the Spartans but it certainly isn’t going to happen overnight. The first and most important task is going to try and get fans excited about coming to the games since San Jose St. ranked dead last in attendance last season. A quick start is necessary for that to happen but it likely won’t be the case.
The Spartans need to improve a defense that ranked 117th in scoring, allowing a nation’s worst 42.6 ppg. The offense was able to score more than that amount three times but because the defense was so bad, two of those games ended up as losses. The offense should be ok once again but not good enough to outscore teams every time out. Tomey did wonders with defense at Arizona and also at Texas but this is a different challenge as the athletes simply aren’t there. The defense can’t get any worse but will once again we one of the worst in the WAC.
The schedule isn’t a killer but there is only one sure win on the slate, their opener against Eastern Washington. Games at Illinois and San Diego St. are there for the taking but could be too early in the slate for them to have a realistic shot. The Spartans get three teams coming over from the Sun Belt Conference which could help improve on their two wins from 2004.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Out - Lou Holtz
In - Steve Spurrier
This is the coaching change that got the most press in the offseason as one legend takes over for another as Holtz gives way to the ole ball coach making his return to the college ranks. It isn’t going to be easy for Spurrier as there isn’t the same amount of talent at South Carolina as what he had at Florida but it’s pretty much a guarantee that he is going to have this team ready to play every game. To go along with the less than talented team, there is also lack of experience on both sides of the ball including the ever important quarterback position.
Spurrier is known for making the offense click but his starting quarterback has a total of 22 career pass attempts so the offense will struggle early on but an experienced running game will definitely help. The defense was very solid last year with only the rushing defense finishing outside the top 30 in the country. The bigger problem with that is that the entire line needs to be replaced so growing pains are going to be felt. The pass rush needs to improve as there is no one returning who has more than one quarterback sack.
Playing in the SEC automatically means a tough schedule but the Gamecocks have a rough one pretty much out of the gate. Following the opener against Central Florida, a visit from Georgia and a trip to Alabama will test South Carolina right away. The only easy stretch is back to back home dates against Vandy and Kentucky. The much anticipated trip form the Gators takes place in late November.
Stanford Cardinal
Out - Buddy Teevens
In - Walt Harris
Teevens looked to have his job secure after a 4-2 start last season, losing to Notre Dame and USC by a combined 11 points, but a 0-5 finish including a 35-point loss to Cal quickly changed that. Harris is from the area and after turning Pittsburgh into a top team in the east, he will look to do the same out west. Stanford had flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball last year but there was no consistency and that is something Harris needs to work on with his new team. The offense brings back almost everyone including the whole offensive line and while the rushing game ranked 114th in the country last season, that might not be such a bad thing.
Stanford will incorporate the west coast offense and it is going to score points without much problem. Harris had a similar situation last year at Pittsburgh as the rushing game was non-existent but the Panthers still managed to score a lot of points and rattle off eight wins. Stanford is going to be almost a carbon copy of that team so if he can get consistency from his players, a successful season on offense is definitely possible. Defensively, it will be more of a challenge, especially with a brand new secondary but there is enough depth in the 3-4 for the Cardinal to be ok.
The schedule is doable but by no means is it easy. Five wins in the first seven games is possible but five losses can also happen as there are some swing games that can go either way. The last four games are brutal with trips to USC and Oregon St. followed by home games against Cal and Notre Dame so a successful first half is absolutely necessary for the entire season to be successful.
Syracuse Orange
Out - Paul Pasqualoni
In - Greg Robinson
This will be the first time in 14 years that a new coach will be roaming the sidelines for Syracuse and it really is a long time coming as the Orange were a stale team and in much need of a change. Robinson brings in experience at both the college and NFL levels although none of that experience has been as a head coach. He is coming off a successful stint in Texas and his defensive expertise needs to become an impact right away as the Orange defense finished last season 101st in total defense and 76th in scoring defense. Nine players return so it should be an improved unit because of experience alone.
The offense will have a brand new look this season as Robinson brings in a brand new offensive coordinator specializing in the west coast offense, something that will help keep defenses off balance. The running game is solid but the quarterback position is going to be a problem early on until the west coast offense is grasped better. The defense will need to carry this team at the start of the season until the offense comes together but it can’t take a long time as the front end of the schedule is not pretty looking.
The Orange start the season with a huge Big East game against West Virginia and following a game against Buffalo, they play ACC powers Florida St. and Virginia in back-to-back weeks. They close the season with games at Notre Dame and at Louisville and with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the middle, a five win season is most likely the best that Syracuse is going to accomplish in 2005.
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Out - John Robinson
In - Mike Sanford
Robinson retired but he didn’t leave the team in total shambles as he was able to bring good athletes to Las Vegas. The problem was that they weren’t able to win many games as the Rebels finished 2004 with only two wins. Although Robinson was well respected and a great teacher of the game, a change can only help things and Sanford could be the man to turn this team around in a hurry. There isn’t a whole lot returning on either side of the ball but with a new coaching staff on board, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as learning new systems could come easier.
The offense is Sanford’s specialty as he was the coordinator at Utah that saw plenty of points so there will no doubt be an improvement to the 95th ranked scoring offense of 2004. UNLV scored more than 24 points only three times and one of those was because of a triple overtime game. The Rebels will be able to score a lot more now but the problem will be keeping the opposition off the scoreboard. UNLV was 98th in scoring defense and there will have to be dramatic improvement which likely will not be the case.
The MWC is going to be improved this season and while the schedule isn’t completely impossible, it is tough starting out as the Rebels hit the road in four of their first five games. Coming out of there with three wins is possible but anything less than two will be a huge disappointment and not help the confidence. A bowl game is not out of the question.
Utah Utes
Out - Urban Meyer
In - Kyle Whittingham
Replacing Meyer, who took fame and fortune at the University of Florida, is not going to be easy but the Utes lost a lot of talent and not just a great head coach. Utah is not going to match what it did the last two seasons but even if Meyer was still there, he likely wouldn’t be able to match it either. Whittingham has been in the Utah program for the past 11 seasons so the transition will be a very smooth one. The offense is bound to take a step back so the defense is going to have to take some of the pressure off early on which it should as Whittingham served as defensive coordinator.
The Utes bring back five players on each side of the ball but they did lose a lot at the skill positions most notably at quarterback. Alex Smith wasn’t the only star on this team however and a lot of the underclassmen jumped ship after Meyer left. There is going to be a lot more parity in the conference this season so Utah could just as easily go .500 as it could go undefeated. The offense is still going to run mostly the same formations but an inexperienced quarterback is going to take some time to get in gear and the early part of the schedule is not full of cupcakes.
The Utes face an improved Arizona team in their opener and then tough trips to TCU and North Carolina close out the non-conference schedule. The good news about the MWC schedule is that they get Wyoming and New Mexico but the bad news is they travel to Colorado St. and BYU to end the season. A winning season is going to happen but how good remains to be seen.
Utah State Aggies
Out -Mick Dennehy
In - Brent Guy
Dennehy was a very well liked coach but he was not able to move the program in the direction it needed to go as eight straight losing seasons was enough for the administration to handle. A move to the WAC is going to hurt this team early on but eventually the Aggies will benefit from the stronger competition. Guy comes over from Arizona St. so he knows a thing or two about the quality of teams. He is also familiar with the program as he was there in the 90’s so this isn’t that much of a new experience as it would seem.
The Aggies ranked in the bottom six in the country in three of the four major offensive categories last season and there really isn’t going to be a huge improvement. They bring back only four players on offense, which could be a blessing in disguise, and Guy is a defensive coach so the going could be tough once again. The offensive line is thin and that is going to be the biggest issue. The defense wasn’t awful last season but it wasn’t great either. Playing in the offensively happy WAC is going to be a challenge for the stop unit but Guy improved the Sun Devils defense over each of the last four years and there is some good experience returning for Utah St.
The schedule is going to be more of a challenge than what the Aggies saw in the Sun Belt but three of the first four games can be won with Utah being the only exception. Conference play gets tough after that and a trip to Alabama isn’t going to help the morale very much. Five wins will be an exceptional season for Utah St.
Washington Huskies
Out - Keith Gilbertson
In - Tyrone Willingham
This program went from upper echelon to bottom feeder way too fast and it’s up to Willingham to turn it back around just as quick. Gilbertson had some great players when he was there but could not get the best out of them and that is something that Willingham excels at. He had a very successful campaign at Stanford before heading to a no win situation at Notre Dame. It was a no win situation because he won in his time there but it obviously wasn’t good enough for the standards set forth. Winning most likely won’t happen in his first year but stranger things have happened.
Washington is returning a total of 16 players on both sides of the ball and while that may not seem like great news from a team that went 1-10, it does bode well that the experience can only help. The offensive line is the backbone of the offense and for the unit to be successful, that is where it needs to start. A new quarterback will be taking over the offense so there is going to be some growing pains no matter how good the line may be. Defensively, the Huskies held their own at times but they need to improve. With nine players coming back, they will be better but just how much better is the question.
Washington gets a good schedule as the Huskies play their first four games at home and while all four won’t be wins, it can give them some early season confidence. They get Cal and USC at home but the Pac 10 is going be tough from top to bottom for there are no easy stops. Four wins will be a successful season for the Huskies.
Western Michigan Broncos
Out - Gary Darnell
In - Bill Cubit
Western Michigan went from one of the top teams in the MAC to one of the worst and it was the offense that took the biggest downhill turn. This was one of the most explosive offenses in the country five years ago and the man that led that unit on the sidelines is back as the head coach. Cubit is coming back to the Broncos after a stint with Stanford and he is ready to turn the dormant offense around right away. Western Michigan lost its last 10 games last year and the offense stumbled home by not scoring more than 21 points in any of its last four games. That is going to change as the offense is going to score a lot of points come MAC time.
The defense is a different story as the unit ranked 108th and worst in all four major defensive categories. They allowed less than 30 points only twice all season and one of those came against a 1-AA team. Improvement is obviously a must but whether or not it happens is a mystery. They will be starting 10 players who are either juniors or seniors so the experience is there it’s just a question of talent. It will be hard for the defense to digress but it might be even harder for them to improve enough to be competitive every game.
The Broncos get tested right out of the gate with an impossible trip to Virginia followed by a MAC battle at Toledo. They catch a breather after that with a relatively easy four game stretch that can conceivably produce three wins. There are six possible wins on the schedule in total but everything is going to have to go their way for it to happen.
This is Part 4 of a 20 Part College Football Preview Series from Matt Fargo. Check out future stories all summer long.
www.mattfargo.com
With 119 Division I teams in the nation, that means over 19 percent of the country is going to be under new leadership come fall. That is a huge number of changes and with college coaching being a huge factor to the on field outcomes, we need to analyze these moves and find out how it is going to affect each team.
Who will be the next Mike Price and lead his team to a bowl game in his first year or who simply has no shot at turning around already flattened programs? It’s time to dust off those headsets and take a look at the first seven teams with new coaches for 2005.
BYU Cougars
Out - Gary Crowton
In - Bronco Mendenhall
Crowton was unable to return BYU to its normal spot atop the Mountain West Conference and now it’s up to his defensive coordinator to try and accomplish that. Mendenhall possesses a strong defensive mind and BYU showed flashes of brilliance at times last season on that side of the ball. The Cougars had a six game stretch of allowing 18.7 ppg before giving up 52 points to Utah in their final game thus keeping them out of the postseason with a 5-6 record.
The high-powered offenses of BYU past programs have been non-existent recently but that could change this season. A new look on offense will be implemented this season as the Cougars will be running a spread offense that will try and open things up. They return seven starters on that side of the ball so they have a chance to make things exciting. The problem is that it will take a while to get going so BYU is fortunate that the first three games of the season are at home.
BYU wasn’t awful last year but Crowton finished 14-23 over his last 37 games and it was simply time for a change. The Cougars have a chance to be better but anything better than a 6-5 record will be a big accomplishment.
East Carolina Pirates
Out - John Thompson
In - Skip Holtz
East Carolina has taken a fall on hard times after being a power team for many years. Thompson came in three years ago but seven total wins later and he was out just as quickly. The Pirates have a lot of returning players this season but that might not be a good thing as they are coming off only two wins last year. Holtz will try to rejuvenate the offense, as he was on the offensive side while coaching for his father at South Carolina but he will have his work cut out for him with hardly any experience at the quarterback position.
The defense needs to tighten up as the Pirates allowed 31 or more points in eight of their 11 games last year and they allowed a whopping 35 rushing touchdowns. Nine players come back on that side of the ball so the experience is there and things really cannot get any worse for the stop unit. East Carolina will have a good chance at surpassing last season’s win total however as two isn’t that difficult to beat plus the schedule is more in its favor this time around.
Cincinnati, Louisville and NC State are gone with SMU, Rice and Marshall taking their spots. Those games won’t be gimmies but they will be a lot easier to try and take. Four wins are likely and there is the possibility of six victories if the defense tightens up.
Florida Gators
Out - Ron Zook
In - Urban Meyer
I for one thought Zook got a raw deal and it showed as the Gators played for coach winning three of its last four regular season games and almost upsetting Georgia. Zook is taking over the program at Illinois and in steps Meyer who did terrific jobs in turning programs around at Bowling Green and Utah. The difference now is that Florida is already stacked with athletes and there will be no two or three year plan to put in place. The winning has to start now.
The Gators are a top ten team heading into the season and it’s up to Meyer to keep pushing them up higher. Playing in the SEC is not like playing in the MAC or MWC so we will really see how good of a coach Meyer really is. I’m thinking he will do just fine especially with the talent already in place. The schedule will be a challenge like any other season but it’s doable. Two home warm-ups start the season before the big showdown with Tennessee.
Games at LSU and Alabama will be the two toughest games on the slate and the Gators finish the season hosting rival Florida St. They miss Miami which is always a plus and a shot at the SEC Championship is well within reach in Meyer’s first season.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Out - Ron Turner
In - Ron Zook
It didn’t take Zook long to grab a high profile job and while Illinois has been the recent doormat of the Big Ten, it is still a program in a big time conference. Turner could not turn around the program despite a lot of good recruits and athletes coming into Champaign. The Illini have had losing seasons in eight of the last 10 years so a change was definitely needed as it was starting to get pretty stale. Zook will bring enthusiasm into this program, something that was definitely missing.
Zook is known as one of the best recruiters in the country and will eventually keep a lot of the best Illinois talent home, something that hasn’t been the case. It will take a couple years for the transformation to take place so don’t expect huge things from the Illini just yet. One thing is for sure and that is the fact that the players are going to put in 110 percent effort for Zook. He won 67 percent of his SEC games at Florida and that is an excellent percentage but not by Florida standards.
The schedule this year is bottom heavy with tough Big Ten games in four of the last five games. Illinois should start 2-0 and there are five games on the slate that can be won so a winning record isn’t a complete pipedream but I’ll give this team another year to make some noise.
Indiana Hoosiers
Out - Gerry DiNardo
In - Terry Hoeppner
I knew when DiNardo was hired here he wasn’t the right fit and that was definitely proven correct. He got nothing out of his players and while Hoeppner has a huge resume of winning, it has only been at one school from a mid-major conference. He spent 20 years in the Miami program that won on a consistent basis so the RedHawks were able to get the best talent available after the big schools got their take. At Indiana, he will not have that luxury as recruiting will be concern number one.
It’s tough for anyone to come into a basketball school and start winning, let alone right away. There are a fair number of players returning on both sides of the ball but while experience comes with that, the talent is just not there. Hoeppner is not the type of coach that is going to get the best athletes down the road especially coming over from a different state. The Hoosiers will be better as the schedule is in their favor but anything relating to a winning record or a bowl game is a little too aggressive at this point.
A very favorable non-conference schedule could have Indiana starting the season 3-0 but once the conference games begin, it looks dark. Seven of the final eight games are again likely bowl teams so a four win season is about all that can be expected.
LSU Tigers
Out - Nick Saban
In - Les Miles
Who can blame Saban for going to the NFL to take over one of the most coveted jobs in professional football? The Tigers will miss him and he will definitely miss the Tigers as there is a ton of talent remaining. Miles is walking into a perfect situation as he is taking over a team with 18 returning starters, an offense that can run on anyone and a defense that is still one of the best in the country. He won at Oklahoma St. and steered that program in the right direction and he should have no problem keeping LSU afloat.
Miles is a great offensive coach and if there was one weakness that plagued the Tigers, that was it. Miles brings in Bo Pelini, a great defensive coordinator, to try and keep the defense stout. It’s a new system on that side of the ball so it might take a little time to get going but there is enough talent and depth to have enough success right away. This is the position every new coach wants to be in and while things were going very good with the Cowboys, Miles couldn’t turn this opportunity down.
For being in the SEC, the schedule could be worse. Tennessee, Florida and Auburn come to Baton Rouge with the only tough road game being at Alabama. Mississippi St., Mississippi and Vandy are the only other road games so another National Championship run is possible.
Miami University RedHawks
Out - Terry Hoeppner
In - Shane Montgomery
Montgomery will have a much smoother transition than Hoeppner will have at Indiana and because he is an internal hire, Miami is not going to miss a beat, especially on offense. He has been the RedHawks offensive coordinator the past four years so the high scoring, huge yardage averages aren’t going to be leaving. Overall, 16 players are returning with eight of those on offense including a big line and experienced quarterback. Miami thought about going outside to find a new coach but staying internal was probably the right move.
The biggest downfall of Montgomery is his lack of experience as he has never been a head coach and has been around the division 1 ranks only five years. However, his offense has dominated most teams so what he lacks in experience, he will make up for in results. The RedHawks will be looking to make it to the MAC Championship for a third straight season and the only thing standing in its way is a visit from Bowling Green, who has moved into the same division as Miami beginning this season.
Besides Bowling Green, the MAC schedule is a cakewalk with the exception of a trip to Northern Illinois. The opener at Ohio St. will most likely be a loss but could give us an idea of how far this team can go.
Mississippi Rebels
Out - David Cutcliffe
In - Ed Orgeron
Winning is very important in Mississippi but getting to the next level must be more important. Even though the Rebels had a down season in 2004, Cutcliffe was let go rather abruptly seeing that he won over 60 percent of his games over six years. It could be a blessing in disguise however as Cutcliffe was forced to leave his new job at Notre Dame because of health reasons. Orgeron comes over from USC where he did nothing but win as the assistant head coach for the Trojans. He is not a high profile name but his winning attitude is big.
One of the big assets that Orgeron brings to the Rebels is his recruiting ability as we all saw what type of talent he brought to Southern California. It might take a couple years to see the full effects of that but he comes into 2005 with a lot coming back from a decent defense. That is important since the defense is going to have to step up big in the early part of the season with a new offensive scheme being put into place. A new West Coast offense should help improve an offense that ranked 77th in total yards and 103rd in scoring. The athletes are there to make a solid showing.
The schedule isn’t easy but it isn’t out of control either. The problem lies early with three of the first four games coming on the road but games at Vanderbilt and at Memphis can be won. The Rebels finish with home games in five of their final six games before their showdown with rival Mississippi St. Five wins are likely and an upset or two can get them to a bowl but anything more than that is unlikely in year one under Orgeron.
New Mexico State Aggies
Out - Tony Samuel
In - Hal Mumme
The Aggies start their first season in the WAC with a new coach and a new offense. Mumme was very successful at Kentucky with his run and gun offense until he was forced out. He will bring that type of firepower to New Mexico St., who was is in desperate need of a makeover on offense after running a three back set previously. The good news is that there will be mostly new players on that side of the ball so a new offense will be much easier to install. Any change is a good change at this point.
The Aggies finished 58th in total offense last season in the very weak Sun Belt Conference so an upgrade to the WAC would normally cause problems. However, in Mumme’s first season at Kentucky, he turned around an offense that ranked 109th into one that ranked 6th the following season. The WAC is known for big time offense and the Aggies will fit right in. Defensively they will most likely struggle even though the Aggies bring back the majority of their defense. The problem is that the defense ranked 91st total defense and 97th in scoring defense. This will be a fun team to watch if nothing else.
A conference switch will no doubt make for a tougher schedule and this one is difficult right from the opening kickoff. An 0-7 start looms for the Aggies as their first winnable game isn’t until Idaho comes to visit at the end of October. Their first three home games are all against teams that will be going bowling but they can win four of their final five games with the only definite loss being a trip to Boise St.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Out - Tyrone Willingham
In - Charlie Weis
Weis inherits a huge challenge to turn around a storied Notre Dame program that has been stuck in neutral for way too long. Many people thought Willingham wasn’t given enough time and I for one believe that but the Irish wanted their man and went after him but didn’t get him. Urban Meyer surprised many people by going to Florida instead and Notre Dame was forced to look elsewhere. Weis is a fine second choice even though he brings in no head coaching experience above the high school level. He is a players coach and he knows how to win, something desperately needed in South Bend.
Notre Dame made it to a bowl last season but it was beaten badly by a mediocre Oregon St. team. The Irish bring back the entire offense and with Weis in control, things will be opened up which is much needed as they finished 81st in total offense last season. They might be forced to outscore opponents as the passing defense was one of the worst in the country a season ago. Making it back to a bowl game will be difficult and the transformation of Notre Dame to bring it back into the elite status may take some time.
The schedule is one of the hardest in the country which is typical for Notre Dame football. Four of the first five games are on the road with a trip to Washington being the closest thing to a sure win. Five straight home games follow that which includes visits from USC, Tennessee and BYU so there is not even a guarantee of a winning homestand. Four wins are a definite and with some breaks, another bowl game is possible.
Ohio Bobcats
Out - Brian Knorr
In - Frank Solich
The Bobcats are hoping a high profile coach can turn the program around. It might take more than that however as Ohio has had winning seasons in just two of the past 23 years and this transformation won’t happen overnight. Solich brings in a history of winning which is something that has never been present at Ohio and that could mean a couple extra wins right there. He knows offense and that is what the biggest turnaround needs to be as the Bobcats were horrendous last season, finishing 105th in total offense and scoring no more than 19 points in each of their final six games.
The defense finished a very solid 22nd in total defense last year and Ohio returns seven starters to that unit which will be the strength once again. The problem is that Solich had a ton more talent in his tenure at Nebraska so trying to get the same job done here will be difficult until recruiting brings in some more athletes. The good news is that he is an Ohio native and should be able to keep some of the homegrown players in state down the road. It will be a tough start but this program can go nowhere but up at this point.
The schedule does them no favors although three of the four MAC road games can be won with Bowling Green being the exception. The problem is the first three games against Northwestern, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech cannot be won and while they might get them ready for conference play, blowout losses could kill any confidence. Don’t expect much this season.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Out - Les Miles
In - Mike Gundy
This is a program that is currently on top of things and while Miles was the leader in turning the Cowboys around, they will be just fine. Oklahoma St. stayed within the program for its new head coach and that was the right thing to do as Gundy has been here for over 10 years as an assistant. He spent the last four years as the offensive coordinator and while he is giving up those duties, the offense will bring in a new no huddle attack and could be even more explosive than its 17th ranked scoring offense from a season ago. Finding a new rushing attack is the biggest hurdle.
The defense is changing as well and that will hopefully help the unit that was 74th in total defense last season. They will be more aggressive in the 4-3 scheme and a new defensive coordinator coming from the NFL will make that happen. There is a completely new staff in place all around and that could lead to some early season struggles but the Cowboys should be coming together right around conference time which is never an easy task to handle. Oklahoma St. will need to find a go to tailback to keep the tough defenses in the Big XII honest.
The Cowboys won’t face a challenge until October and even then, this team should be 5-0 before a huge game at Texas A&M that starts a tough four game stretch including Texas and Oklahoma. The Big XII South is extremely difficult once again and while a winning record is probable, nothing much more should be expected.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Out - Walt Harris
In - Dave Wannstedt
Wannstedt couldn’t be walking into a better situation. He hasn’t been in the collegiate ranks in nearly two decades but he is a Pittsburgh graduate and he inherits a team that is loaded and will contend for the Big East title once again. Harris left on his own to take over a struggling Stanford program, but he left a lot behind so Pittsburgh will be just fine. The Panthers bring back 17 starters from their Fiesta Bowl team from last year and even though many feel they didn’t deserve to go to a BSC game, they will be out to prove it was no accident.
Pittsburgh was a very average 72nd in total offense and 73rd in total defense and while neither unit was dominant, both were able to step up when needed. Both will be improved this season with all of the talent coming back and Wannstedt is making sure that he is getting the most out of what he has. He will look for more balance on offense and more speed on defense but it will be his experience and teaching abilities that will give this team success once again. The conference is watered down this year with the loss of Miami and Boston College and the Panthers the best holdover that can bring home the championship.
Notre Dame and Nebraska are two of the first three games this season but both can be won and the Panthers should at least gain a split. Games at Louisville and at West Virginia at the end of the season will most likely determine who will be traveling to the BSC game this year. The Panthers have a great shot at going back.
San Jose State Spartans
Out - Fitz Hill
In - Dick Tomey
Tomey returns to head coaching after a stint with Texas as an assistant but this is going to be a tough task. He had successful campaigns at Hawaii and Arizona and will look for the same turnaround with the Spartans but it certainly isn’t going to happen overnight. The first and most important task is going to try and get fans excited about coming to the games since San Jose St. ranked dead last in attendance last season. A quick start is necessary for that to happen but it likely won’t be the case.
The Spartans need to improve a defense that ranked 117th in scoring, allowing a nation’s worst 42.6 ppg. The offense was able to score more than that amount three times but because the defense was so bad, two of those games ended up as losses. The offense should be ok once again but not good enough to outscore teams every time out. Tomey did wonders with defense at Arizona and also at Texas but this is a different challenge as the athletes simply aren’t there. The defense can’t get any worse but will once again we one of the worst in the WAC.
The schedule isn’t a killer but there is only one sure win on the slate, their opener against Eastern Washington. Games at Illinois and San Diego St. are there for the taking but could be too early in the slate for them to have a realistic shot. The Spartans get three teams coming over from the Sun Belt Conference which could help improve on their two wins from 2004.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Out - Lou Holtz
In - Steve Spurrier
This is the coaching change that got the most press in the offseason as one legend takes over for another as Holtz gives way to the ole ball coach making his return to the college ranks. It isn’t going to be easy for Spurrier as there isn’t the same amount of talent at South Carolina as what he had at Florida but it’s pretty much a guarantee that he is going to have this team ready to play every game. To go along with the less than talented team, there is also lack of experience on both sides of the ball including the ever important quarterback position.
Spurrier is known for making the offense click but his starting quarterback has a total of 22 career pass attempts so the offense will struggle early on but an experienced running game will definitely help. The defense was very solid last year with only the rushing defense finishing outside the top 30 in the country. The bigger problem with that is that the entire line needs to be replaced so growing pains are going to be felt. The pass rush needs to improve as there is no one returning who has more than one quarterback sack.
Playing in the SEC automatically means a tough schedule but the Gamecocks have a rough one pretty much out of the gate. Following the opener against Central Florida, a visit from Georgia and a trip to Alabama will test South Carolina right away. The only easy stretch is back to back home dates against Vandy and Kentucky. The much anticipated trip form the Gators takes place in late November.
Stanford Cardinal
Out - Buddy Teevens
In - Walt Harris
Teevens looked to have his job secure after a 4-2 start last season, losing to Notre Dame and USC by a combined 11 points, but a 0-5 finish including a 35-point loss to Cal quickly changed that. Harris is from the area and after turning Pittsburgh into a top team in the east, he will look to do the same out west. Stanford had flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball last year but there was no consistency and that is something Harris needs to work on with his new team. The offense brings back almost everyone including the whole offensive line and while the rushing game ranked 114th in the country last season, that might not be such a bad thing.
Stanford will incorporate the west coast offense and it is going to score points without much problem. Harris had a similar situation last year at Pittsburgh as the rushing game was non-existent but the Panthers still managed to score a lot of points and rattle off eight wins. Stanford is going to be almost a carbon copy of that team so if he can get consistency from his players, a successful season on offense is definitely possible. Defensively, it will be more of a challenge, especially with a brand new secondary but there is enough depth in the 3-4 for the Cardinal to be ok.
The schedule is doable but by no means is it easy. Five wins in the first seven games is possible but five losses can also happen as there are some swing games that can go either way. The last four games are brutal with trips to USC and Oregon St. followed by home games against Cal and Notre Dame so a successful first half is absolutely necessary for the entire season to be successful.
Syracuse Orange
Out - Paul Pasqualoni
In - Greg Robinson
This will be the first time in 14 years that a new coach will be roaming the sidelines for Syracuse and it really is a long time coming as the Orange were a stale team and in much need of a change. Robinson brings in experience at both the college and NFL levels although none of that experience has been as a head coach. He is coming off a successful stint in Texas and his defensive expertise needs to become an impact right away as the Orange defense finished last season 101st in total defense and 76th in scoring defense. Nine players return so it should be an improved unit because of experience alone.
The offense will have a brand new look this season as Robinson brings in a brand new offensive coordinator specializing in the west coast offense, something that will help keep defenses off balance. The running game is solid but the quarterback position is going to be a problem early on until the west coast offense is grasped better. The defense will need to carry this team at the start of the season until the offense comes together but it can’t take a long time as the front end of the schedule is not pretty looking.
The Orange start the season with a huge Big East game against West Virginia and following a game against Buffalo, they play ACC powers Florida St. and Virginia in back-to-back weeks. They close the season with games at Notre Dame and at Louisville and with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the middle, a five win season is most likely the best that Syracuse is going to accomplish in 2005.
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Out - John Robinson
In - Mike Sanford
Robinson retired but he didn’t leave the team in total shambles as he was able to bring good athletes to Las Vegas. The problem was that they weren’t able to win many games as the Rebels finished 2004 with only two wins. Although Robinson was well respected and a great teacher of the game, a change can only help things and Sanford could be the man to turn this team around in a hurry. There isn’t a whole lot returning on either side of the ball but with a new coaching staff on board, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as learning new systems could come easier.
The offense is Sanford’s specialty as he was the coordinator at Utah that saw plenty of points so there will no doubt be an improvement to the 95th ranked scoring offense of 2004. UNLV scored more than 24 points only three times and one of those was because of a triple overtime game. The Rebels will be able to score a lot more now but the problem will be keeping the opposition off the scoreboard. UNLV was 98th in scoring defense and there will have to be dramatic improvement which likely will not be the case.
The MWC is going to be improved this season and while the schedule isn’t completely impossible, it is tough starting out as the Rebels hit the road in four of their first five games. Coming out of there with three wins is possible but anything less than two will be a huge disappointment and not help the confidence. A bowl game is not out of the question.
Utah Utes
Out - Urban Meyer
In - Kyle Whittingham
Replacing Meyer, who took fame and fortune at the University of Florida, is not going to be easy but the Utes lost a lot of talent and not just a great head coach. Utah is not going to match what it did the last two seasons but even if Meyer was still there, he likely wouldn’t be able to match it either. Whittingham has been in the Utah program for the past 11 seasons so the transition will be a very smooth one. The offense is bound to take a step back so the defense is going to have to take some of the pressure off early on which it should as Whittingham served as defensive coordinator.
The Utes bring back five players on each side of the ball but they did lose a lot at the skill positions most notably at quarterback. Alex Smith wasn’t the only star on this team however and a lot of the underclassmen jumped ship after Meyer left. There is going to be a lot more parity in the conference this season so Utah could just as easily go .500 as it could go undefeated. The offense is still going to run mostly the same formations but an inexperienced quarterback is going to take some time to get in gear and the early part of the schedule is not full of cupcakes.
The Utes face an improved Arizona team in their opener and then tough trips to TCU and North Carolina close out the non-conference schedule. The good news about the MWC schedule is that they get Wyoming and New Mexico but the bad news is they travel to Colorado St. and BYU to end the season. A winning season is going to happen but how good remains to be seen.
Utah State Aggies
Out -Mick Dennehy
In - Brent Guy
Dennehy was a very well liked coach but he was not able to move the program in the direction it needed to go as eight straight losing seasons was enough for the administration to handle. A move to the WAC is going to hurt this team early on but eventually the Aggies will benefit from the stronger competition. Guy comes over from Arizona St. so he knows a thing or two about the quality of teams. He is also familiar with the program as he was there in the 90’s so this isn’t that much of a new experience as it would seem.
The Aggies ranked in the bottom six in the country in three of the four major offensive categories last season and there really isn’t going to be a huge improvement. They bring back only four players on offense, which could be a blessing in disguise, and Guy is a defensive coach so the going could be tough once again. The offensive line is thin and that is going to be the biggest issue. The defense wasn’t awful last season but it wasn’t great either. Playing in the offensively happy WAC is going to be a challenge for the stop unit but Guy improved the Sun Devils defense over each of the last four years and there is some good experience returning for Utah St.
The schedule is going to be more of a challenge than what the Aggies saw in the Sun Belt but three of the first four games can be won with Utah being the only exception. Conference play gets tough after that and a trip to Alabama isn’t going to help the morale very much. Five wins will be an exceptional season for Utah St.
Washington Huskies
Out - Keith Gilbertson
In - Tyrone Willingham
This program went from upper echelon to bottom feeder way too fast and it’s up to Willingham to turn it back around just as quick. Gilbertson had some great players when he was there but could not get the best out of them and that is something that Willingham excels at. He had a very successful campaign at Stanford before heading to a no win situation at Notre Dame. It was a no win situation because he won in his time there but it obviously wasn’t good enough for the standards set forth. Winning most likely won’t happen in his first year but stranger things have happened.
Washington is returning a total of 16 players on both sides of the ball and while that may not seem like great news from a team that went 1-10, it does bode well that the experience can only help. The offensive line is the backbone of the offense and for the unit to be successful, that is where it needs to start. A new quarterback will be taking over the offense so there is going to be some growing pains no matter how good the line may be. Defensively, the Huskies held their own at times but they need to improve. With nine players coming back, they will be better but just how much better is the question.
Washington gets a good schedule as the Huskies play their first four games at home and while all four won’t be wins, it can give them some early season confidence. They get Cal and USC at home but the Pac 10 is going be tough from top to bottom for there are no easy stops. Four wins will be a successful season for the Huskies.
Western Michigan Broncos
Out - Gary Darnell
In - Bill Cubit
Western Michigan went from one of the top teams in the MAC to one of the worst and it was the offense that took the biggest downhill turn. This was one of the most explosive offenses in the country five years ago and the man that led that unit on the sidelines is back as the head coach. Cubit is coming back to the Broncos after a stint with Stanford and he is ready to turn the dormant offense around right away. Western Michigan lost its last 10 games last year and the offense stumbled home by not scoring more than 21 points in any of its last four games. That is going to change as the offense is going to score a lot of points come MAC time.
The defense is a different story as the unit ranked 108th and worst in all four major defensive categories. They allowed less than 30 points only twice all season and one of those came against a 1-AA team. Improvement is obviously a must but whether or not it happens is a mystery. They will be starting 10 players who are either juniors or seniors so the experience is there it’s just a question of talent. It will be hard for the defense to digress but it might be even harder for them to improve enough to be competitive every game.
The Broncos get tested right out of the gate with an impossible trip to Virginia followed by a MAC battle at Toledo. They catch a breather after that with a relatively easy four game stretch that can conceivably produce three wins. There are six possible wins on the schedule in total but everything is going to have to go their way for it to happen.
This is Part 4 of a 20 Part College Football Preview Series from Matt Fargo. Check out future stories all summer long.
www.mattfargo.com