(07-18-2011 08:12 AM)MG61 Wrote:  FIU picked to lead the conference in 2011

The Preseason Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll is selected by the head coach of each institution. First place votes in parenthesis.

Team; Points
1. FIU; 75 (5)
2. Troy; 66 (2)
T-3. Middle Tennessee; 54
T-3. Louisiana-Monroe; 54
5. Arkansas State; 49 (1)
6. North Texas; 33
7. WKU; 28 (1)
8. Louisiana-Lafayette; 26
9. Florida Atlantic; 20

I would be willing to bet that ULM, WKU, FAU and UNT will have worse overall records than the Cajuns. The Cajuns will finish no worse than 5th in the conference.

Nationally, ULM was 96th in rushing yards, 101st in point scored, and 97th in points given up.

They beat SE LA by one point, but beat Troy. They seemed to have gotten better as the year progressed, but I'm not sure why they are so hyped.

(07-19-2011 01:27 AM)westcoastwolf Wrote:  Nationally, ULM was 96th in rushing yards, 101st in point scored, and 97th in points given up.

They beat SE LA by one point, but beat Troy. They seemed to have gotten better as the year progressed, but I'm not sure why they are so hyped.

ULM has a large number of athletes returning in their depth chart and they beat Troy, so I understand the enthusiasm. But their out of conference schedule is front loaded with BCS schools, they are going to get pounded in three games. At best, they will be 1-3 starting off the season. And while they have some talent, I'm not buying there is a large amount of it from what I've seen over that past two years. They will have to pick themselves off the canvas and find some confidence after starting the season 1-3.

(07-19-2011 01:03 AM)Geaux Cajuns Wrote:  

(07-18-2011 08:12 AM)MG61 Wrote:  FIU picked to lead the conference in 2011

The Preseason Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll is selected by the head coach of each institution. First place votes in parenthesis.

Team; Points
1. FIU; 75 (5)
2. Troy; 66 (2)
T-3. Middle Tennessee; 54
T-3. Louisiana-Monroe; 54
5. Arkansas State; 49 (1)
6. North Texas; 33
7. WKU; 28 (1)
8. Louisiana-Lafayette; 26
9. Florida Atlantic; 20

I would be willing to bet that ULM, WKU, FAU and UNT will have worse overall records than the Cajuns. The Cajuns will finish no worse than 5th in the conference.

Its important for the Cajuns to start the season 2-2, if that doesn't happen it will tough for us to have a winning season. Kent State is the key game in our out of conference schedule, it's a must win in my book.

(07-18-2011 11:41 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(07-18-2011 11:18 PM)CajunT Wrote:  

(07-18-2011 10:42 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  I guess Taggert doesn't prescribe to the philosophy of earning it on the field. With the exception of FAU and ULL, I think every team in the Belt will be improved over last season. WKU could finish ahead of those two, but I just can't see the justification of awarding his WKU team a first place vote. It is a slap in the face to about half of the teams in the Belt, especially considering WKU has never beaten most of these schools. If WKU does not finish the season near the top of the Belt, I think it destroys any credibility this poll might have had. At least ASU has some on the field success and a really solid offense to justify their first place vote.

I don't see that in Taggert's actions. If you are going to sell your team that your goal is to win the SBC, then why would you not show confidence in the athletes you have recruited and vote for your own team?

Secondly, here is the million dollar question. If UL went 3-9 last season with a number of athletes that were lost to injury like North Texas, a poor coaching staff and a tougher schedule, why would they not be at least 1 or 2 games better with a better staff and healthy talent?

I hope your team believes it as well and I hope you can be found on this board after UNT comes to Cajun Field. There has been a lot of over hype from the fan base of UNT and ULM, both come to Cajun Field. And while both will be improved, neither have the talent of Troy and FIU in their program. There will be very little seperation in talent after the top three programs in the SBC. Certainly not enough for either program to be considered prohibitive favorites on the road against a team you lost to last season.

6th place is fair for UNT. We haven't earned a higher ranking, considering the talent at the top of the league. I give NT the edge over you because I think we have a better coaching staff, and Dunbar. Win or lose, I'll be here.

Yes, you have Dunbar. And after him, your staff has to prove it can find other athletes to make plays. As for your staff, we will see how much better they are then ASU and UL's new staffs. Saying that you will finish 6th in the conference and beating a team on the road with similar talent is quit a stretch in my book.

(07-18-2011 11:18 PM)CajunT Wrote:  Secondly, here is the million dollar question. If UL went 3-9 last season with a number of athletes that were lost to injury like North Texas, a poor coaching staff and a tougher schedule, why would they not be at least 1 or 2 games better with a better staff and healthy talent?

He isn't the only one you need to be asking this question too considering where the Cajuns have been picked in pretty much every pre-season poll including our own coaches poll.

(07-19-2011 09:23 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(07-18-2011 11:18 PM)CajunT Wrote:  Secondly, here is the million dollar question. If UL went 3-9 last season with a number of athletes that were lost to injury like North Texas, a poor coaching staff and a tougher schedule, why would they not be at least 1 or 2 games better with a better staff and healthy talent?

He isn't the only one you need to be asking this question too considering where the Cajuns have been picked in pretty much every pre-season poll including our own coaches poll.

Two things have been pretty consistent in all the polls and publications, number of returning starters. While this is important, the way your schedule is laid out is also vital and what you have returning at key positions. I do not expect UL to compete at the top of the SBC and it would be a stretch to predict a winning season. But it certainly is not a stretch to say that we are capable of winning 5 or 6 games. When you factor in the number of athletes that missed games with injuries last season. two winnable games in our OC Schedule (Nichols State and Kent State), a senior QB that threw for over 1,700 yards and a defense lead with seven senior starters, its certainly within reason. And there is very little difference in the talent level in this conference after the top three programs and these coaches know it.

(07-19-2011 09:53 AM)CajunT Wrote:  

(07-19-2011 09:23 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(07-18-2011 11:18 PM)CajunT Wrote:  Secondly, here is the million dollar question. If UL went 3-9 last season with a number of athletes that were lost to injury like North Texas, a poor coaching staff and a tougher schedule, why would they not be at least 1 or 2 games better with a better staff and healthy talent?

He isn't the only one you need to be asking this question too considering where the Cajuns have been picked in pretty much every pre-season poll including our own coaches poll.

Two things have been pretty consistent in all the polls and publications, number of returning starters. While this is important, the way your schedule is laid out is also vital and what you have returning at key positions. I do not expect UL to compete at the top of the SBC and it would be a stretch to predict a winning season. But it certainly is not a stretch to say that we are capable of winning 5 or 6 games. When you factor in the number of athletes that missed games with injuries last season. two winnable games in our OC Schedule (Nichols State and Kent State), a senior QB that threw for over 1,700 yards and a defense lead with seven senior starters, its certainly within reason. And there is very little difference in the talent level in this conference after the top three programs and these coaches know it.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying your reply seemed a tad indignant, especially when pretty much everyone outside of Lafayette is picking the Cajuns in the bottom 3 in the conference.

I don't care much for preseason coaches polls. I can completely see why a guy might vote his team first every time. Honestly, if you don't think your team can win it then why would they believe it? Also, coaches ten to vote for their buddies if they don't vote for themselves. Heck, some even vote themselves down to lower expectations.

To many agendas among people with and enormous stake in the outcome to take a coaches' poll too seriously.

(07-19-2011 09:57 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(07-19-2011 09:53 AM)CajunT Wrote:  

(07-19-2011 09:23 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(07-18-2011 11:18 PM)CajunT Wrote:  Secondly, here is the million dollar question. If UL went 3-9 last season with a number of athletes that were lost to injury like North Texas, a poor coaching staff and a tougher schedule, why would they not be at least 1 or 2 games better with a better staff and healthy talent?

He isn't the only one you need to be asking this question too considering where the Cajuns have been picked in pretty much every pre-season poll including our own coaches poll.

Two things have been pretty consistent in all the polls and publications, number of returning starters. While this is important, the way your schedule is laid out is also vital and what you have returning at key positions. I do not expect UL to compete at the top of the SBC and it would be a stretch to predict a winning season. But it certainly is not a stretch to say that we are capable of winning 5 or 6 games. When you factor in the number of athletes that missed games with injuries last season. two winnable games in our OC Schedule (Nichols State and Kent State), a senior QB that threw for over 1,700 yards and a defense lead with seven senior starters, its certainly within reason. And there is very little difference in the talent level in this conference after the top three programs and these coaches know it.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying your reply seemed a tad indignant, especially when pretty much everyone outside of Lafayette is picking the Cajuns in the bottom 3 in the conference.

I understand that and that is why I stated the one consistent theme in not picking the Cajuns to finish well is the number of returning starters. But as I explained, that number is a bit blured by the fact that we have a number of athletes returning that started games because of injuries. So we do indeed have a number of athletes that have started games, just not the whole season.

I think Taggart is right in his vote - if the coaches don't think we can win the Belt, then why try to convince the players to think the same way. It can be seen as arrogance (as I am sure most of you will) but I like to think that our HC believes in his team, his coaches and his gameplan enough to think we can win if things work out.

(07-19-2011 11:37 AM)WKULooseCannon90 Wrote:  I think Taggart is right in his vote - if the coaches don't think we can win the Belt, then why try to convince the players to think the same way. It can be seen as arrogance (as I am sure most of you will) but I like to think that our HC believes in his team, his coaches and his gameplan enough to think we can win if things work out.

Exactly right. This is going to be a fun season.