ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS
* Head coach: Gary Gaines
* Career record: 115-92-6
* Years at school: 3rd
* Record at school: 4-17
* Last conference title: 1977
* Last playoff appearance: 1977 (NAIA Division I champs)
* 2001 record: 3-8, 2-4 LSC South
* Returning lettermen: 37
* Offensive/defensive starters: 8/7
* Basic offense: Multiple
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: QB Colby Freeman, C Blake Lewis, T Britt Livley, RB Eric Polk, DE Brad Walton
* 2002 opener: Sept. 7, Central Arkansas, Abilene, 6 p.m.
* Outlook: Regarded by many as the team most likely to sneak up on the field. There may be an element of truth in that because the Wildcats will be banking on a host of unknowns - junior college transfers and redshirts. That is especially true on defense, which surrendered 434.2 yards and 37.2 points per game, the latter being the most ACU has allowed since beginning play in 1919. "We've got to develop a tougher attitude defensively," Gaines said. "We were just awful in the early part of the year. We got down on ourselves after the Central Arkansas game (65-16 loss) and lost a lot of our confidence. We played better toward the end of the year, but it was too little, too late." Walton (6-3, 235) figures largely into ACU's defensive scheme. Offensively, Freeman returns after missing the Wildcats' last five games with a broken ankle. Polk ran for 1,211 yards and 12 TDs and WR Roddy Alexander caught 13 passes before breaking a leg.
ANGELO STATE RAMS
* Head coach: Jerry Vandergriff
* Career record: 136-76-2
* Years at school: 21st (18th as head coach)
* Record at school: 136-76-2
* Last conference title: 2000 (South co-champs)
* Last playoff appearance: 1997
* 2001 record: 6-4, 5-2 LSC South
* Returning lettermen: None (ASU does not grant letters)
* Offensive/defensive starters: 4/4
* Basic offense: Multiple
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: DB Justin Carriger, OL Bubba Earle, OL Dane Ashley, RB Luis Padilla, DB Johnathan Palafox, TE Ryan Rechichar
* 2002 opener: Sept. 14, Tarleton State, San Angelo, 7 p.m.
* Outlook: The talent the Rams have is significant. Even more significant are the holes Vandergriff must fill before the Rams are the last among LSC teams to open the season. Palafox was second on the team in tackles (83) and was a first-team South and All-West Region selection, while Carriger was a South honorable mention pick. There are holes on the defensive front with DT Curry Dawson and DE Dane Krager off to professional pursuits. Offensively, Rechichar (first-team South), Padilla (450 yards, 1 TD) and WR Deorrick Henry (16-124) give the Rams a base. QB Sterlin Gilbert has graduated, and newcomer Kyle Hardin appears to have a slight edge on the position over a host of challengers that include last year's backup Chad Robertson, who attempted only one pass last season. Still, reputation means plenty, especially in the LSC. The Rams are tabbed to finish behind A&M-Kingsville in the race for the South title.
EASTERN NEW MEXICO GREYHOUNDS
* Head coach: Harold "Bud" Elliott
* Career record: 185-166-9
* Years at school: 9th
* Record at school: 48-36-2
* Last conference title: 2000 (South co-champs)
* Last playoff appearance: 1983 (NAIA)
* 2001 record: 6-4, 2-4 LSC South
* Returning lettermen: 39
* Offensive/defensive starters: 5/9
* Basic offense: Multiple
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: DE Billy Biggar, LB Jimmy Hamilton, G Jose Martinez, SS Adrian Quigley, WR Cale Sanders, FS Jonathan Solis
* 2002 opener: Sept. 7, Western New Mexico, Blackwater Draw, N.M., 7 p.m.
* Outlook: Key here could be the schedule. ENM plays host to two of the three preseason South favorites, Midwestern State and A&M-Kingsville at daunting Greyound Stadium, situated between Clovis and Portales in the midst of peanut fields. And if senior QB Heath Ridenour (51-105-4, 834, 7 TDs) continues improving, Sanders could find himself in the middle of a banner year. The first-team South pick caught 48 passes for 948 yards and 6 TDs. Martinez (6-2, 345) also earned first-team South honors. Solis led the team in tackles last year with 116. The Greyhounds got out of the box quickly last year, going 4-0 and outscoring their opponents, 200-81, but then stumbled around the turn. In six division games, ENM averaged only 19.7 points per game. Though they beat West Texas A&M to end the season, the only other feather came when the 'Hounds knocked off then-ranked A&M-Commerce, 28-20.
MIDWESTERN STATE INDIANS
* Head coach: Bill Maskill
* Career record: 13-8
* Years at school: 1st
* Record at school: 0-0
* Last conference title: 1994 (Texas Intercollegiate Athletics Association)
* Last playoff appearance: 1991 (NAIA Division II)
* 2001 record: 7-4, 4-1 in LSC North (1st)
* Returning lettermen: 27
* Offensive/defensive starters: 8/5
* Basic offense: Spread
* Basic defense: 8-man front
* Top returners: QB Phillip Boggs, WR Demarcus Calhoun, T Moses Cantu, QB Cedric Jackson, LB Esrom Martinez, RB Darrell White, CB Larry Wright
* 2002 opener: Aug. 31, Southern Arkansas, Wichita Falls, noon
* Outlook: The Indians boast experience at skill positions, starting with Boggs, who finished 11th in Division II in total offense (1,978 passing, 713 rushing), and Jackson, who threw 15 TD passes vs. 1 pick. White, the former A&M-Kingsville runner, had a big year for MSU, running for 935 yards and 13 TDs and also caught 33 passes for 329 yards. He was 17th in Division II scoring. Despite the return of Cantu, another A&M-Kingsville castoff, both lines are being rebuilt. Martinez hopes to last the entire season after missing the final seven-plus games with an injury. More key will be how the club responds to Maskill, hired in March from Southeast Missouri State to replace Linwood Ferguson.
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE LIONS
* Head coach: Eddie Brister
* Career record: 16-17
* Years at school: 4th
* Record at school: 16-17
* Last conference title: 1990
* Last playoff appearance: 1995
* 2001 record: 7-4, 3-3 LSC South
* Returning lettermen: 39
* Offensive/defensive starters: 8/6
* Basic offense: Pro set
* Basic defense: Multiple 4-3
* Top returners: T Eric Austin, FB Adrian Barnes, SS Jesse Brooks, TE Erron Matthews, LB John Paul Mulligan, PK Randy Weston
* 2002 opener: Sept. 5, SW Assemblies of God, Commerce, 6 p.m.
* Outlook: A solid cast of returnees and a recruiting class filled with speed and skill make the Lions an outside shot to disprove the preseason poll, which places them fourth in the South. Barnes (223 rushing yards, two-time first team South) and RB Joel Tudman (344, 3 TDs) could be a potent 1-2 punch out of the backfield. Tudman earned All-American honors on A&M-Commerce's 400 relay team and ran in the 100 and 200 preliminaries at nationals. They'll be needed to pick up the slack from the departed Demetrius Rector (1,167, 8 TDs). A first-team South pick, Mulligan led the team in tackles with 81 and tackles for loss (11 for minus-15 yards). Brooks, a two-time LSC pick, was third in tackles with 61 and had 3 INTs. A&M-Commerce has a capable receiving corp led by Cory Sims, but QB Justin Simons must cut down on the INTs (10 vs. 4 TD passes) to utilize the pass-catchers. Another plus in the Lions' favor: seven of their 11 games are in Commerce.
WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES
* Head coach: Ronnie Jones
* Career record: 6-4
* Years at school: 1st
* Record at school: 0-0
* Last conference title: 1986
* Last playoff appearance: 1967
* 2001 record: 2-9, 0-6 LSC South
* Returning lettermen: 31
* Offensive/defensive starters: 7/7
* Basic offense: Pro I
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: RB Dante Clay, WR Chris Guillen, QB Josh Knight, DB DeShawn Morgan, LB Adam St. Clair, LB Chaun Thompson
* 2002 opener: Sept. 7, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Canyon, 7 p.m.
* Outlook: The good news is the Buffaloes have 14 starters returning. The bad news is they lost their final eight games last season by a combined score of 294-154, and it cost Stan McGarvey his job. Enter Jones, who signed a whopping 48 freshmen, not all of whom will figure into WTA&M's plans. But it bodes for the future. Knight, who shared time with Rick Leach last year, threw for 1,813 yards, but that was negated by the TD-INT ratio (12-14). Clay ran for 859 yards and 3 scores, and Harlingen's Guillen had 488 receiving yards and 6 TDs. St. Clair (114 tackles) and Thompson (106 tackles, 17 for minus-70 yards) anchor a defense that allowed 30 or more points seven times last season.
LSC NORTH
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS
* Head coach: Gary Howard
* Career record: 157-99-6
* Years at school: 25 (22nd as head coach)
* Record at school: 157-99-6
* Last conference title: 1999 (North tri-champs)
* Last playoff appearance: 1999
* 2001 record: 3-8, 1-7 LSC North
* Returning lettermen: 42
* Offensive/defensive starters: 8/9
* Basic offense: One back
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: FB Nick Bobeck, SE Dee Dee Carter, DE Ryan Cooper, SS Jerremy Dale, DT Seth Strong, TE Brandon Whiteley
* 2002 opener: Sept. 5, Western Washington, Edmond, Okla., 7 p.m.
* Outlook: The Bronchos lost four games by a touchdown or less, all four in North competition that led to the 1-4 division record and almost led to Howard's departure. The 3-8 record also prevented them from posting the school's 11th straight season of a .500 record or better. "When you lose as many close games as we did last year it gets frustrating because you know how close you are," Howard said. "We were never out of a game from a competitive standpoint last year but we didn't do the things we needed to that would have won games." Last year's LSC North Receiver of the year as a junior, the All-American Carter is UCO's marquee attraction. He had 76 receptions for an LSC-record 1,469 and scored 8 TDs. Whiteley and TE-KR Brent Ingram also return. But the Bronchos have to replace RB Greg Riley and junior Erick Johnson has to step in for departed QB Brett Manning if UCO has hopes of duplicating its '01 offensive average of 433.5 yards per game.
EAST CENTRAL (OKLA.) STATE TIGERS
* Head coach: Dennis Darnell
* Career record: 34-50-1
* Years at school: 4th
* Record at school: 15-16
* Last conference title: 1993 (NAIA)
* Last playoff appearance: 1993 (NAIA national champs)
* 2001 record: 6-4, 3-2 LSC North
* Returning lettermen: 38
* Offensive/defensive starters: 6/9
* Basic offense: Pro I
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: TB Gerome Castleberry, C Nic Claborn, LB Vic Cummings, LB Kwame Ferguson, WR Lionel Wrenn
* 2002 opener: Aug. 29, at Southwest Missouri State, Springfield, Mo., 7 p.m.
* Outlook: ECU made a three-game improvement from the previous season thanks to the pitch-and-catch tandem of QB Luke Hackbarth and WR Chris Barnes, who helped the Tigers compile the third-best offense in the conference. They're both gone, now. It will up to North preseason MVP Castleberry, who led the LSC in per-game rushing yards (130.8), was a first-team North pick and team leader in TDs (15). Wrenn added 5 TDs and 397 receiving yards. Despite the number of defensive returnees, the Tigers need to improve on its per-game averages of scoring (26.1) and yards allowed (369.9).
NORTHEASTERN (OKLA.) STATE REDMEN
* Head coach: Tom Eckert
* Career record: 101-60-3
* Years at school: 16th
* Record at school: 101-60-3
* Last conference title: 2000
* Last playoff appearance: 2000
* 2001 record: 5-5, 3-2 LSC North
* Returning lettermen: 27
* Offensive/defensive starters: 5/7
* Basic offense: Pro I
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: SS Phillip Davis, TE Johnny Easttom, G Micah Lomas, DL Michael Matthew, QB Mitchell McKinnon
* 2002 opener: Aug. 29, at Bacone College, Muskogee, Okla., 7 p.m.
* Outlook: A disappointing finish after being picked first in last year's North poll, NSU missed a shot at tying Midwestern State for the title by stumbling against Southeastern Oklahoma at home. This time around, the Redmen must find replacements for key offensive weapons, including RBs Damian Everette, Adrien Daniels and Russell Hampton that made NSU the conference's top rushing club. Ex-junior college All-American McKinnon stepped in and wrested the starting role last year. Squadmen and transfers will have to step up for McKinnon to operate well. Easttom (6-5, 260) and Stockton Greene (6-3, 260) give NSU bulky bookends, and Lomas was the North's top OL a year ago. Davis (6-3, 205) could be in for a breakout junior year but is the lone returnee in the secondary. Matthew (6-0, 280) is a load to handle, and also was named the North's top defensive lineman in '01.
SOUTHEASTERN (OKLA.) STATE SAVAGES
* Head coach: Keith Baxter
* Career record: 3-7
* Years at school: 2nd
* Record at school: 3-7
* Last conference title: 1999 (North tri-champs)
* Last playoff appearance: 1988 (NAIA Division I)
* 2001 record: 3-7, 2-3 LSC North
* Returning lettermen: 39
* Offensive/defensive starters: 7/7
* Basic offense: Multiple one back
* Basic defense: Eagle
* Top returners: WR Romar Crenshaw, DB Dexter Daniels, QB Randy Johnson, G J.C. Kelley, OL Dru Murray, LB Bashiri Turner
* 2002 opener: Sept. 7. Ouachita Baptist, Durant, Okla., 7 p.m.
* Outlook: Not given much of a chance this year despite the return of the junior multi-threat Crenshaw, a second-team North pick who set a team mark for receiving yards (1,158) and added 200.1 all-purpose yards per game. Johnson, who threw for 1,689 yards, 11 TDs and 13 interceptions, returns as does the front seven on defense. Though the turnover ratio didn't help (32-17), the Savages have to do better than the 38.6 points per game they allowed a year ago.
SOUTHWESTERN (OKLA.) STATE BULLDOGS
* Head coach: Paul Sharp
* Career record: 80-81-1
* Years at school: 17th
* Record at school: 80-81-1
* Last conference title: 1996 (NAIA)
* Last playoff appearance: 1996 (NAIA national champs)
* 2001 record: 4-6, 2-3 LSC North
* Returning lettermen: n/a
* Offensive/defensive starters: 7/7
* Basic offense: Pro I
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: TE Chad Headrick, TB Jimmy Jenkins, DB Sean McCray, DL Anthony Piccirillo, CB Courtney Williams, LB Shane Winchester
* 2002 opener: Sept. 7, at West Texas A&M, Canyon, 7 p.m.
* Outlook: Save for the 49 points scored against NAIA Bacone and the 37 vs. Central Oklahoma, scoring was a problem for the Bulldogs a year ago. Four times they were held to single digits and that produced a skinny 18.4 scoring average (15.8 in North games). Sophomore Jenkins (841 yards, 6 TDs) is the top stat guy and was the North's top newcomer a year ago, and QB Reade Box (24-58-1, 480, 1 TD) had limited playing time. Williams (81 tackles) was a second-team North pick and Winchester led the team in tackles with 81. Piccirillo (6-4, 276) had 21/2 sacks and 13 stops for minus-29 yards.
TARLETON STATE TEXANS
* Head coach: Todd Whitten
* Career record: 21-13
* Years at school: 4th
* Record at school: 21-13
* Last conference title: 2001 (South, overall co-champs)
* Last playoff appearance: 2001
* 2001 record: 10-3, 5-1 LSC North
* Returning lettermen: 41
* Offensive/defensive starters: 5/8
* Basic offense: Multiple
* Basic defense: 4-3
* Top returners: DT Jimmy Barnett, PK J.W. Boren, WR Damien Jackson, TE Kyle Masters, T Ben Needham, SS Brandon Young
* 2002 opener: Aug. 29, SW Assemblies of God, Stephenville, 7 p.m.
* Outlook: In a year when the LSC shuffles a team each from the North and South, the opportune and stout Texans benefit from moving into a weaker North. They're ranked in two preseason publications (5th in Lindy's, 8th in Street & Smith's) and return a healthy number of players from the squad that reached the West Region final before losing to California Davis. "I'd say there's a really good chance that this team will be more talented than last year's team," Whitten said. "The key is going to be whether or not we can get the good leadership like we had last year. If we can have all the intangibles some together like last year, then we'll have a chance to be pretty tough." The glaring spot is at QB, where Steve Kelly has departed after setting nearly every TSU passing record. Ex-Mathis standout Chase Sugarek (10-15-0, 118 yards, 2 TDs) is the leading candidate. Elsewhere, the Texans are solid. RBs D.T. Hopkins, Olan Coleman and Chavis McCollister (combined 1,151 yards) comprise a solid stable, although McCollister's summer ankle injury could delay his development. Jackson caught 10 TD passes and had 758 receiving yards, WR Brian Lucas added 409 yards and 6 TDs and Masters hauled in 2 TD passes and had 390 receiving yards. Only three holes need to be filled on defense, and the return of Boren, P Chris Evatt and KR Coleman give the Texans a solid special-teams base.
