C-USA Title Could Be In Cards for Louisville
August 20, 2001 | Football
Aug. 15, 2001
By CHRIS DUNCAN
Associated Press Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Louisville coach John L. Smith likes his team's swagger.
"The self-image of this football team is much greater than it has been, which is good," Smith said. "You've got to think you're good, or you're not going to be good."
The Cardinals have plenty of reasons to feel confident this season.
Sixteen starters return, including Conference USA offensive player of the year Dave Ragone. The left-handed junior quarterback gained 25 pounds of mostly muscle during the offseason.
"I'll be a little more durable, I'll be able to take a few more hits and I'll just go out there and be confident," Ragone, who threw for 2,621 yards and 27 touchdowns, said.
He'll have two of his favorite targets back. Receiver Deion Branch led the team with 71 catches for 1,016 yards and tight end Ronnie Ghent added 27 receptions for a team-best 14.5 yards per catch.
The Cardinals averaged more than 30 points per game for the third straight season under Smith. But unlike previous years, Louisville's defense kept pace with the offense, leading the nation with 27 interceptions and setting a school record with 55 sacks.
Six defensive starters return, including safety Anthony Floyd, who had a league record 10 interceptions. Also back is end Michael Josiah, who had a league-high 13 sacks.
"We've finally gotten to where we wanted to be three years ago," Smith said. "Now, everybody out there is shooting at us. So everything we do, we have to do it harder than we have in the past, or we're not going to stay on top."
Southern Mississippi was the league's perennial team to beat before Louisville's stunning 49-28 win in Hattiesburg last November. The Golden Eagles had won two of the previous three C-USA titles and 14 straight conference games before the upset.
Sixteen starters return for Southern Miss, including quarterback Jeff Kelly, leading rusher Dawayne Woods and safety Chad Williams.
Southern Miss has only four starters back from a defense that led C-USA in yards and points allowed. The Eagles will also be without running back Derrick Nix, a 1,000-yard rusher his first two seasons, who will sit out this season to recover from a kidney ailment.
East Carolina and newcomer TCU are also expected to challenge Louisville for the league title, which carries with it a Liberty Bowl berth.
Quarterback David Garrard, East Carolina's all-time leader in total offense, and linebacker Pernell Griffin are among 15 returning starters for the Pirates, who went 8-4 in 2000.
The biggest challenge facing first-year TCU coach Gary Patterson - outside of the season opener at Nebraska - is replacing LaDainian Tomlinson, who rushed for 2,158 yards and 22 TDs in 2000.
"Our answer will be by committee," said Patterson, who took over after Dennis Franchione accepted the Alabama job. "We've got two young tailbacks in Ricky Madison and Corey Conley. Both are faster and stronger than what LT was at this stage."
UAB plays at Florida State on Sept. 8, but dodges East Carolina and Louisville on its schedule. The Blazers have 10 defensive starters back on a unit that finished sixth in the nation against the run.
Cincinnati finished the regular season with four straight wins, before losing to Marshall in the Motor City Bowl. The Bearcats have 13 starters back, including kicker Jonathan Ruffin, who led the nation with 26 field goals in 2000.
Memphis ended the year with five straight losses, leading to the firing of coach Rip Scherer. Former Clemson coach Tommy West moves from defensive coordinator to coach in 2001.
Tulane quarterback Patrick Ramsey led the league in total offense last year. The Green Wave finished 2000 with three straight wins, but have only five starters back for an offense that averaged 30 points per game.
Houston lost five of its last six games in 2000. The Cougars averaged a league-worst 73.7 rush yards per game.
Army has won just four C-USA games since joining up in 1998.
A new TV deal between Conference USA and ESPN includes games on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Louisville plays Southern Miss on Oct. 16 in the first of two C-USA Tuesday games. East Carolina is at TCU in the other, on Oct. 30.
Louisville has three Thursday games on its schedule, Southern Miss finishes its season with two Friday conference games and East Carolina has one league game each on a Tuesday, a Thursday and a Friday.
