2011-2012 Football Previews – Conference USA – University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers
Did UAB has had three straight losing seasons, but this is definitely a team that appears to be headed in the right direction.
Did UAB has had three straight losing seasons, but this is definitely a team that appears to be headed in the right direction.
Did you know that the Southern Miss Golden Eagles have strung together 17 consecutive winning seasons?
It has always been a challenge for the Bulldogs to rise beyond mediocrity in the killer SEC West division, but, now in his third season, head coach Dan Mullen is doing an excellent job making this program relevant.
New head coach Will Muschamp evidently got tired of being the eternal coach-in-waiting at Texas, and snapped up a plum gig as the head man in Gainesville.
The Rice Owls appeared to be breaking out after winning ten games in 2008, but the last two seasons have seen the Owls revert to their losing ways.
The UTEP Miners made it to a bowl game for the first time since 2006, so it would be easy to say that the program is moving in the right direction.
The Beavers deserved a better record, but Mike Riley’s aggressive scheduling cost Oregon State a legitimate shot at a decent conference finish, and likely kept them out of a bowl game, finishing 5-7 overall in 2010.
Steve Spurrier – “The Ole Ball Coach” – finally moved his Gamecocks forward in 2010, where they snagged nine wins and represented the SEC East in the title game.
After the conference shuffling in the Mountain West this past year, Brigham Young finds itself aligned with no one in a brave new world in 2011.
After a monster 2010 season, the Oregon Ducks snatched their second straight PAC-10 Championship by going undefeated, but fell just shy of grabbing a National Title after they were beat out by the Auburn Tigers.
For years, the SEC rolled out clusters of powerhouse programs in both divisions.
The floor-crossing Bobby Petrino may not be the most popular guy in the room, but he’s well-liked enough amongst Hogs fans: he’s led Arkansas back to national relevance.
Tide head coach Saban is as close to the top of his game as you can get in such a cutthroat business.
The Tigers are another perennial SEC powerhouse that milks every drop of their in-state football talent.
The Colorado Buffaloes have struggled to compete in the Big-12 for the past five years, and have not having had a winning season since going 7-6 in 2006. Now they will get ready for their first season in the PAC-12 after a dismal 2-6 conference finish in 2010.
After posting a 10-win season in 2006, the California Golden Bears have gone just 29-22 since, finishing the 2010 season 5-7 overall, and just 3-6 in conference play.