Welcome to Conference USA
By McNabbaholic, COMISSIONER
I would like to take this time to welcome each and all of you to the best online NCAA experience around. Our staff is working hard to provide the best players, organization, and level of enjoyment& competiton. While our conference may not be taken serious by many of the bigger schools, you all have an opportunity to change that. Make them pay for overlooking you or looking ahead to that next " big game". I will do my best to answer any questions you may have throughout the season, as well as settle any and all disputes. All of you know what is expected of you, so play good, str8, clean football and play so you and your opponent can enjoy the league. Do your best but be respectful of your opponents. Now let's get out on the field and DOMINATE!!!!

Conference USA Seeks Respect
By McNabbaholic, SPORTS WRITTER
Conference USA Seeks Respect

While no Conference USA team is ranked in the preseason polls, we have 11 owners looking to change that.

On paper, the best team appears to be Southern Mississippi. Several All-American candidates roam the field for a defensive unit that should be top-notch. If the offense can hold its own, De134’s Golden Eagles should be tough.

Texas Christian has emerged as a perennial winner over the past decade and also should challenge for the title with Special K at the sticks. A high-powered offense should put up plenty of points and the Horned Frogs also boast the league's best defensive line. They are hoping it’s enough to land them in DaONE championship tourney.

Cincinnati, Louisville and Memphis are all capable of big years if they put the pieces together. Coach Bazan will bring toughness to Memphis and should keep the Tigers in the top half of the conference. Trigger leads a Louisville team that lost some stars to the NFL, but the running game and receivers are still solid. The Cardinals need to settle on a quarterback and find a way to replace the pass rush they lost when D'Wayne White turned pro. Cincinnati quarterback Gino Guidugli will try to lead Eaglesphan’s Bearcats to a top spot in the conference.

The most intriguing team in the conference could be Army. Yes, that’s right, Army. The Cadets were 1-11 last year, but will not be the whipping boys this year. Coach DNA brings a powerful running game with him and an improved defense has many thinking about a Cinderella run to the tourney.

Rounding out the conference is Eastern Carolina (#NY Jets Fan), Houston (NFLMan2033), South Florida (BucsFan99), UAB (Maximasrex) and Tulane (Buddha Brutha). Each of these teams is capable of going 0-11 or 11-0. A lot will depend on coaching and who gets the breaks. South Florida appears to be the best of this group. Quarterback Ronnie Banks will either help this team soar high or fall flat on its face.

C-USA appears to be a very well-balanced conference with no clear-cut favorite. Each game should be meaningful and have tourney implications. Who will seperate themselves from the pack? The goal is to sneak four or five teams into DaONE tourney and earn the respect this conference deserves.

Return of Rod Davis Makes Southern Miss Scary
By ATLPLAYBOY23, SPORTS WRITTER

Rod Davis, MLB: Southern Miss

With one of the best players in college football playing for Southern Miss, it’s no surprise the Golden Eagles are favored to win Conference USA and head to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl.
Southern Miss has one of college football’s best in middle linebacker Rod Davis. Davis had 168 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for losses last season and will only be better in 2003 after forgoing the draft to return for his senior season. Considering that he could start on most NFL teams, quarterbacks should be on the lookout for No. 24.

According to collegefootballnews.com, Southern Miss has the third-rated defense in all of college football. “The Southern Miss defense gave up 18.3 points and 336 yards per game. With all of the stars returning, there's no reason to think the Eagles won't be just as good, if not better, this year.’’ With four defensive Conference USA preseason first-teamers, this team is loaded on defense. The only concern is the offense, which lost superstar RB Derrick Nix. If the offense can come together under new offensive coordinator Rip Scherer, look out Conference USA.

Even though Coach Del (Del34) couldn’t snag the Maryland job, he was more than happy to take Southern Miss. “I was very happy to reel in a school like Southern Miss,” Del said. If Southern Miss can get past Alabama and Nebraska, the Golden Eagles might be a sleeper BCS pick. Coach Del says he is looking forward to playing Nebraska, so look out Big Red.

The only team I feel could give Southern Miss a run for the Conference USA title is Texas Christian. The Horned Frogs’ running game should be great, behind sophomore Lonta Hobbs and senior Ricky Madison. Hobbs rushed for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Madison rushed for 719 yards and three touchdowns.

If the defense can be nearly as good as last year’s dominating bunch, TCU can really give Southern Miss a scare. This will be hard with the loss of star linebacker LaMarcus McDonald. With defensive end Bo Schobel and defensive tackle Chad Pugh, there is no reason why this defense can’t play to the level it did last year.

The big showdown between Southern Miss and TCU will come Nov. 20. Circle that date on your calendar, C-USA fans, as conference champion will be crowned that day.