Speaking of the Southland

Nicholls State [url=http://geauxcolonels.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022310aaa.html]announced their 2010 schedule[/url] this morning.

The schedules does no favors for the Colonels, who will either have to win a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) game or two OR win the league's automatic bid in order to continue their season past a Nov. 18 date against Southeastern La.

Nicholls begins play by taking on FBS opponents San Diego State and Western Michigan, before staying close to home with the short trek to Mobile, Ala. to face South Alabama. The problem in playing the Jaguars is the game does not count as a Division I game for purposes of reaching the seven Division I wins that it will most likely take to earn an at-large bid. USA is going about the 2010 campaign as an [url=http://www.usajaguars.com/pdf4/392237.pdf?ATCLID=3699528&SPSID=99695&SPID=12275&DB_OEM_ID=8300]'unclassified' program'[/url] as they build up their program. The 2011 season will be the first when they count as a Division I opponent.

The fourth out of conference opponent comes in the form of a home game against Bacone College, an NAIA school.

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Texas State will [url=http://www.txstatebobcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022210aaa.html]begin their spring practice[/url] schedule on Feb. 22. The 2010 season will present different challenges for a Bobcats' program that finished the 2009 campaign ranked No. 25 in the Sports Network Poll.

The biggest challenge will come on the offensive side of the ball, where Brad Wright will have to replace Bradley George. Other key offensive players lost include Mishak Rivas and Alvin Canady. Though the offense will regain the services of running back Karrington Bush, questions do linger regarding his ability to return to the form that made him one of the more dynamic players in the Southland Conference.

The team will wrap up spring ball on Mar. 26, but not before playing the Maroon-Gold Spring Game on Mar. 20.

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It is being [url=http://www.neworleans.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=333916&Itemid=578]reported in New Orleans[/url] that Southeastern Louisiana has lost offensive coordinator Tommy Condell to Cornell to fill a similar role. Condell came to SLU after serving as an assistant at ULM and in the Canadian Football League, but what helped point the coordinator to Cornell was that he grew up in Utica, New York.

Cornell recently [url=http://cornellbigred.com/news/2010/1/27/FB_0127104308.aspx]hired Kent Austin[/url], who spent two years as an offensive coordinator at Ole Miss, in addition to time in the CFL as their head coach.

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The [url=http://itemonline.com/local/x1004924557/Chamber-Meets-New-Coach]Huntsville Item[/url], while covering Sam Houston State head coach's Willie Fritz's appearance at the local Chamber of Commerce meeting found out that the Bearkat staff will grow by two next week.

The current staff includes defensive coordinator Scott Stoker, safeties coach Ben Beasley, running backs Anthony Johnson, assistant head coach Jeff Conway and offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse.