Speaking of the Southland

The Southland Conference is nearing the opening kickoff of the 2010 season.

As we make our way to the start of another year of SLC football, there has already been plenty of news emanating from two-a-days around the eight football-playing members of the league and 2011 newcomer Lamar.

Let's catch up!

[B]Updates From Around The League[/b]

[b]Central Arkansas[/b]

· Nathan Dick [url=http://ucasports.com/sport.asp?action=news&sportid=1&article=3826]shined[/url] in the first UCA scrimmage. The former Arkansas quarterback was 18 of 22 for 164 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. Head coach Clint Conque moved the 6-3 wide receiver Dominique Croom inside and he got nine receptions on the day. All-SLC kicker Eddie Carmona was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts while punting for 45 and 48 yards. This came after being cleared to return to practice from a knee injury that forced him out for two days.

[b]Lamar[/b]
· Andre Bevil looks as if he will be the top signal-caller for the Cards this fall. He was 14-of-26 for 184 yards and two touchdowns in Lamar's [url=http://www.lamarcardinals.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081410aae.html]first scrimmage[/url]. Bevil, who transferred in from Navarro College has reunited with his former target J.J. Hayes from JUCO as the pairing connected for a touchdown.

· Work continues to take place at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The athletic department fully anticipates moving in ahead of schedule for the Webber International contest on Sept. 11. Recent pictures show that the scoreboard has arrived and should be installed shortly. The artificial turf is also down.

[b]McNeese State[/b]
· Running back is not going to be a question if the backfield for McNeese are able to play up to the expections, as seen in this weekend's [url=http://www.mcneesesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=22000&ATCLID=204977569]scrimmage[/url]. Champlain Babin had 53 yards on five carries while Blair Broussard added 45 yards on five carries. The quarterback race has yielded no clear favorite based on scrimmage results as transfer Jacob Bower was 6-of-10 for for 77 yards. Two others completed 5 or 6 passes for at least 74 yards.

· Defensively, the Pokes are expected to be strong. During the scrimmage, five players combined for seven sacks led by a pair from Terrance Freeman and Brandon Zanders. There were also 12 tackles for losses as the McNeese defense played havoc in their offense's backfield. Matt Viator's team is picked to do well in the league and the defense has everything to do with it!

[b]Nicholls State[/b]

· The community-based efforts of head coach Charlie Stubbs [url=http://geauxcolonels.com/news/2010/8/14/FB_0814103807.aspx]are paying off[/url]. Stubbs has taken the message of his team to the community and had over 60 children attend a free clinic after a recent practice.


[b]Northwestern State[/b]

· Earlier this month, [url=http://www.nsudemons.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=93049&SPID=11371&DB_OEM_ID=20000&ATCLID=204973597]Chris Garrett transferred[/url] to Northwestern State. Garrett redshirted last year at the quarterback position at LSU. The most complicated quarterback competition may reside in Natchitoches where preseason All-SLC pick Paul Harris returns, as does one-time Louisville transfer Tyler Wolfe. Where Garrett fits into the equation is anyone's guess. Could we see the wildcat offense from the Demons in a manner of utilizing different strengths of each quarterback?

· With a top ranked recruiting class, one would hope that Bradley Dale Peveto was impressed with the newcomers. According to [url=http://www.nsudemons.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=20000&ATCLID=204976536]NSUDemons.com[/url], all indications are that he was. Offensive coordinator Todd Cooley had praise for several players, including quarterback Don Canyon out of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

[b]Sam Houston State[/b]

· The [url=http://www.newsok.com/former-midwest-city-star-timothy-flanders-transferring-from-kansas-state-to-sam-houston-state/article/3485114]Oklahoman[/url] reported on Aug. 13 that Kansas State running back Timothy Flanders would make the move down to Huntsville and play for Head Coach Willie Fritz's program. This is unconfirmed by the Bearkat athletic department, but worth noting that [url=http://rivals.yahoo.com/oklahoma/football/recruiting/player-Timothy-Flanders-68573]Rivals[/url] ranked him as the No. 31 athlete in his class and No. 9 in the state of Oklahoma.

· SHSU athletic director Bobby Williams [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=204974929]reports on his blog[/url] that the school as of Aug. 1 has sold 84 percent of their total ticket revenue from last season. Attendance was down in 2009, but the pre-season total reflects numbers that SHSU has not seen before. Williams also reports that SHSU leads Stephen F. Austin and Lonestar Sports and Entertainment (LSSE) in selling tickets to the Battle of the Piney Woods. Additionally, the feasibility study should be completed shortly. Stay tuned!

[b]Southeastern Louisiana[/b]

· Southeastern Louisiana has [url=http://lionsports.net/news/2010/8/14/FB_0814102623.aspx?path=football]taken to heart[/url] the team's dedication of the 2010 season to the children of the gulf. On Sunday, Aug. 15, the team attended church services in Buras, La. before holding an autograph session at the Buras Auditorium. The team then went to visit the oil-affected areas of Venice.

[b]Stephen F. Austin[/b]

· The most confusing headline on first glance in the SLC may go to SFA,where [url=http://sfajacks.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081410aaa.html]
Offense at a Minimum in Opening Scrimmage[/url]. That just does not sound right from a team that returns a very successful quarterback in Jeremy Moses, does it? Moses was limited to 4-for-9 passing and 117 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Most of the scrimmage was played by second and third-stringers. Backup quarterbacks Brady Attaway finished 8-for-17 for 117 yards while Texas Tech transfer Garrett Riley was 9-for-15 for 67 yards and a touchdown.

· Since we have not covered it, it is worth mentioning that both Moses and lineback Jabara Williams are in the mix for the top individual player awards in the nation. Moses is on the Walter Payton Award Watch List while Williams is under consideration for the Buck Buchanan Award. Though the watch lists for both awards are dominated by players on the east coast where there is a heavy concentration of FCS schools, it is a pleasant surprise and well-deserving honor for the two SLC players to get recognition.


[b]Texas State[/b]

· Head Coach Brad Wright is short another quarterback, according to Tyler Mayforth's [url=http://twitter.com/smdrtyler/statuses/21158817073]Twitter[/url]. Mayforth, the TXST beat writer for the San Marcos Daily Record reports that UTEP quarterback transfer Andy McCloud has left the program. Eric Soza left the team after the spring to join former offensive coordinator Travis Bush at UT-San Antonio.

Where does this leave the Bobcats? With a very young quarterback depth chart. Wright will have to choose whether or not to redshirt freshman Tyler Ardnt, but may have no choice but to make him available since the only other legitimate options is sophomore Tim Hawkins. Alvaro Garcia and Bryan Hill are on the roster, but are not likely candidates.

· TXST became the latest SLC school to launch a new web site, turning [url=http://www.txstatebobcats.com/]http://www.txstatebobcats.com/[/url] over to ICS Sidearm. Nicholls State previously joined ICS Sidearm and Central Arkansas is not far behind.