2011 Sun Belt Conference football season explained

2011 Sun Belt Conference football season
Color:
  1. FCA120
League:NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision)
Sport:football
Pixels:150px
Duration:September 1, 2011–January 8, 2012
No Of Teams:9
Tv:ESPN
Draft:2012 NFL Draft
Draft Link:2012 NFL Draft
Top Pick:LB Demario Davis, Arkansas State
Picked By:New York Jets, 77th overall
Season:Regular season
Season Champs:Arkansas State
Second Place:Western Kentucky
Seasonslistnames:Football
Prevseason Year:2010
Nextseason Year:2012

The 2011 Sun Belt Conference football season was the 11th season of college football play for the Sun Belt Conference. The season began September 1, 2011 and concluded January 8, 2012 as part of the 2011-12 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 2011 season consisted of nine members: Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana–Lafayette, Louisiana–Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, North Texas, Troy and Western Kentucky.

The 2011 season was last with nine members as South Alabama became the conference's tenth member for the 2012 season.

Preseason

Award watch lists

The following Sun Belt players were named to preseason award watch lists.Maxwell Award

[1]

Chuck Bednarik Award

[2]

John Mackey Award

[3]

Fred Biletnikoff Award

[4]

Bronko Nagurski Trophy

[5]

Outland Trophy

[6]

Lombardi Award

[7]

Rimington Trophy

[8]

Davey O'Brien Award

[9]

Doak Walker Award

[10]

Walter Camp Award

[11]

Lou Groza Award

[12]

Sun Belt media days

During the Sun Belt media days on July 18–19 via videoconferencing, Florida International was selected as the favorite to win the conference in the coaches poll.[13] They five first place votes. Troy received two first place votes while Arkansas State and Western Kentucky each received one.

Coaches Poll

  1. Florida International – 75 (5)
  2. Troy – 66 (2)
  3. Middle Tennessee – 54
  4. Louisiana–Monroe – 22
  5. Arkansas State – 49 (1)
  6. North Texas – 33
  7. Western Kentucky – 28 (1)
  8. Louisiana–Lafayette – 26
  9. Florida Atlantic – 20

Preseason All–Conference Team

The conference's head coaches selected their all–conference team during media days.[14]

Offense

QB Corey Robinson–Troy

RB Lance Dunbar–North Texas

RB Bobby Rainey–Western Kentucky

WR Dwayne Frampton–Arkansas State

WR T. Y. Hilton–FIU

WR Luther Ambrose–ULM

TE Ladarius Green–ULL

OL Tom Castilaw–Arkansas State

OL Caylin Hauptmann–FIU

OL Ryan McCaul–ULM

OL Matt Tomlinson–North Texas

OL James Brown–Troy

OL Wes Jeffries–Western Kentucky

Defense

DL Dorvus Woods–Arkansas State

DL Tourek Williams–FIU

DL Ken Dorsey–ULM

DL Jonathan Massaquoi–Troy

LB Demario Davis–Arkansas State

LB Winston Fraser–FIU

LB Xavier Lamb–Troy

DB Kelcie McCray–Arkansas State

DB Jonathan Cyprien–FIU

DB Marcus Bartels–FAU

DB Darius Prelow–ULM

Specialists

PK Alan Gendreau–Middle Tennessee

P Mickey Groody–FAU

KR T.Y. Hilton–FIU

The coaches also selected conference players of the year. T.Y. Hilton of Florida International and Lance Dunbar of North Texas were selected as the preseason co-offensive players of the year and Jonathan Massaquoi of Troy was named the preseason defensive player of the year.

Coaches

NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season

TeamHead coachYears at schoolOverall recordRecord at schoolSun Belt record
Arkansas StateHugh Freeze10–00–00–0
Florida AtlanticHoward Schnellenberger11157–140–357–6322–13
Florida InternationalMario Cristobal516–3316–3313–17
Louisiana–LafayetteMark Hudspeth166–210–00–0
Louisiana–MonroeTodd Berry234–675–734–67
Middle TennesseeRick Stockstill633–3033–3025–12
North TexasDan McCarney158–850–00–0
TroyLarry Blakeney23161–82–1161–82–140–12
Western KentuckyWillie Taggart22–102–102–6

Sun Belt vs. BCS matchups

Date Visitor Home Notes
September 1^Kentucky 14Western Kentucky 3Played at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee
September 3Arkansas State 15Illinois 33
September 3Florida Atlantic 3
  1. 23 Florida 41
September 3Louisiana–Lafayette 34
  1. 8 Oklahoma State 61
September 3Louisiana–Monroe 0
  1. 5 Florida State 34
September 3Middle Tennessee 24Purdue 27
September 3Troy 19Clemson 43
September 9Florida International 24Louisville 17FIU's first ever win against a BCS team
September 10Florida Atlantic 0Michigan State 44
September 10Georgia Tech 49Middle Tennessee 21
September 17Arkansas State 7
  1. 12 Virginia Tech 26
September 17North Texas 0
  1. 2 Alabama 41
September 17Troy 28
  1. 13 Arkansas 38
September 24Florida Atlantic 14Auburn 30
September 24Louisiana–Monroe 17Iowa 45
September 24Indiana 21North Texas 24
October 1Duke 31Florida International 27
November 5Middle Tennessee 0Tennessee 24
November 12Western Kentucky 9LSU 42
November 26Louisiana–Lafayette 37Arizona 45
^Denotes neutral site game

Regular season

Index to colors and formatting
Sun Belt member won
Sun Belt member lost
Sun Belt teams in bold

All dates, times, and TV are tentative and subject to change.

The Sun Belt has teams in 2 different time zones. Times reflect start time in respective time zone of each team (all teams central time except for Florida Atlantic and Florida International which are in eastern time). Conference games start times are that of the home team.

Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS poll will be used.

Week One

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
September 1 7:00 PM North Texas Florida International FIU 41–16 17,568
September 1 ^ 8:15 PM Western Kentucky L 3–14 24,599
September 3 11:00 AM Middle Tennessee L 24–27 42,110
September 3 2:30 PM Arkansas State BTN L 15–33 45,154
September 3 2:30 PM Louisiana–Monroe ESPNU L 0–34 72,226
September 3 2:30 PM Troy ESPN3 L 19–43 74,135
September 3 6:00 PM Louisiana–Lafayette L 34–61 55,382
September 3 7:00 PM Florida Atlantic ESPNU L 3–41 88,708
^ Neutral site

Players of the week:[15]

Week Two

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
September 9 7:00 PM Florida International W 24–17 47,228
September 10 12:00 PM Florida Atlantic L 0–44 70,249
September 10 6:00 PM Arkansas State W 47–3 29,872
September 10 6:00 PM Louisiana–Lafayette W 20–12 10,386
September 10 6:00 PM Louisiana–Monroe W 35–7 26,532
September 10 6:00 PM Middle Tennessee ESPN3 L 21–49 30,502
September 10 6:00 PM North Texas ESPN3 L 23–48 28,075
September 10 6:00 PM Western Kentucky ESPN3 L 14–40 19,409

Players of the week:[16]

Week Three

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
September 17 1:00 PM Louisiana–Monroe L 17–38 32,719
September 17 3:00 PM Arkansas State FSN L 7–26 66,233
September 17 6:00 PM Florida International FIU Stadium • Miami, Florida ESPN3 W 17–10 20,205
September 17 6:00 PM Louisiana–Lafayette ESPN3 W 38–21 28,741
September 17 6:00 PM Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky ESPN3 L 16–44 15,793
September 17 6:30 PM North Texas FSN L 0–41 101,821
September 17 6:30 PM Troy L 28–38 69,861

Players of the week:[17]

Week Four

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
September 24 11:00 AM Louisiana–Monroe BTN L 17–45 70,585
September 24 3:30 PM Middle Tennessee Troy Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, Alabama
(Battle for the Palladium)
TROY 38–35 20,185
September 24 6:00 PM Louisiana–Lafayette Florida International FIU Stadium • Miami, Florida ESPN3 ULL 36–31 16,780
September 24 6:00 PM Florida Atlantic L 14–30 82,249
September 24 6:00 PM North Texas Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas ESPN3 W 24–21 21,181
September 24 7:00 PM Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas W 53–24 27,918

Players of the week:[18]

Arkansas State kicker Brian David was also named one of three Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week and the College Football Performance Awards' National Placekicker of the Week after going making 6 field goals and 5 extra points in the Red Wolves win over Central Arkansas.[19]

Week Five

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 1 3:00 PM Arkansas State Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky Sun Belt Network ASU 26–22 10,813
October 1 6:00 PM Florida Atlantic Louisiana–Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana ESPN3 ULL 37–34 26,339
October 1 6:00 PM Florida International FIU Stadium • Miami, Florida ESPNU L 27–31 22,682
October 1 6:00 PM Memphis Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee ESPN3 W 38–31 20,098
October 1 6:00 PM North Texas L 24–41 21,240
October 1 6:00 PM Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama W 24–23 18,044

Players of the week:[20]

Louisiana-Lafayette kicker Brett Baer was also named one of the Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week after making 3 field goals including the game winner as time expired. He also made 4 extra points in the Cajuns win over Florida Atlantic.[21]

Week Six

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 6 6:30 PM Western Kentucky Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee ESPNU WKU 36–33 23,307
October 8 6:00 PM Troy Louisiana–Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana ESPN3 ULL 31–17 29,775
October 8 6:00 PM Arkansas State Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana ASU 24–19 15,027
October 8 6:30 PM Florida Atlantic North Texas Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas Sun Belt Network UNT 31–17 13,142
October 8 2:00 PM Florida International W 27–17 16,016

Players of the week:[22]

Week Seven

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 15 4:00 PM Western Kentucky Florida Atlantic FAU Football Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida WKU 20–0 29,103
October 15 4:00 PM North Texas Louisiana–Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana ESPN3 ULL 30–10 32,823
October 15 6:00 PM Louisiana–Monroe Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama ESPN3 ULM 38–10 19,818
Players of the week:[23]

Week Eight

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 18 7:00 PM Florida International Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas ESPN2 ASU 34–16 15,573
October 22 3:00 PM Louisiana–Lafayette Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky WKU 42–23 15,122
October 22 4:00 PM Louisiana–Monroe North Texas Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas UNT 38–21 17,815
October 22 8:00 PM Middle Tennessee Florida Atlantic FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida Sun Belt Network MTSU 38–14 16,344
Players of the week:[24]

Week Nine

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
October 25 8:00 PM Troy Florida International FIU Stadium • MiamiESPN2 FIU 23–20 OT 15,852
October 29 2:30 PM Western Kentucky Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana WKU 31–28 OT 13,428
October 29 6:00 PM North Texas Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas ASU 37–14 19,761
October 29 6:30 PM Louisiana–Lafayette Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee Sun Belt Network ULL 45–20 13,500
Players of the week:[25]

Week Ten

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
November 5 2:30 PM Troy CBS Sports Network L 14–42 33,359
November 5 6:00 PM Middle Tennessee Fox Sports South L 0–24 88,211
November 5 2:30 PM Louisiana–Monroe Louisiana–Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana Sun Belt Network ULL 36–35 28,176
November 5 3:00 PM Florida International Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky WKU 10–9 15,293
November 5 6:00 PM Arkansas State Florida Atlantic FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida ASU 39–21 15,162
Players of the week:[26]

Week Eleven

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
November 12 6:00 PM Western Kentucky ESPNU L 9–42 92,917
November 12 12:00 PM North Texas Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama Sun Belt Network UNT 38-33 17,103
November 12 2:00 PM Louisiana-Lafayette Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas ESPN3 ASU 30-21 20,261
November 12 2:30 PM Middle Tennessee Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana ULM 42-14 11,987
November 12 5:00 PM Florida Atlantic Florida International FIU Stadium • MiamiFIU 41-7 17,378
Players of the week:[27]

Week Twelve

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
November 19 2:00 PM Arkansas State Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee ESPN3 ASU 45-19 12,806
November 19 2:30 PM Florida Atlantic Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama Troy 34-7 14,342
November 19 4:00 PM Florida International Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana FIU 28-17 10,587
November 19 6:00 PM Western Kentucky North Texas Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas Sun Belt Network WKU 31-21 17,011
Players of the week:[28]

Week Thirteen

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance
November 26 11:30 PM Troy Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky Sun Belt Network WKU 41-18 15,432
November 26 2:30 PM Florida International Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee FIU 31-18 10,227
November 26 3:00 PM Louisiana-Lafayette L 37-45 38,819
November 26 3:00 PM Florida Atlantic FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida W 38-35 12,044
Players of the week:[29]

Bowl Games

The Sun Belt placed 3 teams in bowl games with 4 teams being bowl eligible in 2011. Western Kentucky was the only bowl eligible team not selected.

NOTE: All times are local.

Bowl Date Time SBC team (Record) Opponent (Record) Site TV Result Attendance
December 17 7:00 PM Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4) San Diego State (8-4) ESPN W 32-30 42,841
December 20 8:00 PM Florida International (8-4) Marshall (6-6) ESPN L 10-20 20,072
January 8 8:00 PM Arkansas State (10-2) Northern Illinois (10-3) ESPN L 20-38 38,734

Home attendance

TeamStadium (Capacity)Game 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Total Average% of Capacity
Arkansas StateASU Stadium (30,964)29,87227,91815,57319,76120,261113,38522,67773.2%
Florida AtlanticFAU Football Stadium (30,000)29,10316,34415,16212,04472,65218,16360.5%
FIUFIU Stadium (23,500)17,56820,20516,78022,68215,85217,378110,46518,41178.3%
Louisiana–LafayetteCajun Field (31,000)28,74126,33929,77532,82328,176145,85429,17194.1%
Louisiana–MonroeMalone Stadium (30,427)26,53215,02713,42811,98710,58777,56115,51251.0%
Middle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium (30,788)30,50220,09823,30713,50012,80610,277110,49018,41559.8%
North TexasApogee Stadium (30,850)28,07521,18113,14217,81517,01197,22419,44563.0%
TroyVeterans Memorial Stadium (30,000)20,18518,04419,81817,10314,34289,49217,89859.7%
Western KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium (22,000)19,40915,79310,81315,12215,29315,43291,86215,31069.6%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Football Club News | Maxwell Football Club . 2011-08-08 . 2011-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110810100717/http://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/news/11-07-05/2011_Maxwell_Award_Watch_List.aspx . dead .
  2. Web site: Football Club News | Maxwell Football Club . 2011-08-08 . 2011-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110809025644/http://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/news/11-07-05/2011_Bednarik_Award_Watch_List.aspx . dead .
  3. Web site: Home . johnmackeyaward.org.
  4. Web site: No 2-Minute Warning — Coming Soon. 6 July 2011 .
  5. Web site: FWAA > News > Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
  6. Web site: FWAA > News > Outland Trophy Watch List.
  7. http://www.rotarylombardiaward.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103:2011-official-list&catid=9:2011-news&Itemid=23{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  8. Web site: Rimington Trophy Official Website: News.
  9. Web site: 2011 DAVEY O'BRIEN WATCH LIST - Davey O'Brien . 2012-08-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120327172928/http://blog.daveyobrien.org/2011/07/15/2011-davey-o%E2%80%99brien-watch-list/ . 2012-03-27 .
  10. Web site: Doak Walker Award - SMU.
  11. Web site: Forty named to Walter Camp list NCAA.com . 2018-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160807105420/http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/2011-07-18/forty-named-walter-camp-list . 2016-08-07 . dead .
  12. Web site: Current Watch List PB Sports Commission - Lou Groza . 2011-08-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090817150753/http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Current_Watch_List.html . 2009-08-17 . dead .
  13. Web site: Sun Belt Football Coaches Poll - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-08-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927025854/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&ATCLID=205182925&DB_OEM_ID=4100 . 2011-09-27 . dead .
  14. Web site: Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2012-09-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075229/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&ATCLID=205182023&DB_OEM_ID=4100 . 2012-03-28 .
  15. Web site: Football Players of the Week Announced - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-09-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075235/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205266829 . 2012-03-28 . dead .
  16. Web site: Football Players of the Week Announced - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-09-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075257/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205270093&DB_OEM_ID=4100 . 2012-03-28 . dead .
  17. Web site: Football Players of the Week Announced - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075303/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205274225&DB_OEM_ID=4100 . 2012-03-28 . dead .
  18. Web site: Football Players of the Week Announced - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075321/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205289075 . 2012-03-28 . dead .
  19. Web site: ASU s Davis Named Lou Groza Award Star of the Week - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075334/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205291550 . 2012-03-28 . dead .
  20. Web site: Week 6 Football News and Notes - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-10-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075346/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205307893 . 2012-03-28 . dead .
  21. Web site: Baer Named Groza Award "Star of the Week" - RaginCajuns.com—Official Web site of University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics . 2011-10-05 . 2011-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111011124014/http://www.ragincajuns.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15400&ATCLID=205311273 . dead .
  22. Web site: Week 7 Football News and Notes - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-10-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111114112133/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205313875 . 2011-11-14 . dead .
  23. http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205317909&DB_OEM_ID=4100{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  24. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-10-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013333/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205321265 . 2016-03-05 . dead .
  25. Web site: - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-10-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111022011253/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100 . 2011-10-22 . dead .
  26. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010127/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205329134 . 2016-03-05 . dead .
  27. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070712/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205332962&DB_OEM_ID=4100 . 2016-03-05 . dead .
  28. Web site: Week 13 Football News and Notes - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-11-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111211130120/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205336640 . 2011-12-11 . dead .
  29. Web site: Week 14 Football News and Notes - SunBeltSports.org Official Web Site of the Sun Belt Conference . 2011-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120305042443/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205339346 . 2012-03-05 . dead .