By Denny O'Brien
©2009 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.

With Conference USA football coaches abstaining from projecting the league’s order of finish this season, New Orleans Times-Picayune writer Ted Lewis organized a brigade of media members to fill the void.

Overall, 24 ballots were submitted, with two media members from each school participating. On the right are the results of that poll and below is the ballot I submitted, along with some commentary on my pecking order:

East Division

1. East Carolina: With “defense optional” reigning as the unofficial league motto, ECU is the one school that has decided to take it seriously. The Pirates go against the grain with their approach and are unafraid to grind out a win in a low-scoring game. ECU returns too many of the key elements that lead to a C-USA title last year to not pick them this season.

2. Southern Miss: The Golden Eagles have been the trendy pick given the way they finished 2008. If DeAndre Brown is fully recovered from the nasty broken leg he suffered in the New Orleans Bowl, he will combine with QB Austin Davis and RB Damion Fletcher to make a dynamic offensive trio.

3. Memphis: Much has been made about the influx of Southeastern Conference transfers, and how that will greatly improve the Tigers’ stock in C-USA. Memphis should be better, especially if the quarterback situation is more stable this year. The biggest question mark remains on defense, but I like Memphis to do what they annually do under Tommy West — go bowling.

4. Central Florida: If it weren’t for East Carolina, the Knights would have the market cornered on defense in C-USA. The big problem in Orlando is a glaring lack of offense. UCF can only be better, but that isn’t saying much. Expect the Knights to be at or near the bottom in total offense.

5. Marshall: Is there a coach on a hotter seat than Mark Snyder? Easily one of the nicest guys within the C-USA coaching fraternity, Snyder will have to display tremendous progress to stay in Huntington for another season. I just don’t know if he has the weapons to do it.

6. UAB: Head coach Neil Callaway has the toughest job in C-USA. But he also has arguably the league’s best run-pass threat in quarterback Joe Webb. Beyond him there just aren’t many standouts, and it’s hard to envision UAB not finishing in the East cellar.

West Division

1. Houston: The XBOX offense is C-USA’s version of the Greatest Show on Turf. Quarterback Case Keenum, running back Bryce Beall, and a small army of runt receivers are enough to give any defensive coordinator a migraine. Defense, like last year, remains the question mark. The Cougars also must take better care of the ball.

2. Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane lost many of the key elements that propelled it to the West title in 2008, namely quarterback David Johnson. However there is a track record of Tulsa overcoming key personnel losses, specifically at quarterback. Given that, it’s hard not to imagine the same thing occurring again.

3. Texas-El Paso: The Miners will score a lot this season. Quarterback Trevor Vittatoe is back, and some league coaches will tell you he is the most talented at the position in C-USA. Plenty of receiving targets return, which will make the Miners a major threat in the Wild Wild West. Still, that defense has some gaping holes.

4. Rice: No team lost more offensive production than the Owls. Chase Clement, James Dillard, and James Casey carried Rice to a storybook ten wins last season, and they are gone. Rice still has enough to stay out of the cellar — starting with underrated head coach David Bailiff — but a significant fall has to be expected.

5. Tulane: I like the Green Wave ahead of SMU because it takes defense seriously. Tulane should again be solid up front. Running back Andre Anderson also returns, giving Tulane a solid inside runner. I took Tulane ahead of SMU largely on toughness.

6. Southern Methodist: The Mustangs should be improved in their second season of Juneball. How can they not? Bo Levi Mitchell has plenty of upside but must limit his turnovers, and the defense must improve dramatically. I’m not sure either will do enough to make a big jump.

Overall Champion: East Carolina

This was a tough one. Really tough, as evidenced by the overall media tabulations that saw Houston with 11 votes to ECU’s 10.

I took the Pirates for several reasons:

1. They return almost all of the key elements that led to the C-USA title last season.

2. Several first team players who were either injured or suspended last year are slated to return, and that should make ECU the deepest bunch in C-USA.

3. Though the Pirates struggled mightily against Houston last season, no one was better defensively than ECU. After the Houston loss, the Pirates flourished against the spread offense, and did so while bandaging the lineup because of injuries. The Pirates’ defensive line and secondary should be C-USA’s best.

4. Offensively East Carolina should be greatly improved, and potentially be dynamic. Receiver Dwayne Harris is one of C-USA’s most exciting players in the open field, and Jamar Bryant is one of the better route runners in C-USA. The Pirates have a sixth-year quarterback, the league’s best offensive line, and a deep stable of running backs with tons of starting experience.

5. Skip Holtz. East Carolina has made tangible improvement in each of his seasons at East Carolina. Mental and physical toughness have been the theme during his tenure, and no C-USA program demonstrates those better than ECU.

Historically repeat champions have been fairly uncommon in C-USA. There are several stumbling blocks, but overall the league should come down to a four-team race: ECU, Houston, Southern Miss and Tulsa.

Defense isn’t just some cliché that leads to championships. That’s why you have to like the Pirates’ chances.