Sports season
2001 Sun Belt Conference football season |
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League | NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) |
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Sport | football |
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Duration | August 23, 2001 – December 1, 2001 |
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Number of teams | 7 |
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2002 NFL Draft |
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Top draft pick | Kendall Newson (Middle Tennessee) |
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Picked by | Jacksonville Jaguars, 222nd overall |
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Regular season |
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Season champions | Middle Tennessee & North Texas |
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Runners-up | New Mexico State |
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Season MVP | Wes Counts |
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Top scorer | Dwone Hicks (144 points) |
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Football seasons |
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The 2001 Sun Belt Conference football season was the inaugural college football season for the Sun Belt Conference. During the 2001 season, seven schools competed in Sun Belt football: Arkansas State, Idaho, Louisiana–Lafayette, Louisiana–Monroe, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State and North Texas.[1]
The conference title was won by Middle Tennessee and North Texas.
Coaches
Note: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season
Team | Head coach | Years at school | Overall record | Record at school | Sun Belt record |
Arkansas State | Joe Hollis | 4 | 15–39–1 | 11–34 | 0–0 |
Idaho | Tom Cable | 1 | 5–6 | 5–6 | 0–0 |
Louisiana–Lafayette | Jerry Baldwin | 2 | 3–19 | 3–19 | 0–0 |
Louisiana–Monroe | Bobby Keasler | 2 | 84–50–2 | 6–16 | 0–0 |
Middle Tennessee | Andy McCollum | 2 | 9–13 | 9–13 | 0–0 |
New Mexico State | Tony Samuel | 4 | 14–30 | 14–30 | 0–0 |
North Texas | Darrell Dickey | 3 | 8–25 | 8–25 | 0–0 |
Sun Belt vs. BCS AQ Conference matchups
Regular season
Index to colors and formatting |
Sun Belt member won |
Sun Belt member lost |
Sun Belt teams in bold |
Start times for non-conference games are local for the Sun Belt team; for conference games, starting times are local for the home team. The following list are the teams in their respective time zones: Arkansas State, Louisiana–Monroe, Louisiana–Lafayette, Middle Tennessee, North Texas are located in the Central Time Zone; New Mexico State is in the Mountain Time Zone and Idaho is in the Pacific Time Zone.
Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS poll will be used.
Week 1
- Open Week: Arkansas State, Idaho, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, North Texas
Week 2
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
August 30 | Idaho | Washington State | Martin Stadium • Pullman, Washington | L 7–36 | 31,097 |
August 30 | Middle Tennessee | Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee | W 37–28 | 39,885 |
September 1 | Arkansas State | Georgia | Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia | L 17–45 | 86,520 |
September 1 | Nicholls State | Louisiana-Lafayette | Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana | W 20–0 | |
September 1 | Sam Houston State | Louisiana-Monroe | Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana | L 9–20 | |
September 1 | New Mexico State | #5 Texas | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, Texas | L 7–41 | 82,856 |
September 1 | TCU | North Texas | Fouts Field • Denton, Texas | L 5–19 | 22,837 |
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Dwone Hicks | Middle Tennessee | Jykine Bradley | Middle Tennessee | Jonathan Knott | Louisiana-Lafayette |
Week 3
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
September 8 | Arkansas State | Baylor | Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, Texas | L 3–24 | 28,953 |
September 8 | Idaho | Arizona | Arizona Stadium • Tucson, Arizona | L 29–36 | 44,250 |
September 8 | Louisiana-Lafayette | Minnesota | H. H. H. Metrodome • Minneapolis | W 14–44 | 35,089 |
September 8 | Louisiana-Monroe | #2 Florida | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, Florida | L 6–55 | 85,011 |
September 8 | Troy | Middle Tennessee | Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee | W 54–17 | |
September 8 | #22 Oregon State | New Mexico State | Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, New Mexico | L 22–27 | 27,238 |
September 8 | North Texas | #3 Oklahoma | Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma | L 10–37 | 74,930 |
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
John Welsh | Idaho | Siddeeq Shabazz | New Mexico State | James Hickenbotham | Arkansas State |
Week 4
All games scheduled for Week 4 were postponed or canceled as a result of the September 11 attacks.
Week 5
Date | Visiting team | Home team | Site | Result | Attendance |
September 22 | Jacksonville State | Arkansas State | Indian Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas | L 28–31 | |
September 22 | Idaho | #13 Washington | Huskie Stadium • Seattle, WA | L 3–53 | 70,145 |
September 22 | Southern Miss | Louisiana-Lafayette | Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana | L 10–35 | 14,132 |
September 22 | Middle Tennessee | Louisiana-Monroe | Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana | MTSU 38–20 | |
September 22 | New Mexico State | #12 Kansas State | KSU Stadium • Manhattan, Kansas | L 0–64 | 49,229 |
September 22 | Texas Tech | North Texas | Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas | L 14–42 | 20,852 |
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Wes Counts | Middle Tennessee | Scotty Brown | Middle Tennessee | Robert Billings | Middle Tennessee |
Week 6
- Open Week: Arkansas State
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Reshard Lee | Middle Tennessee | Scotty Brown (2) | Middle Tennessee | Robert Billings (2) | Middle Tennessee |
Week 7
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Wes Counts (2) | Middle Tennessee | Tony Lukins | New Mexico State | Tony Lukins | New Mexico State |
Week 8
- Open Week: Louisiana-Monroe
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Kevin Galbreath | North Texas | Chris Jones | Arkansas State | Josh Hill | North Texas |
Week 9
- Open Week: New Mexico State
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Jon Van Cleave | Louisiana-Lafayette | Brad Kassell | North Texas | Josh Hill (2) | North Texas |
Week 10
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Kendall Newson | Middle Tennessee | Les Echols | Arkansas State | Jason Hickenbotham | Arkansas State |
Week 11
- Open Week: Louisiana-Lafayette
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
John Welsh (2) | Idaho | Brad Kassell (2) | North Texas | Jason Ball (3) | North Texas |
Week 12
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Scott Hall | North Texas | Tony Lukins (2) | New Mexico State | Ty Jackson | North Texas |
Week 13
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Patrick Cobbs | North Texas | Scotty Brown (3) | Middle Tennessee | Dario Aguiniga | New Mexico State |
Week 14
Week 15
- Open Week: Arkansas State, Idaho, Louisiana-Lafayette, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State
Players of the week:
Offensive | Defensive | Special teams |
Player | Team | Player | Team | Player | Team |
Anthony Tenner | Idaho | Cody Spencer | North Texas | No candidates | |
Bowl games
In 2001, the Sun Belt Conference placed one team in bowl games through their tie-ins: 5-6 North Texas, who became the first team to play in a bowl game with a losing record.[2] Middle Tennessee was also bowl-eligible but did not receive a bowl invitation.
Note: All times are local
Players of the Year
2001 Sun Belt Player of the Year awards[3][4]
Award | Player | School |
Player of the Year | Wes Counts | Middle Tennessee |
Offensive Player of the Year | Dwone Hicks | Middle Tennessee |
Defensive Player of the Year | Brad Kassell | North Texas |
Freshman of the Year | Ja'Mel Branch | North Texas |
Newcomer of the Year | Kevin Galbreath | North Texas |
Coach of the Year | Darrell Dickey | North Texas |
All-Conference Teams
Coaches All-Conference Selections[3][4]
Position | Player | Team | First-team Offense | QB | Wes Counts | Middle Tennessee | RB | Kevin Galbreath* | North Texas | Dwone Hicks | Middle Tennessee | WR | Chris Lacy | Idaho | Kendall Newsom | Middle Tennessee | TE | Jeff Muenchow | North Texas | OL | Garry Johnson | Arkansas State | J. R. Randle | North Texas | Brandon Westbrook | Middle Tennessee | Tony Wragge | New Mexico State | Nick Zuniga | North Texas | First-team Defense | DL | Brandon Kennedy* | North Texas | Donald Malveaux | UL Monroe | Joe Olivo | New Mexico State | Tanaka Scott | Middle Tennessee | LB | Brad Kassell* | North Texas | Scotty Brown | Middle Tennessee | D'Wayne Taylor | New Mexico State | DB | Jykine Bradley | Middle Tennessee | Jonas Buckles | North Texas | Siddeeq Shabazz | New Mexico State | Charles Tillman | UL Lafayette | First-team Special Teams | K | Jason Ball | North Texas | P | Jason Ball | North Texas | RS | James Hickenbotham | Arkansas State | All-purpose | James Hickenbotham | Arkansas State | | Position | Player | Team | Second-team Offense | QB | K. C. Enzminger | New Mexico State | John Welsh | Idaho | RB | Jonathan Adams | Arkansas State | Kenton Keith | New Mexico State | WR | Nick Dugas | UL Lafayette | George Marshall | North Texas | TE | Jerry Pegues | Arkansas State | OL | Glen Elarbee | Middle Tennessee | Shalimar Jackson | New Mexico State | Jonathon Raush | UL Lafayette | Jake Scott | Idaho | Matt Turney | North Texas | Second-team Defense | DL | Jonathan Bradley | Arkansas State | Brandon Kania | Idaho | Alex Pahulu | North Texas | Ron Paris | North Texas | LB | Ross Brupbacher | UL Lafayette | Maurice Sonnier | UL Monroe | Cody Spencer | North Texas | DB | Dedrick Buckels | UL Monroe | Kyries Hebert | UL Lafayette | Craig Jones | North Texas | Michael Woods | Middle Tennessee | Second-team Special Teams | K | Dario Aguiniga | New Mexico State | P | Robert Billings | Middle Tennessee | RS | Tony Lukins | New Mexico State | All-purpose | Reshard Lee | Middle Tennessee | |
References
- ^ "2014 Sun Belt Football Media Guide". Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ^ Steve Peloquin (August 21, 2013). "N.O. Bowl, Sun Belt Conference Agree To Extension". www.espn1420.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ a b "Counts Tabbed Player of Year Hicks; Offensive Choice". www.goblueraiders.com. Middle Tennessee Media Relations. December 4, 2001. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ a b "2001 Football All-Conference Teams Announced: MT's Wes Counts named 2001 Player of the Year". sunbeltsports.org. December 4, 2001. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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East Division | |
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West Division | |
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Championships & awards | |
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Seasons | |
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Conference seasons | - ACC
- Big 12
- Big East
- Big Ten
- Conference USA
- Mid-American
- Mountain West
- Pac-10
- SEC
- Sun Belt
- WAC
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Inter-conference | |
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All-Americans | |
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