2001 Sun Belt Conference football season

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]

2001 Sun Belt Conference football season
LeagueNCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision)
Sportfootball
DurationAugust 23, 2001 – December 1, 2001
Number of teams7
2002 NFL Draft
Top draft pickKendall Newson (Middle Tennessee)
Picked byJacksonville Jaguars, 222nd overall
Regular season
Season championsMiddle Tennessee & North Texas
  Runners-upNew Mexico State
Season MVPWes Counts
Top scorerDwone Hicks (144 points)
2001 Sun Belt Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Middle Tennessee +  5 –1   8 –3  
North Texas +  5 –1   5 –7  
New Mexico State  4 –2   5 –7  
Louisiana–Lafayette  2 –4   3 –8  
Arkansas State  2 –4   2 –9  
Louisiana–Monroe  2 –4   2 –9  
Idaho  1 –5   1 –10  
  • + – Conference co-champions

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
DateVisitorHomeConferenceScoreNotes
August 30 Idaho Washington State Pac-10 L 7–36
August 30 Middle Tennessee Vanderbilt SEC W 37–28
September 1 Arkansas State Georgia SEC L 17–45
September 1 New Mexico State Texas Big 12 L 7–41
September 8 Arkansas State Baylor Big 12 L 3–24
September 8 Idaho Arizona Pac-10 L 29–36
September 8 Louisiana-Monroe Florida SEC L 6–55
September 8 Oregon State New Mexico State Pac-10 L 22–27
September 8 Louisiana-Lafayette Minnesota Big Ten L 14–44
September 8 North Texas Oklahoma Big 12 L 10–37
September 22 Idaho Washington Pac-10 L 3–53
September 22 New Mexico State Kansas State Big 12 L 0–64
September 22 Texas Tech North Texas Big 12 L 14–42 Neutral Site Game at Texas Stadium
October 20 Ole Miss Arkansas State SEC L 17–35
October 6 Louisiana-Lafayette Arizona State Pac-10 L 27–63
October 20 Middle Tennessee Ole Miss SEC L 17–45
November 10 Middle Tennessee LSU SEC L 14–30

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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
August 23New Mexico StateLouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KentuckyL 24–4538,129
  • Open Week: Arkansas State, Idaho, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, North Texas

Week 2
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
August 30IdahoWashington StateMartin Stadium • Pullman, WashingtonL 7–3631,097
August 30Middle TennesseeVanderbiltVanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, TennesseeW 37–2839,885
September 1Arkansas StateGeorgiaSanford Stadium • Athens, GeorgiaL 17–4586,520
September 1Nicholls StateLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaW 20–0
September 1Sam Houston StateLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaL 9–20
September 1New Mexico State#5 TexasDarrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TexasL 7–4182,856
September 1TCUNorth TexasFouts Field • Denton, TexasL 5–1922,837

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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
September 8Arkansas StateBaylorFloyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TexasL 3–2428,953
September 8IdahoArizonaArizona Stadium • Tucson, ArizonaL 29–3644,250
September 8Louisiana-LafayetteMinnesotaH. H. H. Metrodome • MinneapolisW 14–4435,089
September 8Louisiana-Monroe#2 FloridaBen Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FloridaL 6–5585,011
September 8TroyMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeW 54–17
September 8#22 Oregon StateNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, New MexicoL 22–2727,238
September 8North Texas#3 OklahomaOklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OklahomaL 10–3774,930

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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
September 22Jacksonville StateArkansas StateIndian Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasL 28–31
September 22Idaho#13 WashingtonHuskie Stadium • Seattle, WAL 3–5370,145
September 22Southern MissLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaL 10–3514,132
September 22Middle TennesseeLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaMTSU 38–20
September 22New Mexico State#12 Kansas StateKSU Stadium • Manhattan, KansasL 0–6449,229
September 22Texas TechNorth TexasTexas Stadium • Irving, TexasL 14–4220,852

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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
September 29IdahoBoise StateMartin Stadium • Pullman, WashingtonL 13–4520,359
September 22Middle TennesseeLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaMSTU 26–9
September 22New Mexico StateLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaNMSU 31–0
September 22North TexasSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FloridaL 10–2825,156
  • 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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
October 6Arkansas StateOle MissVaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MississippiL 17–35
October 6IdahoMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeMTSU 70–58
October 6Louisiana-LafayetteArizona StateSun Devil Stadium • Tempe, ArizonaL 27–6338,118
October 6North TexasLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaULM 19–17
October 6New Mexico StateTulsaSkelly Stadium • Tulsa, OklahomaW 24–717,211

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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
October 13Arkansas StateLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaASU 26–20
October 13IdahoNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, New MexicoNMSU 46–39
October 13Middle TennesseeNorth TexasFouts Field • Denton, TexasUNT 24–21
  • 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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
October 20Arkansas StateNorth TexasFouts Field • Denton, TexasUNT 45–0
October 20Louisiana-LafayetteIdahoMartin Stadium • Pullman, WashingtonULL 54–37
October 20Louisiana-MonroeUCFFlorida Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FloridaL 6–3823,001
October 20Middle TennesseeOle MissVaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MississippiL 17–45
  • 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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
October 27IdahoArkansas StateIndian Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasASU 34–31
October 27Louisiana-MonroeLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaULL 17–12
October 27New Mexico StateMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeMTSU 39–35
  • Open Week: North Texas

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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
November 3Louisiana-MonroeIdahoKibbie Dome • Moscow, IdahoUI 42–38
November 3Arkansas StateMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeMTSU 54–6
November 3North TexasNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, New MexicoUNT 22–20
  • 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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
November 10Arkansas StateNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, New MexicoNMSU 28–17
November 10Troy StateLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaL 44–12
November 10Louisiana-LafayetteNorth TexasFouts Field • Denton, TexasUNT 42–17
November 10Middle TennesseeLSUTiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LouisianaL 30–1488,249
  • Open Week: Idaho

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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
November 17Louisiana-MonroeArkansas StateIndian Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasULM 16–7
November 17North TexasIdahoKibbie Dome • Moscow, IdahoUNT 50–27
November 17New Mexico StateLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaNMSU 49–46
November 17ConnecticutMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeW 38–1413,017

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
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
November 22Nicholls StateArkansas StateIndian Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasL 28–22
November 24IdahoMontanaWashington–Grizzly Stadium • Missoula, MontanaL 33–27 2OT18,056
November 24Louisiana-LafayetteUCFCitrus Bowl • Orlando, FloridaL 31–012,264
November 24New Mexico StateNew MexicoUniversity Stadium • Albuquerque, New MexicoL 53–0

Week 15
DateVisiting teamHome teamSiteResultAttendance
December 1Louisiana-MonroeCincinnatiNippert Stadium • CincinnatiL 42–1015,047
December 1North TexasTroy StateVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AlabamaL 18–16
  • 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

BowlDateSBC team (Record)Opponent (Record)SiteTVResultAttendance
New Orleans BowlDecember 18North Texas (5–6)Colorado State (6–5)Louisiana Superdome • New OrleansESPN2L 45–2027,004

Players of the Year

2001 Sun Belt Player of the Year awards[3]

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 Players

Coaches All-Conference Selections[3]

References
  1. "2014 Sun Belt Football Media Guide". Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  2. Steve Peloquin (August 21, 2013). "N.O. Bowl, Sun Belt Conference Agree To Extension". www.espn1420.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  3. "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.
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