UT Martin

[Weems]

I was wondering what most of you thought about UT Martins football program. Last year was a magical season for us, winning for the first time ever the OVC Championship and beating an OVC team on the road in i don't know how many years. Advancing to the playoffs was an incredible accomplishment for first year headcoach Jason Simpson. looking back on the many of firsts for the program, how do most of you all suspect we will do this year? We traveled to a well coached Southern Illinois football team last year in the playoffs, and blew a 20 pt lead at half to end our season. Very dissapointed way to end it...

Sat, Sep 1 TBA at Southern Mississippi
Thu, Sep 6 6:00 PM Missouri State
Sat, Sep 15 6:00 PM at Central Arkansas
Sat, Sep 22 6:00 PM at Austin Peay*
Thu, Sep 27 6:00 PM Tennessee Tech*
Thu, Oct 4 6:00 PM at Jacksonville State*
Sat, Oct 13 2:00 PM Samford* Homecoming
Sat, Oct 20 TBA at Eastern Illinois*
Sat, Oct 27 TBA Southeast Missouri*
Sat, Nov 10 TBA Murray State*
Sat, Nov 17 12:30 PM at Tennessee State*

Schedule doesn't favor us too well, as we have to travel to most key games. However, the EKU Colonels, a team we have never beaten, are left off our schedule. Was last year a fluke? Will we be considered an OVC threat again this Year? Looking forward to your comments.

[AndrewFU21]

I was reading Phil Steele's outlook on the OVC and he has you guys falling down to 4th in the league this year. I know you have your best RB coming back this year, but what else does UTM have returning from 2006? I still have very little idea who I think is going to win the OVC this year.

[89Hen]

Schedule doesn't favor us too well, as we have to travel to most key games.
I think that may sum it up.

at Southern Mississippi
at Central Arkansas
at Jacksonville State
at Eastern Illinois
at Tennessee State

That's a tough road slate. Beyond the obvious tough games at EIU and JSU, I picked TSU as my sleeper this year and UCA had an awfully good team last year beating four I-AA's in their first year up. Missing EKU is a good thing, but I think the OVC coaches got it right when they picked you third in the OVC.

[EKU05]

I think the Skyhawks will be very good, but the thing about the OVC is that the top 5 teams seem to be at or close to the same level. It's tough to call, but UTM has as good a shot as anyone IMO.

[JoshUCA]

I am really looking forward to UT Martin coming to Conway on the 15th! It should be a GREAT game. It will be UCA's home opener so Estes Stadium should be rockin'!

[Weems]

I am also looking forward to traveling to Conway for the UCA game. :) Do you think that UTM has a legitimate shot at making it to the playoffs for the second consecutive year? An 8-3 Record would be a goal i would think. 9-2 is possible, but 8-3 would be more realistic.

[Weems]

I was reading Phil Steele's outlook on the OVC and he has you guys falling down to 4th in the league this year. I know you have your best RB coming back this year, but what else does UTM have returning from 2006? I still have very little idea who I think is going to win the OVC this year.

We do have Donald Chapman returning. This season he has a chance to finish his career as the OVC's all-time leader in rushing yardage, and only needs a little over 100 yds to break the schools record.

We also have all the quarterbacks returning this year. Cade Thompson, a South Carolina back, transferred and will be able to play, if he can compete. Dexter Anoka (#4) is projected to be the starter.

Jessie Burton will be a dual threat as he is our go to man at the WR position. In the 2006 season he ranked among the top 10 kick return specialists in the nation. With the new rule, It should be fun to see him return a few back :).

Our offense has some pretty key players returning, but of course some holes also. The offense will fare better than they did last year however.

Our Defense is what will struggle next year. I believe we lost 9 of 11 starters. We will be able to fill some of those gaps, but those are some big shoes to fill. As always, i would rather have a good defense than a good offense, but i think we will be fine this year. Our offense will definitely be stronger, faster, and better this year. Our defense raises some question marks, but hopefully they can work out all the kinks after their season opener with Southern Miss. lol

[colonelblitz]

We do have Donald Chapman returning. This season he has a chance to finish his career as the OVC's all-time leader in rushing yardage, and only needs a little over 100 yds to break the schools record.
l
Markus Thomas EKU 5149 yds, 322 pts, 54 td's.. 5554 total career yds.. He did all this with another 1000 yd rusher in the backfield every year..

[Golden Eagle]

It'll be a tough road a-ho, but hey, I didn't think you could do it last year either.