Aug 13, 2001

By MARY FOSTER
AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Commissioner Wright Waters has heard a lot of jokes since the Sun Belt Conference added football. One of them sums up the way a lot of people feel about the league.

"A guy sent me an e-mail saying he had a nightmare about the Sun Belt Conference bowl game," Waters said. "In it, he finds out the final score of the game is 166-6 in favor of the Mountain West team. 'What happened?' I asked. 'Well, the Mountain West team didn't bother to come back out in the second half. Then in the fourth quarter, the Sun Belt team scored.' 'I guess they missed the extra point,' I said. 'Nope. They went for two and didn't make it."'

The newly formed conference - Idaho, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, New Mexico State, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State - does not have any powerhouses.

Middle Tennessee (6-5), the only team in the league with a winning record last season, and Idaho (5-6), are expected to be the best of the league. North Texas and New Mexico State were 3-8, but three teams - Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State, each finished 1-10 last season.

"We're not as strong as some conferences," Waters said. "But a conference helps the teams in it grow. They don't have to go it alone, and they have some extra tools to build with."

Idaho is expected to take the inaugural title, thanks to quarterback John Welsh's return to direct an offense that finished eighth in the nation in total offense last year.

Welsh threw for 3,171 yards and completed 63 percent of his passes last season, but also threw 17 interceptions. This year, Welsh will still have big-play receiver Chris Lacy and a running game that will be deep and talented, although his offensive line has only one returning starter.

"John is a big asset," Idaho coach Tom Cable said. "We feel really good about what he can do. But winning the conference this year is going to take a lot more than that. It's going to take good coaching and the ability to keep from being surprised. Any of these teams can rear up and surprise you."

There is talent elsewhere in the league. Arkansas State running back Jonathan Adams, a former Parade All-American, gained more than 1,000 yards in 2000. Louisiana-Lafayette has two strong defensive backs in Charles Tillman and Kyries Herbert.

"We have some good players in the conference, and now they can pick up conference honors for playing good," Herbert said. "I know I want to make the all-conference team. I'm sure a lot of other guys do, too."

Being in a conference gives teams a chance to play in a bowl game. The winner gets an automatic bid to the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 18.

The bowl game and a chance at conference honors and televised games gives coaches selling points with recruits.

"This conference is the best thing that could happen to a team like ours," Louisiana-Monroe coach Bobby Keasler said. "Now we have things to offer kids besides a chance to help build a program."

Being in a conference also helps teams with scheduling, a perpetual problem for small independents.

"It makes it a lot easier when you have part of your schedule blocked out against conference teams," Louisiana-Lafayette coach Jerry Baldwin said. "It means you aren't scrambling around trying to fill every slot. It means you don't end up as everybody's homecoming team."

The winner of the Sun Belt conference will play the third-place team in the Mountain West in the New Orleans Bowl. Waters feels that pairing will be much more popular with fans and viewers than other bowls that feature teams that have finished lower in other conferences.

"I'll tell you one thing, if we make it to the bowl, it'll be the biggest thing to happen in Los Cruces since 1960," said New Mexico State coach Tony Samuel, referring to the Aggies' 11-0 season. "We'll bring just about everyone in town if we can get tickets."