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Reactions: Conference USA

ECU and Southern Miss to lead C-USA

East Carolina quarterback David Garrard passed for 2,359 yards and ran for 493 last year. Scott Halleran/Allsport

CNNSI.com users were asked to share their predictions of what to expect in Conference USA football during the 2000 season. A sample of the responses we received follows:

Conference USA will get a bunch of national recognition this season. When East Carolina beats Virginia Tech and Southern Miss beats Alabama and Tennessee, we will have some heads turning. I believe that QB David Garrard for ECU will lead ECU to an 11-0 season and make some BCS noise.
Pirate, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Look for Conference USA to join the big time this year. Look for big seasons from East Carolina and Southern Mississippi with East Carolina winning the conference. I believe that after this season, the nation will be forced to take notice of this conference and C-USA will join the BCS.
Jamie, Rome, N.Y.

If ECU gets a couple of lucky bounces, especially against Virginia Tech, the Pirates have a great chance of going 11-0. With junior quarterback Garrard back at the reins, the sky is the limit for the Pirates. How Garrard isn't being considered for any postseason honors, I don't know. Just ask any of the C-USA coaches, or better yet, ask the Duke, N.C. State or Miami staffs. They will tell you who Garrard is. However, they will again be snubbed by the BCS, as most non-major-conference schools are. It is definitely time for a college football postseason tournament.
Ash Creech, Greenville, N.C.

Southern Miss and East Carolina will play for the C-USA crown on Nov. 25 at The Rock. Though unlikely, both teams could be undefeated and would be playing for more than a trip to the Liberty Bowl. Southern Miss by a small margin.
Dan Greene, Clarkston, Mich.

Southern Miss will come out swinging early against Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma State. Southern Miss will win against Tennessee and Oklahome State, and will give the third-ranked Crimson Tide all they can handle. Look for Derick Nix to have a break-out year. I know he's already had 1,000 yards in his first two seasons, but this time he will run for over 2,500 yards and have a lot more yards receiving due to the new spread offense.
eagle24, Biloxi, Miss.

Southern Mississippi and East Carolina are clearly the favorites to compete for the championship this year. Another team that has a shot at it is the Memphis Tigers. These guys are loaded with talent and easily could have gone 9-2 last year. The Tigers are the dark horse.
Scot Proctor, Memphis, Tenn.

ECU beats Southern Miss to hand them their first conference loss on home turf. This final game of the season decides the conference champs. ECU goes on to the Liberty Bowl (or maybe even better).
Jason Blackburn, Raleigh, N.C.

I feel that ECU will shock Virginia Tech and Conference USA behind the passing and running of David Garrard. They will win the conference by defeating Southern Mississippi on Thanksgiving Friday.
William Greene, Ahoskie, N.C.

Cincinnati will surprise a lot of people this year. With their experience and ability to hang with the big guys, they are undoubtedly a contender for C-USA. They return 18 starters from last year and are definitely a solid team that is capable of making a lot of noise in college football.
Tim, Harrison, Ohio

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