2011 Sun Belt Conference football season

The 2011 Sun Belt Conference football season was the 11th season of college football play for the Sun Belt Conference. The season began September 1, 2011 and concluded January 8, 2012 as part of the 2011-12 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The 2011 season consisted of nine members: Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana–Lafayette, Louisiana–Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, North Texas, Troy and Western Kentucky.

2011 Sun Belt Conference football season
LeagueNCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision)
Sportfootball
DurationSeptember 1, 2011–January 8, 2021
Number of teams9
TV partner(s)ESPN
Regular season
Season championsArkansas State
Runners-upWestern Kentucky
2011 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Arkansas State $  8 –0     10 –3  
WKU  7 –1     7 –5  
FIU  5 –3     8 –5  
North Texas  4 –4     5 –7  
Louisiana–Monroe  3 –5     4 –8  
Troy  2 –6     3 –9  
Louisiana–Lafayette *  1 –2     1 –4  
Middle Tennessee  1 –7     2 –10  
Florida Atlantic  0 –8     1 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – Louisiana–Lafayette vacated 8 wins including 5 in conference.

The 2011 season was last with nine members as South Alabama became the conference's tenth member for the 2012 season.

Preseason

Award watch lists

The following Sun Belt players were named to preseason award watch lists.

Sun Belt media days

During the Sun Belt media days on July 18–19 via videoconferencing, Florida International was selected as the favorite to win the conference in the coaches poll.[13] They five first place votes. Troy received two first place votes while Arkansas State and Western Kentucky each received one.

Coaches Poll
  1. Florida International – 75 (5)
  2. Troy – 66 (2)
  3. Middle Tennessee – 54
  4. Louisiana–Monroe – 22
  5. Arkansas State – 49 (1)
  6. North Texas – 33
  7. Western Kentucky – 28 (1)
  8. Louisiana–Lafayette – 26
  9. Florida Atlantic – 20

Preseason All–Conference Team

The conference's head coaches selected their all–conference team during media days.[14]

The coaches also selected conference players of the year. T.Y. Hilton of Florida International and Lance Dunbar of North Texas were selected as the preseason co-offensive players of the year and Jonathan Massaquoi of Troy was named the preseason defensive player of the year.

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 Hugh Freeze 1 0–0 0–0 0–0
Florida Atlantic Howard Schnellenberger 11 157–140–3 57–63 22–13
Florida International Mario Cristobal 5 16–33 16–33 13–17
Louisiana–Lafayette Mark Hudspeth 1 66–21 0–0 0–0
Louisiana–Monroe Todd Berry 2 34–67 5–7 34–67
Middle Tennessee Rick Stockstill 6 33–30 33–30 25–12
North Texas Dan McCarney 1 58–85 0–0 0–0
Troy Larry Blakeney 23 161–82–1 161–82–1 40–12
Western Kentucky Willie Taggart 2 2–10 2–10 2–6

Sun Belt vs. BCS matchups
DateVisitorHomeNotes
September 1^ Kentucky 14 Western Kentucky 3 Played at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee
September 3 Arkansas State 15 Illinois 33
September 3 Florida Atlantic 3 #23 Florida 41
September 3 Louisiana–Lafayette 34 #8 Oklahoma State 61
September 3 Louisiana–Monroe 0 #5 Florida State 34
September 3 Middle Tennessee 24 Purdue 27
September 3 Troy 19 Clemson 43
September 9 Florida International 24 Louisville 17 FIU's first ever win against a BCS team
September 10 Florida Atlantic 0 Michigan State 44
September 10 Georgia Tech 49 Middle Tennessee 21
September 17 Arkansas State 7 #12 Virginia Tech 26
September 17 North Texas 0 #2 Alabama 41
September 17 Troy 28 #13 Arkansas 38
September 24 Florida Atlantic 14 Auburn 30
September 24 Louisiana–Monroe 17 Iowa 45
September 24 Indiana 21 North Texas 24
October 1 Duke 31 Florida International 27
November 5 Middle Tennessee 0 Tennessee 24
November 12 Western Kentucky 9 LSU 42
November 26 Louisiana–Lafayette 37 Arizona 45
^Denotes neutral site game

Regular season
Index to colors and formatting
Sun Belt member won
Sun Belt member lost
Sun Belt teams in bold

All dates, times, and TV are tentative and subject to change.

The Sun Belt has teams in 2 different time zones. Times reflect start time in respective time zone of each team (all teams central time except for Florida Atlantic and Florida International which are in eastern time). Conference games start times are that of the home team.

Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS poll will be used.

Week One
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17:00 PMNorth TexasFlorida InternationalFIU Stadium • MiamiESPN3FIU 41–1617,568
September 1 ^8:15 PMKentuckyWestern KentuckyLP Field • Nashville, TennesseeESPNUL 3–1424,599
September 311:00 AMMiddle TennesseePurdueRoss–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IndianaBTNL 24–2742,110
September 32:30 PMArkansas StateIllinoisMemorial Stadium • Champaign, IllinoisBTNL 15–3345,154
September 32:30 PMLouisiana–Monroe#5 Florida StateBobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FloridaESPNUL 0–3472,226
September 32:30 PMTroyClemsonMemorial Stadium • Clemson, South CarolinaESPN3L 19–4374,135
September 36:00 PMLouisiana–Lafayette#8 Oklahoma StateBoone Pickens Stadium • Stillwater, OklahomaFSNL 34–6155,382
September 37:00 PMFlorida Atlantic#23 FloridaBen Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FloridaESPNUL 3–4188,708

^ Neutral site

Players of the Week[15]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
T.Y. Hilton FIU Eric Russell Middle Tennessee Hendrix Brakefield Western Kentucky

Week Two
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 97:00 PMFlorida InternationalLouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KentuckyESPNW 24–1747,228
September 1012:00 PMFlorida Atlantic#16 Michigan StateSpartan Stadium • East Lansing, MichiganESPN2L 0–4470,249
September 106:00 PMMemphisArkansas StateASU Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasW 47–329,872
September 106:00 PMLouisiana–LafayetteKent StateDix Stadium • Kent, OhioW 20–1210,386
September 106:00 PMGrambling StateLouisiana–MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaW 35–726,532
September 106:00 PMGeorgia TechMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeESPN3L 21–4930,502
September 106:00 PMHoustonNorth TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TexasESPN3L 23–4828,075
September 106:00 PMNavyWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KentuckyESPN3L 14–4019,409

Players of the Week[16]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
T.Y. Hilton (2) FIU Winston Fraser FIU Brelan Chancellor North Texas

Week Three
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 171:00 PMLouisiana–Monroe#23 TCUAmon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TexasThe Mtn.L 17–3832,719
September 173:00 PMArkansas State#12 Virginia TechLane Stadium • Blacksburg, VirginiaFSNL 7–2666,233
September 176:00 PMUCFFlorida InternationalFIU Stadium • Miami, FloridaESPN3W 17–1020,205
September 176:00 PMNicholls StateLouisiana–LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaESPN3W 38–2128,741
September 176:00 PMIndiana StateWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KentuckyESPN3L 16–4415,793
September 176:30 PMNorth Texas#2 AlabamaBryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AlabamaFSNL 0–41101,821
September 176:30 PMTroy#13 ArkansasDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, ArkansasCSSL 28–3869,861

Players of the Week[17]

Offensive Co-Defensive Special teams
Player Team Players Teams Player Team
Corey Robinson Troy Isame Faciane/LaDarrius Madden FIU/Troy Melvin White Louisiana–Lafayette

Week Four
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 2411:00 AMLouisiana–MonroeIowaKinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IowaBTNL 17–4570,585
September 243:30 PMMiddle TennesseeTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama
(Battle for the Palladium)		Sun Belt NetworkTROY 38–3520,185
September 246:00 PMLouisiana–LafayetteFlorida InternationalFIU Stadium • Miami, FloridaESPN3ULL 36–3116,780
September 246:00 PMFlorida AtlanticAuburnJordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AlabamaFS SouthL 14–3082,249
September 246:00 PMIndianaNorth TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TexasESPN3W 24–2121,181
September 247:00 PMCentral ArkansasArkansas StateASU Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasKATVW 53–2427,918

Players of the Week[18]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Blaine Gautier Louisiana–Lafayette Chris Pickett Troy Brian David Arkansas State

Arkansas State kicker Brian David was also named one of three Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week and the College Football Performance Awards' National Placekicker of the Week after going making 6 field goals and 5 extra points in the Red Wolves win over Central Arkansas.[19]

Week Five
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 13:00 PMArkansas StateWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KentuckySun Belt NetworkASU 26–2210,813
October 16:00 PMFlorida AtlanticLouisiana–LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaESPN3ULL 37–3426,339
October 16:00 PMDukeFlorida InternationalFIU Stadium • Miami, FloridaESPNUL 27–3122,682
October 16:00 PMMemphisMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeESPN3W 38–3120,098
October 16:00 PMNorth TexasTulsaSkelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OklahomaL 24–4121,240
October 16:00 PMUABTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AlabamaSportSouthW 24–2318,044

Players of the Week[20]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Ryan Aplin Arkansas State Lance Kelley Louisiana-Lafayette Brett Baer Louisiana-Lafayette

Louisiana-Lafayette kicker Brett Baer was also named one of the Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week after making 3 field goals including the game winner as time expired. He also made 4 extra points in the Cajuns win over Florida Atlantic.[21]

Week Six
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 66:30 PMWestern KentuckyMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeESPNUWKU 36–3323,307
October 86:00 PMTroyLouisiana–LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaESPN3ULL 31–1729,775
October 86:00 PMArkansas StateLouisiana–MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaASU 24–1915,027
October 86:30 PMFlorida AtlanticNorth TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TexasSun Belt NetworkUNT 31–1713,142
October 82:00 PMFlorida InternationalAkronInfoCision Stadium – Summa Field • Akron, OhioW 27–1716,016

Players of the Week[22]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Chris Masson Louisiana-Lafayette Kelcie McCray Arkansas State Don Jones Arkansas State

Week Seven
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 154:00 PMWestern KentuckyFlorida AtlanticFAU Football Stadium • Boca Raton, FloridaWKU 20–029,103
October 154:00 PMNorth TexasLouisiana–LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaESPN3ULL 30–1032,823
October 156:00 PMLouisiana–MonroeTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AlabamaESPN3ULM 38–1019,818

Players of the Week[23]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Kolton Browning Louisiana-Monroe Lance Kelley (2) Louisiana-Lafayette Mitchell Bailey Louisiana-Monroe

Week Eight
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 187:00 PMFlorida InternationalArkansas StateASU Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasESPN2ASU 34–1615,573
October 223:00 PMLouisiana–LafayetteWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KentuckyWKU 42–2315,122
October 224:00 PMLouisiana–MonroeNorth TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TexasUNT 38–2117,815
October 228:00 PMMiddle TennesseeFlorida AtlanticFAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FloridaSun Belt NetworkMTSU 38–1416,344

Players of the Week[24]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Bobby Rainey Western Kentucky Eric Russell Middle Tennessee Luther Ambrose Louisiana-Monroe

Week Nine
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 258:00 PMTroyFlorida InternationalFIU Stadium • MiamiESPN2FIU 23–20 OT15,852
October 292:30 PMWestern KentuckyLouisiana–MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaWKU 31–28 OT13,428
October 296:00 PMNorth TexasArkansas StateASU Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasASU 37–1419,761
October 296:30 PMLouisiana–LafayetteMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeSun Belt NetworkULL 45–2013,500

Players of the Week[25]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Alonzo Harris Louisiana-Lafayette Melvin White Louisiana-Lafayette Jack Griffin FIU

Week Ten
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 52:30 PMTroyNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MarylandCBS Sports NetworkL 14–4233,359
November 56:00 PMMiddle TennesseeTennesseeNeyland Stadium • Knoxville, TennesseeFox Sports SouthL 0–2488,211
November 52:30 PMLouisiana–MonroeLouisiana–LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LouisianaSun Belt NetworkULL 36–3528,176
November 53:00 PMFlorida InternationalWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KentuckyWKU 10–915,293
November 56:00 PMArkansas StateFlorida AtlanticFAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FloridaASU 39–2115,162

Players of the Week[26]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Ryan Aplin (2) Arkansas State Devon Lewis-Buchanon Louisiana-Lafayette Brett Baer (2) Louisiana-Lafayette

Week Eleven
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 126:00 PMWestern Kentucky#1 LSUTiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LouisianaESPNUL 9–4292,917
November 1212:00 PMNorth TexasTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AlabamaSun Belt NetworkUNT 38-3317,103
November 122:00 PMLouisiana-LafayetteArkansas StateASU Stadium • Jonesboro, ArkansasESPN3ASU 30-2120,261
November 122:30 PMMiddle TennesseeLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaULM 42-1411,987
November 125:00 PMFlorida AtlanticFlorida InternationalFIU Stadium • MiamiFIU 41-717,378

Players of the Week[27]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Derek Thompson North Texas Brandon Joiner Arkansas State T.Y. Hilton (3) Florida International

Week Twelve
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 192:00 PMArkansas StateMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeESPN3ASU 45-1912,806
November 192:30 PMFlorida AtlanticTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AlabamaTroy 34-714,342
November 194:00 PMFlorida InternationalLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LouisianaFIU 28-1710,587
November 196:00 PMWestern KentuckyNorth TexasApogee Stadium • Denton, TexasSun Belt NetworkWKU 31-2117,011

Players of the Week[28]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Bobby Rainey (2) Western Kentucky Jonathan Cyprien Florida International Luther Ambrose (2) Louisiana-Monroe

Week Thirteen
DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 2611:30 PMTroyWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KentuckySun Belt NetworkWKU 41-1815,432
November 262:30 PMFlorida InternationalMiddle TennesseeJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TennesseeFIU 31-1810,227
November 263:00 PMLouisiana-LafayetteArizonaArizona Stadium • Tucson, ArizonaL 37-4538,819
November 263:00 PMUABFlorida AtlanticFAU Stadium • Boca Raton, FloridaW 38-3512,044

Players of the Week[29]

Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team
Bobby Rainey (3) Western Kentucky Jemarlous Moten Louisiana-Lafayette Brett Baer (3) Louisiana-Lafayette

Bowl Games

The Sun Belt placed 3 teams in bowl games with 4 teams being bowl eligible in 2011. Western Kentucky was the only bowl eligible team not selected.

NOTE: All times are local.

BowlDateTimeSBC team (Record)Opponent (Record)SiteTVResultAttendance
2011 R+L Carriers New Orleans BowlDecember 177:00 PMLouisiana-Lafayette (8-4)San Diego State (8-4)Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New OrleansESPNW 32-3042,841
2011 Beef O'Brady's Bowl St. PetersburgDecember 208:00 PMFlorida International (8-4)Marshall (6-6)Ford Field • DetroitESPNL 10-2020,072
2012 GoDaddy.com BowlJanuary 88:00 PMArkansas State (10-2)Northern Illinois (10-3)Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AlabamaESPNL 20-3838,734

Home attendance
Team Stadium (Capacity) Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Total Average % of Capacity
Arkansas State ASU Stadium (30,964) 29,872 27,918 15,573 19,761 20,261 113,385 22,677 73.2%
Florida Atlantic FAU Football Stadium (30,000) 29,103 16,344 15,162 12,044 72,652 18,163 60.5%
FIU FIU Stadium (23,500) 17,568 20,205 16,780 22,682 15,852 17,378 110,465 18,411 78.3%
Louisiana–Lafayette Cajun Field (31,000) 28,741 26,339 29,775 32,823 28,176 145,854 29,171 94.1%
Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium (30,427) 26,532 15,027 13,428 11,987 10,587 77,561 15,512 51.0%
Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium (30,788) 30,502 20,098 23,307 13,500 12,806 10,277 110,490 18,415 59.8%
North Texas Apogee Stadium (30,850) 28,075 21,181 13,142 17,815 17,011 97,224 19,445 63.0%
Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium (30,000) 20,185 18,044 19,818 17,103 14,342 89,492 17,898 59.7%
Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium (22,000) 19,409 15,793 10,813 15,122 15,293 15,432 91,862 15,310 69.6%

References
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