Sports 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 .
The 2011 season was last with nine members as South Alabama became the conference's tenth member for the 2012 season.
The following Sun Belt players were named to preseason award watch lists.
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.
Florida International – 75 (5)
Troy – 66 (2)
Middle Tennessee – 54
Louisiana–Monroe – 22
Arkansas State – 49 (1)
North Texas – 33
Western Kentucky – 28 (1)
Louisiana–Lafayette – 26
Florida Atlantic – 20
Preseason All–Conference Team[ edit ]
The conference's head coaches selected their all–conference team during media days.[ 14]
Offense
QB Corey Robinson–Troy
RB Lance Dunbar –North Texas
RB Bobby Rainey–Western Kentucky
WR Dwayne Frampton–Arkansas State
WR T. Y. Hilton –FIU
WR Luther Ambrose–ULM
TE Ladarius Green–ULL
OL Tom Castilaw–Arkansas State
OL Caylin Hauptmann –FIU
OL Ryan McCaul–ULM
OL Matt Tomlinson–North Texas
OL James Brown–Troy
OL Wes Jeffries–Western Kentucky
Defense
DL Dorvus Woods–Arkansas State
DL Tourek Williams–FIU
DL Ken Dorsey–ULM
DL Jonathan Massaquoi–Troy
LB Demario Davis–Arkansas State
LB Winston Fraser–FIU
LB Xavier Lamb–Troy
DB Kelcie McCray–Arkansas State
DB Jonathan Cyprien–FIU
DB Marcus Bartels–FAU
DB Darius Prelow–ULM
Specialists
PK Alan Gendreau –Middle Tennessee
P Mickey Groody–FAU
KR T.Y. Hilton–FIU
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.
NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season
Sun Belt vs. BCS matchups [ edit ]
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.
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 1
7:00 PM
North Texas
Florida International
FIU Stadium • Miami
ESPN3
FIU 41–16
17,568
September 1 ^
8:15 PM
Kentucky
Western Kentucky
LP Field • Nashville, Tennessee
ESPNU
L 3–14
24,599
September 3
11:00 AM
Middle Tennessee
Purdue
Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana
BTN
L 24–27
42,110
September 3
2:30 PM
Arkansas State
Illinois
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois
BTN
L 15–33
45,154
September 3
2:30 PM
Louisiana–Monroe
#5 Florida State
Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida
ESPNU
L 0–34
72,226
September 3
2:30 PM
Troy
Clemson
Memorial Stadium • Clemson, South Carolina
ESPN3
L 19–43
74,135
September 3
6:00 PM
Louisiana–Lafayette
#8 Oklahoma State
Boone Pickens Stadium • Stillwater, Oklahoma
FSN
L 34–61
55,382
September 3
7:00 PM
Florida Atlantic
#23 Florida
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, Florida
ESPNU
L 3–41
88,708
^ 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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 9
7:00 PM
Florida International
Louisville
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky
ESPN
W 24–17
47,228
September 10
12:00 PM
Florida Atlantic
#16 Michigan State
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, Michigan
ESPN2
L 0–44
70,249
September 10
6:00 PM
Memphis
Arkansas State
ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas
W 47–3
29,872
September 10
6:00 PM
Louisiana–Lafayette
Kent State
Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio
W 20–12
10,386
September 10
6:00 PM
Grambling State
Louisiana–Monroe
Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana
W 35–7
26,532
September 10
6:00 PM
Georgia Tech
Middle Tennessee
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
ESPN3
L 21–49
30,502
September 10
6:00 PM
Houston
North Texas
Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas
ESPN3
L 23–48
28,075
September 10
6:00 PM
Navy
Western Kentucky
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky
ESPN3
L 14–40
19,409
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 17
1:00 PM
Louisiana–Monroe
#23 TCU
Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas
The Mtn.
L 17–38
32,719
September 17
3:00 PM
Arkansas State
#12 Virginia Tech
Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia
FSN
L 7–26
66,233
September 17
6:00 PM
UCF
Florida International
FIU Stadium • Miami, Florida
ESPN3
W 17–10
20,205
September 17
6:00 PM
Nicholls State
Louisiana–Lafayette
Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana
ESPN3
W 38–21
28,741
September 17
6:00 PM
Indiana State
Western Kentucky
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky
ESPN3
L 16–44
15,793
September 17
6:30 PM
North Texas
#2 Alabama
Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama
FSN
L 0–41
101,821
September 17
6:30 PM
Troy
#13 Arkansas
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, Arkansas
CSS
L 28–38
69,861
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 24
11:00 AM
Louisiana–Monroe
Iowa
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa
BTN
L 17–45
70,585
September 24
3:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
Troy
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama (Battle for the Palladium )
Sun Belt Network
TROY 38–35
20,185
September 24
6:00 PM
Louisiana–Lafayette
Florida International
FIU Stadium • Miami, Florida
ESPN3
ULL 36–31
16,780
September 24
6:00 PM
Florida Atlantic
Auburn
Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama
FS South
L 14–30
82,249
September 24
6:00 PM
Indiana
North Texas
Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas
ESPN3
W 24–21
21,181
September 24
7:00 PM
Central Arkansas
Arkansas State
ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas
KATV
W 53–24
27,918
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]
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 1
3:00 PM
Arkansas State
Western Kentucky
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky
Sun Belt Network
ASU 26–22
10,813
October 1
6:00 PM
Florida Atlantic
Louisiana–Lafayette
Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana
ESPN3
ULL 37–34
26,339
October 1
6:00 PM
Duke
Florida International
FIU Stadium • Miami, Florida
ESPNU
L 27–31
22,682
October 1
6:00 PM
Memphis
Middle Tennessee
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
ESPN3
W 38–31
20,098
October 1
6:00 PM
North Texas
Tulsa
Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, Oklahoma
L 24–41
21,240
October 1
6:00 PM
UAB
Troy
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama
SportSouth
W 24–23
18,044
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]
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 6
6:30 PM
Western Kentucky
Middle Tennessee
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
ESPNU
WKU 36–33
23,307
October 8
6:00 PM
Troy
Louisiana–Lafayette
Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana
ESPN3
ULL 31–17
29,775
October 8
6:00 PM
Arkansas State
Louisiana–Monroe
Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana
ASU 24–19
15,027
October 8
6:30 PM
Florida Atlantic
North Texas
Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas
Sun Belt Network
UNT 31–17
13,142
October 8
2:00 PM
Florida International
Akron
InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field • Akron, Ohio
W 27–17
16,016
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 15
4:00 PM
Western Kentucky
Florida Atlantic
FAU Football Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida
WKU 20–0
29,103
October 15
4:00 PM
North Texas
Louisiana–Lafayette
Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana
ESPN3
ULL 30–10
32,823
October 15
6:00 PM
Louisiana–Monroe
Troy
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama
ESPN3
ULM 38–10
19,818
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 18
7:00 PM
Florida International
Arkansas State
ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas
ESPN2
ASU 34–16
15,573
October 22
3:00 PM
Louisiana–Lafayette
Western Kentucky
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky
WKU 42–23
15,122
October 22
4:00 PM
Louisiana–Monroe
North Texas
Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas
UNT 38–21
17,815
October 22
8:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
Florida Atlantic
FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida
Sun Belt Network
MTSU 38–14
16,344
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 25
8:00 PM
Troy
Florida International
FIU Stadium • Miami
ESPN2
FIU 23–20 OT
15,852
October 29
2:30 PM
Western Kentucky
Louisiana–Monroe
Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana
WKU 31–28 OT
13,428
October 29
6:00 PM
North Texas
Arkansas State
ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas
ASU 37–14
19,761
October 29
6:30 PM
Louisiana–Lafayette
Middle Tennessee
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Sun Belt Network
ULL 45–20
13,500
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
November 5
2:30 PM
Troy
Navy
Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland
CBS Sports Network
L 14–42
33,359
November 5
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
Tennessee
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
Fox Sports South
L 0–24
88,211
November 5
2:30 PM
Louisiana–Monroe
Louisiana–Lafayette
Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana
Sun Belt Network
ULL 36–35
28,176
November 5
3:00 PM
Florida International
Western Kentucky
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky
WKU 10–9
15,293
November 5
6:00 PM
Arkansas State
Florida Atlantic
FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida
ASU 39–21
15,162
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
November 12
6:00 PM
Western Kentucky
#1 LSU
Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, Louisiana
ESPNU
L 9–42
92,917
November 12
12:00 PM
North Texas
Troy
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama
Sun Belt Network
UNT 38-33
17,103
November 12
2:00 PM
Louisiana-Lafayette
Arkansas State
ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas
ESPN3
ASU 30-21
20,261
November 12
2:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
Louisiana-Monroe
Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana
ULM 42-14
11,987
November 12
5:00 PM
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
FIU Stadium • Miami
FIU 41-7
17,378
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
November 19
2:00 PM
Arkansas State
Middle Tennessee
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
ESPN3
ASU 45-19
12,806
November 19
2:30 PM
Florida Atlantic
Troy
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, Alabama
Troy 34-7
14,342
November 19
4:00 PM
Florida International
Louisiana-Monroe
Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana
FIU 28-17
10,587
November 19
6:00 PM
Western Kentucky
North Texas
Apogee Stadium • Denton, Texas
Sun Belt Network
WKU 31-21
17,011
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
November 26
11:30 PM
Troy
Western Kentucky
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky
Sun Belt Network
WKU 41-18
15,432
November 26
2:30 PM
Florida International
Middle Tennessee
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
FIU 31-18
10,227
November 26
3:00 PM
Louisiana-Lafayette
Arizona
Arizona Stadium • Tucson, Arizona
L 37-45
38,819
November 26
3:00 PM
UAB
Florida Atlantic
FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida
W 38-35
12,044
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
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.
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%
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East Division West Division Championships & awards Seasons
Conference seasons Inter-conference All-Americans