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Independents: Exchanging gunslingers
By Stewart Mandel, CNN/SI
Louisiana Tech's Tim Rattay will be missing favorite target Troy Edwards this season.
Tom Hauck/Allsport
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Top
Storylines
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Replacing fixtures not exclusive to Golden Dome
| | Bob Davie's Fighting Irish have to replace four starting O-linemen and the school's all-time rushing leader ... but will still be expected to contend for a major bowl bid. Top receiver Troy Edwards is gone, but that's not stopping Louisiana Tech from touting QB Tim Rattay's All-American candidacy. Central Florida's I-A success goes the way of Daunte Culpepper for now - out of town.
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Going
Bowling
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Locks: Notre Dame
Maybes: Louisiana Tech, Central Florida
No
Way: Middle Tennessee State, Navy, Northeast Louisiana, Southwestern Louisiana
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Trev's Take
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CNN/SI's Trev Alberts offers his team to
watch
| | "It's going to be very tough for Bob Davie to match last season's success at Notre Dame. QB Jarious Jackson gives them a little something to bank on, and I like the move of Tony Driver back to offense, but the team is not very deep on defense and it lacks speed at receiver. It seems like every year you hear, 'Notre Dame signed 15 USA Today All-Americans,' but I'm not seeing any Tim Browns popping up. It's still Notre Dame, but with the schedule it plays, I see this being more like a seven-win team."
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Top Five Offensive
Players
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Tim Rattay, QB, Sr., Louisiana Tech
| | These numbers are Rattay's from 1998, and they are not a misprint: 4,943 yards and 46 touchdowns. We'll find out if he's for real off the bat, when Rattay faces Florida State and Texas A&M's defenses.
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QB Jarious Jackson, QB, Sr.,
Notre Dame
| | One of the country's most underrated players, Jackson's worth was proven when he hurt his knee and the Irish got blanked by USC without him.
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Tony Driver, RB, Jr.,
Notre Dame
| | Already a solid kick returner, Driver is moving back to tailback after playing safety last year.
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Joey Goodspeed, FB, Sr., Notre Dame
| | Carried the ball 29 times as a backup in '98, averaging 7 yards each time.
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Charles Lee, WR, Sr., Central Florida
State
| | If UCF can find someone to throw it to him, Lee has proven a stellar pass catcher despite limited duty.
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Top Five Defensive
Players
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Grant Irons, DE, Jr., Notre Dame
| | Younger brother of former Michigan LB Jarrett moves to end this year as part of Notre Dame's intimidating new four-man front.
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Lamont Bryant, DE, Sr., Notre Dame
| | Irons' substitute during late-season injury should be effective in predominately pass-rushing role.
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Jeff Fye, CB, Sr., Central Florida
| | Surprisingly tough bump-and-run defender considering he's 5-foot-8, 160 pounds.
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Anthony Weaver, DE, So., Notre Dame
| | Started 11 games as a true freshman, logging six tackles-for-loss in a left-end, pass-rushing role.
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Pat Dennis, CB, Jr., NE Louisiana
| | Dennis tied nation's best with seven interceptions last year.
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You Don't Know Him Yet, But...
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Gerome Sapp, DB, Fr.,
Notre Dame
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A consensus first-team All-American prepster and Notre Dame's top incoming recruit, Sapp figures to see immediate action as a nickel back and special teams player.
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Hot Coach
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Bobby Keasler,
Northeast Louisiana
| | The Indians' new coach arrives from McNeese State, where Keasler took his troops to seven Division I-AA playoffs, including the 1997 national championship game.
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Coach on the Hot
Seat
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Bob Davie, Notre Dame
| | Only in South Bend would a coach coming off a 9-2 season - and whose contract was recently extended -- be on the "hot seat," but it's technically a permanent condition.
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Secret Weapon
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Jabari Holloway, TE, Jr.,
Notre Dame
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Despite only 15 catches last year, the extremely athletic Holloway won't be a secret much longer as one of Notre Dame's only returning receivers.
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Mark Your
Calendar
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| Louisiana Tech at Florida State, Aug. 28 | | A year after throwing for 590 yards against defending co-national champ Nebraska, the Bulldogs begin '99 as Auburn's replacement vs. the '98 runner-up.
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| Notre Dame at Tennessee. Nov. 6 | | First matchup since the Vols stole one in South Bend, 35-34, in 1991.
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| Army vs. Navy, Dec. 4 | | It's the centennial installment of America's greatest rivalry, and the last one before moving from Philadelphia to Baltimore.
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Make sure to check out CNN/SI's previews of every Independent team on Aug. 11.
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