Steve Campbell ticked off a couple of reasons Wednesday in Lake Charles, La., about why his debut last season as the University of Central Arkansas' football coach was a successful one.
UCA's offense led the Southland Conference and ranked fourth in the Football Championship Subdivision in scoring (40.7 points per game) and was second in the conference in passing (282.2 yards per game).
Southland Conference
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Sam Houston State;98 (8)
SE Louisiana;79 (1)
McNeese State;79 (1)
Stephen F. Austin;73
NW (La.) State;60
Central Arkansas;57 (1)
Abilene Christian;49
Lamar;46
Incarnate Word;26
Nicholls State;16
Houston Baptist;15
SID POLL
Sam Houston State;99 (9)
Stephen F. Austin;87
SE Louisiana;77
McNeese State;75 (1)
Central Arkansas;66 (1)
Northwestern (La.) State;51
Abilene Christian;48
Lamar;41
Incarnate Word;25
Nicholls State;20
Houston Baptist;12
That offense also committed 20 turnovers, a total that isn't among the top four in the Southland but still too many for Campbell's taste.
"The thing we need to do is continue with the offensive production but cut down on the amount of turnovers," Campbell said while speaking at the Southland Conference's media day event.
League sports information directors and coaches thought enough of the Bears to pick them fifth and sixth, respectively in preseason polls released Wednesday. The Bears received one first-place vote in each poll but were behind Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese State in the sports information directors' poll. Sam Houston State was picked as the favorite by the coaches, too.
Campbell took it as a compliment to be picked in the middle of a conference that sent three teams -- Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana -- to the FCS playoffs last season.
"It's recognizing that there is some outstanding talent on this football team," Campbell said. "The pieces of the puzzle are there. It's there, and I think some people realize that we've got a chance to compete for a championship."
If a couple of small tweaks are made, that is.
The Bears lost a starting quarterback, their leading rusher, their leading receiver and three starters on the offensive line, but Campbell spoke confidently about an offense expected to be led by quarterback Taylor Reed, who split time as a starter last season.
The Bears return the league's defensive player of the year in Jonathan Woodard, and Campbell mentioned his excitement about the addition of Rostell King, a transfer from Highland (Kan.) Community College. Campbell hopes King can help improve the pass rush for a team that ranked eighth in the Southland in sacks (23).
"You've got Jonathan coming off one end and we've tried to help ourselves with a little more pass rush coming off the other end," Campbell said. "We added some girth on the inside, and we feel like we've addressed those needs."
UCA doesn't play its first home game until Oct. 3 when it hosts Abilene Christian. It starts the season at Samford, heads to Oklahoma State the next week, then the Bears are off a week before playing at Northwestern (La.) State. UCA also will play all three Southland teams that made the playoffs last season in Conway.
UCA hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Oct. 31, Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 7 and Sam Houston State on Nov. 21.
"Once the first three are over, the schedule really flips in our favor," Campbell said. "You've got a lot of good football teams that are coming to Conway. It's a tremendous challenge, but it also presents a tremendous opportunity for us."
Sports on 07/30/2015