Team: University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM)
Conference: Sun Belt
Game Date: October 16 (Week 7)
Location: Malone Stadium – Monroe, Louisiana
Game History: Liberty and ULM met for the first time last season. The Flames came away with a dominate 40-7 victory.
Coach – Terry Bowden
The 2021 season will be Terry Bowden’s first with ULM. He comes to Monroe from Clemson where he spent two years as an offensive analyst for Dabo Swinney. He has ample head coaching experience though, working at both the FCS and FBS levels. In the 90’s, Bowden saw success as the coach at Auburn. He then dipped down into Division II to lead North Alabama before spending seven years at Akron. We should also mention Bowden is the son of one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, Bobby Bowden. After a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer, Bobby Bowden passed away this week at the age of 91.
2020 Record: 0-10. This was their worst finish since 2015.
2021 Outlook:
With the departure of Matt Viator and transfer of various players, the Warhawks find themselves in the midst of a rebuild. Others recognize this transitional time for the team as well as they’ve been selected to finish last in the Sun Belt in 2021. Terry Bowden’s arrival, along with new offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, bodes well for ULM’s offense. Rodriguez has spent time at Michigan, West Virginia, and, most recently, Arizona. Most offensive positions are in flux for the Warhawks, partially caused by the number of transfers arriving in Monroe. They have a few capable quarterbacks on the roster including 2020 starter Colby Suits, but he will be challenged by Arizona transplant Rhett Rodriguez, Rich’s son. The most glaring stat from last year is the 76 rush yards a game. While the offensive line is one of the more established groups on the offense, they have to improve in 2021 for a young inexperienced running back group. It’s evident there is lots of room for improvement for this offense that managed 16 points a game last season.
As far as ULM’s defense….there really isn’t a gentle way to put this…they were absolutely horrendous last season, allowing 465 yards a game. They also gave up 42 points a game, the 4th worst scoring defense in college football. Zac Alley, the youngest defensive coordinator in the FBS, comes to Monroe from Boise State with a lot of work ahead of him. Alley will depend heavily upon new transfers to get sacks and create turnovers for a team that failed to do so in 2021.
Offensive Player To Watch – Junior WR Perry Carter Jr.
While his career stats are not eye-popping, Perry Carter Jr. has improved each season. Last year he had 20 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs. Carter is in line to be the leading receiver for ULM this season.
Defensive Player To Watch – Senior LB Traveion Webster
Despite their defensive woes, the Warhawks get a important piece back for the 2021 season. In just nine games, Traveion Webster was the leading tackler for ULM. He had 79 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and a couple of sacks. Webster is a disrupter who makes his presence knows wherever he is on the field.
