GORE: League of change should be won by familiar team

McNeese looks to be the favorite in Southland for 2008 campaign By KEVIN GORE Sentinel Staff The Southland Conference football race could be an example of the more things change, the more they stay the same. While change is consistent in the league — new teams settling in, another (Lamar) on its way in a few years and one team (SFA) with wholesale remodeling — it's hard to go against old reliable McNeese State. An 11-0 team in the regular season last year, McNeese defeated second-place Central Arkansas in the season finale to win the outright title. That's how I see the SLC shaking out again this season — McNeese on top of a hard-charging and improving Central Arkansas program. Right on their heels is Sam Houston, which returns quarterback Rhett Bomar in hopes of contending. The rest of the race features a hodge-podge of... [read full story]