FOUR G5 SCHOOLS TO WATCH IN 2014

ULL: One word, Mark Hudspeth. Hudspeth is simply a winner. Ull right now is the second best team in Louisiana. Ull should win the Sun Belt this year and could even be a dark horse for the Access Bowl . How long however, will ULL be able to hold onto Hudspeth? If ULL has another good year in 2014, don't look for him to stay long.

ECU: Ruffin Mcneill came to ECU with high expectations. A well liked coach and alumni of ECU, winning is personal to Coach Ruff. His first years in Greenville ,however, were hard ones, as he inherited a team depleted with talent. Ruff has spent the last few years stockpiling good athletes who are team centered and molded in Ruff's own image. Last year's 10 win season has given Pirate fans much to be thankful for. Look for ECU to surprise the AAC this year and win it.

MARSHALL: Marshall head coach, Doc Holliday, may be the best recruiter in the G5 world. At the very least he has an excellent pipeline to Florida ball players and he and the Marshall AD, Mike Hamrick,  have learned how to work the Prop loophole to their advantage. With a good season last year topped off with a win against Maryland in the Military Bowl, Marshall is looking like a team that could be very dangerous. Look for them to easily win Conf USA.

BOISE STATE: What is life going to be like post Chris Peterson, the zen football guru who guided Boise State to the pinnacle of the  G5 world. Bryan Harsin, the 37 year old new Boise State head coach, takes over a team where fan and player expectations are high. Boise State has officially become an unknown entity in the football world. Can they continue their impressive winning ways, or are they destined to go the way of all great teams who lose their mojo when their coach/ architect leaves. We shall see.