Richmond Spiders

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Head coach: Wayne Lineburg, 1st season at Richmond
2010 record: 6-5 overall, 4-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association
2010 NCAA playoffs: Did not qualify
2011 CAA media poll prediction: 6th place

The Spiders were forced to make sweeping changes to their coaching staff just days before the season was set to kick off. After Latrell Scott resigned on Aug. 23 in the wake of being charged with DUI, Wayne Lineburg is now tasked with returning Richmond to the kind of levels they reached in 2008, when the program brought home a national championship. Senior QB Aaron Corp is back after missing the latter half of last season with a knee injury, and his top target once again will be All-CAA wide receiver Tre Gray. The defense will look for another big season from defensive back Tremayne Graham, who is the Spiders active leader in tackles and interceptions.

2011 Schedule (All home games played at Robins Stadium, Richmond, Va.)
Sept. 3: at FBS Duke
Sept. 10: vs. Wagner
Sept. 17: vs. VMI
Sept. 24: vs. New Hampshire
Oct. 1: at James Madison
Oct. 8: at Towson
Oct. 22: vs. Maine
Oct. 29: vs. Massachusetts
Nov. 5: at Old Dominion
Nov. 12: at Delaware
Nov. 19: vs. William & Mary

Howard Bison

Head coach: Gary Harrell, 1st season at Howard
2010 record: 1-10 overall, 0-8 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
2010 NCAA playoffs: Did not qualify

New head coach Gary Harrell will be tasked with turning around a team that went winless in conference play and gave up over 37 points per game in 2010. Helping with that turnaround are a trio of All-MEAC candidates in senior wide receiver Willie Carter, junior linebacker Keith Pough and senior defensive end Sackie Kerkulah, who recorded four sacks for the Bison last season. Howard is young at quarterback, and the man responsible for getting the ball to Carter, the team’s leading returning receiver, is sophomore Jarad Dorsey, who appeared in three games in 2010.

2011 Schedule (All home games played at Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C.)
Sept. 3: at Eastern Michigan
Sept. 10: vs. Morehouse (at RFK Stadium)
Sept. 17: vs. Norfolk State
Sept. 24: at Morgan State
Oct. 1: at Savannah State
Oct. 8: at Florida A&M
Oct. 15: vs. Georgetown
Oct. 22: vs. North Carolina A&T
Oct. 29: vs. South Carolina State
Nov. 5: at Hampton
Nov. 19: at Delaware State

Georgetown Hoyas

Head coach: Kevin Kelly, 6th season at Georgetown
2010 record: 4-7 overall, 2-3 in the Patriot League
2010 NCAA playoffs: Did not qualify

Kevin Kelly’s 6th season at Georgetown will be led by a series of experienced players returning to help improve on the Hoyas’ four-win season in 2010. Coming back to lead the offense are a pair of quarterbacks who split time in last season. Senior Scott Darby was a two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week in 2010 while throwing for 1,338 yards in 11 games. Junior Isaiah Kempf also appeared in six games and actually had a better passer rating than Darby. However, the loss of three experienced starters the offensive line means a quick learning curve for the pass protectors. The Hoyas boast one of the top pass rushers in the Patriot League in senior defensive end Andrew Schaetzke, who led the conference in tackles for loss and second in sacks.

2011 Schedule (All home games played at Multi-Sport Field, Washington, D.C.)
Sept. 3: vs. Davidson
Sept. 10: vs. Lafayette
Sept. 17: at Yale
Sept. 24: at Marist
Oct. 1: at Bucknell
Oct. 8: at Wagner
Oct. 15: at Howard
Oct. 22: vs. Colgate
Oct. 29: at Holy Cross
Nov. 5: vs. Fordham
Nov. 12: at Lehigh