Enemy Lines 2023: Sun Belt Foes Weigh In On ULM Football

NEW ORLEANS – ULMWarhawks.com worked the room and gathered assorted thoughts and comments from the opposition while attending Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days at the Sheraton Hotel.
A sample of what Sun Belt foes had to say about ULM football prior to the 2023 season:
South Alabama coach Kane Wommack
(USA at ULM, Oct. 7)
"I think the thing that has always impressed me about Louisiana Monroe is you can never count 'em out of the game. I think we went up 41-20 at one point in the game last year and they fought back. When you've got an impressive player like Tyrone Howell that can make plays in one-on-one matchups against a very good defensive back like we had in Darrell Luter, that's a scary opponent to have to deal with. They find creative ways to get him in those one-on-one matchups, along with other offensive weapons spreading you out. That's really challenging.
"I've had two difficult experiences at that stadium in Monroe, once as a defensive coordinator in 2016 (ULM won 42-35 in OT at Malone Stadium) and then certainly in 2021 (ULM won 41-31 at Malone Stadium). Offensively, I thought Monroe did a tremendous job of moving the ball down the field on us. It's one that's on our minds and our players will hopefully be prepared for the task at hand because Monroe plays really well at home."
Texas State coach G.J. Kinne
(ULM at Texas State, Oct. 14)
"I'm so new to the Sun Belt, I'm anxious to see what they're doing. Obviously, I know Coach Bowden and what kind of job he does. They are very similar to us. They have a bunch of new faces, so I don't think anyone really knows what they're going to look like until they get a couple of games into it. They are very similar to us."
Southern Miss coach Will Hall
(ULM at Southern Miss, Nov. 4)
"I've got a lot of respect for Coach Bowden. He's won everywhere he's been. I've known him since my youth. I grew up going to the Bowden quarterback and receiver academy. My dad became good friends with him, and Tommy, his brother. When I got done with college, I worked with Terry at that camp. When I was the head coach at West Alabama, he was the head coach at North Alabama.
"He's got Vic Koenning there and Matt Kubik as his coordinators and they are great guys that have done so many good things throughout their careers. They're building it the right way and were so close last year to getting to bowl eligibility. They'll continue to grow and grow, just like we're doing at Southern Miss."
Troy coach Jon Sumrall
(Troy at ULM, Nov. 11)
"I think it's a hard place to play. It's not an easy trip just getting there and those sorts of things make it challenging. With the leadership you have there currently with John Hartwell as the AD and Terry (Bowden) as the head coach, I think you've got guys that know what they're doing and have seen a lot of different things in college athletics and the landscape of college football. They're well-versed in that and I have a lot of respect for them. I think highly of what they are doing and how they are going about it."
Louisiana Lafayette coach Michael Desormeaux
(ULM at ULL, Nov. 25)
"The biggest thing is, they are really well coached on both sides of the ball. Defensively and offensively, they've got good schemes. They're sound and they play hard too. They play with pride. Any time we play those guys, it's always going to be one of those games where it comes down to making a few plays in the end to make a difference. Last year when we played Monroe, those guys played really hard and they made some plays in the end whenever we didn't and found a way to win (ULM won 21-17 at Malone Stadium). That's a sign of a team that's got some life when you fight for it like that. Every time you play 'em, you just knew schematically, you better be ready."