Somehow, Conference USA sure seems like it's been around longer than just five years. Maybe the fact they score upsets regularly keeps making everyone take notice of them. Take last season, for example. There was the time Cincinnati knocked off Wisconsin17-12. And don't forget when East Carolina tripped up Miami 27-23. They're always around and they're getting better.

Southern Miss should be the class of the conference and steal a spot in the Top 25 before its all over. There are also teams making their way to respectability in Houston, East Carolina, Louisville and Cincinnati.

They're only five, but they sure grow up fast, don't they?

Alabama-Birmingham Blazers
1999 record: 5-6
Coach: Watson Brown
Returning starters: 17 (9 offense, 8 defense)

Outlook: With 16 starters back, the Blazers were feeling pretty good after spring practice. Yes, there were questions, but Brown seemed to get most of the answers. The Blazers know they're set on the line, especially on the left side with Tony Dollison and Preston Frey. Percy Coleman will lead a rushing attack that's deep and was running so well in the spring Brown pulled the plug and started work on the passing game. Quarterback Daniel Dixon was sharp and Brown was excited about the play of his receivers, especially Leron Little who showed signs of being the home run threat Brown wants.

	Season Openers
	Team	Date	Opponent
	UAB	9/7	Chattanooga
	Army	9/2	at Cincinnati
	Cincinnati	9/2	Army
	East Carolina	9/2	at Duke
	Houston	9/2	at Rice
	Louisville	9/2	Kentucky
	Memphis	9/2	Miss. State
	Southern Miss	9/2	at Tennessee
	Tulane	9/2	at Mississippi

Defensively, UAB is a veteran group. The line returns all four starters and while the linebackers took a hit, MLB Adrian Abrams looks like he's ready for a big season. The secondary has depth, but no real stars. The Blazers will need this unit to tighten up by the season opener.

Question mark: Will the secondary stop anyone? Last year, they had a safety valve in CB Rodregis Brooks, but he's in the NFL now and the Blazers are on their own. How well this group plays will determine if UAB gets a winning record.

Keep an eye on: RB Percy Coleman. With the passing game a question mark, Coleman will carry a big load. He's good enough to handle it.

Army Cadets
1999 record: 4-7
Coach: Todd Berry
Returning starters: 11 (5 offense, 6 defense)

Outlook: Army attacking through the air? What in McArthur's name is going on here? Berry's first year and he's already ditching the option and opening things up. The problem is that's like asking a tank to fly. Quarterback Joe Gerena will try to remember how to throw a spiral and will likely share time with Chad Jenkins. Alton McCallum will become the lone running back, but expect to see plenty of the speedy sophomores Josh Holden and Brian Todd to contrast McCallum's bruising style. The receivers, of course, love the new offense. Hey, it beats blocking a linebacker. The line is still learning the subtleties of pass blocking versus the smash mouth style of run blocking. They'll get it, eventually.

Defensively, the line looked good this spring, but they are hoping Ron Sporer, their best pass rusher, returns from a shoulder injury. In the new "4-4" scheme, the key role is the sniper (now that's an army term). This assignment falls to Brian Zickefoose and Derrick Goodwin, a pair of former safeties who have the speed and pop to make things happen. The secondary is suspect and they'll see plenty of bombs this fall.

Question mark: Who will run the offense? Gerena threw for over 600 yards, but he's not exactly Dan Marino. This will be a two-headed QB and Berry will ride the hot guy, if there ever is one.

Keep an eye on: RB Alton McCallum. You can take the option out of the offense, but that doesn't mean they won't run the ball. McCallum is a bruiser and will still get his carries and yards.

Cincinnati Bearcats
1999 record: 3-8
Coach: Rick Minter
Returning starters: 18 (10 offense, 8 defense)

Outlook: Forgive Cincinnati fans if they're just giggling all the time. Normally, the only excitement this time of year is watching the NBA draft to see where the Bearcats basketball players are being drafted. Instead, Cincinnati's football team has caught their attention. The offense is loaded in all the right places with QB Deontey Kenner, five starting lineman and eight receivers with experience back in an offense that features the pass. While they are waiting until fall workouts to name a starting tailback, remember Ray Jackson's name. The Michigan transfer was set to start for the Wolverines before a broken ankle sidelined him. He is back at full strength and looks like a Big Ten style running back, which is a nice feature to have in C-USA.

Defensively, the front seven is solid and gives Cincinnati hope. Tackle Mario Monds is a machine inside and makes an average line good. Minter loves his linebackers, especially Eddie Johnson and Troy Evans, who teamed up for 209 tackles last season and will likely match that number this season. The secondary gets three new starters, but returns leader DeJuan Gossett.

Question mark: How many school records will Kenner leave with? He's already in the top five in most passing categories and with the offense opening up even more, he'll be on or near the top by the end of this season.

Keep an eye on: DT Mario Monds. Monds, 6-4, 335 pounds, is already labeled a sure fire first-round NFL pick and that after being hobbled by a knee injury last season. He's healthy again and will have scouts drooling this fall.

East Carolina Pirates
1999 record: 9-3
Coach: Steve Logan
Returning starters: 15 (9 offense, 6 defense)

	Louisville will have its hands full with East Carolina QB David Garrard.

Outlook: The Pirates finished the spring feeling pretty good. And why not? They could be one of the surprise teams of the fall. Before we get too far ahead of things, there are some concerns. The secondary is a weak point and the efforts to replace CBs Kevin Monroe and Forresse Foster was not a complete success. And the receivers aren't the best, either. But other than that, there are a lot of positives. Quarterback David Garrard had a great sophomore season, a better spring and looks on the verge of joining the top-tier quarterbacks. While he needs to cut down on his interceptions, he has a good arm and might be the team's best runner. Logan expects his team to run the ball well and RBs Jamie Wilson and Leonard Henry will make sure that happens. Wilson is the better of the bunch, but both will play. East Carolina was hoping someone would step forward and become the main man in the receiving corps, but no one did. The good news is the line returns four starters, which means Gerrard should have some time to wait for his receivers to get open.

Defensively, the front seven is strong. The line is anchored by NG Mbayo Ahmadu, who is a sure fire all-conference pick. LB Pernell Griffin is a playmaker and leads a very good linebacker group. The secondary is iffy, at best. Sophomore Anthony Adams is the lone returner and this is the area that could bring a pretty good team down a notch.

Question mark: Will sheer numbers overcome a true star in the secondary? The Pirates will run a slew of defenders at opponents, but East Carolina will need someone, anyone to emerge as the star of the backfield.

Keep an eye on: ILB Pernell Griffin. He hits. He covers. He runs well. Griffin has the size (6-3, 240 pounds) and power to be a special player.

Houston Cougars
1999 record: 7-4
Coach: Dana Dimel
Returning starters: 10 (6 offense, 4 defense)

Outlook: The ghosts of David Klingler and Andre Ware live! Former Wyoming offensive coordinator Dimel brought his air it out attack -- don't call it the run and shoot -- to Houston and while the offense struggled at first with the changes, by the end of the spring, Dimel was smiling. Quarterback Jason McKinley, a four-year starter, picked up the offense quickly and will have a chance to showcase a strong arm with this offense. Even better for him is the deep, experienced receiving unit he has to throw to this year. Orlando Iglesias and Brandon Middleton are returning starters and Jerrian James, who missed last season with a broken leg, give the Cougars three quality receivers. The running game will feature the steady Leif Penn and eye-opening sophomore Joffrey Reynolds. Dimel, despite his love for the pass, insists his team runs the ball, so Penn and Reynolds will get carries. The line is replacing three starters and the Cougars are waiting until the fall when juco transfers and freshman join the mix to finalize the lineup, which is not necessarily a good thing.

Though the defense lost seven starters, this is still the strength of the team thanks to some big play players. Tackle Nikka Anderson will help a mediocre line get better and LB Wayne Rogers had a great spring and showed why he's the leader of the defense. The Cougars are set at CB with Jason Parker and Will Pettis, but there are some worries about the safeties.

Question mark: Will the offensive line be ready by the fall? There are too many questions leaving spring, but Dimel will need to get this together in order to get this high powered offense running.

Keep an eye on: WR Orlando Inglesias. In this offense, he could be hotter than Enrique by the end of the season.

Louisville Cardinals
1999 record: 7-5
Coach: John L. Smith
Returning starters: 12 (5 offense, 7 defense)

Outlook: The spring gave the Cardinals a chance to see what kind of hand they have after losing QB Chris Redman, RB Frank Moreau and a handful of experienced lineman and receivers. Mike Watkins has the early hold on the QB slot, but sophomore Dave Ragone and redshirt freshman Gerry Ahrens will be right behind him in case he makes a mistake. The loss of Moreau is a tough one as the trio of running backs combined for just 76 yards last season. The good news is when they have to throw on those third and longs, WR Arnold Jackson will be around. An all-american candidate, Jackson has good speed and great hands and will make the transition for Watkins or any other QB easier. The line is still trying to figure out who will play the tackle positions.

Defensively, there are a few guys here who can make plays. The line suffered a blow when DT Donovan Arp suffered a torn Achilles' tendon and is iffy for the start of the season. Linebacker Michael Brown had a great spring and teams with Rashad Harris to give the Cardinals a little punch there. The secondary keeps improving. The corners are set with Rashad Holman and Antonio Roundtree and the safeties, leaving spring, are Anthony Floyd and the much improved Curry Burns.

Question mark: Can the offense overcome the loss of Redman? Watkins is solid, but don't be too surprised if one of the youngsters is in the lineup before too long.

Keep an eye on: WR Arnold Jackson. He has the moves and the speed to make things happen. Unfortunately for Louisville, he'll need to just about every game or else.

Memphis Tigers
1999 record:5-6
Coach: Rip Scherer
Returning starters: 14 (5 offense, 9 defense)

Outlook: With a defense that could be one of the better ones in the conference, the Tigers went into the spring looking for offense. They're still looking. Junior Neil Suber and Travis Anglin were supposed to wage a battle for the QB slot, but Anglin had a shoulder injury all spring so that battle was pushed back to the fall. The running back situation is just as cloudy with Jeff Sanders listed as the starter, but FB Darche Epting played a little tailback this spring and the coaches like the way the 233-pounder runs. He could see more time at tailback. The receivers are non-descript and the line was banged up during the spring. In other words, there are a lot of questions going into the fall.

Defensively, there's some good news. The line returns four starters, highlighted by Marcus Bell, a 305-pound nose tackle. Linebacker Kamal Shakir is one of the best in the conference and the secondary features four players who can hit like linebackers. Unfortunately, they're not linebackers. They are improving in the coverage aspect, but it still needs some work.

Question mark: What will the offense be like in the fall? There are questions at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and offensive line. That's not good.

Keep an eye on: LB Kamal Shakir. He is an aggressive player who makes the Tiger defense go.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles
1999 record: 9-3
Coach: Jeff Bower
Returning starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense)

Outlook: The Golden Eagles have dominated C-USA with a 17-1 record over the past three years and this spring didn't give anyone a reason to think it won't continue. Quarterback Jeff Kelly was 9th in the nation in passing efficiency last season and played just as solid this spring. The running game is in good hands with Derrick Nix and the line returns four starters. They're young, with four sophomores on the line, but they'll be a good bunch. Southern Miss is looking for receivers, after losing Sherrod Gideon and Todd Pinkston to graduation and John Floyd, who was dismissed for breaking team rules. This open audition will continue in the fall.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles feature the best secondary in the conference. The safeties are quick and make receivers think twice about catching the ball in front of them. The cornerbacks, Raymond Walls and Keon Moore, are solid cover guys. The questions come from the line, where the Golden Eagles look for someone to team up with the Sultan of Sack Cedric Scott and the linebackers, where only Roy Magee returns.

Question mark: Why did they schedule Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma State to start the season? Obviously, they don't talk to the Kansas State people very often. If the Golden Eagles can snag one win here, their confidence will be soaring as they head into conference play.

Keep an eye on: RB Derrick Nix. The junior finished with over 1,000 yards on 255 carries last season and with the lack of receivers, he'll get even more carries and yards this year.

Tulane Green Wave
1999 record: 3-8
Coach: Chris Scelfo
Returning starters: 19 (8 offense, 11 defense)

Outlook: This spring, Tulane did the obvious - they passed the ball. But Scelfo was also pleased with the progress his running game made. That's not saying they're the best in the conference or even the upper half, but baby steps to a balanced offense. Scelfo will still rely on QB Patrick Ramsey to move this team. The talented junior threw for over 3,400 yards and 25 TDs last year and will need to chuck the ball just as much since the running game still needs some work. But they're trying. Jeff Sanchez earned the starting running back job, but Genario Reshard and Toney Converse will get some carries. The Green Wave is loaded at receiver, led by senior Adrian Burnette. The line returns four starters and after proving they know how to pass block, they actually did some run blocking this spring so they have that going for them, which is nice.

Defensively, everyone returns, but there is still some work to be done. The line needs to get tougher, as they were pushed around last season and in the spring. Jerry Phillips leads a linebacker unit that will make the bulk of the tackles for Tulane. The secondary showed it can tackle last season, but the fact they had to make all the tackles is not a good thing.

Question mark: Will the D-Line do its job? If they don't improve going into the fall, Tulane will have a long season.

Keep an eye on: QB Patrick Ramsey. He'll still throw too many interceptions, but he has the arm to make things happen. The Green Wave will only go as far as Ramsey takes them.

Joe Wojciechowski is the college football editor at ESPN.com