INDEPENDENTS

NOTRE DAME
2003: 5-7 overall.
Coach: Tyrone Willingham: At Notre Dame: 15-10, 2 years; Overall: 59-46-1, 9 years.
Returning starters: 15; 8 offense, 6 defense, kicker.
Players to watch: QB Brady Quinn, RB Ryan Grant, WR Maurice Stovall, DE Justin Tuck, WR Rhema McKnight, DE Victor Abiamiri, LB Mike Goolsby.
Primary strengths: The big boys upfront should be the strength of this year's team, which should bode well for the offense. Four starters return and should provide better protection for Quinn (1,831 yards passing, 9 TDs, 15 ints., 47.3 pct. Completions last year). Abiamiri and Tuck should provide a strong pass rush on defense.
Overview: After winning his first eight games at Notre Dame in the 2002 season, Willingham was hailed as a savior. But now many Irish fans are wondering if he is the right person for the job.
Schedule:
Sep. 4 at BYU, 9:15 p.m.
Sep. 11 Michigan, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 18 at Michigan St., 7 p.m.
Sep. 25 Washington, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 Purdue, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 Stanford, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 Navy, Noon
Oct. 23 Boston College, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 at Tennessee, TBA
Nov. 13 Pittsburgh, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Southern Cal, 8 p.m.
NAVY
2003: 8-5 overall
Coach: Paul Johnson: At Navy: 10-15; 2 years; Overall: 72-25, 7 years.
Returning starters: 15; 7 offense, 8 defense.
Players to watch: FB Kyle Eckel, SB Eric Roberts, QB Aaron Polanco, FS Josh Smith, OLB Lane Jackson, CB Lord Cole.
Primary strengths: Option offense should be in high gear, even with a new quarterback. Eckel (1,249 yards rushing, 10 TDs last year) is the nation's best short-yardage runner. Confidence is high, depth is adequate, the schedule is reasonable.
Overview: The Middies have the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 1981, sweeping Air Force and Army last year. There are enough returning starters and momentum for Navy to be the best service academy again, and be bowl eligible to boot.
Schedule:
Sep. 4 Duke, 6 p.m.
Sep. 11 Northeastern, 1:30 p.m.
Sep. 18 at Tulsa, 7 p.m.
Sep. 25 Vanderbilt, 1:30 p.m.
Sep. 30 at Air Force, 7:45 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Notre Dame, Noon
Oct. 23 Rice, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 Delaware, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 at Tulane, 7 p.m.
Nov. 20 Rutgers, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 Army, 2:30 p.m.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
2003: 11-3 overall at Division I-AA, lost to Colgate, 36-24, in I-AA semifinals.
Coach: Howard Schnellenberger: At Fla.-Atlantic, 17-18, 4 years; Overall: 100-77-3 in 14 years.
Returning starters: 20; 9 offense, 10 defense, kicker.
Players to watch: QB Jared Allen, RBs Anthony Jackson, Doug Parker, TE A Crissinger-Hill, LB Chris Laskowski, CB Wille Hughley, K Mark Myers.
Primary strengths: Allen (3,0003 yards passing, 24 TDs, 9 ints.) leads a capable offense that helped the Owls become the quickest start-up team to ever make the I-AA playoffs in only the FAU's third year of football. Jackson, Parker lead deep backfield. Hughley is a fine corner.
Overview: Schnellenberger has done remarkable job at the Boca Raton school. The step up in competition makes matching last year's win total impossible, but a winning record is not out of the question for the growing Owls.
Schedule:
Sep 4 at Hawaii, 12:05 a.m.
Sep 11 at North Texas, 7:05 p.m.
Sep 18 at Middle Tenn. St., 3 p.m.
Sep 25 Illinois State, 4 p.m.
Oct 9 at Texas State, 7 p.m.
Oct 16 at Northern Colorado, tba
Oct 23 Louisiana Monroe, 4 p.m.
Oct 30 at Florida A & amp;M, 4 p.m.
Nov 6 at Troy State, 3 p.m.
Nov 13 New Mexico State, 4 p.m.
Nov 20 Florida Intl, 4 p.m.
Nov 27 Edward Waters, 4 p.m.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
2003: 2-10 overall at Division I-AA.
Coach: Don Strock: At FIU and overall: 7-16 in 3 years.
Returning starters: 24; 11 offense, 11 defense, punter, kicker.
Players to watch: QB Josh Padrick, RB Adam Gorman, WRs Harold Leath, Cory McKinley, S John Haritan, S Nick Turnbull, LB Lance Preston, DE Mike Sherill.
Primary strengths: Padrick (2,393 yards passing, 12 TDs, 12 ints. last year) has talent while Leath leads deep receiving corps. Sherill, a transfer from Auburn, leads capable front seven. Haritan, Turnbull are good safety duo.
Overview: Former NFL QB Strock is patiently building quality program for the Miami school, which will eventually join Sun Belt Conference.
Schedule:
Sep 2 Jacksonville, 8 p.m.
Sep 11 at Youngstown State, 5 p.m.
Sep 25 Western Kentucky, 6 p.m.
Oct 2 La Lafayette, 6 p.m.
Oct 9 at Stephen F. Austin, 8 p.m.
Oct 16 at Louisiana Monroe, 3:30 p.m.
Oct 23 McNeese State, 6 p.m.
Oct 30 at New Mexico State, 8:05 p.m.
Nov 13 Georgia Southern, 11 a.m.
Nov 20 at Fla Atlantic, 4 p.m.
Nov 27 Florida A & amp;M, 1 p.m.
Lindy's Sports