No Division I-A team has dominated its league like Marshall has the Mid-American Conference since joining in 1997.

	The Jags hope Byron Leftwich can learn the West Coast offense.

In its first four seasons as part of the MAC, the Thundering Herd posted a 27-5 record against conference opponents and won the league championship each season.

Things changed last year. Marshall swept its eight regular-season conference games, but was upset by Toledo in the MAC title game.

Figure on things going back to the way they were.

Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Byron Leftwich, Marshall is a heavy favorite to regain its grip on the MAC this season.

Coach Bob Pruett had mentored other outstanding quarterbacks in his six seasons at Marshall, but none may be better than Leftwich.

Last season, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Leftwich set new conference records for passing yards (4,132), completions (315) and total offense (4,224) while throwing 38 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions.

With nine starters back from an offense that averaged 37.3 points and a conference-record 505 yards a game, it's no wonder Marshall's sports information staff is sending out more than 1,000 Leftwich bobblehead dolls to push the senior's Heisman campaign.

Even with a questionable defense that allowed more than 416 yards a game last season, Marshall's opponents will find it hard to keep up with the Thundering Herd's pinball-scoring offense.

As if Marshall needed any more advantages, it opens the season knowing that the conference title game will be played at the home of the East Division champion. That was the case from 1997 to 2000, when the Thundering Herd won four straight MAC crowns.

If anybody pushes Marshall in the East, it figures to be conference newcomer Central Florida, who will fit right in with the MAC's high-scoring attacks.

The Golden Knights, returning nine starters on offense but only two on defense, will quickly measure how they stack up in the MAC. UCF opens its conference schedule on Sept. 20 at Marshall.

Miami and Kent State will challenge UCF for second place in the East. Akron, Ohio and Buffalo will follow those three schools.

Things aren't quite as clear in the West Division, which will include Bowling Green for the first time. The Falcons were switched from the East to accommodate Central Florida. That move provoked no argument from Bowling Green's players, coaches or fans, who were more than happy to get away from Marshall.

After six straight losing seasons, the Falcons bounced back in 2001 to post an 8-3 mark under first-year coach Urban Meyer. The eight victories were a six-win improvement over the 2000 season, marking the biggest turnaround among Division I-A schools, and earned Meyer the conference's coach of the year honor.

With seven starters back from the MAC's third-highest scoring offense, Bowling Green looks to be the favorite in the West with a chance for its first league title since 1992.

The Falcons figure to take advantage of what may be a down year for defending conference champion Toledo.

The Rockets suffered big losses on both sides of the ball -- especially tailback Chester Taylor. Taylor led the MAC with 1,430 rushing yards last season and scored 20 touchdowns. Also gone is quarterback Tavares Bolden, who completed an amazing 68.7 percent (200-of-291) of his passes last year.

Aside from Bowling Green and Toledo, the only other West Division team to finish 2001 with a winning record was Northern Illinois (6-5).

Talent won't be a problem in the MAC this year, particularly on the offensive side. Nine of last season's top 10 rushers return in 2002, as well as eight of the 10 top pass receivers. There's plenty of top quarterbacks aside from Leftwich, namely Miami's Ben Roethlisberger, Central Florida's Ryan Schneider and Kent State's Joshua Cribbs. Eighteen offensive players who were first- or second-team All-MAC selections are back.

Game of the Year
Central Florida at Marshall, Sept. 20: The first showdown in a series that could define the MAC for years to come. It's the conference opener for both teams, meaning the MAC's East Division could be effectively decided before the end of the season's first month. Marshall is also involved in the best game involving a MAC team and non-conference opponent. The 21st-ranked Thundering Herd meets No. 16 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Sept. 12.

Offensive Player of the Year
Byron Leftwich, QB, Marshall: Figure on Leftwich becoming the third Marshall player -- joining Randy Moss and Chad Pennington -- to make the final invitees to the Heisman Trophy presentation. Leftwich may even it win it.The numbers Leftwich put up last season were phenomenal. They may look minuscule compared to what he does this year.

Defensive Player of the Year
Bryan Lape, LB, Western Michigan: Four Bronco defenders were first- or second-team all-MAC selections last season. Lape wasn't one of them, but he was voted Western Michigan's defensive MVP. Go figure. In his first season as a starter, Lape was sixth in the conference with 120 tackles. The 6-3, 220-pound senior also tied the school record with six forced fumbles and finished second on the team with 12 tackles for losses. Defensive end Anthony Allsbury, Lape's teammate, and Ball State linebacker Lorenzo Scott also will make a run for this honor.

Jorge Milian covers college football for the Palm Beach Post.