The 2012 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team represented Louisiana Tech University as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Sonny Dykes, the Bulldogs played five of their six home games at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana and one at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Bulldogs finished the season 9–3 overall and 4–2 in conference play to place third in the WAC. Despite having one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Bulldogs did not play in a bowl game. They were initially invited to the Independence Bowl, but asked for more time to decide to see if other options opened up. No other bowl invited them, and the Independence Bowl selected Ohio instead.
This was the Bulldogs last season as members of the WAC as they joined Conference USA in 2013.
Before the season
Recruiting Four student-athletes in Louisiana Tech's 2012 signing class were already enrolled at Tech prior to signing day. After signing with Louisiana Tech on National Signing Day in 2011, running back Tevin King was finally declared eligible by the NCAA after waiting out the 2011 season, and his scholarship will count towards Tech's 2012 signing class. On November 24, 2011, Sonny Dykes announced that four walk-on players would be receiving football scholarships which count towards the 2012 signing class. These players earning football scholarships include wide receiver D.J. Banks, defensive back Craig Johnson, running back Hunter Lee, and wide receiver Hayden Slack.
Death of Tyrone Duplessis Early on the morning of February 2, 2012, Louisiana Tech redshirt sophomore running back Tyrone Duplessis awoke in distress at his off-campus apartment in Ruston, Louisiana. He reportedly sprung to a seated position in bed, pounded himself in the chest, and fell backward, never to rise again. He arrived at Northern Louisiana Medical Center before 5:00 a.m. and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The autopsy report showed Duplessis suffered a massive heart attack. Toxicology reports came back negative with no drugs or alcohol found. On February 10, approximately 1,000 people celebrated the life of Duplessis at a memorial service at the Thomas Assembly Center on the Louisiana Tech University campus. The funeral was held on February 11 at the L. B. Landry High School auditorium in New Orleans. The Tyrone Duplessis Memorial Fund was established with the Louisiana Tech Foundation.
T–Day spring game
Sources:
The T–Day spring game was held at Joe Aillet Stadium on April 14, 2012.
Schedule
Rankings
*Source: ESPN.com: 2012 NCAA Football Rankings
Roster
Game summaries
At Houston
Sources:
Statistics LTHOU First downs 38 40 Total yards 598 693 Rushing yards 245 113 Passing yards 353 580 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 28:07 31:53 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 34/52, 353 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tevin King 13 rushes, 112 yards, 3 TD Receiving Myles White 5 receptions, 74 yardsHouston Passing David Piland 53/77, 580 yards, 4 TD Rushing Charles Sims 21 rushes, 65 yards, 2 TD Receiving Daniel Spencer 7 receptions, 157 yards, TD
Rice
Sources:
Statistics RICELT First downs 33 30 Total yards 477 609 Rushing yards 272 333 Passing yards 205 276 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 34:57 25:03 Team Category Player StatisticsRice Passing Taylor McHargue 20/34, 205 yards, 2 TD Rushing Charles Ross 14 rushes, 116 yards Receiving Jordan Taylor 4 receptions, 57 yardsLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 19/24, 276 yards, 4 TD Rushing Tevin King 22 rushes, 204 yards Receiving Quinton Patton 7 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
Quarterback Colby Cameron was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 3) for his performance against Rice.
At Illinois
Sources:
Statistics LTILL First downs 17 20 Total yards 403 294 Rushing yards 119 89 Passing yards 284 205 Turnovers 3 6 Time of possession 25:33 46:52 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 15/22, 284 yards, 4 TD Rushing Tevin King 11 rushes, 53 yards, 2 TD Receiving Quinton Patton 6 receptions, 164 yards, 2 TDIllinois Passing Reilly O'Toole 19/25, 120 yards Rushing Donovonn Young 19 rushes, 78 yards, TD Receiving Josh Ferguson 10 receptions, 84 yards
Linebacker Antonio Mitchum was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 4) for his performance against Illinois. Wide receiver Quinton Patton was awarded an ESPN helmet sticker for his performance Week 4 against Illinois. Colby Cameron was named the Manning Star of the Week for his performance in Week 4.
At Virginia
Sources:
Statistics LTUVA First downs 21 24 Total yards 385 625 Rushing yards 158 145 Passing yards 227 480 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 25:13 34:47 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 24/37, 227 yards, TD Rushing Kenneth Dixon 16 rushes, 78 yards Receiving Quinton Patton 8 receptions, 97 yardsVirginia Passing Michael Rocco 14/23, 278 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Perry Jones 18 rushes, 82 yards Receiving Darius Jennings 6 receptions, 136 yards
Placekicker Matt Nelson was named WAC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 5) for his performance against Virginia.
UNLV
Sources:
Statistics UNLVLT First downs 23 35 Total yards 536 622 Rushing yards 158 306 Passing yards 378 316 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 30:44 29:10 Team Category Player StatisticsUNLV Passing Nick Sherry 22/46, 378 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Tim Cornett 23 rushes, 111 yards Receiving Devante Davis 8 receptions, 186 yards, TDLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 31/45, 316 yards, TD Rushing Ray Holley 22 rushes, 139 yards, TD Receiving Quinton Patton 9 receptions, 116 yards, TD
Running back Kenneth Dixon was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 6) for his performance against UNLV.
Texas A&M
Sources:
Statistics TAMULT First downs 27 37 Total yards 678 615 Rushing yards 283 165 Passing yards 395 450 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 32:13 27:47 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M Passing Johnny Manziel 24/40, 395 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Johnny Manziel 19 rushes, 181 yards, 3 TD Receiving Mike Evans 4 receptions, 137 yards, TDLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 44/58, 450 yards, 5 TD Rushing Kenneth Dixon 19 rushes, 111 yards, 2 TD Receiving Quinton Patton 21 receptions, 233 yards, 4 TD
This game was originally scheduled for August 30 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. However, the game was postponed until October 13 due to Hurricane Isaac.
Wide receiver Quinton Patton was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 7) for his performance against Texas A&M. Colby Cameron was nominated for the Manning Star of the Week for his performance in Week 7.
Idaho
Sources:
Statistics IDHOLT First downs 11 39 Total yards 304 839 Rushing yards 47 408 Passing yards 257 431 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 25:16 34:25 Team Category Player StatisticsIdaho Passing Dominique Blackmon 20/35, 199 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing James Baker 10 rushes, 42 yards, TD Receiving Najee Lovett 4 receptions, 78 yards, TDLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 29/37, 400 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kenneth Dixon 17 rushes, 232 yards, 6 TD Receiving Myles White 6 receptions, 100 yards, TD
Running back Kenneth Dixon was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 8) for his performance against Idaho.
At New Mexico State
Sources:
Statistics LTNMSU First downs 26 20 Total yards 530 405 Rushing yards 238 122 Passing yards 292 283 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 29:19 30:02 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 29/44, 292 yards, TD Rushing Ray Holley 12 rushes, 130 yards, TD Receiving Myles White 7 receptions, 125 yards, TDNew Mexico State Passing Andrew Manley 18/34, 283 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Germi Morrison 16 rushes, 92 yards Receiving Austin Franklin 7 receptions, 139 yards, TD
Punter Ryan Allen was named WAC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 9) for his performance against New Mexico State.
UTSA
Sources:
Statistics UTSALT First downs 25 33 Total yards 438 537 Rushing yards 124 180 Passing yards 314 357 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 34:00 26:00 Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Eric Soza 23/41, 314 yards, 4 TD Rushing David Glasco II 13 rushes, 63 yards Receiving Cole Hubble 3 receptions, 101 yards, TDLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 30/39, 348 yards, 3 TD Rushing Kenneth Dixon 18 rushes, 72 yards, 3 TD Receiving Quinton Patton 10 receptions, 152 yards, TD
Punter Ryan Allen was named WAC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 10) for his performance against UTSA. Colby Cameron was nominated for the Manning Star of the Week for his performance in Week 10.
At Texas State
Sources:
Statistics LTTXST First downs 38 31 Total yards 627 577 Rushing yards 283 296 Passing yards 344 281 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:29 27:53 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 31/45, 337 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ray Holley 27 rushes, 145 yards, TD Receiving D. J. Banks 5 receptions, 96 yards, TDTexas State Passing Shaun Rutherford 21/37, 234 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marcus Curry 13 rushes, 134 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bradley Miller 5 receptions, 65 yards, 2 TD
Running back Kenneth Dixon was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 11) for his performance against Texas State. Colby Cameron was nominated for the Manning Star of the Week for his performance in Week 11.
Utah State
Sources:
Statistics USULT First downs 27 37 Total yards 646 629 Rushing yards 306 233 Passing yards 340 396 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 31:33 28:15 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah State Passing Chuckie Keeton 20/34, 340 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kerwynn Williams 20 rushes, 162 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kerwynn Williams 4 receptions, 125 yards, TDLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 35/60, 396 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Kenneth Dixon 22 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD Receiving Quinton Patton 11 receptions, 181 yards
Kick returner D. J. Banks was named WAC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 12) for his performance against Utah State.
At San Jose State
Sources:
Statistics LTSJSU First downs 27 30 Total yards 541 610 Rushing yards 58 243 Passing yards 483 367 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 24:40 35:31 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 38/59, 468 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Kenneth Dixon 8 rushes, 33 yards, TD Receiving Myles White 7 receptions, 126 yards, TDSan Jose State Passing David Fales 25/37, 367 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing De'Leon Eskridge 28 rushes, 217 yards, 3 TD Receiving Noel Grigsby 7 receptions, 127 yards
Statistics
Louisiana Tech ranked 1st in the nation in scoring offense (51.5 points per game), total offense (577.92 yards per game), and net punting (43.51 yards per punt). Individually, Kenneth Dixon ranked led the nation in scoring average (14.0 points per game), and Ryan Allen led the nation in punting average (48.04 yards per punt).
After the season
Bowl invitation controversy On Friday, November 30, Louisiana Tech was invited to play in the Independence Bowl, but asked for more time as they were in negotiations with the Liberty Bowl and Heart of Dallas Bowl. Louisiana Tech athletic director Bruce Van De Velde and WAC commissioner Jeff Hurd claimed that on December 1, Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart guaranteed the Bulldogs a bowl invite. The Independence Bowl offered Louisiana Tech again on Saturday, December 1. After receiving no response, bowl organizers invited the Ohio Bobcats instead. On December 2, the Liberty Bowl extended their remaining bid to Iowa State Cyclones instead of Louisiana Tech. As a result, Louisiana Tech did not play in any of the 2012–13 NCAA football bowl games. The school's administration blamed bowl officials for the situation, which attracted national attention and controversy.
Awards and honors