Though it is only April, many people are thinking football. Spring football is in full force at some C-USA schools and others have recently concluded their spring tune-ups. Though the 2004 season is still several months away, it is always good to take a peak at what lays ahead. Get an early overview of 2004 Conference USA football in the Spring Football Notebook.

C-USA on ESPN
Conference USA and ESPN Inc. are in the fourth season of an exclusive eight-year agreement to televise Conference USA football. The contract includes exclusive national cable television coverage on ESPN and ESPN 2 with 10 games annually, including Tuesday night games and select Thursday and Saturday contests. Below is a list of confirmed games that will appear on ESPN or ESPN 2 this fall, as of April 7. Additional telecasts will be released at a later date.

2004 ESPN/ESPN 2 C-USA TV SCHEDULE
Thu., Sept. 2 Northwestern at TCU
Sun., Sept. 5 Kentucky at Louisville
Thu., Sept. 23 Miami (Fla.) at Houston
Thu., Oct. 7 Houston at Southern Miss
Thu., Oct. 14 Louisville at Miami (Fla.)
Fri., Oct. 22 USF at Louisville
Nov. 2, 3 or 4 Louisville at Memphis
Nov. 10 or 11 TCU at Louisville

MISSING YOU
The Conference USA scheduling format calls for eight Conference games this fall - four home and four away - which means each institution misses two other league foes. Following are the matchups that will not take place in 2004:

Army Memphis, Southern Miss
Cincinnati Houston, Tulane
East Carolina TCU, UAB
Houston Cincinnati, USF
Louisville Southern Miss, UAB
Memphis Army, TCU
USF Houston, Tulane
Southern Miss Army, Louisville
TCU East Carolina, Memphis
Tulane Cincinnati, USF
UAB East Carolina, Louisville

WATCH OUT
A pair of preseason award watch lists for the 2004 season have already been released. Here's a look at C-USA players that appear on these lists:

Rimington Trophy (Top Center)
Gene Frederic, Memphis
Chase Johnson, TCU

Lombardi (Top Lineman)
Trent Cole, Cincinnati
Kyle Takavitz, Cincinnati
Michael Boley, Southern Miss
Anthony Alabi, TCU
Zac Woodfin, UAB

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2005
The 2005 season will see the introduction of five new programs to Conference USA. Marshall University, Rice University, Southern Methodist University (SMU), the University of Tulsa and the University of Central Florida (UCF) will all begin football competition in C-USA beginning with the 2005 season.

A SNEAK PREVIEW
Conference USA will get a sneak preview of two of its future members this season with the renewal of two long-standing Texas rivalries. Houston will open its 2004 season at Rice on Sept. 4, while TCU will battle SMU one week later on Sept. 11.

NOTE OF CHAMPIONS
Southern Miss became the fourth team in Conference USA to post an undefeated conference season and the first to record an 8-0 mark. The Golden Eagles have accomplished the feat three of the times (2003, 1999 and 1997) and are joined by the 1998 Tulane team. USM has now won at least a share of four of the first eight regular season championships. Here's a look at C-USA's year-by-year champions:

2003 Southern Miss (8-0)
2002 TCU (6-2), Cincinnati (6-2)
2001 Louisville (6-1)
2000 Louisville (6-1)
1999 Southern Miss (6-0)
1998 Tulane (6-0)
1997 Southern Miss (6-0)
1996 Houston (4-1), Southern Miss (4-1)

BIG IMPROVEMENT
Memphis increased its win total by 5.5 games from the 2002 season, the second-largest increase in Division I-A last year. It also ranks as the second-best increase in league history. Here's a look at the biggest improvements:

MOST IMPROVED 2003 I-A TEAMS
School 2002 2003 Gain
Tulsa 1-11 8-5 +6.5
MEMPHIS 3-9 9-4 +5.5
Navy 2-10 8-5 +5.5
Miami (Ohio) 7-5 12-1 +4.5
Utah 5-6 10-2 +4.5
Rutgers 1-11 5-7 +4.0
Kansas 2-10 6-7 +3.5
Michigan State 4-8 8-5 +3.5

MOST IMPROVED C-USA WON-LOST RECORD
6 Louisville (1-10 in 1997; 7-5 in 1998)
5.5 Memphis (3-9 in 2002; 9-4 in 2003)
5 Houston (0-11 in 2001; 5-7 in 2002)
5 Tulane (2-9 in 1996; 7-4 in 1997)

RISING ATTENDANCE
Eight of Conference USA's 11 schools showed an increased attendance average during the 2003 season from the attendance figures from the 2002 campaign. Memphis, Houston and TCU showed the largest increases. As a league, Conference USA had an average attendance increase of 2,886 fans per game.

School 2003 Avg. 2002 Avg. Inc./Dec.
Memphis 40,662 29,257 + 11,405
Houston 25,794 14,986 + 10,808
TCU 36,155 27,813 + 8,342
Houston 21,807 14,986 + 6,821
UAB 22,704 16,447 + 6,257
USF 30,512 26,403 + 4,109
East Carolina 33.012 29,629 + 3,383
Southern Miss 28,641 26,961 +1,684
Louisville 36,771 36,743 + 28
Army 30,794 32,606 -1,812
Tulane 25,635 27,901 - 2,266
Cincinnati 21,827 28,071 - 6,244

C-USA 29,870 26,984 +2,886

BCS WINS
Conference USA posted a total of 11 wins over BCS league teams in the 2003 season. The 11 wins is a C-USA record, surpassing the old mark of nine in 1999. A total of seven different Conference USA teams (Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, TCU, Tulane and UAB) defeated at least one BCS league team in 2003. Five of C-USA's 11 wins came on the road.

The 11 over BCS leagues were the second-most of any Division I-A conference during the regular season. During the regular season, only the Big Ten with 13 had more.

Wins over BCS league teams in 2003
(regular season and postseason)
15 Big Ten
13 ACC
12 SEC
11 Conference USA
11 Pac-10
8 Big 12
7 Big East
7 Mid-American
6 Mountain West
5 WAC
1 Sun Belt

OVER FOURTY CLUB
Just three Division I-A schools scored 40 or more points in more games than Houston (7) in 2003. Louisville and Memphis each reached the 40-point mark five times. Here's a look at the leaders in topping the 40-point mark:

11- Miami (Ohio)
8- Texas, Texas Tech
7- HOUSTON, Boise State, Oklahoma, USC
6- Hawaii, Minnesota, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State
5- LOUISVILLE, MEMPHIS, Bowling Green, Kansas State, LSU, Mississippi, Missouri

DEFENSIVE MINDED
Since the beginning of the 1999 season, the Southern Miss defense has allowed fewer touchdowns than any other Division I-A school. This list does not include special teams or defensive touchdowns by opponents, only TDs allowed by the defense:
School TDs Allowed
1. SOUTHERN MISS 90
2. Miami (Fla.) 103
3. Oklahoma 104
4. Tennessee 114
Kansas State 114
6. Utah 117
7. Florida State 118
8. Nebraska 121
9. TCU 123
Michigan 123
11. Georgia 124
12. Florida 125

STACKING SACKS
Since the beginning of the 2000 season, three Conference USA teams are among the top 10 teams in the nation in quarterback sacks.

School SACKS
1. Washington State 168
2. USC 162
3. Texas 161
4. TCU 160
5. LOUISVILLE 152
New Mexico 152
7. California 151
Fresno State 151
9. Kansas State 149
10. SOUTHERN MISS 143
Arizona State 143
12. Michigan 142
13. Auburn 141
14. Tennessee 140
15. Miami (Fla.) 138
16. Notre Dame 137
17. USF 135
18. Maryland 130
19. Nebraska 123
20. North Carolina State 122
Iowa 122
Pittsburgh 122
23. CINCINNATI 121
24. Northern Illinois 120

PICKED OFF
Since the beginning of the 1999 season, two Conference USA teams are among the top 15 teams in the nation in interceptions:

School INT
1. Oklahoma 103
2. Kansas State 99
3. Nebraska 96
4. Miami (Fla.) 93
5. Washington State 92
6. Virginia Tech 91
7. Oregon 89
8. Fresno State 88
9. USC 87
10. Auburn 82
11. CINCINNATI 80
13. LOUISVILLE 79
Texas 79
Georgia 79
16. Texas Tech 78

CLOSE CALLS
Fourteen of Conference USA's 44 league games were decided by five points or less this season, more than any other I-A conference. The SEC was next with 12 of its league games decided by five points or fewer.

C-USA's average margin of victory in conference games was 14.36. Only the Mountain West (12.0) and the Sun Belt (12.2) had closer margins than Conference USA.

BOWL REGULARS
Louisville and TCU each played in a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season. Both of these programs are among the 16 I-A programs that have played in a bowl game in each of the last six seasons. The entire list includes:

ACC: Florida State, Georgia Tech
Big East: Miami, Virginia Tech
Big Ten: Michigan, Purdue
Big 12: Kansas State, Nebraska, Texas
C-USA: Louisville, TCU
Pac-10: Oregon
SEC: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee

FOUR FOR EIGHT
For the first time in Conference USA's eight seasons, four different teams won at least eight games in a season. TCU reached the 10-win mark for the second straight season and third time in four years. Southern Miss won at least eight games for the fifth time in eight years. Louisville reached the eight-win mark for the third time in four years and Memphis won eight games for the first time since 1973.

FOUR OUT OF EIGHT
Southern Miss has won at least a share of four Conference USA championships since 1996. Only three schools in Division I-A (Florida State, Marshall and Miami-Fla.) have won more regular season conference titles over that span. Here's a look at the schools with the most league titles over that period:

7 Florida State (ACC)
6 Marshall (Mid-American)
5 Miami (Fla.) (Big East)
4 Southern Miss (C-USA)
4 Colorado State (WAC/Mountain West)

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Conference USA teams never shy away from playing challenging non-conference competition and this season is no exception. Among the teams on C-USA's non-conference slate in 2004 are Alabama, Florida State, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, N.C. State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Texas Tech and West Virginia.

Fourteen C-USA opponents played in bowl games last season, including four BCS bowl teams: Florida State (Orange), Miami (Fla.) (Orange), Ohio State (Fiesta) and Oklahoma (Sugar).

For the second straight season, Conference USA will face at least one opponent from all 10 of the other I-A conferences.

Here's a look at C-USA's non-league opponents by conference:

ACC: Florida State, Miami (Fla.) (2), North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest
Big East: Connecticut Syracuse, West Virginia
Big Ten: Northwestern, Ohio State
Big 12: Baylor, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas Tech
Mid-American: Miami (Ohio)
Mountain West: Air Force
Pac-10: California
SEC: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Mississippi State (2), South Carolina
Sun Belt: Arkansas State
WAC: Rice, SMU

THEY'RE BACK
A total of 13 first team All-Conference performers are scheduled to return this fall, with six on offense, four on defense and three on special teams. Seventeen second team all-Conference honorees are back, with eight offensive returnees joined by seven defensive performers and two special teamers.

2004 RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
The leader or runner-up in each of the 13 major statistical categories listed below is set to return this fall. Here's a look at the top returnees:

Rushing
RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
2003: 243 for 1,430 yards; 5.9 avg; 10 TD; 1st - C-USA

Passing Yardage
QB Danny Wimprine, Memphis
2003: 440-246; 3,174 yards; 22 TD; 2nd- C-USA

Passing Efficiency
QB Kevin Kolb, Houston
2003: 153.8; 360-220-6; 3,131 yards; 25 TD; 1st- C-USA

Receptions
WR J.R. Russell, Louisville
2003: 75-for-1,213 yards; 16.2 avg.; 8 TD; 2nd- C-USA

Receiving Yards
WR J.R. Russell, Louisville
2003: 75-for-1,213 yards; 16.2 avg.; 8 TD; 2nd- C-USA

All-Purpose Yards
RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
2003: 2,113 total yards; 1,430 rushing, 384 receiving, 0 punt return yards, 299 kick return yards; 1st- C-USA

Total Offense
QB Stefan LeFors, Louisville
2003: 3,550 total yards; 405 rushing, 3,145 passing (428 plays) 1st- C-USA

Scoring
K Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
2003: 101 points; 0 TD; 44 XPT, 19 FG; 2nd- C-USA

Field Goals
K Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
2003: 1.46 FG per game; 19-29 (65.5 %); 2nd- C-USA

Punting
P Ryan Dougherty, East Carolina
2003: 64 for 2,846 yards; 44.5 avg.; 1st- C-USA

Tackles
LB Michael Boley, Southern Miss
2003: 151 (101-50); 23 TFL; 2nd- C-USA

Sacks
LB Michael Boley, Southern Miss
2003: 11.0 (11 solo, 0 assist): 2nd- C-USA

Interceptions
CB Daven Holly, Cincinnati
2003: 6; 0.50 IPG; 1 TD; 2nd- C-USA

RETURNING STARTERS
Here's a look at the returning starters on offense, defense and special teams (including punt and kick returners) for each Conference USA school:
School Off. Def. ST
Army 10 8 3
Cincinnati 9 7 3
East Carolina 6 6 3
Houston 8 9 3
Louisville 9 8 2
Memphis 11 5 3
USF 9 6 3
Southern Miss 9 4 4
TCU 8 6 2
Tulane 8 8 3
UAB 8 10 3

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS
Here's a look at the number of lettermen returning and lost for each C-USA school:
School Ret. Lost
Army 53 12
Cincinnati 51 13
East Carolina 48 20
Houston 43 16
Louisville 44 15
Memphis 59 10
USF 51 23
Southern Miss 52 14
TCU 47 18
Tulane 50 15
UAB 53 9

ARMY
BOBBY ROSS begins his first season as Army’s head coach. Ross compiled a 94-76-2 (.552) in 15 seasons as head coach at The Citadel (1973-77), Maryland (1982-86) and Georgia Tech (1987-91). He guided the Yellow Jackets to an 11-0-1 record and shared the national championship with Colorado in 1990. During nearly nine seasons at the helm of the San Diego Chargers and Detroit Lions, Ross was 77-68 (.531), including a Super Bowl appearance in 1994 with San Diego.

Quarterback ZAC DAHMAN concluded the 2003 season as Army's season record-holder for completions (230), attempts (436) and yards (2,234). He eclipsed the previous yardage standard of 2,174, set by Leamon Hall in 1976. Dahman had 11 touchdown passes in 2003, which tied for the third-best total in Army history.

Senior WR AARON ALEXANDER set a new Army single-season record for receptions with 64. He amassed 861 receiving yards in 2003, the second-highest total in Army's history. For his career, Alexander ranks on Army's career charts for receptions (90, fifth), yards (1315, third) and touchdowns (8, tied for eighth.).

Senior WR WILLIAM WHITE is the Black Knights career leader in kickoff returns (89) and kickoff return yardage (2,035). He is also tied for ninth on Army’s career reception list (70) and 14th in receiving yardage (817).

Junior RB CARLTON JONES has led the team in rushing each of his first two years. Last season, he gained 632 yards and also caught 29 passes for 211 yards, scoring a total of eight touchdowns.

CINCINNATI
MARK DANTONIO begins his first season as Cincinnati’s head football coach. Dantonio comes to UC after three highly-successful seasons as defensive coordinator at Ohio State, where he helped guide the Buckeyes to the 2002 National Championship. He has 23 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 12 years in the state of Ohio. He also served as Associate Head Coach at Michigan State during part of his six-year stint in East Lansing (1995-2000).

Senior QB GINO GUIDUGLI begins the 2004 campaign as the school’s all-time leader in pass completions (670), pass attempts (1,214), passing yardage (8,822) and passing touchdowns (53). He ranks among the top six in C-USA history in all four categories.

Senior RB RICHARD HALL ran for 777 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games last season, posting four 100-yard rushing days.

Senior DE TRENT COLE tied for fourth in Conference USA with 17 tackles for loss. He had a total of 75 stops and added 5.5 sacks.

Senior CB DAVEN HOLLY tied the UC single-season school record with six interceptions. The Bearcats posted a league-high 19 interceptions in 2003, the eighth-most in school history.

Cincinnati’s special teams unit blocked five field goals last season, returning two of the blocks for touchdowns.

Five of the Bearcats’ seven losses in 2003 were by a touchdown or less.


EAST CAROLINA
Junior RB MARVIN TOWNES ran for 1,128 yards last year, the eighth-highest total in school history. He became the third different Pirate to run for 1,000 yards in the last three seasons (Leonard Henry in 2001 and Art Brown in 2002).

Senior LG RYAN DEMPSEY, who has made 24 straight starts and played in 36 consecutive games, will lead the offensive line. He graded out as the second-best lineman last season, behind three time All-Conference USA selection Brian Rimpf.

Senior QB DESMOND ROBINSON ranked among the nation’s leaders in completion percentage last season, connecting on 66.2 percent of his pass attempts (133-of-201).

Despite missing one game due to injury, sophomore LB CHRIS MOORE finished with 145 tackles for the season. In his first 21 games in a Pirate uniform, Moore has registered 217 tackles.

Sophomore cornerback ERODE JEAN earned a spot on C-USA’s All-Freshman team last season after posting a team-high seven pass breakups, along with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He added 50 total tackles (34 solo).

As a true freshman last season, RYAN DOUGHERTY led Conference USA and finished ninth in the nation in punting with a 44.5 average. That average was a new ECU freshman record and he booted 15 kicks inside the 20-yard line, including three at the one-yard line.


HOUSTON
The Cougars finished the 2003 season at 7-6 under first-year head coach ART BRILES, the second-most wins in school history by a first-year mentor. Houston also made its first bowl appearance since 1996, falling to Hawai’i in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl, 54-48 in triple overtime.

Sophomore QB KEVIN KOLB, the 2003 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, closed out his rookie campaign by passing for 3,131 yards and 25 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Nine times he threw two or more touchdown passes in a game and three times he ran for at least two scores, finishing with seven rushing TDs.

Junior RB ANTHONY EVANS became the 20th player in school history to run for 1,000 yards in a season, finishing the year with 1,149 yards in 2003. He closed out the regular season with four consecutive 100-yard games, establishing a new career high in each outing.

Junior WR VINCENT MARSHALL caught a team-high 60 passes last season for 812 yards and seven touchdowns. He had two 100-yard efforts, including the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl, where his 81-yard TD reception in the waning seconds sent the game to overtime.

RICKY WILSON earned a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman team at cornerback and as a kick returner, becoming the first player in four years to be named to the squad at two different positions.

Houston scored 42 or more points in seven games last season.

UH produced 22 drives (19 touchdowns and 3 field goals) that took less than 2:00 off the clock.

LOUISVILLE
Louisville made its sixth consecutive bowl appearance last season, losing to No. 14 Miami (Ohio) in the GMAC Bowl.

In his first season as a starter, junior QB STEFAN LeFORS earned first team All-C-USA honors, becoming the third straight U of L signal-caller to accomplish that feat. He finished the season 219-of-357 for 3,145 yards and 17 touchdowns, while rushing for 405 yards and three scores. The 405 rushing yards are the most ever by a Cardinal QB.

Junior WR J.R. RUSSELL closed out 2003 with 1,213 receiving yards, marking the fifth time in six years that U of L has produced a 1,000-yard receiver.

Louisville broke the 46-year old school record for team rushing yards, gaining 2,966 yards on the ground last season. Three Cardinals ran for more than 500 yards, led by junior LIONEL GATES with 817. Sophomore RB ERIC SHELTON, who missed nearly four full games with a knee injury, ran for 790 yards and 10 TDs, while freshman MICHAEL BUSH added 503 yards and six scores.

After surrendering 46 sacks in 2002, U of L’s offensive line allowed only 13 last season. Second team All-Conference USA selections TRAVIS LEFFEW and JASON SPITZ are among three returning starters on the unit.
Senior LB ROBERT McCUNE posted 143 tackles last season, registering eight games with 10 or more stops.

Senior DE MARCUS JONES earned second team All-C-USA honors after producing a team-high 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.

MEMPHIS
The Tigers won their first bowl game in 32 years last season, defeating Sun Belt Conference champion North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl, 27-17.

Junior RB DeANGELO WILLIAMS set a Conference USA single-season record with 10 consecutive 100-yard games en route to being named Offensive Player of the Year. Despite missing the final three games of the season with a torn MCL in his left knee, Williams still set a Memphis school record with 1,430 rushing yards. He led the nation in all-purpose yardage at 192.1 yards per game. In addition to his rushing totals, he had 384 receiving yards and 299 kick return yards for 2,113 total. Williams also scored a league-high 13 touchdowns.

In 30 career starts, QB DANNY WIMPRINE has set 25 Memphis records and he will enter his senior season as the school’s all-time leader in pass completions (583) and attempts (1,071), passing yards (7,323) and TD passes (59). In 2003, he set new school single-season marks in completions (246), attempts (440) and passing yardage (3,174).

The 393 points scored by the Tigers in 2003 was the highest total in school history. The 1949 team had previously held the mark with 385.
Memphis averaged 181.5 yards per game on the ground, its highest rushing average since the 1991 season. With an average of 444.5 yards of total offense, the Tigers shattered the school record of 412.4, set in 1969.

Memphis averaged a league-high 40,621 fans last season at Liberty Bowl Memorial stadium, its best-ever home attendance average.

USF
Head coach JIM LEAVITT has posted a record of 51-26 (.662) in seven seasons as head coach at USF. He led the Bulls to Top 25 I-AA national rankings in 1998 and 1999 and owns a 24-9 mark in three seasons at the I-A level.

USF finished the 2003 season at 7-4, the sixth straight year that the Bulls have won at least seven games.

Sophomore LB STEPHEN NICHOLAS earned Freshman All-America honors last season after finishing second among the nation’s freshmen in sacks with 5.5. He had 45 total tackles, including 11 for losses.

Senior OT DERRICK SAROSI, who has started 33 consecutive games, is a returning All-Conference USA selection on the offensive line.

Senior DE LEE ROY SELMON, JR. returned last year after two medical redshirt seasons and showed no rust. He finished with 58 tackles, including 3.5 sacks and he had a game-ending interception in the second overtime against Cincinnati to seal the win.

USF ranked second in Conference USA in total defense last season, allowing an average of 315.6 yards per game. The Bulls allowed the fewest passing yards (1,949) of any league school.

USF became the first team in NCAA history to win three overtime games in a season in 2003, needing extra time to defeat Louisville, Cincinnati and East Carolina. The Bulls were the 12th team to play three overtime games in one season.

SOUTHERN MISS
The Golden Eagles were the first C-USA team to post a perfect league mark since the 1999 USM squad, becoming the first team to finish 8-0. The nine wins by the Golden Eagles tied for the most ever under head coach JEFF BOWER, who earned his third Conference USA Coach of the Year honor.
Head coach JEFF BOWER begins his 13th season as head coach at Southern Miss this fall. Only six I-A coaches have been at their school longer: Penn State’s Joe Paterno (38), Bobby Bowden, Florida State (29), Fisher DeBerry (20), Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech (17), Bill Snyder, Kansas State (15) and Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin (14). He is the only head coach remaining from C-USA’s inaugural season in 1996.
Senior LB MICHAEL BOLEY led the league and finished seventh in the nation in tackles for loss with 22.5, while registering 151 total tackles (13th in the country). It was his second straight year with more than 100 tackles.
Junior DB JOHN EUBANKS had three scores last season – one each on a kickoff return, a fumble return and an interception return. He finished the season ranked fourth in the nation in kickoff return average (29.35).
Junior WR MARVIN YOUNG averaged 16.7 yards per reception last season (42 for 703) and caught a team-high seven TD passes. He ranks in the top five on USM’s receiving list for catches (93), yards (1,432) and TDs (14). Young was 10th in the nation in punt return avg (13.6) last season.
Despite not becoming the feature back until the final seven games of the season after a switch from fullback, ANTHONY HARRIS ran for a team-high 671 yards and seven touchdowns. He posted four 100-yard rushing games in six regular season starts.

TCU
TCU finished nationally-ranked in both polls, marking the first time since the 1950’s that the Horned Frogs finished back-to-back seasons nationally-ranked. At 11-2, the Frogs posted their first 11-win season since the 1938 National Champion TCU squad went undefeated.

Running back ROBERT MERRILL became the second straight TCU freshman to run for 1,000 yards, finishing with 1,107 yards, the most ever by a first-year Horned Frog. Merrill becomes just the ninth player in TCU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Junior WR REGGIE HARRELL became the first TCU receiver to ever have 1,000 receiving yards, setting a single-season school record with 1,012.

Junior RB LONTA HOBBS led the team in touchdowns for the second straight season with nine and he has 22 TDs in his first 19 collegiate games.

Sophomore WR/KR/PR CORY RODGERS was fourth in C-USA in all-purpose yardage last season (114.6 yards per game). He had 37 catches for 590 yards and caught five TD’s, while rushing for three more. Rodgers averaged 22.1 yards on 23 kickoff returns and 11.0 yards on 32 punt returns.

Junior LB MARTIN PATTERSON posted a team-high 103 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss (second on the squad).

Senior WS MARVIN GODBOLT earned third team All-C-USA honors, despite missing eight games with a knee injury. He picked off four passes in four games prior to the injury and had 23 tackles in those games.

TCU played six games that were decided by exactly three points in 2003, going 5-1 in those games.

TULANE
Senior wide receiver ROYDELL WILLIAMS finished last season with 1,006 receiving yards, becoming the eighth player in Tulane history to post 1,000 yards in a season. He has also moved into fifth place on the school’s all-time receiving list with 2,381 yards and seventh in receptions with 63.

Junior JOVON JACKSON is the front-runner to replace record-setting Mewelde Moore at running back. Jackson took over when Moore was injured last November and rushed for 377 yards on 82 carries. In his first collegiate start, he rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns against UAB.

Over the last three games of the season, junior WR CHRIS BUSH caught six passes and five of them were for touchdowns. On the year, he had 33 receptions for 581 yards and eight scores.

Junior linebacker ANTHONY CANNON has registered more than 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons at Tulane. After tying for the nation’s lead among freshmen in tackles with 114 in 2002, he posted 102 stops in 2003.

Sophomore DE BILLY HARRISON earned a spot on C-USA’s All-Freshman team after registering 64 tackles (tops on the defensive line) and a team-leading 7.5 tackles for loss as a true freshman in 2003.

Junior CB SEAN LUCAS registered a team-high five interceptions and was third on the squad in tackles with 103.

Freshman CHRIS BECKMAN ranked second in Conference USA in punting average at 43.5 yards per punt.

UAB
Over the final three games last season, sophomore RB COREY WHITE averaged 108.3 yards rushing, with 100-yard games against Tulane and Houston.

The Blazers are looking forward to a healthy return of junior QB DARRELL HACKNEY, who missed the final five games of last season with a broken thumb. Prior to the injury, he had completed 51 percent of his passes for 1,659 yards and nine touchdowns.

Senior WR RODDY WHITE extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one catch to 23 with a 54-yard TD reception in the season finale and finished the season with a 21.6 yard per catch, grabbing 39 receptions for 844 yards.

As a true freshman, WR NICK COON averaged an amazing 36.2 yards per catch. Three of his 10 receptions were for touchdowns, including the game-winner at Baylor in his first collegiate game.

With 269 tackles in his first two seasons, junior LB ZAC WOODFIN is aleready closing in on the UAB school record of 289. Back-to-back years he has set a new school single-season record, finishing last year with 149 stops.

Junior K NICK HAYES successfully connected on 17-of-20 field goal attempts last year and holds the UAB career record with 44 career field goals.

Since the Blazers joined Conference USA for the 1999 season, UAB has posted a 20-15 record in league play. Only Louisville and Southern Miss have won more C-USA games over that span.