Conference USA Announces Preseason Football Awards
7.22.2002
Conference USA Announces Preseason Football Awards
CHICAGO - Two-time defending league champion Louisville has been chosen to repeat as the 2002 Conference USA football champion, according to the league's head coaches. The Cardinals edged Southern Miss for the top spot, garnering seven first-place votes and 96 total points to USM's three first-place votes and 91 total points. Louisville senior quarterback Dave Ragone was picked as the favorite to win his third consecutive C-USA Offensive Player of the Year award. Last season, Ragone completed just over 60 percent of his passes for a league-high 3,056 yards and a conference-best 23 touchdowns in helping U of L to its second straight conference title. Ragone led the league in total offense (260.2 yards per game) and in passing efficiency (143.5), while throwing 15 touchdowns with just one interception in seven C-USA games. In 2001, the Cardinals became the first Conference USA team to have the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the same season and that is the case with the 2002 preseason, as U of L defensive end Dewayne White was named as the Defensive Player of the Year. White is the nation's leading returnee in sacks with 15, including 11 that came in league play. He set a new Louisville school record with 24 tackles for loss, finishing the year with 47 total tackles. In 23 career games, White has 27 sacks (fourth on C-USA's all-time list) and 41 tackles for loss. Tulane kicker Seth Marler, the 2001 Lou Groza Award winner, was chosen to repeat as Special Teams Player of the Year. He hit 15-of-16 field goals and 39-of-40 extra points during the season to record the second-best percentage in the country of kickers with 14 or more field goals. Marler set a Tulane record for single season field goal percentage and scored 84 points on the season with his 15 field goals and 39 PATs to lead Conference USA in kick scoring. Southern Miss, led by four preseason All-Conference USA selections, including LB Rod Davis, was selected to finish second. East Carolina, which welcomes back first team All-C-USA offensive lineman and three other preseason all-league choices, was picked to finish third. TCU and Cincinnati, both of which played in bowl games last season, were chosen fourth and fifth, respectively. Both schools feature standout defensive players, with LB LaMarcus McDonald leading the Horned Frogs and record-setting DE Antwan Peek anchoring the Bearcat defense. Memphis was picked to finish sixth, just ahead of UAB and Tulane. The Tigers are represented on the preseason all-conference team by center Jimond Pugh, while the Blazers had two players named to the squad and the Green Wave placed three. Versatile Tulane running back Mewelde Moore has shattered a number of Green Wave records and rushed for more than 1,100 yards with 15 TDs last season, while Andy Galloway is the anchor of the UAB offensive line. Rounding out the preseason poll are Houston and Army. The Cougars are represented on the preseason All-Conference team by defensive back Hanik Milligan, while Army offensive lineman Aaron Burger earned a spot on the preseason team.
First Team Offense First Team Defense First Team Special Teams Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Special Teams Player of the Year
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