9.2.2003 Conference USA Football Notebook
Nick Coon |
Another exciting week of C-USA football gets underway when Southern Miss battles UAB on Thursday at 7 p.m. (EST) on ESPN2. In non-conference action, the Houston Cougars will travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan on Saturday to face 4th-ranked Michigan at noon on ESPN, while Memphis hosts Mississippi at noon on ESPN2. Catch up on all the latest league news in this week's football notebook.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Ricky Madison TB TCU
Madison accounted for 206 total yards in the Frogs' 38-35 win over Tulane on Monday. He carried 23 times for 115 yards and caught three passes for 91 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown reception.
DEFENSE
Lance Everson LB Houston
Everson was a vital part of the Cougar defense that limited the potent Rice rushing attack to just 206 yards on 46 carries. Everson posted a career-high 16 tackles on the evening, with one for a loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Fred Smith KR Tulane
On his first touch of his career, Smith took a kickoff the length of the field for Tulane's first touchdown against TCU. The 100-yard return was just the second in Conference USA history and the seventh in Tulane history (first since 1985).
Great Debuts
A number of offensive players around C-USA had impressive debuts over the weekend:
Houston true freshman QB KEVIN KOLB was 17-of-22 for 246 yards with one TD to lead the Cougars to a 48-14 win over Rice. Of the seven freshmen I-A quarterbacks that started this past week, his 240 yards of total offense was the highest total.
UAB redshirt freshman RB BO MONCUR carried 21 times for 136 yards and a TD for the Blazers. UAB true freshman WR NICK COON caught the game-winning 50-yard TD pass in the 24-19 win at Baylor.
Louisville sophomore RB ERIC SHELTON ran for 151 yards and two TDs in Louisville's 40-24 win at Kentucky. Cardinal junior QB STEFAN LeFORS was 14-of-23 for 180 yards and a TD in his first game as Dave Ragone's replacement.
Cincinnati redshirt freshman RB DERICK EDDINGTON ran for 129 yards and a touchdown in a 40-3 win over East Carolina.
Scoring Explosions
Four different Conference USA teams reached the 40-point mark during opening weekend. Houston led the way with its 48-14 win over Rice, while Memphis, Louisville and Cincinnati each scored exactly 40 points in their victories. Conference USA and the Big 12 were the only conferences that had four different teams score 40 or more points during the first full weekend of action.
Last Weekend's Stars
Here's a look at some of the top performers around Conference USA in games from August 30-September 1:
Rushing Attempts
25 Eric Shelton, LOU (151 yds.)
24 Richard Hall, CIN (117 yds.)
23 Ricky Madison, TCU (115 yds.)
21 Bo Moncur, UAB (136 yds.)
Rushing Yards
151 Eric Shelton, LOU (25 att.)
136 Bo Moncur, UAB (21 att.)
129 Derick Eddington, CIN (11 att.)
117 Richard Hall, CIN (24 att.)
Rushing Touchdowns
2 Eric Shelton, LOU
2 Maurice Avery, MEM
2 Tedric Harwell, CIN
2 Lonta Hobbs, TCU
Passing Completions
25 J.P Losman, TUL (42 att.)
17 Tye Gunn, TCU (27 att.)
17 Kevin Kolb, HOU (22 att.)
17 Ronnie Banks, USF (33 att.)
16 Micky D'Angelo, USM (26 att.)
15 Danny Wimprine, MEM (21 att.)
Passing Yards
303 J.P Losman, TUL (25-of-42)
266 Danny Wimprine, MEM (15-of-21)
246 Kevin Kolb, HOU (17-of-22)
243 Tye Gunn, TCU (17-of-27)
238 Darrell Hackney, UAB (13-of-29)
204 Ronnie Banks, USF (17-of-33)
Passing Touchdowns
2 Danny Wimprine, MEM
2 J.P Losman, TUL
2 Darrell Hackney, UAB
Receptions
11 Terrance Copper, ECU (106 yds.)
8 Vincent Marshall, HOU (95 yds.)
7 Antwon Courington, USM (72 yds.)
6 Fred Smith, TUL (60 yds.)
6 Broderick Clark, LOU (94 yds.)
6 Tavarious Davis, MEM (54 yds.)
Receiving Yards
135 DeAngelo Williams, MEM (4 rec.)
122 Brandon Middleton, HOU (4 rec.)
110 Mewelde Moore, TCU (5 rec.)
106 Terrance Copper, ECU (11 rec.)
94 Broderick Clark, LOU (6 rec.)
Receiving Touchdowns
2 Brandon Middleton, HOU
2 DeAngelo Williams, MEM
Field Goals
2 Dustin Bell, HOU
2 Stephen Gostkowski, MEM
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 2003 are Alabama, Georgia, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.
Conference USA will face at least one opponent from all 10 of the other I-A conferences. That is the first time that has occurred since the 1998 season.
Here's a look at C-USA's non-league opponents by conference:
ACC: North Carolina, Wake Forest
Big East: Miami (Fla.), Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple (2), West Virginia (2)
Big Ten: Michigan
Big 12: Baylor, Nebraska, Texas
Mid-American: Miami (Ohio)
Mountain West: Air Force
Pac-10: Arizona, California
SEC: Alabama (2), Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Mississippi State (3), South Carolina, Vanderbilt
Sun Belt: Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette
WAC: Rice, SMU
Preseason Honors
Several Conference USA have received preseason accolades:
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Athlon Sports
First Team
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Broderick Clark, KR, Louisville
Third Team
Etric Pruitt, DB, Southern Miss
CNNSI.com
First Team
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
College Football News.com
First Team
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Broderick Clark, KR, Louisville
Second Team
Brian Rimpf, OL, East Carolina
Etric Pruitt, DB, Southern Miss
All-America Honorable Mention
Ronnie Ghent, TE, Louisville
Bo Schobel, DL, TCU
Nick Browne, K, TCU
All-America Watch List
Gino Guidugli, QB, Cincinnati
Art Brown, RB, East Carolina
Lonta Hobbs, RB, TCU
Mewelde Moore, RB, Tulane
Stephen Cucci, TE, Houston
Sam Dudley, TE, UAB
Al James, OL, Houston
Chad Pugh, DL, TCU
Michael Boley, LB, Southern Miss
Rod Davis, LB, Louisville
Chris Moore, LB, East Carolina
Zac Woodfin, LB, UAB
Dio Hill, DB, UAB
Doug Monaghan, DB, Cincinnati
Lindy's
First Team
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Phil Steele's
First Team
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Second Team
Broderick Clark, KR, Louisville
Fourth Team
Nick Browne, K, TCU
Mewelde Moore, RB, Tulane
Sporting News
First Team
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Street & Smith's
First Team
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Honorable Mention
Danny Wimprine, QB, Memphis
Darrell Hackney, QB, UAB
Mewelde Moore, RB, Tulane
Art Brown, RB, East Carolina
Brian Rimpf, OL, East Carolina
Rex Hadnot, OL, Houston
Nick Browne, K, TCU
Broderick Clark, KR, Louisville
Bo Schobel, DL, TCU
Terrell Paul, DL, Southern Miss
Chad Pugh, DL, Southern Miss
Rod Day, LB, Louisville
Michael Boley, LB, Southern Miss
Zac Woodfin, LB, UAB
Derrick Ballard, LB, Memphis
Etric Pruitt, DB, Southern Miss
PRESEASON NATIONAL POSITION RANKINGS
Athlon Sports
Top Defensive Line Units
10-TCU
Top Linebacker Units
8-Southern Miss
CNNSI.com
Top Running Backs
8-Mewelde Moore, Tulane
Top Offensive Linemen
8-Brian Rimpf, East Carolina
Top Linebackers
1-Rod Davis, Southern Miss
Lindy's
Top Quarterbacks
20-J.P. Losman, Tulane
Top Running Backs
15-Lonta Hobbs, TCU
22-Mewelde Moore, Tulane
Top Defensive Ends
11-Bo Schobel, TCU
Top Inside Linebackers
1-Rod Davis, Southern Miss
Top Inside Linebackers
15-Michael Boley, Southern Miss
Top Safeties
7-Etric Pruitt, Southern Miss
Top Kickers
4-Nick Browne, TCU
7-Nick Hayes, UAB
The Sporting News
Top Quarterbacks
13-Gino Guidugli, Cincinnati
Top Running Backs
18-Mewelde Moore, Tulane
Top Tight Ends
6-Ronnie Ghent, Louisville
Top Centers
8-Doug White, East Carolina
15-Dan Koons, Louisville
16-Josh Shneyderov, Cincinnati
19-Rex Hadnot, Houston
Top Offensive Tackles
16-Brian Rimpf, East Carolina
Watch Out
Several C-USA players have been named to official award watch lists. Here's a look at those players (as of Sept. 1):
BUTKUS (Linebacker)
Derrick Ballard, Memphis
Michael Boley, Southern Miss
Anthony Cannon, Tulane
Rod Davis, Southern Miss
Rod Day, Louisville
Maurice Jones, USF
Zac Woodfin, UAB
DAVEY O'BRIEN (Quarterback)
Gino Guidugli, Cincinnati
Darrell Hackney, UAB
J.P. Losman, Tulane
Danny Wimprine, Memphis
DOAK WALKER (Running Back)
Art Brown, East Carolina
Lonta Hobbs, TCU
Mewelde Moore, Tulane
DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
HENDRICKS (Defensive End)
Trent Cole, Cincinnati
Bo Schobel, TCU
LOMBARDI (Top Down Linemen/TE)
Brian Rimpf, OT, East Carolina
Michael Boley, LB, Southern Miss
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Bo Schobel, DE, TCU
LOU GROZA (Kicker)
Dustin Bell, Houston
Nick Browne, TCU
Santiago Gramatica, USF
Nick Hayes, UAB
NAGURSKI (Top Defensive Player)
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Etric Pruitt, DB, Southern Miss
OUTLAND (Top Interior Linemen)
Brian Rimpf, OT, East Carolina
Rex Hadnot, C/G, Houston
RAY GUY (Top Punter)
Ryan Dougherty, East Carolina
Jimmy McClary, Houston
RIMINGTON (Top Center)
Josh Shneyderov, Cincinnati
Rex Hadnot, Houston
Dan Koons, Louisville
THORPE (Defensive Back)
Etric Pruitt, DB, Southern Miss
Catching On
Two C-USA players have caught at least one pass in more than 25 consecutive games. Here's a look at the current national leaders:
Player, School Games
Derek Abney, Kentucky 34
Kunle Patrick, Northwestern 34
Wes Walker, Texas Tech 34
Roy Williams, Texas 34
Fred Stamps, UL-Lafayette 32
Malcolm Floyd, Wyoming 31
Ryan McGuffey, Wyoming 30
Kendrick Mosley, Western Michigan 30
Brandon Middleton, Houston 28
Marque Davis, Fresno State 27
Jericho Cotchery, N.C. State 27
Darius Watts, Marshall 27
Ronnie Ghent, Louisville 26
Josh Davis, Marshall 26
Michael Clayton, LSU 26
Michael Jenkins, Ohio State 26
Creating Opportunities
Tulane led the nation in turnovers gained last season with 43. The Green Wave intercepted 22 passes and recovered 21 fumbles. The 22 interceptions are the third-highest single-season total in school history. TCU finished second in the nation in turnovers gained with 42, intercepting 22 passes and recovering 20 fumbles.
C-USA Welcomes USF
Conference USA welcomes the University of South Florida, a charter member of the league in all other sports, as a football-playing member this fall. The addition of USF gives the league 11 football schools for the upcoming season.
South Florida began football at the I-AA level in 1997. The Bulls played the past two seasons as a I-A independent, posting the best record among Independents in each of those seasons, including a 9-2 mark last year.
Winning Often
Since the beginning of the 2000 season, TCU is the 10th-winningest program in Division I-A. The Horned Frogs have posted a 26-9 record (.743), which trails only Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma, Boise State, Texas, Oregon, Toledo, Marshall, Virginia Tech and Georgia over that span.
Block Party
Louisville's special teams unit led the nation with eight blocked punts last season. The Cardinals blocked 12 total kicks (nine punts, two extra points, one field goal), which also led the nation. U of L blocked at least one kick in 10 of its 13 games in 2002.
TOTAL BLOCKED KICKS
School No.
1. LOUISVILLE 12
2. North Carolina State 10
3. Texas 8
4. Boise State 8
The Cards were at it again in the season opener at Kentucky, blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown. It marked the 11th time in the last 12 games that U of L has blocked a kick.
Family Ties
A number of C-USA players have family ties to the NFL. Here's a look at some of them:
ARMY
RB Tielor Robinson - uncle Cedric Jones played WR for New England Patriots
MEMPHIS
G Blake Butler - father is an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
WR Tavarious Davis - father played for New York Giants
USF
G Roland Clarke - cousin Snoop Minnis plays for Kansas City Chiefs
K Santiago Gramatica - brothers Martin and Bill play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals, respectively
WR Rod Joyner - brother Sam Cowart plays for Buffalo Bills
DL Lee Roy Selmon, Jr. - son of Buccaneers Hall of Fame DE Lee Roy Selmon, current USF A.D.
TCU
RB Robert Merrill - cousin Wade McGarrity played for Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints
DE Bob Pollard - father Bob played for St. Louis Cardinals and New Orleans Saints
DE Bo Schobel - cousins Aaron Schobel (Buffalo Bills) and Matt Schobel (Cincinnati Bengals) both play in NFL
ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS
Army was the only C-USA team that did not play this weekend. The Black Knights will open their 2003 season on Saturday, when they host Connecticut. Junior REGGIE NEVELS has been named as Army's starting quarterback. He opened last season as the starting QB, but suffered a torn hamstring in that game and was hampered by the ailment the remainder of the year. Army is 91-19-3 all-time in season openers, 91-14-3 when those openers take place at Michie Stadium. The Black Knights have dropped six-straight season openers with five of those losses coming by a total of 29 points. Prior to that stretch, Army had won seven straight and 11 of 13 openers, dating back to 1984. The Black Knights will be opening the season with four-straight home games for the first time since 1976.
CINCINNATI BEARCATS
Cincinnati won its sixth straight Conference USA game on Monday, opening the season with a 40-3 victory over East Carolina. The Bearcats have won those six games by an average margin of 25.3 points per game. UC rolled up 351 yards on the ground with DERICK EDDINGTON (129) and RICHARD HALL (117) each going over the century mark. It marked the first time since the 2001 season that UC had a pair of running backs run for more than 100 yards (DeMarco McCleskey and Ray Jackson). Quarterback GINO GUIDUGLI was 13-of-25 for 121 yards and had a 29-yard TD pass to TE DENNIS HART that allowed him to tie the school record for touchdown passes with 38. He also ran eight times for 45 yards. The Cincinnati defense held East Carolina to just 203 yards of total offense and eight first downs, including just two in the first half. Linebacker TRENT COLE had 10 tackles, including two for losses, and one sack.
EAST CAROLINA PIRATES
The Pirates opened their 2003 season with a loss at Cincinnati on Monday. The loss continued a trend for ECU, which has lost 10 of its last 13 season-opening games. However, the Pirates have gone on to post a winning record in eight of those years. The one bright spot of the Pirate offense was WR TERRANCE COPPER, who caught a career-high 11 passes for 106 yards. The offense showed that it missed preseason all-conference RB ART BROWN, who is out for the season with a knee injury, by rushing 32 times for just 57 yards. Freshman P RYAN DOUGHERTY, a candidate for the Ray Guy Award, had a strong debut for ECU, punting eight times for a 45.2 average, including a long of 65.
HOUSTON COUGARS
The ART BRILES era got underway in successful fashion with a 48-14 win over crosstown rival Rice on Saturday. It was the second-highest point total in a debut game by a Houston head coach (Bill Meek's 1955 squad scored 54 vs. Montana). The 34-point winning margin was the most since a 45-0 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in 1999. It was the largest winning margin in the Bayou Bucket game since UH posted a 64-0 win in 1989, when UH QB Andre Ware won the Heisman Trophy. Senior WR BRANDON MIDDLETON caught four passes for 122 yards, the fourth 100-yard receiving game in his career. His 47-yard TD reception in the second quarter stretched his streak of consecutive games with at least one catch to 23. KEVIN KOLB had an outstanding debut at quarterback for UH, finishing 17-of-22 for 246 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing for two scores. He also became the first true freshman to start at quarterback in the school's 58-year history. Making his first start, VINCENT MARSHALL caught a game-high eight passes for 95 yards. Marshall was one of nine Cougars that made their first career start vs. Rice on Saturday.
LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
BOBBY PETRINO's head coaching debut was a successful one, as the Cardinals won the Governor's Cup for the fourth time in the last five years with a 40-24 win at Kentucky. Louisville has won the last three meetings in Lexington by an average of 24 points. Running back ERIC SHELTON, a transfer from Florida State, made his Cardinal debut by rushing 25 times for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That was the highest rushing total by a U of L back since Tony Stallings gained 151 against Memphis on Sept. 29, 2001. Junior QB STEFAN LeFORS started at QB and completed 14-of-23 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore WR/KR BRODERICK CLARK, the league's Special Teams player of the Year in 2002, set career highs with six receptions for 94 yards. After leading the nation in blocked punts last season with eight, U of L was at it again on Sunday, blocking a UK punt in the second quarter and recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown. It was the 11th blocked kick for the Cards in their last 12 games.
MEMPHIS TIGERS
The Tigers defeated Tennessee Tech, 40-10, in the season opener at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Sophomore RB DeANGELO WILLIAMS finished with 196 total yards and three touchdowns, rushing for 61 yards and one score, while catching four passes for 135 yards and two TDs. The 135 yards receiving were the most ever by a Memphis running back and included an 80-yard TD catch. Sophomore MAURICE AVERY carried six times for 55 yards, including a pair of touchdown runs. Junior QB DANNY WIMPRINE became the school's all-time leader in passing yardage (4,385) and completions (341) in the game. He finished the night 15-of-21 for 266 yards.
USF BULLS
The Bulls made their debut as a football member of Conference USA at Alabama on Saturday. After going to halftime tied at 17-17, Alabama pulled away for a 40-17 victory. Junior WR BRIAN FISHER scored both of USF's touchdowns, catching a 13-yard TD pass and running in a 17-yard option from the quarterback position. With five receptions for 53 yards, HUEY WHITTAKER moved within 16 yards of becoming the sixth player in the Bulls' brief football history to record 1,000 career receiving yards. He now has 83 receptions (fourth all-time at USF) for 984 yards. Whittaker's 37-yard reception in the second quarter was named ESPN's number-one play on the network's Top 10 Plays of the Day on August 30. Linebacker MAURICE JONES tied a school record with 18 tackles (15 solo) at Alabama. USF carries a streak of three undefeated home seasons into Saturday's game vs. Nicholls State. The Bulls have won 19 consecutive games at Raymond James Stadium, dating back to Nov. 13, 1999. The string is the third-longest in the country behind Miami's 21-game streak and Texas's 20-game streak. The average score over the 19 games has been 39-12.
SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES
Southern Miss played its first-ever game against a Pac-10 school on Saturday, losing at California, 34-2. It was the fewest points scored by a Golden Eagles team since they defeated UAB, 3-0, on September 29, 2001. USM's lone points came on special teams in the first quarter when a Cal snap went out of the end zone on a punt attempt. The Golden Eagles produced three safeties last season, all on defense. Quarterback MICKY D'ANGELO was 16-of-26 for 163 yards with one interception before being lifted early in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver ANTWON COURINGTON, who caught just three passes all of last season, had seven receptions for 72 yards. MARVIN YOUNG added five catches for 84 yards, all in the first half. Linebacker ROD DAVIS paced the defense with 10 tackles, including two for losses.
TCU HORNED FROGS
The Horned Frogs opened defense of their Conference USA title with a 38-35 win at Tulane. Making his first appearance since tearing his ACL last October 30, QB TYE GUNN was 17-of-27 for 243 yards and one passing touchdown, a career-long 80-yarder to RB RICKY MADISON. He also scored on a four-yard bootleg with less than two minutes remaining that proved to be the winning margin in the game. Madison gained 115 on 23 carries and LONTA HOBBS added 62. Hobbs also rushed for three touchdowns. TCU's defense held Mewelde Moore and Tulane to just 66 rushing yards on 26 attempts. CORY RODGERS had a 57-yard punt return and returned three kickoffs for 86 yards.
TULANE GREEN WAVE
The Green Wave battled back from a 31-7 deficit early in the fourth quarter, but fell short against TCU on Monday night at the Superdome, losing, 38-35. J.P. LOSMAN threw for over 300 yards, completing 25-of-42 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver ROYDELL WILLIAMS returned to action after missing nearly all of last season with a fractured ankle and caught five passes for 110 yards. Tulane had just one 100-yard receiver all of last season. Williams, who led C-USA in touchdown receptions in 2001 with 11, grabbed a 2-yard TD to cap off a scoring drive in which he caught a career-long 67-yard reception. After leading the nation with 43 forced turnovers and scoring six defensive touchdowns in 2002, Tulane forced three TCU miscues on Monday, including a fumble that BRUCE YOUMANS returned 35 yards for a score. On his first collegiate touch, true freshman FRED SMITH returned a kickoff 100 yards for a TD in the second quarter. He is the second player in C-USA history and seventh in Green Wave annals (first since 1985) to post a 100-yard return.
UAB BLAZERS
The Blazers posted their first-ever win over a Big 12 opponent (in seven tries) with a 24-19 win at Baylor on Saturday. Quarterback DARRELL HACKNEY threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to true freshman WR NICK COON with 40 seconds remaining to give UAB the win. Hackney finished the game 13-of-29 for 238 yards and two touchdowns. His 13 completions went to nine different receivers. In his Blazer debut, freshman RB BO MONCUR carried 21 times for 136 yards. UAB had just one 100-yard rusher all of last season. Sophomore RB DAN BURKS, who has been slowed by a hamstring injury during the preseason, saw action on only one play, a four-yard TD reception in the second quarter. Junior K NICK HAYES extended his string of consecutive extra points made to 49. He has not missed a PAT in his collegiate career. He also kicked a 32 yard field goal.