Conference USA Announces Preseason Football Awards

August 1, 1999

CHICAGO - Southern Miss has been chosen to capture the 1999 Conference USA football championship, according to the league's head coaches. Senior defensive end Adalius Thomas, a two-time first team All-Conference USA selection and the 1998 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, was chosen to repeat as 1999 Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, Thomas recorded 71 tackles, including 20 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Four Golden Eagle teammates join Thomas on the preseason All-Conference team: linebacker T.J. Slaughter, offensive lineman Shedrick Blackmon, wide receiver Sherrod Gideon and running back Derrick Nix, the league's Freshman of the Year last season.

Louisville, led by the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, senior quarterback Chris Redman, was selected to finish second. Redman owns virtually every Cardinal passing record and led U of L to the top offensive ranking in the nation last season. Two of his favorite targets, tight end Ibn Green and wide receiver Arnold Jackson, appear on preseason all-league team, along with Cardinal defensive back Antonio Roundtree. East Carolina edged out defending champion Tulane for third place. The Pirates, aiming for their fifth winning season in the last six years, will look to three defensive all-league selections (end Norris McCleary, linebacker Jeff Kerr and cornerback Forrest Foster) to get there. The Green Wave carry a 13-game winning streak and a victory in the AXA/Equitable Liberty Bowl into 1999. Offensive lineman Bernard Robertson and linebacker Jerry Phillips represent Tulane on the preseason all-conference squad as the Wave opens defense of its title.

Houston was picked to finish fifth, just ahead of Memphis. The Cougars feature running back Ketric Sanford, offensive lineman Greg Brown and defensive back Mike James, while the Tigers Ryan White was picked to repeat as Special Teams Player of the Year.

Rounding out the preseason poll are Army, Cincinnati and UAB, respectively. The Cadets are represented on the preseason All-Conference team by defensive lineman David Hageman and punter Graham White, while Cincinnati welcomes the return of Tinker Keck, who was named to the preseason all-league squad as a defensive back and as a return specialist. UAB begins its first season of competition in Conference USA this fall and is led by all-league defensive back Kris Neal.

Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes) Pts. 1. Southern Miss (7) 752. Louisville (1) 673. East Carolina 604. Tulane 525. Houston (1) 476. Memphis 337. Army 298. Cincinnati 239. UAB 19
First Team OffenseQB - Chris Redman LouisvilleRB - Derrick Nix Southern MissRB - Ketric Sanford HoustonOL - Shedrick Blackmon Southern MissOL - Greg Brown HoustonOL - Doug Rosfeld CincinnatiOL - Bernard Robertson TulaneOL - Tim Seymour MemphisTE - Ibn Green LouisvilleWR - Sherrod Gideon Southern MissWR - Arnold Jackson Louisville
First Team DefenseDL - David Hageman ArmyDL - Norris McCleary East CarolinaDL - Cedric Scott Southern MissDL - Adalius Thomas Southern MissLB - Jeff Kerr East CarolinaLB - Jerry Phillips TulaneLB - T.J. Slaughter Southern MissDB - Forrest Foster East CarolinaDB - Mike James HoustonDB - Tinker Keck CincinnatiDB - Kris Neal UABDB - Antonio Roundtree Louisville
First Team Special TeamsRS - Tinker Keck CincinnatiPK - Ryan White MemphisP - Graham White Army
Offensive Player of the YearChris Redman QB Louisville
Defensive Player of the YearAdalius Thomas DE Southern Miss
Special Teams Players of the YearTinker Keck CincinnatiRyan White K Memphis

University of Louisville Athletics

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