Football Cards Selected To Repeat As C-USA Champs

July 25, 2001

CHICAGO - Defending league champion Louisville has been chosen to repeat as the 2001 Conference USA football champion, according to the league's head coaches. The Cardinals edged East Carolina for the top spot, garnering six first-place votes and 94 total points to ECU's three first-place votes and 90 total points.

Louisville junior quarterback Dave Ragone was picked to repeat as the conference's Offensive Player of the Year. Last season, Ragone completed 216-of-345 passes for 2,621 yards. He threw 27 touchdown passes and is Division I-A's returning leader in that category. Ragone is one of a league-leading eight Cardinals (four on each side of the ball) that were named to the preseason all-league squad. Lineman Aaron Dardzinski, wide receiver Deion Branch and tight end Ronnie Ghent were named on offense, while defensive back Anthony Floyd, the nation's leading interceptor a year ago (10) is joined by linebacker Michael Brown and linemen Michael Josiah and Dewayne White on defense.

East Carolina will be led by the preseason Defensive Player of the Year, senior linebacker Pernell Griffin. Griffin was a first team All-C-USA selection last season after leading the Pirates in tackles with 87, despite missing three full games with a MCL injury. Also representing the Pirates on the preseason squad are running back Leonard Henry and offensive lineman Aaron Walker.

Southern Miss was picked to finish third, followed by first-year Conference USA member TCU. The always-tough Golden Eagles defense lists two players on the preseason team: sophomore linebacker Rod Davis and senior cornerback Chad Williams. TCU will make its C-USA debut led by offensive lineman Victor Payne, defensive lineman Chad McCarty and return specialist LaTarence Dunbar, who led the nation in kickoffs last season.

UAB was picked to finish fifth, ahead of Cincinnati, Memphis and Tulane. The Blazers, who finished 7-4 last season, feature defensive lineman Bryan Thomas, the Bearcats placed three players on the all-league squad, including preseason Special Teams Player of the Year placekicker Jonathan Ruffin, the 2000 Lou Groza Award winner. Defensive-minded Memphis placed cornerback Glenn Sumter on the preseason squad, while the high-scoring Green Wave were represented by punter Casey Roussel.

Rounding out the preseason poll are Houston and Army. The Cougars are represented on the preseason All-Conference team by wide receiver Brian Robinson and defensive back Hanik Milligan, while Army offensive lineman Paul Henderson and punt returner Omari Thompson earned spots on the preseason team.

Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes) Pts.1.      Louisville (6)                          942.      East Carolina (3)                   903.  Southern Miss (1)                   814.  TCU                                 625.  UAB                                 606.  Cincinnati                          457.  Memphis                                 438.  Tulane                                  419.  Houston                                 2210. Army                                    12
First Team OffenseQB  Dave Ragone, LouisvilleRB  Leonard Henry, East CarolinaRB  Ray Jackson, CincinnatiOL  Aaron Dardzinski, LouisvilleOL  Paul Henderson, ArmyOL  Shawn Murphy, CincinnatiOL  Victor Payne, TCUOL  Aaron Walker, East CarolinaWR  Deion Branch, LouisvilleWR  Brian Robinson, HoustonTE  Ronnie Ghent, Louisville

First Team DefenseDL  Michael Josiah, LouisvilleDL  Chad McCarty, TCUDL  Bryan Thomas, UABDL  Dewayne White, LouisvilleLB  Michael Brown, LouisvilleLB  Rod Davis, Southern MissLB  Pernell Griffin, East CarolinaDB  Anthony Floyd, LouisvilleDB  Hanik Milligan, HoustonDB  Glenn Sumter, MemphisDB  Chad Williams, Southern Miss
First Team Special TeamsK   Jonathan Ruffin, CincinnatiP   Casey Roussel, TulaneKR  LaTarence Dunbar, TCUPR  Omari Thompson, Army
Offensive Player of the YearDave Ragone, QB, Louisville
Defensive Player of the YearPernell Griffin, LB, East Carolina
Special Teams Player of the YearJonathan Ruffin, K, Cincinnati

University of Louisville Athletics

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