By Staff
From Staff Reports
July 27, 2001
Three-time Conference USA champion Southern Miss has been chosen to finish third in 2001 by the leagues head football coaches.
The Golden Eagles received just one first place vote and 81 points to finish behind Louisville (94 points) and East Carolina (90 points). The defending C-USA champion Cardinals picked up six first place votes, while the Pirates got three.
C-USA newcomer Texas Christian (62) was predicted to finish fourth, ahead of UAB (60), Cincinnati (45), Memphis (43), Tulane (41), Houston (22) and Army (12).
USM's usually tough defense lists two players on the preseason C-USA first team defense, sophomore linebacker Rod Davis and senior cornerback Chad Williams.
Louisville junior quarterback Dave Ragone was picked to repeat as the conference's Offensive Player of the Year, while East Carolina senior linebacker Pernell Griffin was chose the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.