Conference USA Football

Defending champion Texas Christian has been picked to repeat as Conference USA football champion in 2003, while perennial power Southern Mississippi and conference newcomer South Florida have been predicted to be the primary challengers.

In a vote taken this week at the league's annual meeting of sports information directors, the Horned Frogs received 115 of a possible 121 points and were chosen to finish atop the standings by seven of the 11 SID's.

TCU, which returns 12 starters, is coming off a 10-2 season in which it finished ranked 22nd in the nation after defeating then-No. 21 Colorado State in the AXA Liberty Bowl.

A pair of talented sophomores, QB Tye Gunn and RB Lonta Hobbs, headline the Frogs' offensive returnees. DE Bo Schobel and S Marvin Godbolt are back to lead a defensive unit that was first in the nation in total defense last season.

Southern Miss, which received two first place votes and 107 total points, was selected second. The Golden Eagles welcome back 14 starters, including eight on a talented defensive unit.

The USM defense is led by senor linebacker Rod Davis, a Butkus Award candidate who led C-USA with 168 tackles and set a school record with 23.5 tackles for loss. Michael Boley joins him at the linebacking spot, while Etric Pruitt and Greg Brooks lead a strong secondary.

South Florida, which posted a 9-2 record last season as an independent, was chosen third in its initial season as a football-playing member of C-USA. The Bulls have three-year, 19-game home winning streak, which is the nation's second-longest, heading into the 2003 campaign.

A total of 12 USF starters are back, with RB Clenton Crossley heading the offensive returnees and S J.R. Reed topping the defensive players.

Cincinnati edged Louisville for fourth place. Both schools are looking to extend their strings of consecutive bowl appearances. The Bearcats have appeared in the postseason the past three years, while U of L has made five straight bowl trips.

Cincinnati features talented junior junior QB Gino Guidugli, who passed for a school record 3,543 yards last season. The Cardinals open era of new coach Bobby Petrino with 14 returning starters, including TE Ronnie Ghent and LB Rod Day.

Tulane was chosen sixth, followed by East Carolina. The Green Wave are coming off an 8-5 season that included a victory in the ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl. Tulane is led by all-purpose RB Mewelde Moore, who has more rushing and receiving yards over the past two years than any other returning player in the nation.

East Carolina begins its first season under new head coach John Thompson and the Pirates feature preseason All-American offensive lineman Brian Rimpf.

The Blazers have several talented young skill players, headlined by sophomore QB Darrell Hackney. Memphis has its own talented sophomore on offense in RB DeAngelo Williams.

Houston opens the Art Briles era this fall and, although the Cougars must replace RB Joffrey Reynolds, they expect to have an exciting, high-powered offense.

Army was one of the youngest teams in the nation in 2002 and the Black Knights are looking forward to continued development from those young players in the upcoming campaign.

Conference USA’s eighth football season will get underway on Saturday, August 30.

The conference champion will receive a bid to the AXA Liberty Bowl on December 31 in Memphis. Other guaranteed bowl slots include the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, the ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl, the Fort Worth Bowl, and the New Orleans Bowl.
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CONFERENCE USA 2003 FOOTBALL
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH BY LEAGUE'S SID'S

Poll Results Pts (first place votes)

TCU 115 (7)
Southern Miss 107 (2)
South Florida 85 (1)
Cincinnati 82
Louisville 78 (1)
Tulane 66
East Carolina 57
UAB 54
Memphis 40
Houston 30
Army 12