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News Nuggets, 10.20.06
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NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

ECU's Roach nominated for Draddy Award

Selected as the best and the brightest from the college gridiron, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame has announced the 148 semifinalists for the 2006 Draddy Trophy, and the candidates for the NFF 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

East Carolina is represented by wide receiver Kevin Roach, a senior from Williamston who is majoring in accounting. Roach has been a four-time selection to the Conference USA and East Carolina academic honor rolls. He has 52 career catches for 624 yards.

One of college football’s most sought after and competitive awards, the Draddy Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.

“The Draddy epitomizes everything right about college football,” said NFF President Steven J. Hatchell. “By recognizing this group, we highlight the countless hours and demands that each college football player must balance as they pursue their dreams of a higher education and their passion for football. The NFF has both the privilege and responsibility to pay tribute to this exceptional group of role models, who truly embody the term student-athlete.”

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who founded the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a stunning 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.

With a 3.51 average GPA and majors such as biochemistry and zoology, the group includes 70 players who have earned all-conference recognition on the field and 94 captains. The offensive line produced the most nominees with 44. Defensive backs came in second with 24 candidates. Offense outscored the defense with 79 to 61 hopefuls. Eight special teams aspirants completed the contingent. Nominees hail from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, including a record 64 contenders from Division I-A.

The NFF Awards Committee, comprised of former coaches, Hall of Famers and college administrators, will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 26. The winner, also selected by the committee, will be announced at the 49th NFF Awards Dinner on December 5 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Each finalist will also be recognized that night as part of the 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The Draddy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program’s mystique. Past Draddy winners, including two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, a Heisman winner and a 3.7 average GPA, are: Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990); John B. Culpepper (Florida, 1991); Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992); Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993); Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994); Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995); Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996); Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998); Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999); Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000); Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, 2001); Brandon Roberts (Washington University-Mo., 2002); Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003); Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004); and Rudy Niswanger (Louisiana State, 2005).

Memphis picked first in C-USA basketball

Coming off a No. 1 seed in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, the Memphis Tigers repeat as the unanimous preseason favorite to win the 2006-07 Conference USA basketball regular season crown, according to the league's coaches. Rice's Morris Almond, a preseason All-America candidate, was the unanimous selection by coaches as the preseason player of the year.

Memphis is coming off its sixth straight postseason appearance in six years under head coach John Calipari, having advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight last spring and tying national champion Florida with a nation's best 33 wins.

The Tigers welcome back a pair of standout starters, who join Almond on the Preseason All-Conference Team. Sophomore Chris Douglas-Roberts is the Tigers' top returning scorer (8.3 ppg), placing fourth last season behind three players on current NBA rosters. Junior Joey Dorsey also earned a nod on the preseason team. Dorsey led the conference in blocks (1.78 bpg) and placed third in rebounding (7.5 rpg).

Houston also placed two players on the Preseason All-Conference Team as the Cougars were chosen second in the coaches' vote. Seniors Oliver Lafayette and Lanny Smith led UH to its second straight NIT appearance under head coach Tom Penders, posting a 21-10 record. Lafayette was the Cougars' top scorer in 2005-06, averaging 15.7 ppg, and set a Conference USA and school record for steals per game, ranking second nationally with 3.4 per game. Smith assisted on 162 baskets and ranked fourth in C-USA with 5.40 per game.

UAB, which has made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, was selected to finish third under new head coach Mike Davis. Senior Wen Mukubu and junior Paul Delaney, III, are the Blazers' top returning scorers, despite making just 16 collective starts along with last season's talented corps of players.

Rice and Texas-El Paso were picked to finish in a tie for fourth place. The Owls and head coach Willis Wilson expect more offensive firepower this season from Almond, who led the league with 21.9 ppg, and set a C-USA scoring record by averaging 25.1 ppg in conference regular season games. UTEP is coming off its third 20-win season, posting a 21-10 mark in 2005-06 that included a NIT berth. This season, the Miners will be led by first-year coach Tony Barbee who knows the conference well as a former assistant at Memphis.

4th-ranked UTEP runners coming to Greenville

After an impressive victory at the Chile Pepper Festival last weekend, the UTEP cross country team climbed seven spots in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll to rank fourth nationally.

The Miners placed five runners in the top 20 to defeat then-second-ranked Arkansas, which had won 16 of the previous 17 Chile Pepper titles. UTEP received 391 votes, including one first place vote, to rank behind Wisconsin (448 votes), Colorado (427 votes) and Iona (422 votes).

UTEP will next run at the C-USA Championship in Greenville, on Saturday, Oct. 28.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from electronic services and other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:52 PM