Three Pirates Named Preseason All C-USA
July 21, 2003 | Football
The results of the coaches' 2003 preseason polls was unveiled on Monday in Memphis as the league's annual media football kickoff got underway.
Offensive tackle Brian Rimpf and running back Art Brown, both seniors, were selected as first-team preseason all-conference players on offense. In addition, senior Terrance Copper was a first-team selection at punt returner.
In the predicted order of finish, the Pirates were one of four teams to receive a first place vote and were tabbed for sixth behind TCU, Southern Miss, South Florida, Cincinnati, and Louisville. Following ECU in seventh was Tulane, with UAB, Memphis, Houston, and Army rounding out the order.
Rimpf, 6-6, 318, has been a first-team All-Conference USA pick for each of the past two seasons. In addition to the preseason all-conference award announced on Monday, he is also listed as a second team Preseason All-American by College Football News and is on the official watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy for the second straight year.
Brown, 5-9, 207, is the league's top returning rusher in terms of yards per game (102.9), as he rushed for 1,029 yards in 10 games last season. Brown scored 17 touchdowns to rank sixth in the nation in scoring in 2002 en route to second-team All C-USA honors.
Copper, a wide receiver by trade, earned preseason honors as a punt returner after averaging 10.9 yards per return last season. He is the Pirates' top returning receiver as he caught 30 passes for 395 yards in 2002. Copper has the distinction of having not missed a game over the past three seasons, playing in 36 straight contests including two bowl games.
Rimpf and senior safety Travis Heath, along with first-year head coach John Thompson, are ECU's representatives in Memphis for the C-USA Media Kickoff. All three will meet with media members from throughout the conference on Tuesday.
2003 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL
Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes) Pts.
1. TCU (8) 115
2. Southern Miss (1) 106
3. South Florida (1) 81
4. Cincinnati 77
5. Louisville 73
6. East Carolina (1) 64
7. Tulane 60
8. UAB 56
9. Memphis 49
10. Houston 26
11. Army 16
First Team Offense
QB Gino Guidugli, Cincinnati
RB Art Brown, East Carolina
RB Mewelde Moore, Tulane
OL Anthony Alabi, TCU
OL Andy Galloway, UAB
OL Rex Hadnot, Houston
OL Chris McGee, Tulane
OL Brian Rimpf, East Carolina
WR Brandon Middleton, Houston
WR Huey Whittaker, South Florida
WR Roydell Williams, Tulane
TE Stephen Cucci, Houston
First Team Defense
DL Trent Cole, Cincinnati
DL Terrell Paul, Southern Miss
DL Chad Pugh, TCU
DL Bo Schobel, TCU
LB Derrick Ballard, Memphis
LB Michael Boley, Southern Miss
LB Rod Davis, Southern Miss
LB Zac Woodfin, UAB
DB Greg Brooks, Southern Miss
DB Doug Monaghan, Cincinnati
DB Etric Pruitt, Southern Miss
DB J.R. Reed, South Florida
First Team Special Teams
K Nick Browne, TCU
P Jimmy McClary, Houston
KR Terrance Copper, East Carolina
PR Broderick Clark, Louisville
Offensive Player of the Year
Mewelde Moore, RB, Tulane
Defensive Player of the Year
Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss
Special Teams Players of the Year
Nick Browne, K, TCU
Broderick Clark, KR, Louisville
