Coaches Pick MT 2nd, SIDs Predict 1st; Hicks Tabbed Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

NEW ORLEANS - The Sun Belt Conference coaches predict Middle Tennessee to finish behind North Texas in the 2002 SBC football race, while the league's sports information directors have the Blue Raiders placing first. The league made the announcement today, along with the all-conference squad, during the annual Media Days event.

The Mean Green received four first-place votes and 44 points in the coaches' poll, edging out Middle Tennessee by one point. The Blue Raiders, 2001 co-champions, picked up two first-place votes and 43 points. The coaches selected New Mexico State third with 34 points and one first-place vote. Louisiana-Lafayette placed fourth with 30 points, followed by Idaho in fifth with 21 points. Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas State tied for sixth place with 12 points each.

The leagues SIDs gave Middle Tennessee, under head coach Andy McCollum, four first-place votes and 46 points to top the poll. North Texas picked up the other three first-place votes and 43 points for second. New Mexico State edged out Louisiana-Lafayette for third place with 31 points, compared to the Cajuns 30 points. Idaho finished a solid fifth with 20 points, while Louisiana-Monroe was picked sixth with 14 points, followed by Arkansas State with 10.

The Blue Raiders placed six players on the all-conference team, which included RB Dwone Hicks, OT Brandon Westbrook, FS Michael Woods, WR Tyrone Calico, P Robert Billings, and PK Brian Kelly.

Hicks, a Heisman Trophy candidate, was named the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while junior all-conference performer Maurice Sonnier of Louisiana-Monroe was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Hicks, a two-time Preseason Offensive Player of the Year selection, rushed for 1,143 yards on 191 carries last season. He finished the season ranked 2nd in the country in scoring with 13.5 points per game.

"This is great for our fans and the league," McCollum added. --"But we are only concerned about where we will stand in December. These are just predictions and we have to get it done on the field. The six players singled out are very deserving and have worked hard, but they will be the first to tell you that without our team's success that these type of awards don--'t mean a whole lot."

2002 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason All-Conference Team
*=unanimous pick
Offense
Offensive Line: Garry Johnson, Sr., Arkansas State; Jonathon Raush, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Brandon Westbrook, Jr., Middle Tennessee; Shalimar Jackson, Sr., New Mexico State; Nick Zuniga, Jr., North Texas Tight End: Jeff Muenchow, Sr., North Texas Wide Receivers: Nick Dugas, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Tyrone Calico, Sr., Middle Tennessee Quarterback: Jon Van Cleave, Jr., Louisiana-Lafayette Running Backs: *Dwone Hicks, Sr., Middle Tennessee; Kevin Galbreath, Sr., North Texas

Defense
Defensive Line: *Brandon Kennedy, Jr., North Texas; Brandon Kania, So., Idaho; John Thompson, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe; Joe Olivo, Jr., New Mexico State Linebackers: Les Echols, Jr., Arkansas State; Maurice Sonnier, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe; Cody Spencer, Jr., North Texas Defensive Backs: *Siddeeq Shabazz, Sr., New Mexico State; Charles Tillman, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Michael Woods, Jr., Middle Tennessee; Jonas Buckles, So., North Texas

Special Teams
Kicker: Brian Kelly, Jr., Middle Tennessee Punter: Robert Billings, Jr., Middle Tennessee Return Specialist: James Hickenbotham, Sr., Arkansas State

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Dwone Hicks, Sr., RB, Middle Tennessee Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Maurice Sonnier, Jr., LB, Louisiana-Monroe

2002 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Polls
2002 Coaches Poll
1. North Texas 44 (4)
2. Middle Tennessee 43 (2)
3. New Mexico State 34 (1)
4. Louisiana-Lafayette 30
5. Idaho 21
6. Arkansas State 12
Louisiana-Monroe 12

2002 SID Poll
1. Middle Tennessee 46 (4)
2. North Texas 43 (3)
3. New Mexico State 31
4. Louisiana-Lafayette 30
5. Idaho 22
6. Louisiana-Monroe 14
7. Arkansas State 10

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