TicketsThree Bearcats on C-USA All-Decade Grid Team
Contact: Tom Hathaway
12/1/2004
Former Bearcat and current Jet star Jason Fabini was the only offensive lineman elected to the C-USA All-Decade Team. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Three former University of Cincinnati players, Jason Fabini, Antwan Peek and Jonathan Ruffin, have been named to the Conference USA All-Decade Team.
Fabini, the only offensive lineman chosen to the all-decade team, was a three-time All-C-USA first team selection as an offensive tackle during the league's first three seasons. He became a starter in the second game of his freshman season, inheriting the right tackle position due to the injury of the incumbent, and started all but one game the remainder of his career. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL draft by the Jets, where he has been a mainstay at left tackle, twice earning all-pro honors.
Peek, a first team all-league pick in 2001 and 2002, excelled as a defensive end and pass rush specialist. UC?s all-time leader in tackles for loss (56) and sacks (27), Peek ranks third in C-USA in TFLs. He earned C-USA Player of the Week honors three times, once as a specialist for blocking kicks. Peek was taken in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft by Houston and earned all-rookie honors last season.
Ruffin won the Lou Groza Award as the nation?s top kicker in 2000 and was a consensus All-American choice. The C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2000, Ruffin set league season records for FGs (26) and FGAs (29). His 26 FGs marked the sixth-highest total in NCAA history. Ruffin is C-USA?s No. 2 career scorer with 316 points and ranks third in FGAs (79), FGs (62) and FG percentage (.785).
Southern Miss, which won four regular season championships, placed a league-high eight members on the team, with head coach Jeff Bower earning Coach of the Decade honors. Louisville, holders of three titles, had six selections, with quarterback Dave Ragone selected thePlayer of the Decade. Cincinnati and Tulane tied for third in players selected, each placing three players on the squad.
Conference USA is celebrating its 10th anniversary during the 2004-05 season. In conjunction, the league is naming a Team of the Decade for each of the conference?s 19 sports. Voting was done by a media panel with one representative in each of the league?s cities.
C-USA Football All Decade Team
Offense
QB?Dave Ragone, Louisville
QB?Shaun King, Louisville
QB?Chris Redman, Louisville
RB?Mewelde Moore, Tulane
RB?Derrick Nix, Southern Misss
RB?Ketric Sanford, Houston
RB?DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
WR?Sherrod Gideon, Southern Miss
WR?Arnold Jackson, Louisville
OT?Jason Fabini, Cincinnati
TE?Ibn Green, Louisville
Defense
DE?Antwan Peek, Cincinnati
DE?Bo Schobel, TCU
DE?Adalius Thomas, Southern Miss
DE?Bryan Thomas, UAB
DE?Dewayne White, Louisville
LB?Michael Boley, Southern Miss
LB?Rod Davis, Southern Miss
LB?Pernell Griffin, East Carolina
LB?Tyrus McCloud, Louisville
DB?Patrick Surtain, Southern Miss
Special Teams
K?Nick Browne, TCU
K?Seth Marler, Tulane
K?Jonathan Ruffin, Cincinnati
KR?Eric Booth, Southern Miss
KR?John Eubanks, Southern Miss
Player of the Decade
Dave Ragone, QB, Louisville
Coach of the Decade
Jeff Bower, Southern Miss