University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Conference USA Coaches Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team Released
7/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Conference USA Coaches Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team Released
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss Golden Eagles have been selected to finish third in the C-USA preseason football poll according to Conference USA head coaches. Louisville, last year's champion, was selected to repeat as champions, and East Carolina was selected to finish second. Newcomer TCU was picked to finish fourth, UAB fifth, Cincinnati sixth, Memphis seventh, Tulane eighth, Houston ninth and Army 10th.
Senior defensive back Chad Williams and redshirt sophomore linebacker Rod Davis represented the Golden Eagles on the preseason all-conference team. Williams, an honorable-mention preseason All-America selection by Street & Smith's magazine, led the 2000 squad in tackles with 114 and forced fumbles with four. He also finished with 11 tackles for loss, including eight quarterback sacks and five pass breakups. Williams was named second team all-Conference USA last season. He also was named one of the top safeties in the nation by Lindy's preseason magazine and an all-conference selection by Athlon Sports Magazine, The Sporting News and Street & Smith's.
Last year, Davis was third on the team in tackles with 94 as a redshirt freshman. He finished with seven tackles for loss, one quarterback sack, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and seven pass breakups. He was named a preseason honorable-mention All-American by Street & Smith's and all-conference by Athlon's Sports Magazine and The Sporting News. Last season, he was selected to the freshman All-America team by The Sporting News and Football News. He also was named to Sports Illustrated's "All-Bowl Team" after finishing with 14 tackles against TCU in Southern Miss' 28-21 victory in the GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl.
The 2001 season is just around the corner. The freshmen, junior college transfers and invited walk-ons report on Friday, August 3 and the returning veterans report on Tuesday, August 7.
