News Nuggets, 12.15.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Rivers Heisman finish measures up to ECU legend Blake

N.C. State senior quarterback Philip Rivers finished No. 7 in the 2003 Heisman voting, matching the seventh-place tally of East Carolina's Jeff Blake in 1991.

Oklahoma's Jason White won the coveted 2003 award, which was presented in a nationally-televised Saturday night ceremony.

All-purpose wizard Desmond Howard of Michigan captured the Heisman the year Blake led the Pirates to a remarkable 11-1 season.

Here is a recap of the voting for this season's top 10 finishers and a breakdown by the voters' regions:

(Note: The regional breakdown lists ballot totals from voters by region. The regions are Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Southwest, Midwest and Far West.)

    PLAYER                         1ST  2ND  3RD  TOTAL
 1. Jason White, Oklahoma          319  204  116  1,481
 2. Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt         253  233  128  1,353
 3. Eli Manning, Ole Miss           95  132  161    710
 4. Chris Perry, Michigan           27   66  128    341
 5. Darren Sproles, Kansas St       15   30   29    134
 6. Matt Leinart, USC                5   27   58    127
 7. Philip Rivers, NC State         18   20   24    118
 8. Mike Williams, USC              12   12   18     78
 9. Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (OH)   5    9   14     47
10. B.J. Symons, Texas Tech          1    7   21     38

VOTING BY REGION:           NE   MA    S   SW   MW   FW
Jason White, Oklahoma      227  247  236  316  193  262
Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt     229  296  196  221  198  213
Eli Manning, Ole Miss      109  112  200  115   76   98
Chris Perry, Michigan       53   47   46   37   99   59

C-USA football stars gain All-America honors

Texas Christian senior kicker Nick Browne has been named to the 114th annual Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America team. The prestigious All-America team was announced during The Home Depot College Football Awards show, which was aired live on ESPN.

Browne, who is also an Academic All-American, was named Conference USA’s Special Teams Player of the Year after breaking the league record for field goals in a season with a nation-leading 27. He leads C-USA in scoring with 115 points, just one shy of the league record.

Brown and Southern Miss senior linebacker Rod Davis have also been named second team All-American by The Sporting News. Both players earned All-American accolades from the Sporting News last season.

Davis was selected a first-team all-conference member for the third-straight year and was named C-USA's Defensive Player of the Year. He leads the nation in solo tackles, is tied for the top spot in total tackles, is tied for ninth in forced fumbles and is No. 18 in tackles for loss.

Browne was honored earlier as a first team All-American by the Football Writers Association.

Basketball sharpshooter felled by cardiac arrest

Jed Bedford, a prolific 3-point shooter who captained Columbus State's basketball team, died Sunday about an hour after collapsing during a practice.

Bedford, 21, was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Muscogee County Coroner told university officials that cardiac arrest was the cause of death.


"One of my greatest fears as a coach was realized today," Columbus State coach Herbert Greene said. "These players are like family to me and to each other. It's hard to even comprehend how something like this could happen."

Bedford, a senior from Leesburg, Fla., led NCAA Division II with 135 3-pointers last season. This season, he was averaging 21.4 points. He had 13 points, 11 assists and seven steals in his last game, a victory over North Carolina-Pembroke on Dec. 6.


"This is a terrible tragedy, the kind that we all hope we never have to deal with," Columbus State president Frank Brown said. "Jed was a well-known student athlete who represented the university well."


Columbus State has indefinitely postponed its home game scheduled for Tuesday night against North Carolina Central.

DePaul names home hardwood after grateful Meyer

DePaul honored coaching legend Ray Meyer and his late wife on Sunday, naming the school's basketball court after the couple in an emotional halftime ceremony.

Backed by most of his six children, 17 grandchildren and several former players, a tearful Meyer thanked the school where he spent 42 years as coach from 1942-84. He is the 11th winningest coach in NCAA history.

Meyer, who will turn 90 on Dec. 18, walked to midcourt with the aid of a cane and waved to the crowd that gave him a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.

"I don't know how long I have to live, but I will always remember the fans and the players who played for me," a tearful Meyer said. "I'm overwhelmed."

Meyer guided the Blue Demons to a 724-354 record during his 42 years as coach. He later served as special assistant to the university's president but left the post in September 1997.

His achievements included guiding the Blue Demons to the Final Four in 1979. That team - which included Mark Aguirre, Clyde Bradshaw and Curtis Watkins - lost to Indiana State and Larry Bird.

Several of his former players were there for the ceremony, including Aguirre.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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