Fearless prediction
Posted:
Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:59 amby Dement-ed
I would have to think Joe Sturdivant is a slam-dunk for C-USA Defensive Player of the Week.
My prediction is that for the second time this year, we'll get both the Offensive Player of the Week (Romo) and Defensive Player of the Week award.
Posted:
Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:57 pmby PonyPride
Actually, you sold the Ponies short, Dement-ed -- Chris MacMurtray also was named Special Teams Player of the Week. From the C-USA office:
Mustangs Sweep C-USA Awards
SMU Earns At Least a Share Of All Three POW Awards
Oct. 10, 2005
DALLAS (C-USA) - Following its dramatic 28-27 win at UAB on the final play of the game, SMU swept the Conference USA Player of the Week Awards, the league announced today. Jerad Romo won the offensive award, Joe Sturdivant claimed the defensive honor and Chris McMurtray took home special teams accolades. SMU is the first C-USA team to claim at least a share of all three honors since TCU won all three on Nov. 4, 2002.
On offense, Romo recorded SMU's first 300-yard passing game since the 2000 season by going 30-of-43 for 333 yards and two touchdowns in the dramatic win. He led the Mustangs on an 80-yard, four play in the final 23 seconds that culminated with a 33-yard hail mary TD pass to Bobby Chase as SMU snapped a school-record 14-game road losing streak. Romo shared the weekly honor with quarterback James Pinkney of East Carolina.
Defensively, Sturdivant had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the win at UAB. It marked Sturdivant's first career picks and his first-ever fumble recovery. He had 32 yards in interception returns while also notching six tackles and one tackle for loss.
On special teams, McMurtray won after setting a new career high, hitting three field goals in the Mustang victory. He was 3-of-3, hitting from 27, 32 and 22 yards out. McMurtray also hit a PAT and his 10 points scored were the most in a game for an SMU kicker since the 2002 season.
SMU returns to the field on Saturday, Oct. 15, when the Mustangs host the ECU Pirates for an afternoon matchup on "Kids' Day At Gerald J.". There will be a free pre-game Kids' Carnival on the Pettus Practice Fields just west of Ford Stadium at noon on gameday. All kids 13 and under get free admission to the game and adult tickets are just $5.