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News Nuggets, 09.13.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Madison lost for season as injury toll rises in TCU backfield

Texas Christian senior tailback Ricky Madison will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in the Horned Frogs' 17-3 win over Navy on Saturday, TCU head coach Gary Patterson announced today. Madison underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage today.

The grim diagnosis comes in the wake of the announcement earlier this week that Tye Gunn, the team's star quarterback, would be out of action for three to five weeks after separating his shoulder in practice.

Madison's injury had originally prompted estimates by TCU medical personnel that he would be sidelined for as little as two weeks, so the revelation that his college career was over was an especially disappointing blow for the Frogs.

"Ricky was not only a great football player, but a great leader for this team," said Patterson. "It's a shame because he's a senior who has done everything right — on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom. I'm very disappointed for Ricky."

Madison was the star of the season-opening win at Tulane, carrying 23 times for 115 yards, his fifth career 100-yard rushing game, and catching a career-high three passes for 91 yards, including an 80-yard scamper. He was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. The 5-10, 200-pounder from Dallas carried the ball 377 times in his career for 1,536 yards, including a career-high 719 yards as a junior when he averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

Sophomore Lonta Hobbs will be the Frogs' number one tailback when TCU takes on Vanderbilt on September 20 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. He will be backed up by redshirt freshman Robert Merrill and senior Corey Connally.

'Fixture', air horn guru gets props at USM

HATTIESBURG — The O.B. Bowen III endowment dedication will be held at the Pat Ferlise Center on Sept. 18, 2003 at 2:30 p.m.

"O.B." has been a favorite fixture in the Southern Miss football office for almost 30 years, and is one of the favorite sons of Golden Eagle football. Players who return to visit the campus, or players who now live long distances from the campus always seem to ask first, "How is O.B.?"

O.B. handles multiple duties for the football program, both in the office during the day, and on the field where he controls practice periods with the air horn that has become his trademark.

Current Head Football Coach Jeff Bower and O.B. came to Southern Miss at about the same time, when Bower was a Golden Eagle quarterback. Bower says, "O.B. is a mainstay. Our players love him."

His dedication to the program prompted his family, through Richton Bank and Trust, to endow a scholarship in his name in 1998. That endowment has surpassed $50,000, and now will join the growing list of endowments that have reached or surpassed that level and are appropriately honored on the endowment board located in the Ferlise Center.

The Bowen Endowment Scholarship is awarded annually to a student on the football team, a player, manager or trainer, who exemplifies the personality of O.B. Bowen, a person who bleeds Black and Gold and who takes pride in being a good citizen, with preference being given to students from Perry, Wayne, Jones and Greene counties.

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.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007