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News Nuggets, 08.12.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Moore among four region players on Lombardi list

One of East Carolina's top players was named Wednesday to the 2004 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List.

Linebacker Chris Moore, a junior from Havelock, is one of only four players from the Carolinas named to the 115-man list of athletes who play line positions on either side of the ball.

Center Jason Brown of North Carolina, linebacker Leroy Hill of Clemson and linebacker Pat Thomas of N.C. State joined Moore in the running for the prestigious award named in honor of the late NFL Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi.

In addition to Moore, also making the list were fourteen other players from current or future Conference USA schools.

According to an ECU news release about Moore's selection, the list includes 28 offensive tackles, 28 linebackers, 22 defensive ends, 14 centers, nine defensive tackles, seven offensive guards and four tight ends.

A preseason first team All-Conference selection, Moore is the nation’s leading returning tackler in terms of tackles per game with 13.45, noted the ECU announcement. He recorded 148 tackles as a sophomore and finished second in the league and the nation in tackles per game.

The Rotary Lombardi Award is in its 35th year of honoring the finest linemen in college football.

The annual Lombardi Award Dinner will be held in Houston on December 8, with net proceeds from the dinner and related activities added to the total of nearly $3 million the organization raised for the American Cancer Society since the event's inception.

Here are the players from Carolinas teams and current and future C-USA teams on the preseason Lombardi list:

PLAYERS FROM CAROLINAS TEAMS:

Jason Brown, C, North Carolina
Leroy Hill, LB, Clemson
Chris Moore, LB, East Carolina
Pat Thomas, LB, North Carolina State

PLAYERS FROM CURRENT C-USA TEAMS:

Anthony Alabi, OT, Texas Christian
Michael Boley, LB, Southern Mississippi
Joe Clay, DE, Houston
Trent Cole, DE, Cincinnati
Chase Johnson, C, Texas Christian
Chris Moore, LB, East Carolina
Kyle Tadavitz, OG, Cincinnati
Zac Woodfin, LB, Alabama-Birmingham

PLAYERS FROM FUTURE C-USA TEAMS:

Allan Adami, DT, Southern Methodist
Kevin Atkins, LB, Marshall
Nick Bunting, LB, Tulsa
Jamus Martin, DE, Marshall
Garrett Mills, TE, Tulsa
Robert Rodriguez, LB, Texas-El Paso
John Syptak, LB, Rice

MAC's success leads to new pact for commish

Citing the league's successes on and off the field and its growing exposure on the tube, the Mid-American Conference has extended the contract of commissioner Rick Chryst through the 2008-2009 school year.

Since Chryst was appointed commissioner in May 1999, MAC football teams have made 54 appearances on national television, according to an Associated Press story about the contract extension.

Last season, two MAC teams won bowl games: Bowling Green defeated Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl, and Miami of Ohio beat Louisville in the GMAC Bowl.

"Rick is one of the most able, knowledgeable, and respected Division I-A commissioners and he has led the MAC through an unprecedented period of growth as the league has enhanced its athletic competitiveness while maintaining the highest academic and sportsmanship standards," said Dr. John Peters of Northern Illinois, chair of the MAC Council of Presidents.

Chryst joined the MAC after serving as assistant commissioner in the Atlantic Coast Conference (1992-99) and the Southwest Conference (1989-92).

"I look forward to continuing to build on the successes of the last several years, in an environment that will remain challenging and changing," Chryst said.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007