By Staff
ECU Sports Information
IRVING, Texas — Conference USA announced its 2009 All-Conference football teams today, as selected by the league’s 11 head football coaches. Eleven schools were represented with at least one overall selection, with conference champion East Carolina producing the most first team (seven) and total selections (11). Marshall and UCF had the second-highest number of first team selections (four), while Houston had the second-most overall selections (eight).
The Pirates first team selections include four starters on their defense. Defensive lineman Linval Joseph (57 tackles, 12.5 TFL’s) and C.J. Wilson (56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles) are joined by defensive backs Emanuel Davis (64 tackles, 13 pass breakups) and Van Eskridge (93 tackles, six interceptions). Offensive lineman Sean Allen and punter Matt Dodge (league-high 45.8 avg.) earned first team honors, while junior Dwayne Harris was named first team as a wide receiver (79 receptions, 914 yards, six TDs) and second team as a kick returner (27.4 avg., C-USA-record three kickoff returns for touchdowns).
Marshall’s four first team selections include a pair of special teams performers in kicker Craig Ratanamorn (a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award) and long snapper Sean McClellan, along with tight end Cody Slate (50 receptions, 607 yards) and linebacker Mario Harvey (105 tackles, five sacks).
Three members of UCF’s league-leading defense earned spots on the squad. Included are defensive lineman Bruce Miller and Jarvis Geathers who rank among the top 10 in the nation in sacks with 12 and 11, respectively. Linebacker Cory Hogue (team-high 99 tackles, 11.5 TFL’s) is also a first team selection, along with offensive lineman Jah Reid.
Houston’s eight all-conference selections are led by three record-setting first team performers. Quarterback Case Keenum has set Conference USA single-season records for pass attempts (659) and completions (468), throwing for 5,449 yards (fourth-highest total in FBS history) and 43 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. Wide receiver James Cleveland had a C-USA single-game record 19 receptions in the conference championship game, giving him 101 for the season, good for 1,182 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns. Kick returner Tyron Carrier leads the league with a 27.5 average and has set a new league single-season record with three returns for TDs.
SMU and UTEP each filled three first team spots. Two of the Mustangs spots are held by Emmanuel Sanders, who gained first team recognition as a wide receiver (91 receptions for 1,215 yards) and a punt returner (C-USA-best 15.4 avg. with one return for a TD). UTEP’s selections include running back Donald Buckram, who ran for a UTEP single-season record 1,594 yards and scored a league-high 21 touchdowns. SMU also placed linebacker Chase Kennemer on first team, while UTEP had offensive lineman Mike Aguayo and defensive back Da’mon Cromartie-Smith earn spots.
Southern Miss had a pair of first team choices, while Memphis and UAB each had one. The Golden Eagles first teamers included offensive lineman Ryan Hebert and defensive back Eddie Hicks (60 tackles, five interceptions). Memphis placed running back Curtis Steele (1,239 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games) on the team, while UAB is represented by offensive lineman Jake Seitz, who helped pave the way for quarterback Joe Webb’s record-breaking campaign.
The league’s individual awards will be released on Wednesday, December 9. Conference USA will conclude the 2009 season by sending six teams to bowl games for the fourth time in five seasons.
Eskridge seleted to play in Shrine Bowl
ECU Sports Information
 GREENVILLE — East Carolina University senior free safety Van Eskridge has been selected to participate in the 85th East-West Shrine Game, scheduled for January 23, 2010 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. (EST) and will be aired on ESPN2.
 Eskridge, a three-year starter at free safety, was a key member in ECU’s 38-32 win over No. 18 Houston in the Conference USA Championship Game Saturday, Dec. 5 as he picked off a pair of passes, including one in the endzone with 42 seconds remaining. Eskridge earned an ESPN Gameday Final helmet sticker for his play against the Cougars, which also included 10 stops. The Shelby, N.C. native leads the Pirates with six interceptions, which ranks 13th in the NCAA, while ranking second on the squad in tackles (93) and pass breakups (7).
 In 2008, Eskridge earned first-team All C-USA honors after starting 13 games and tallying 97 overall stops (third on unit). He was also the team’s co-leader with four interceptions. Eskridge had a pair of fourth quarter interceptions at Tulsa in the C-USA Championship Game, the last with 1:03 remaining to secure the Pirates’ 27-24 triumph.
 During his four-year career, the two-time All C-USA performer has collected 354 stops, which ranks ninth all-time in school history, and has recorded 11 interceptions.
 The East-West Shrine Game is the longest-running college all-star football game in the country and features some of the highest-rated players in the projected NFL draft ranking. In April 2009, 90 percent of players from the 84th East-West Shrine Game (played on Jan. 17, 2009) were either drafted or signed as free agents by NFL clubs. A total of 307 East-West Shrine Game alumni were on 2009 NFL opening-day rosters.
 While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children, an international pediatric specialty health care system.
 Shriners Hospitals for Children is a system of 22 hospitals dedicated to providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to age 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, without financial obligation to patients or their families.