Dec. 2, 2003

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State football players Chris Cooley and David Fiefia were named first team all-Sun Belt Conference it was announced by the league office on Tuesday. USU landed seven selections to the second team as well. The teams are selected by the head coach and media relations director from each school as well as a media member from each school's market.

Cooley was selected as the top tight end in the conference, while Fiefia was selected as first-team all-purpose back. Fiefia, a senior, was also named second team running back and second-team return specialist.

USU's other second team honorees included offensive guard Trevor Hutton, quarterback Travis Cox, defensive lineman Ronald Tupea, linebacker Robert Watts and safety Terrance Washington.

Undefeated league champion North Texas landed 10 players on the 26-member first team. Arkansas State was second with four selections. UL-Lafayette and UL-Monroe each had three picks, while Middle Tennessee and Utah State landed two first team choices and Idaho and New Mexico State each had one pick.

North Texas had a combined 12 first and second team picks, while Utah State was second with nine.

Cooley, a senior, leads the conference in receptions per game at 6.2. That figure ranks 20th nationally. His 73.20 receiving yards per game are fourth and 57th in the country.

Fiefia ranks second in the Sun Belt in all-purpose yardage at 144.58 per game. He ranks 15th in the nation in that category. He is fourth in the league in rushing (55th in the NCAA) at 80.58 per game, 10th in the conference in receptions per game (3.17), and second in punt returns (33rd in NCAA) at 10.91 per return.

Hutton, a senior, was consistently one of USU's top offensive line graders during the year and was a preseason Outland Trophy candidate. Cox, a junior, leads the league in total offense (237.00) and ranks 38th nationally. He also leads the league in passing yardage with 232.6 per contest.

Tupea, a junior, recorded 35 tackles, including eight for loss. He also had six sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered two others. Watts, led the Aggies in tackles with 118 and his 9.8 stops per game rank second in the conference.

Washington, a freshman, was third on the team with 93 tackles and recorded five interceptions, second in the conference.

Other honors went to North Texas defensive lineman Brandon Kennedy for player of the year, North Texas running back Patrick Cobbs as offensive player of the year, North Texas linebacker Chris Hurd for defensive player of the year, New Mexico State defensive lineman Auburey Dorisme as newcomer of the year, and UL-Monroe running back Kevin Payne as freshman of the year. UNT's Darrell Dickey was named the coach of the year for the third time.

Sun Belt Conference Football Teams(* - indicates unanimous selection)
First Team OffenseOL -Andy Brewster, Jr., NTOL - Kimani Jones, Sr., ASUOL -*Steve Subia, Jr., NMSUOL - Brandon Westbrook, Sr., MTOL - *Nick Zuniga, Sr., NTTE - Chris Cooley, Sr., USUWR - *Fred Stamps, Sr., ULLWR - Kerry Wright, Jr., MTQB - Scott Hall, Jr., NTRB - *Patrick Cobbs, Jr., NTRB - Zach Gerstner, Sr., UI
First Team DefenseDL - Adrian Awasom, Jr., NTDL - John Bradley, Sr., ASUDL - Antonio Floyd, Sr., ULLDL - *Brandon Kennedy, Sr., NTLB - Les Echols, Sr., ASULB - Chris Hurd, Sr., NTLB - Cody Spencer, Sr., NTDB - Jonas Buckles, Jr., NTDB - *Johnathan Burke, Sr., ASUDB - Chris Harris, Jr., ULMDB - *Craig Jones, Sr., NT
PK - Sean Comiskey, So., ULLP -  Joel Stelly, So., ULMReturn Specialist -  Charles Estes, Jr., ULMAll-Purpose - David Fiefia, Sr., USU
Second Team OffenseOL - D'Anthony Batiste, Sr., ULLOL - Bruce Hampton, Jr., ULMOL - Trevor Hutton, Sr., USUOL - Matt Martinez, Sr., UIOL - Jake Scott, Sr., UITE - Mike McCoy, Sr., UIWR -  Ronshay Jenkins, Sr., NMSUWR - Jack Vincent, Sr., ULMQB - Travis Cox, Jr., USURB - David Fiefia, Sr., USURB - Kevin Payne, Fr., ULM

Second Team DefenseDL - Brian Howard, Sr., UIDL - Ronald Tupea, Jr., USUDL - Demetrios Walker, Sr., MTDL - Corey Williams, Sr., ASULB - Taylor Casey, Sr., NTLB - Maurice Sonnier, Sr., ULMLB - Robert Watts, Jr., USUDB - C.C. Brown, Jr., ULLDB - Rod Bryant, Sr., UIDB - Terrance Washington, Fr., USUDB - Michael Woods, Sr., MT
PK - Brian Kelly, Sr., MTP - Brad Kadlubar, Jr., NTReturn Specialist - David Fiefia, Sr., USUAll-Purpose - Ronshay Jenkins, Sr., NMSU
Special AwardsPlayer of the Year - Brandon Kennedy, Sr., DL, NTOffensive Player of the Year - Patrick Cobbs, Jr., RB, NTDefensive Player of the Year - Chris Hurd, Sr., LB, NTNewcomer of the Year - Aubrey Dorisme, Jr., DL, NMSUFreshman of the Year - Kevin Payne, RB, ULMCoach of the Year - Darrell Dickey, NT