Murray State University Athletics
Racers Picked Second In OVC Pre-Season Poll
7/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
(July 28, 2003) - The reigning 2002 Ohio Valley Conference champion Murray State Racers were picked to finish second in 2003 by coaches and sports information directors during the 2003 OVC Football Media Day today at the Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn.
A pair of Racers were named to the 2003 Preseason All-OVC Team while two more MSU players earned Honorable Mention during today's events in the Music City.
The Racers, which finished last season 5-1 in the OVC and 7-5 overall while earning the program's eighth OVC title and sixth NCAA playoff appearance, earned 58 points in the voting, including four first-place votes, edged out by only Southeast Missouri, which earned 60 points and five first-place votes.
The 2002 OVC co-champion Eastern Illinois Panthers were picked third with 48 points, while Eastern Kentucky was fourth with 45 points. New OVC member Jacksonville State was selected fifth, along with Tennessee Tech with 33 points each and Tennessee State was seventh with 23 points. Samford was picked eighth with 16 points while Tennessee-Martin was ninth with eight points.
Coaches and sports information directors were not allowed to vote for their own schools or players.
MSU senior wide receiver Deandre Green and junior defensive back Demetrick Westbrook, both All-OVC performers in 2002, were named to the 2003 Preseason All-OVC squad.
Green, from Prichard, Ala., led the Racers in 2002 with 69 receptions for 1,002 yards and six touchdowns. Westbrook, from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., had a great sophomore season for MSU with 75 tackles, three sacks and one interception.
Racer senior quarterback Stewart Childress and senior linebacker Bobby Sanders earned 2003 Preseason All-OVC Honorable Mention accolades as well.
Childress, from Princeton, Ky., is just 1,732 yards away from setting a new MSU passing yardage record, while Sanders, from Benton, Ky., led the Racers with 96 tackles in 2002.
MSU will open the defense of the 2002 title on Saturday, August 30 at 6 p.m. as the Racers host Valparaiso at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Ky.
