Nov. 13, 2003

USC had two defensive linemen named to the 2003 University Division Academic All-District II football team today, as selected by CoSIDA. The two players were Fran Person and Preston Thorne.

Person, a sophomore who is majoring in Political Science, is from Haverton, Pennsylvania. Person, a two-time member of the Dean’s List, has a 3.455 GPA. Thorne, a junior who is majoring in History, is from Summerville, South Carolina. Thorne, a four-time member of the Dean’s List, has a 3.408 GPA.

“Both of these young men work hard on the field and off the field,” said USC Head Coach Lou Holtz. “We couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments in the classroom. They are a fine example for their teammates that hard work in the classroom does pay off.”

District III is made up of all Division I and I-AA schools in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To be eligible a player must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in the classroom and be a starter or key reserve on the field. The players selected are now eligible for the national Academic All-America team, which will be announced on December 1st.

2003 COSIDA UNIVERSITY DIVISION ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT III FOOTBALL TEAM:

First Team

Quarterback: Tim Frazier – Hampton – Graduate Student – Biology-Pre-Med – Baltimore, Maryland

Running Back: *Chris Foster – Gardner-Webb – Senior – Education – Chesnee, South Carolina J.R. McNair – Wofford – Senior – Finance – Jonesboro, Georgia

Wide Receiver: Richard Hourigan – East Carolina – Senior – Accounting – Cary, North Carolina Tony Elliott – Clemson – Graduate Student – Engineering – Charleston, South Carolina

Tight End: Jay Cline – Liberty – Senior -Exercise Science – Danville, Virginia

Offensive Line: Sean Boyle – Liberty – Junior – Accounting – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Brandon Mason – Elon – Junior Business Adm./Accounting – Martinsville, Virginia Brian Rimpf – East Carolina – Senior – Accounting/Finance – Raleigh, North Carolina Joel Rodriguez – Miami – Senior- Journalism/Criminology – Miami, Florida **Jason Whaley – Western Carolina – Senior – Computer Info. Systems – Beulaville, North Carolina

Kicker: Matt Sharpe – Virginia Military Inst. – Senior Computer Science – Richmond, Virginia

Defensive Line: Katon Bethay – Wofford – Sophomore – Undecided – Milton, Wisconsin Fran Person – South Carolina – Sophomore – Political Science – Haverton, Pennsylvania Preston Thorne – South Carolina – Junior – History – Summerville, South Carolina Ben Whitney – Wofford – Junior – Mathematics – Greensboro, North Carolina

Linebackers: Jim Maxwell – Gardner-Webb – Graduate Student – Business Adm. – Johnsonville, South Carolina Josh Smith – Wofford – Junior – Biology – Greer, South Carolina *Jonathan Vilma – Miami – Senior – Finance – Miami, Florida

Defensive Back: Shane Fast – Wofford – Senior – Biology – Union, South Carolina Kevin Saunders – Davidson – Junior – Biology – Roanoke, Virginia Jonathan Wheeler – Wofford – Junior – Accounting – Columbia, South Carolina *Quintin Williams – Wake Forest – Senior – English – Goldsboro, North Carolina

Punter: Hal Higgins – Georgia Tech – Senior – Management – Cornella, Georgia

* Two-time First Team Academic All-District III selection ** Three-time First Team Academic All-District selection