Nov. 25, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. -
For the second consecutive year, Western Carolina has landed seven players on the coaches All-Southern Conference team. The Cats placed four on the first team - including Nick McNeil, Lamont Seward, Michale Spicer and Jason Whaley - while Todd Bargella, Brian Gaither and Rod Dunlap earned second team honors.
This makes the third consecutive season McNeil has been honored by the league's coaches, while Bargella, Spicer, Whaley, and Dunlap earn postseason honors for the second consecutive year. This marks the first postseason honor for Gaither. Seward was honored in 2000 as the SoCon Freshman of the Year, but this is his time to make either first or second team all-conference.
Nick McNeil (6-3, 245, Sr., DE from Leland, N.C.) was a preseason first team All-SoCon pick in 2003, after earning second team honors as a sophomore and junior. He was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 24) after he helped Western hold its opponent to under 100-yards rushing for the third consecutive week. Entering the game averaging 180.55 ypg, Gardner-Webb was held to just 14 yards rushing by the Cats, an average of just 0.5 yards per carry. McNeil led Western with eight tackles in the game, seven of which were unassisted. Of his eight stops, four went for losses, including a 1.5 sacks. For the season, McNeil ranked third on the team in tackles after ranking second on the team last season. As a sophomore, he led the SoCon in sacks. He ends the season with 63 tackles and tied for the team lead with 20 tackles for losses (for a team-best minus 73 yards). He also had 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles on the year, which tied for the SoCon lead. For his career, McNeil registered 45 TFLs to rank fourth (tied) on the WCU all-time list. He also had 19 career sacks to finish sixth on the school's all-time list.
Lamont Seward (5-11, 200, Sr., WR from Warrenton, N.C.) was a 2003 preseason second team All-SoCon pick, However, he was able to claim first team honors as he ranked second in the SoCon in both receptions (6.17) and receiving yards (76.25). Seward had four games with at least 100 receiving yards in 2003 and posted 12 in his career. He ends his Catamount career by catching a pass in 39 consecutive games and catching at least one pass in 43 of his 45 games. With seven receptions for 125 in his final collegiate game, Seward had 74 catches for the season, which is second on the WCU single-season list. (Eric Rasheed holds the record, catching 89 passes in 16 games in 1983.) He was named Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 29) after he caught 12 passes for 176 yards in the Catamounts' 28-21 win at East Tennessee State. Of Seward's 12 receptions that game, 11 went for first down yardage. Five of his catches were third-down conversions and one was a fourth-down conversion. The 12 receptions is additionally the second-best, single-game effort in WCU history, tying his own mark of 12 versus Wofford in his freshman season. The 176 yards is the 12th-best, single-game total in WCU history. Despite playing in the shadow of three-time All-SoCon pick Michael Banks over the past three seasons, Seward surpassed Banks on the WCU and SoCon career lists. Seward's 190 career receptions is third on the WCU, third on the SoCon and 43rd on the NCAA I-AA all-time lists. Seward's 2,972 career receiving yards is third on the WCU and fifth on the SoCon all-time lists. Seward's 15 career TD receptions ranks sixth (tied) on the WCU all-time list.
Michale Spicer (6-3, 260, Sr., DE from Goldsboro, N.C.) was named preseason SoCon Defensive Player of the Year and has been invited to play in the inaugural TFN I-AA All-Star game. He finished 2003 with 39 tackles. Of his 39 stops, 16 went for losses, including 7.5 sacks. After leading the SoCon and setting a WCU record in tackles for losses and ranking second in sacks last season, Spicer repeated the feat by once again ranking second in the SoCon in sacks in 2003. He also currently ranks sixth in the SoCon in TFLs. He set the WCU career record with 58 career TFLs, while falling just one sack shy of the WCU school record with 29 sacks for his career. Spicer recorded an interception in WCU's win over Elon and used his athleticism on offense as well. At times, Spicer lined up as a fullback in short yardage situations. He did get one carry as a fullback, which is his only carry rushing attempt, finding the endzone from one yard out versus SoCon Champion Wofford.
Jason Whaley (6-3, 275, Sr., OL from Beulaville, N.C.) is just one of 15 players from all divisions of college football (NCAA I-A to NAIA) to be named 2003 National Scholar Athlete by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. Named first team preseason All-American by "Street & Smith's," Whaley was additionally a preseason first team All-SoCon pick. He has started every position along the offensive front, except center, in his career. This season alone, he played left and right tackle this season, as well as left guard. Whaley played a key role in WCU leading the SoCon in passing in 2002 and '03. He anchored an offensive line which only allowed 11 sacks this season, going six games without surrendering a sack. Western also had two streaks of 121 consecutive pass attempts without allowing a sack this season. The Catamounts only surrendered one sack every 41.36 pass attempts this season, by far the best ratio in the SoCon. Whaley is a three-time, first team Academic All-Region pick, the only player in Region III to be a three-time pick.
Todd Bargella (6-5, 260, Sr., TE from Nanticoke, Pa.) becomes just the second tight end in Western Carolina history to be a two-time All-Southern Conference selection, joining All-American Alonzo Carmichael (1985-86). After two years at Lackawanna Junior College, Bargella has stepped in as WCU's regular tight end and made an impact both at Western and the SoCon by being a two-time honoree. Despite being a first team pick by the coaches last season, Bargella was overlooked for the honor in the preseason. However, he once again proved to be one of the top tight ends in the league. Known primarily for his blocking skills, Bargella is a capable receiver as well. This season, he caught five passes for 53 yards, including a career-long 38 yarder in a win over Elon. Bargella also caught a key two-point conversion at Appalachian State. For his career, he caught 12 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown, a 12-yarder in a win over Chattanooga.
Rod Dunlap (6-2, 235, Sr., LB from Winston-Salem, N.C.) led Western Carolina in tackles for the second consecutive year, getting 94 in 2003. He also tied for the team lead with 20 tackles for losses with two sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and three forced fumbles. Dunlap, a second team all-conference pick last season, was tabbed SoCon Defensive Player of the Month for October despite Western going 0-4 during the month. Dunlap average 9.75 tackles per game in October, facing the likes of Furman, Georgia Southern and Wofford during the stretch. Dunlap is currently seventh in the SoCon in tackles (7.8), while ranking fourth in the league in both TFLs (15.5) and fumbles fourth (3). Dunlap finished his three-year career with 275 tackles and 45 tackles for losses, which ranks fourth (tied) on the WCU all-time list.
Brian Gaither (6-3, 220, Sr., QB from Winston-Salem, N.C.) played a key role in Western Carolina leading the SoCon in passing or the second consecutive year. After passing for over 1,000 yards and splitting time as WCU's signal caller last season, Gaither took sole control of the Catamount offense this season and responded by leading the SoCon in both passing (226.4 ypg) and total offense (230.1 ypg). Gaither, a preseason second team All-SoCon pick as well in 2003, was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 22) and SoCon Offensive Player of the Month for September. He is just the third player in WCU history to lead the SoCon in total offense (230.1 ypg) and the first since Willie Perkins in 1986. Gaither is just the fourth WCU quarterback to lead the SoCon in passing (226.4 ypg). Mike Pusey accomplished the feat twice (1977 and '78), Ronnie Mixon once (1982) and Willie Perkins once (1986). He joins Pusey, Mixon and Don Dalton as the only WCU quarterbacks to throw for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. For the season, Gaither completed 246 of 418 passes for 2,717 yards and 14 touchdowns, all of which were tops in the SoCon. His 2,717 passing yards ranks third on the WCU single-season list, while 246 completions is second and his 14 TD passes is seventh. Gaither's 2,761 yards of total offense not only led the SoCon but ranks third on the WCU single-season list. For his career, Gaither completed 422 of 764 passes for 5,159 yards and 27 touchdowns. Despite splitting time as the WCU QB in his sophomore and junior years, Gaither ended his career fifth on the WCU passing yards list (5,159), second in career completions (422), fourth in career completions (764) and fifth in career TD passes (25). Gaither also ended his career with 5,276 yards of total offense to rank fourth on the WCU all-time list.
In addition to these seven who were honored, below are a few other highlights from the 2003 season:
- For the second consecutive season, Western Carolina led the SoCon in passing. WCU has now led the SoCon in passing six times. All six times, WCU head coach Kent Briggs has been in Cullowhee. WCU led the SoCon in passing from 1977-79 when Briggs a Catamount quarterback. WCU led the SoCon in passing in 1982, when Briggs was a Catamount assistant coach. WCU has led the SoCon in passing in 2002 and 2003, both years of Brigg's time as the Catamount head coach.
- With Seward's outstanding season, Western now has three of the SoCon's all-time top four in career receptions. Marshall's Mike Barber is the league's all-time leader (209), followed by Western's Gerald Harp (1977-80) with 197, Seward with 190 and Michael Banks (1999-02) with 183.
- For the first time since WCU joined the SoCon in 1977, Western Carolina led the SoCon in rushing defense, holding opponents to just 111.9 rushing yards per game and ranking 15th currently in the nation. This marks the first time Western has ever finished ranked among the nation's top 20 in rushing defense at season's end. Last season, WCU's defense ranked seventh in the SoCon and 116th nationally allowing 222.0 rushing yards per game.
- Western's defense was able to lead the SoCon in rushing defense thanks to play of Michale Spicer, Rod Dunlap and Nick McNeil. The three seniors ended their career ranked among the Catamounts' all-time top five in tackles for losses. Spicer ended as WCU's all-time leader with 58, while Dunlap and McNeil each finished with 45. Former WCU teammates Louis Cooper and Clyde Simmons hold down the second and third spots on the WCU all-time list with 48 and 47, respectively.
- Western Carolina held Gardner-Webb on first and goal from the WCU two. That marked the seventh time WCU's defense held its opponent scoreless and forced a turnover on downs inside the redzone this season. That total is tops in the SoCon.
- Western Carolina ranked rank second in the SoCon and fourth nationally in net punting (38.25). The team's success was due, in large part, to the play of senior punter Stanton Horne. He was third in the SoCon and 12th nationally in punting with an average of 41.19 yards per punt. His season punting average of 41.19 yards per punt ranks sixth on the WCU single-season list, while he finished his career with a 40.70 career punting average (177 for 7,220 yards) to rank third on the WCU all-time list.
2003 Coaches All-Southern Conference Team
First Team All-Southern Conference Offense
TE Ross Armstrong Citadel 6-2, 225, Jr. Blythewood, SC/Ridgeview
WR Alonzo Nix Chattanooga 6-1, 180, Jr. Laurel, MS/Jones Community College
WR Lamont Seward Western Carolina 5-11, 200, Sr. Warrenton, NC/Warren County
OT Lew Dawson Citadel 6-6, 265, Sr. Fayetteville, NC/Seventy-First
OT Jason Whaley Western Carolina 6-3, 265, Sr. Beulaville, NC/East Duplin
C Brandon Mason Elon 6-4, 248, Jr. Martinsville, VA/Martinsville
OG Bobby Gibbs Wofford 6-3, 290, Jr. Corbin, KY/Whitley County
OG Eric Deutsch Wofford 6-3, 315, Sr. Cincinnati, OH/Wyoming
QB Willie Simmons Citadel 6-0, 195, Sr. Quincy, FL
RB Gaven Varner East Tennessee State 6-1, 230, Sr. Summerville, SC/Ga. Military Coll.
RB Jermaine Austin Georgia Southern 5-8, 198, So. Darien,GA/McIntosh County
PK Danny Marshall Furman 6-0, 188, Sr. Atlanta, GA/Marist
RS Davon Fowlkes Appalachian State 5-7, 165, Jr. Fort Wayne, IN/Snider
First Team All-Southern Conference Defense
DL K.T. Stovall Appalachian State 6-2, 245, Sr. Fayetteville, NC/Pine Forest
DL Leon Moore Appalachian State 6-3, 240, Sr. Winston-Salem, NC/Carver
DL Nick McNeil Western Carolina 6-3, 245, Sr. Leland, NC/North Brunswick
DL Michale Spicer Western Carolina 6-3, 260, Sr. Goldsboro, NC/Southern Wayne
LB Sam Smalls Appalachian State 5-10, 230, Sr. Winston-Salem, NC/Mount Tabor
LB Mike Killian Furman 6-1, 234, Jr. Atlanta, GA/Chamblee
LB Derrick Butler Georgia Southern 6-0, 210, Jr. Orangeburg, SC/Orangeburg-Wilkinson
DB Derrick Black Appalachian State 5-8, 180, Sr. Tarboro, NC/Hudson Valley C.C.
DB Tony Tiller East Tennessee State 6-1, 185, Sr. Lithonia, GA/Stephenson
DB Gerald Sensabaugh East Tennessee State 6-2, 210, Jr. Kingsport, TN/Dobyns-Bennett
DB Matt Nelson Wofford 6-1, 205, Sr. Grove City, OH/Grove City
P Nate McKinney Appalachian State 5-11, 220, Sr. High Point, NC/Andrews
Second Team All-Southern Conference Offense
TE Todd Bargella Western Carolina 6-5, 260, Sr. Nanticoke, PA/Lackwanna JC
WR Scooter Johnson Citadel 6-1, 190, Sr. Irmo, SC/Irmo
WR Jeremy Grier Chattanooga 6-2, 200, Jr. Charlotte, NC/Vance
OT Michael Porter Appalachian State 6-4, 260, Sr. Concord, NC/Concord
OT Chad Bentley Wofford 6-1, 290, Sr. Pickens, SC/Pickens
C Kevin Olecki Citadel 6-5, 265, Sr. Marietta, GA/Harrison
OG Quinton Staton East Tennessee State 6-3, 280, So. Chattanooga, TN/Tyner
OG Clayton Dyson Furman 6-1, 276, So. North Augusta, SC/North Augusta
QB Brian Gaither Western Carolina 6-3, 220, Sr. Winston-Salem, NC/Mt. Tabor
RB Nehemiah Broughton Citadel 6-0, 240, Jr. N. Charleston, SC/N. Charleston
RB J.R. McNair Wofford 5-10, 208, Sr. Jonesboro, GA/Mount Zion
PK Erik Rockhold Appalachian State 5-8, 180, Sr. Shelby, NC/Shelby
RS Lewis Barr Georgia Southern 5-9, 192, So. Winston-Salem, NC/North Forsyth
Second Team All-Southern Conference Defense
DL Lee Basinger Wofford 6-1, 255, Jr. Kannapolis, NC/A.L. Brown
DL Katon Bethay Wofford 6-2, 270, So. Milton, WI/Milton
DL Brandon Calton East Tennessee State 6-4, 295, Sr. Pennington Gap, VA/Fork Union
DL Eric Hadley Georgia Southern 6-2, 257, Jr. Thomasville,GA/Thomasville
LB Cedrick Ritter Furman 6-3, 230, Jr. Fairfax, SC/Allendale-Fairfax
LB Rod Dunlap Western Carolina 6-2, 235, Sr. Winston-Salem, NC/R.J. Reynolds
LB Timmy Thrift Wofford 6-0, 220, Jr. Hilliard, FL/Hilliard
LB Teddie Whitaker Wofford 6-2, 230, Sr. Burton, SC/Battery Creek
DB T.J. Rose Citadel 6-0, 200, Sr. Summerville, SC/Stratford
DB Corey Lynch Appalachian State 6-1, 190, Fr. Cape Coral, FL/Evangelical
DB T.J. Wilson Furman 5-11, 186, Jr. Rome, GA/Pepperell
DB Cam Newton Furman 6-2, 195, Jr. Bennettsville, SC/Marlboro County
P Jimmy Miner Wofford 6-3, 195, Sr. Kennesaw, GA/Harrison
SoCon Offensive Player of the Year: Jermaine Austin, GSU
SoCon Defensive Player of the Year: K.T. Stovall, ASU
SoCon Coach of the Year: Mike Ayers, WOF
SoCon Jacobs Blocking Trophy: Eric Deutsch, WOF
SoCon Freshman of the Year: Kevious Johnson, WOF
