NEW ORLEANS North Texas defensive lineman Brandon Kennedy was named the 2003 Sun Belt Conference Football Player of the Year as announced today by the conference office. Kennedys teammates, running back Patrick Cobbs and linebacker Chris Hurd, were named the leagues Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. New Mexico State junior defensive lineman Aubrey Dorisme was named the leagues Newcomer of the Year, while Louisiana-Monroe running back Kevin Payne received Freshman of the Year honors.

North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey was named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year for the third year in a row. The Mean Green finished the regular season 7-0 in the conference and 9-3 overall. They will take on Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. North Texas holds the nations longest conference game winning streak at 18 and currently have an eight game winning streak going into the New Orleans Bowl.

Kennedy, a senior defensive tackle from Terrell, Texas, was selected as the best overall player in the three-year old league for the second year in a row by a voting panel of the leagues head coaches, sports information directors and select media. The three-time all-Sun Belt Conference honoree was also a unanimous first team all-conference selection at defensive line for the third year in a row. Kennedy finished the regular season with 66 total tackles, second in the league among defensive linemen. He is tied for first in the league with six quarterback sacks and is second in the league with 21 tackles for loss. Kennedy is the anchor of a defense that is currently ranked 23rd in the nation in total defense and 17th in rushing defense.

Cobbs is the nations leading rusher (157.0 ypg) and second in scoring (11.40 ppg) going into the New Orleans Bowl. Cobbs, a junior from Tecumseh, Okla., established a new Sun Belt Conference single season rushing record in just 10 games with 1,570 yards and 17 touchdowns on 284 carries. Cobbs has rushed for over 100 yards in eight consecutive games, including four 200-yard rushing performances. The Mean Green are 9-0 this season when Cobbs has reached the century mark. He also set a Sun Belt single game mark with 249 yards at Idaho on Oct. 11.

Hurd, one of three senior all-conference linebackers for the Mean Green, finished the regular season third in the league in tackles with 111 and leads the league with five forced fumbles. The Killeen, Texas native had a season-high 21 tackles at Air Force on Sept. 13. Hurd, a newcomer to the all-Sun Belt team, and Kennedy are two of six North Texas defensive players to be named to the 2003 first team, along with one on the second team. Joining Kennedy on the defensive line is junior Adrian Awasom, a two-time all-Sun Belt pick. Hurd is joined on the first team by three-time all-Sun Belt pick Cody Spencer and on the second team by two-time pick Taylor Casey. The three linebackers started all 12 games for the Mean Green, accumulating 305 tackles, six sacks, 27 tackles for loss, six interceptions, nine pass deflections, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. At defensive back on the first team are three-time picks Craig Jones and Jonas Buckles. Jones is the fourth leading tackler for the Mean Green behind Hurd, Spencer and Casey with 72. Buckles is tied for second in the league with nine passes defended.

Dorisme, a junior college transfer from Bakersfield College, is tied for the lead in the Sun Belt with six quarterback sacks and is among the top 10 in the league with 10 tackles for loss.

Payne, a redshirt freshman from Junction City, Ark., had a strong rookie season, finishing third in the league in rushing with 81.3 yards per game, including four games of over 100 rushing yards.

Other players of note on the all-Sun Belt first team are senior tight end Chris Cooley of Utah State and junior receiver Kerry Wright of Middle Tennessee. Cooley is the nations leading receiving tight end and was a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award. Wright established a Sun Belt single season receiving record of 1,280 yards, with a 106.7 ypg average that ranks him fifth in the nation.

Offensive Line: Andy Brewster, Jr., North Texas; Kimani Jones, Sr., Arkansas State; *Steve Subia, Jr., New Mexico State; Brandon Westbrook, Sr., Middle Tennessee; *Nick Zuniga, Sr., North Texas Tight End: Chris Cooley, Sr., Utah State Wide Receivers: *Fred Stamps, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Kerry Wright, Jr., Middle Tennessee Quarterback: Scott Hall, Jr., North Texas Running Backs: *Patrick Cobbs, Jr., North Texas; Zach Gerstner, Sr., Idaho

Defensive Line: Adrian Awasom, Jr., North Texas; John Bradley, Sr., Arkansas State; Antonio Floyd, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; *Brandon Kennedy, Sr., North Texas Linebackers: Les Echols, Sr., Arkansas State; Chris Hurd, Sr., North Texas; Cody Spencer, Sr., North Texas Defensive Backs: Jonas Buckles, Jr., North Texas; *Johnathan Burke, Sr., Arkansas State; Chris Harris, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe; *Craig Jones, Sr., North Texas

Kicker: Sean Comiskey, So., Louisiana-Lafayette Punter: Joel Stelly, So., Louisiana-Monroe Return Specialist: Charles Estes, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe All-Purpose: David Fiefia, Sr., Utah State

Offensive Line: DAnthony Batiste, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Bruce Hampton, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe; Trevor Hutton, Sr., Utah State; Matt Martinez, Sr., Idaho; Jake Scott, Sr., Idaho Tight End: Mike McCoy, Sr., Idaho Wide Receivers: Ronshay Jenkins, Sr., New Mexico State; Mack Vincent, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe Quarterback: Travis Cox, Jr., Utah State Running Backs: David Fiefia, Sr., Utah State; Kevin Payne, Fr., Louisiana-Monroe

Defensive Line: Brian Howard, Sr., Idaho; Ronald Tupea, Jr., Utah State; Demetrios Walker, Sr., Middle Tennessee; Corey Williams, Sr., Arkansas State Linebackers: Taylor Casey, Sr., North Texas; Maurice Sonnier, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe; Robert Watts, Jr., Utah State Defensive Backs: C.C. Brown, Jr., Louisiana-Lafayette; Rod Bryant, Sr., Idaho; Terrance Washington, Fr., Utah State; Michael Woods, Sr., Middle Tennessee

Kicker: Brian Kelly, Sr., Middle Tennessee Punter: Brad Kadlubar, Jr., North Texas Return Specialist: David Fiefia, Sr., Utah State All-Purpose: Ronshay Jenkins, Sr., New Mexico State

Player of the Year: Brandon Kennedy, DT, Sr., North Texas

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Cobbs, RB, Jr., North Texas

Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Hurd, LB, Sr., North Texas

Newcomer of the Year: Aubrey Dorisme, DL, Jr., New Mexico State

Freshman of the Year: Kevin Payne, RB, Fr., Louisiana-Monroe