C-USA Coaches makes their picks July 25, 2000 (official C-USA release) CHICAGO -- Defending league champion Southern Miss has been chosen to repeat as the 2000 Conference USA football champion, according to the league's head coaches. The Golden Eagles edged East Carolina for the top spot, garnering five first-place votes and 76 total points to ECU's four first-place votes and 75 total points. David Garrard USM senior defensive end Cedric Scott, a first team All-Conference USA selection last season, was chosen to as the 2000 Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, Scott recorded 49 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Golden Eagle teammates Derrick Nix (running back) and Leo Barnes (defensive back) were also named to the league's preseason all-conference team. East Carolina will be led by the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, junior quarterback David Garrard. Garrard averaged 259 yards of offense per game last season, throwing for a total of 2,359 yards and rushing for 493 yards, the most by a Pirate QB in over 30 years. Garrard is joined by five Pirate teammates on the all-league list, giving ECU a league-high six selections. Also represented are running back Jamie Wilson, offensive lineman Sherwin Lacewell, defensive lineman Mbayo Ahmadu, linebacker Pernell Griffin and return specialist Keith Stokes. Louisville edged out Memphis for third place. The Cardinals, aiming for their third consecutive bowl berth, will look to three preseason all-league selections (wide receiver Arnold Jackson, offensive lineman Jason Padget and defensive back Antonio Roundtree) The Tigers feature kicker Ryan White, the preseason Special Teams Player of the Year and linebacker Kamal Shakir, as they look to improve on last season's second place conference finish. UAB was picked to finish fifth, just ahead of Cincinnati and Houston. The Blazers, who also tied for second in 1999, feature defensive back Adrian Singleton, while the Bearcats and Cougars each placed three players on the all-league squad (offensive lineman Doug Rosfeld, defensive lineman Mario Monds and punter Adam Wulfeck for Cincinnati and offensive lineman Josh Lovelady, wide receiver Orlando Iglesias and defensive lineman Nikia Adderson for Houston. Rounding out the preseason poll are Tulane and Army. The Green Wave are represented on the preseason All-Conference team by offensive lineman Bernard Robertson and wide receiver Adrian Burnette, while Army linebacker Lyle Weaver earned a spot on the preseason team. Predicted Order of Finish (1st place votes) Pts. 1. Southern Miss (5) 76 2. East Carolina (4) 75 3. Louisville 53 4. Memphis 50 5. UAB 44 6. Cincinnati 41 7. Houston 40 8. Tulane 22 9. Army 10 First Team Offense QB David Garrard, East Carolina RB Derrick Nix, Southern Miss RB Jamie Wilson, East Carolina OL Sherwin Lacewell, East Carolina OL Josh Lovelady, Houston OL Jason Padget, Louisville OL Bernard Robertson, Tulane OL Doug Rosfeld, Cincinnati WR Adrian Burnette, Tulane WR Orlando Iglesias, Houston WR Arnold Jackson, Louisville First Team Defense DL Mbayo Ahmadu, East Carolina DL Nikia Adderson, Houston DL Mario Monds, Cincinnati DL Cedric Scott, Southern Miss LB Pernell Griffin, East Carolina LB Kamal Shakir, Memphis LB Lyle Weaver, Army DB Leo Barnes, Southern Miss DB DeJuan Gossett, Cincinnati DB Antonio Roundtree, Louisville DB Adrian Singleton, UAB First Team Special Teams RS Keith Stokes, East Carolina PK Ryan White, Memphis P Adam Wulfeck, Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year David Garrard, QB, East Carolina Defensive Player of the Year Cedric Scott, DE, Southern Miss Special Teams Player of the Year Ryan White, K, Memphis