Athletic Report
November 22, 1999

RODRIGUEZ, GATLIN NAMED FIRST TEAM
ALL-LSC SOUTH
Harold “Bud” Elliott Named Coach-of-the-Year Rodriguez Selected Offensive Back-of-the-Year
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University football team, which tied for the Lone Star Conference South Division title at 6-3 and finished the 1999 season with an 8-3 overall record, has placed two players on the All-LSC South Division First Team. ENMU had six players selected to the Second Team and placed four athletes on the Honorable Mention list.

ENMU received two of the LSC’s special honors. Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott was chosen South Division Coach-of-the-Year for the second consecutive season. Senior quarterback Bobby Rodriguez (Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) was named South Division Offensive Back-of-the-Year. Rodriguez (Santa Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) was also named to the First Team. Eastern’s other First Team selection was senior strong safety La Ron Gatlin (DeSoto, TX/ DeSota H.S.).

Eastern placed six players on the Second Team, including offensive players Bruce Hatch (Sr., FB, Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) and J. Jensen (So., OG/C, Houston, TX/ Mayde Creek H.S.). Defensive selections to the Second Team were linemen Nelson Smith (Jr., DT, Albuquerque, NM/Univ. of Miami) and James Stewart (Jr., DE, Anton, TX/N.M. Military Inst), linebacker Michael Walton (Sr., Earth, TX/Texas Tech) and cornerback Tonmar Johnson (Vallejo, CA/Henderson State).

Honorable Mention selections from Eastern New Mexico were evenly split between offense and defense. The offensive picks were tight end Josh Lynn (Jr., Eunice, NM/Eunice H.S.) and offensive tackle Dustin Fish (So., Snyder, TX/Snyder H.S.). Defensive choices were defensive tackle Jermaine Washington (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/Eastern Arizona) and free safety Waylon Mayfield (So., Andrews, TX/Andrews H.S.).

FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS:
Rodriguez led the Lone Star Conference with a 161.8 passing efficiency rating. He completed 59 of 119 passes for 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was intercepted just 3 times, while throwing 5 touchdowns of 50 or more yards. Rodriguez also carried the ball 93 times for 219 yards. He threw for 2,217 yards and 20 touchdowns during the past two seasons. This year, he led the ENMU offense to 4,074 total yards (370.4 avg.).

Gatlin recorded 18 unassisted tackles and 11 assists (29 total tackles). He intercepted one pass and was credited with 7 pass break-ups. Four of his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in 11 yards lost. Gatlin’s consistent play caused most teams to avoid throwing the ball in his direction. He provided quality help to cornerbacks involved in man-to-man coverage. Gatlin finished his career with 94 total tackles and 4 interceptions.

SECOND TEAM SELECTIONS:
Hatch led Eastern’s balanced running attack with 778 yards on 122 carries. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scored 3 touchdowns. He rushed for more than 100 yards four times this season. Hatch concluded his ENMU career with 2,081 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 358 carries (5.8 yards per carry). He also had 20 career pass receptions for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Jensen was a key player in ENMU’s offensive line. He played primarily offensive guard, but also played center in several games when starting center Nathan Mastin (Jr., Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.) was injured. Jensen helped the Greyhounds rush for 2,675 yards (243.2 yards per game) and pass for 1,399 yards (127.2 yards per game).

Eastern’s 4074 total yards were just 178 yards less than the school record set in 1975. Smith recorded 21 solo tackles and 28 assists (49 total). He was second on the team with 15 tackles for losses (54 yards lost). He also registered 3.0 QB sacks, forced one fumble, recovered one fumble and blocked a kick. Smith was chosen LSC South Defensive Player- of-the-Week for his efforts in ENMU’s win over Western New Mexico on Sept. 4. In three seasons at ENMU, he has made 92 total tackles, with 20 tackles for losses and 4.0 QB sacks.

Stewart finished the season with 25 unassisted tackles and 23 assists for 48 total tackles. He recorded 11 tackles for losses (63 yards lost) and was second on the team with 5.0 QB sacks. He forced 4 fumbles, blocked a kick and broke up 2 passes. Stewart was named LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week after earning 8 tackles and recovering a blocked punt in the end zone in Eastern’s 27-13 win at Tarleton State. He has played in all 22 games and provided 64 tackles during two seasons at ENMU.

Walton was nominated for the Harlon Hill Award, which is the NCAA Division II equivalent to the Heisman Trophy. Walton earned 147 tackles this year, including 89 unassisted tackles, 58 assists, 22 tackles for losses and 7.0 quarterback sacks. He finished his career with 515 total tackles (214 solo, 301 assists). He made 58 career tackles for losses (246 yards lost) and registered 15.0 QB sacks (119 yards lost). In one of the biggest surprises on the All-Conference Team, he was named to the Second Team after earning First Team All-LSC South honors in 1997 and 1998. He was LSC Defensive-Lineman-of-the-Year in 1998.

Johnson led ENMU with 3 interceptions, and returned one pickoff 105 yards for a touchdown against Midwestern State (officially a 100-yard return). He also topped the ENMU defense with 8 pass break-ups. Johnson returned a blocked field goal 80-yards against West Texas A&M. He concluded the season with 18 tackles and 6 assists for 24 total tackles.

HONORABLE MENTION SELECTIONS:
Lynn caught 18 passes for 310 yards and 1 touchdown for the Greyhounds this season. He led the Hounds in receptions and was second in receiving yards. Last year, he caught 8 passes for 103 yards and 2 TDs. Lynn has also contributed to special teams, earning 5 tackles in 1997, 2 tackles in 1998 and 4 tackles this season.

Fish is ENMU’s largest starter in the offensive line. At 6’6”, 300 pounds, he was a key force for Greyhounds. Fish helped Eastern gain 4,074 total yards on 670 offensive plays, an average of 6.1 yards per snap. He provided quality blocking as ENMU averaged 5.0 yards per carry, and also gave the Hounds great pass protection, as Eastern averaged 20.0 yards per pas completion.

Washington, at 6’2”, 310 pounds, was the largest defensive lineman for ENMU. He recorded 14 tackles and 21 assists for 35 total stops. He made 7 tackles for losses and had 0.5 QB sacks. He recovered one fumble and blocked one kick.

Mayfield had an outstanding season at free safety. He finished third on the team in tackles, earning 56 solo tackles and 34 assists for 90 tackles overall. He made one interception and broke up 6 passes. He also forced one fumble and recovered another. Mayfield, who played in all 11 games a freshman on special teams, was an 11-game starter on defense in 1999.

FIRST TEAM ALL-LSC SOUTH DIVISION

POS.	NAME (ENMU POS.)	HT	WT	YR	HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
QB	Bobby Rodriguez (QB)	6’ 2”	205	Sr	Santa Teresa, NM (Las Cruces H.S.)
DB	La Ron Gatlin (SS)	6’ 0”	190	Sr	DeSoto, TX (DeSoto H.S.)

LSC South Division Coach-of-the-Year: Harold “Bud” Elliott
Eastern New Mexico (6th year at ENMU)
LSC South Division Offensive Back-of-the-Year: Bobby Rodriguez (QB)
Eastern New Mexico

SECOND TEAM ALL-LSC SOUTH DIVISION

POS.	NAME (ENMU POS.)	HT	WT	YR	HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
RB	Bruce Hatch (FB)	6’ 0”	228	Sr	Bloomfield, NM (Bloomfield H.S.)
OG	J. Jensen (OG/C)	6’ 0”	285	So	Houston, TX (Mayde Creek H.S.)
DL	Nelson Smith (DT)	6’ 5”	280	Jr	Albuquerque, NM (University of Miami)
DL	James Stewart (DE)	6’ 1”	228	Jr	Anton, TX (N.M. Military Institute)
LB	Michael Walton (MLB)	5’10”	220	Sr	Earth, TX (Texas Tech University)
DB	Tonmar Johnson (CB)	5’ 9”	175	Jr	Vallejo, CA (Henderson State University)

HONORABLE MENTION ALL-LSC SOUTH DIVISION

POS.	NAME (ENMU POS.)	HT	WT	YR	HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
TE	Josh Lynn (TE)	6’ 4”	218	Jr	Eunice, NM (Eunice H.S.)
OT	Dustin Fish (OT)	6’ 6’	300	So	Snyder, TX (Snyder H.S.)
DL	Jermaine Washington (DT)	6’ 2”	310	Sr	Albuquerque, NM (Eastern Arizona College)
DB	Waylon Mayfield (FS)	6’ 1”	185	So	Andrews, TX (Andrews H.S.)