Athletic Report
November 21, 2001

HEATH RIDENOUR NAMED TO LSC SOUTH DIVISION ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Commissioner's Honor Roll also Announced
PORTALES, NM — Eastern New Mexico University junior quarterback Heath Ridenour (Lovington, NM/Lovington H.S.) has been named to the 2001 LSC South All-Academic Team in football. Ridenour was one of 11 student-athletes chosen for the All-Academic Team from 37 players who qualified for the LSC South Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Selections were based on academic and athletic success in voting by the LSC South sports information directors. The LSC South Commissioner’s Honor Roll included Ridenour and nine other Eastern New Mexico players.

Student-athletes qualified for the Commissioner’s Honor Roll by earning at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, with at least 24 semester hours at their current college or university.Ridenour also was named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll last season. This is his first time on the All-Academic Team.

Ridenour, 6’2” 190 pounds, played in all 10 games for the Greyhounds, including 9 starts. He completed 51 of 105 passes for 834 yards and 7 touchdowns. He threw just 4 interceptions, and concluded the year with a solid 129.67 quarterback rating.

Ridenour also scored 4 TDs on the ground and caught one pass for 37 yards. He has played in 19 of 20 games the past two seasons (13 starts), and has accumulated 1,475 passing yards, while connecting on 91 of 185 passes. He has also rushed for 330 yards, giving him 1,805 yards of total offense.

Ridenour has achieved a 3.36 GPA while majoring in Business Education. He was named Honorable Mention All-LSC South as a sophomore. He has attended ENMU since his freshman year in 1999, has been a key player for Eastern the past two seasons.

The Greyhounds, who have earned back-to-back 6-4 records, tied for the LSC South title in 2000 and are 9-4 when Ridenour is in the starting lineup. Eastern averaged 316.7 total yards per game last year, then accumulated 365.5 yards per game this season.

Also named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll from ENMU were B.J. Biggar (Fr., DE, Kemp, TX/Kemp H.S.), Ben Dollar (So., LB, Wheeler, TX/Wheeler H.S.), Aaron Dunnam (Jr., FB, Wheeler, TX/Wheeler H.S.), Jeremiah Johnson (Jr., DE, Clovis, NM/Univ. of New Mexico), Eric Mims (So., CB, Amarillo, TX/Andrews H.S.), Randy Montoya (Jr., FB, Roswell, NM/ Goddard H.S.), Peter Romero (Fr., TE, Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.), Kane Sweet (Jr., TE, Clovis, NM/Univ. of North Texas) and Jared White (So., LB, Pampa, TX/Univ. of Texas at El Paso).

Biggar and Romero redshirted in 2000 and played for the first time this season. Biggar is majoring in Biology and has a 3.28 GPA. He was named Honorable Mention All-LSC South this season after recording 24 unassisted tackles and 10 assists for 34 total tackles. He earned 9 tackles for losses and 4 quarterback sacks. He also broke up 2 passes.

Dollar contributed to the defense with 6 unassisted tackles and 5 assists. He registered one tackle behind the line scrimmage. He has earned a 3.29 GPA and is majoring in Wildlife and Fishery Science.

Dunnam is working toward a major in Special Education and has a 3.48 GPA. He was also listed on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2000. Dunnam carried the ball 37 times for 140 yards and 3 TDs this season. He has gained 541 yards on 113 carries in three seasons at ENMU.

Johnson has earned a 3.45 GPA and is majoring in Secondary Education. He started all 10 games in 2001, and finished the season with 37 total tackles on 20 solo stops and 17 assists. He registered 9 tackles for 32 yards in losses, made 3 quarterback sacks, and recovered a fumble.

Mims is a Computer Information Systems major with a 3.63 GPA. He was named LSC South Freshman-of-the-Year in 2000. This season, he missed several games due to injury, but recorded 11 tackles (7 unassisted) in 5 games played. He broke up 2 passes and caused a fumble.

Montoya is pursuing a major in Mathematics and has a 3.20 GPA. He gained 75 yards on 20 carries this season. He also provided many quality blocks, as ENMU rushed for 2,336 yards in 10 games. He previously qualified for the Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2000.

Romero, who owns a 3.40 GPA, is currently undecided regarding his major. This fall, he played in several games at tight end, and caught 1 pass for 16 yards. He helped the Eastern offense remain strong following injuries to two tight ends during the season.

Sweet is majoring in Elementary Education at ENMU. He has a 3.54 GPA. He started several games for the Greyhounds in 2001, before a concussion forced him to miss about half of the season. Sweet, who played tight end, scored a touchdown on his only catch, a 35-yard reception against New Mexico Highlands.

White has achieved a 3.26 GPA, while majoring in Special Education. He supplied ENMU with 18 total tackles (9 solo). Five of his tackles were for losses and one was a quarterback sack. He has accumulated 54 tackles in two seasons with the Greyhounds.