Four ENMU Football Players are Selected for CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District Honors
Three Greyhounds Named to Second Team

PORTALES, NM - The Eastern New Mexico University football team placed four players on the First Team of the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-District VI College Division Football Team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The Greyhounds also had three players named to the Second Team.

A total of 49 players received CoSIDA Academic All-District VI recognition. The 24 athletes on the First Team are eligible for the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Football Team, which is scheduled to be released on Monday, Dec. 1.

Eastern's First Team selections were junior free safety Ty Touchstone (Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS), junior linebacker Jeff Howard (Portales, NM/Portales HS), junior linebacker Courage Idemudia (Glenn Heights, TX/DeSoto HS) and senior defensive end Wayne Childs (Odessa, TX/Permian HS). ENMU's Second Team choices were sophomore tight end Artemus Tennison (Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS), sophomore offensive guard Tyson Rush (Truth or Consequences, NM/Hot Springs HS) and junior defensive end B.J. Biggar (Kemp, TX/Kemp HS).

Touchstone and Idemudia were repeat selections on the Academic All-District First Team. Touchstone also earned Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2002.

CoSIDA District VI includes colleges and universities in New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Players nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative GPAs of 3.2 or higher (4.0 scale). Each player was at his current college or university for at least one full year.

The College Division includes players in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA. The Greyhounds, led by Head Coach Harold "Bud" Elliott (10th year), compete in NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference. Eastern finished the 2003 season with a 6-5 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the LSC South. It was ENMU's sixth consecutive winning season.

1st Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VI

Touchstone has proven his skills both on the field and in the classroom. He registered 66 tackles this season (41 solo tackles) to rank second on the ENMU squad. He earned one tackle for a loss, broke up one pass, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Touchstone has achieved 212 career tackles, with 134 unassisted tackles, five tackles for losses, six passes broken up, and five interceptions. He earned First Team All-LSC South honors last season. He was named Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-America and First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VI in 2002. He was chosen for the LSC All-Academic Team in 2002 and 2003. He owns a perfect 4.0 GPA and is majoring in Business Administration.

Howard was named First Team All-LSC South this season, after leading the Greyhounds with 85 total tackles. He also led the team in assisted tackles (46) and in tackles for losses (14). He tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries, and was credited with two pass break-ups, two hurries and one forced fumble. In three seasons at ENMU, he has recorded 133 tackles, with 68 unassisted stops. Howard was named LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week for his efforts in ENMU's 10-3 win over Texas A&M University-Commerce on Oct. 14, when he recorded seven tackles, and recovered a fumble in the end zone to complete a goal line stand. He was chosen for the LSC South All-Academic Team this season, and qualified for the LSC South Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2002. He is a Biology major (Pre-Medicine) with a 3.68 GPA.

Idemudia registered 54 total tackles to rank fourth on the ENMU defense. He had 33 solo tackles, provided seven tackles for losses (29 yards) and earned 2.0 sacks (18 yards). He forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass. He finished the year with career totals of 100 tackles (75 unassisted), 15 tackles for losses (64 yards) and 4.0 sacks (42 yards). He has recovered three fumbles and caused four fumbles during his career. Idemudia was chosen First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VI in 2002. He was named to the LSC South All-Academic Team in 2003 and to the LSC South Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2002. He was an Honorable Mention All-LSC South selection this fall. He is majoring in Accounting and has a 3.56 GPA.

Childs contributed 29 tackles this year, including 16 unassisted tackles and five tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He produced 1.5 quarterback sacks. He also forced one fumble and broke up one pass. He finished his ENMU career with 73 career tackles (44 unassisted), as well as 16 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks and one interception. Childs was named Honorable Mention All-LSC South in 2002 and was listed on the LSC South Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2002 and 2003. He has achieved a 3.37 GPA while majoring in History at ENMU.

2nd Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VI

Tennison started all 22 games the past two seasons. He has provided the Greyhounds with outstanding blocking, and has helped Eastern rank first in the LSC in rushing each of the past two years. The Hounds averaged 289.8 rushing yards per game in 2002 and gained 238.2 rushing yards per game in 2003. Tennison has scored four career touchdowns on just 12 receptions. He scored twice against Texas A&M-Commerce in 2002 and grabbed two TD passes against Angelo State in 2003. He qualified for the LSC South Commissioner's Honor Roll this season. He is majoring in Accounting and owns a 3.25 GPA.

Rush contributed in the offensive line all season, including several starts. His efforts were part of the reason ENMU amassed 3,882 total yards (352.9 yards per game), including 2,620 rushing yards (238.2 yards per game). The offense line helped Eastern's backs and receivers score 22 rushing touchdowns and nine passing touchdowns. Rush and other ENMU linemen led the way for Eastern to control the ball for an average of 33:18 per game to rank first in the LSC in time of possession. Rush was named to the LSC South Commissioner's Honor Roll this year. He is a Mathematics major with a 3.67 GPA.

Biggar was named Honorable Mention All-LSC South in 2001 and 2003. His excellent pass rushing skills have allowed him to earn 9.0 sacks for 62 yards in losses during his career. This year, he achieved 3.0 sacks for 20 yards lost, while earning 34 tackles (23 solo) and seven tackles for losses (35 yards). He has registered 90 total tackles, including 62 unassisted stops, during his career. Biggar and the ENMU defense held opponents to 288.2 yards of total offense per game in 2003 to rank second in the LSC. Biggar qualified for the LSC South Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2001 and 2003. He is majoring in Business Administration and owns a 3.22 GPA.