Texas State’s Courtney Smith Named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week

(photo courtesy of Rick Koch of Bobcat Fans Magazine)

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS (September 22, 2008) Texas State senior linebacker Courtney Smith was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week in a poll of SLC Sports Information Directors on Monday, Sept. 22. Smith the Southland Conference announced its football players of the week on Monday.

Smith led Texas State with 12 tackles, including nine solo stops, in the 38-35 victory at Northern Colorado. The senior from Statesboro, Ga., also registered one sack (-8 yards) and intercepted a pass and returned it 9 yards. His biggest play of the day came with 19.2 seconds left at Texas State’s 1-yard line when he forced a fumble by Northern Colorado quarterback Bryan Waggener and the Bobcats recovered to preserve the victory and give Texas State its first non-conference road game since 2001, a span of 13 games.

In addition, Southeastern Louisiana wide receiver Andre Cryer was named the league’s offensive player of the week, while Nicholls State return man Lardarius Webb was named the player of the week on special teams. Texas State’s Andrew Ireland was the runner-up for the special teams award after he made all five of his extra-point attempts and kicked the game-winning, 29-yard field goal with 2:11 remaining to play.

Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his own player.

Both Ireland and Smith will be in action this Saturday night when the Bobcats return home to play host to Southern Utah at 6:00 p.m. on the Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium. The victory over Northern Colorado gives Texas State a 2-1 record this season and that is the best start for the Bobcat football team since 2005 when Texas State opened the year with a 6-1 mark.