Article Courtesy: Todd Lamb, Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas -- The Southland Conference, as part of its year-long 50th Anniversary commemoration, will announce an All-Time Football team in November, and fans can participate in the voting through an interactive process presented by MidSouth Bank. The Southland's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SouthlandConference) will host weekly voting by position throughout the season, beginning with the quarterbacks from Oct. 3-10.
A blue-ribbon panel of approximately 80 individuals with coaching, administrative and media expertise will also participate in the balloting, and the fan voting will be included a portion of the final tally. The overall balloting includes more than 200 outstanding former and current student-athletes and 15 legendary coaches that have patrolled Southland sidelines. The positional and coaching ballots will continued to be revealed over the next eight weeks.
“This will be a fun exercise that will again highlight the greatness of Southland Conference football,” league commissioner Tom Burnett said. “We have an outstanding legacy of championship-caliber level of individuals, student-athletes and coaches that collectively rate among the best that any other conference could produce. The ballot proves this, and the results will be limited to the best of the best, an exclusive grouping of the greatest the Southland has produced. We are proud that we can close out our 50th Anniversary celebration with a great commemoration of gridiron heroes, and we're also excited that MidSouth Bank is partnering with us.”
The weekly Facebook voting will also coincide with Southland Conference Television Network football broadcasts throughout the season. The SLC TV package debuts with the McNeese State at Central Arkansas on more than 20 affiliate stations at 3 p.m. Central on Saturday, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 23, when the exclusive squad will be announced. Additionally, the all-time team balloting will be actively promoted on the Southland's new ESPN3-exclusive football broadcasts that begin Oct. 12.
The weekly voting schedule for fans selecting the All-Time team:
Week 1: Oct. 3-10, Quarterback
Week 2: Oct. 10-17, Running Backs
Week 3: Oct. 17-24, Receivers and Tight End
Week 4: Oct. 24-31, Offensive Line
Week 5: Oct. 31-Nov. 7, Defensive Line and Linebackers
Week 6: Nov. 7-14, Defensive Backs
Week 7: Nov. 14-21, Specialists (kicker, punter, return specialist) and Head Coach
Week 8: Nov. 23, Announcement of 50th Anniversary Team
Week 1 Ballot
Quarterbacks:
Brian Babin, Southeastern Louisiana (2006-09)
Ranks among SLC top 10 career in passing yards (7,405), attempts (1,083), completions (670), touchdown passes (62) and completion percentage (61.9)
Brian Bell, Sam Houston State (2010-Current):
Sam Houston's all-time winningest quarterback, leading team to 30 wins in 38 starts coming into his senior season of 2013; Entered current season as Bearkats' all-time leader in passing, total offense and touchdown passes
Bubby Brister, Louisiana-Monroe (1984-85)
1985 All-Southland first-team selection; 1985 Southland Passing & Total Offense Leader; 3rd Round Pick of Pittsburgh Steelers; 14-year NFL Veteran with Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings; Participated in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII
Nathan Brown, Central Arkansas (2006-09)
2007 and 2008 All-Southland first-team selection; 2009 Southland Player of the Year; 2007 Southland Offensive Player of the Year; 2007 Passing & Total Offense Leader; 2008 first-team All-American (Sporting News)
Chris Chaloupka, Sam Houston State (1999)
1999 All-Southland first-team selection; 1999 Southland Player, Offensive Player & Newcomer of the Year; 1999 Passing & Total Offense Leader
Roy DeWalt, Texas-Arlington (1976-79)
1978 and 1979 All-Southland first-team selection; 1978 & 1979 Southland Offensive Player of the Year; 1978 Total Offense Leader; 1980 9th Round Pick of Cleveland Browns; Participated nine seasons in CFL, leading B.C. Lions to 1985 Grey Cup championship and earning MVP honors
Matt Dunigan, Louisiana Tech (1979-82)
1982 All-Southland first-team selection; 1982 Southland Offensive Player of the Year; 1980 Passing Leader; 1980, 1981 & 1982 Total Offense Leader; 1982 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP); 14-year Canadian Football League Veteran, leading Edmonton Eskimos (1987) and Toronto Argonauts (1991) to Grey Cup Championships; Also Participated with B.C. Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Birmingham Barracudas and Hamilton Tigers-Cats; Canadian Football Hall of Famer
Denny Duron, Louisiana Tech (1970-73)
1972 and 1973 All-Southland first-team selection; 1973 Offensive Player of the Year
Derrick Fourroux, QB, McNeese State (2006-09)
2009 All-Southland first-team selection; 2009 Southland Co-Player of the Year; 2006 Freshman of the Year
Todd Hammel, Stephen F. Austin (1985-89)
1989 All-Southland first-team selection; 1989 Southland Offensive Player of the Year; 1989 Passing & Total Offense Leader; Single-season Total Offense (5,294) & Passing Yards Leader (5,364); Single-game (8) and Season (48) Touchdown passing leader; 1990 12th Round Pick of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stan Humphries, Louisiana-Monroe (1986-87)
1987 All-Southland first-team selection; 1987 Southland Offensive Player of the Year, 1987 Passing & Total Offense Leader; 1988 6th Round Pick of Washington Redskins; 9-year NFL Veteran with Redskins and San Diego Chargers; Participated in Super Bowls XXVI and XXIX
Kerry Joseph, McNeese State (1992-95)
1995 All-Southland first-team selection; 1995 Southland Player of the Year; 1992 Southland Freshman of the Year; Participated five seasons as defensive player with NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks; As a quarterback with Saskatchewan of the CFL, led Roughriders to 2007 Grey Cup Championship and earning CFL's Most Outstanding Player honor; Member of the Southland Conference Hall of Honor
Jim Lindsey, Abilene Christian (1967-70)
1968, 1969 and 1970 All-Southland first-team selection; 1970 First-team All-American (AP, AFCA); 1969, 1970 Southland Offensive Player of the Year; 1968-69-70 Passing & Total Offense Leader; At the time of his graduation, his 8,521 passing yards were the most in NCAA history; Still ranks among SLC Top Ten in career offensive plays (1,460), total offense (8,385 yds), passing yards (8,521), passing attempts (1,237), completions (642), and touchdowns (61)
Dustin Long, QB, Sam Houston State (2004)
2004 All-Southland first-team selection; 2004 Player of the Year; 2004 Passing & Total Offense Leader; 2004 Walter Payton Award Finalist
Mitch Maher, QB, North Texas (1991-94)
1994 All-Southland first-team selection; 1994 Southland Player of the Year & Passing Leader; 1992 & 1994 Total Offense Leader
Josh McCown, Sam Houston State (2001)
2001 All-Southland first-team selection; 2001 Southland Player of the Year; 2001 Passing & Total Offense Leader; 2002 3rd Round Pick of Arizona Cardinals; Has played with Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears
Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin (2007-10)
2010 All-Southland first-team selection; 2010 Walter Payton Award recipient; 2010 Southland Player of the Year; 2009 Southland Co-Player of the Year; 2008, 2009 & 2010 Passing Leader; 2009 & 2010 Total Offense Leader; 2010 first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, Sports Network); Holds SLC career marks with 2,034 offensive plays, 13,201 total offense yards, 13, 401 passing yards, 1,184 passing completions, 1,893 passing attempts, 121 passing touchdowns; Holds five other SLC game and season passing records
Barrick Nealy, Texas State (2003-05)
2005 All-Southland Player of the Year; 2005 Southland Player of the Year; 2005 Rushing, Total Offense & All-Purpose Yardage Leader; 2003 Passing Leader
Wynrick Smothers, Central Arkansas (2010-Current)
2012 All-Southland Player of the Year; 2012 Southland Offensive Player of the Year as a junior, throwing for 3,101 yards and 31 touchdowns; Four-time Southland Player of the Week in 2013
Stephen Starring, McNeese State (1979-82)
1980 and 1981 All-Southland first-team selection; 1980 Southland Offensive Player of the Year; 1983 3rd Round Pick of New England Patriots; 6-year NFL Veteran with Patriots, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Participated in Super Bowl XX
