Dec. 1, 2004

IRVING, Texas ----- Former UAB defensive end Bryan Thomas was one of the Conference USA football standouts from the past named Wednesday to the league's Team of the Decade.

Conference USA is celebrating its 10th anniversary during the 2004-05 season. In conjunction, the league is naming a Team of the Decade for each of the conference's 19 sports. Football is the latest sport to have its All-Decade team released.

Thomas earned first-team all-conference honors in 2001 for the Blazers and was a second-team selection in 2000. Thomas is No. 2 all-time in C-USA in sacks with 36 and No. 3 on the league's career tackles for loss list with 56. Thomas was part of UAB's "Steel Shield" defense that led the country in rushing defense (57.3 yards per game) in 2001 and was No. 5 in total defense (265.9). He was named a second-team All-American in 2001 by College Football News.

Thomas became UAB's first NFL first round draft pick in 2002 when he was selected No. 22 by the New York Jets.

The Conference USA Player of the Decade is former Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone while the Football Coach of the Decade award was won by Jeff Bower of Southern Miss, who has coached the Golden Eagles every season of C-USA's existence and has led the Golden Eagles to four regular season championships. Voting on the All-Decade awards was done by a media panel with one representative in each of the league's cities.

C-USA FOOTBALL ALL-DECADE TEAM

OFFENSE

Dave Ragone, QB, Louisville (1999-2002) - PLAYER OF THE DECADE

Jason Fabini, OL, Cincinnati (1995-97)

Ketric Sanford, RB, Houston (1996-99)

bn Green, TE, Louisville (1996-1999)

Arnold Jackson, WR, Louisville (1997-2000)

Chris Redman, QB, Louisville (1996-1999)

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis (2002-present)

Derrick Nix, RB, Southern Miss (1998-00, 02)

Sherrod Gideon, WR, Southern Miss (1996-99)

Shaun King, QB, Tulane (1995-98)

Mewelde Moore, RB, Tulane (2000-03)

DEFENSE

Antwan Peek, DE, Cincinnati (1998, 2000-02)

Pernell Griffin, LB, East Carolina (1998-2001)

Tyrus McCloud, LB, Louisville (1995-1996)

Dewayne White, DE, Louisville (2000-2002)

Michael Boley, LB, Southern Miss (2001-present)

Rod Davis, LB, Southern Miss (2000-03)

Patrick Surtain, Southern Miss (1996-97)

Adalius Thomas, DE, Southern Miss (1996-99)

Bo Schobel, DE, TCU (2001-2003)

Bryan Thomas, DE, UAB (1998-01)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Jonathan Ruffin, K, Cincinnati (1999-02)

Eric Booth, KR, Southern Miss (1994-97)

John Eubanks, KR, Southern Miss (2002-04)

Nick Browne, K, TCU (2001-03)

Seth Marler, K, Tulane (1999-02)

C-USA FOOTBALL COACH OF THE DECADE

Jeff Bower, Southern Miss (1991 - present)