Nov. 5, 2007

   PITTSBURGH--Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy, the nation's most productive freshman running back, has been selected the Big East Conference's Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Panthers' 20-17 victory over Syracuse this past Saturday.

   McCoy rushed for a game-high 140 yards on 31 carries against the Orange and scored on a one-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers' the lead for good early in the final period. He is the first Pitt freshman to be named a Big East Player of the Week since receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2002.

   McCoy's performance helped Pitt beat Syracuse for the fifth time in the last six years and also helped him achieve some significant individual milestones in the process.

·         McCoy became Pitt's first 1,000-yard rusher since the 2000 season (Kevan Barlow, 1,167). Through nine games, McCoy has 1,065 yards.

·         He became the first Pitt freshman to rush for 1,000 yards since 1988 (Curvin Richards, 1,228) and only the third all-time. The legendary Tony Dorsett had 1,686 yards in 1973.

·         McCoy additionally became just the second true frosh in Big East history to rush for 1,000 yards (joining West Virginia's Steve Slaton, who had 1,128 in 2005).

·         McCoy's touchdown vs. Syracuse marked his 11^th rushing TD of the season, just two shy of Dorsett's Pitt freshman record of 13 set in 1973.

   McCoy (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt/Milford Academy [N.Y.]) is averaging 118.3 rushing yards per game to rank second in the Big East and 17^th nationally.

   Pitt (4-5, 2-2 Big East) is idle this week. The Panthers return to action Nov. 17 when they visit Rutgers for a Big East encounter.

Charting LeSean McCoy

Pitt Freshman Single-Season Rushing (bowls included)

Year     Player                           Games        Att.              Yards        Avg.        TDs

1973     Tony Dorsett                12                 318             1,686         5.3          13

1988     Curvin Richards          11                 207             1,228         5.9          8

2007     LeSean McCoy           9                    198             1,065         5.4          11

Pitt Freshman Single-Season Rushing Touchdowns (bowls included)

Year       Player                            Games        Rush TDs

1973       Tony Dorsett                 12                 13

2007       LeSean McCoy            9                    11

1988       Curvin Richards           11                 8

Pitt Freshman 100-Yard Rushing Games (bowls included)

Year       Player                            Games Played             100-Yard Games

1973       Tony Dorsett                 12                                    10

2007       LeSean McCoy            9                                      6

1988       Curvin Richards           11                                    5

Big East All-Time Freshman Single-Season Rushing

Rank    Player (Team)                        Year               Att.                  Yards                                    

1.           Terrell Willis (Rutgers)          1993               195                 1,261             

2.           Avon Cobourne (WVU)        1999               224                 1,139             

3.           #Steve Slaton (WVU)            2005               205                 1,128

4.           #LeSean McCoy (Pitt)         2007               198                 1,065

5.           Amos Zereoue (WVU)          1996               222                 1,035             

6.           #Kevin Jones (Va. Tech)      2001               175                 957

# True Freshman (all others listed were redshirt freshmen)

Note: Tony Dorsett's 1973 freshman totals include Fiesta Bowl game vs. Arizona State. The NCAA did not recognize bowl game stats in season totals until 2002. All Pitt records include bowl game performances.

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