Nov. 11, 2008

       PITTSBURGH—Pitt sophomore LeSean McCoy’s status as one of the country’s top running backs was reaffirmed today when he was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Doak Walker Award, annually presented to the top running back in college football.

McCoy is one of 10 semifinalists for the award, which is sponsored by the Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum. Three finalists will be named on November 24 as determined by a vote of the 162-member Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee.

The 2008 Doak Walker Award recipient will be announced live on December 11 during ESPN’s telecast of the “Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show” in Orlando, Fla.

McCoy (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt/Milford Academy) is one of college football’s most productive — and exciting — running backs. This is the second major award to name him a semifinalist. Earlier this month he was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, presented to the College Football Player of the Year.

McCoy is the nation’s third-leading scorer (tied, 10.67 points/game) and 13th-leading rusher (115.89 yards/game). In nine games he has rushed for 1,043 yards on 210 attempts (4.97 avg.) and 16 touchdowns.

McCoy is one of only three players in Pitt history to achieve multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining the legendary Tony Dorsett (1973-76) and Curvin Richards (1988-89).  Last year, McCoy rushed for a Big East freshman-record 1,328 yards.

Among active players, McCoy’s career average of 112.9 rushing yards per game ranks second nationally. He is third nationally among active players in career points per game (8.85 ppg., 31 TDs).

For more information, go to www.LeSeanMcCoy25.com.

Pitt, ranked 21^st in each of the major polls, is off this week. The Panthers (7-2, 3-1 Big East) will travel to face No. 22 Cincinnati (7-2, 3-1) in a key conference battle November 22 on ESPN2 at 7:15 p.m.

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