Tusculum’s Ricardo Colclough and Lesley Murray Named 2003-04 SAC Male and Female Athletes of the Year

ROCK HILL, SC - Tusculum College's Ricardo Colclough, who established himself as one of the premier defensive backs and return men in the country, and tennis player Lesley Murray, the only four-time SAC Player of the Year in the history of the conference, have been named the 2003-04 South Atlantic Conference Male and Female Athletes of the Year following a vote of the league's Directors of Athletics, the conference office announced today.

The SAC Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards are given annually to one male and one female student-athlete based on athletic performance in one or more sports, and the impact of that performance on the SAC and NCAA Division II.

Tusculum College's Ricardo Colclough has been named the 2003-04 South Atlantic Conference Male Athlete of the Year. He has received numerous honors for his football performance this past fall.

Colclough was named the SAC's Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 11 interceptions and 24 passes defended. He ranked third nationally in both categories. Colclough was also a First-Team All-Conference selection as a return specialist. He returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns against Morehouse, including a school-record 97-yarder. He led the conference in both punt and kickoff return average, and ranked 10th nationally in punt return average (14.2 yards per return) and 12th in kickoff return average (29.1 yards per return).

Colclough was a consensus All-American by six organizations, including the American Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press, Football Gazette, D2football.com and Dopke.com. He was named the Football Gazette's DII National Defensive Back of the Year. He was only Division II player invited to play in the Senior Bowl, where he earned the North Squad's Most Valuable Defensive Player Award.

He helped lead Tusculum to a 9-2 overall record, a share of the conference championship, and a No. 19 national ranking.

Colclough, a native of Sumter, S.C., was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, presented to the most outstanding football player in Division II, and became the highest-drafted SAC football player ever when he was chosen in the second round of the NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"Ricardo is one of the finest football players I have ever seen play and the best I have ever coached," said Tusculum head football coach Frankie DeBusk. "He was such an impact player for us on both defense and special teams. He is a fine young man and a fine representative for Tusculum College and the South Atlantic Conference."

Tusculum College's Lesley Murray has been named the 2003-04 South Atlantic Conference Female Athlete of the Year. Murray went 15-0 at No. 1 singles this year for the Pioneers, and was ranked 15th in Division II in the Southeast Region.

Murray went 15-0 at No. 1 singles this year for the Pioneers, including 4-0 in SAC matches, to help lead the Pioneers to a sweep of the conference regular season and tournament titles and a No. 21 national ranking, the third straight year Tusculum has finished the season nationally ranked. She had a 13-3 doubles record with partner Maria Nevarez, including 3-1 in conference matches. She ended her career winning 15 straight singles matches, and was ranked 15th in Division II in the Southeast Region in singles.

For her career, Murray was undefeated in 22 matches against conference opponents. She helped lead Tusculum to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and three straight SAC titles.

Her impact in the league was immediate, winning both the Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year honors in 2001. She captured Player of the Year honors again as a sophomore, junior and senior, becoming the first person in conference history to accomplish that feat. She was also the Tournament MVP in 2004.

Murray, a native of Monroe, Ga., also excelled in the classroom. She was a two-time recipient of the SAC Scholar Athlete Award for women's tennis, and was a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District IV At Large Second Team.

Murray also was a member of the Tusculum women's basketball team for three seasons, averaging 4.0 points per game this past season.

"Lesley is one of the best players I have ever coached," said Tusculum tennis coach Tommy Arnett. "She is a tremendous athlete and an intense competitor. She is a wonderful person and an exceptional student-athlete who works hard in all she pursues."
Colclough and Murray were also named the 2003-04 Tusculum College Male and Female Athletes of the Year. This marks the second straight year that a Tusculum male athlete has earned this honor, while Murray becomes the first woman in school history to be tabbed SAC Athlete of the Year. Colclough joins TC baseball All-American Guy O'Connell, who earned SAC Athlete of the Year accolades last season.