May 21, 2003

Four members of the defending Conference USA co-champion TCU Horned Frogs, including three from the nation's top-ranked defense, will be mentioned among the best players in the country at their respective positions in The Sporting News 2003 College Football Yearbook.

Senior Nick Browne is rated as the fifth best placekicker in the country, junior Marvin Godbolt is ranked as the seventh best strong safety, senior Bo Schobel is regarded as the seventh best defensive end and senior Chad Pugh is on the list as the country's 11th best defensive tackle, according to the highly-respected publication.

Browne was a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2002 after connecting on 23-of-30 field goal attempts. The 5-10, 172-pounder from Garland, Texas averaged an NCAA-best 1.92 field goals made per game, while setting a school record with 105 points scored as a kicker. He was a fourth-team all-America selection by The Sporting News, was a first-team Verizon academic all-American and was a first-team all-Conference USA pick. He recently was selected as Playboy magazine's 2003 Scholar/Athlete of the Year.

Godbolt has made 20 starts in the defensive secondary in his first two seasons as a Horned Frog. The San Antonio native was a first team Freshman All-America according to the Football Writer's Association of America and second team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News following the 2001 season. The six-foot, 195-pounder has recorded 87 tackles, including 15 behind the line of scrimmage, in his first two campaigns.

Schobel earned first team all-Conference USA honors last season after ranking third on the team with 57 tackles, 19 of which came behind the line of scrimmage. At six feet-five inches and 268 pounds, Schobel is regarding as having the total package with size, speed and strength. The Columbus, Texas native ranked among the league's top 10 in sacks with 7.5 and owns 11.5 sacks in his career.

Pugh is the man in the middle on the defensive line, helping the Frogs to the number one ranking in the country in stopping the run a season ago. The 6-3, 314-pound senior from Saginaw, Texas recorded 43 tackles in 2002, including 16 behind the line of scrimmage, while earning first team all-conference accolades from The Sporting News.

The Frogs, who finished the 2002 season ranked among the nation's top 25 following an AXA Liberty Bowl win over Colorado State, begin the 2003 campaign with a Conference USA battle in New Orleans against the Tulane Green Wave on Labor Day, Monday, September 1. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.