Cowboys Picked Second :: Galusha Named Defensive Player of the Year

July 28, 2005

ABILENE, Texas - For the third straight season the Hardin-Simmons football team has not been picked to win the American Southwest Conference and that is a good thing -- the last two years those voting in the poll have been wrong as the Cowboys have taken home the conference ring.

League runner-up Mary Hardin-Baylor was the first-place choice by 21.5 of the 26 voters, that included coaches, sports information directors and media.

Texas Lutheran, East Texas Baptist, Howard Payne, Louisiana College, Mississippi College, Austin College, McMurry and Sul Ross State round out the rest of the poll.

Junior cornerback Will Galusha was named the preseason defensive player of the year, after earning All-America honors in 2004. He had an interception in each of his last six games, before a broken leg ended his season in week eight.

Running back Justin Bryson of Mary Hardin-Baylor and kicker Holt Storrie of Texas Lutheran were named the preseason offensive and special teams' players of the year.

2005 American Southwest Conference Preseason Football Poll

2005 American Southwest Conference Preseason Football Poll

Rank Team (first place votes) Points 2004 Record

1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (21.5) ............ 274........ 13-2, 8-1 ASC

2. Hardin-Simmons (5.5) .................... 256........ 10-1, 9-0 ASC

3. Texas Lutheran ................................ 189.......... 7-3, 7-2 ASC

4. East Texas Baptist ........................... 188.......... 4-6, 4-5 ASC

5. Howard Payne .................................. 154.......... 7-3, 6-3 ASC

6. Louisiana College ............................ 118.......... 5-5, 4-5 ASC

7. Mississippi College ......................... 116 ......... 1-9, 1-8 ASC

8. Austin College .................................... 78.......... 3-7, 3-6 ASC

9. McMurry ............................................. 66.......... 2-8, 1-8 ASC

10. Sul Ross State ..................................... 62.......... 2-8, 2-7 ASC