Dec. 5, 2007

Irving, Texas - The Conference USA Coaches selected University of Tulsa senior quarterback Paul Smith (Owasso, Okla.) as the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, it was announced today. In addition, junior transfer receiver Brennan Marion (Greensburg, Pa.) was named C-USA's Newcomer of the Year.

A week earlier, the Tulsa tandem of Smith and Marion earned the same honors by the Conference USA media, however, Smith shared the honor with the nation's leading rusher, Kevin Smith of UCF.

Under Smith's performance at the quarterback position, the Hurricane has the nation's top-ranked offense, gaining 542.5 yards per game.

"It's a great honor to have both Paul and Brennan represent the Conference as Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. They are both very deserving of such honors," said Graham. "I think it speaks volumes for what we've been able to accomplish as a team this year."

Smith ranks among the nation's top-3 quarterbacks for total passing yards, total offense, passing yards per game and points responsible for. He has completed 60-percent of his passes for 4,753 yards and 42 touchdowns this season. Smith established Conference USA single-season records for total offense, passing yards, touchdowns responsible for and TD passes thrown.

This season, Smith has thrown for 300+ passing games in all 13 games. Smith has set school career and single-season records for passing, touchdown passes and total offense.

The efforts of the three-year starter have led Tulsa to its highest regular season win total (9) since 1991 as TU gets ready for its third straight bowl game with Smith as the starting quarterback.

On Tuesday, Smith was named the 2007 winner of the The Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

A junior transfer from DeAnza (Calif.) Junior College, Marion has caught 39 passes for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has a team-leading 31.9 yard average per reception. Marion ranks second in C-USA for receiving yards per game at 95.7, and 25 of his receptions have gone for over 25 yards while 17 have been for more than 35 yards. He has had touchdown receptions of 75, 73, 53, 52,52, 50, 49, 48, 35, 32 and 31 yards.

Marion surpassed 1,000 yards this year on just his 29th reception of the season, in the regular season finale at Rice. With his 31.9 yard per reception average, Marion is on pace to shatter the NCAA record for highest average gain per reception in a season (27.9 yards by Houston's Elmo Wright in 1968).

Smith is the sixth Tulsa player in school history to earn Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Marion is the fourth Hurricane player to be named Newcomer of the Year.

Past Offensive Players of the Year for Tulsa have been Jeb Blount (QB), 1974; Steve Largent (WR), 1975; Ron Hickerson (QB), 1976; Micheal Gunter (RB), 1983; and Steve Gage (QB), 1985, all earning Missouri Valley Conference honors. The past Golden Hurricane players who earned Newcomer f the Year honors were Lovie Smith (LB), 1976 and Steve Gage (QB), 1983, in the Missouri Valley Conference and Nick Bunting (LB), 2003, in the Western Athletic Conference.

C-USA Award Winners (Coaches selections)
Offensive Player of the Year: Paul Smith, QB, Tulsa
Defensive Player of the Year: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
Special Teams Player of the Year: Chris Johnson, KOR, East Carolina
Newcomer of the Year: Brennan Marion, WR, Tulsa
Freshman of the Year: Case Keenum, QB, Houston