Hurricanes Selected to win BIG EAST Football Championship
July 22, 2003
The University of Miami has been selected to win the BIG EAST Championship in 2003 based on a poll of media representatives who cover the league on a regular basis. It marks the ninth time in 11 years (since round-robin play began in 1993) that the Hurricanes have been the preseason favorite to win the crown.
Miami, the defending BIG EAST Champion, received 21 of 24 first-place votes. The ‘Canes are led by two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection Jonathan Vilma. The senior linebacker was tied for third in the league with 10.2 tackles per game a year ago. He had 133 total stops, first among conference returning players. Overall, UM brings back seven players who earned first or second team all-conference honors a year ago. The Hurricanes set a BIG EAST scoring record for the third straight year, finishing with 527 points. Six starters return on defense, including three in a secondary that led the nation in pass defense (119.69 ypg).
