ACADEMY NEWS - LESEAN MCCOY 11/5/07

     PITTSBURGH - Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy, the nation's most productive freshman running back, has been selected the Big East Conference's Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Panthers' 20-17 victory over Syracuse this past Saturday.

     McCoy rushed for a game-high 140 yards on 31 carries against the Orange and scored on a one-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers' the lead for good early in the final period. He is the first Pitt freshman to be named a Big East Player of the Week since receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2002.

     McCoy's performance helped Pitt beat Syracuse for the fifth time in the last six years and also helped him achieve some significant individual milestones in the process.

     McCoy became Pitt's first 1,000-yard rusher since the 2000 season (Kevan Barlow, 1,167). Through nine games, McCoy has 1,065 yards.

     He became the first Pitt freshman to rush for 1,000 yards since 1988 (Curvin Richards, 1,228) and only the third all-time. The legendary Tony Dorsett had 1,686 yards in 1973.

     McCoy additionally became just the second true frosh in Big East history to rush for 1,000 yards (joining West Virginia's Steve Slaton, who had 1,128 in 2005).

     McCoy's touchdown vs. Syracuse marked his 11th rushing TD of the season, just two shy of Dorsett's Pitt freshman record of 13 set in 1973.

     McCoy (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt/Milford Academy [N.Y.]) is averaging 118.3 rushing yards per game to rank second in the Big East and 17th nationally.

     Pitt (4-5, 2-2 Big East) is idle this week. The Panthers return to action Nov. 17 when they visit Rutgers for a Big East encounter.

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