Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Lands Three Players on All-Conference Team
11/28/2001 | 12:00:00 | Football
Nov. 28, 2001
ST. LOUIS - The Southern Illinois University football team landed three players on the 2001 Gateway All-Conference first team, the league announced Wednesday. Seniors Bart Scott and Bryan Archibald, along with junior Tom Koutsos were selected to the first team in a poll of league coaches, media and sports information directors.
Three other Salukis, seniors Chad Graefen and Jon Pendergrass, as well as junior Mike Fritzler, were named honorable mention all-conference.
Scott, a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker, led the Salukis in tackles with 127. He also recorded 5.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and blocked two kicks. He earned Gateway Conference Player of the Week honors for his 16-tackle performance against Illinois State on Oct. 6.
Archibald, a 6-3, 270-pound defensive end, was tops among linemen on the team in tackles with 39. He also registered 5.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He had his best game against Illinois State also, recording nine tackles and two sacks.
Koutsos, a 5-10, 215-pound running back, broke the school record for career rushing. He finished the season with 1,222 yards and his career total now stands at 3,531 yards. He rushed for at least 100 yards in seven of the 11 games this season.
The three players are the most Southern Illinois has had on the first team since 1995, when the team had four players named first team all-conference.
Graefen, a 6-4, 300-pound offensive tackle, and Fritzler, a 6-2, 285-pound center, were key members of the Saluki offensive line and helped pave the way for Koutsos' record-breaking season. They also helped protect Saluki quarterbacks, who were sacked just nine times in 255 pass attempts this season.
Pendergrass, a 6-1, 207-pound safety, was a leader in the SIU secondary, where he made 39 tackles, broke up four passes and had one interception.
