Tulane's Heath, Ramsey, Earn Conference USA Honors
Oct 15, 2001 | Football
Oct. 15, 2001
NEW ORLEANS - Tulane outside linebacker Wesley Heath was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Green Wave defense to its best showing of the season last Saturday in a 48-22 win over TCU. In addition, Tulane quarterback Patrick Ramsey shared the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors with Memphis tailback Dante Brown.
Heath, a sophomore linebacker from Marietta, Ga., led the Wave's defensive effort versus TCU with 10 tackles, including one for a loss. He caused one fumble and recovered another as the Green Wave defense forced a season-best five turnovers. Heath's fumble recovery on the TCU nine-yard line set up Tulane's third touchdown of the game. In picking up its second win of the season, Tulane held TCU to opponent season lows for total offense (314 yards), rushing yards (131) and passing yards (183).
"That was Wesley's best game since he's been at Tulane," said Green Wave head coach Chris Scelfo. "He's still a young player, a true sophomore, and he's improving with each game."
Ramsey dissected the No. 17 TCU defense with a season-high 355 yards passing as well as four touchdown strikes in Tulane's victory over the Horned Frogs. The senior from Ruston, La. completed 21-of-31 passes, including long touchdown passes of 39-, 44- and 46- yards. It was the second 300-yard passing day of the season for Ramsey and the 15th of his career, adding to his school record in that category. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in a nation-leading 28 consecutive games and needs just four more scoring strikes to become Tulane's all-time leader in that category.
"Patrick played his most complete game of the year," Scelfo said. "He made all the right reads, made the right checks and was extremely accurate. He got great protection from the offensive line and the backs."
Heath and Ramsey join Mewelde Moore, who was the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week following the Cincinnati game, in earning honors from the league this season.
Tulane (2-5, 1-2) travels to Birmingham Saturday to take on the UAB Blazers (2-4, 1-2). Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Legion Field.
