The Central Arkansas Bears may not get to be the league champions in name, but that hasn't stopped the Southland Conference from heaping individual honors on several players, including quarterback Nathan Brown, who was named its player of the year Tuesday.

Along with Brown, defensive end Larry Hart was named defensive player of the year, while head Coach Clint Conque was voted coach of the year.

Additionally, 13 other players made it to the all-conference teams, the most by a Southland program.

Joining Brown on the first-team offense are tight end Marquez Branson and offensive linemen Lane Freiwald and Jeremy Ford. Hart was joined on the first-team defense by defensive backs Pieri Feazell and Anthony Gambles. Six Bears earned second-team all-conference mention including running back Brent Grimes, fullback Nick Cowger, offensive lineman Brad Gordon, defensive lineman Taylor Scott, linebacker James Lancaster and punter Jonathan Beard.

University of Central Arkansas beats McNeese 47-30 to hold onto the best record in the Southland Conference

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The winners were selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Bears finished with a 10-2 overall record (6-1 in the Southland Conference) but the team is ineligible to take home the conference championship while it is transitioning from Division II.

But Conque has said numerous times that the team weathered all the adversity with aplomb, and the victory over McNeese State last weekend was a testament to how the such an extraordinary group of athletes pulled together despite any setbacks.

This article was published Tuesday, November 25, 2008.

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