Nov. 4, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri wide receiver/kick returner Marcus James was named the Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week today, as announced by the league office, for his play in Saturday's game at Iowa State.

James turned in an historic play in Mizzou's hardfought 42-35 loss at 22nd-ranked Iowa State when he returned a 4th-quarter punt 80 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 35 apiece. It marked the first time since 1990 that a Tiger had returned a non-blocked punt for a score. The last time prior to Saturday came vs. TCU in 1990 when Niu Sale scored on a 52-yard return. James' effort also marked MU's longest punt return since Donnie Smith set a school record with a 90-yard punt return vs. Air Force in 1960.

The junior from Liberal, Kan. is currently ranked 5th in the Big 12 Conference, and 22nd in the NCAA with a punt return average of 13.7 yards per attempt. The last Tiger to average more than 10 yards per return in a season was Sale, when he averaged 17.4 yards on 8 punt returns in 1990.

James is the third Tiger to receive individual Big 12 weekly honors this season. Previous winners include freshman quarterback Brad Smith, who won Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 2 after leading MU to a season-opening win over Illinois, and senior cornerback R.J. Jones, who claimed Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 30 after tying MU and Big 12 records with three interceptions against Troy State.

The three awards marks the most MU has garnered in a season since 1998, when Tiger players earned league honors four times during the year.