By Chris Duncan
The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dave Ragone's worst statistical season as Louisville's starting quarterback didn't stop him from winning Conference USA's top offensive award for the third straight season.

Ragone was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, despite his team's disappointing 7-5 record. Teammate Broderick Clark, who led the nation with 34 yards per kickoff return, was named the league's Special Teams Player of the Year.

TCU's LaMarcus McDonald was named the league's top defensive player and TCU's Lonta Hobbs was the league's best freshman.

The league's coaches and beat writers vote on the awards.

Ragone, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior, threw for 2,503 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, his lowest totals since his freshman year. He also completed only 55 percent of his passes this season, down from 61 percent in 2000 and 60 percent in 2001. He was also sacked 43 times behind an offensive line that never gelled.

But Ragone said he learned more from this season than he did from his previous two.

"I'm thankful for this season," said Ragone, who led the league in passing efficiency in 2002. "My first two years, everything kind of came easy. I didn't know what adversity was. We always kind of pulled out games, we always had smiles on our faces after the games.

"This year, I learned a lot about myself. I learned how to deal with big wins and devastating losses."

Ragone will cap his Louisville career Dec. 18 at the GMAC Bowl against Marshall (9-2) in Mobile, Ala. He'll return to Mobile and play in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 18, where many NFL scouts will be watching him.

Ragone will graduate later this month with a marketing degree. He said he still hasn't given much thought to the NFL, or where he might end up playing next season.

"Until a team actually picks me and I see a contract right in front of me, I don't care what you tell me," he said. "I've got one more college game, and I'm going to have fun with it.

"When this game's over, I'll have to prove myself all over again," he said. "I can't wait for that opportunity. But as far as the next level is concerned, that's still a dream."

The Cardinals ranked third in the league in passing offense (232 yards per game) and sixth in total offense (343 yards per game), but Louisville coach John L. Smith said he wasn't surprised Ragone won the award again.

"He's the best player in the league. I was hoping everyone would vote for what is really the right vote," Smith said. "That guy took a pounding all year long, and he still gave us an opportunity and still won football games for us."

Clark, a 5-11 redshirt freshman, returned 25 kickoffs for 796 yards, including a 100-yarder in the opener against Kentucky and a 92-yarder for a score in a loss to Cincinnati.

"My dream was just to play college football. I never dreamed I'd lead the nation in kickoff returns," said Clark, a Birmingham, Ala. product. "Those other 10 guys out there did a tremendous job of blocking. Those holes I had to run through were almost as wide as the goal posts."