A team of USF students walked away with the national championship at the 2001 Eastbay Flag Football National Championships. The squad, named Shut ‘Em Down, finished first among 38 teams at the championships held at the University of New Orleans Dec. 28-31.

Seeded No. 1, Shut ‘Em Down won their early-round games 28-7 and 33-12 and outlasted a team from Ball State 33-24 in the Royal Flight Division Championship, earning a spot in the final four.

The team easily defeated Liberty University 40-13 in the semifinals and earned the right to play Black Magic, the Canal Flight Champions from Florida A&M, for the championship. In cold, rainy conditions, Shut ‘Em Down took an early lead and brought home the championship with a 33-32 victory.

Five members of Shut ‘Em Down were chosen for the All-American team. Dewey Paxon and Calvin Davis were first team offensive selections, Darrell Clark was selected to the First Team Defense, while Troy Moore and Cameron Robinson were Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players, respectively.

3 more for the gridiron

The USF football team will have at least three new players for spring practice. Offensive lineman Jason Lehman, quarterback David Mullins and linebacker Terrence Royal have joined the Bulls’ ranks for the spring semester.

Lehman, 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, comes to USF via the junior college route. He was a two-year starter at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif., earning All-Mission Conference honors in 2001 and helping pave the way for two all-conference running backs. In high school, Lehman was a three-time All-Victory League selection playing for Ribet Academy in Los Angeles. He allowed just one sack in his final two seasons.

Mullins and Royal both signed in February 2001 but chose to wait until this spring to enroll. Mullins hails from Bolles High School in Jacksonville, where he passed for 973 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 502 yards and nine more scores during the 2000 season. He also played safety.

Royal is from the Tampa area and was a two-time honorable mention all-state and three-time all-county player while at Wharton High School.

• Staff Report