BATON ROUGE — Southern University’s leader in touchdowns last season, 1st team All-SWAC wide receiver, Alfred Ard, had informed the coaching staff that he has signed a professional baseball contract with the Cleveland Indians and will not be returning for the 2004 football season.
Alfred Ard, a 5-foot-11, 180 lbs., red shirt senior from Kentwood, was only in his second season of organized baseball at Southern. Nicknamed “Double A”, Ard hit .364 in 2004,with two doubles, one triple and three home runs. He also had 17 RBI’s. TheIndians selected him in the 30th round.
Ard led the 2003 Southern football team in touchdowns a year ago, with 11 touchdown receptions and totaled 51 catches for 866 yards for the season. He also rushed for two touchdowns for 27 yards. He was selected as a first team All-SWAC wide receiver for his play on the football field.
“We wish Ard all the luckin the world with his baseball career,” said Southern head football coach PeteRichardson. “We still have to move forward. No one is going to feel sorry forus because he left. We have to find someone who is willing to step in and takehis place.
Ard joins six otherJaguars taken in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft that have singed and are currently playing. They include Joshua LeBlanc who was chosen by the Anaheim Angels, in the sixth round; relief pitcher, Jason Quarles, taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh round; third baseman/outfielder, Andrew Toussaint, taken in the 13th round by the Anaheim Angels; pitcher, Vince Davis selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks; Matthew Paul, infielder, selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers; and Marcus Townsend, taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 31st round.
The Jaguar football teamwill open the 2004 season with a home game against McNeese State on Saturday, September 4 at 7 p.m.
