Over The Pylon

Straight from the MAC…

Cleveland, Ohio – A total of 26 repeat selections from last year’s All-MAC team highlights this year’s postseason football awards in the Mid-American Conference.

Central Michigan senior quarterback Dan LeFevour (Downers Grove, Ill.) was tabbed as the winner of the 28th Vern Smith Leadership Award, as voted on by the conference head coaches. The award is presented annually to the conference’s top football player in honor of Vern Smith, the former University of Toledo Athletic Director.

LeFevour led the Chippewas to an 8-0 conference record, 10-2 overall, and is tied with Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) and Colt Brennan (Hawaii) for the most total touchdowns of any player in Football Bowl Subdivision history with 146 touchdowns (99 passing, 46 rushing, 1 receiving). LeFevour is the conference career leader in total offensive yards (15,140), attempts (1,669), completions (1,110), passing yards (12,255) and is tied for second in touchdown passes (99).

In other awards voted by the MAC News Media Association, Temple was recognized with three awards including Coach of the Year, Al Golden, Freshman of the Year with running back Bernard Pierce and Defensive Player of the Year with defensive end Adrian Robinson. Central Michigan also was recognized with two honors as Offensive Player of the Year went to Dan LeFevour and Special Teams Player of the Year went to kick returner Antonio Brown.

Pierce, a freshman running back from Ardmore, Pa., helped ignite the Temple offense this season as the Owls ranked 21st in the country in rushing with an average of 192.3 yards per game. Pierce led the MAC and ranked 13th in the nation in rushing with 1,308 yards on 224 carries and 15 rushing touchdowns.

LeFevour, a senior quarterback, led the Chippewas’ in rushing with 157 carries for 650 yards (4.1 avg.) and 14 rushing touchdowns and was 257-of-362 passing for 2,788 yards and 25 touchdowns. LeFevour ranked ninth in the nation in passing efficiency (155.72 rating) and ranked 25th in the country with 2,788 passing yards.

Robinson, a sophomore defensive end from Harrisburg, Pa., was part of a Temple defense that ranked 20th in the nation in run defense and allowed only 108.3 yards per game. Robinson led the MAC and tied for tenth in the country with 12 sacks on the year. In addition, Robinson totaled 42 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and one interception.

Brown, a junior kick returner from Miami, Fla., had 20 punt returns for 270 yards (13.5 avg.) and two touchdowns and also added 27 kickoff returns for 550 yards (20.4 avg.). Brown ranked eighth in the country in all-purpose yards with 2,093 yards (174.4 ypg).

Golden, in his fourth season as head coach at Temple, guided the Owls to a 9-3 overall record, 7-1 in the MAC. Golden led the program to nine consecutive wins during the season and has revamped the football program during his four seasons in Philadelphia. Since arriving at Temple, the Owls have improved in wins each consecutive season under Golden, with one win in 2006, four wins in 2007, five wins in 2008 to nine wins in 2009.

Temple led the way with eight first team selections, followed by Central Michigan with six first team selections. Overall, Temple set the pace with 15 honorees, followed by Ohio with 12 and Central Michigan with 11.

Defensive Back Barry Church (Toledo) becomes one of only three players in MAC history to be named a four-time All-MAC first team selection. Church joins P Dave Zastudil, Ohio University (1998-2001) and QB Brian McClure, Bowling Green (1982-85) on this list.

Those who made their third consecutive first team selections were DB Davonte Shannon (Buffalo) and PR Antonio Brown (Central Michigan). Players who made their second consecutive first team selections included WR Naaman Roosevelt (Buffalo), DL Frank Zombo (Central Michigan) and LB Nick Bellore (Central Michigan).

2009 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Coach of the Year: Al Golden, Temple
Offensive Player of the Year: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Robinson, Temple
Special Teams Player of the Year: Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Bernard Pierce, Temple

All-MAC First Team Offense
Position – Name – School
Quarterback – Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan #^~
Center – Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois %
Offensive Lineman – Allen Ollenburger, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Jason Onyebuagu, Northern Illinois %
Offensive Lineman – Darius Morris, Temple
Offensive Lineman – Colin Madison, Temple
Tight End – Jesse Rack, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Antonio Brown, Central Michigan @
Wide Receiver – Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo @&
Wide Receiver – Stephen Williams, Toledo #!
Running Back – Bernard Pierce, Temple
Running Back – Chad Spann, Northern Illinois
Placekicker – Matt Weller, Ohio

All-MAC First Team Defense
Position – Name – School
Outside Linebacker – Lee Renfro, Ohio
Outside Linebacker – Elijah Joseph, Temple
Inside Linebacker – Nick Bellore, Central Michigan @
Inside Linebacker – Cobrani Mixon, Kent State
Down Lineman – Andre Neblett, Temple #!
Down Lineman – Adrian Robinson, Temple
Down Lineman – Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
Down Lineman – Frank Zombo, Central Michigan @
Defensive Back – Barry Church, Toledo @^~
Defensive Back – Davonte Shannon, Buffalo @^
Defensive Back – Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple
Defensive Back – Brian Lainhart, Kent State #
Punter – Matt Rinehart, Kent State

All-MAC First Team Specialists
Position – Name – School
Kickoff Return Specialist – Chris Garrett, Ohio
Punt Return Specialist – Antonio Brown, Central Michigan @^

All-MAC Second Team Offense
Position – Name – School
Quarterback – Tim Hiller, Western Michigan %
Center – Colin Miller, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Peter Bittner, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Brandon Brooks, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Anthony Parker, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Devin Tyler, Temple
Tight End – Jimmy Scheidler, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Eric Page, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan @!~
Wide Receiver – Taylor Price, Ohio
Wide Receiver – LaVon Brazill, Ohio
Running Back – Brandon West, Western Michigan %!
Running Back – MiQuale Lewis, Ball State @
Placekicker – Mike Salerno, Northern Illinois #

All-MAC Second Team Defense
Position – Name – School
Outside Linebacker – Austin Pritchard, Western Michigan @
Outside Linebacker – Robert Eddins, Ball State
Inside Linebacker – Brian Wagner, Akron
Inside Linebacker – Noah Keller, Ohio #
Down Lineman – Brandon Crawford, Ball State #&
Down Lineman – Jake Coffman, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Monte Simmons, Kent State
Down Lineman – Brandon Bice, Northern Illinois
Defensive Back – Mike Newton, Buffalo #
Defensive Back – Thad Turner, Ohio
Defensive Back – Josh Gordy, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Miguel Graham, Akron
Punter – Zach Johnson, Eastern Michigan

All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Position – Name – School
Kickoff Return Specialist – James Nixon, Temple
Punt Return Specialist – LaVon Brazill, Ohio

All-MAC Third Team Offense
Position – Name – School
Quarterback – Tyler Sheehan, Bowling Green
Center – John Palumbo, Temple
Offensive Lineman – Joe Flading, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Shane Steffy, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Chris Rodgers, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Corey Woods, Akron
Tight End – Steve Maneri, Temple
Wide Receiver – Robert Arnheim, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Juan Nunez, Western Michigan %
Wide Receiver – Armand Robinson, Miami
Wide Receiver – Brett Hamlin, Buffalo
Running Back – DaJuane Collins, Toledo %
Running Back – Me’co Brown, Northern Illinois
Placekicker – Alex Steigerwald, Toledo

All-MAC Third Team Defense
Position – Name – School
Outside Linebacker – Andre Hatchett, Eastern Michigan
Outside Linebacker – Amara Kamara, Temple
Inside Linebacker – Alex Joseph, Temple
Inside Linebacker – Archie Donald, Toledo
Down Lineman – Almondo Sewell, Akron %!
Down Lineman – Ernie Hodge, Ohio
Down Lineman – Larry Knight, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Sean Murnane, Central Michigan %
Defensive Back – Gerald Moore, Ohio
Defensive Back – Dominique Harris, Temple
Defensive Back – Anthony Kokal, Miami
Defensive Back – Jalil Carter, Akron
Punter – Ben Armer, Western Michigan

All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Position – Name – School
Kickoff Return Specialist – Dashan Miller, Akron
Punt Return Specialist – Tommy Davis, Northern Illinois

@ 2008 First team All-MAC
# 2008 Second team All-MAC
% 2008 Third team All-MAC

^ 2007 First team All-MAC
! 2007 Second team All-MAC
& 2007 Third team All-MAC

~ 2006 First team All-MAC

This version sure is a lot different than last year, when the All-MAC teams were dominated by Ball Staters. Little surprised EW didn’t get a little love for his specialty role as a punt returner, but I can’t say the rest of the MAC even noticed. They are obviously too busy fawning over CMU and Temple. Congrats to Quale, Crawdaddy, and Eddins… well deserved recognition for sure.

Filed under: Awards, Ball State, MAC |