Roethlisberger Nabs Miami's Second MAC Freshman of the Year
11/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 27, 2001
For the second time since the award's inception in 1982, a Miami University football player has been named the Mid-American Conference's Freshman of the Year.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (Findlay, OH/Findlay) joins running back Deland McCullough as MAC Freshman of the Year recipients. McCullough picked up the honor following his freshman season in which he ran for 1,026 yards.
Roethlisberger, the nation's top freshman quarterback in passing yards, touchdown passes and total offense, put together the best season ever for a Miami quarterback, breaking school records for passing yards (3,105), completions (241), touchdowns (25), completion percentage (63.3 percent) and total offense (3,294). All of those totals rank among the top 10 in MAC history, and his yardage and touchdown totals were both MAC freshmen records.
He also established a MAC record for completions (40) in a game versus the University of Hawai'i, while also setting school single-game marks for yards (452) and total offense (484). In 12 games this year, Roethlisberger posted touchdowns in 11 games and tossed multiple touchdowns in nine. In just one season, he already sits in the top 10 in all career categories at Miami.
Roethlisberger was the MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week three times, the most of any player in the East Division.
MAC Freshman of the Year is voted on by the members of the MAC News Media Association. Roethlisberger earned 44 of the 58 votes cast. Kent State quarterback Joshua Cribbs finished second with 13 votes, while Central Michigan's James King garnered one vote.
