Miami RedHawk Football Celebrates 2004 Season With Annual Banquet
12/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 5, 2004
OXFORD, Ohio -- Miami University's 2004 football team celebrated its second consecutive Mid-American Conference East Division Championship and an impending bowl bid Sunday afternoon in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Shriver Center on the Oxford campus, honoring the team and a number of individuals at the program's annual banquet.
Miami, which is coming off its second consecutive appearance in the MAC Championship game, owns an 8-4 overall record and posted a 7-1 league mark on the way to a second straight MAC East title. The RedHawks are awaiting word on a second straight bowl bid, marking the program's first back-to-back bowl appearances since it won three straight bowl games from 1973-75.
Senior wide receiver Michael Larkin (Cincinnati, OH/St. Xavier) earned the team's MVP honor after an impressive season in which he tightened his grip on Miami's career receiving records and became an NCAA record holder. Larkin, who has made a reception in an NCAA-record 49 straight games, totaled 55 receptions for 813 yards and eight touchdowns in 2004, with all three totals ranking among Miami's single-season top 10. The junior has 198 receptions for 2,753 yards and 32 touchdowns in his career, ranking as Miami's career leader in all three categories and ranking third in MAC history in TD receptions.
Also headlining the list of 10 individual honorees were junior quarterback Josh Betts (Vandalia, OH/Butler), who earned the Keith Swailes Outstanding Junior Award; sophomore Ryne Robinson (Toledo, OH/Central Catholic), who captured one of the program's Big Playmaker Awards; and junior first-team all-MAC pick Marcus Johnson (Youngstown, OH/Ursuline), who captured the Big Playmaker Award on the defensive side of the ball. Betts ranks 12th nationally in total offense, while Robinson was the 2004 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year and Johnson ranked among the nation's top 30 in quarterback sacks.
Other honorees included freshman guard Charlie Norden (Dublin, OH/Scioto), who captured the John Baumes Outstanding Freshman Award; senior punter Mike Wafzig (Germantown, OH/Valley View), who was named the team's Special Teams MVP; junior defensive tackle John Glavin (Solon, OH/Solon), who earned the Vic Waltz Defensive Lineman Award; sophomore special teams performer Jeff Schroeder (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills), who earned the John Scherz Outstanding Walk-On Award; junior tackle Todd Londot (Utica, OH/Utica), who merited the Trench Warrior Award for top offensive lineman; and senior defensive tackle Will Rueff (Louisville, KY/Trinity), who was presented the team's Strength & Conditioning Award.
The Soaring Hawk Award, which is presented annually for special achievement throughout the season was awarded to a trio of RedHawk seniors that included defensive tackle Larry Burt (Warrensville Heights, OH/Warrensville Heights), running back Luke Clemens (Dayton, OH/Bellbrook) and wide receiver Korey Kirkpatrick (Aurora, IN/South Dearborn). Burt helped lead a defensive front that spearheaded one of the nation's top rushing defenses. Clemens, who returned for a fifth year after earning a medical redshirt last season, led the RedHawks in rushing in 2004. Kirkpatrick, who also returned after a season-ending injury in 2003, led the MAC in kick return average.
An announcement on where the RedHawks will "go bowling" is expected later this afternoon.
