Michael Haywood, Trevor Cook Earn MAC Honors
12/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2010
Miami University Head football Coach Michael Haywood has been named 2010 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year and placekicker Trevor Cook (Sioux Falls, SD) has been named first-team All-MAC, the conference office announced today.
Haywood and his staff turned Miami's football fortunes completely around in 2010, going from 1-11 in 2009 to an 8-4 overall record in 2010, including a first-place finish in the MAC's East Division. The 1-7 to 7-1 improvement in MAC play is the greatest single-season turnaround in the 64-year history of the conference. Haywood becomes the first Miami coach to be named Coach of the Year since Terry Hoeppner in 2003. Bo Schembechler (1965), Bill Mallory (1973) and Dick Crum (1974) are other Miami coaches who've won that honor.
Cook has excelled as a placekicker in 2010, converting 16 of his 21 field goal attempts, 18-of-19 PATs and leading the team in scoring with 66 points. Twice this season he earned MAC East Special Team Player of the Week honors. His most memorable moment was his game-winning field goal in the fog at Bowling Green as time expired.
Seven other RedHawks also were honored on Wednesday. Quarterback Zac Dysert (Ada), offensive lineman Brandon Brooks (Milwaukee, WI), receivers Armand Robinson (Reynoldsburg) and Nick Harwell (Missouri City, TX) and defensive tackle Austin Brown (Woodbridge, VA) were all named to the All-MAC Second Team, while offensive lineman Bob Gulley (Berea) and punter Zac Murphy (Cincinnati) were third-team All-MAC selections.
Miami battles Northern Illinois this Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Marathon Mid-American Conference Championship Game at Detroit's Ford Field. The game will be televised by ESPN2.
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MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 2010 POST SEASON AWARDS; HUSKIE RB CHAD SPANN HONORED WITH THE VERN SMITH LEADERSHIP AWARD
Cleveland, Ohio - A total of 23 repeat selections from last year's All-MAC team highlights this year's postseason football awards in the Mid-American Conference.
Northern Illinois senior running back Chad Spann (Indianapolis, Ind.) was tabbed as the winner of the 29th 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. Spann led the Huskies to an 8-0 conference record, 10-2 overall, and is tied for the lead in college football with 20 touchdowns this season. Spann ranks seventh in the nation in scoring per game (10.0 ppg) and 17th in rushing yards per game (103.2 ypg) on his 226 carries for 1,239 yards (5.5 avg.) this season. Spann set the Northern Illinois school record with 20 rushing touchdowns in a single season and his 48 total career touchdowns is tied with Michael Turner for second place on the Huskies' all-time list.
In other awards voted by the MAC News Media Association, Kent State freshman defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix earned two honors and was recognized as the MAC Freshman of the Year and the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Miami Head Coach Michael Haywood was named as the MAC Head Coach of the Year, while Northern Illinois running back Chad Spann was honored as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Toledo kickoff returner Eric Page was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
Nix, a freshman defensive tackle (Reynoldsburg, Ohio), made a dramatic impact on the Kent State defense, which led the MAC in rush defense (97.2 ypg) and finished seventh in the nation. Nix led the MAC with 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss and ranked second in the conference with four forced fumbles. Nix also ranked nationally in these categories as well--13th in sacks (10), tied for fifth in tackles for loss (20) and tied for ninth in forced fumbles (4).
Haywood, in his second year as Head Coach of Miami, orchestrated the greatest turnaround in college football this season and led the RedHawks as MAC East Division Champions. Miami finished the season 7-1 in the conference, 8-4 overall, which resulted in an increase of seven wins from the previous year (1-11 in 2009). Haywood's Miami squad ended the season on a four game winning streak.
Spann, a senior running back, led the MAC in rushing (1,239 yards) and rushing touchdowns (20). Spann was part of a Northern Illinois offense that led the conference in scoring (39.2 ppg) and rushing (279.2 ypg) to propel the program to a nine-game winning streak and acclaim from the national polls. The Huskies ended the regular season ranked No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the Associated Press Poll.
Page, a sophomore kick returner (Toledo, Ohio), finished the regular season in a special way--with two kickoff returns of 99 and 95 yards in the regular season finale against Central Michigan, becoming the first Rocket player in school history to score twice in a single-game on kickoff returns. Page led the conference with three kickoff returns for touchdowns and paced the MAC with a 31.8 kickoff return average, which also ranked fourth in the nation in that category.
Temple led the way with eight first team selections, followed by Northern Illinois with six first team selections. Overall, Northern Illinois set the pace with 13 honorees, followed by Temple with 11 honorees, while Central Michigan and Kent State had nine total selections and Miami added eight total selections.
Defensive back Davonte Shannon (Buffalo) became one of only four players in MAC history to be named a four-time All-MAC first team selection. Shannon (2007-10) joins DB Barry Church, Toledo (2006-09), P Dave Zastudil, Ohio University (1998-2001) and QB Brian McClure, Bowling Green (1982-85) on this list.
There were a total of eleven student-athletes named to their second consecutive first team selection: OL Colin Madison (Temple), OL Darius Morris (Temple), RB Chad Spann (Northern Illinois), RB Bernard Pierce (Temple), LB Adrian Robinson (Temple), LB Nick Bellore (Central Michigan), LB Cobrani Mixon (Kent State), DL Muhammad Wilkerson (Temple), DL Elijah Joseph (Temple), DB Jaiquawn Jarrett (Temple) and P Matt Rinehart (Kent State).
2010 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Chad Spann, Northern Illinois
Coach of the Year: Michael Haywood, Miami
Offensive Player of the Year: Chad Spann, Northern Illinois
Defensive Player of the Year: Roosevelt Nix, Kent State
Special Teams Player of the Year: Eric Page, Toledo
Freshman of the Year: Roosevelt Nix, Kent State
All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback - Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois
Center - Scott Wedige, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman - Trevor Olson, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman - Colin Madison, Temple @
Offensive Lineman - Darius Morris, Temple @
Offensive Lineman - Joe Flading, Ohio %
Tight End - Evan Rodriquez, Temple
Wide Receiver - Juan Nunez, Western Michigan %&
Wide Receiver - Eric Page, Toledo #
Wide Receiver - Jordan White, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver - Kamar Jorden, Bowling Green
Running Back - Chad Spann, Northern Illinois @
Running Back - Bernard Pierce, Temple @
Placekicker - Trevor Cook, Miami
All-MAC First Team Defense
Linebacker - Adrian Robinson, Temple @
Outside Linebacker - Matt Berning, Central Michigan
Inside Linebacker - Nick Bellore, Central Michigan @!
Inside Linebacker - Cobrani Mixon, Kent State @
Down Lineman - Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple @
Down Lineman - Roosevelt Nix, Kent State
Down Lineman - Sean Progar, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman - Elisha Joseph, Temple
Defensive Back - Davonte Shannon, Buffalo @^ ~
Defensive Back - Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple @
Defensive Back - Domonic Cook, Buffalo
Defensive Back - Chris Smith, Northern Illinois
Punter - Matt Rinehart, Kent State @
Kickoff Return Specialist - Eric Page, Toledo
Punt Return Specialist -Terrell Jackson, Buffalo
All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback - Zac Dysert, Miami
Center - Colin Miller, Central Michigan #
Offensive Lineman - Joe Pawlak, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman - Brandon Brooks, Miami #
Offensive Lineman - Jeff Maddux, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman - A.J. Strum, Ohio
Tight End - Jordan Thompson, Ohio
Wide Receiver - Armand Robinson, Miami %
Wide Receiver - Cody Wilson, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver - Nick Harwell, Miami
Wide Receiver - Tyshon Goode, Kent State
Running Back - Adonis Thomas, Toledo
Running Back - Matt Brown, Temple
Placekicker - Ian McGarvey, Ball State
All-MAC Second Team Defense
Outside Linebacker - Archie Donald, Toledo %
Outside Linebacker - Robert Eddins, Ball State #
Inside Linebacker - Elijah `Peanut' Joseph, Temple @
Inside Linebacker - Dwayne Woods, Bowling Green
Down Lineman - Stafford Gatling, Ohio Down
Lineman - Austin Brown, Miami
Down Lineman - Shawn Lemon, Akron
Down Lineman - Jake Coffman, Northern Illinois #
Defensive Back - Steven Jackson, Ohio
Defensive Back - Donovan Fletcher, Ohio
Defensive Back - Brian Lainhart, Kent State @!
Defensive Back - Sean Baker, Ball State
Punter - Bryan Wright, Bowling Green
Kickoff Return Specialist - Eric Williams, Ball State
Punt Return Specialist - Eugene Cooper, Bowling Green
All-MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback - Alex Carder, Western Michigan
Center - Chris Anzevino, Kent State
Offensive Lineman - Michael Switzer, Ball State
Offensive Lineman - Mike VanDerMeulen, Toledo
Offensive Lineman - Brian Winters, Kent State
Offensive Lineman - Bob Gulley, Miami
Tight End - Jason Schepler, Northern Illinois
Wide Receiver - Michael Campbell, Temple
Wide Receiver - Sam Kirkland, Kent State
Wide Receiver - Landon Cox, Northern Illinois
Wide Receiver - Terrence McCrae, Ohio
Running Back - Eric Williams, Ball State
Running Back - Willie Geter, Bowling Green
Placekicker - John Potter, Western Michigan
All-MAC Third Team Defense
Outside Linebacker - Alex Kube, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker - Dorian Wood, Kent State
Inside Linebacker - Devon Butler, Northern Illinois
Inside Linebacker - Dan Molls, Toledo
Down Lineman - Sean Murnane, Central Michigan %&
Down Lineman - Paul Hazel, Western Michigan
Down Lineman - Chris Jones, Bowling Green
Down Lineman - T.J. Fatinikun, Toledo
Defensive Back - Jahleel Addae, Central Michigan
Defensive Back - Vince Agnew, Central Michigan
Defensive Back - Jason Pinkston, Ball State
Defensive Back - Jamail Berry, Western Michigan
Punter - Zac Murphy, Miami
Kickoff Return Specialist - Tommy Davis, Northern Illinois %
Punt Return Specialist - Cody Wilson, Central Michigan
@ 2009 First team All-MAC
# 2009 Second team All-MAC
% 2009 Third team All-MAC
^ 2008 First team All-MAC
! 2008 Second team All-MAC & 2008 Third team All-MAC
~ 2007 First team All-MAC
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