COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Tim Benford accepted his
third Robert Hill Johnson Award, senior Charlie Stephens won the
inaugural Bill Dupes Inspirational Award, and the pair was among
four players votes as permanent team captains for the 2011
season.
Those were among the highlights of the afternoon as Tennessee Tech
coach Watson Brown and his staff and players gathered Sunday with
fans, friends and family to celebrate the team’s 2011 Ohio
Valley Conference championship and reveal the team awards.
Benford and Stephens were joined by seniors Jamere Hogue and Scott
Schweitzer as the team captains for their leadership and
performances in Tech capturing its first OVC football title in 36
years.
Benford, who also won the Most Valuable Receiver Award, was
recognized for a season that included 65 catches for 923 yards and
earned him the OVC Offensive Player of the Year award. He closed
his four-year career with every school receiving record, and is
ranked second all-time in the OVC in both receptions and receiving
yards. He became the third player in Tech history to win the Robert
Hill Johnson Award – considered the premier honor for a Tech
player – three times, joiing Larry Schreiber and Larry
Shipp.
Stevens won the brand new Bill Dupes Inspirational Award, named in
memory of former TTU coach Bill Dupes and presented by members of
his family. Stevens wrapped up a four-year Golden Eagle playing
career as one of the keys to Tech’s offense for his
hard-nosed style of play. Stevens finished the year with 20
receptions for 233 yards and four touchdowns.
Hogue, who also shared the Most Valuable Defensive Lineman Award
with senior Travis Adkins, led Tech’s down linemen with 44
total tackles. He also had 4.5 tackles-for-loss, two quarterback
sacks and recovered to fumbles.
Schweitzer, who also won the Most Valuable Offensive Lineman
Award, was a mainstay in the Golden Eagle attack, starting 42 games
during the past four years and helping the team to establish 26
offensive school records in 2011.
Three additional MVP awards were handed out by position. Senior
Jake McIntosh was voted the Most Valuable Linebacker, Dontey Gay
won the Most Valuable Offensive Back Award, and Richmond Tooley
claimed the inaugural Tony Stone Bumble Bee DB Award.
McIntosh ranked fourth on the team in total tackles with 73 to
close his career with 252 total tackles. He also made two
interceptions and had four tackles-for-loss.
Gay earned second-team all-OVC honors after rushing for 1,045
yards and setting a school record with 15 touchdowns, leading the
league in scoring. Gay also had 19 catches for 157 yards, and
finished with 1,262 all-purpose yards.
The Bumble Bee Award is a newly established honor to recognize
former coach and TTU Hall of Fame inductee Tony Stone, who molded
Golden Eagle his ‘70s secondary units into some of the most
effective in OVC history. The first honor went to senior Richmond
Tooley, who closed his career ranked second on the team 79 total
tackles, along with two interceptions, six passes broken up and one
fumble recovery.
Junior quarterback Tre Lamb received two major awards, being named
the Most Valuable Offensive Player and winner of the Team
Leadership Award. Lamb set four school passing records in 2011 and
four more school total offense records. He passed for 2,342 yards
and 17 touchdowns, completing 65.2 percent of his passes, and
accounted for 2,555 yards of total offense while accounting for 23
touchdowns.
Senior Corey Watson also accepted two major honors, being voted
the Most Valuable Defensive Player and also winning the Tech Pride
Award. Watson, who was an FCS ADA Scholar-Athlete and a CoSIDA
Academic All-District pick, moved into a starting role at an
outside linebacker spot and constantly made game-changing plays for
the Golden Eagles. He ranked fifth on the team in total tackles
with 52, and also made 3.5 tackles-for-loss, broke up seven passes,
recovered two fumbles and forced one. He also led the team with
three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
The Most Valuable Special Teams Player Award was presented to
punter/holder Nick Campbell. As a senior, Campbell emerged as one
of the most effective punters in the nation. He averaged 39.3 yards
per kick with 12 downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line
and forced 13 fair catches.
Junior Zack Ziegler, a hybrid player who serves as a
receiver/runningback, was recognized with the Unsung Hero Award.
Ziegler ranked second on the team in receiving with 37 catches for
375 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 23 carries for 123
yards and another touchdown.
In addition to all of the 2011 team honors, Brown recognized
members of the 1961 OVC championship Golden Eagle team who are
celebrating the 50th anniversary of their feat, and
presented soon-to-retire University President Dr. Bob Bell and
First Lady Gloria with their own OVC championship trophy, a
commemorative game ball, and a solid chocolate football.