Miami's Ben Roethlisberger Wins Vern Smith Leadership Award
Dec. 3, 2003
CLEVELAND -- Miami University quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was honored today as the winner of prestigious Vern Smith Leadership Award, emblematic of the top football player in the Mid-American Conference. Roethlisberger is also the MAC Offensive Player of the Year as announced Tuesday.
Roethlisberger had a breakout year after two solid campaigns his first two seasons as the RedHawks' field leader. Roethlisberger has completed 295-of-427 pass attempts for 3,670 yards with 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has completed 69.1 percent of his pass attempts with a pass efficiency rating of 159.0.
A junior from Findlay, Ohio, Roethlisberger enters Thursday's championship game vs. Bowling Green (ESPN2, 7:00 p.m.) as the MAC career leader in pass completion percentage at 65.2 percent (807-of-1,236), fifth in passing yards (10,013) and fourth in touchdown passes (76). He also ranks eighth nationally in passing efficiency and sixth in total offense (314.7 ypg) this season.
Roethlisberger joins Terry Morris (1986) and Travis Prentice (1998) as former Vern Smith winners from the Miami football program.
Roethlisberger garnered 16 of the 28 votes cast by league head coaches and media. Northern Illinois running back Michael Turner was named on four ballots, while Bowling Green quarterback Josh Harris and Western Michigan defensive lineman Jason Babin garnered two votes each. Earning the nod on one ballot each were Akron quarterback Charlie Frye, Marshall wide receiver Darius Watts, Kent State quarterback Joshua Cribbs and Toledo wide receiver Lance Moore.
This year's MAC specialty honorees as released earlier this week are:
Coach of the Year: Terry Hoeppner, Miami
Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Babin, Western Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: Ben Roethlisberger, Miami
Special Teams Player of the Year: Steve Azar, Northern Illinois
Freshman of the Year: Jerry Seymour, Central Michigan
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