MAC Schools Nominate for Vern Smith Leadership Award
Nov. 12, 2004
CLEVELAND -The 14 Mid-American Conference schools sponsoring football have submitted their respective nominations for the prestigious Vern Smith Leadership Award. The award is emblematic of the best overall football player in the league and is voted on by the league head coaches and a select panel of media.
Vern Smith served as director of athletics at Toledo from 1971-86, and also as an assistant football coach and administrator from 1963-69. Smith earned degrees from Bowling Green (bachelor's) and Toledo (master's).
The award was started in 1982 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Toledo as the Jefferson Award. The award was named after Smith beginning in 1987.
The award winner will be announced Dec. 1, the day prior to the MAC Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit. Last year's winner was Ben Roethlisberger of Miami.
This year's list of nominees is as follows:
Name, School Cl. Pos. Hometown
Charlie Frye, Akron Sr. QB Willard, Ohio
Justin Beriault, Ball State Sr. DB Indianapolis, Ind.
Omar Jacobs, BGSU So. QB Delray Beach, Fla.
J.J. Gibson, Buffalo Sr. DB Amherst, N.Y.
Alex Haynes, UCF Sr. RB Orlando, Fla.
Adam Kieft, Central Michigan Sr. OT Rockford, Mich.
Kevin Harrison, Eastern Mich. Sr. LB Belleville, Mich.
Eric Mahl, Kent State Sr. LB Monroeville, Ohio
Jonathan Goddard, Marshall Sr. DE Jacksonville, Fla.
Michael Larkin, Miami Sr. WR Cincinnati, Ohio
Josh Haldi, Northern Illinois Sr. QB Madison, Ohio
Chip Cox, Ohio Sr. DB Columbus, Ohio
Lance Moore, Toledo Sr. WR Westerville, Ohio
Greg Jennings, Western Michigan Jr. WR Kalamazoo, Mich.
