MAC Announces 2004 Individual Football Awards

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Nov. 30, 2004

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Cleveland, Ohio --The 2004 All-Mid-American Conference football specialty awards were announced today with the University of Akron Zips program claiming the two biggest honors

Akron's first-year head coach J.D. Brookhar was named MAC Coach of the Year and senior quarterback Charlie Frye was honored with the Vern Smith Leadership Award. Both were first for the Zips since joining the league in 1992. Also recognized with the specialty awards were Offensive Player of the Year Omar Jacobs of Bowling Green; Defensive Player of the Year Johnathan Goddard of Marshall; Special Teams Player of the Year Ryne Robinson of Miami; and Freshman of the Year Adell Givens of Ball State.

Brookhart, in his first head coaching stint, guided the Zips into the final game of the season with a chance to win the MAC East Division for the first time ever. The Zips went 6-5 overall, but 6-2 in the MAC, setting a school record for the most conference wins in 13 years in league play. Brookhart rallied his team from an 0-3 start to the season and eventually rattled off five consecutive wins and three wins on the road. Brookhart came to Akron for the 2004 season after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh from 1997-2003. He is a 1988 graduate of Colorado State, where he was a three-year starter at wide receiver for the Rams.

Frye, a senior from Willard, Ohio, engineered the Zips on the field and was thus rewarded with the league's highest honor bestowed on a player. He also joins quarterback Tim Tyrell of Northern Illinois, who in 1983 won the Vern Smith Award without winning either of the league's offensive or defensive player of the year honors. Frye etched his name into MAC lore on Nov. 5 when he directed the Zips' comeback win over Marshall. Down 28-7 late in the third quarter and 28-14 with under three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Frye rallied the Zips for an improbable 31-28 win in regulation. Included was the Zips scoring 17 points in the final three minutes. Frye will leave his name in the MAC recordbook with the all-time marks as follows: total offense yards (second, 11,478); passing yards (third, 11,049); passing touchdowns (fifth, 64); pass completions (second, 913); pass completion pct. (sixth, .636).

Jacobs, a sophomore from Delray Beach, Fla., stepped into the starters role for the Falcons and responded like a seasoned veteran. His first-ever start came at Oklahoma before a noisy crowd of 84,319 and he completed 24 of 41 pass attempts for 218 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Jacobs continued his stellar performance throughout the year and led the nation in touchdowns with 36 while throwing just three interceptions. He led the MAC in passing efficiency at 167.8, completing 283 of 418 attempts for 3,637 yards. Jacobs becomes the sixth sophomore in MAC history to win the award and also joins former Falcons Paul Miles (1973), Brian McClure (1983-84-85) and Erik White (1991 and 1992) as MAC Offensive Player of the Year.

Goddard, not even an all-MAC selection in 2003, wreaked havoc on opponents to the tune of leading the nation in sacks (16) and tackles for a loss (28). Goddard is a finalist for the prestigious Bronko Nagurski Award that recognizes the nation's best defensive player. Goddard led a Marshall defense that led the MAC for much of the year. The Herd defenders limited Georgia to just 13 points on Sept. 18, the Bulldogs lowest point total against a non-SEC foe since the opening game of the 1996 season (7 vs. Southern Miss). Goddard played what may have been his best game on national television Sept. 29 in a 33-25 win over Miami when he had four sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. The senior from Jacksonville, Fla., set a MAC single season records with his 16 sacks. Godddard joins former Marshall player Max Yates (2001) as winner of the award.

Robinson, a sophomore from Toledo, Ohio, dazzled opponents with his punt return abilities this season. Twice he had runbacks for touchdowns with several others wiped out due to penalty. He averaged 13.6 yards per return and ran for scores in wins versus Ohio and Indiana State. Robinson is the MAC career leader in punt return yards (1,116) and touchdowns (5). He also caught 55 passes for 780 yards and four touchdowns as a wide receiver. Robinson is the first Miami player to win the award since it began in 1998.

Givens, from Hamilton, Ohio, bolstered the Cardinals ground game by rushing for 963 yards and six touchdowns on 202 attempts for an average of 4.8 ypc. Givens came on strong to rush for 699 in his final five games, an average of 139.8 ypg. His season high was 152 yards vs. Eastern Michigan on Oct. 9, the first of five consecutive outings with at least 123 yards rushing. Givens is the fourth Cardinal to win Freshman of the Year, joining Bernie Parmalee (1987), Michael Blair (1993) and Talmadge Hill (2000).

Vote Totals: (minimum five votes received)
Vern Smith (head coaches and select panel of media voters): Frye 13, Jacobs 12, Goddard 9.

All other awards voted by MAC News Media Association; 61 total votes cast. Offensive POTY: Jacobs 40, Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo, 11; Defensive POTY: Goddard 53, Keon Newson, Bowling Green 8; Coach: Brookhart 21; Tom Amstutz, Toledo 16; Terry Hoeppner, Miami 9; Joe Novak, Northern Illinois 9; Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green, 5; STPOTY: Robinson 26, Andrew Wellock, Eastern Michigan 16; FOTY: Givens 26; Ahmad Bradshaw, Marshall, 16; Chris Nendick, Northern Illinois 7.

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