White repeats as WVU's most valuable player
Quarterback Patrick White has repeated as Most Valuable Player of the West Virginia University football squad in balloting by players.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior from Daphne, Ala., was honored Sunday evening along with numerous teammates at the No. 9-ranked Mountaineers’ annual awards banquet in the Waterfront Place Hotel.
White finished the regular season with 1,185 yards rushing and 1,548 yards passing. He accounted for as total of 26 touchdowns, running for 14 and throwing for 12.
Last week he was acclaimed the Big East’s Offensive Player of the Year, an award he also earned as a sophomore in 2006.
Fullback/tight end and linebacker Marc Magro shared the prestigious Ira Errett Rodgers Award. It is presented to the Mountaineer player who has “shown high leadership and academic qualities as well as football performance.”
Both are seniors.
The John Russell Award for “best spirit and leadership” went to defensive tackle Keilen Dykes and offensive tackle Ryan Stanchek. Dykes is a senior and Stanchek a junior.
Four players shared the Gridiron Gladiator Award. They are tight end Michael Villagrana, linebacker Bobby Hathaway, safety Vaughn Rivers and defensive lineman Johnny Dingle.
Sharing the Ideal Mountaineer Man Award are linebacker Reed Williams, wide receiver Dorell Jalloh, offensive lineman Greg Isdaner and cornerback Larry Williams.
Quarterback/wideout Adam Bednarik and safety Ridwan Malik received the White Gwynne Award, while freshman tailback Noel Devine got the Danny Van Etten Award.
Kicker/punter Pat McAfee was the recipient of the Scott Shirley Award.
Coaches Contribution awards were given to tailback Steve Slaton, wide receiver Darius Reynaud, cornerback Antonio Lewis, linebacker Mortty Ivy, strong safety Eric Wicks, free safety Ryan Mundy, long snapper Adam Hughes, center Mike Dent and wideout Tito Gonzales.
Cody Nutter was given the Teammate Award. Captain awards went to Schmitt, Dykes, Magro and Rivers.
Scout team players of the year award recipients include Michael Poitier and John Hafferty (offense), Jim Lewis and Julian Miller (defense), and Tom Contraguerro (special teams).
West Virginia finished the regular season with a 10-2 record and had to settle for a share of the Big East championship, its fourth in the last five years.
The Mountaineers will play No. 3-ranked Oklahoma (11-2) in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2 in Glendale, Ariz. Tickets are on sale through the Mountaineer Ticket Office at 1-800-WVU GAME.
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