Dec. 10, 2001

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Junior nose guard Adam Lord (Troy, N.Y./Troy H.S.) received the Lewisburg Touchdown Club Award as the Bucknell football team's 2001 most valuable player, head coach Tom Gadd announced Sunday at the 40th Annual Lewisburg Touchdown Club-Bison Club Awards Banquet.

Sixteen awards were handed out at the year-end banquet, held at the Larison Dining Hall on campus. Lord notched the MVP honor after a terrific junior season anchoring the Bison's defensive line. A First Team All-Patriot League selection and a finalist for Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Lord finished the season with 42 tackles, more than a third (16) of which came in the opponent's backfield. He registered five sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another.

Senior outside linebacker Mark Tallman (West Carthage, N.Y./Carthage H.S.), another First Team All-Patriot League selection, garnered the C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award, honoring Bucknell's "most inspirational player." The award is named after an inspirational Bucknell performer from the team's pioneer days on the gridiron. Wolfe earned varsity letters in 1891 and 1892.

Tallman concluded his third straight season as one of Bucknell's starting outside linebackers. The "iron man" of the Herd, Tallman did not miss a single varsity game in his collegiate career, including 32 straight starts to end his tenure. Tallman finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles and led the squad with four fumble recoveries. He also logged four sacks and an interception and was named to the all-conference team for the first time.

Senior tight ends Greg Readinger (Williamstown, Pa./Williams Valley H.S.) and Mark Wyland (Warriors Mark, Pa./Tyrone H.S.) were co-recipients of the Coaches Award, in appreciation of their tremendous service over the last four years. Both players earned their third varsity letters this season after equally sharing the tight end duties. Excellent blockers both, Readinger chipped in with eight catches for 107 yards, while Wyland had seven grabs for 86 yards this season. Readinger was named to the All-Patriot League Second Team at season's end. His 13.4 yards-per-catch average was third-best on the team.

Senior cornerback George Cowan (Albany, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) was named the Bison's Special Teams MVP. Cowan, who earned his fourth varsity letter in 2001, was a special teams stalwart for Bucknell, in addition to fine play as the team's third cornerback. Cowan blocked two punts this season and registered 18 tackles, a sack and four pass breakups. He also turned in the team's most "heads-up" play of the year in the Lehigh game, when the Bison had their own punt blocked but Cowan scooped it up and ran 18 yards for a key first down.

Junior wide receiver Jim Horan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic H.S.) copped the Big Blue Award as Bucknell's most outstanding back or receiver in 2001. Horan was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection following a terrific fall campaign. A game-changing playmaker at one of the league's most talent-rich positions this season, Horan led the Bison and ranked second in the league in receptions with 59 (6.6 per game). He caught three touchdown passes, including acrobatic, fourth-quarter game-winners against Patriot League rivals Lafayette and Holy Cross. Despite missing the first game of the season with a shoulder injury, Horan compiled the third-most receptions in a single season at Bucknell and moved into fifth place on the school's career list with 127 grabs. He will enter his senior season needing 46 receptions to become Bucknell's all-time leader.

The 2001 Clarke Hinkle Award, presented to Bucknell's most outstanding defensive back or linebacker, was presented to senior free safety Bobby Young (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Radnor H.S.). Clarke Hinkle is generally regarded as Bucknell's finest football player ever. He went on to a 10-year career with the Green Bay Packers as a fullback and linebacker and earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A four-year letterman, Young was extremely consistent in his first full year the Bison's starting free safety. Prior to this season, Young had been the primary backup to All-American Kevin Eiben, as well as a key nickel package player. As the starter this season, he finished fifth on the team with 45 tackles, recorded an interception and four pass breakups.

For the second straight year, senior defensive tackle Tom Kuhn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle H.S.) earned the George Rieu Award as the Bison's most outstanding defensive lineman. The award is named in honor of Bucknell's outstanding defensive lineman from the early 1960s. He coached the freshman team while earning a master's degree at Bucknell, but died of cancer in 1963.

One of five Bison players named to the First Team All-Patriot League defensive unit, Kuhn's season was cut short thanks to a torn anterior cruciate ligament as a result of a low block against Holy Cross in the third-to-last game of the season. Prior to the injury he made 26 tackles, recorded a pair of sacks and used his 6-4 frame to deflect four passes.

Senior offensive guard Jon Churchill (Cazenovia, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary H.S.) was presented the John Campana Award as Bucknell's most outstanding offensive lineman. This award is named in honor of the outstanding Bison lineman in the late 1970s and co-captain of the 1979 team. Campana died in 1984 of cancer while serving in the U.S. Army.

Churchill was a First Team All-Patriot League selection in 2001 after turning in a stellar season on Bucknell's veteran line. Churchill started 31 of his last 32 games and was a staple at left guard. He earned his fourth varsity letter in 2001 and helped the Bison average 386.8 yards of offense per game.

The Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award, presented to the team's most outstanding newcomer, was presented to freshman defensive tackle Corey Mayo (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville H.S.). This prestigious award is named in honor of Stu Smith, who, when freshmen were not eligible, burst onto the scene with a stellar sophomore season in 1934 and scored in Bucknell's win over Miami (Fla.) in the very first Orange Bowl.

Mayo played in eight games this season, starting the last two after Kuhn went down with an injury. He finished with eight tackles, including a sack. May turned in a huge play against fifth-ranked Lehigh, forcing and recovering a fumble deep in Bucknell territory to thwart a potential scoring drive.

The Keating-Rieu Memorial Award, presented to the most outstanding player in the Colgate game, went to junior outside linebacker Joe Massey (Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie H.S.). The award is named in honor of Dan Keating (Colgate) and George Rieu (Bucknell), who were teammates at Atlantic City High School in the late 1950s and played against each other for three years in high school. Tragically, both men died in the mid-1960s. In this year's season finale at Colgate, Massey registered seven tackles, five of which came behind the line of scrimmage. He had two sacks and three other stops for loss. A first-team all-conferenceperformer, Massey finished the season ranked sixth in the league with seven sacks, but was one of only two players in the loop to average a sack per game. More than half (15 of 28) of Massey's tackles this season resulted in lost yardage, as he moved into third place on Bucknell's career sacks list and 16th on the Patriot League's all-time list with 18.

The other game award is the George L. McGaughey Memorial Award, which is presented the outstanding player in the Lafayette game. McGaughey was an outstanding center at Bucknell in the 1930s and played on the first Orange Bowl team. After leaving Bucknell, he was a longtime coach and administrator at Lafayette. This year's recipient was sophomore linebacker Stephane Pluviose (Cliffood Beach, N.J./Matawan Regional H.S.), who had 13 tackles, a sack and an interception in the Bison's 17-16 win over the Leopards. Pluviose finished his stellar sophomore campaign as Bucknell's leading tackler with 83. The first-year starter added four sacks, 14 tackles for loss a forced fumble and five pass breakups.

Senior Ricco Rosini (Shamokin, Pa./Southern Columbia H.S.) copped the second annual Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award, presented for "commitment, dedication and unqualified friendship." Pangburn, who passed away in the fall of 2000, was a fixture in the Bucknell Athletic Department for a half-century and a friend to all Bison. A former prep standout at nearby Southern Columbia H.S., Rosini made a name for himself at the collegiate level as a special teams wizard. Tenacious on kick and punt coverage, Rosini finished the with 15 tackles in 2001 and 35 in his career. He was named the Lewisburg Touchdown Club's Special Teams Player of the Week three times in the past two seasons.

Senior fullback Jason Marrow (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall H.S.) and junior quarterback Todd Wenrich (Herndon, Pa./Line Mountain H.S.) were co-recipients of the ROTC Leadership Award. Marrow was a punishing blocker and ballcarrier whose career was off to a record-setting start before three serious injuries cut it short. He rushed for 856 yards and a whopping 30 touchdowns in 1998 and 1999, but played in only four games since. He graduates ranked fourth on Bucknell's career touchdowns list (31) and fourth on the career scoring list (186).

Wenrich splattered his name all over the Bucknell record books in his first season as the Herd's starting quarterback. Wenrich attempted (384) and completed (209) more passes this season than any other quarterback in Bucknell annals. His 2,327 passing yards were second-most in school history, just 63 yards shy of the record. Wenrich played in all but five offensive series this season and tossed 12 touchdown passes in 10 games.

Senior Darsean Johnson (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights H.S.) was the recipient of The Moxie Award. Instituted in 1992 by equipment manager Ken Hare, the Moxie Award is named for his grandfather, Walter Jacob "Moxie" Mahlon, and is presented for special contribution to the Bucknell football program. Johnson is a former defensive lineman who because of injuries finished his Bison serving admirably in a managerial role.

A pair of young Bison were presented Scout Team Player of the Year Awards. Freshman wide receiver Nisan Trotter (Silverhill, Ala./Robertsdale H.S.) and sophomore defensive lineman Tareq Abdulghani (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) were the 2001 recipients.

Just prior to the season finale at Colgate, it was announced that Tallman, senior running back Jabu Powell (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips H.S.), senior center Carson Book (Shermansdale, Pa./West Perry H.S.) and senior cornerback Reed Tunison (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth Regional H.S.) were voted by their teammates as permanent team captains for the 2001 season. The quartet received Captains Awards at the banquet, "the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Bucknell football player," according to head coach Tom Gadd.

In addition to the 16 major awards, a total of 55 Bucknell players were awarded varsity letters. Seventeen student-athletes received a letter for the very first time, including four freshmen. On the other hand, seven players joined an elite list of four-year lettermen. The following are Bucknell's 2001 varsity lettermen:

First-year lettermen: Senior tight end Matt Arroyo (Paterson, N.J./Passaic County Tech), sophomore linebacker Vic Cole (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hills H.S.), sophomore wide receiver Evan Crawford (Tamarac, Fla./Piper H.S.), sophomore defensive lineman David Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem H.S.), senior linebacker Steve Gifford (Preston, Idaho/Preston H.S./Ricks JC), sophomore offensive lineman Steve Kerr (Grafton, Mass./Worcester Academy), sophomore wide receiver Albert Marquardt (Girardsville, Pa./North Schuylkill H.S.), sophomore free safety Jared Marsilio (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk H.S.), freshman defensive tackle Corey Mayo, sophomore defensive back Adam Minggia (Reading, Pa./Reading H.S.), freshman linebacker Kevin Ransome (Bear, Del./Christiana H.S.), sophomore strong safety Virgil Rush (Bear, Del./Christiana H.S.), sophomore strong safety Will Smith (Hattiesburg, Miss./Hattiesburg H.S.), sophomore offensive tackle Rashad Stallworth (Prichard, Ala./Blount H.S.), freshman linebacker David Ulmer (Farmington, N.Y./Victor H.S.), freshman wide receiver Daris Wilson (Kenner, La./Archbishop Rummel H.S.), senior wide receiver Brett Yordy (Milton, Pa./Milton H.S.).

Second-year lettermen: Sophomore cornerback Jerome Acy (Orange, Ohio/Orange H.S.), sophomore running back Jess Brinson (Ambridge, Mass./Ambridge H.S.), junior defensive tackle Gary Carruthers (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem H.S.), junior defensive lineman Peter Christathakis (Keyport, N.J./Keyport H.S.), senior wide receiver Kyle Harris (Provo, Utah/Timpview H.S./Ricks JC), sophomore free safety Mike Leatherman (Colora, Md./John Carroll School), sophomore cornerback Anthony Lewis (Peekskill, N.Y./Peekskill H.S.), sophomore fullback J.C. Morgan (Middletown, Del./Middletown H.S.), senior offensive tackle Blaise Paglia (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock H.S.), sophomore linebacker Stephane Pluviose, senior linebacker Nick Sajone (Shenandoah, Pa./Shenandoah Valley H.S.), junior offensive guard Joe Schweitzer (Masillon, Ohio/Masillon Jackson H.S.), junior defensive lineman Eric Storm (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield H.S.), junior quarterback Todd Wenrich, junior punter/linebacker Billy Windle (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle H.S.).

Third-year lettermen: Junior offensive guard Luman Bauta (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep H.S.), senior defensive tackle Anddy Carmona (Bronx, N.Y./Mount St. Michael H.S.), junior wide receiver Jim Horan, senior defensive tackle Tom Kuhn, junior nose guard Adam Lord, senior kicker Joe Lourdeaux (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius H.S.), junior kicker Chris Lundberg (Phoenix, Ariz./Thunderbird H.S.), senior fullback Jason Marrow, junior linebacker Joe Massey, junior linebacker Juan Morales (Bronx, N.Y./Mount St. Michael), senior tight end Greg Readinger, senior offensive tackle Garry Reynolds (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville H.S.), senior running back Ricco Rosini, senior running back Tony Varano (Coal Township, Pa./Shamokin H.S.), junior fullback Todd Warmington (North Tonowanda, N.Y./North Tonowanda H.S.), senior tight end Mark Wyland.

Four-year lettermen: Senior center Carson Book, senior offensive guard Jon Churchill, senior cornerback George Cowan, senior free safety Bobby Young, senior running back Jabu Powell, senior linebacker Mark Tallman, senior cornerback Reed Tunison.