Countdown to Kickoff: BIG EAST Honors
8/20/2002 10:36:34 AM | Football
In the BIG EAST Conference’s eleven-year existence, a record five Special Teams Player of the Year honors have been awarded to Syracuse players. Syracuse’s first two awards came back-to-back from John Biskup and Pat O’Neill in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Return specialists Marvin Harrison (1995), Quinton Spotwood (1997) and Kevin Johnson (1998) followed.
> During the 2001 season, Freeney joined Donovin Darius and George Rooks as Syracuse players named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. In 1995, Donovan McNabb won the conference’s Rookie of the Year award. He then won three consecutive BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year honors from 1996-98.
Miami leads the conference in All-Conference selections with 126. Syracuse and Virginia Tech are next in line with 94 selections each. SU has placed 47 players on the first-team squad and another 47 on the second team.
Six Orangemen have earned First Team All-BIG EAST honors twice. Linebacker Clifton Smith looks to join Donovin Darius as a three-time first team member. McNabb is one of only two players in conference history to be selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team during all four years of their college eligibility.
Syracuse kicks off the 2002 season on August 29 in Provo, Utah against Brigham Young. The Orangemen will open the home portion of their schedule on September 7 when they host North Carolina in the Carrier Dome. For tickets call 888-DOMETIX or visit www.dometix.com.
