includes Gachelin, Ferrara,
Scanlon and Thomas
Scanlon Named SU Football Most Valuable Player
12/8/2003 12:33:20 AM | Football
“This senior class represents toughness, persistence, perseverance, cooperation, unselfishness, caring and loyalty,” said head coach Paul Pasqualoni about the group of 18 who were honored at the banquet. “The seniors made this team a family. They made it fun to come to work everyday.”
Scanlon led the Orangemen and ranked in the top 10 nationally in tackles with 12.25 per game. He closed his career ranked eighth on the Orangemen’s tackles for loss record list with 22.5 in four years. The 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-American recorded 147 tackles this season, which ranks 10th on SU’s record list for stops by a linebacker and is the most tackles in one year for an Orangeman since Tim Pidgeon had 158 in 1986.
Quarterback R.J. Anderson (Plainville, Conn.) won the Coach Mac Award, presented for intensity, focus, effort and attitude. In 2003 he set SU single-season records for completions and pass attempts (186-of-310 for 2,164 yards) and closed his career ranked fourth on SU’s career passing yards record list. His 2,164 passing yards this season ranks fifth on the SU single-season record list.
Fullback Thump Belton (West Charlotte, N.C.) was named the Ray Martino Award winner for loyalty, enthusiasm and perseverance. The three-year SU player was elected a team captain for his senior campaign by his teammates. Belton, who transferred to SU from Northeast Mississippi Community College, had 61 carries for 327 yards at SU and was tackled for negative yardage just one time during his career.
Tight end Lenny Cusumano (West Paterson, N.J.) was presented the Duffy Daugherty Award for player’s player, coach’s player. He played in 37 games for the Orange, catching 10 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown. He closed his career with two receptions for a career-high 41 yards in the season-finale against Notre Dame.
Fullback Darryl Kennedy (Plainfield, N.J.) won the Joe Szombathy Special Teams Outstanding Performer Award after leading the Orangemen in special teams tackles with 16. He also recovered a fumble on the punt coverage unit against Central Florida. Kennedy played for SU for two years after transferring from Nassau Community College.
Center Nick Romeo (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), who is a 2003 CoSIDA second-team Academic All-American, earned the Joe Alexander Award for excellence in football, scholarship and citizenship. He started all 48 games during his career. Since 1991, the only other two players to start every contest during their SU tenures were quarterback Donovan McNabb and linebacker Morlon Greenwood.
Defensive tackle Christian Ferrara (North Caldwell, N.J.) was named the Ben Schwartzwalder Award winner for being exemplary football player. Ferrara capped his standout career with six tackles, including five tackles for a loss of 22 yards, against Notre Dame. He compiled 30 tackles for loss during his career, which ranks fifth in SU history. He finished the 2003 season with 62 tackles, including 44 solo stops.
Offensive tackle Kevin Sampson (Westwood, N.J.) and defensive end Josh Thomas (Orchard Park, N.Y.) were named winners of the Pat Miller Award for Outstanding Athlete, Student and Citizen. Sampson played in 43 games for the Orangemen, starting every game as a junior and senior. Thomas concluded his career ranked seventh on SU’s career tackles for loss record list with 23.0. The three-time CoSIDA District I Academic All-American recorded 124 tackles in 37 games for the Orange.
Defensive tackle Louis Gachelin (Miami, Fla.) won the Tim Green Award for the outstanding defensive lineman. The senior led the defense with nine tackles, including three for a loss, and had one fumble recovery in his final game as an Orangeman against Notre Dame. He recorded 42.0 tackles for a loss during his career, which ranks second behind SU-record holder Dwight Freeney (45.5). His 158 career tackles ranks sixth on SU’s career record list for tackles by a down lineman.
Junior tailback Walter Reyes (Struthers, Ohio) earned the Mark Hoffman Most Outstanding Back Award for his record-breaking season. He broke SU’s records for rushing touchdowns in one season with 20 and points in one season with 128. He now holds the SU record for rushing touchdowns in a career with 38 and ranks seventh on the career rushing record list with 2,621 yards in three seasons. His five rushing touchdowns against Notre Dame tied for the second-best single-game performance in SU history with Floyd Little, who scored five times against Kansas in 1964.
In addition, seniors Chris Buda (Tallahassee, Fla.), Dave DeAmato (Wilmington, Mass.), Joe Donnelly (Rochester, N.Y.), Jameel Dumas (Roselle, N.J.),Andrew Johnson (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), Johnnie Morant (Parsippany, N.J., Jamel Riddle (Meriden, Conn.) and Alexander Ridore (Beltsville, Md.) were recognized for their contributions to the program and were awarded senior blankets and Varsity Club Awards. The three senior student managers who were honored were head manager Scott Heller, Nate Evans and Pat Moran.
