Orange Ends 2011 At Tewaaraton Banquet

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WASHINGTON – Syracuse was well represented on college lacrosse's biggest night. Seniors John Galloway, Joel White and Orange legends Roy Simmons Jr. and Jim Brown were all in attendance at the 2011 Tewaaraton Awards banquet held at the Warner Theatre on June 2. Galloway and White were two of the five finalists for this year's Tewaaraton Trophy as the college lacrosse player of the year. Brown was there to receive the first Tewaaraton Legends Award, and Simmons, Brown's teammate at SU in the 1950s, introduced him.

Even though Virginia attackman Steele Stanwick took home the top prize as the 2011 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, the night belonged to Brown. The NFL legend shook hands, posed for pictures and captivated an audience full of lacrosse giants.

“Because of his father I'm here tonight being honored by all of you,” said Brown referring to his former coach, Roy Simmons Sr. “It's a wonderful honor. I usually don't care about trophies and things like that, but those of us who play lacrosse know that we do it for the love of the game, and simply for the love of the game. We're all in the same fraternity. And for you to remember me and to bring me back with these young lions here, it's truly an honor.”

Created to recognize greats of the past, the Tewaaraton Legends Award will annually be presented to an individual whose college lacrosse achievements would have earned them a Tewaaraton Trophy had the award been around when they played.

There was no better choice than Brown to receive the inaugural award. A two-time All-American midfielder for the Orange, Brown scored 64 points, including 43 goals, to lead Syracuse to an undefeated (10-0) season as a senior in 1957. He then embarked on a record-setting football career with the Cleveland Browns and has since been recognized as perhaps the greatest athlete of the 20th century.

As intimidating on the lacrosse field as he was on the gridiron, Brown was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1984.

White and Galloway were two of the “young lions” Brown was referring to in the crowd. Thursday's Tewaaraton Awards banquet marked the end of their brilliant college careers, and like Brown, they will go down as two of the best to ever play at Syracuse.

They were also roommates for four years.

“I wouldn't have picked anybody else to share it (being a Tewaaraton finalist) with,” Galloway said of White. “I think him and I have been through a lot the past four years. For us to finish off our college careers at the Tewaaraton banquet, even though we didn't win, we had such a good time down here the past couple days.”

Galloway is the only goalie in Orange history to receive the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Award as national goalie of the year, taking home the honor in 2010 and winning it again this season. He recorded 147 saves, a.572 save percentage and broke his own school record with a 6.70 season goals-against average in 2011.Galloway ended his career as the NCAA all-time leader in wins (59) and minutes played (3,776). His 7.31 career goals-against average is the seventh-best mark in NCAA history.

A two-time Tewaaraton finalist, White led Syracuse in ground balls (79), while tallying four goals and two assists. He finished his career as the school's career leader in ground balls (283) and points by a defensive player (28).

The women's Tewaaraton Award was also presented Thursday night. That honor went to Northwestern's Shannon Smith.

Syracuse University Athletics

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