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BIG EAST FOOTBALL 2009 SEASON AWARDS

Big East Honors Announced with Panthers and Bearcats splitting major awards

By Raphielle Johnson

The Big East Conference announced its 2009 football awards on Wednesday afternoon and there were few surprises with the results. Brian Kelly, who in some circles is rumored to be headed to Notre Dame, was named the Big East Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season. Kelly’s Cincinnati Bearcats finished the regular season 12-0 and will once again represent the league in the Bowl Championship Series, playing Florida in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Bearcats also saw Mardy Gilyard win the Big East Special Teams Player of the Year, the second consecutive award for the senior and third straight for the UC program (Kevin Huber in 2007).

As for the offensive and defensive honors those went to Pittsburgh, with freshman Dion Lewis winning both Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year. Lewis led the Big East in rushing and ranked in the top five nationally in rushing yards per game. Defensively Greg Romeus and Mick Williams shared the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award and as a team Pitt had ten players named to the league’s First Team All-Big East squad. Lastly the conference made late Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard the honorary captain. Howard was tragically lost in the early morning hours of October 18th after playing one of the best games of his career in a win over Louisville.

“As a family, we wanted to respectfully remember Jasper Howard and honor his memory,” said Big East commissioner John Marinatto in the conference’s release. “In naming him the Honorary Captain of the 2009 All-BIG EAST Team, we have memorialized his name in BIG EAST Conference history.”

2009 Big East Football Awards

Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly (Cincinnati)
Offensive Player of the Year: RB Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh)
Defensive Co-Players of the Year: DE Greg Romeus and DT Mick Williams (Pittsburgh)
Special Teams Player of the Year: KR/PR Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)
Rookie of the Year: Lewis
Honorary Captain: CB Jasper Howard (Connecticut)

First Team All-Big East (*- unanimous selection)

QB Tony Pike (Cincinnati)/ Bill Stull (Pittsburgh)
RB Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh)*
RB Noel Devine (West Virginia)*
WR Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)
WR Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh)
TE Dorin Dickerson (Pittsburgh)
OT Jason Pinkston (Pittsburgh)
OT Anthony Davis (Rutgers)
OG Zach Hurd (Connecticut)
OG Dave Malecki (Pittsburgh)
C Chris Jurek (Cincinnati)
K Tyler Bitancurt (West Virgnia)
RS Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)

DL Lindsey Witten (Connecticut)
DL Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh)*
DL Mick Williams (Pittsburgh)
DL Jason Pierre-Paul (USF)
DL Arthur Jones (Syracuse)
LB Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut)
LB Adam Gunn (Pittsburgh)
LB Kion Wilson (USF)
LB J.T. Thomas (West Virginia)
CB Aaron Berry (Pittsburgh)
CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers)
CB Brandon Hogan (West Virginia)
S Aaron Webster (Cincinnati)
S Robert Sands (West Virginia)
P Rob Long (Cincinnati)

Second Team All-Big East

QB Jarrett Brown (West Virginia)
RB Andre Dixon (Connecticut)
RB Jordan Todman (Connecticut)
WR Armon Binns (Cincinnati)
WR Tim Brown (Rutgers)
TE Ben Guidugli (Cincinnati)
TE Nate Byham (Pittsburgh)
OT Jeff Linkenbach (Cincinnati)
OT Selvish Capers (West Virginia)
OG Jason Kelce (Cincinnati)
OG Ryan Bartholomew (Syracuse)
C Samson Genus (USF)
K Dan Hutchins (Pittsburgh)
RS Trent Guy (Louisville)

DL Ricardo Mathews (Cincinnati)
DL Gus Mustakas (Pittsburgh)
DL George Selvie (USF)
DL Chris Neild (West Virginia)
LB Greg Lloyd (Connecticut)
LB Derrell Smith (Syracuse)
LB Reed Williams (West Virginia)
CB Robert McClain (Connecticut)
CB Jerome Murphy (USF)
S Dom DeCicco (Pittsburgh)
S Nate Allen (USF)
P Scott Kozlowski (West Virginia)