2005 Big East Awards
December 07, 2005 03:04 PM | General
December 7, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez was named Big East coach of the year, and true freshman running back Steve Slaton was honored as the league’s rookie of the year, the conference announced today.
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First Team All-BIG EAST |
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| Addae | Hunter | Justice |
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| Lorello | McLee | Mozes |
Rodriguez, 38-22 in five seasons at West Virginia, guided West Virginia to a 10-1 regular season record including the conference’s first undefeated season since Miami did it in 2002. Rodriguez’ No. 11-rated Mountaineers won the Big East title outright in 2005 after sharing it the past two seasons in 2003 and 2004.
The Grant Town, W.Va., resident is taking the Mountaineers to the 2005 Nokia Sugar Bowl to face SEC champion Georgia on Jan. 2, 2006. This is the second time Rodriguez has won Big East coach of the year, also capturing the honor in 2003.
Slaton burst onto the college scene in a big way against Louisville, equaling a Big East record with six touchdowns in West Virginia’s 46-44 triple-overtime victory over the Cardinals. Slaton got his first college start against Rutgers on Oct. 8 and wound up the season rushing for 924 yards on just 179 carries (5.2 yards per attempt), scoring 14 rushing touchdowns and accounting for 16 touchdowns in all.
The Levittown, Pa., resident ranks third in the conference in rushing averaging 102.7 yards per game and second in scoring (10.7 points per game). West Virginia’s rushing offense is currently ranked fifth in the nation. Slaton was also honored on the all-Big East second team along with offensive guard Jeremy Sheffey, specialist Antonio Lewis, cornerback Anthony Mims, safety Eric Wicks and punter Phil Brady.
Making the all-Big East first team from West Virginia were offensive tackle Garin Justice, center Dan Mozes, defensive tackle Ernest Hunter, linebacker Kevin McLee and safeties Jahmile Addae and Mike Lorello.
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Major Award Winners |
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| Rodriguez | Slaton |
Louisville’s Brian Brohm and Elvis Dumervil were named Big East offensive and defensive players of the year, while Rutgers junior Willie Foster was selected Big East special teams player of the year.
Louisville led the way with seven first-team performers, followed by West Virginia (six), Pitt and Rutgers (four each), Syracuse (three) and South Florida and Connecticut (one each). Cincinnati failed to place a player on the first team.
Louisville’s Brohm and wide receiver Joshua Tinch were both unanimous picks.
All selections were made by the league’s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players. Ties in voting created additional player positions for first-team safety, and second team cornerback and safety.
