Gridiron Pirates Honored At Annual Postseason Banquet
April 02, 2004 | Football
Junior tailback Marvin Townes received Most Valuable Offensive Player accolades. A second-team all-conference selection, Townes recorded the 12th 1,000-yard rushing season in school history and led the Pirates in scoring with 10 touchdowns.
Linebacker Chris Moore took home the Most Valuable Defensive Player award. As a sophomore, Moore finished second in the nation in total tackles (148) and tackles per game (14.45), which earned him second-team all-conference and honorable mention All-America recognition.
The Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman plaque was awarded to senior Doug White. White was named third-team All-Conference USA after helping pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher for a third consecutive season. He previously won the Most Valuable Offensive Blocker award as a sophomore in 2001.
Fellow senior and first-team all-conference selection Brian Rimpf was awarded the E.E. Rawl Memorial Award for character, scholarship and academic achievement for the second time. Rimpf, the 2001 recipient of the award, was twice named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District III Team and was one of 11 players selected to the 2002 AFCA Good Works squad.
Rimpf was also named Team Captain along with fellow seniors Vonta Leach and Terrance Copper. Leach finished second on the team in rushing (290) and touchdowns scored (5) before going on to earn Offensive MVP honors as the Blue-Gray Classic. Copper set the ECU single season record for both receptions (87) and receiving yards (897) this past season.
Freshman Ryan Dougherty, C-USA's leading punter and a first-team all-conference performer, was voted the team's Most Outstanding Special Team Player, while fellow rookie Erode Jean was named Outstanding Newcomer. Both players were named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team this past season.
Other award winners included:
Outstanding JV Player (Offense) - Tyrece Hayden
Outstanding JV Player (Defense) - Craig Harper
Swindell Memorial Award (Big Team, Little Me) - Derek Helms
Jerry T. Brooks Award for Academic Achievement - Richard Hourigan
Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman - Eric Foushee
Most Improved Player (Offense) - Gary Freeman
Most Improved Player (Defense) - Shauntae Hunt
12th Man Award - Kyle Riley (student manager)
Janet Overton Outstanding Senior Award - Brandon Pope
