WALTER WASHINGTON RECEIVES OWL AWARD AS TEAM'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AT ANNUAL FOOTBALL BANQUET

PHILADELPHIA - The Temple football team held its annual banquet Friday evening at the Millennium Ballroom at Loews Hotel on Market Street. Play-by-play announcer Harry Donahue was emcee of the event sponsored by the Temple University Owl Club.

Walter Washington, a second team All-Big East honoree, received the Owl Award as the team's most valuable player as selected by a vote of his teammates. The junior also captured offensive most valuable player honors. Washington, the top scorer among Division I-A quarterbacks with 92 points (8.36 avg.), leads the nation in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (15), which is a Big East record for a signal-caller and tied the Temple mark for total TDs in a season (Paul Palmer; 1986).

Washington led the Big East with 3,096 total yards (281.5 avg.), to become Temple's first 3,000-yard player and best the school's previous mark for total offense (2,577) set by Burris in 1994 by 519 yards. He set a Big East and Temple record for yards rushing by a quarterback in a season with 889 net yards (1,104 total) and was responsible for the Owls' final 16 touchdowns, while accounting 25 of 29 (86%) overall. Washington led the Big East and ranks 11th nationally in total offense (281.5), 19th in point responsibility (13.82) and 21st in scoring. He set the Big East and Temple record for total plays with 554, which ranks second nationally this season. His 2,207 passing yards ranks second and 889 rushing yards is 10th in Temple's single season annals.

Linebacker Troy Bennett garnered most valuable defensive player accolades. The senior concluded his Temple career by playing in his 46^th consecutive game and making his 23^rd straight start. Bennett played in every possible contest the past four seasons. A Preseason Honorable Mention All-American by Street & Smith's, he ranked sixth in the Big East in total tackles (8.6 avg.).

Center C.J. Blomvall received the team's "Top Hog Award" as its most valuable offensive lineman. The senior did not give up a sack the entire season while playing every snap at center, a total of 806 plays. He averaged 4.0 pancake blocks per game.

Captain Awards were presented to five players that "showed what it takes to be a leader on and off the field during the season." Seniors' Ikey Chuku, Lawrence Wade, Sadeke Konte, Bennett and Blomvall earned the honors.

Cornerback Ray Lamb received the Arthur N. Cook Most Courageous Athlete Award. The honor is presented to the athlete that best exemplifies the courageous spirit of Dr. Arthur N. Cook by overcoming injury or illness to continue his participation in his sport. Lamb completed a miraculous comeback when he was in the starting lineup versus Florida A&M on Sept. 18. The second year junior suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee just five months earlier during the Cherry & White spring game on April 24. Initially, doctor prognosis placed Lamb's return for summer 2005 after Lamb underwent surgery on May 20 after swelling in the injured knee subsided. Lamb's hard work and dedication gradually moved-up his return date and he started in six games, making 22 tackles.

Chuku received the George M. Illman Award presented annually to a member of the team that has demonstrated outstanding scholastic, athletic and leaders hip ability. He arrived in Owl Country on a track scholarship and walked-on to the football team at QB in 1999. After switching to WR and earning a football scholarship, he caught 13 passes and a TD as a redshirt freshman in 2000. In the season opener against Navy in 2001, looking at an expanded role in the offense, he went down with a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee on the first offensive series of the year. After an 11-month rehab and much hard work, Chuku returned to the gridiron but suffered torn anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in the same knee during the first preseason scrimmage in August. Despite two major setbacks to the same leg, Chuku would not be deterred. Last season he returned to start nine games and catch 20 passes for 224 yards and a score. This season, Chuku started all 11 games, making 31 catches for 464 yards and three TDs. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, he has also got the job done in the classroom. Chuku is taking graduate courses after earning an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and political science in May 2003.

Junior defensive end Mike Mendenhall, a second team All-Big East honoree, received the J. Myron Honigman Award presented annually to a member of the football team who best exemplifies the spirit, dedication and loyalty of Jack Honigman. Mendenhall started all 11 games at rush defensive end, making 41 tackles (18 solo), including nine tackles for 32 yards in losses and 3.5 sacks for 22 yards.

Junior offensive lineman John Gross was received the John Rienstra Award, presented annually to an athlete who has shown "a little extra" in his efforts during the winter conditioning program and the in-season training program. A two-time member of the Big East Conference All-Academic Team, he played every snap on the Temple offensive line. Gross started four games at LT and seven at LG after starting all 12 contests at LT in 2003.

Senior offensive guard Frank McAndrew was the recipient of the Carlos Diaz Award as the Most Improved Owl. A former walk-on that earned a scholarship, he started the final three games of the season and was instrumental in paving the way for a Temple attack that ranked third in the Big East and 37^th nationally in rushing offense (173.0).

Senior defensive end Jason Johnson received the Owl Club Academic Award presented by Dr. Peter Chodoff. Johnson, a two-time member of the Big East All-Academic Team, is an honors international business major.

The "John D Award," presented annually to the top performing member of the student manager staff, went to Nykolai Bilynski.

Temple University Athletics

WALTER WASHINGTON RECEIVES OWL AWARD AS TEAM'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AT ANNUAL FOOTBALL BANQUET

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