Temple University Athletics
Derenthal Receives Owl Award as Cherry & White Holds Annual Football Banquet
12.2.06 | Football
Dec. 2, 2006
PHILADELPHIA - Redshirt sophomore center Alex Derenthal received the Owl Award as Temple's most valuable player at the annual football banquet, sponsored by The Owl Club, today at the Doubletree Hotel in Center City. Derenthal, who received the honor based upon coaching staff selection, was one of several student-athletes honored for their contributions to the University both on and off the field this season.
The Owl Award is presented annually to the man that is totally dedicated to the Temple Football program and is immensely respected by his peers, all members of the football program and the Temple University community. The player must also possess the desire, integrity and talent to excel both on and off the playing field and, above all, be a leader and winner.
Derenthal was a constant for the Owls in 2006, playing every snap in 11 games and grading-out at 90 percent or better in all 12 contests. A future all-conference player, the Davie, Fla. native started all 11 games at center as a redshirt freshman in 2005 to earn honorable mention freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News.
Senior Tim Brown earned most valuable offensive player honors. Brown had four 100-plus yard rushing games and accumulated 731 yards on 182 attempts for two touchdowns. The Stockton, Calif. native also caught 33 passes for 218 yards en route 969 all-purpose yards.
Redshirt sophomore Travis Shelton was cited as the teams' special teams MVP. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native averaged 196.7 all-purpose yards per game, which would lead the nation (if he played in 75% of the teams games) ahead of NIU's Garrett Wolfe (178.92). He also averaged 28.8 yards on 27 kickoff returns (27-778), which would rank 10th nationally. Shelton was named the Wrangler College Football Player of the Week by The Sporting News for his performance versus Bowling Green. In the six games Temple played without Shelton in the lineup, the team averaged 6.83 points-per-game. In final six contests, the Owls averaged 15.0 points.
Offensive lineman Andre Douglas and RB/DB Lamar McPherson were named Temple's scout team players of the year. The duo is expected to play key roles next season after transferring to Owl Country and practicing with the squad this past fall. Douglas arrived via Rhode Island and McPherson transferred from Syracuse.
Senior LB Ryan Gore received the Dr. Arthur N. Cook Most Courageous Athlete Award, while senior WR Mike Holley was the winner of the George M. Illman Award for leadership on and off the field. Senior OT Elliot Seifert earned the "Top Hog Award" as the best offensive lineman and senior CB David Reese captured the Carlos Diaz Award as the team's most improved player. The J. Myron Honigman Award for Spirit, Dedication and Loyalty was given to senior OG Neil Dickson and senior DB Chris Page earned the John Rienstra Award for excellence in off-season conditioning.
Senior kicker Mike Pettinelli received the Owl Club Academic Award, sponsored by Dr. Peter Chodoff. Pettinelli, a double major in international business/risk management and finance, maintains a 3.52 cumulative grade point average. Seifert captured the Jacobi Award for Outstanding Community Service. A semifinalist for the 2006 Draddy Trophy recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership, the Reading, Pa. native is very active in the Owl Outreach program dedicated to community service.
Captains' Awards were granted to Seifert, Holley, Gore and Walter Mebane. The John D Award for the top student manager went to Bill Zimmerman.
The Owls also announced that 60 student-athletes earned varsity letters for their contributions to the team this season. Among the letterwinners are seniors Ryan Gore, Jamel Harris, Michael Loveland and Elliot Seifert, who end their careers in Cherry & White as four-time letterwinners.
Temple concluded the season, its last as an independent, with an 1-11 record and will join the Mid-American Conference as a full football member next season. The Owls played 21 true freshmen, the most in Division I-A, and also played 46 student-athletes with two or more seasons of eligibility after 2006. Nine of Temple's 12 opponents this season are bowl eligible, with six already accepting invitations (Central Michigan, Minnesota, Navy, Northern Illinois, Penn State, Western Michigan. Four MAC teams (Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Ohio) have accepted bowl invites.
2006 Temple Football Letterwinners: Leyon Azubuike, Terrance Banks, Dwavon Battle, Wilbert Brinson, Marcus Brown, Tim Brown, Jake Brownell, Josh Bundy, Terrell Channell, Vaughn Charlton, Dave Chiavacci, Georg Coleman, Evan Cooper, Dy'Onne Crudup, Alex Derenthal, Neil Dickson, Adam DiMichele, Alex DiMichele, Jarrett Dunston, David Fatherly, Jabari Ferguson, Anthony Ferla, Bruce Francis, Junior Galette, Ryan Gore, John Haley, Domerio Hamilton, Jason Harper, Dominique Harris, Jamel Harris, Ryan Herting, Terry Hill, Mike Holley, Keith Holt, Le'Ron Irwin, Alex Joseph, Karsaul Josiah, Terrance Knighton, Michael Loveland, Steve Maneri, Brison Manor, Walter Mebane, Darius Morris, Doug Morris, Danny Murphy, Andre Neblett, Abioye Oyeyemi, Chris Page, Matt Powell, David Reese, Brian Sanford, Nick Santa Cruz, Sean Satchell, Nate Schiccatano, Elliot Seifert, Travis Shelton, Richard Sheppard, Philip Simpson, Ryan Sutton and Devin Tyler.
