DiMichele Receives Owl Award as Team MVP For the Second Time at Annual Football Banquet

Dec. 14, 2008

PHILADELPHIA (12/14/08) - For the second consecutive year, senior quarterback Adam DiMichele (McKees Rocks, Pa.) received the 2008 Owl Award as Temple's most valuable player at the annual football banquet, sponsored by The Owl Club, on Sunday afternoon at the Sheraton Hotel in Center City.

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.

A two-year team captain, DiMichele overcame two serious injuries over the last year. He finished the season, throwing 134-of-231 (58.0 percent) for 1,191 yards and 18 touchdowns in nine games. The quick-footed senior also rushed 61 times for 91 yards and three touchdowns. DiMichele finished his collegiate career with 5,024 yards passing, which ranks fourth on Temple's career chart, and with eleven 200-yard passing games, which ranks third on TU's career list. He earned the coaches' offensive player of the game honors twice, following the Army and Navy games.

During his injuries, DiMichele was on the sidelines, helping to coach his teammates. A nominee for the FWAA Courage Award, he is the first and only injured player to travel with the Owls under coach Al Golden.

Off the field, DiMichele participates in many of the Owls' community service projects, including the Bone Marrow Donor Drive, Diamond Street Clean-Up, Partnership Field Day, and Donovan McNabb Youth Football Clinic.

Senior WR Bruce Francis (Sicklerville, N.J.) earned offensive most valuable player honors. A Third-Team All-MAC honoree, Francis had a record-setting season. He became Temple's Division I-A career leader in receiving touchdowns this fall, finishing his career with 23. The Owls' leading receiver with 687 yards on 45 catches for a Div. I-A school record 13 touchdowns, Francis finished his collegiate career with a reception in a school record 38 consecutive games.

For the second consecutive year, senior tackle Terrance Knighton (Windsor, Conn.) was the recipient of the defensive most valuable player honor. Temple's first First-Team All-MAC honoree, Knighton ranked No. 2 in the MAC in fumbles recoveries. In the win at Ohio, he recovered his third fumble of the season with 4:43 to go, setting up TU's game-winning touchdown. One of two senior starters on defense, Knighton helped the d-line lead the MAC in red zone and third-down defense. He blocked a kick at Navy, the fourth of his career. He finished the season with 54 tackles, 7.5 TFL, and 13 ball disruptions this season.

True freshman Kevin Kroboth (Nazareth, Pa.) received the special teams' most valuable player award. Seeing action in all 12 games at defensive back and wide receiver, Kroboth was also a member of four special teams' units--kickoff, kickoff return, punt, and punt return. In the season finale win over Akron, he received his first starting nod at safety. His fourth-quarter interception, which he returned 56 yards, was the first of his career.

Freshman WR C.J. Hammond (Washington, D.C.) and redshirt junior defensive end James Namude (Potomac, Md.) shared the scout team player of the year honor. Earning the award for the second consecutive year, Namude walked on the team in the fall of 2006.

Senior OT Andre Douglas (New Rochelle, N.Y.) earned the Top Hog Award as the top offensive lineman. A starter in all 12 games this fall, Douglas started at right guard for the first seven games before moving to right tackle for the last five games.

Senior cornerback Evan Cooper, Jr. (Miami, Fla.) earned the Carlos Diaz Award as the team's most improved player. Seeing action in every game, he finished with 44 tackles, including 31 solos and 2.5 TFL. Cooper also had three break-ups and two forced fumbles in the secondary.

Junior linebacker Alex Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) received the Dr. Arthur N. Cook Most Courageous Athlete Award. A Third-Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele, Joseph finished second in team tackling with 87 takedowns, including 46 solos. He also had 3.5 TFL, four break-ups, and a forced fumble. At Navy, Joseph led TU with 13 tackles, including a career-high nine solo takedowns.

Senior center Alex Derenthal (Davie, Fla.) was the recipient of the George M. Illman Award for Leadership on and off the field. A Second-Team All-MAC pick by the coaches and a Third-Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele, Derenthal finished his career with a school record 47 consecutive starting appearances at center. A candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, Rimington Trophy, and Rudy Award, he is a two-time team captain. Named to the 2007 AFCA Good Works Team, Derenthal earned the team's Offensive MVP honor in 2007 and Team MVP accolades in 2006 as a sophomore.

Senior defensive back Georg Coleman (Levittown, Pa.) was presented with the J. Myron Honigman Award for Spirit, Dedication & Loyalty. Senior defensive back Richard Sheppard (Philadelphia, Pa.) earned the John Rienstra Award for excellence in off-season conditioning.

Captains' Awards were presented to Derenthal, DiMichele, Francis, junior DB Dominique Harris (Washington, D.C.), and Knighton for their leadership during the season. The John D. Award for the top student manager was shared by junior Dan O'Connor (Roxborough, Pa.), who completed his third season with the Owls, and sophomore Mike Kettell (Roxborough, Pa.), who completed his second season.

Redshirt junior quarterback Colin Clancy (Stonington, Conn.) received the Owl Club Academic Award, sponsored by Dr. Peter Chodoff. The entrepreneurship major sports a 3.07 GPA.

Redshirt senior fullback Marcellous Grigsby (Sacramento, Calif.) captured the Athole Jacobi Award for Outstanding Community Service. During the last year, he participated in Hard Hatz, Owls for the Cure, the bone marrow donor drive, the Thanksgiving food drive, and Partnership Field Day. Twice Grigsby's earned the monthly Owl Outreach honor.

The Owls also announced that 62 student-athletes earned varsity letters for their contributions to the team this season. Among the letterwinners were 21 seniors that have concluded their careers for the Cherry & White.

Under third-year head coach Al Golden, Temple tied for second place in the East Division with a 4-4 record while finishing with a 5-7 overall record, the team's most wins since 1990. Five Owls were named to the All-MAC teams.

2008 TEMPLE FOOTBALL TEAM AWARDS

Owl Award/Team MVP: Adam DiMichele

Offensive MVP: Bruce Francis

Defensive MVP: Terrance Knighton

Special Teams MVP: Kevin Kroboth

Scout Team Players of the Year: C.J. Hammond, James Namude

Captains' Awards: Alex Derenthal, Adam DiMichele, Bruce Francis, Dominique Harris, Terrance Knighton

Dr. Arthur N. Cook Most Courageous Athlete Award: Alex Joseph

George M. Illman Award for Leadership on and off the field: Alex Derenthal

Top Hog Award/Best Offensive Lineman: Andre Douglas

Carlos Diaz Award/Most Improved Player: Evan Cooper

J. Myron Honigman Award for Spirit, Dedication & Loyalty: Georg Coleman