Marshall University Athletics
Leftwich Wins Vern Smith Award
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Leftwich Wins Vern Smith Award
12/1/2001
Byron Leftwich |
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich, who was also honored as the Mid-American Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, was named the 2001 Vern Smith Leadership Award winner at the MAC football championship luncheon Friday afternoon in Toledo, Ohio
The award is emblematic of the best football player in the MAC and is voted on by all 13 MAC head coaches and 26 selected media members representing the league's 13 schools. The award is named for former University of Toledo Athletics Director Vern Smith.
Leftwich, a junior, is having a record setting season in leading the Thundering Herd to a 10-1 record and 10 wins in a row. The Herd is also ranked No. 18 in this week's USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the Associated Press poll.
Leftwich leads the MAC in passing efficiency with a 166.2 rating, having completed 283-of-418 pass attempts for 3,711 yards, 34 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He needs just 89 yards in Friday's MAC Championship game to set a new single season MAC record. Leftwich already holds the league's standard for total offense in a season with his 3,804 yards gained this year.
Leftwich ranks third nationally in passing efficiency and his 34 TD passes are second nationally. He could also tie the league single season record with five more touchdown passes.
Leftwich is a Heisman candidate and was among those listed as a semifinalist by The Football News as its national Offensive Player of the Year. He joins Chad Pennington and Randy Moss, now both in the N.F.L. with the Jets and Vikings, respectively, as Marshall players to win the award.
Marshall has already accepted a berth in the GMAC Bowl to be held Dec. 19 in Mobile, Ala.
Leftwich received 25 of the 37 votes cast. Also receiving notice was Toledo running back Chester Taylor (9), Bowling Green defensive lineman Brandon Hicks (1), Northern Illinois quarterback Chris Finlen (1) and Ohio punter Dave Zastudil (1).
Also nominated by their respective institution for the Vern Smith Leadership Award were Zac Derr, Akron; Rachman Crable, Ball State; Chris Shelly, Buffalo; Terrence Jackson, Central Michigan; Scott Russell, Eastern Michigan; James Harrison, Kent State; Ben Roethlisberger, Miami; and Ronald Rogers, Western Michigan.
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winners
(Jefferson Award from 1982-86)
2001 Byron Leftwich, Marshall
2000 Robert Sanford, Western Michigan
1999 Chad Pennington, Marshall
1998 Travis Prentice, Miami
1997 Randy Moss, Marshall
1996 Brad Maynard, Ball State
1995 Wasean Tait, Toledo
1994 Brian Pruitt, Central Michigan
1993 Mike Neu, Ball State
1992 Erik White, Bowling Green
1991 Erik White, Bowling Green
1990 Jeff Bender, Central Michigan
1989 David Riley, Ball State
1988 Tony Kimbrough, Western Michigan
1987 Eric Wilkerson, Kent State
1986 Terry Morris, Miami
1985 Brian McClure, Bowling Green
1984 Brian McClure, Bowling Green
1983 Tim Tyrrell, Northern Illinois
1982 Ray Bentley, Central Michigan
