By J. OLSEN
It’s time to play a little catch-up on MAC notes. There has obviously been a lot going on with football and basketball recently overlapping.
Many of my notes involve “kudos” in the form of postseason awards. Naturally, Western Michigan is at the MAC football forefront. But that is just a start.
Click “READ MORE” for a miscellany of information on MAC items . . .
It’s time to play a little catch-up on MAC notes. There has obviously been a lot going on with football and basketball recently overlapping.
Many of my notes involve “kudos” in the form of postseason awards. Naturally, Western Michigan is at the MAC football forefront. But that is just a start.
Click “READ MORE” for a miscellany of information on MAC items . . .
FLECK AND TERRELL AWARDS
► Head coach P.J. Fleck, who has guided the Broncos’ turnaround over the last several years, is a finalist for the George Munger, Eddie Robinson and American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year awards.
► WMU quarterback Zach Terrell is the 2016 Campbell Trophy Award winner. The trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.
COREY DAVIS AWARDS
► Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis has earned the title of NCAA Consensus All-American after being named to the first-team in three of the five official organizations used to determine the honor. Davis becomes the first player in Western Michigan history and the first in the Mid-American Conference since Eric Page of Toledo in 2010 to earn the honor.Davis earned Consensus All-American status after receiving first-team all-america honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association of America. He was named Second-Team All-American from the Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the other two official organizations in the pool. To be considered a Consensus All-American one must receive three first-team honors from the above mentioned organizations.
The senior not only earned his third straight MAC First Team honors in 2016, he was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year – a nice bookend, since he won MAC Freshman of the Year to start his collegiate career.
ROCKETS ROBERTS, BRONCOS MOTON
► Joining Davis on the Football Writers of American Association (FWAA) were Toledo tight end Michael Roberts (First Team) and WMU lineman Taylor Moton (SecondTeam). Roberts, who leads the nation’s tight ends with 15 TDs, will be playing in the East-West Shrine Game Jan. 21.
QUICKEN LOANS ARENA RENOVATION
► Officials have announced Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavalier AND the MAC Basketball Tournament, will be undergoing a 140-million renovation. Taxpayers and the Cavs, according to Cleveland.com, will split the cost. However, it is anticipated there will NOT be an increase in taxes due to the project. Existing taxes on hotel rooms and the arena tickets would pay the bill.
Construction would finish by 2020. Renovation would dramatically alter the outside appearance, as well as create dining, bar and public gathering areas.
For more information, click HERE
PHIL STEELE ALL-MAC TEAM
► Phil Steele’s site recently came up with its own All-MAC football teams. If you’re interested, check it out HERE:
STORM NORTON
► Toledo offensive lineman Storm Norton was named to the SB Nation All-America team. He has accepted an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bown Jan. 21.
KAREEM HUNT, TREYVON HESTER
► Toledo running back Kareem Hunt has accepted an invitation to play in the Reese’s Sennior Bowl, Jan. 28 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Al. He will be joined by teammate (DT) Treyvon Hester.
► Head coach P.J. Fleck, who has guided the Broncos’ turnaround over the last several years, is a finalist for the George Munger, Eddie Robinson and American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year awards.
► WMU quarterback Zach Terrell is the 2016 Campbell Trophy Award winner. The trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.
COREY DAVIS AWARDS
► Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis has earned the title of NCAA Consensus All-American after being named to the first-team in three of the five official organizations used to determine the honor. Davis becomes the first player in Western Michigan history and the first in the Mid-American Conference since Eric Page of Toledo in 2010 to earn the honor.Davis earned Consensus All-American status after receiving first-team all-america honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association of America. He was named Second-Team All-American from the Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the other two official organizations in the pool. To be considered a Consensus All-American one must receive three first-team honors from the above mentioned organizations.
The senior not only earned his third straight MAC First Team honors in 2016, he was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year – a nice bookend, since he won MAC Freshman of the Year to start his collegiate career.
ROCKETS ROBERTS, BRONCOS MOTON
► Joining Davis on the Football Writers of American Association (FWAA) were Toledo tight end Michael Roberts (First Team) and WMU lineman Taylor Moton (SecondTeam). Roberts, who leads the nation’s tight ends with 15 TDs, will be playing in the East-West Shrine Game Jan. 21.
QUICKEN LOANS ARENA RENOVATION
► Officials have announced Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavalier AND the MAC Basketball Tournament, will be undergoing a 140-million renovation. Taxpayers and the Cavs, according to Cleveland.com, will split the cost. However, it is anticipated there will NOT be an increase in taxes due to the project. Existing taxes on hotel rooms and the arena tickets would pay the bill.
Construction would finish by 2020. Renovation would dramatically alter the outside appearance, as well as create dining, bar and public gathering areas.
For more information, click HERE
PHIL STEELE ALL-MAC TEAM
► Phil Steele’s site recently came up with its own All-MAC football teams. If you’re interested, check it out HERE:
STORM NORTON
► Toledo offensive lineman Storm Norton was named to the SB Nation All-America team. He has accepted an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bown Jan. 21.
KAREEM HUNT, TREYVON HESTER
► Toledo running back Kareem Hunt has accepted an invitation to play in the Reese’s Sennior Bowl, Jan. 28 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Al. He will be joined by teammate (DT) Treyvon Hester.
RSS Feed