Dec. 9, 2000
Football: YSU Hands Out Individual Awards at Annual Banquet
   Youngstown, Ohio -- The Youngstown State football program announced their annual team individual award winners on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the team’s awards banquet.
    Senior linebacker Tim Johnson was named the team’s most valuable player earning the team’s John Delserone Most Valuable Player Award. Johnson, a first-team All-Gateway Conference selection, finished the year with 180 tackles in 13 games. His tackle total is the fourth-best mark in a season in school history.
    Junior quarterback Jeff Ryan was named the team’s Outstanding Offensive Player. Ryan finished the year throwing for 1,416 yards completing 105-of-192 passes. He had 15 touchdown passe and now has 42 touchdown passes in his three-year career to set the school record. Senior linebacker Luke Schumacher was selected as the team’s Outstanding Defensive Player. Schumacher returned from a knee injury to finish with 21 tackles. He started the final five games at outside linebacker.
    Senior punter Troy LeFever earned the Paul McFadden/Jeff Wilkins Special Teams Award. LeFever, who also handled the kickoff duties for YSU, averaged 38.4 yards on 64 punts this season. He had a school-record 85-yard boot against Northern Iowa on Oct. 14.
    The Ron Stoops Most Inspirational Player Award was presented to senior defensive lineman Montrail Thomas. Thomas started every game for YSU and was named an honorable-mention Gateway Football Conference performer.
    Senior Ed Blizzard earned the Dr. Spurgeon Touchbearer Award. Blizzard started the first nine games at cornerback before suffering a sprained ankle in overtime against Hofstra. He missed two games before seeing limited time against Richmond in the Division I-AA Playoffs. He finished the year with 36 tackles.
    Junior offensive lineman Pat Crummey started every game this season for the Penguins and was awarded the Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Year. Crummey was also a first-team All-Gateway Conference pick. This is the first season the award was named after Jim Zedlar who won the honor in 1987. Sophomore defensive lineman Matt Mechling was named the team’s Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year. Mechling was named a first-team all-conference player for the Penguins.
    A new award was presented at this season’s banquet, the Robert Frost Outreach Man-of-the-Year award. The winner of the first-ever Outreach Man-of-the-Year award was senior wide receiver Denver Williams. Williams caught seven passes for 87 yards this season. Williams was also a key member of all of YSU special-teams units.
    The Four Square Club Award winners for the Edinboro game were Ryan on offense, Chris Conwell on defense and Mike Thomas who earned the Academic Award. Thomas was named a second-team Academic all-conference selection. Ryan earned the offensive award for the second straight year.

2000 YSU Team Individual Award Winners
Outstanding Offensive Player: Jeff Ryan
Outstanding Defensive Player: Luke Schumacher
Paul McFadden/Jeff Wilkins Special Teams Award: Troy LeFever
John Delserone MVP: Tim Johnson
Ron Stoops Most Inspirational Player: Montrail Thomas
Dr. Spurgeon Touchbearer Award: Ed Blizzard
Jim Zdelar Offensive Lineman of the Year: Pat Crummey
Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year: Matt Mechling
Robert Frost Outreach Man of the Year: Denver Williams