Indiana University Athletics
Football Announces Award Recipients
12/14/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Football Announces Award Recipients
Bloomington, Ind. -- The Indiana University football team held a football awards banquet at 5:00 p.m. today in the Mellencamp Pavilion. The following awards were presented:
AL BARSCH AWARD
Awarded to the player who has hung tough and fought through adversity.
An alumnus from Ohio, Barsch helped Indiana in recruiting and assisted players in finding jobs in the Cleveland area. He died of cancer in the mid 1980s.
Recipient: Jason Czap, Senior, Defensive Tackle, Indianapolis (Warren Central)
HOWARD BROWN AWARD
Given to the player who exemplifies the qualities of former Indiana assistant coach Howard Brown. On October 15, 1977, the I Men's Association dedicated a bust of Brown that stands on the field of Memorial Stadium next to the IU locker room. It reads, "He demonstrated compassion, courage, understanding, humor, sportsmanship and a strong competitive spirit as a player, coach, and as a man. He served Indiana University with boundless love and dedication. His example shall serve as an inspiration to all those who follow him." The recipient receives a trophy and has his name engraved on a plaque displayed in the Football Office Complex.
One of Indiana's all-time greats, Brown was the team's Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten championship season of 1945 and again in 1947. He was a captain in both 1946 and 1947.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Brown played as a freshman in 1942 before joining the Infantry. He won three Purple Hearts while serving in Europe and returned to the Bloomington campus shortly after the start of the 1945 season. He jumped into the starting lineup after just three days of practice and played a key role in Indiana's only undefeated championship season.
After participating in both the College All-Star and East-West games, Brown graduated in 1948 and played three seasons with the Detroit Lions, under his former coach, A.N. (Bo) McMillin.
Brown returned to his alma mater in 1951 as an assistant to Clyde Smith. When Smith resigned at the end of the year, Brown moved with him to become the line coach at Arizona
State. Brown returned to Indiana in 1954 to coach the freshman team. He served as an assistant coach through the 1974 season.
Recipient: Adewale Ogunleye, Graduate, Defensive End, Staten Island, N.Y. (Tottenville)
CHRIS DAL SASSO AWARD
Given to the defensive lineman who exemplifies the qualities of Chris Dal Sasso, a three-year letterman and captain in 1936. Recipient receives a trophy.
A three-year tackle at Indiana, Dal Sasso captained the 1936 team. Following graduation in 1937, Chris spent 15 years at South Bend Central High School as an assistant coach, head coach and athletic director. His tenure there was interrupted by a four-year stint in the Air Force. His 1951 Central team won the state championship.
In 1952, Chris joined the Indiana football staff as an assistant coach and served in that capacity until taking over an assistant administrator position in 1957. In this position, the Clinton, Ind., native handled the complex Big Ten financial aid program.
Recipient: Kemp Rasmussen, Sophomore, Defensive End, Hadley, Mich. (Lapeer West)
CORBY DAVIS MEMORIAL AWARD
Established by the family and friends of Corby Davis to honor the senior player whose conduct on campus, in the classroom and on the football field most closely exemplifies the qualities of former Big Ten MVP Corby Davis. A trophy is awarded and the name of the recipient is engraved on a plaque displayed in the Football Office Complex.
A 1992 inductee of the Indiana University Hall of Fame, Davis earned letters in football in 1934, 1935 and 1937 and lettered in track in 1935. Davis, the Big Ten Most Valuable Player and a 1937 first-team All-America selection at fullback, was a member of the East team in the 1937 East-West game. A Balfour Award winner, Davis was a starter on the College All-Stars in 1938 and was a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Rams that same year. Splitting professional time because of the war, Davis would enjoy four seasons of success with the Rams before retiring in 1942.
Recipient: Earl Haniford, Senior, Quarterback, Martinsville, Ind. (Martinsville)
ANTHONY THOMPSON, MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD
Probably Indiana's greatest football player ever, Thompson collected first-team All-America honors following both his junior and senior seasons. Following his senior year he won the Walter Camp Foundation's Player of the Year, the AFCA "Coaches Choice" Player of the Year, the Maxwell Football Award and finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting. The only person to have his jersey retired at Indiana University in any sport, Thompson was named to the All-Big Ten team in 1988 and 1989 and was also named Big Ten MVP and Indiana MVP both seasons. Thompson holds almost every Indiana rushing record including career rushes, career yards gained, yards gained in a single game, and rushes in a single game. Following his senior season, Thompson played in both the East-West Shrine Game and Japan Bowl. Thompson played professionally for the Phoenix Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams.
Recipients: Antwaan Randle El, Sophomore, Quarterback, Riverdale, Ill./Thornton
TED VERLIHAY AWARD
Given to the Indiana University football player who has demonstrated the best mental attitude and loyalty to Indiana Football. A trophy is awarded to the recipient and his name is engraved on a plaque displayed in the Football Office Complex. The award was established by the friends and family of Ted Verlihay.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Verlihay earned a letter following the 1967 season. A native of Pittsburgh, Penn., Verlihay graduated from North Catholic High School where he was an All-State guard and linebacker. He captained his 1963 high school team to a 9-0-1 record. Verlihay was a physical education major at Indiana.
Recipient: Yeronimo Ciriaco, Senior, Defensive Tackle, Bronx, N.Y. (J.F. Kennedy)
TED WHEREATT AWARD
Awarded to a senior player who has excelled academically. A trophy is awarded and the recipient's name is engraved on a plaque displayed in the Football Office Complex.
A long-time resident of the Indiana University community, Whereatt served as an Assistant to the Dean of the University Division. In this capacity, he counseled student-athletes with their educational program.
Recipient: Matt Snyder, Senior, Center/Guard, Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)
BILL ARMSTRONG SPIRIT OF INDIANA AWARD
Established in 1997, the Bill Armstrong Spirit of Indiana Award is awarded to a player who has a genuine love for Indiana University and most closely resembles Bill Armstrong in action, thought, deed, and motive.
A member of the Indiana University Athletic Hall of Fame and former Executive Director and President of the IU Foundation where he served from 1952-83, Bill Armstrong was one of Indiana University's finest ambassadors. As a fundraiser and athletic department consultant he aided IU athletics in many significant ways. He was instrumental in starting men's soccer as a varsity sport and Armstrong Stadium, used for soccer and the Little 500 bicycle race, is name in his honor. He also played a pivotal role in women's athletics and development of the Student Athletic Board. A recipient of the Z.G. Clevenger Award and Distinguished Alumni Service Award, and a former baseball letterwinner from Owensboro, Ky., Bill Armstrong died on July 17, 1998. Anyone who knew him realizes that no words better describe him than "Spirit of Indiana."
Recipient: Craig Robeen, Senior, Tackle, Hardin, Ill. (Calhoun)
THE THUNDERDOME CLUB
The Thunderdome Club award is the premier award you can receive in the Indiana football program because it is awarded strictly by day-to-day, play-by-play, game-by-game performance. To be eligible for the Thunderdome Club in a given week an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
· attend all academic classes and must practice well each day to stay eligible for that week
· grade out 80% or better
· play at least 20 downs on a defensive unit that shuts out an opponent or on an offensive unit that scores 30 points in a game.
Anyone who makes the Thunderdome Club at least eight out of 11 weeks will receive a trophy at the end of the season.
Recipients: Versie Gaddis, Jr., WR, Atlanta, Ga.; Levron Williams, So., RB, Evansville; Antwaan Randle El
DON HOWELL AWARD
Awarded to the outstanding offensive lineman in memory of Don Howell.
A two-way lineman in from Hobart, Ind., Howell played for the Hoosiers from 1954-57 and served as captain of the team in 1957. He played in the 1957 Blue-Gray All-Star Game. After graduation, Howell returned to his hometown of Hobart and served as an assistant coach and later as head coach at Hobart High School. He won over 300 games and was the second winningest coach in Indiana high school football history. Several of his former players have gone on to play football at Indiana University.
Recipient: Pita Elisara, Senior, Tackle, Iliili, American Samoa (Palomar J.C.)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR:
Recipient: Mike McGrath, Senior, Downers Grove, Ill. (South); Michael Hanley, Fr., Owensboro, Ky. (Apollo)
GTE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT V TEAM: Matt Snyder; Senior, G, Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)
ALL-BIG TEN RECOGNITION:
First-Team Punter (Media): Drew Hagan
Second-Team Defensive End (Coaches): Adewale Ogunleye
Second-Team Quarterback (Media, Coaches): Antwaan Randle El
Honorable Mention: T Pita Elisara, S Mike McGrath, TE Craig Osika, K Andy Payne, RB Levron Williams
SCOUT TEAM AWARDS:
Offensive Scout Team Player-of-the-Year: Glynn Johnson, Junior, RB, Cincinnati, Ohio (Walnut Hills)
Defensive Scout Team Player-of-the-Year: Greg Jensen, Sophomore, DB, Huntington, Ind. (North)
Special Teams Scout Team Player-of-the-Year: Duane Stone,
Freshman, DB, Evanston, Ill. (Evanston Township)
