CSN Log
June 11th, 2009, 03:30 PM
06-11-2009 02:51 PM
Richmond Dominates VaSID Awards
London, Sidbury Garner Two of State’s Top 2008 Football Awards from VaSID Richmond had a Commonwealth-leading six First Team picks.
The University of Richmond’s national championship football season helped the Spiders grab two of the state’s top awards from the Virginia Sports Information Directors as DE Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Mike London was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
Eight Spiders earned spots on the VaSID All-State Team, which was comprised of the Division I programs in the Commonwealth. Football sports information directors throughout Virginia took part in the voting.
Richmond’s commonwealth-leading six First Team selections were Sidbury, sophomore LB Eric McBride, sophomore DB Justin Rogers, senior RB Josh Vaughan, sophomore WR Kevin Grayson and junior OG Matthew McCracken. Sidbury, Grayson and McBride were repeat first-team honorees.
Junior QB Eric Ward and junior OT Michael Silva were named to the VaSID Second Team.
Sidbury, who was also a VaSID First Teamer in 2007, was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 NCAA Playoffs as he collected a career-high four sacks in the Spiders’ dominating 24-7 win over Montana in the National Championship game.
The All-American and First Team All-CAA honoree, who was drafted by Atlanta in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, finished the season with 56 tackles – including team highs in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (20). Sidbury was the anchor to a defense that led the CAA in total defense (268.8 yards/game) and scoring defense (15.6 points/game).
London’s State Coach of the Year Award becomes the fourth such award he has received after leading his alma mater to its first-ever NCAA team national championship in any sport. He guided the Spiders to a school-record 13-3 campaign, winning nine-straight games to end the season.
The rookie head coach was also recognized as the AFCA National Coach of the Year, the Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly National Coach of the Year and the Black Coaches Association Male Coach of the Year.
James Madison led the Commonwealth with 11 All-State selections, followed by eight each from Richmond, Virginia Tech and Liberty. JMU’s Rodney Landers was voted as the VaSID Offensive Player of the Year, while Virginia Tech RB Darren Evans was tabbed the Rookie of the Year.
Richmond, which enters the 2009 season with the school’s first-ever preseason No. 1-ranking (Sporting News), begins defense of its national title Sept. 5 at Duke.
By University of Richmond Athletic Public Relations
Richmond Dominates VaSID Awards
London, Sidbury Garner Two of State’s Top 2008 Football Awards from VaSID Richmond had a Commonwealth-leading six First Team picks.
The University of Richmond’s national championship football season helped the Spiders grab two of the state’s top awards from the Virginia Sports Information Directors as DE Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Mike London was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
Eight Spiders earned spots on the VaSID All-State Team, which was comprised of the Division I programs in the Commonwealth. Football sports information directors throughout Virginia took part in the voting.
Richmond’s commonwealth-leading six First Team selections were Sidbury, sophomore LB Eric McBride, sophomore DB Justin Rogers, senior RB Josh Vaughan, sophomore WR Kevin Grayson and junior OG Matthew McCracken. Sidbury, Grayson and McBride were repeat first-team honorees.
Junior QB Eric Ward and junior OT Michael Silva were named to the VaSID Second Team.
Sidbury, who was also a VaSID First Teamer in 2007, was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 NCAA Playoffs as he collected a career-high four sacks in the Spiders’ dominating 24-7 win over Montana in the National Championship game.
The All-American and First Team All-CAA honoree, who was drafted by Atlanta in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, finished the season with 56 tackles – including team highs in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (20). Sidbury was the anchor to a defense that led the CAA in total defense (268.8 yards/game) and scoring defense (15.6 points/game).
London’s State Coach of the Year Award becomes the fourth such award he has received after leading his alma mater to its first-ever NCAA team national championship in any sport. He guided the Spiders to a school-record 13-3 campaign, winning nine-straight games to end the season.
The rookie head coach was also recognized as the AFCA National Coach of the Year, the Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly National Coach of the Year and the Black Coaches Association Male Coach of the Year.
James Madison led the Commonwealth with 11 All-State selections, followed by eight each from Richmond, Virginia Tech and Liberty. JMU’s Rodney Landers was voted as the VaSID Offensive Player of the Year, while Virginia Tech RB Darren Evans was tabbed the Rookie of the Year.
Richmond, which enters the 2009 season with the school’s first-ever preseason No. 1-ranking (Sporting News), begins defense of its national title Sept. 5 at Duke.
By University of Richmond Athletic Public Relations