Colorado University Athletics
Brown, Mariscal Finalists for Awards
December 01, 2002 | Football
BOULDER - University of Colorado junior Chris Brown was named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award Monday, an honor given to the nation's top running back, while senior Mark Mariscal was announced as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, which is given to the best punter.
Brown, who has racked up 1,744 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in 2002, will be joined by Penn State's Larry Johnson and Miami's Willis McGahee on Thursday, Dec. 12, when the winner will be announced on ESPN's Home Depot Football Awards Show (5 p.m., MST).
Though Brown has been slowed by a bruised sternum, which caused him to miss last week's game against Nebraska and limited him to light running drills during Monday's practice, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has been posting big numbers all season long.
Through games of Nov. 30, the Illinois native (Naperville) stands third in the country averaging 158.8 yards per game, as he is also netting 6.34 yards per attempt--the best in the nation for any back averaging at least 22 carries per game. Currently, he has more yards rushing than 56 schools in Division I-A.
Now No. 4 on CU's all-time rushing list, Brown has complied 2,690 yards and is also fourth in scoring with 204 points. In just 23 regular season games in his career, he has scored an amazing 34 touchdowns. But maybe even more impressive than Brown's knack to find the endzone is his ability to break tackles. Estimated by position coach Eric Bieniemy, Brown is said to have gained 650-700 of his yards after first contact with a defender.
"Chris is a workhouse running back, " Bieniemy stated of Brown, who was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year this past Saturday. "He is big, punishing and very quick. If he doesn't make you miss at first, he'll pound right through you and make you think twice about meeting him head-on the next time around."
As for Mariscal, who was named one of three finalists along with Dustin Colquitt (Tennessee) and Glenn Pakulak (Kentucky), the 6-2, 200-pound Florida native (Tallahassee) has led the nation in punting since Sept. 7. With a gross average of 48.3 yards per punt, he is close to breaking the CU single-season record of 48.2 yards per punt. Currently, his net average (43.6) also leads the nation, while only six punters in the country have a gross average that is greater than his net.
"It is a tremendous honor to be mentioned with some of the best punters in college," Mariscal stated Monday. "This has been one of my goals all year long, and I feel very fortunate to be a finalist."
Like the Doak Walker Award, the winner of the Ray Guy Award will be announced Dec. 12, on ESPN in Orlando, Fla.
Injury Updates: With Brown only practicing lightly during the day, director of sports medicine Steve Willard said the tailback is still "day-to-day" and that the Buffs "may not know until Saturday again if he will play or not."... Fellow back and junior Bobby Purify (ankle), who did not practice, should be "ready to roll" come Wednesday or Thursday according to Willard... Linebacker Joey Johnson (lower back) was held out of action, as the senior's status remains doubtful for this weekend's game... Several Buffs missed practice due to the flu, as wide out Jeremy Bloom, fullback Brandon Drumm and tight ends Beau Williams and Quinn Sypniewski were sidelined. Defensive tackle and co-captain Tyler Brayton was also stricken with the flu, yet the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder still practiced.
