Captains Among Award Winners At Senior Football Banquet

BROOMFIELD ? Senior captains Mason Crosby, Brian Daniels and Thaddaeus Washington were among 11 award winners Sunday night as the University of Colorado football team honored its own at CU’s annual senior banquet at the Omni Interlocken Hotel.

Daniels, an offensive guard who earlier this week was in New York City as a Draddy Award finalist at the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame dinner, won the Eddie Crowder Award for team leadership. Washington, an inside linebacker who finished eighth all-time in tackles at CU, won the 10th annual Tiger Bussey Award, given to the player for inspiration and perseverance in the face of adversity. Bussey died in January 1997, after a three-year battle with leukemia.

Crosby won his third straight Bill McCartney Award for special teams achievement, as CU’s All-American placekicker led the Buffs in scoring and became the school’s seventh three-time, first-team all-conference performer and all-time leading scorer. The Regiment Award for greatest contribution with the least recognition went to senior Nick Holz. A wide receiver, his more important role came as the holder the last three years for Crosby.

The 25th Annual Derek Singleton Award for spirit, dedication and enthusiasm was presented to senior defensive end Abraham Wright, who led the Big 12 Conference with 11? quarterback sacks. Singleton, a sophomore tailback in 1981, was stricken with spinal meningitis in October 1981 and died 10 weeks later on New Year’s Day.

CU head coach Dan Hawkins temporarily suspended the four outstanding awards (MVP, offensive and defensive MVP and freshman), and will likely add them back into the mix in the future. As for the 11 awards dished out Sunday, instead of the coaches selecting the winners as was the case in the past, they passed that distinction on to the players for each honor.

Over 500 people were in attendance at the banquet. The complete list of CU award winners in 2006, selected by the players unless otherwise indicated:

Hang Tough Award (overcame the most adversity): QB Bernard Jackson

Tyronee "Tiger" Bussey Award (perseverance over adversity, injury and/or illness): ILB Thaddaeus Washington

Dean Jacob Van Ek Award (academic excellence): OLB Ben Carpenter

Bill McCartney Award (special teams achievement): PK Mason Crosby

Regiment Award (greatest contribution with least recognition): WR Nick Holz

Derek Singleton Award (spirit, dedication, enthusiasm): DE Abraham Wright

Tom McMahon Award (dedication and work ethic): ILB Jordon Dizon

Offensive Scout Award: QB Cody Hawkins

Defensive Scout Award: DE Marquez Herrod

Special Teams Scout Award: TE Nate Solder

Best Interview (selected by team beat media): DE Abraham Wright