March 16, 2002
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette senior Stewart Kupfer (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh), who became the Leopards' all-time statistical leader at tight end and earned Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors this past season, was named the 2001 Lafayette football team Most Valuable Player. Kupfer was also one of 22 student-athletes on the squad recognized for his academic and athletic achievement at the 2001 Lafayette Football Awards Banquet held today in the Bergethon Room of the College's Marquis Hall.
Honored at the banquet were a record six members of the Lafayette football team who earned a spot on the prestigious Verizon/CoSIDA District II Academic All-America team, as well as a record 22 who were named to the Patriot League Fall Academic Honor Roll.
Kupfer received the Hugh H. "Stoney" Jones '27 Award as the team MVP. He finished his career ranked first among Lafayette tight ends all-time with 81 receptions for 951 yards and nine touchdowns. Those numbers also rank him 11th all-time among Lafayette's receivers.
The George McGaughey Award, presented to the MVP of the Lafayette-Bucknell game in honor of the late Bucknell player and former Lafayette coach, went to senior linebacker Nick Boccagno (Burke, Va./De Matha). Boccagno recorded one of his top career performances vs. the Bison this past season, with a game-high and career-best 13 tackles and one forced fumble.
Positional MVP awards went to sophomore center Chris Royle (Stockton, N.J./Hunterdon Central) on the offensive line, sophomore John Weyrauch (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) at receiver, and sophomore quarterback Marko Glavic (Pickering, Ontario/St. Mary Catholic) in the offensive backfield. On the defensive side, positional MVP award recipients were senior defensive lineman Philip Burger (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin), senior linebacker Matt Bourdon (Jacksonville, Fla./De Matha), and senior defensive back Jeff Werrell (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury).
Special teams' MVP awards were presented to senior punter Adam Holt (College Park, Md./De Matha) and freshman kick returner Joe McCourt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic).
Two Rookies of the Year were named, as McCourt and offensive lineman Joe Ungrady (Hollandale, Fla./South Broward) each received the honor.
Earning Unsung Hero awards were seniors Matt Kulp (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Central) and Chad Ritchie (Winchester, Va./John Handley), while senior Adriel Linyear (Brooklyn, N.Y./Shaker) was named the team's Most Improved Player.
Second-year head coach Frank Tavani also presented Scout Team awards to sophomores Kellen Graham (Camden, N.Y./Camden Central) and Michael O'Connor (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) and freshmen Greg Gibbs (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) and James Sommers (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater Central Catholic).
Lafayette concluded its 120th season of college football and second under coach Tavani. The Leopards held a lead in each Patriot League game this season, losing four contests by 10 points or less. The Leopards' spring practices begin Tuesday, April 2.
2001 LAFAYETTE FOOTBALL TEAM AWARDS
Hugh H. "Stoney" Jones '27 Award (Most Valuable Player) -- Stewart Kupfer '02
Unsung Heroes -- Chad Ritchie '02, Matt Kulp '02
Positional Most Valuable Players:
- Offensive Line -- Chris Royle '03
- Receivers -- John Weyrauch '04
- Offensive Backs -- Marko Glavic '04
- Defensive Line -- Philip Burger '02
- Linebackers -- Matt Bourdon '02
- Defensive Backs -- Jeff Werrell '02
- Special Teams -- Adam Holt '02 and Joe McCourt '05
Most Improved Player -- Adriel Linyear '02
Rookies of the Year -- Joe McCourt '05 and Joe Ungrady '05
Scout Team Awards -- James Sommers '05, Michael O'Connor '04, Greg Gibbs '05, Kellen Graham '04
George McGaughey Award (Bucknell Game MVP) -- Nick Boccagno '02
