Schwieger, Abuhoff Headline Football Team Awards

HANOVER, N.H. — Juniors Nick Schwieger and Shawn Abuhoff each earned two awards at the Dartmouth football season-ending banquet on Sunday as a total of 14 players earned recognition from the coaching staff for what they brought to the team on and off the field.

Schwieger (Norton, Mass.) was selected for the Bob Blackman Trophy as the Big Green's most valuable player, given annually to the player who contributed the most to the success of the team. The tailback led the Ivy League in rushing average for the second straight year while ranking fifth nationally with 125.9 yards per game. His 1,133 yards on the ground are the second most ever at Dartmouth, and Schwieger tied a school record by running for 14 touchdowns. He also leads the Ivy League in scoring (9.3 points per game) and all-purpose yards (158.8 yards per game) while ranking seventh and 15th, respectively, among the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) players in those categories. Schwieger also was given the Jake Crouthamel Award for the second straight year as the underclassman who contributed the most to the success of the team on offense.

Abuhoff (Hialeah, Fla.) also won an honor for the second consecutive year — the Kenneth T. Young Award, which is given to the underclassman who made the most significant contribution to the team. The cornerback and return specialist led the Ivy League and ranked eighth nationally in passes defended with 14, four of which were interceptions. On special teams, Abuhoff led the conference and was third in the FCS in punt return yardage at 17.2 per return with three touchdowns, the most in the country. He also was second in the Ivy League and 21st nationally in kick return average at 26.4 yards. Not surprisingly, he was honored with the Special Teams Award as well.

The Doten Award, given to the sophomore who made a significant contribution to the success of the football team, was given to Garrett Waggoner (Sarasota, Fla.). The free safety started every game and led the team with 61 tackles, 32 solo, with two going for a loss. In addition, the second-year man broke up a pair of passes and blocked a kick. Against Yale and Harvard, Waggoner recorded a season-high 10 tackles.

Senior wide receiver Tim McManus (St. Paul, Minn.) took home the Manners Makyth Man Award. This distinction goes each year to the player who best conducted himself to the advantage of Dartmouth and displayed good manners in the sense of William Wykeham's phrase, “Manners Makyth Man.” McManus was the Big Green's leading receiver with 38 catches for 528 yards, ranking sixth in the league in the latter category. On the Dartmouth career charts, he is sixth with 1,550 receiving yards and seventh with 126 receptions.

The Earl Hamilton Freshman Award, given to the top rookie contributor, was earned by Dominick Pierre (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). The backup tailback played in all 10 games, gaining 362 yards on 71 carries (a 5.1-yard average) with four touchdowns, plus caught seven passes for 31 yards. In his one start when Schwieger fell ill, Pierre took the ball 25 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the 21-19 win over Sacred Heart

The scout team players of the year were freshman quarterback Andy Gay (Mill Creek, Wash.) for offense and junior defensive back Chad Hollis (Longwood, Fla.) on defense.

The 12th Man Award, presented to the member of the varsity football team who demonstrated hard work and dedication regardless of playing time, was given to senior tight end Kevin Gallagher (Princeton, N.J.), who was a key member of the return teams, providing blocks to free Abuhoff for his long runs.

The John M. Manley '40 Award was presented to junior offensive lineman Ryan O'Neill (Orland Park, Ill.) as the player who demonstrated the most improvement through their efforts in the weight room. The left guard was instrumental in paving the way for Schwieger runs and placing Dartmouth seventh nationally in fewest sacks allowed.

The Gordon P. Bennett Award as the team's outstanding lineman who exemplified the high degree of performance, sportsmanship, and character exhibited by Gordon P. Bennett '37 was given to senior defensive end Charles Bay (Marietta, Ga.) who led the Ivy League and was seventh in the country in sacks per game (1.0). His eight total sacks and three forced fumbles also paced the league despite the fact he missed most of the first three games with an injury.

The Lester R. Godwin Award was awarded to senior linebacker Luke Hussey (Seattle, Wash.) as the senior football squad member who, through extraordinary perseverance, has risen above personal disadvantage to contribute measurably to the team. Hussey suffered through various injuries throughout his career, including two hip surgeries, yet managed to overcome the aches and pains to record 48 tackles, two for a loss with one being a sack, one interception and one fumble recovery in his senior campaign.

Senior Tanner Scott (Kenilworth, Ill.) was awarded the Alan Hewitt '34 and Robert Hewitt '40 Award. This honor goes to the player who best epitomizes athletic performance with academic achievement. An economics major with a 3.83 GPA, Scott caught 21 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown this year, plus was selected to the ESPN Academic All-District I team and chosen as a William Campbell Award semifinalist.

The Earl Hamilton Varsity Award was given to senior defensive tackle Lane Shipley (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) as the senior football player who has displayed the sincere friendliness and sense of humor plus appreciation of the outdoors that were the late Mr. Hamilton's characteristics. Shipley finished the year with 12 tackles, including a career-high seven against nationally ranked Penn.

Finally, the Frank Hershey Award — given to the senior football player who possesses a genuine zest for life, has maintained a strong, positive attitude and has displayed a sincere desire to win — was presented to linebacker Matt Oh (Coppell, Texas). Oh saw action in all 10 games on defense, making 17 tackles, 12 of which were solo stops.

Schedules