TicketsOn Thursday, the Big East announced the league football awards and UC pulled off a sweep of the top three awards.
Coach Butch Jones won Coach of the Year, Isaiah Pead was named Offensive Player of the Year and DT Derek Wolfe tied for Defensive Player of the Year.
If you take a look back at the recent history of the awards in the conference, the significance of the individual and collective effort is all the more impressive for UC.
First off, the three awards have never been given to the same school since UC joined the Big East in 2005. It hasn't been done in the history of the Big East since the great 2001 Miami team where QB Ken Dorsey shared the award with BC's William Green, the Hurricanes' Ed Reed shared with Syracuse's Dwight Freeney and Larry Coker won Coach of the Year as the team went 12-0.
The first thought that came to mind when I heard about Pead and Wolfe in particular earning the honor was the reputation that comes along with the award, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
I've talked so much about Wolfe you all probably think I'm his agent, but take a look at the people who have been a part of the DPOY award in this conference. Tell me if you think his NFL future is bright.
Here's the list along with the draft selection and current NFL status:
Year Player Draft Current Team
2010 DE Jabaal Sheard, Pitt Rd2/37 Cleveland
2009t DT Mick Williams, Pitt ----------------------------
2009t DE Greg Romeus, Pitt Rd7/226 New Orleans
2008 LB Scott McKillop, Pitt Rd5/146 Waived this preseason (2010ACL)
2007 DE George Selvie, USF Rd7/226 Jacksonville
2006 DE H.B. Blades, Pitt Rd6/179 2007-10 Redskins/waived this year
2005 DE Elvis Dumervil, Lou Rd4/126 Broncos
All but one of the players to win the award since the Big East transformed in 2005 have gone on to play multiple years in the NFL. Dumervil would be the most accomplished, having developed into one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL. Sheard has turned in a nice rookie season for the Browns while Romeus, McKillop, Selive and Blades all put in time and found a niche at one point somewhere.
The list of former Big East Offensive POYs doesn't quite read like a laundry list of All-Pros, but it's select company in its own right. In fact, Pead makes it the fourth consecutive year the award has gone to a running back.
All three were drafted and are still in the league.
Year Player Draft Current Team
2010 RB Jordan Todman, Conn Rd6/183 San Diego (practice squad)
2009 RB Dion Lewis, Pitt Rd5/149 Philadelphia
2008 RB Donald Brown, Conn Rd1/27 Indianapolis
Pead will make it four in a row drafted this year. For the record Donald Brown has developed into the top running back this season for the Colts, as hapless as they are. Dion Lewis hasn't seen the field much sitting behind LeSean McCoy.
Still, all have entered the league talented enough to have a chance. Pead will have that. And judging by his resume here, that means this award could be the first of many.
Coach Butch Jones won Coach of the Year, Isaiah Pead was named Offensive Player of the Year and DT Derek Wolfe tied for Defensive Player of the Year.
If you take a look back at the recent history of the awards in the conference, the significance of the individual and collective effort is all the more impressive for UC.
First off, the three awards have never been given to the same school since UC joined the Big East in 2005. It hasn't been done in the history of the Big East since the great 2001 Miami team where QB Ken Dorsey shared the award with BC's William Green, the Hurricanes' Ed Reed shared with Syracuse's Dwight Freeney and Larry Coker won Coach of the Year as the team went 12-0.
The first thought that came to mind when I heard about Pead and Wolfe in particular earning the honor was the reputation that comes along with the award, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
I've talked so much about Wolfe you all probably think I'm his agent, but take a look at the people who have been a part of the DPOY award in this conference. Tell me if you think his NFL future is bright.
Here's the list along with the draft selection and current NFL status:
Year Player Draft Current Team
2010 DE Jabaal Sheard, Pitt Rd2/37 Cleveland
2009t DT Mick Williams, Pitt ----------------------------
2009t DE Greg Romeus, Pitt Rd7/226 New Orleans
2008 LB Scott McKillop, Pitt Rd5/146 Waived this preseason (2010ACL)
2007 DE George Selvie, USF Rd7/226 Jacksonville
2006 DE H.B. Blades, Pitt Rd6/179 2007-10 Redskins/waived this year
2005 DE Elvis Dumervil, Lou Rd4/126 Broncos
All but one of the players to win the award since the Big East transformed in 2005 have gone on to play multiple years in the NFL. Dumervil would be the most accomplished, having developed into one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL. Sheard has turned in a nice rookie season for the Browns while Romeus, McKillop, Selive and Blades all put in time and found a niche at one point somewhere.
The list of former Big East Offensive POYs doesn't quite read like a laundry list of All-Pros, but it's select company in its own right. In fact, Pead makes it the fourth consecutive year the award has gone to a running back.
All three were drafted and are still in the league.
Year Player Draft Current Team
2010 RB Jordan Todman, Conn Rd6/183 San Diego (practice squad)
2009 RB Dion Lewis, Pitt Rd5/149 Philadelphia
2008 RB Donald Brown, Conn Rd1/27 Indianapolis
Pead will make it four in a row drafted this year. For the record Donald Brown has developed into the top running back this season for the Colts, as hapless as they are. Dion Lewis hasn't seen the field much sitting behind LeSean McCoy.
Still, all have entered the league talented enough to have a chance. Pead will have that. And judging by his resume here, that means this award could be the first of many.