Nov. 22, 2000
Villanova, Pa. - On Wednesday, November 22, the Atlantic 10 Conference announced that Villanova junior running back Brian Westbrook (Ft. Washington, Pa./DeMatha H.S.) was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year, in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. In addition, Westbrook earned accolades on the conference's first-team as a running back and return specialist.
The native of Fort Washington, Md. paced the Villanova offensive attack in 2000. Westbrook led the Atlantic 10 in rushing yards (1,220), rushing touchdowns (15), yards per carry (6.8) and yards per game (110.9). He also led the conference in all-purpose yards with 2,992 and kickoff return yards with 1,048. Westbrook's numbers were so prolific he surpassed his closest competitors in those two categories by 1,524 yards and 641 yards, respectively. In the season finale at Delaware, Westbrook broke three Atlantic 10 records, including all-purpose yards (458), kickoff return yards (269) and kickoff returns (9).
For the second time in his career, Westbrook eclipsed the 1,000-1,000 mark in 2000. As a sophomore, Westbrook became the first player in NCAA history at any level to rush for 1,000 yards (1,046) and receive for 1,000 yards (1,144) in the same season. In 2000, Westbrook again accomplished the 1,000-1,000 only this time he recorded the marks in rushing (1,220) and returns (1,048).
Also receiving honors for Villanova on the offensive side was sophomore quarterback Brett Gordon (Ambler, Pa./La Salle H.S.) who completed 184 of 281 passes for 2,293 yards and 22 touchdowns. Gordon ended 2000 ranked first in the Atlantic 10 in passing yards per game (254.8) and pass efficiency (153.5). Joining Gordon on the second-team offense was senior standout lineman Stan Bennett (Santa Margarita, Calif./Santa Margarita H.S.). As a senior in 2000, Bennett finished his career starting every game in his four year career on the Main Line, that streak entailed 46 straight games.
On defense, Villanova was led by two third team selections in defensive lineman Kwesi Solomon (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington H.S.) and punter Chris Birch (New London, Pa./St. Marks H.S.). As a junior, Solomon recorded 30 unassisted tackles, 27 assisted tackles and five and a half sacks. Birch, a junior, boomed 45 punts during the 2000 season for 1,784 yards, an average of 39.6 yards a punt.
The Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year award was won by Delaware's Brian McKenna. The senior from South Orange, New Jersey tallied 89 total tackles on the year, including 42 unassisted and 47 assisted. He also recorded two sacks and four interceptions.
Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year was won by William and Mary freshman Rich Musinski. In his rookie campaign with the Tribe, Musinski caught 44 passes for 747 yards. He averaged 67.9 yards per game and 17.0 yards per catch over the course of the season. His effort placed him third in both categories at the end of 2000.
Richmond's Jim Reid garnered the Coach of Year award as he led the Spiders to a share of their second Atlantic 10 title in three years. He help the Spiders post a 9-2 season and earned them a eighth seed in the NCAA Tournament. During the preseason, the Spiders were picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10.
The Atlantic 20 All-Conference Teams are listed below:
2000 ATLANTIC 10 FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSE
First-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown Stats
Matt Nagy Delaware QB Sr. 6-2 218 Manheim, PA 151-288, 2718 yds, 25 TD, 152.0 effMarcel Shipp Massachusetts RB Sr. 6-0 216 Paterson, NJ 257 att, 1106 yds, 4.3 avg, 12 TDBrian Westbrook Villanova RB Jr. 5-9 205 Ft. Washington, MD179 att, 1220 yds, 6.8 avg, 15 TDJamin Elliott Delaware WR Jr. 6-0 181 Portsmouth, VA 45 recpt, 679 yds, 6 TDDave Klemic Northeastern WR Sr. 6-0 180 Somers Point, NJ65 recpt, 846 yds, 9 TDChad Hayes Maine TE Jr. 6-6 242 Old Town, ME 15 recpt, 151 yds, 1 TDEric Beatty Richmond OL Sr. 6-4 300 North Easton, MAJeff Fiss Delaware OL Sr. 6-1 297 Norristown, PAJason Inskeep James Madison OL Sr. 6-3 290 Culpepper, VAMatt Mazefsky William & Mary OL Sr. 6-4 275 Longwood, FLChris Phipps Delaware OL Sr. 6-3 280 Doylestown, PABrett Sterba William & Mary K Sr. 6-0 180 Westlake, OH 17-19 FG, 25-27 PAT, 76 ptsBrian Westbrook Villanova RS Jr. 5-9 205 Ft. Washington, MD38 KR, 1048 yds, 2 TD
Second-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown Stats
Brett Gordon Villanova QB So. 5-10 170 Ambler, PA 184-281, 2293 yds, 22 TD, 153.5 effCraig Cummings Delaware RB Sr. 5-8 183 Ocean City, MD 84 att, 360 yds, 4.3 avg, 5 TDStephan Lewis New Hampshire RB So. 5-10 200 Coatesville, PA 200 att, 953 yds, 4.8 avg, 9 TDChris Rosier William & Mary WR Sr. 6-2 210 Great Falls, VA 47 recpt, 869 yds, 2 TDDwayne Wilmot Maine WR Sr. 5-10 202 Freeport, NY 67 recpt, 955 yds, 8 TDMichael Millard Richmond TE Jr. 6-3 215 Downingtown, PA 39 recpt, 173 ydsJason Ball New Hampshire OL Jr. 6-2 288 Londonderry, NHStan Bennett Villanova OL Sr. 6-5 295 Santa Margarita, CAJoe Frawley Massachusetts OL Sr. 6-0 295 Waltham, MARyan Ward New Hampshire OL Sr. 6-7 297 Niagara Falls, ONTAl Willis New Hampshire OL Sr. 6-5 298 Queens, NYScott Collins Delaware K So. 6-1 196 Bel Air, MD 12-16 FG, 48-54 PAT, 84 ptsDelvin Joyce James Madison RS Sr. 5-7 185 Martinsville, VA 25 PR, 411 yds, 8 KR, 149 yds
Third-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown Stats
David Corley William & Mary QB So. 5-11 220 Columbia, SC 174-307, 2565 yds, 13 TD, 133.7 effDavid Jamison Rhode Island RB Jr. 5-10 215 Swedesboro, NJ 227 att,1065 yds, 4.7 avg, 5 TDTyRonne Turner Richmond RB Sr. 5-8 180 Clinton, MD 174 att, 841 yds, 4.8 avg, 9 TDPhil McGeoghan Maine WR Sr. 6-3 210 Feeding Hills, MA51 recpt, 778 yds, 3 TDKamau Peterson New Hampshire WR Sr. 6-0 187 Windsor, ONT 53 recpt, 733 yds, 6 TDGreg Penecale Delaware TE Jr. 6-2 241 Doylestown, PA 4 recpt, 40 yds, 1 TDJohn Ahern Delaware OL Jr. 6-3 295 Rochester, NYJeff Dodge Delaware OL Jr. 6-6 290 Hilton, NYMurray Douglas James Madison OL Sr. 6-3 290 Cary, NCKen Farrar Richmond OL Jr. 6-5 305 Peabody, MAKyle Porter Northeastern OL Sr. 6-3 275 Cummaquid, MATodd Jagoutz Maine K Sr. 6-0 201 Duxbury, MA 9-11 FG, 38-40 PAT, 65 ptsBrett Veach Delaware RS Jr. 5-9 182 Mount Carmel, PA6 PR, 47 yds, 16 KR, 407 yds
2000 ATLANTIC 10 FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE DEFENSE
First-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown Stats
Mike Cecere Delaware DL Sr. 6-3 275 Fairfield, NJ 19 UT, 21 AT, 40 TT, 5 sacksChris Morant James Madison DL Sr. 6-1 235 Hampton, VA 43 UT, 19 AT, 62 TT, 10 sacksJosh Spraker Richmond DL Jr. 6-2 255 Harmony, PA 30 UT, 25 AT, 55 TT, 6.5 sacksRaheem Walker William & Mary DL Sr. 6-1 285 Ft. Washington, MD 43 UT, 54 AT, 97 TT,48 sacksKole Ayi Massachusetts LB Sr. 6-1 231 Nashua, NH 76 UT, 48 AT, 124, 6 sacks, 1 INTBrett Bashaw New Hampshire LB Sr. 6-2 199 Newburyport, MA 63 UT, 64 AT, 127 TT, 1 sacksBrian McKenna Delaware LB Sr. 6-2 235 South Orange, NJ 42 UT, 47 AT, 89 TT, 2 sack, 4 INTDerick Pack James Madison LB Jr. 6-1 205 Princeton, WV 95 UT, 49 AT, 144 TT, 2 INTRon Atkins James Madison DB Sr. 5-11 205 Sylmar, CA 56 UT, 18 AT, 74 TT, 1 sackT.J. Hill Northeastern DB Jr. 5-9 175 Paterson, NJ 57 UT, 43 AT, 100 TT, 8 INTJeremy Robinson Massachusetts DB Jr. 6-2 200 Syracuse, NY 51 UT, 24 AT, 75 TT, 1 sack, 4 INTBrian Smith Massachusetts DB Sr. 6-1 200 Wilmington, DE 37 UT, 23 AT, 60 TT, 2 sacks, 2 INTTodd Jagoutz Maine P Sr. 6-0 201 Duxbury, MA 37 punts, 1517 yds, 41.0 avg
Second-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown Stats
Femi Ayi Delaware DL So. 6-0 243 Nashua, NH 14 UT, 18 AT, 32 TT, 5 sacksUlrick Edmonds James Madison DL Sr. 6-0 265 Blackstone, VA 26 UT, 23 AT, 49 TT, 2.5 sacksChris Stahl William & Mary DL Jr. 6-3 245 Norfolk, VA 34 UT, 29 AT, 63 TT, 1.5 sacksFearon Wright Rhode Island DL Sr. 6-2 235 Jersey City, NJ 44 UT, 33 AT, 77 TT, 7 sacksTodd Greineder William & Mary LB Sr. 6-2 240 Lancaster, PA 66 UT, 66 AT, 132 TT, 0.5 sacksMac Janney Richmond LB Sr. 6-2 235 Richmond, VA 43 UT, 25 AT, 68 TT, 5.5 sacksDerrick Lloyd James Madison LB Jr. 6-0 235 Charlotte, NC 60 UT, 41 AT, 101 TT, 1.5 sacksDan Mulhern Delaware LB So. 6-2 215 Wallingford, PA 56 UT, 53 AT, 109 TT, 1 sacksJimmy Cerminaro William & Mary DB Sr. 6-1 195 Pottstown, PA 57 UT, 60 AT, 117 TTMark Coates James Madison DB Sr. 5-11 180 Landover, MD 26 UT, 6 AT, 32 TT, 2 INTMike Furline Delaware DB Sr. 6-1 190 Roosevelt, NY 22 UT, 27 AT, 49 TT, 6 INTLance Small Rhode Island DB Jr. 5-11 185 Middletown, RI 54 UT, 35 AT, 89, 3 INTChris Steiner Delaware P So. 6-5 240 Moorestown, NJ 52 punts, 2101 yds, 40.4 avg
Third-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown Stats
Marc Hayes Rhode Island DL So. 6-0 285 Hyattsville, MD 41 UT, 34 AT, 75 TT, 2 sacksDavid LewandoskiRichmond DL Sr. 6-4 245 Fairfax, VA 14 UT, 10 AT, 24 TT, 4 sacksDan Schneider Massachusetts DL Sr. 6-4 255 Fitchburg, MA 18 UT, 28 AT, 46 TT, 4 sacksKwesi Solomon Villanova DL Jr. 6-3 270 Philadelphia, PA 30 UT, 27 AT, 57 TT, 5.5 sacksDarrell Edmonds Delaware LB Jr. 6-0 219 Egg Harbor, NJ 42 UT, 25 AT, 67 TT, 1 INTPaul Picciotti Rhode Island LB Jr. 6-2 230 Chalfont, PA 57 UT, 38 AT, 95 TTMark Thompson Richmond LB So. 6-2 220 Fayetteville, NC 50 UT, 32 AT, 82 TT, 2 sacksMohammed YoussofiWilliam & Mary LB Jr. 6-1 210 Virgina Beach, VA 58 UT, 49 AT, 107 TT, 2 sacksChad Blackstock Richmond DB Jr. 6-0 200 Ridgeway, VA 43 UT, 25 AT, 68 TT, 1 INTHarold Hill Richmond DB Sr. 5-7 170 Voorhees, NJ 26 UT, 16 AT, 42 TTEric Mitchell New Hampshire DB Sr. 6-0 196 Atco, NJ 39 UT, 47 AT, 86 TT, 3 INTMarc Zlotek Rhode Island DB So. 6-1 180 Plymouth, PA 47 UT, 21 AT, 68 TT, 2 INTChris Birch Villanova P Jr. 6-2 185 New London, PA 45 punts, 1784 yds, 39.6 avg
Offensive Player of the Year: Brian Westbrook, VillanovaRookie of the Year: Rich Musinski, William & MaryDefensive Player of the Year: Brian McKenna, DelawareCoach of the Year: Jim Reid, Richmond
