Rogers Named MVP At 2002 Spartan Football Awards Show
11/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 25, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior wide receiver Charles Rogers, who caught a school-record 68 passes for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2002, was named Most Valuable Player by his teammates at the Spartan Football Awards Show Monday, Nov. 24 at the Wharton Center. Rogers became the first offensive player to earn the Governor's Award as team MVP since tailback Duane Goulbourne in 1996.
Rogers, who has been named one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, led the Big Ten in receiving yards (112.6 per game) and TD receptions while ranking second in receptions (5.67 per game) during the regular season. He completed the regular season ranked among the NCAA leaders in receiving yards (eighth) and receptions (t-26th). Fifty-seven of his 68 receptions (84 percent) resulted in first downs.
With his 21-yard TD reception in the second quarter vs. Northwestern, Rogers set both NCAA and Big Ten records by catching a TD pass in his 13th-consecutive regular-season game and his 14th-straight game overall. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver from Saginaw, Mich., had six 100-yard receiving games in 2002, including a season-best 175 yards vs. Notre Dame (7 catches).
Strong safety Thomas Wright, who led the Spartans in tackles (126) and interceptions (4), received the Downtown Coaches Club Award as the outstanding senior on defense. Wright finished the regular season ranked second in the Big Ten in tackles (10.5 per game), behind Penn State's Shawn Mayer (11.2). The 6-1, 191-pound safety from Lake Wales, Fla., earned Spartan Defensive Player of the Week honors five times in 2002. Wright posted double figures in tackles in nine games, including a season-high 17 stops vs. Michigan. He scored the first touchdown of his career on a 57-yard interception return in the home finale vs. Purdue.
Wright took home three other pieces of hardware, including the Downtown Coaches Club Award as the outstanding senior on special teams, Amp Campbell/President's Award as the outstanding senior back and Captain's Award.
Flanker BJ Lovett (Belle Glades, Fla.), who had a career-best 33 catches for 383 yards and four TDs in 2002, earned the Downtown Coaches Club Award as the outstanding senior on offense.
Offensive tackle Ulish Booker (West Haven, Conn.) won the Amp Campbell/President's Award as the outstanding senior lineman. Booker started 21 consecutive games at left tackle before suffering a season-ending knee injury at Michigan. He graded out over 90 percent in seven of his nine starts in 2002, including his last six games.
Junior center Brian Ottney (Troy, Mich.) was presented the Up Front Award as the team's outstanding interior offensive lineman. Ottney graded out 90 percent or better in 10 of 12 games in 2002 while producing a team-high 65 pancakes. He became only the second repeat recipient in the 28-year history of the Up Front Award, joining tackle Tony Mandarich who won the trophy three straight years from 1986-88. Ottney also shared the Captain's Award with Wright.
Junior outside linebacker Monquiz Wedlow (Saginaw, Mich.) received the Biggie Munn Award as the team's most inspirational player. Wedlow finished third on the team in tackles with 90, including three sacks (18 yards). He reached double figures in tackles four times in 2002, including a career-high 16 stops vs. Purdue.
Sophomore Damon Dowdell, who started the last five games at quarterback in 2002, won the Danziger Award as the outstanding Detroit-area player. Dowdell completed 92-of-165 throws (.558) for 1,097 yards, 10 TDs and four interceptions. He finished the regular season ranked sixth in the Big Ten in passing efficiency with his 126.8 rating. Dowdell posted back-to-back 200-yard passing games vs. Purdue (season-high 253 yards) and Indiana (203).
Sophomore free safety Jason Harmon (Ironton, Ohio) shared the Outstanding Underclass Back Award with Rogers. Despite missing two games with a sprained ankle, Harmon ranked second on the team in interceptions (3) and fourth in tackles (64).
Sophomore defensive end Clifford Dukes (Lexington Park, Md.), who led the Spartans in sacks (4 for 22 yards) and ranked second in tackles for losses (8.5 for 31), earned the Outstanding Underclass Lineman Award. Dukes matched his career high with nine tackles vs. Notre Dame, including a sack.
Junior offensive guard Joe Tate (Southfield, Mich.) was named the first recipient of the Clarence J. Underwood Jr. Sportsmanship Award. Tate graded out over 90 percent in 10 of 12 games, including his last nine starts. He finished second on the team in pancakes with 58, including a career-best 10 knockdowns vs. Iowa.
Red-shirt freshman free safety Eric Smith (Groveport, Ohio) received the Tommy Love Award as the team's most improved player. Smith started the last five games of the 2002 season and recorded 36 tackles. He earned Spartan Defensive Player of the Week honors after producing a career-high 13 tackles in his first collegiate start vs. Wisconsin.
Sophomore tight end Jason Randall (Muskegon Heights, Mich.) and sophomore outside linebacker Ronald Stanley (Saginaw, Mich.) were co-recipients of the Jim Adams Award as the team's unsung heroes. In 2002, Randall had 20 receptions for 255 yards and three scores while Stanley ranked second on the Spartans in tackles with 99, including a team-best nine for losses (21 yards).
Junior strong safety Jeremiah McLaurin (Saginaw, Mich.) won the Doug Weaver Oil Can Award as the team's top humorist.
Senior offensive guard Paul Harker (Dayton, Ohio) earned the Iron Man Award for his dedication to the team's strength and conditioning program.
Junior defensive lineman Kyle Rasmussen (Hadley, Mich.), who carries a 3.5 grade-point average in engineering arts, was presented the Potsy Ross Award as the team's top scholar-athlete. Rasmussen started the first eight games of the 2002 season at defensive tackle before moving outside to defensive end for the last four games. He led the defensive line in tackles with 49.
Former Spartan All-American Sherman Lewis, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1963, received the Duffy Daugherty Award. The award, named in honor of MSU's legendary head coach, has been presented annually since 1975 to a Spartan football alumnus who has distinguished himself both on and off the field following his graduation. Lewis, who is in his 20th season as an assistant coach in the National Football League, currently serves as a special assistant (offense) with the Detroit Lions.
During his career as a halfback for Michigan State from 1961-63, Lewis helped the Spartans to a combined record of 18-8-1 (.685), including two Top 10 finishes in the United Press International Poll (No. 9 in 1961 and No. 10 in 1963). As a senior, he accounted for 1,189 all-purpose yards and scored eight touchdowns. The Louisville, Ky., native led the team in receptions with 11 for 303 yards (27.5 avg.) and ranked second in rushing with 577 yards on 90 carries (6.4 avg.).
Lewis rushed for 1,566 career yards and scored 23 career TDs. He played four seasons in professional football, including two years in Canada (1964-65) and two seasons with the New York Jets (1966-67). Lewis spent 14 years as an assistant coach at Michigan State (1969-82) before heading to the NFL ranks.
Here's a complete list of awards presented at the 2002 Spartan Football Awards Show:
Jim Adams Award (Unsung Hero): TE Jason Randall and LB Ronald Stanley
Iron Man Award (Strength & Conditioning): OG Paul Harker
Potsy Ross Award (Scholar-Athlete): DL Kyle Rasmussen
Tommy Love Award (Most Improved Player): FS Eric Smith
Clarence J. Underwood Jr. Sportsmanship Award: OG Joe Tate
Outstanding Underclass Lineman Award: DE Clifford Dukes
Outstanding Underclass Back Award: FS Jason Harmon and WR Charles Rogers
Up Front Award (Outstanding Interior Offensive Lineman): C Brian Ottney
Downtown Coaches Club Award (Outstanding Senior Defense): SS Thomas Wright
Downtown Coaches Club Award (Outstanding Senior Offense): WR BJ Lovett
Downtown Coaches Club Award (Outstanding Senior Special Teams): Thomas Wright
Danziger Award (Outstanding Detroit-Area Player): QB Damon Dowdell
Doug Weaver Oil Can Award (Team Humorist): SS Jeremiah McLaurin
Captain's Award: C Brian Ottney and SS Thomas Wright
Biggie Munn Award (Most Inspirational): LB Monquiz Wedlow
Amp Campbell/President's Award (Outstanding Senior Lineman): OT Ulish Booker
Amp Campbell/President's Award (Outstanding Senior Back): SS Thomas Wright
Duffy Daugherty Award (Distinguished Alumnus): Sherman Lewis
Governor's Award (Most Valuable Player): WR Charles Rogers
