Football Cards Hand Out Postseason Awards at Annual Banquet
January 20, 2001 | Football
Jan. 20, 2001
LOUISVILLE, KY -- University of Louisville wide receiver Deion Branch concluded his first season as a Cardinal taking home the team's most valuable player and offensive player of the year award from the program's annual post-season banquet.
A first-team all-Conference USA choice for the 9-3 Cardinals, Branch led all U of L receivers with 71 catches for 1,016 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Albany, Ga. native wrapped up his standout campaign catching a game-high 10 passes for 170 yards and a score in the Cardinals' loss at the AXA Liberty Bowl. His 170-yard afternoon earned him U of L's offensive player of the game honors and set a Liberty Bowl mark for receiving yards.
Senior linebacker Rashad Harris capped his collegiate career earning the team's defensive player of the year award. A native of Huntsville, Ala., Harris topped U of L with 105 tackles in 2000 and finished his career among the program's all-time top 10 tacklers with 346 career stops.
Harris along with fellow seniors Donovan Arp, Jason Padget and Arnold Jackson were officially retired as permanent team captains after helping the Cardinals to their third consecutive post-season appearance.
Sophomore safety Curry Burns was selected as the Cards' special teams player of the year after his standout effort on virtually every U of L specialty squad.
Senior defensive tackle Derrick Kennedy was voted the team's most inspirational player after the Bowling Green, Ky., native returned from a medical redshirt to play in all 12 contests for the Cards.
Seniors Rashad Holman and Joe O'Shaughnessy were recognized with the Coaches' Award for their respective sides of the football.
A three-year starter at cornerback, Holman was a second-team all-C-USA selection after picking off six passes and breaking up a school record 20 throws in 2000.
O'Shaughnessy started the final 28 games of his collegiate career at offensive guard and was tabbed by C-USA coaches and media as a second-team all-league choice in 2000.
Graduating senior defensive end Matt Sexton was presented with the Frank Camp Scholar Athlete Award while junior running back Tony Stallings earned the Kroger Community Service Award for his work in the Cards Care program and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
-- 30 --
