Written by BTN.com staffThe Big Ten Conference announced on Wednesday the winners of the top five individual awards for the 2011 football season. Wisconsin’s Montee Ball was named the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year, Penn State’s Devon Still was named the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, and Ohio State’s Braxton Miller was named the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year.
Michigan’s Brady Hoke was named the Hayes-Schembechler and Dave McClain Coach of the Year. The honors are part of the Big Ten’s enhanced football awards program which debuted this season.
Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year: Montee Ball, Wisconsin
Named for Northwestern’s Otto Graham and Ohio State’s Eddie George
Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Devon Still, Penn State
Named for Minnesota’s Bronko Nagurski and Michigan’s Charles Woodson
Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year: Braxton Miller, Ohio State
Named for Minnesota’s Darrell Thompson and Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El
Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote): Brady Hoke, Michigan
Named for Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler
Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote): Brady Hoke, Michigan
Named for Wisconsin’s Dave McClain
Whitney Mercilus of Illinois was absolutely robbed of the Defensive POY award. He had 10 more sacks than Still and 9 more forced fumbles. Still had 4 more tackles, but Mercilus had 2.5 more TFL.
There is no argument you can make for Still having a better season than Mercilus.
You make some good points that are difficult to refute. Mercilus was absolutely dominant. I’m guessing voters went with Still–who had good numbers, too–because he played on a better statistical defense.
What are you going to say & do when Michigan State wins the inaugral B10 championship game. As Spartan Fans we find it hard to comprehend your belief that the world revolves around a Badger, a Skunk Bear, a Cornhusker, a Nitt and a(or should I say) “the” Nut.
GO GREEN!
Myself and other may indeed be wrong with our pick of Wisconsin. I just think the Badgers are the better overall team. MSU’s soft ground game worries me. And I think Wisconsin’s defense is almost as good as MSU’s. Look at the numbers. But MSU is motivated and on a mission to deliver the school’s first Rose Bowl since the 1987 season. Should be a great game!!
I really dislike naming awards after people. In 10 years who will know who these people were? People might remember the awards better if you used their first names, instead of their last names. “Bo-Woody” is better than Hayes-Schembechler. Maybe, “Bronko-Chuck”
I think the names are a bit cumbersome and would have preferred a single name on the trophy. But, I guess it’s all about trying to honor as many people as possible. And I’m OK with that.