Feb. 19, 2010
ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The annual Naval Academy football banquet was held Friday evening at Alumni Hall where several prestigious awards were handed out. The 2009 football season was one to remember for the Midshipmen, tying a school record for wins with 10, winning a school-record seventh-consecutive Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, appearing in a school-record seventh-consecutive bowl game and running their winning streak against the other two Service Academies to an amazing 15 straight.
Senior linebacker Ross Pospisil (Temple, Texas) won the E.E. "Rip" Miller Award, which is presented to the season's most valuable player as voted on by his teammates. Pospisil, the defensive team captain, led the Navy defense with 107 tackles, 29 more than his next closest teammate. He also tied for the team lead in tackles for a loss with 8.5, was second on the team in sacks with four, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and picked off a pass in the Texas Bowl. Pospisil and his defensive teammates did not allow a touchdown to either Service Academy foe this year. He recorded 14 tackles against Pitt, 12, including a tackle for a loss, against Air Force and 11 tackles against Delaware.
Pospisil was also named the winner of the Roger Staubach Award, which is presented to the Navy varsity football player of the graduating class who has contributed the most to the team's success over his playing career. Pospisil, who started 31 games over three years including the final 29 contests, recorded 280 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and four interceptions. He helped lead Navy to a 26-14 record over those three seasons, three bowl games, a Texas Bowl Championship, three Commander-In-Chief's Trophies and two victories over Notre Dame. In Pospisil's three years at linebacker, the defense never allowed a touchdown against Army.
Senior slot back Bobby Doyle (Chardon, Ohio) earned the Joe Bellino Award, which is presented to the Navy varsity football player of the graduating class who is the leading ground gainer over his playing career, and the Napoleon McCallum Award, which is presented to the Navy varsity football player of the graduating class who has gained the most all-purpose yards in his career. Nicknamed "Big Play Bobby," Doyle finished his career with 303 yards rushing and one touchdown on just 44 carries for an average of 6.9 yards per carry. He caught 12 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns for an average of 21.0 yards per catch and completed his only pass attempt for five yards and a touchdown. He caught a career-high three passes for 71 yards against Western Kentucky last fall and caught a touchdown pass in Navy's win over Missouri in the Texas Bowl.
The First Lieutenant Ron Winchester Unsung Hero Award, which is presented to an unheralded senior recognized as an over achiever and role model as selected by a vote of his teammates, was presented to defensive end Cameron Marshall (Broomfield, Colo.). Marshall was a valuable member of Navy's special teams unit, playing in all 14 contests. He is a prior enlisted Marine that was an inspirational leader on the team. Marshall served four years in the United States Marine Corps and earned the rank of Sergeant before enrolling at the Naval Academy Prep School in 2005. Marshall was decorated with the Navy Achievement Medal (2nd with "V") and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Senior defensive end Michael Walsh (Newtown, Pa.) was awarded the George Fritzinger Memorial Award, presented annually to a member of the graduating class who as a football interior lineman has excelled as a student-athlete and has contributed to the overall team leadership and spirit. Walsh played in all 14 contests and made three starts in 2009 after missing most of 2008 with a severe injury to the big toe on his right foot. He finished the year with 18 tackles, including 1.5 sacks. He concluded his career with 85 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles.
Senior outside linebacker Craig Schaefer (Fairfax, Va.) took home the Jeffrey R. Korn Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award, established by Jeff's parents, Dr. and Mrs. Ronald D. Korn, in memory of their son, a member of the Class of 1983. The award is given annually to the First Classman on the team who has demonstrated excellence both in the classroom and on the football field. Schaefer might have been the most improved player in 2009, playing in all 14 contests and starting six games. He led the team with six sacks and tied with Pospisil for the team lead in tackles for a loss with 8.5. He finished the year with 53 tackles. Schaefer recorded nine tackles, including a sack of Jimmy Clausen in the end zone in the final minutes that gave Navy a nine-point lead in its 23-21 upset of Notre Dame, and had eight tackles, three tackles for a loss and a sack in Navy's 35-13 thrashing of Missouri in the Texas Bowl.
Senior slot back Cory Finnerty (Ventura, Calif.) was the recipient of the Cmdr. Ralph Sentmann Award, which honors the member of the graduating class from the varsity football team who has achieved the greatest increase in class standing from Plebe year until First Class year. Finnerty finished his career with 147 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just 25 carries (5.9 yards per carry) and caught 10 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown (9.4 yards per catch). He rushed for a career-high 31 yards on five carries in Navy's victory over Missouri in the Texas Bowl.
Freshman slot back John Howell (Hatfield, Pa.) was awarded the Collins/Roos Class of 1949 Junior Varsity MVP Award, presented annually to the most valuable player on the junior varsity football team as chosen by a vote of his teammates. Howell was the leading rusher for the JV team last fall and will be a candidate for playing time next fall at slot back.
Also recognized on Friday night were Pospisil for receiving the Annapolis Touchdown Club Silver Helmet Award as Navy's Most Valuable Player and for being named Academic All-District, junior kicker Joe Buckley (Doylestown, Pa.) and junior safety Wyatt Middleton (Norcross, Ga.) for being named First-Team All-East, sophomore tackle John Dowd (Staten Island, N.Y.) for being named a Third-Team Academic-All American, Buckley for winning the Ben Martin Navy-Air Force Most Valuable Player Award and junior quarterback Ricky Dobbs (Douglasville, Ga.) for winning the Washington, DC Pigskin Club Metropolitan College Player of the Year, the Philadelphia Sportswriters Army-Navy Most Valuable Player Award and the Texas Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.
