The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football awards banquet celebrates the roses
12.11.2005 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Rose Bowl-bound Texas Longhorns football team took Friday night to honor some of its own for their contributions on the field, as well as in the classroom and the community.
In his final annual football banquet address as UT's president, Larry Faulkner spoke about his pride for the success of Texas' Men's Athletic programs this year. He noted an old saying, "Texas braggin' ain't braggin' if you can back it up."
The theme for this year's Rose Parade, and therefore the match-up between Texas and Southern California, was revealed. "It's Magical," will be this year's official theme. Head Coach Mack Brown was presented with a t-shirt displaying the official logo developed by GSD&M.
Though three of the team's prominent leaders, Vince Young, Rod Wright and Michael Huff, were unable to attend due to national award ceremony obligations, the three were honored with some of the most prestigious awards of the night. Vince Young, who was in New York awaiting Saturday's Heisman announcement, was named the recipient of the George "Hook" McCullough Award for team MVP, as well as the Darrell K Royal Most Valuable Offensive Player Award. Both awards were voted upon by Texas players.
Wright, a senior, was named one of the Outstanding Defensive Linemen, along with senior Larry Dibbles. He also wracked up plaques for the Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Strength & Conditioning Award, as well as Team Captain Honors. Michael Huff shared the Outstanding Defensive Backs honor with fellow senior Cedric Griffin, in addition to winning the Mike Campbell Most Valuable Defensive Player award.
Four Texas players were named official 2005 team captains, Rod Wright, David Thomas, Ahmard Hall, and Vince Young.
Thomas, a senior, spent most of his night on the stage accepting awards. He took home the Lan Hewlett Academic Award with senior Karim Meijer, the Coca-Cola Community Service Award, and shared the Most Consistent Offensive Player award with Vince Young.
Each position group also awarded its outstanding players with honors. For the second year in a row, junior Vince Young was named the Outstanding Quarterback. Thomas took Outstanding Tight End honors, while the Outstanding Wide Receivers were sophomores Billy Pittman and Limas Sweed. Widely considered one of the best offensive lines in the country, seniors Jonathan Scott, Will Allen and Mike Garcia, as well as Juniors Kasey Studdard, Justin Blalock and Lyle Sendlein were named the Outstanding Offensive Linemen. This year's Outstanding Offensive Newcomer Awards were given to freshmen Jamaal Charles and Quan Cosby. The annual Clyde Littlefield Outstanding Offensive Backs award went to the trio of Charles, junior Selvin Young and sophomore Ramonce Taylor.
Defensively, junior Tim Crowder and senior Brian Robison were named the Outstanding Defensive Linemen. The Outstanding linebacker was senior Aaron Harris, and sophomore LB Robert Killebrew took the Outstanding Defensive Newcomer award. Juniors CBs Tarell Brown and Aaron Ross were awarded with Most Consistent Defensive Player honors.
One of the night's official sponsors, Lowe's, honored the Most Improved Players on each side of the ball. Offensively, the award went to senior Brian Carter, junior Neale Tweedie and sophomore Tony Hills. Michael Griffin owned the honor for the defense.
Ten "Whatever It Takes" awards were also named on the night. Honorees included seniors Nick Schroeder, David Pino, Richmond McGee, Will Winston, sophomores Frank Okam, Drew Kelson, Tyrell Gatewood, Nathan Jones, and redshirt freshmen Brian Orakpo and Rashad Bobino.
The entire 2005 Texas Football team was honored with the Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Strength & Conditioning award, and the members of the 2005 Senior Class were named recipients of the Roy Williams-Joe Jamail Leadership Award.
Other honorees included senior QB Matt Nordgren, who won the Longhorn Club Sportsmanship award. For their Leadership, senior Will Allen and junior Selvin Young received the D. Harold Byrd Leadership Award. Junior DT Tully Janszen was given the Frank Medina Rehabilitation Award presented by Pacificare for returning to this year's lineup following a 2004 knee injury.
The Joseph W. Moore Award for Tenacity went to fiery Studdard and Killebrew. Hills pulled in the American Airlines DX Bible Most Team Spirited award, and junior S Micahel Griffin was honored as the Frank Denius Most Valuable Special Teams Player.
Football Banquet 2005 Coaches Choice Awards
Lan Hewlett Academic Award
Karim Meijer, David Thomas
*Coca-Cola Community Service Award
David Thomas
Outstanding Tight End
David Thomas
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Nick Schroeder
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
David Pino
Longhorn Club Sportsmanship
Matt Nordgren
Outstanding Defensive Newcomer
Robert Killebrew
Joseph W. Moore Award for Tenacity
Kasey Studdard
Robert Killebrew
Outstanding Offensive Linemen
Jonathan Scott
Kasey Studdard
Lyle Sendlein
Will Allen
Justin Blalock
Mike Garcia
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Richmond McGee
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Frank Okam
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Will Winston
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Drew Kelson
Outstanding Defensive Ends
Tim Crowder
Brian Robison
Outstanding Linebacker
Aaron Harris
Frank Medina Rehabilitation Award presented by Pacificare
Tully Janszen
Outstanding Defensive Linemen
Rod Wright
Larry Dibbles
Outstanding Wide Receiver
Billy Pittman
Limas Sweed
Most Consistent Defensive Player
Aaron Ross
Tarell Brown
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Brian Orakpo
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Rashad Bobino
Outstanding Offensive Newcomer
Jamaal Charles
Quan Cosby
Clyde Littlefield Outstanding Offensive Backs
Selvin Young
RamonceTaylor
Jamaal Charles
D. Harold Byrd Leadership Award
Will Allen
Selvin Young
Lowe's Most Improved Offensive Player
Tony Hills
Brian Carter
Neale Tweedie
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Tyrell Gatewood
Whatever It Takes (W.I.T.) Award
Nathan Jones
Lowe's Most Improved Defensive Player
Michael Griffin
Outstanding Defensive Backs
Michael Huff
Cedric Griffin
Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Strength & Conditioning Award
2005 Football Team
Most Consistent Offensive Players
David Thomas
Vince Young
Outstanding Quarterback
Vince Young
2005 Football Players' Choice Awards
American Airlines DX Bible Most Team Spirit
Tony Hills
Frank Denius Most Valuable Special Teams Player
Michael Griffin
Mike Campbell Most Valuable Defensive Player
Michael Huff
Darrell K Royal Most Valuable Offensive Player
Vince Young
George "Hook" McCullough MVP
Vince Young
Roy Williams-Joe Jamail Leadership Award
2005 Senior Class
Team Captains Award
Rod Wright
David Thomas
Ahmard Hall
Vince Young
