Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008: Part IV -- Monte Cozzens Award (6 of 6)

Jake Sharp vs KSU / photo: annependleton.comJake Sharp

• 186 rushes
• 866 yards
• 4.6 ypc
• 12 rushing TDs
• 25 receptions
• 283 yards
• 1 TD reception

Okay, so I went a little overboard with six Cozzens Award winners for 2008. I guess that just shows how many players we have on this squad that are out there playing tough football. Mark Mangino is gettting through to these guys.

In the case of Jake Sharp, I still think he can be a better running back, but 866 yards in his first season as the feature back isn't too bad considering that we were training two new tackles. For me though, Jake Sharp sealed up a spot on this list based on the fact that he geared up and gave his best against Mizzou despite bruised ribs. We've all watched the game over and over and you can see that he is really hurting in the fourth quarter. Hardcore.

The Mizzou game might be the example, but really his toughness has been on display his entire career and I really liked the way he kept fighting this season despite some real struggles with the running game in the first half of the year. With maybe a few more guys helping out in and solid tackle play, I'd say that relentless attittude should mean Sharp will put up big numbers in 2009.

Cozzen's Award Winners--The Complete List:
1997 Ron Warner
1998 Patrick Brown
1999 Carl Nesmith, Chad Coellner
2001 Algie Atkinson
2002 Marcus Rodgers
2003 Bill Whittemore, Gabe Toomey
2004 Charles Gordon, Nick Reid, John Randle
2005 Charlton Keith, Jon Cornish, Banks Floodman, Mark Simmons
2006 Jon Cornish
2007 Todd Reesing, Anthony Collins, James McClinton, Brandon McAnderson, Aqib Talib
2008 Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, Darrell Stuckey, James Holt, Jake Sharp

Awards Schedule
Tuesday -- Part I: Play of the Year
Wednesday -- Part II: Wes Welker Award
Thursday -- Part III: Blog Awards
Friday -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Photo Credit: annependleton.com

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008: Part IV - Monte Cozzens Awards (5 of 6)

James Holt

• 105 tackles
• 19.5 tackles for loss
• 10 sacks
• 1 interception
• 1 pass breakup
• 6 forced fumbles
• 2 fumble recoveries

As we kicked off the final season of Mangino's Linebackers 2.0, I'm not sure anyone envisioned that James Holt would become the star of the trio. Injuries to both Mike Rivera and Joe Mortenson meant that Holt had to step up and by the end of the season it seemed like James was all over the field, snuffing out opponent attempts to run wide. Throw in the fact that midway through the season he filled a critical need when he started lining up as a defensive end in passing situations. Not only did he collect 10 sacks, he had an explosiveness from the edge that did just enough to disrupt precision passing attacks.

The other thing I find interesting about Holt is that he just quietly dominated. He always seemed to be in the background on this defense, but there he was -- always making tackles. Not a lot flash, just make the play and move onto the next one. Sort of the exact definition of a Cozzens Award winner.

Cozzen's Award Winners--The Complete List:
1997 Ron Warner
1998 Patrick Brown
1999 Carl Nesmith, Chad Coellner
2001 Algie Atkinson
2002 Marcus Rodgers
2003 Bill Whittemore, Gabe Toomey
2004 Charles Gordon, Nick Reid, John Randle
2005 Charlton Keith, Jon Cornish, Banks Floodman, Mark Simmons
2006 Jon Cornish
2007 Todd Reesing, Anthony Collins, James McClinton, Brandon McAnderson, Aqib Talib
2008 Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, Darrell Stuckey, James Holt, ???

Awards Schedule
Tuesday -- Part I: Play of the Year
Wednesday -- Part II: Wes Welker Award
Thursday -- Part III: Blog Awards
Friday -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Photo Credit: annependleton.com

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008: Part IV -- Monte Cozzens Award (4 of 6)

Darrell Stuckey

• 98 tackles
• 4.5 tackles for loss
• 5 interceptions
• 2 forced fumbles
• 1 fumble recovery

Darrell Stuckey was definitely the first player to earn his Cozzens Award this year. He was also the second player. Everything you need to know about Darrell as a football player you saw when he ran down Phillip Livas in the Louisiana Tech game to the deny the speedster a long touchdown run. In case you had spilled your Coke and missed the play or something, he backed it up on the next play by exploding through the line of scrimmage to knock Tech's running back down for a loss. It forced a field goal that was missed and the KU 'D' preserved a shutout.

Pride, talent, hard work and a desire to win. Darrell gave it his all this year. That's the kind of thing you love to see. For young football players, I think it's hard to have the perspective that your college career is really a fleeting moment. Everybody puts a different level of commitment into the game. You've got classes and maybe a social life. You can do the required weightlifting and training. Work hard in practice. But how many players are going to that next level? You know, the Lance Armstrong level. Treating your body as an engine and just taking one season to run perfect and pure. And you're doing it not to get to the NFL, but just to see how good you can play, to leave nothing to chance, to look back and say I truly gave it everything. I think Darrell Stuckey probably feels comfortable in that category.

The Tech play was really just a slice. Darrell did it all year. It's not like he didn't ever get beat or miss a tackle, but he played hard every down and then it really came together in Kansas City as he personally tormented Chase Daniel for three hours. The tomahawk chop and recovery, plus the two interceptions. What more can you say? If you want to know what it means to be a Jayhawk football player, watch a highlight video of Darrell Stuckey.

Cozzens Award Winners--The Complete List:
1997 Ron Warner
1998 Patrick Brown
1999 Carl Nesmith, Chad Coellner
2001 Algie Atkinson
2002 Marcus Rodgers
2003 Bill Whittemore, Gabe Toomey
2004 Charles Gordon, Nick Reid, John Randle
2005 Charlton Keith, Jon Cornish, Banks Floodman, Mark Simmons
2006 Jon Cornish
2007 Todd Reesing, Anthony Collins, James McClinton, Brandon McAnderson, Aqib Talib
2008 Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, Darrell Stuckey, ???, ???

Awards Schedule
Part I: Play of the Year
Part II: Wes Welker Award
Part III: Blog Awards
Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Photo Credit: annependleton.com

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008 -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Awards (3 of 6)

Photo Credit: annependleton.comDezmon Briscoe

• 92 catches
• 1407 yards (school record)
• 15.3 ave
• 15 TDs (school record)

Let's face it, you knew Dezmon Briscoe could be a special player when he caught that first touchdown against Central Michigan back in 2007. It happened in the north endzone, right in front of the student section. As Briscoe left himself prone to gather in the ball along the endzone sideline, a CMU defender layed him flat. Dezmon held onto the ball and KU fans knew the true freshman was a new kind of talent.

He blew open his legacy when he took the wide receiver screen to the house against Kansas State in Manhattan a month later. That got him a nice spread photo in Sports Illustrated. He was part of a talented wide receiver arsenal and a key component for the Jayhawks in that magical 2007 season. However, with the graduation of Marcus Henry and an early season injury to Dexton Fields in 2008, all of the sudden Dezmon became the top threat and the top target for opposing defenses. Sure, he was making big plays againt LA Tech and FIU, but we didn't see much out of him against USF. That didn't last long though as Briscoe stepped up in Big 12 play. He had a huge game against OU with 269 yards and two TDs on 12 catches. We saw his toughness and desire to win in the Border War. He hauled in nine receptions for 115 yards and his kickoff returns turned a KU weakness into a huge positive that day.

In the bowl game, we saw what he could do against a mid-level team (really in one play). He tied Kerry Meier's brand new school record of 14 catches in a game. In the final analysis, he's the future Mangino/KU football model player -- a perfect blend of real talent and a team first/sawing wood attitude.

Cozzen's Award Winners--The Complete List:
1997 Ron Warner
1998 Patrick Brown
1999 Carl Nesmith, Chad Coellner
2001 Algie Atkinson
2002 Marcus Rodgers
2003 Bill Whittemore, Gabe Toomey
2004 Charles Gordon, Nick Reid, John Randle
2005 Charlton Keith, Jon Cornish, Banks Floodman, Mark Simmons
2006 Jon Cornish
2007 Todd Reesing, Anthony Collins, James McClinton, Brandon McAnderson, Aqib Talib
2008 Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, ???, ???, ???

Awards Schedule
Part I: Play of the Year
Part II: Wes Welker Award
Part III: Blog Awards
Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Photo Credit: annependleton.com

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008: Part IV -- Monte Cozzens Award (2 of 5)

Photo Credit: http://annependleton.comTodd Reesing

• 329 completions
• 495 attempts
• 3,888 yards
• 32 touchdown passes
• 66.5% completion percentage
• 148.53 QB rating

The kid who answered the question, "What if we had a great quarterback on this team?" Todd did as much to change the attitude of KU football as Mark Mangino and fittingly so, he becomes the first two-time winner of this award. What I like about Todd Reesing this year is I think he learned a lot. Teams had an offseason to study him and hone in on making him do what he doesn't like to do. He lost some pretty good components from the 2007 team and there were some rough moments in 2008. Against Texas, I saw Todd as frustrated as I had ever seen him. He didn't go into full meltdown prima donna mode though and embarrass the university with displays of poor sportsmanship. Instead he came out swinging against Mizzou and looked like the gunslinger that he's always been. Here's to Todd keeping his mojo through the 2009 season and making a run at something great. And not because, I need to see KU win more games or a north championship, but because I like the way he approaches life and the game (like a lot of his teammates) and you like to see that example succeed. Well, maybe a little bit because I need a north championship.

Cozzen's Award Winners--The Complete List:
1997 Ron Warner
1998 Patrick Brown
1999 Carl Nesmith, Chad Coellner
2001 Algie Atkinson
2002 Marcus Rodgers
2003 Bill Whittemore, Gabe Toomey
2004 Charles Gordon, Nick Reid, John Randle
2005 Charlton Keith, Jon Cornish, Banks Floodman, Mark Simmons
2006 Jon Cornish
2007 Todd Reesing, Anthony Collins, James McClinton, Brandon McAnderson, Aqib Talib
2008 Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing, ???, ???, ???

Awards Schedule
Tuesday -- Part I: Play of the Year
Wednesday -- Part II: Wes Welker Award
Thursday -- Part III: Blog Awards
Friday -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Photo Credit: annependleton.com

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008 -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award (1 of 5)

Photo Credit: annependleton.comThis award started long before Hawk Digest (see below). I always singled out the KU football player or players that played hard no matter what each season -- the guys that delivered. In other words a list of my favorite players. Sometimes you can earn it on one play. And that is what Monte Cozzen's TD run against Oklahoma in 1992, hence the name of the award. It's gotten tougher the last few years, because nearly all of Mangino's players emulate that spirit. Still, I like to highlight a few players and for 2008 I have selected five players. I want to spend some time on each one, so these will roll out one post at a time. First up is Mr. Jayhawk himself:

Kerry Meier

The Stats:
97 receptions (KU record)
1045 yards
8 TDs

You really can't put into words what Kerry Meier is and has done for this team. He's the story you dream up in the backyard as a kid when you had your KU football jersey on and were throwing the football at trees and trash cans in the backyard in an imaginary march to a Big 8 Championship for the scrappy Jayhawks. For anyone who's been to a practice or a spring game, here's a fact -- Kerry Meier is a damn good quarterback. People will pin an up-and-down performance on him for the 2006 season, but he had a bad shoulder and was still getting some experience with very young overall Jayhawk squad. Nope, if you understand football, you know he can quarterback. I can name five teams in the north that would have an improved outlook for 2009, if he was on their roster. However, it just so happens we have another great quarterback at KU and he edged out Kerry for that job prior to the 2007 season. We all know the story. He was definitely down about losing the job, but pushed ahead and later in the season asked to play wide receiver. Really, he was instantly solid and the best hands on the team. The season was a great ride for everyone and merited an SI cover for Kerry. As the Orange Bowl win sunk in, there was a lot of talk about "just getting started." You can certainly say that Kerry Meier did the work in the offseason to get better. We all know the stats, we've seen the catch 1,000 times and know that he collected a team-record 14 receptions that day while playing on one leg (the legend will grow to a broken leg and maybe a leather helmet as I grow older). Now he wants a championship. How could I possibly doubt him? I leave you with this quote from current issue of the KU Alumni Association magazine:

"I came here to be a Jayhawk, I'm always going to be a Jayhawk, I'm leaving here a Jayhawk."

Note: I know I've already mentioned this, but when I started Todd Reesing over Kerry Meier in 2007 on the old X-Box, Kerry transferred at the end of the year. That's one thing that's not in the game -- Kerry Meier's heart. Keep trying EA. Also, I was depressed for about two days.

Cozzen's Award Winners--The Complete List:
1997 Ron Warner
1998 Patrick Brown
1999 Carl Nesmith, Chad Coellner
2001 Algie Atkinson
2002 Marcus Rodgers
2003 Bill Whittemore, Gabe Toomey
2004 Charles Gordon, Nick Reid, John Randle
2005 Charlton Keith, Jon Cornish, Banks Floodman, Mark Simmons
2006 Jon Cornish
2007 Todd Reesing, Anthony Collins, James McClinton, Brandon McAnderson, Aqib Talib
2008 Kerry Meier, ???, ???, ???, ???

Awards Schedule
Tuesday -- Part I: Play of the Year
Wednesday -- Part II: Wes Welker Award
Thursday -- Part III: Blog Awards
Friday -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Awards

Photo Credit: annependleton.com

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008: Part III -- Blog Awards

College Football Blog of the Year

Rock Chalk Talk

This category was called opponent blog of the year for the first two years. The reality is with five/six real KU blogs out there now (consolidation?), I don't read the opponent blogs often enough to go outside of the Jayhawk arena for this award. This was a close race between KJ-IBT and Rock Chalk Talk. Both blogs set a new standard by providing interesting interview pieces. I gave RCT the edge due to the denverjhawk recruiting interviews. That kind of content rivals anything out there and frankly makes my efforts here look pretty weak. The landscape is interesting and always changing on this scene and I can't wait to see how it all turns out. Inside of the SBNation structure, RCT is becoming a legitimate force. However, now with The Shiver on the scene, it looks to be serious battle for that number one slot for KU sports blog sites. It'll be interesting to see how the standalones can hold up against a network blog.

Question: Did you like KJ-IBT better when it was KF-IBT?

As for the previous winners, I still enjoy DXP for the photography and of course, BearMeat really set the standard for college sports blogging. No blog since has even come close to emulating the BearMeat style.

2007: Double Extra Point - Nebraska
2006: BearMeat - Baylor (RIP)

Blog Post of the Year

KJIBT -- It's Business Time B*tches

I had to look through a lot of mullet photos to find that post.

2007: Double Extra Point Surrender
2006: BearMeat's Comparison of the SWC and The Goonies

HD Blog Post of the Year

MU Fun With Real Movie Quotes by ROWYHO
You really just can't go wrong with this type of post

Big 12 YouTube Video of the Year




Honorable Mention: The Texas A&M video on Kansas State with a student posing as Jon Wefald (I can't find the link anywhere and I'm actually not sure that it came out in 2008, but I saw it in 2008).

Awards Schedule
Tuesday -- Part I: Play of the Year
Wednesday -- Part II: Wes Welker Award
Thursday -- Part III: Blog Awards
Friday -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008 -- Part II: Wes Welker Award

Wes Welker AwardHarrell vs MU / Creative Commons - eagle102.net
(Heisman-like performance by an opponent at Memorial Stadium)

2008: Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
Five TDs on 34 of 42 passing for 386 yards and a 63-21 win. That ought to do it.

Runner up: Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech (9 catches, 70 yards, 2 TDs)

Previous winners
2007: Joe Ganz, Nebraska, 4 TDs and 405 yards passing / KU 76, NU 39
2006: Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma St, 13 receptions, 300 yards, 4 TDs / OSU 42, KU 32

Awards Schedule
Tuesday -- Part I: Play of the Year
Wednesday -- Part II: Wes Welker Award
Thursday -- Part III: Blog Awards
Friday -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Photo credit link: eagle102.net

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2008: Part I - Play of the Year

Since the football team will have their awards ceremony on Saturday night, there's no better week to crank out the Hawk Digest Annual Awards.

Play of the Year (decade?)

Todd Reesing to Kerry Meier for the win

Honorable mention

Darrell Stuckey runs down LA Tech's Phillip Livas

Todd Reesing bounce back TD pass to Kerry Meier vs NU

Laptad's Safety versus MU

Phillip Strozier blocks MU's attempt to tie (at the 4:31 mark)

Reesing to Meier to Briscoe (Insight Bowl)

Reesing dances/eludes SHSU, connects with Briscoe

Dezmon Briscoe amazing catch versus Texas

Previous Winners
2007: Aqib Talib Pick Six in the Orange Bowl
2006: Todd Reesing 63-yard run vs Colorado

Awards Schedule
Today -- Part I: Play of the Year
Wednesday -- Part II: Wes Welker Award
Thursday -- Part III: Blog Awards
Friday -- Part IV: Monte Cozzens Award

Hawk Digest Annual Awards 2007: Part I -- Laundry List

The Hawk Digest Annual Awards have grown a bit, so I thought I'd break it into two posts. I'll announce the Monte Cozzens' Award Winner(s) tomorrow, and focus on the longer list today. The list of previous Cozzens' Award winners is at the bottom of today's post.

Play of the Year

Aqib Talib pick six vs Virginia Tech (YouTube Link)
A simple, direct message repeated one final time for the nation -- KU is for real

Runner up: Reesing 60-yard run against CU, Jake Sharp first TD in Manhattan, Dez TD in Manhattan (SI spread), Fourth & 1 vs the J-Train, Talib 103-yard INT return, Mortenson FG block vs VT, Marcus Henry catch and run vs OSU, Reesing (Flutie Comparison) escape and completion vs OSU, Webb stutter-step 48-yarder vs CU and it goes on
Last year: Todd Reesing 63-yard run vs Colorado

Wes Welker Award

Heisman-like performance by an opponent at Memorial Stadium

2007 Joe Ganz, Nebraska
Four TDs, 405 yards passing and 39 points against the Blue Steel defense pretty much says it all. Too bad about the four interceptions.

Runner up: Maurice Purify (7 catches, 158 yards, 3 TDs)
Previous winner: 2006 Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma St

Opponent Blog of the Year

Double Extra Point - Nebraska
Not just great photos of scantily clad college girls, the humor at DXP is right on target -- especially during a rough year.
Last year: BearMeat - Baylor (RIP)

Blog Post of the Year

Double Extra Point Surrender
This was after or maybe during the Missouri game. Hey man, I feel your pain.

Last year: BearMeat's Comparison of the SWC and The Goonies

HD Blog Post of the Year

Undefeated Lives Here
I got compliments on this one -- so it was the easy choice. The paint is starting to fade on the garage floor, but my wife and I were talking about the need to freshen it up due to the basketball team.

Big 12 YouTube Video of the Year

The language in this video and at least one of the Honorable Mention videos is ... well, profanity laced. You have to stick with the Katie video all the way through -- the best is toward the end. For further analysis, check out the Midwest Coast Bias post that originally tipped this one off.

Honorable Mention: 40-year-old Man with Children; Mangino's Hot Dog Rant, Don't Forget Your Power Towel, KSU Seizure Video, The Other KSU Seizure Video

Cozzen's Award Winners

(2007 Winner announced tomorrow)

1997 Ron Warner
1998 Patrick Brown
1999 Carl Nesmith, Chad Coellner
2001 Algie Atkinson
2002 Marcus Rodgers
2003 Bill Whittemore, Gabe Toomey
2004 Charles Gordon, Nick Reid, John Randle
2005 Charlton Keith, Jon Cornish, Banks Floodman, Mark Simmons
2006 Jon Cornish