Dec. 6, 1997

Vanderlinden Acknowledges Terps At Football Banquet

College Park, Md.-- Head Coach Ron Vanderlinden handed out the 1997 Maryland football awards at the team's annual banquet this evening at the University's Inn and Conference Center. Senior quarterback Brian Cummings, who finished his career on the schools top five list for every major passing category, earned the team's Most Valuable Player award and the offensive MVP.

Cummings posted personal bests in 1997 for yards (1,760), completions (154), attempts (255) touchdown passes (10) and total offense (1,621). For his career, he completed 244 passes on 595 attempts for 4,080 yards as a three-year starter.

True freshman LaMont Jordan, who set the school's freshman rushing record for yards (689) and carries (159), won Co-Freshman of the Year Honors. Jordan split the award with redshirt freshman center Ben Thomas.

Eric Barton took defensive MVP honors after leading the ACC with 85 primary tackles. The junior middle linebacker led the Terps with 10 tackles for loss this season and was a Butkus Award nominee. His 134 total tackles placed him third in the ACC and second on the team behind Kendall Ogles 138 tackles.

Reserve redshirt junior offensive lineman Ryan Rezzelle earned the coveted George C. Cook Memorial Award for highest academic average. Rezzelle posted a 3.34 grade point average as a Criminology and Criminal Justice major.

1997 Awards

Ray Krouse Award(Team MVP) Brian Cummings
Offensive MVP Brian Cummings
Defensive MVP Eric Barton
Freshman of the Year LaMont Jordan and Ben Thomas
Top Special Teams Performer Lewis Sanders
A.V. Williams Award (Outstanding and Conspicuous Sportsmanship) Pat Ward
Terrapin Club Award (Greatest Contribution to Football) Buddy Rodgers
Jim Tatum Award (Lineman of the Year) John Feugill
George C. Cook Memorial Award (Highest Academic Average) Ryan Rezzelle
Alvin L. Aubinoe Award (Unsung Hero) Eric Hicks
Champion of the Year Darryl Giles