Nov. 27, 2000 Walnut Creek, CA - University of Washington senior quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo has been named the Pacific-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen announced today. Tuiasosopo was also one of five Huskies named to the All-Pac-10 first team. Tuiasosopo was joined on the first team by offensive guard Chad Ward, offensive tackle Elliot Silvers, defensive tackle Larry Tripplett and safety Hakim Akbar. Tight end Jerramy Stevens and safety Curtis Williams both made the second team while linebackers Derrell Daniels and Jeremiah Pharms earned honorable mention. Arizona State picked up two big honors as linebacker Adam Archuleta was named Defensive Player of the Year and defensive end Terrell Suggs picked up the Freshman of the Year award. Oregon State head coach Dennis Erickson, who led the Beavers to a 10-1 record and a share of the Pac-10 title, was named the Coach of the Year. OSU and UW each had five players on the All-Pac-10 first team, most in the league. Tuiasosopo, the Huskies' all-time leader in total offense and only the second UW quarterback to throw for 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons, led Washington to a 10-1 overall record, a 7-1 league mark and a No. 4 ranking in the most recent polls. He is the first Husky to take home the Pac-10's offensive MVP award since tailback Napoleon Kaufman in 1994. Other Huskies to earn Offensive Player of the Year since the award was created in 1975 were Warren Moon (1977), Steve Pelluer (1983), Greg Lewis (1990), Mario Bailey (1991) and Kaufman (1994). Tuiasosopo, Ward, Silvers, Tripplett and Akbar are all first-time selections to the All-Pac-10 first team. Ward, Tripplett and Akbar each made second-team last year. Ward (Finley, Wash.) and Silvers (Agoura, Calif.), both seniors, are largely to thank for helping the Huskies to lead the Pac-10 in rushing with 211.7 yards per game, the Dawgs' highest average since 1996. Tripplett, a junior from Los Angeles, led the Huskies with 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also blocked four kicks during the course of the season and was named the national defensive player of the week following the Huskies' win over Colorado. Akbar, a junior from Riverside, Calif., became only the second Husky defensive back since 1972 to lead the Huskies in tackles, tying Daniels for the team lead with 97, fourth-most in the conference. Stevens, a sophomore from Olympia, Wash., had the most prolific season ever by a Washington tight end, catching 43 passes for 600 yards. He also set a UW tight ends record with eight catches vs. Arizona. Williams, a senior from Fresno, Calif., finished the year third on the team with 55 tackles despite missing the final three games of the year after suffering a spinal cord injury against Stanford on Oct. 28. Daniels, a senior from San Fernando, Calif., shared the team lead in tackles with Akbar, compiling 97 stops on the season. Pharms, a senior from Sacramento, Calif., finished fifth on the team with 46 tackles and was second to Tripplett with 10 tackles for loss. The entire 2000 All-Pac-10 football first and second team follows: 2000 All-Pacific-10 Conference Football Team First Team Offense
QB Marques Tuiasosopo, Sr., Washington First Team Defense
DE Andre Carter, Sr., California First Team Specialists
PK Ryan Cesca, So., Oregon State Second Team Offense
QB Joey Harrington, Jr., Oregon Second Team Defense
DE Saul Patu, Sr., Oregon Second Team Specialists
PK Chris Griffith, So., UCLA RS=return specialist ST=special teams player (non-kicker or return man)
Offensive Player of the Year: Marques Tuiasosopo, QB, Sr., Washington |
