Fresno State Athletics
Carr Named Fresno State Football MVP
12/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 2, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - Just one day after a record setting victory over Utah State, Fresno State head football coach Pat Hill presented awards to his team at the annual football awards banquet held at the New Exhibit Hall in downtown Fresno. Nearly 700 fans attended the function.
Senior quarterback David Carr was selected the team's Most Valuable Player, an award selected by the players. Carr, who earlier this week was selected the winner of the Johnny Unitas Award for the nation's outstanding senior quarterback, became just the sixth player in NCAA history to pass for more than 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in a season. Carr leads the nation in passing yards with 4,308 and touchdowns with 42, both school records. His TD mark is the fifth most in NCAA history and his passing yardage mark ranks as the eighth-highest. Carr ranks second nationally in passing efficiency. Carr completed over 64 percent of his passes and threw just seven interceptions all season.
"This is a great time to pay tribute to these great players," said head coach Pat Hill. "This senior class had a remarkable career and an incredible season. They only lost two games at home, never lost to rival San Jose State and played in three bowl games. That's a great tribute. This team also set many records that are going to be hard to break."
Many team records have been broken this season. Fresno State set school records for most total offensive yards (6,469 yards) and points scored (525). The Bulldogs also became the first team in NCAA history to have a 4,000-yard passer (David Carr, 4,308), two 1,000-yard receivers (Rodney Wright, 1,331, Bernard Berrian, 1,270) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Paris Gaines, 1,024).
Other awards presented were:
Dick Duncan Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year: Paul Pinegar
Dick Duncan Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year: Ross Taliaferro
Most Valuable Offensive Lineman: Joe Schey and Rodney Michael
Most Valuable Defensive Lineman: Alan Harper (third consecutive year)
Most Valuable Offensive Back: Rodney Wright
Most Valuable Defensive Back: Vernon Fox and Devon Banks
Special Teams Player of the Year: Bernard Berrian
Director's Academic Award: David Shabaglian
Coaches Awards: Maurice Rodriguez, Paris Gaines and Jake Probst
Most Inspirational Player: Alan Harper and Vernon Fox
Fresno State has been invited to play in the Silicon Valley Football Classic Dec. 31 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose.
