FB honors seven at 2002 team banquet

December 17, 2002
St. Thomas football coach Don Roney recognized his 21 seniors and gave special team awards to seven Tommies at Sunday's postseason banquet. The 2002 Tommies finished 5-5 overall and 5-3 in the MIAC, tied for third place. St. Thomas has finished from second to fourth in the confernece for nine of the last 10 seasons.

The seven special awards came from a vote of team members.

Three-time Academic All-American and three-time All-MIAC running back Jake Barkley (SR-Plymouth/Robbinsdale Armstrong) was voted team MVP and Offensive MVP. Barkley broke a 25-year-old conference career rushing record with 3,969 yards -- despite playing only five full games in an injury-plagued season.

Defensive end Sean O'Leary (SR-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln), the school's carer sacks leader, was voted Defensive MVP. O'Leary, a two-time first-team All-MIAC honoree, was among 42 players who made the Aztec Bowl roster and played on the Division III all-star team.

Two-time Academic All-American Andrew Hilliard (SR-Woodbury) received the team's Father James Lavin Award for Christian approach and service. Hilliard was named to the American Football Coaches' Association Good Works Team and joined an elite group of 14 players on the National Scholar Athlete team chosen by the National Football Foundation.

Three-year starting lineman Logan Kane (SR-Inver Grove Heights/South St. Paul) received the Jerry Pugsley Award for team play, unselfish attitude and superior work ethic.

Three players shared the Oil Can Man award given to unselfish players "who kept the parts of the team working" -- safety Brent Kleffman (JR-Hibbing), OL Paul Cullen (SR-Coon Rapids) and OL Mark Detviler (SR-St. Paul/St. Bernards).

Roney also recognized a team-record 25 players with cumulative grade-poit averages of 3.35 or higher.