Canes Honored By BIG EAST
Nov. 29, 1999
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Quarterback Michael Vick of Virginia Tech and running back Avon Couburne of West Virginia have been named Co-Offensive Players of the Week, the league announced. Miami linebacker Nate Webster earned defensive honors, with the Hurricanes’ Santana Moss capturing Special Teams Player of the Week.
Vick (Newport News, Va.) wins the honor for the fifth time after compiling a career-high 366 yards of total offense in the Hokies’ 38-14 win over Boston College. The redshirt freshman quarterback completed 11-of-13 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries, including a five-yard touchdown run. It was the fourth highest total offense figure ever for a Tech player and the most since Don Strock had 386 yards against Wake Forest in 1972. Vick is the first player in BIG EAST history to win Player of the Week five times in one season.
Cobourne (Cherry Hill, N.J.) rushed for a BIG EAST season-high 210 yards to help West Virginia to a 52-21 victory over Pittsburgh. The redshirt freshman running back finished with 8.1 yards per carry, adding three touchdowns on runs of 17, four and three yards. The rushing total set a WVU freshman record as well as a Mountaineer Field best. He also set a West Virginia freshman season rushing record with a BIG EAST-leading 1,139 yards. He is the second freshman in league history (Terrell Willis, Rutgers, 1993) to lead the conference in rushing.
Webster (Miami, Fla.) wins the defensive award for the fourth time this year after leading the Miami defense in the Hurricanes’ 45-13 win over Syracuse. The junior linebacker finished with 18 tackles, including 12 solo. He also had one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. He leads UM with 139 tackles in 1999, including 85 solo. Webster set a new single-season record for defensive players with his fourth BIG EAST weekly award this season.
Moss (Miami, Fla.) recorded 128 yards on five returns in the Hurricanes’ victory over Syracuse. The junior had two punt returns for 80 yards, including a 61-yard return for a touchdown. It was the second straight game that Moss returned a punt for a score, the first time a UM player had done so in back-to-back games since Kevin Williams did it in three consecutive games in 1991. Moss also added three kickoff returns for 48 yards. On the year, Moss has returned 28 punts for 424 yards, a 15.1-yard average. It is his second straight Special Teams Player of the Week award.
