Football
December 2, 1998
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — University of Miami freshman offensive linemanJoaquin Gonzalez was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year on Wednesdayas voted by the league’s head coaches.
Gonzalez, a former walk-on, has started every game this seasonat right tackle. He becomes the first lineman in league history toearn Rookie of the Year honors. The redshirt freshman helped theHurricanes average 186.1 yards on the ground this year. Gonzalezis the second straight Hurricane and third overall (Reggie Wayne, 1997;Kenard Lang, 1994) to earn Rookie of the Year Honors.
The BIG EAST also announced its all-conference teams today.Six Hurricanes garnered first-team honors, while two others were namedto the second-team. Earning first-team accolades for UM were RichardMercier (OT), Daniel Franks (TE), Edgerrin James (RB), Derrick Ham (DE),Dan Morgan (LB), and Nate Webster (LB).
Wide receiver Santana Moss and defensive back Leonard Myers werenamed to the second-team.
Below is the 1998 BIG EAST Conference Award winners and all-conferenceteams:
Offensive Player of the Year—Donovan McNabb (Syracuse)
Defensive Player of the Year—Corey Moore (Virginia Tech)
Special Teams Player of the Year—Kevin Johnson (Syracuse)
Rookie of the Year—Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami)
Coach of the Year—Terry Shea (Rutgers)
First-Team
Offense Defense
WR Shawn Foreman, West Virginia DL Derrick Ham, Miami
WR Latef Grim, Pittsburgh DL Chris Hovan, Boston College
WR Kevin Johnson, Syracuse DL Corey Moore, Virginia Tech
OT Solomon Page, West Virginia DL John Thornton, West Virginia
OG Doug Brzezinski, Boston College LB Dan Morgan, Miami
C Eric de Groh, West Virginia LB Gary Stills, West Virginia
OG Scott Kiernan, Syracuse LB Nate Webster, Miami
OT Richard Mercier, Miami CB Loren Johnson, Virginia Tech
TE Daniel Franks, Miami CB Hank Poteat, Pittsburgh
QB Donovan McNabb, Syracuse S Phil Nash, Syracuse
RB Mike Cloud, Boston College S Pierson Prioleau, Virginia Tech
RB Edgerrin James, Miami P Jimmy Kibble, Virginia Tech
RB Amos Zereoue, West Virginia P Jason Malecki, Boston College
PK Shane Graham, Virginia Tech
KR Kevin Johnson, Syracuse
Second-Team
WR Santana Moss, Miami DL John Engelberger, Virginia Tech
WR David Saunders, West Virginia DL Wayne Hampton, Rutgers
OT Bryan Pukenas, West Virginia DL Nat Williams, Virginia Tech
OG Dwight Vick, Virginia Tech LB Keith Bulluck, Syracuse
C Damien Woody, Boston College LB Phil Clarke, Pittsburgh
OG Shaun O’Hara, Rutgers LB Barrett Green, West Virginia
OT Derek Smith, Virginia LB Jamel Smith, Virginia Tech
TE Anthony Becht, West Virginia CB Charles Fisher, West Virginia
QB Marc Bulger, West Virginia CB Leonard Myers, Miami
RB Rob Konrad, Syracuse S Keion Carpenter, Virginia Tech
RB Stacy Mack, Temple S Jason Poles, Syracuse
PK Nate Trout, Syracuse P Doug Dunkin
KR Elmarko Jackson, Temple
KR Tosh Riddick, Rutgers
