Askew Named U-M Football Team's Most Valuable Player
12/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
LIVONIA, Mich. -- University of Michigan senior fullback B.J. Askew (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS) was named winner of the BO SCHEMBECHLER AWARD as the Most Valuable Player of the 2002 football team, highlighting the 82nd annual Michigan Football Bust presented by the U of M Club of Greater Detroit and held tonight (Monday, Dec. 2) at the Laurel Manor. Askew was one of seven players to gain individual recognition as the seniors received their coveted 'M' rings.
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Collecting his second ROGER ZATKOFF AWARD as the team's top linebacker was fifth-year senior co-captain and outside linebacker Victor Hobson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./St. Joseph's Prep, Pa.). The 2000 and 2002 recipient of the Zatkoff Award, Hobon was named All-Big Ten first team this season. He led the Wolverine defense with career highs in tackles (87) and tackles for loss (15) while adding five sacks, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups and one interception. Hobson led the team in stops in six games this season, and he enters the bowl game with 265 career tackles, 45 TFLs, eight sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Senior/junior defensive tackle Grant Bowman (Blacklick, Ohio/St. Francis De Sales HS) was the recipient of the DICK KATCHER AWARD as the team's top defensive lineman. Bowman started all eight Big Ten games and received All-Big Ten honorable mention from both the conference coaches and media. He registered a career-high 21 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks during the season.
The HUGH H. RADER AWARD, presented to the team's top offensive lineman, was awarded to senior/junior offensive tackle Tony Pape (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Hinsdale South HS). Pape started all 12 games at tackle, the first eight contests at right tackle and the final four games at left tackle. He earned All-Big Ten first-team honors from the conference coaches and added All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades from the media this season.
A pair of Wolverine seniors -- strong safety Charles Drake (Los Angeles, Calif./Westchester HS) and tight end Bennie Joppru (Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka HS) -- shared the ROBERT P. UFER BEQUEST, given annually to the top senior football player who demonstrates enthusiasm and love for Michigan. Drake finished the regular season ranked second on the team with 65 tackles, and contributed four TFLs, three sacks, one interception and three PBUs. Co-captain Joppru had one of the finest seasons ever for a Michigan tight end, catching 47 passes for 499 yards and five touchdowns. He lists second nationally in receptions among tight ends this season and was named second-team All-Big Ten.
Fifth-year senior long snapper Joe Sgroi (Plymouth, Mich./Catholic Central HS) was the recipient of the DR. ARTHUR ROBINSON AWARD as the Michigan football team's top student-athlete. Sgroi, a graduate student enrolled in U-M's Law School, served as the team's starting long snapper this year. He was named to the Verizon Academic All-District IV second team earlier this fall.
Following is a list of 2002 football award winners:
Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player: B.J. Askew, FB
Roger Zatkoff Award: Victor Hobson, OLB
Dick Katcher Award: Grant Bowman, DT
Hugh H. Rader Award: Tony Pape, OT
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Charles Drake, SS; Bennie Joppru, TE
Dr. Arthur Robinson Award: Joe Sgroi, LS
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
