UNI Football Holds Year-End Awards Banquet

The University of Northern Iowa football team held its 2011 awards banquet on Sun., Jan. 15, in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers were recognized for the honors and accolades that followed a 10-3 season, a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference championship, and a berth in the NCAA FCS Quarterfinals.

2011 awards presented included:
Defensive Back Hammer Award - Garrett Scott
Defensive Line Hammer Award - Ben Boothby
Super Hammer Award - L.J. Fort
Don Erusha Offensive Lineman Award - Jay Teply
Scout Team Offensive MVP: Sam Rohr
Scout Team Defensive MVP: Isaac Ales
Most Valuable Players (as voted on by the team):
Special Teams - Tyler Sievertsen
Offensive - Tirrell Rennie
Defensive - L.J. Fort
Oil Can Award - Augie Hadenfeldt

2011 UNI Football Honors

Team
Ranked as high as No. 2 in The Sports Network and coaches' polls
Finished the season at No. 5 in the FCS Coaches Poll
Finished the season at No. 6 in The Sports Network Top 25 Poll
Between the two polls:   10 of the last 11 seasons in the Top 25
                                   6 of the last 11 seasons in the Top 5
6th season with at least 10 wins since 2001
Share of 16th MVFC Championship and 7th title since 2001
12th appearance in the FCS Quarterfinals
No. 11 nationally in turnover margin
No. 12 nationally in scoring defense
No. 1 in MVFC in pass defense

L.J. FortFCS national leader in total tackles (184) and tackles per game (14.15)
Set UNI single-season record for tackles (184)
No. 2 in all of Division I football (FBS & FCS combined) in total tackles and tackles per game
Runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS national defensive player of the year)
FCS National Defensive Player of the Year (College Sporting News)
FCS National Defensive Player of the Year (College Sports Madness)
FCS Linebacker of the Year (College Football Performance Awards)
MVFC Defensive Player of the Year
Walter Camp FCS All-American
First team All-American (The Sports Network)
First team All-American (Phil Steele)
First team All-American (College Sports Madness)
First team All-American (Beyond Sports College Network)
Third team All-American (Associated Press)
First team All-MVFC
Co-Defensive National Player of the Week (The Sports Network - Dec. 5)
MVFC Defensive Player of the Week following Illinois State (11/19)

Ben BoothbyFinished 9th in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS national defensive player of the year)
Semifinalist for William V. Campbell Trophy (academic Heisman)
Capital One Academic All-American (first team)
Capital One Academic All-District (first team)
FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team
One of 12 finalists for FCS Athletic Directors Association $5,000 postgraduate scholarship
FCS Defensive Tackle of the Year (College Football Performance Awards)
AFCA FCS All American
First team All-American (Associated Press)
First team All-American (Phil Steele)
First team All-American (College Sports Madness)
Fabulous 50 FCS All-American Team (College Sporting News)
Second team All-American (The Sports Network)
First team MVFC All-Academic Team
First team All-MVFC
MVFC leader in tackles-for-loss (18.5)
Finalist for ARA Sportsmanship Award
Missouri Valley Conference State Farm "Good Neighbor Award"
Winner of the Variety Trophy - presented by Variety Children's Charity to most outstanding UNI senior

Tyler Sievertsen2nd in FCS in field goal percentage (18-of-20, 90 percent)
First team All-American (Beyond Sports College Network)
Second team All-American (The Sports Network)
Second team All-American (Phil Steele)
Third team All-American (Associated Press)
One of 10 finalists for the Fred Mitchell Award (nation's top FCS, D2, D3, NAIA or NJCAA kicker)
First team All-MVFC
MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week following Illinois State (11/19)
MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week following Indiana State (10/8)
MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week following Iowa State (9/3)

Jay TeplyThird team All-American (Beyond Sports College Network)
First team All-MVFC
MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week following Southern Utah (11/12)

David JohnsonFinished fourth in voting for the Jerry Rice Award (nation's top FCS freshman)
Runner-up for MVFC Freshman of the Year
Finished fourth for MVFC Newcomer of the Year
MVFC All-Newcomer Team
Honorable mention All-MVFC
MVFC Newcomer of the Week following Stephen F. Austin (9/10)
MVFC Newcomer of the Week following Iowa State (9/3)

Tirrell RennieFinished 12th in voting for the Walter Payton Award (nation's top FCS player)
First team All-MVFC
Runner-up for MVFC Offensive Player of the Year for second consecutive season
MVFC Offensive Player of the Week following Stephen F. Austin (9/10)

Varmah SonieFirst team All-MVFC

Jordan SmithSecond team All-MVFC
MVFC Defensive Player of the Week following Stephen F. Austin (9/10)

Jarred HerringCapital One Academic All-District (first team)
First team MVFC All-Academic team
Honorable mention All-MVFC

Darren BranchHonorable mention All-MVFC

Kyle BernardSecond team MVFC All-Academic team

Jared LanpherMVFC Newcomer of the Week following Youngstown State (11/5)

CFPA Crowns Boothby DT of the Year, Fort LB of the Year

University of Northern Iowa senior Ben Boothby has been crowned the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Defensive Tackle of the Year, and senior L.J. Fort has been chosen as the FCS Linebacker of the Year by College Football Performance Awards, the organization announced Thursday.
UNI is the only school in the nation represented by two CFPA Players of the Year.
The goal of the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) is to provide the most scientifically rigorous honors in college football. CFPA recognizes weekly, annual, and career award recipients - selected based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.
After an extensive review of the existing data, literature, and evidence, it was determined that Boothby and Fort finished the 2011 season with the strongest defensive tackle and linebacker performances, respectively, in Division I FCS college football.
CFPA FCS Players of the Year
National Performer of the Year -- Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion
National Defensive Performer of the Year -- Ryan Davis, Bethune-Cookman
National Freshman Performer of the Year -- Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion
Quarterback Award -- Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion
Running Back Award -- Terrance West, Towson
Wide Receiver Award -- Aaron Mellette, Elon
Tight End Award -- Colin Anderson, Furman
Defensive End Award -- Corey Hart, Alabama A&M
Defensive Tackle Award -- Ben Boothby, UNI
Linebacker Award -- L.J. Fort, UNI Defensive Back Award -- Marcus Williams, North Dakota State
Placekicker Award -- Zach Brown, Portland State
Punter Award -- Patrick Murray, Fordham
Punt Returner Award -- Asa Jackson, Cal Poly
Kickoff Returner Award -- Laron Scott, Georgia Southern
L.J. Fort - 2011 Season Awards and AccomplishmentsFCS national leader in total tackles (184) and tackles per game (14.15)
Set UNI single-season record for tackles (184)
No. 2 in all of Division I football (FBS & FCS combined) in total tackles and tackles per game
Runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS national defensive player of the year)
FCS National Defensive Player of the Year (College Sporting News)
FCS National Defensive Player of the Year (College Sports Madness)
MVFC Defensive Player of the Year
Walter Camp FCS All-American
First team All-American (The Sports Network)
First team All-American (Phil Steele)
First team All-American (College Sports Madness)
First team All-American (Beyond Sports College Network)
Third team All-American (Associated Press)
First team All-MVFC
Co-Defensive National Player of the Week (The Sports Network - Dec. 5)
MVFC Defensive Player of the Week following Illinois State (11/19)
Ben Boothby - 2011 Season Awards and AccomplishmentsFinished 9th in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS national defensive player of the year)
Semifinalist for William V. Campbell Trophy (academic Heisman)
Capital One Academic All-American (first team)
Capital One Academic All-District (first team)
FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team
One of 12 finalists for FCS Athletic Directors Association $5,000 postgraduate scholarship
AFCA FCS All American
First team All-American (Associated Press)
First team All-American (Phil Steele)
First team All-American (College Sports Madness)
Fabulous 50 FCS All-American Team (College Sporting News)
Second team All-American (The Sports Network)
First team MVFC All-Academic Team
First team All-MVFC
MVFC leader in tackles-for-loss (18.5)
Finalist for ARA Sportsmanship Award
Missouri Valley Conference State Farm "Good Neighbor Award"

Northern Iowa to visit pair of Big Ten schools in 2012

             Northern Iowa will visit a pair of Big Ten schools and play five home games as part of an 11-game schedule announced on Wednesday.
The Panthers, the Missouri Valley Football Conference co-champions who finished 10-3 this season, will open the season at Wisconsin (Sept. 1) and visit Iowa on Sept. 15.
Northern Iowa also will play road games at Youngstown State (Sept. 22), Southern Illinois (Oct. 13), Western Illinois (Nov. 3) and South Dakota (Nov. 10).
Northern Iowa's home opener is Sept. 8 against Savannah State, the lone non- conference home game of the season, and it also will host North Dakota State (Sept. 29), South Dakota State (Oct. 20), Illinois State (Oct. 27) and Missouri State (Nov. 17).
With the MVFC expanding to 10 teams, Northern Iowa and Indiana State will not meet for the first time since 1985.

2012 Northern Iowa University Football Schedule
Sept. 1, at Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc.
Sept. 8, Savannah State, UNI Dome
Sept. 15, at Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Sept. 22, at Youngstown State, Youngstown, Ohio
Sept. 29, North Dakota State, UNI Dome
Oct. 13, at Southern Illinois, Carbondale, Ill.
Oct. 20, South Dakota State, UNI Dome
Oct. 27, Illinois State, UNI Dome
Nov. 3, at Western Illinois, Macomb, Ill.
Nov. 10, at South Dakota, Vermillion, S.D.
Nov. 17, Missouri State, UNI Dome

EWU's Mitchell captures Walter Payton Award

As the injuries mounted for the Eastern Washington football team this season, Bo Levi Mitchell's production increased when most quarterbacks would have endured a decline.
Mitchell was all too happy to put the Eagles on his throwing shoulder and carry them.
Friday night, the senior was honored for his record-setting season with the 2011 Walter Payton Award, which goes to the outstanding player in the Football Championship Subdivision. The 25th annual award, the most prestigious in the division, is presented by The Sports Network and sponsored by Fathead.com.
Mitchell, who one year ago was named the most outstanding performer when Eastern Washington won the FCS championship game in Frisco, collected 57 first-place votes and 453 points from a national panel of 131 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries. Lehigh quarterback Chris Lum and Indiana State running back Shakir Bell, who also were on hand at the FCS awards presentation, tied for second in the voting with 219 points each.
"He worked at (development) and we saw the growth -- he worked hard to develop his skills and was tireless at studying video in order to better understand and operate our offense," EWU head coach Beau Baldwin said of Mitchell, who transferred to the Big Sky Conference school from SMU following his sophomore year. "It culminated with his production this season and the way our team ended the year with six wins in our last seven games. I couldn't be more proud of what he accomplished here."
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Mitchell led the nation in passing yards (4,009) and touchdown passes (33) during the regular season. As Eastern Washington's offense suffered seven key injuries (including five that were season-ending), the Big Sky's offensive player of the year averaged 364.5 passing yards per game, which ranks ninth in FCS history. He completed 318-of-503 attempts (63.2 percent), with 13 interceptions. The Eagles finished with a 6-5 record.
"I'm blessed with more receivers around me that are so good," said Mitchell, who is the first-team quarterback on The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS All- America Team.
Mitchell, from Katy, Texas, is the second player from Eastern Washington to win the Payton Award -- quarterback Erik Meyer won in 2005 -- and the sixth winner from the Big Sky.
Lum, a 6-2, 205-pound senior, led Lehigh to a second straight unbeaten season in Patriot League play and was named the league's offensive player of the year. As the Mountain Hawks finished 10-1 in the regular season, Lum ranked third in the FCS in passing yards per game (348.6) and second in touchdown passes (31). He completed 297-of-443 attempts (67 percent) for 3,739 yards, with 15 interceptions.
Bell, a 5-foot-7, 185-pound sophomore, was the FCS rushing leader (1,670 yards, 151.8 per game) during the regular season. Named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, he scored 14 touchdowns and averaged 7.3 yards per carry. The Sycamores posted their second straight winning season with a 6-5 record.
In addition to Mitchell winning the Payton Award at the national awards presentation, New Hampshire junior linebacker Matt Evans captured the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the FCS' outstanding defensive player; Towson running back Terrance West won the inaugural Jerry Rice Award for FCS freshman of the year; and Towson's Rob Ambrose won the Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the FCS' coach of the year. The Sports Network presents and Fathead.com also sponsors those three awards.
Walter Payton Award Voting.........1st....2nd....3rd....4th....5th....Total
1. Bo Levi Mitchell, E. Washington.57.....28.....11......8......7.....453
2T. Chris Lum, Lehigh...............16.....13.....17.....12.....12.....219
2T. Shakir Bell, Indiana State......10.....20.....12.....18.....17.....219
4. Jonathan Grimes, Wm. & Mary.....10.....16......9.....18......8.....185
5. Aaron Mellette, Elon.............2......5.....17.....21.....21.....144
6. Terrance West, Towson............5.....11.....11......5......8.....120
7. Tim Flanders, Sam Houston St....10......7......5......6......7.....112
8. Kevin Decker, New Hampshire......5......4......9......9......9......95
9. Jordan Brown, Bryant.............2......8.....11......7......5......94
10. Casey Therriault, Jackson State..3......7......8......7......5......86
11. Casey Brockman, Murray State.....3......5......7......5......7......73
12. Tirrell Rennie, Northern Iowa....3......3......2......1......4......39
13. DeNarius McGhee, Montana State...3......0......2......3......8......35
14. Eric Breitenstein, Wofford.......2......2......3......1......1......30
15. Brian Quick, Appalachian State...0......2......5......1......2......27
16. Andrew Pierce, Delaware..........1......0......1......1......3......13
17. Mike Brown, Liberty..............0......0......1......3......1......10
18. Brad Sorensen, Southern Utah.....0......0......0......3......2.......8
19T.Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State...0......1......0......0......2.......6
19T.Rodrick Rumble, Idaho State......0......0......0......2......2.......6
21. *Matt Denham, Eastern Kentucky...0......0......1......1......0.......5
22. *Tre Gray, Richmond.... .....0......0......0......0......1.......1