University of Memphis Athletics
Awards Handed Out at Annual Football Banquet
Dec 03, 2001 | Football
Dec. 2, 2001
Memphis, TN - The Highland Hundred football booster club, in conjunction with The University of Memphis Athletic Department, hosted the annual Tiger Football Banquet and Awards Dinner at the AdamsMark Hotel in East Memphis on December 2nd. The banquet was the first under head coach Tommy West and the capacity crowd of approximately 400 expressed their appreciation for both West and his Tiger players with several standing ovations.
Each Tiger senior received his Memphis football ring, as well as a framed action photo of himself and his jersey, which was also framed. But the highlight of the night were the annual awards for on-field play.
The first awards handed out were for scout team players, those who work during each practice to give the starting offense and defense an idea of the opponents offensive and defensive schemes. The Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year Awards went to Sir Ernest, a running back/receiver from St. Louis, Missouri. The Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year was awarded to junior tackle Garfield Garth, while the Special Teams Scout Player of the Year went to receiver Chris Cowley.
The Offensive Player of the Year Award for 2001 was given to receiver Bunkie Perkins. The little receiver with the big heart led the team in receiving and in touchdown receptions this season. The Vicksburg, MS, native finished the year with 46 catches for 579 yards and six touchdowns. The Defensive Player of the Year Award was presented to safety Glenn Sumter. The junior led the Tigers in tackles and pass interceptions. His 137 tackles rank as the most ever by a Memphis defensive back for a single season and his six interceptions in 2001 bring his career total to 13.
The Offensive Lineman of the Year was given to junior tackle Wade Smith and the Defensive Lineman Trophy was presented to defensive end Tony Brown. Ryan Johnson, the Tigers junior punt returner, was named the Special Teams Player of the Year. after leading the team in punt returns for the second consecutive season.
Members of the Tiger football team voted on permanent captains for the 2001 season. The vote was so close that West and his staff named three offensive and three defensive players as 2001 captains. Offensive captains included receiver Bunkie Perkins and linemen Artis Hicks and Wade Smith. Defensively, the team selected safety Glenn Sumter, linebacker Demorrio Shank and end Tony Brown.
The final award of the night was the Top Tiger Award. The Top Tiger is a new award which will be selected each season by West. The award is presented to a Tiger player or players who have battled the hardship of injury or have lost their position to another player but kept fighting to regain their position on the field. These players may have been literally "knocked down" on the field and in life but have gotten back up to fight again.
The winners of the 2001 Top Tiger Award were quarterback Neil Suber and offensive guard Josh Eargle. Suber, who is the school's sixth all-time leading passer was injured during his junior season against Southern Mississippi but fought his way back. He re-injured his shoulder during the fall but continued to practice with his teammates and returned to action against Tennessee. Eargle suffered two major knee injuries during his career and was unable to return to his former playing ability. Unwilling to sit on the sidelines, Eargle volunteered for duty on the scout team. West declined Eargle's offer but the Texas native joined the scout team line in practice anyway and helped the defense prepare for upcoming games.
