Five individual NJAC Football award winners and 2002 conference team champion Rowan
University were honored at the 2003 ECAC Football Awards Dinner held at
the Meadowlands on February 11.
In addition to the NJAC award winners, teams and individuals from the Big
East, the Atlantic 10, the Metro Atlantic Conference, the Northeast
Conference and the State University of New York Athletic Conference were
honored during the post-season affair.
The following is a summary of the NJAC Awards presented at the dinner:
OFFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TONY RACIOPPI, ROWAN UNIVERSITY
A two-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Year and a three-time conference
Player of the Week selection during the 2002 season, Racioppi threw for
2930 yards and led the conference with a passer efficiency rating of 143.
In addition, he led the NJAC with 25 touchdown passes and 278 yards of
total offense per game.
DEFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
GERRIT TOSH, ROWAN UNIVERSITY
The leader of the Rowan defense, Tosh was a steady performer for a Prof
unit that ranked first in the NJAC by allowing only 12.2 points per game.
Individually, he posted totals of 67 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, one
interception, five pass breakups and a conference-best 14 sacks.
OFFENSIVE
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
JOHN DIGIROLAMO, MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
DeGirolamo re-wrote the single-season passing section of the
Montclair State record book in just his first season by throwing for 2315
yards and 16 touchdowns during his freshman campaign. A three-time NJAC
Offensive Rookie of the Week selection in 2002, he finished his rookie
season ranked second in the NJAC in passing yards per game, total offense
and passing touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
KELVIN BELLAMY, ROWAN UNIVERSITY
A key newcomer to the Prof’s top-ranked defense, Bellamy captured NJAC
Defensive Rookie of the Week honors twice during the 2002 season while
posting individual totals of 28 tackles, and nine pass break-ups. As a
freshman, he led the NJAC with six interceptions and 15 passes defensed.
COACH
OF THE YEAR
JAY ACCORSI, ROWAN UNIVERSITY
In his first-year at the helm of the Rowan program, Accorsi guided the
Profs to a perfect 10-0 regular season record and their second consecutive
NJAC Championship via a perfect 7-0 conference mark. In addition, he led
Rowan to its 10th appearance in the NCAA Division III
Tournament and an overall record of 10-1, with the Profs featuring both
the league’s top ranked offensive and defensive units.
CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM
ROWAN UNIVERSITY
In 2002, Rowan captured its 13th NJAC football championships since the
inception of the conference back in 1969. In addition, the program made
its 10th appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
|