MAC Defensive Player of the Year
CLEVELAND, Ohio (November 30) -- Marshall University quarterback Chad Pennington, a graduate of Webb High School in Knoxville, Tenn., and a senior for the Thundering Herd, has been honored as the 1999 Pepsi Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year in voting among members of the MAC News Media Association.
Pennington led Marshall to a regular-season record of 11-0 and a national ranking of #11, the highest in school history. Going into Friday's MAC championship game against Western Michigan, Pennington leads the league in passing efficiency (171.8), total offense (326.1 yards per game) and passing yards per game (319.5). He has completed 255-of-374 passes for 3,515 yards, 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Pennington leads the nation in passing touchdowns with 34 and he holds the MAC career record for touchdown passes with 97.
Pennington received 40 of the 55 votes with Western Michigan quarterback Tim Lester (8 votes) and Miami University tailback Travis Prentice (7 votes) also gaining notice.
MAC Offensive Player of the Year Winners
1999- Chad Pennington, Marshall
1998- Travis Prentice, Miami
1997-Randy Moss, Marshall
1996-Kareem Wilson, Ohio
1995-Wasean Tait, Toledo
1994- Brian Pruitt, Central Michigan
1993- Mike Neu, Ball State
1992- Erik White, Bowling Green
1991- Erik White, Bowling Green
1990- Jeff Bender, Central Michigan
1989- David Riley, Ball State
1988- Tony Kimbrough, W. Michigan
1987- Erik Wilkerson, Kent
1986- Terry Morris, Miami
1985- Brian McClure, Bowling Green
1984- Brian McClure, Bowling Green
1983- Brian McClure, Bowling Green
1982- Curtis Adams, Central Michigan
1981- Sam Shon, Ohio
1980- Mark O'Connell, Ball State
1979- Gary Hogenboom, C. Michigan
1978- Jerome Persell, Western Michigan
Dave Petzke, Northern Illinois
1977- Jerome Persell, Western Michigan
1976- Jerome Persell, Western Michigan
1975- Gene Swick, Toledo
1974- Gene Swick, Toledo
1973- Paul Miles, Bowling Green
1972- Bob Hitchens, Miami
1971- Chuck Ealey, Toledo
1970- Chuck Ealey, Toledo
1969- Chuck Ealey, Toledo
1968- Cleve Bryant, Ohio
1967- John Schnieder, Toledo
1966- Bruce Matte, Miami
1965-Willie Asbury, Kent