University of Connecticut Athletics
Fincher, Orlovsky Share Team MVP at Banquet
12/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
STORRS, CONN. (December 5, 2004) – The University of Connecticut football team held its annual awards banquet on Sunday afternoon at the Rome Commons Ballroom on the Storrs campus. The Huskies recently completed their 2004 regular season at 7-4 and 3-3 in their inaugural season of BIG EAST Conference competition. UConn has earned its first ever bowl game berth as the Huskies will face Toledo in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Ford Field in Detroit.
The team Most Valuable Player Award was split between Fincher and Orlovsky, not merely based upon their strong and consistent on the field performances, but more for what they have meant throughout their careers to the program on a more global level. The two captains served as invaluable role models for a generation of Huskies through their hard work and dedication to improve not only their own games, but those of their teammates and the stature of their entire program.
Sophomore tailback Cornell Brockington picked up Offensive MVP honors. The BIG EAST’s leading rusher with 1,146 yards on the year, Brockington earned first-team All-Conference honors. Brockington averaged 156.0 all purpose yards per game in league play.
Senior defensive end Tyler King was named the squad’s Defensive Player of the Year. Though lost for the season after just five games with a broken leg, King’s tenacity left an indelible impact on the squad. King was amongst the league’s defensive leaders in tackles, TFLs and sacks at the time of his injury. UConn’s opponents averaged 268 yards of total offense with King in the lineup and 383.8 in the six games which he missed. Similarly UConn went from averaging 96.4 yards per game in rushing defense with King to 179.2 over its final six contests.
Sophomore place kicker Matt Nuzie received the Special Teams Player of the Year honor after a season which saw him earn second-team All-BIG EAST honors and be named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s top place kicker. Nuzie hit 16 field goals on the season, one shy of the school record. He provided the winning margin in UConn’s 22-20 victory over Duke and hit a then-career long 49 yards field goal as time expired in the opening half to help UConn to its 29-17 win over conference champion Pittsburgh.
The Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes (CPIA) Scholar Athlete Award was given to senior wide receiver Keron Henry, who will graduate this spring with a double major of electrical engineering and computer science with a mathematics minor. The award recognizes a senior who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance and citizenship while making a significant contribution to the overall success of the team.
The Huddle Club Award also went to Henry. The honor is bestowed upon the Husky who best exhibits leadership and dedication and is viewed as the ultimate team player.
The Kendall Madison Award was given to senior wide receiver Brian Sparks. A former walk-on, Sparks was recognized for being a “strong team player who’s dedication, hard work and outstanding citizenship best exemplify the strong spirit of the UConn Huskies.” The award is named for the former Husky who was tragically killed in the mid 1990s while being a good samaritan in his attempt to break up a bar room fight.
The Brian Kozlowski Award was given to senior offensive tackle Ryan Krug for being courageous, hard working and productive. The award is named for the former Husky and current Washington Redskins tight end who through relentless hard work, effort and dedication has been able to have a lengthy NFL career.
