CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The best of the Football Championship Subdivision 2009 were honored Thursday at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
A panel that included James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews, former National Football League greats Wayne Chrebet and Dexter Coakley, and Master of Ceremonies Brock Huard presented the Buck Buchanan (best defensive player), Eddie Robinson (top head coach) and Walter Payton (offensive MVP) Awards.
"When I was coming up and won the [Buck Buchanan] Award, it was nothing like this," said former two-time winner, NFL Pro Bowler and Appalachian State alumnus Coakley. "It feels like I'm getting the award again. To see these guys carrying the torch for FCS, it's a great pleasure.
"Hopefully these guys will get the chance to play at the next level and continue making their universities proud," he said.
"THE WOW FACTOR"
What Armanti Edwards brought to the Appalachian State program was described thusly by ASU head coach Jerry Moore.
Huard commended Edwards for his 9,000 career passing and over 4,000 rushing yards.
And the Sports Network honored Edwards with his second Walter Payton Award, making him the first two-time recipient of the honor.
It seems only fitting given how many other milestones and firsts Edwards achieved throughout his career. The resume reads like a very long laundry lists: 64 ASU records, two national championships, star of college football's greatest upset.
"It's an honor to be mentioned in the same breath as Walter Payton and sit here with these guys [Karim and Hudgins], who worked their butts off all season," he said.
But the road to a second Payton Award wasn't a smooth one. Edwards missed the beginning of the season with a foot injury sustained during an off-season lawn mower accident. The two games he missed were the Mountaineers' only regular season defeats.
Edwards returned strong to score 30 touchdowns -- 18 by ground, 12 by air -- and pass for just below 3300 yards.
Beyond his statistics, Edwards was a leader by example for his ASU comrades.
"He's a great ambassador," fellow Mountaineer Coakley said. "To be able to graduate in three-and-a-half years, and graduate with honors -- that says enough right there.
"He sets an example for kids that 'I can be an athlete and get my degree at the same time,'" Coakley added.
"You can't ask for more than this. You've got to take your hats off to the coaches...and the other guys on the team, who were breaking a sweat just like I was," Edwards said.
Other finalists for the award were Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins and Southern Illinois tailback Deji Karim. Their respective coaches, Pete Lembo and Dale Lennon, introduced the players before the banquet.
Karim battled back from a devastating knee injury that sidelined him late in 2007 and all of 2008, and almost ended his playing career. But rehabilitation brought Karim back better than ever.
He averaged 7.1 yards per rush, finishing the season with a shade below 1700 total yards on the ground, and more than 2,000 all purpose yards.
"Words can't describe it. Last year at this time I was down in the dumps," Karim said. "I couldn't imagine being where I'm at today. It's a big thing, and I feel it's a team award. I couldn't be where I'm at without my team."
Hudgins helped Elon reach its first postseason since the program's NAIA days. And in doing so, he surpassed names like Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens in the record books.
The receiver finished the campaign with over 1600 yards receiving, placing him over 5200 for his career.
Edwards said that if he had a vote, it would be for Hudgins.
"This man had 1,000 receiving after five games," Edwards pointed out.
Hudgins said he plans to find an agent and begin working out in preparation for the spring's NFL Draft Combine.
ALL WORK...AND ALL PLAY
Matthews had the opportunity to present the Buck Buchanan Award to his own player, as defensive end Arthur Moats received the honor.
Moats was a backfield terror, leading the Dukes with 11 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. He also finished as the team's leading overall tackler, a feat almost unheard of coming from a line player. He had 90.
Matthews regaled those the awards banquet crowd with a story about his recruiting trip to visit Moats. After hours spent playing with his family, Moats suited up for his high school's varsity basketball team -- and from there clocked in at his part-time job at a fast food restaurant.
That same kind of hard work carried over into Moats' gridiron work ethic, as his Herculean stat line proves. Working toward a degree he hopes to put to use as a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Moats should have career options.
At 6'2 and over 250 pounds, NFL teams could come calling on Draft Day.
Moats was all smiles throughout the ceremony, including when he accepted the award and acknowledged his JMU coaches and teammates for helping elevate his game.
"HE SHOULD WIN COACH OF THE CENTURY"
The above were the words of Matthews, describing Eddie Robinson Award winner Henry Frazier III. The Prairie View A&M sideline general led the Panthers to their first Southwest Athletic Conference championship since 1964, a feat that's impression is compounded when one considers just a decade ago, PVAMU was famous only for its 80-game losing streak.
But with a new attitude and dedication, the Panthers lost just once on the campaign, that coming to Bowl Subdivision participant New Mexico State, en route to a perfect SWAC slate.
"I'm very humbled by this award," Frazier said. "Eddie Robinson, Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan all came from the Southwest Athletic Conference, so to be the first coach from a [Historically Black College & University] to receive this award is incredibly humbling."
A coach who Jerry Moore introduced as someone who truly exemplified what the profession is about, Frazier was quick to point the work of those around him in the Panthers' rise from the gutter.
"They say it takes a village to raise a kid -- it took a village to turn this around. It wasn't just me. Great assistant coaches, great student athletes and a committed administration -- that's a recipe for success."
