1957 Award Winners
Most Valuable Player - QB Connor O’Rourke PROA close vote between Connor O’Rourke and Arthur Conner ended with O’Rourke on top. This season, O’Rourke was a huge part of the Gold Stars’ success, and if the team didn’t have him behind centre, they could’ve been in a very different position. O’Rourke also becomes the second Providence QB to win the league’s MVP award after Bruce Woodard won it in 1953.
Playoff MVP - S Frazier Brooks BUF
Once again the McCallister Cup MVP takes home the playoff MVP as well. Brooks was a force in Buffalo’s secondary in both of their playoff games. He had a total of 3 interceptions over the 2 games and broke up another 9 passes. Brooks showed once again that he was a great pick back in 1952 and got the Blue Wings over the top once again.
Offensive Player of the Year - RB Arthur Conner BUF
Conner fell short in the MVP votes, but in consolation, he took home his second Offensive Player of the Year award. Conner has come into his own in the last few seasons and has been at the top of the league over those seasons. No doubt the RB, who has been overshadowed during a lot of his career, has become the best of the best with this second honour in 3 years.
Defensive Player of the Year - LB Brent Harper BOS
Harper becomes the first Boston player to take home an award since the 1950 season. There was no doubt that Harper was the best defensive player this season. Leading the league in tackles and forced fumbles (10, which was 3 more than Lynch in second), Harper was playing on another level to get the Independents back to the playoffs.
Special Teams Player of the Year - K Johnnie Berg BOS
After all the absent years, Boston grabs two awards with K Johnnie Berg taking home the Special Teams award. Berg was the most consistent kicker this season and was able to put up a league-leading 83 points this season, which made up 40% of Boston’s total points this season.
Rookie of the Year - DL William Sanderson IND
The rookies this year did not stand out like in years past, but you can not take away Sanderson’s strong first season where he led all rookies in sacks and forced fumbles this season. The 2nd overall pick already has lots of comfort in Indiana and should settle into a star role over the next few seasons.
Coach of the Year - Dannell Willis BUF
Willis was the obvious pick for coach of the year after taking the Blue Wings from a 1-2 start to a 10-2 finish. In only his second season as the head man, Willis was able to rejuvenate the defence and, with the help of OC Tim Bakersfield, got Angelo Medina back to form for this spectacular season.
Breakout Player of the Year - WR Sammy Moss PRO
Sammy Moss had a huge season in his second year. He broke through to second in the league in receiving touchdowns and was a key piece in the Gold Stars’ return to the top of their division. Moss is the third Gold Star to win the award after WR John Osborn and this year’s MVP Connor O’Rourke.
The 1957 season marked a first where they had an All-Star team for each division.
West Division All-Stars
QB Angelo Medina BUF - 1
RB Arthur Conner BUF - 3
OL Jean Mathieu-Baptiste BUF - 1
OL Casey York BUF - 8
OL Bruce Wesley LI - 2
OL Aaron Spears LOU - 2
OL Ulysses Fairgrove ON - 1
WR Joseph Barry IND - 2
WR Robert Lang LI - 1
WR Benedict Spencer ON - 1
TE Johnny Mantle IV - 1
DL Sean Bowen BUF - 8
DL William Sanderson IND - 1
DL Vernon Spears LI - 1
DL Dee Floyd ON - 2
LB Aengus Lynch ON - 4
LB Rusty McVee LI - 2
LB Ben McCray BUF/LOU - 1
DB Slay Mitchell LI - 2
DB Lester Murphy IND - 3
DB Lou Lake BUF - 1
S Frazier Brooks - 2
K Thomas McFadden LOU - 6
East Division All-Stars
QB Connor O'Rourke PRO - 1
RB Marcus Devonshire WOR - 1
OL Andrew Furrson BOS - 9
OL Eugésippe Chalifoux MTL - 3
OL Charlie Bennett OTT - 1
OL Wilfred Gibson PRO - 1
OL Cliff Strautzenbeger WOR - 3
WR Chester Bennett OTT - 2
WR Sammy Moss PRO - 1
WR Ellis Lindholm BOS - 1
TE Jervonte Howell OTT - 4
DL Olaf Viktorsson OTT - 4
DL Vinny Brown WOR - 1
DL Calias McDonough PRO - 2
DL Zakary Turbide PRO - 3
LB Brent Harper BOS - 2
LB Scotty Williams WOR - 6
LB Konrad Aust BOS - 1
DB Quentin Xavier MTL - 2
DB Mingan Oliver OTT - 1
DB Alexander Bradley WOR - 4
S Mason Parker PRO - 1
K Johnnie Berg BOS - 1
Indianapolis will be the home for the 40th edition of the McCallister Cup. This will be the first to leave the true northeast as the league looks to continue to grow the midwest market. Victory Stadium just opened this past season and will be a fresh new home for the game.
No comments:
Post a Comment