1960 NAAF Award Nominations

1960 NAAF Award Nominations 

MVP

WR Max Sutton LDN
Sutton has quickly developed into one of the league’s best WRs over the past two seasons. During the 1960 season, Sutton put up numbers that were getting up there with the great WR Allen Atkins. He would lead the league significantly in both receiving touchdowns and receiving yards and was a big reason the Tigers had the league’s #1 scoring offence once again. 

QB Jean Matieau OTT
The league’s best QB was back at the top of the league for passing touchdowns this season. While he didn’t have as many passing yards as usual with RB Alexei Volkov getting more touches, there is no denying the impact Matieau makes, as he was able to lead the Royals from the brink of missing the playoffs to back-to-back wins to clinch 3rd in the East.  

LB Scotty Williams WOR
Williams was getting lost behind many younger LB talents and the startling decline of the Worcester Athletics, however, the 1960 season was one that proved why Williams is still the best in the game. He would lead the league in tackles while racking up 5 forced fumbles and an interception. Williams also was second in passes defended for Linebackers behind only LB Konrad Aust of the Independents.  

Offensive Player of the Year
WR Max Sutton LDN - 12 Receiving Touchdowns (1st), 1st in Receiving Yards
RB Johnnie Stafford LI/BUF - 18 Rushing Touchdowns (T-1st), 2nd in Rushing Yards
Johnnie Stafford and Scott Mallard-White don’t have a lot to separate them, but the fact that Stafford was here while playing for two different teams is stellar. He finally had the career year he was waiting for. 
RB Scott Mallard-White MTL - 18 Rushing Touchdowns (T-1st), 1st in Rushing Yards
Mallard-White was once again a big part of Montreal’s offensive attack and found himself tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns. 
QB Jean Matieau OTT - 23 Passing Touchdowns (1st), 2nd in Passing Yards 

Defensive Player of the Year
LB Brent Harper BOS - 6 Forced Fumbles (T-1st), 2nd in Tackles
Another strong season for Harper who was keeping the Boston defence in the game week-to-week with consistently strong play.
DB Jackson Miles LDN - 6 Interceptions (T-1st), 1 Defensive Touchdown, 3rd in Passes Defended
Jackson Miles has quickly become a huge threat in the secondary for the Tigers reeling in 6 picks this season and taking one back for a TD.
DB Quentin Xavier MTL - 6 Interceptions (T-1st), 2 Defensive Touchdown, 1st in plays defended
Xavier finds himself back here every year, a dominant DB that makes things happen for the Rouge and leading the way for DBs this season.  
LB Scotty Williams WOR - 5 Forced Fumbles (T-3rd), 1 Interception, 1st in Tackles 

Special Teams Player of the Year
K Johnnie Berg BOS - 24 Field Goals (1st), 28 Extra Points, 100 Points (1st)
Johnnie Berg was a big help in Boston’s strong 1960 season taking the league lead in Kicking points.
K Nimrod Handsworth LDN - 21 Field Goals (4th), 34 Extra Points, 2 singles, 99 Points (2nd)
A fabulous rookie season from Nimrod Handsworth landed him a nomination for special teams player of the year, he put up the second most extra points this season.
K Henderson Schumacher LI - 22 Field Goals (3rd), 28 Extra Points, 94 Points (3rd)
Schumacher continues to be an important point scorer for the Raiders as he puts up 94 of the team’s 270 points this season.  

Rookie of the Year
RB Jimmy Golden BUF - 7 Rushing Touchdowns, led rookies in Rushing Yards
Jimmy took advantage of his golden opportunity after RB Johnnie Stafford was traded out of town. He would put up 7 touchdowns on the season and would be way ahead for rookies in rushing yards this season.
WR Alexei Dubois IND - 4 Receiving Touchdowns, led rookies in Receiving Yards
The first overall pick certainly made his presence on an Indiana squad that struggled to get to the endzone through the air the year before. He would lead the team in touchdown catches this season and lead his fellow rookies, WR Joshua Lafleur and WR Ed Edwards, in Receiving yards among rookies. 
DB Joe Robinson WOR - 2 Interceptions, 1 Defensive Touchdown
Joe Robinson would ultimately suffer an injury during his rookie campaign but when he was on the field the DB seemed to show lots of promise in one day being the next anchor on the backend for Worcester.  

Coach of the Year
Ben McMillian BOS - Record: 8-4
The first season as a head coach was certainly one to remember for McMillian. After the team stumbled out of the gate to 0-2, McMillian was able to lead them to 5 straight wins and an 8-2 record over the last 10 games of the season to clinch the team’s first division titles since 1954. 
Jimmy Sargent LI - Record: 8-3-1
Sargent also had a rough start to the season, which even had some questioning if he should be let go. It didn’t help with star RB Dareion Fields being out for the season, but he managed to get the defence rolling and then with the addition of RB Johnnie Stafford won 7 of 8 including 5 in a row to clinch the West Division once again. 
Dean Reed MTL - Record: 8-4
The former Boston coach made his impact known in Montreal immediately. The team had struggled under Soni Dionne for several seasons, but in Reed’s first season, the team was 4-0 out of the gate. While they would slip to a 4-4 record over the last 8 games, the team still finished second in the East making their first playoff appearance since 1954.  

Breakout Player of the Year
RB Johnnie Stafford LI/BUF - 18 Rushing Touchdowns (T-1st), 2nd in Rushing Yards
While last season was a career year for Stafford, he was able to top it again this season with numbers that put him at the top of the league. Honestly, Stafford should've been nominated last season, but the success with Long Island this season truly showed how good Stafford had gotten over the past two seasons.
 WR Derek Cross MTL - 10 Receiving Touchdowns (2nd), 3rd in Receiving Yards
Cross has shown lots of potential throughout his young career, but this season he was able to take off for 10 touchdowns to fall into 2nd in the league. Cross was a big part of why Montreal had a hot start and will likely be a big name WR for many years to come.
QB Gene Bishop WOR - 9 Passing Touchdowns (T-7th), 3 Rushing Touchdowns
The QB choice comes again for Gene Bishop who did have a strong season leading the Worcester Athletics to a return to the playoffs. The big note is the 3 rushing touchdowns which were the most among QBs showing that he has an impact through the air and on the ground.  

43rd McCallister Cup Host
Long Island Stadium - Hempstead, NY - Capacity: 40,450 - Last Host: 1955
The big city is vying for another host of the McCallister Cup, with the Raiders becoming more popular, it may be a great time to bring the big one back to keep the fan base growing in the NYC area. 
Royals Stadium at Brewer Park - Ottawa, ON - Capacity: 45,210 - Last Host: 1954
(Lansdowne Park)Ottawa has been looking to get the game into their new stadium that opened at the start of the 1955 season. Lansdowne Park was the location of the ‘54 McCallister Cup and was much smaller than the new stadium.