All-MAC teams announced--Sheehan Robbed, Ignorance Reigns

The All-MAC teams were announced yesterday, and the Falcons fared pretty well, although I have one pretty major quibble with what was decided.

To no one's surprise, LeFevour won the Leadership Award (MVP) as well as offensive player of the year, both well deserved awards. I wondered if they wouldn't split the two of them (one for LeFevour and one for Barnes), but even in my orangest heart I can't quibble with these choices. 

Beyond that, four Falcons were honored.

• Freddie did make first team All-MAC, which he deserved.
  
• Jimmy Sheidler, second team at TE, which surprised me, though I don't know why.  He's a good player.
• Shane Steffy on the third team line, also well deserved.

Now, there's one more.  Tyler Sheehan was third-team All-MAC....behind Tim Hiller of WMU.

And that, my friends, is total and complete BS...unencumbered by the thought process.

Let's look at some facts.

• Yards/game:  Sheehan 1st in MAC, Hiller 2nd
• Completion %:  Sheehan 64%, Hiller 60%
• TD Passes:  Sheehan 23, Hiller 23
• Interceptions:  Sheehan 6, Hiller 12
• Passing Efficiency:  Sheehan 134, Hiller 122 (Hiller is (9TH in the MAC)
  Yards per attempt:  Sheehan 6.9, Hiller 6.4
• Yards per completion:  Sheehan 10.8, Hiller10.5
• Leadership:  Sheehan's team bowl-bound, Hiller's team tanked on high expectations

These numbers tell the story. 

Sheehan leads Hiller on every measure except one, and that one is a tie.  There is only one reason for Hiller to be ranked ahead of Sheehan, and that's because whatever numb-nuts vote on this award decided before the season that Hiller was the better QB and didn't both to check and see who had the better season, because it isn't even close.

The choice of Hiller as second team ALL-MAC is completely wrong and just ridiculous.  Tyler Sheehan was the second best QB in the MAC this year....there can be no doubt about it, and a voter with even a passing amount of thought would have seen it that way.

I know these awards don't mean anything.  But, it just seems to me that the voters--out of respect for the game--would show a little more respect for the players who are working to earn these honors.  


2009 MAC Specialty Award Winners

Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan

Coach of the Year: Al Golden, Temple

Offensive Player of the Year: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan

Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Robinson, Temple

Special Teams Player of the Year: Antonio Brown, Central Michigan

Freshman of the Year: Bernard Pierce, Temple



All-MAC First Team Offense

Position - Name - School

Quarterback - Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan #^~

Center - Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois %

Offensive Lineman - Allen Ollenburger, Central Michigan

Offensive Lineman - Jason Onyebuagu, Northern Illinois %

Offensive Lineman - Darius Morris, Temple

Offensive Lineman - Colin Madison, Temple

Tight End - Jesse Rack, Buffalo

Wide Receiver - Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green

Wide Receiver - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan @

Wide Receiver - Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo @&

Wide Receiver - Stephen Williams, Toledo #!

Running Back - Bernard Pierce, Temple

Running Back - Chad Spann, Northern Illinois

Placekicker - Matt Weller, Ohio



All-MAC First Team Defense

Position - Name - School

Outside Linebacker - Lee Renfro, Ohio

Outside Linebacker - Elijah Joseph, Temple

Inside Linebacker - Nick Bellore, Central Michigan @

Inside Linebacker - Cobrani Mixon, Kent State

Down Lineman - Andre Neblett, Temple #!

Down Lineman - Adrian Robinson, Temple

Down Lineman - Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple

Down Lineman - Frank Zombo, Central Michigan @

Defensive Back - Barry Church, Toledo @^~

Defensive Back - Davonte Shannon, Buffalo @^

Defensive Back - Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple

Defensive Back - Brian Lainhart, Kent State #

Punter - Matt Rinehart, Kent State



All-MAC First Team Specialists

Position - Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist - Chris Garrett, Ohio

Punt Return Specialist - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan @^

All-MAC Second Team Offense

Position - Name - School

Quarterback - Tim Hiller, Western Michigan %

Center - Colin Miller, Central Michigan

Offensive Lineman - Peter Bittner, Buffalo

Offensive Lineman - Brandon Brooks, Miami

Offensive Lineman - Anthony Parker, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman - Devin Tyler, Temple

Tight End - Jimmy Scheidler, Bowling Green

Wide Receiver - Eric Page, Toledo

Wide Receiver - Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan @!~

Wide Receiver - Taylor Price, Ohio

Wide Receiver - LaVon Brazill, Ohio

Running Back - Brandon West, Western Michigan %!

Running Back - MiQuale Lewis, Ball State @

Placekicker - Mike Salerno, Northern Illinois #



All-MAC Second Team Defense

Position - Name - School

Outside Linebacker - Austin Pritchard, Western Michigan @

Outside Linebacker - Robert Eddins, Ball State

Inside Linebacker - Brian Wagner, Akron

Inside Linebacker - Noah Keller, Ohio #

Down Lineman - Brandon Crawford, Ball State #&

Down Lineman - Jake Coffman, Northern Illinois

Down Lineman - Monte Simmons, Kent State

Down Lineman - Brandon Bice, Northern Illinois

Defensive Back - Mike Newton, Buffalo #

Defensive Back - Thad Turner, Ohio

Defensive Back - Josh Gordy, Central Michigan

Defensive Back - Miguel Graham, Akron

Punter - Zach Johnson, Eastern Michigan



All-MAC Second Team Specialists

Position - Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist - James Nixon, Temple

Punt Return Specialist - LaVon Brazill, Ohio

All-MAC Third Team Offense

Position - Name - School

Quarterback - Tyler Sheehan, Bowling Green

Center - John Palumbo, Temple

Offensive Lineman - Joe Flading, Ohio

Offensive Lineman - Shane Steffy, Bowling Green

Offensive Lineman - Chris Rodgers, Ohio

Offensive Lineman - Corey Woods, Akron

Tight End - Steve Maneri, Temple

Wide Receiver - Robert Arnheim, Western Michigan

Wide Receiver - Juan Nunez, Western Michigan %

Wide Receiver - Armand Robinson, Miami

Wide Receiver - Brett Hamlin, Buffalo

Running Back - DaJuane Collins, Toledo %

Running Back - Me'co Brown, Northern Illinois

Placekicker - Alex Steigerwald, Toledo



All-MAC Third Team Defense

Position - Name - School

Outside Linebacker - Andre Hatchett, Eastern Michigan

Outside Linebacker - Amara Kamara, Temple

Inside Linebacker - Alex Joseph, Temple

Inside Linebacker - Archie Donald, Toledo

Down Lineman - Almondo Sewell, Akron %!

Down Lineman - Ernie Hodge, Ohio

Down Lineman - Larry Knight, Central Michigan

Down Lineman - Sean Murnane, Central Michigan %

Defensive Back - Gerald Moore, Ohio

Defensive Back - Dominique Harris, Temple

Defensive Back - Anthony Kokal, Miami

Defensive Back - Jalil Carter, Akron

Punter - Ben Armer, Western Michigan



All-MAC Third Team Specialists

Position - Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist - Dashan Miller, Akron

Punt Return Specialist - Tommy Davis, Northern Illinois



@ 2008 First team All-MAC

# 2008 Second team All-MAC

% 2008 Third team All-MAC

^ 2007 First team All-MAC

! 2007 Second team All-MAC

& 2007 Third team All-MAC

~ 2006 First team All-MAC