Dec. 3, 2003

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -

The Mountain West Conference announced its 2003 football awards today. The league's eight head coaches and conference-wide media panel selected the all-conference teams, coach, offensive player, defensive player and freshman awards.

Utah head coach Urban Meyer captured Coach of the Year honors, while Kirk Morrison of San Diego State and Bradlee Van Pelt of Colorado State were selected the Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year, respectively. Freshman of the Year honors went to Lynell Hamilton of San Diego State.

Offensive Player of the Year
Bradlee Van Pelt**, Sr., QB, Colorado State

Defensive Player of the Year
Kirk Morrison, Jr., LB, San Diego State

Freshman of the Year
Lynell Hamilton, RB, San Diego State

Coach of the Year
Urban Meyer, Utah

All-Mountain West First-Team

Offense

Pos.    Player               Cl.  SchoolQB      Bradlee Van Pelt**   Sr.  Colorado StateWR      David Anderson       So.  Colorado StateWR      Paris Warren         Jr.  UtahRB      DonTrell Moore*/**   So.  New MexicoRB      Lynell Hamilton      Fr.  San Diego StateTE      Ben Moa              Sr.  UtahOL      Jason Lenzmeier      Sr.  New MexicoOL      Claude Terrell       Jr.  New MexicoOL      Erik Pears           Jr.  Colorado StateOL      Ryan Cook            So.  New MexicoOL      Brendan Darby        Sr.  San Diego StatePK      Wes Zunker           Jr.  New MexicoPR/KR   Dexter Wynn**        Sr.  Colorado State

Defense

Pos.    Player               Cl.  SchoolDL      D.J. Renteria        Sr.  New MexicoDL      Brady Poppinga**     Jr.  BYUDL      Josh Savage          Sr.  UtahDL      Bryan Save           Sr.  Colorado StateLB      Kirk Morrison**      Jr.  San Diego StateLB      Adam Seward          Jr.  UNLVLB      Marchello Graddy     Sr.  Air ForceDB      Jamaal Brimmer*/**   Jr.  UNLVDB      Aaron Francisco      Jr.  BYUDB      Dexter Wynn          Sr.  Colorado StateDB      Brandon Ratcliff**   Sr.  New MexicoP       Matt Payne**         Jr.  BYU

*--Unanimous Selection
**--Two-Time First-Team Selection

All-Mountain West Second-Team

Offense

Pos.    Player               Cl.  SchoolQB      Alex Smith           So.  UtahWR      Earvin Johnson       Jr.  UNLVWR      Dwight Counter       Sr.  New MexicoRB      Brandon Warfield     Sr.  UtahRB      Reynaldo Brathwaite  Jr.  BYUTE      Joel Dreessen        Jr.  Colorado StateOL      Dominic Furio        Sr.  UNLVOL      Brett Huyser         Sr.  Air ForceOL      Mark Dreyer          Sr.  Colorado StateOL      Mike Kracalik        Jr.  San Diego StateOL      Brett Waller         Sr.  Air ForcePK      Dillon Pieffer       Sr.  UNLVPR/KR   Bo Nagahi            Jr.  Utah

Defense

Pos.    Player               Cl.  SchoolDL      Zach Rupp            Sr.  New MexicoDL      Daniel Kegler        Sr.  New MexicoDL      Brandon Casavan      Sr.  WyomingDL      Brandon Rager        Sr.  San Diego StateLB      Matt McCoy           So.  San Diego StateLB      Daniel Gawronski     Sr.  New MexicoLB      Billy Strother       Sr.  New MexicoDB      Dave Revill          Sr.  UtahDB      Gabriel Fulbright    So.  New MexicoDB      Jeff Shoate          Sr.  San Diego StateDB      Morgan Scalley       Jr.  UtahP       Gary Cook            Jr.  UNLV

Honorable Mention

Air Force: Joey Ashcroft, PK; Monty Coleman, DL; Chance Harridge, QB/RB; Larry Duncan, DB; Trevor Hightower, LB; Andrew Martin, P; Blane Neufeld, OL; Jeff Overstreet, DB; Darnell Stephens, RB; Adam Strecker, TE; Nick Taylor, DL; Jesse Underbakke, OL. BYU: James Allen, DB; Colby Bockwoldt, LB; Quinn Christensen, OL; Toby Christensen, WR; Jernaro Gilford, DB; Scott Jackson, OL; Matt Payne, PK; Ifo Pili, DL; Mike Tanner, LB. Colorado State: Jamie Amicarella, OL; Jeff Babcock, PK/P; Matt Bartz, TE; Michael Brisiel, OL; Jeff Flora, LB; Patrick Goodpaster, DL; Lavell Mann, DL; Benny Mastropaolo, DB; Eric Pauly, LB; Chris Pittman, WR; Rashaan Sanders, RB; Andre Sommersell, DL; Ben Stratton, DB; Drew Wood, LB. New Mexico: Casey Kelly, QB; Nick Speegle, LB; Sidney Wiley, DB. San Diego State: Jacob Elimimian, DB; J.C. Meija, PK; Brook Miller, DL; Seth Santoro, P; Marviel Underwood, DB; Jeff Webb, WR. UNLV: John Andrews, LB; Ryan Claridge, LB; Larry Croom, RB; Tremayne Kirkland, KR; Joe Miklos, DB. Utah: Steve Fifita, DL; Thomas Herrion, OL; Ray Holdcraft, LB; Chris Kemoeatu, OL; Arnold Parker, DB; Max Petersen, OL; Steve Savoy, WR; Eric Weddle, DB. Wyoming: Jovon Bouknight, WR/KR; Casey Bramlet, QB; Chris Dixon, DB; Malcom Floyd, WR; Trenton Franz, OL: Tyler Gottschalk, LB; Ryan McGuffey, WR; Isaac Morales, OL; Aaron Robbins, TE; Deric Yaussi, PK.

Breakdown

           First-Team   Second-TeamSeniors        11            15Juniors        10             7Sophomores      3             3Freshmen        1             0

Notes