FRISCO, Texas - The Tiger football program was recognized on a national level this past weekend. At the FCS Awards Presentation sponsored by The Sports Network and Fathead.com, Towson representatives won two of the four major awards.
Coach Rob Ambrose was the recipient of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award while running back Terrance West was honored as the winner of the inaugural Jerry Rice Award presented to the top freshman in FCS football.
Ambrose, who was honored as the Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year in November, edged out Willie Fritz of Sam Houston State for the Eddie Robinson Award. He received 59 of 132 first-place votes and a total of 453 points from a panel of Sports Information Directors and sports reporters who cover FCS football. Ambrose led the "Turnaround Tigers" to a 9-3 record and a berth in the NCAA FCS playoffs. Fritz received 40 first place votes and a total of 424 points after leading Sam Houston State to the national championship game.
A first team All-American selection, West won the voting for the Jerry Rice Award in a landslide. The NCAA FCS leader with 29 touchdowns scored, he received 89 of 132 first place votes and 533 points. A four-time CAA Rookie of the Week and a two-time CAA Offensive Player of the Week, he was honored as the CAA Rookie of the Year.
In addition, linebacker Matt Evans of New Hampshire won the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the nation while quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell of Eastern Washington was named as the winner of the 25th annual Walter Payton Award as the top player in FCS football.
Director of Athletics Mike Waddell led the Towson University contingent at the Awards Presentation in Frisco. Tim and Janet Ambrose, the parents of Coach Ambrose, and Melissa Ambrose, the wife of the Tigers' coach, were also on hand. Terrance West had his mother, Onika West, and his grandmother, Yolanda Stevenson, in attendance.
A pair of former Tiger football players who reside in the Dallas area, Greig Altieri, '85 and Jay Wasserman, '87, were also in attendance. Both were members of Tiger football teams which played in the NCAA Division II playoffs in the 1980's. A former tight end, Greig attended the dinner with his wife, Debbie, also a Towson graduate. A former defensive back, Jay was joined by his wife, Christina, and their three sons at the dinner.
