FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Laubscher, Washington and Lee
(540) 458-8669
  
December 14, 2007


Hampden-Sydney’s Drew Smith Named College Division Football Player of the Year
Tigers’ Favret Named Coach of the Year;
Ferrum’s Vann Tabbed Rookie of the Year

LEXINGTON, Va. – Hampden-Sydney senior wide receiver Drew Smith (Richmond, Va.) has been named the 2007 Virginia College Division Football Player of the Year in voting conducted by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID).  Additionally, H-SC’s Marty Favret was tabbed the Coach of the Year, while Ferrum freshman running back Mike Vann (Woodbridge, Va.) was named the Rookie of the Year.

2007 VaSID College Division Football All-State Team

Smith earned the Player of the Year award after receiving the Dudley Award as the Virginia College Division Player of the Year.  He is also a finalist for the Gagliardi Award, which is presented to the Division III Player of the Year.  Smith caught 110 passes for 1,616 yards and eight touchdowns in helping lead the Tigers to the ODAC title and an NCAA Tournament berth.  He was named First Team All-ODAC and ODAC Offensive Player of the Year after setting a school record for receptions and ranking No. 1 in Division III in receiving yards per game (146.9 ypg).

Favret led the Tigers to an 8-3 overall record and a 5-1 mark in the ODAC.  He was also named ODAC Coach of the Year after guiding H-SC to its first conference title since 1987 and first NCAA Tournament berth since 1977.

Vann was named the Rookie of the Year following an initial campaign that saw him rush for 730 yards and nine touchdowns on just 77 carries.  He also had 14 receptions for 280 yards and two touchdowns and returned 14 kickoffs for 424 yards and another touchdown.  His 12 touchdowns led the team and he was named First Team All-USA South and the USA South Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Repeat selections to the first team included Washington and Lee senior linebacker Bryant Fulk (Oceanside, Calif.), senior cornerback Mark Snoddy (Atlanta, Ga.) and junior return specialist Stuart Sitterson (Atlanta, Ga.), Virginia-Wise junior quarterback Randy Hippeard (Stafford, Va.) and Hampden-Sydney’s Smith.

Christopher Newport and Virginia-Wise led all schools with seven selections to the first or second team, followed by Randolph-Macon and Washington and Lee with six selections.  Hampden-Sydney, Southern Virginia, Emory & Henry and Bridgewater all claimed five selections to the first or second teams.

The Virginia College Division members for football include The Apprentice School, Averett University, Bridgewater College, Christopher Newport University, Emory & Henry College, Ferrum College, Hampden-Sydney College, Randolph-Macon College, Saint Paul’s College, Shenandoah University, Southern Virginia University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, The University of Virginia-Wise and Washington and Lee University.

All-State teams are selected by active members of the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.  For more information, please visit the VaSID site at http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/vasid.