UVA-Wise’s Morgan Named College Division Football Player of the Year
Washington and Lee’s Frank Miriello Named Coach of the Year

LEXINGTON, Va. – The University of Virginia’s College at Wise junior running back Ra’Shad Morgan and Washington and Lee Head Coach Frank Miriello have been named the 2006 Virginia College Division Football Player and Coach of the Year in voting conducted by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID).

2006 VaSID College Division Football All-State Team

Morgan earned the Player of the Year award after receiving the Dudley Award as the Virginia College Division Player of the Year.  He was named a First Team NAIA All-American and the Mid-South Conference Offensive Player of the Year.  He set 11 school records during the season in leading the Highland Cavaliers to an 8-3 overall record, their first winning season in five years.  Morgan rushed for 1,657 yards and 25 touchdowns on 306 attempts and led the NAIA in rushing (150.6 ypg), scoring (13.6 ppg) and all-purpose yards (178.3 ypg).  He totaled 1,961 all-purpose yards and had 35 receptions for 304 yards.

Miriello was tabbed the Coach of the Year after guiding Washington and Lee to a 7-4 overall record and the school’s first ODAC Championship since the 1985 season.  The 2006 ODAC Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region III, Division III Coach of the Year, Miriello coached the Generals to their first-ever Division III playoff berth and first postseason game of any kind since the 1951 Gator Bowl.

Repeat selections to the first team included Hampden-Sydney senior offensive lineman Paul Williams, Apprentice senior defensive lineman Olando Robinson, Christopher Newport defensive back Rob Rodriguez  and Washington and Lee senior wide receiver Colton Ward.

Christopher Newport and Virginia-Wise led all schools with nine selections to the first or second team, followed by Washington and Lee and Bridgewater with eight selections.  The Apprentice School had three first- or second-teamers, while Averett, Ferrum, Hampden-Sydney, Emory & Henry and Shenandoah had two selections to the all-state team.  Randolph-Macon, Virginia Union and Virginia State each had one all-state member. Christopher Newport posted the most first team members with six, including four first-teamers on defense.

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, 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.

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