Fletcher Lands MVP Honors
11/24/2009 3:00:26 PM | Football
Montana State defensive end Dane Fletcher was named the league's Defensive MVP on Tuesday, the fifth Bobcat in history so honored and the third in the last seven years.
Fletcher was also one of four Bobcats honored as First Team All-Big Sky players for 2009, joining MSU offensive guard Jeff Hansen (Great Falls) as unanimous selections. Offensive tackle Mike Person (Glendive) and defensive tackle Dan Ogden (Kalispell) also landed on the first team.
"This is an outstanding honor for Dane," said MSU coach Rob Ash. "He has a tremendous amount of respect around the Big Sky Conference not only for how well he plays but for how he plays. I think it's telling that he was a unanimous selection even while missing two conference games."
In addition to the conference honors, Fletcher also officially became a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the Football Championship Subdivision's top defensive player, The Sports Network announced late Monday. Media and sports information directors around the Football Championship Subdivision select the Buchanan, Walter Payton (for top offensive player) and Eddie Robinson (for coach of the year) winners in voting conducted this week.
Fletcher led the Big Sky Conference with 17.5 tackles for loss, and was also among the league leaders with seven sacks. He hurried the quarterback four times, broke up one pass, and blocked a pair of kicks during his senior season. The senior from Bozeman High played in only nine games this fall, battling a bout with mono that cost him a pair of contests. He joins Roger Cooper (2004), current Bobcat coach Kane Ioane (2003), fellow Bozeman High grad Corey Widmer (1990), and Mark Fellows (1984) as MSU's Defensive MVP selection.
Montana State's All-Big Sky selections, as well as the team's annual award winners, are below...
Big Sky Honors
Defensive MVP
First Team
Second Team
Honorable Mention
DE John Laidet, LB Jody Owens, S Michael Rider, ST Tanner Ripley
WR Everett Gilbert, TE Joe Schreibeis, K Jason Cunningham, DT Jason D'Alba, RB Aaron Mason, LB Clay Bignell, CB Kevin RetorianoOG Jeff Hansen, OT Mike Person, DT Dan Ogden, DE Dane Fletcher
Team Honors
Awards voted on by Team Members
Sonny Holland Off. MVP
Bill Kollar Def. MVP
Jan Stenerud ST MVP
Don Hass Inspirational
Coaches Choice Awards
Dennis Erickson Offensive
Joe Tiller Defensive
Ken Amato Kick Teams
Top Offensive Scout
Top Defensive Scout
Top Kick Teams Scout
RB Cody KirkLB Aleksai GrosulakQB Denarius McGheeRB Blayde BeckstedDT Dan Ogden, CB Kevin Retoriano OG Jeff Hansen S Michael Rider, TD Joe SchreibeisLB Tanner Ripley DE Dane Fletcher WR Everett Gilbert Dane Fletcher DE
