Spotlight: Coach Joe Paterno of Penn State awarded the 2005 MCS National Coach of the Year
In his 40th season as head coach, Paterno has led the Nittany Lions to a 10-win regular season, the conference's automatic berth into the BCS and a date with ACC champion Florida State in the 72nd FedEx Orange Bowl, a No. 3 ranking in the Master Coaches Survey Top 25 poll, as well as MCS National Coach of the Year honors." [more]

Spotlight: UCLA's Maurice Drew awarded the 2005 MCS Special Teams Player of the Year
Drew, who leads the nation in punt-return average (29.07, which would be an NCAA record), has been named the Master Coaches Survey's Special Teams Player of the Year.

"He's an exciting player who can score from anywhere on the field," said former West Virginia head coach Don Nehlen, one of the Master Coaches who voted on the award. "But I believe his mental toughness sets him apart from all the other players." [more]

Spotlight: Ohio State's A J Hawk named the 2005 MCS Defensive Player of the Year
It's been a whirlwind month for Ohio State  linebacker A.J. Hawk, who traveled to three different states in a span of five days in early December as a finalist for the Lombardi, Butkus, Bednarik, Walter Camp and Lott awards.

He'll make his final collegiate appearance in Sun Devil Stadium, having wrapped up the Lombardi Award, several All-America honors and now his selection as the Master Coaches Survey Defensive Player of the Year.

"A.J. epitomizes the linebacker position," said former Syracuse head coach Dick MacPherson, one of the Master Coaches who voted on the award. "I haven't seen a player as dominating in a long time." [more]

Spotlight: Southern Cal's Reggie Bush tabbed the 2005 MCS Offensive Player of the Year
Reggie Bush was awarded by the Master Coaches the Offensive Player of the Year Award for 2005.

"With Reggie Bush, there's the obvious skills that everybody talks about and is aware of," said John Robinson, the coach who led USC to a national championship in 1978. "But given all his speed, quickness and athleticism, he's a tough guy, too." [more]