Bucknell University Athletics
Kevin Eiben Named Most Valuable Player by his Teammates at Bucknell's Postseason Football Awards Banquet
12/6/2000 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 6, 2000
LEWISBURG, Pa. --- Senior free safety Kevin Eiben (Delta, British Columbia/Vancouver College) was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2000 Bucknell football team by his teammates at the team's postseason banquet over the weekend. Eiben, a first team All-Patriot League selection and an all-America candidate, was one of 18 Bison players honored at the annual Lewisburg Touchdown Club/Bison Club affair.
The 6'0," 205-pound senior was presented with the Lewisburg Touchdown Club Award (MVP) after a record-setting year for the Orange and Blue. He led the Patriot League and ranked seventh in the nation with eight interceptions (0.73/g). Eiben piled up 150 return yards on his interceptions to set a Bucknell single-season record, and tied another when he picked off four passes against Duquesne early in the season. That accomplishment also earned him a place in the Patriot League record book and an appearance on ESPN's Thursday Night Football "Hidden Video" segment. He finished second on the team with 78 tackles (44 unassisted) and led the squad with 10 pass breakups.
In addition, Eiben had an outstanding season as the league's top punt returner. He returned 30 punts for 366 yards, an average of 12.2 yards per return, to rank 15th in Division I-AA. In the process he set Bucknell single- season and career punt return marks with 366 and 626 yards, respectively, and set a Bison career record with 51 punt returns. He had his best punt return performance when he returned seven punts for 126 yards at Towson, setting a Patriot League single-game mark.
Eiben was also honored for his academic achievements when he was selected to the Verizon Academic All-District 2 First Team.
Junior wide receiver Kyle Harris (Provo, Utah/Timpview H.S./Ricks J.C.-Idaho) was presented with the Stuart M. Smith Memorial Award as the team's "Outstanding Newcomer." After transferring from Ricks Junior College the 5'11," 177-pound receiver finished second on the team with 35 receptions for 398 yards and a touchdown. He became the first Bison receiver to tally more than 100-yards receiving since the 1998 campaign when he caught nine passes for 112 yards in Bucknell's win over Duquesne. He was named the Lewisburg Touchdown Club's Offensive Player of the Game following that performance and also after the Colgate contest (4x76, 1 TD).
Junior offensive tackle Garry Reynolds (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville) was named the "Outstanding Offensive Lineman" and presented with the John Campana Award. The 6'4," 300-pound lineman started all 11 games at right tackle and led the way on an offensive line that helped produce Bucknell's first 1,000-yard rusher (Jabu Powell) since the 1997 season.
Senior Tom Kuhn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle) was awarded the George Rieu Award as the "Outstanding Defensive Lineman." Kuhn started nine games at defensive end (missed two with an ankle sprain) and played a big part in Bucknell's pass rush. The 6'4," 250-pound lineman recorded 28 tackles, including eight for a loss of 24 yards, and was second on the team with four quarterback sacks. He was named the Lewisburg Touchdown Club's Defensive Player of the Game after recording eight tackles in the Columbia contest.
Senior cornerback Reed Tunison (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth Regional) was honored with the Clarke Hinkle Award as the "Outstanding Defensive Back of Linebacker." An all-league player during his junior season, Tunison had his year cut short when he broke both bones in his lower leg at Towson in the fifth game of the year. One of the league's best cover corners, the 5'9," 160-pounder recorded 16 tackles (nine solo) and was among the league leaders with eight pass breakups at the time of his injury.
Junior running back Jabu Powell (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips) was the recipient of the Big Blue Award as the "Outstanding Back or Receiver." In one of the most trying years of his career, Powell became the eighth Bison running back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a single season with 1,102 yards on 248 carries. He was named to the All-Patriot League Second Team for the second straight year, and set a Bucknell and Patriot League single-game record with 282 yards against Cornell. He suffered a serious injury in the Lafayette game, and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, putting his season and career in doubt. After a series of tests at the renown Cleveland Clinic, and some careful thought and discussion with his family, he was cleared to play again and returned for the final three games of the season. He will enter his senior year ranked fifth on Bucknell's career rushing chart (2,246) and third on the school's all-purpose yardage list (3,581).
Senior strong safety Dave Evans (Kulpmont, Pa./Mount Carmel) was honored as the "Special Teams MVP." He was a key member of the punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return units for the past three years, and played extensively in the Bison defense in the nickel package. He finished his senior season with 37 tackles (19 solo) and was third on the team with three interceptions for 119 yards. The 5'9," 185-pound senior set a school record with an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Lafayette game.
Evans was also recognized for his outstanding work in the classroom when he was selected to the Verizon Academic All-America Second Team. He became the 19th football player in school history to make the national team, and the 99th student-athlete overall at Bucknell to receive the coveted honor.
Senior linebacker Chad Marsilio (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) was presented with the C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award as the team's "Most Inspirational Player." A starter at inside linebacker in 10 of the 11 games (missed a start due to injury), he finished third on the team with 66 tackles, including seven for a loss of yardage. The 6'2," 211-pound senior was named the Lewisburg Touchdown Club's Defensive Player of the Game following the Georgetown contest in which he made six tackles.
Senior linebacker Eric Higgins (Kulpmont, Pa./Mount Carmel) was honored twice at the banquet. He received the ROTC Leadership Award and was also the recipient of the Moxie Award, which was instituted in 1992 by equipment manager Ken Hare in honor of his grandfather, Walter Jacob "Moxie" Mahlon, and is presented for "Special Contribution to the Bucknell Football Program."
After battling through potential career-ending head injuries in 1998, Higgins started nine games at outside linebacker (missed two with an injury) and finished the year with 31 tackles (13 solo), including five stops behind the line of scrimmage. He was also recognized for his academic achievements when he was named to the Verizon Academic All-District 2 First Team. Senior cornerback Nate Musselman (New Holland, Pa/Garden Spot) was the recipient of the very first Bobby Pangburn Memorial Award, presented for "Commitment, Dedication and Unqualified Friendship." The 5'9," 185-pound defensive back recorded 41 tackles, broke up nine passes and intercepted a pass. He finished his career with nine interceptions, and ranks tied for ninth on the school's all-time list.
Senior quarterback Lucas Phillips (Glen Burnie, Md./Mt. St. Joseph's) was honored with the George L. McGaughey Memorial Award as the "Outstanding Player in the Lafayette Game." He completed 23-of-32 passes for 287 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help lead Bucknell to a 42-30 victory over the Leopards. On the season, he passed for 1,777 yards - the 10th-best passing yardage season in Bucknell history - and accounted for 1,726 yards of total offense - the ninth-best total in school history. He was honored by his teammates as one of the team's captains for the 2000 campaign.
Senior linebacker Vince Ficca (Princeton Junction, N.J./Lawrenceville Prep) was the recipient of the Keating-Rieu Memorial Award as the "Outstanding Player in the Colgate Game." The 5'10," 210-pound inside backer finished his career in style, leading all players with 12 tackles in the heartbreaking loss to the Red Raiders. He finished the season as the Patriot League's leading tackler with 102 (9.3 ppg), and had nine stops behind the line of scrimmage and seven pass breakups. Ficca was honored as the league's defensive player of the week following the Richmond game, and earned the Diversified Information Technologies, Inc. Player of the Game Award after the Colgate game. He was also honored by his teammates as one of the team's captains for the 2000 campaign.
Senior strong safety Justin Lustig (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) was the third and final player named captain for the 2000 season. He finished the year with 64 tackles (38 solo), including 13 for losses totaling 54 yards. He ranked second on the team and in the league with six interceptions for 33 yards, and broke up four additional passes. Lustig finished his outstanding career tied for ninth on the team's all-time interceptions list with nine, and collected 266 tackles.
Freshmen Andrew Cinamella (Pottsville, Pa./Blue Mountain) and Will Smith (Hattiesburg, Miss./Hattiesburg) were named the "Scout Team Players of the Year." Cinamella was tabbed offensive standout after an outstanding job on the offensive line all season, while Smith earned the defensive honor because of his play in the secondary and his enthusiasm during practice each and every day.
Seniors LaMario Bradwell (Titusville, Fla./Titusville), Eric Slaughter (Hinesville, Ga./Bradwell Institute) and Matt Borich (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) were all recipients of the "Coaches Award" for their outstanding work ethic and their contributions to the program during the year. Bradwell rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown this season, and was named the Lewisburg Touchdown Club's Offensive Player of the Game for his performance in the Lehigh contest. He finished his Bison career with 1,018 yards and seven touchdowns, and also caught 22 passes for 162 yards and a score. Slaughter suffered a broken wrist early in the season, but returned to start each of the last six games and made 31 tackles (21 solo) and broke up four passes. Borich started all 11 games at defensive end and had 19 tackles, a pair of pass breakups, and recovered a fumble.
Bucknell concluded the 2000 season with an overall record of 6-5, securing its sixth-straight winning season. The Orange and Blue are one of just 33 teams in all of Division's I-A and I-AA with such an accomplishment. The senior class tied the school record with 29 wins over their four years, and the team set 11 school records and four Patriot League records during the season. The Bison led in the fourth quarter in each of their five losses, and dropped those games by a combined total of 16 points.
