Bucknell University Athletics
Ten Bison Earn Spots on All-Patriot League Football Team
11/27/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 27, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After completing one of the stingiest defensive seasons in team history, the Bucknell football team placed five starters on the First Team All-Patriot League defensive unit, the league announced Tuesday. The Bison, who finished the 2001 season with a 6-4 record, claimed a total of 10 All-Patriot League citations.
This fall the Bucknell defense ranked fifth nationally in yards allowed (260.1), eighth in rushing yards allowed (89.3) and 11th in points allowed (15.7). Patriot League coaches, who vote on the all-conference team, rewarded the Bison defense's outstanding season by naming senior DT Tom Kuhn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle H.S.), junior NG Adam Lord (Troy, N.Y./Troy H.S.), junior DL/LB Joe Massey (Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie H.S.), senior LB Mark Tallman (West Carthage, N.Y./Carthage H.S.) and senior CB Reed Tunison (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth Regional H.S.) to the first-team defensive unit.
Offensively, senior OG Jon Churchill (Cazenovia, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary H.S.) was a first-team selection, while senior C Carson Book (Shermansdale, Pa./West Perry H.S.), senior TE Greg Readinger (Williamstown, Pa./Williams Valley H.S.), senior RB Jabu Powell (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips H.S.) and junior WR Jim Horan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic H.S.) were picked for the second team.
Kuhn and Lord were two major reasons why Bucknell did not allow a 100-yard rusher all season and only five of Bucknell's 10 opponents were able to crack the 100-yard barrier as a team. Both players moved up from the All-Patriot League Second Team last season. A finalist for Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Lord finished the season with 42 tackles, more than a third (16) of which came in the opponent's backfield. He registered five sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another. Kuhn's season was cut short thanks to a torn anterior cruciate ligament as a result of a low block against Holy Cross in the third-to-last game of the season. Prior to the injury he made 26 tackles, recorded a pair of sacks and used his 6-4 frame to deflect four passes.
Despite missing three mid-season contests with a dislocated shoulder, Massey staked a claim as one of the Patriot League's most feared pass rushers and became a first-time all-star. Massey finished the season ranked sixth in the league with seven sacks, but was one of only two players in the loop to average a sack per game. More than half (15 of 28) of Massey's tackles this season resulted in lost yardage, as he moved into third place on Bucknell's career sacks list and 16th on the Patriot League's all-time list with 18.
Another first-time all-league selection is Tallman, concluded his third straight season as one of Bucknell's starting outside linebackers. The "iron man" of the Herd, Tallman did not miss a single varsity game in his collegiate career, including 32 straight starts to end his tenure. Tallman finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles and led the squad with four fumble recoveries. He also logged four sacks and an interception and was named a team captain at season's end.
One of Bucknell's most inspirational players, Tunison came back for a fifth season in 2001 after a devastating leg injury wiped out most of his 2000 campaign. Not only did he come back, but he returned as one of the Patriot League's elite cornerbacks. Tunison shared team-high honors with three interceptions, and he set league season and career records by returning two of the picks for touchdowns (against Towson and Georgetown). He led the Bison with 10 pass breakups and chipped in 31 tackles. Tunison was a second-team all-conference pick in 1999.
Churchill and Book were two of four senior members of Bucknell's veteran offensive line. Churchill started 31 of his last 32 games and was a staple at left guard. Book, selected as a team captain by his peers, started every game at center over the last two seasons and played every position along the line at some point in his career. Both linemen will earn their fourth varsity letters this year, and they helped the Bison average 386.8 yards per game.
A three-year letterman and two-year starter at tight end, Readinger was one of the league's most consistent blocking tight ends this season, and he also caught eight passes for 107 yards. His 13.4 yards-per-catch average was third-best on the team.
Powell was named to the All-Patriot League Second Team for the third straight year after an injury-plagued campaign. Rib and ankle injuries limited Powell to eight games, but he still led the team and ranked third in the league in rushing with 673 yards (84.1 per game). He topped the 100-yard mark three times - against Kent State, Columbia and Towson - and moved into second place on Bucknell's career rushing chart with 2,919 yards. One of the best running backs ever to wear the Orange and Blue, Powell also finished his stellar career ranked second in BU annals in all-purpose yards (4641), sixth in touchdowns (27), seventh in points (162) and third in 100-yard rushing games (12). He finished ninth on the Patriot League's all-time rushing list and third on the all-purpose yardage chart.
A game-changing playmaker at one of the league's most talent-rich positions this season, Horan led the Bison and ranked second in the league in receptions with 59 (6.6 per game). He caught three touchdown passes, including acrobatic, fourth-quarter game-winners against Patriot League rivals Lafayette and Holy Cross. Despite missing the first game of the season with a shoulder injury, Horan compiled the third-most receptions in a single season at Bucknell and moved into fifth place on the school's career list with 127 grabs. He will enter his senior season needing 46 receptions to become Bucknell's all-time leader.
Bucknell's 10 all-league choices were the most of any team in the league, while the six first-team picks tied league champion Lehigh for top honors.
Following is the 2001 All-Patriot League Football Team:
First Team Offense Name, School Yr. Pos. Hometown Previous PL Honors Jon Churchill, Bucknell Sr. OL Cazenovia, N.Y. Ken Kubec, Colgate Sr. OL Parma Heights, Ohio 1st in '00 Mark Manno, Fordham Sr. OL Pomona, N.Y. Chris Royle, Lafayette Jr. OL Stockton, N.J. 2nd in '00 Jeff Santacroce, Lehigh Jr. OL Mt. Airy, Md. John Frieser, Colgate So. TE Endwell, N.Y. Javarus Dudley, Fordham So. WR Hollywood, Fla. Josh Snyder, Lehigh Sr. WR New Tripoli, Pa. Nate Thomas, Colgate Jr. RB Dorchester, Mass. Kirwin Watson, Fordham So. RB Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Brant Hall, Lehigh Sr. QB Owings Mills, Md. 1st in '00 Brian Colsant, Fordham Sr. PK Vacaville, Calif. 1st in '00First Team Defense Name, School Yr. Pos. Hometown Previous PL Honors Joe Massey, Bucknell Jr. DL Brooklyn, N.Y. Adam Lord, Bucknell Jr. DL Troy, N.Y. 2nd in '00 Tom Kuhn, Bucknell Sr. DL Pittsburgh, Pa. 2nd in '00 Theo Moss, Lehigh Jr. DL Bronx, N.Y. Mark Tallman, Bucknell Sr. LB West Carthage, N.Y. Ron Hampton, Colgate Sr. LB Miami, Fla. David Dugan, Holy Cross Jr. LB Washington, D.C. Reed Tunison, Bucknell Sr. DB Brooklyn, N.Y. 2nd in '99 Ameer Riley, Colgate Jr. DB Norwood, Mass. 2nd in '99 Michael Blake, HC Sr. DB Phoenix, Ariz. 1st in '00 Abdul Byron, Lehigh Sr. DB Elizabeth, N.J. 1st in '00 Darnell Evans, Towson Sr. DB Rockville, Md. Jay Heibel, Lehigh Sr. P Dodgeville, Wis. 2nd in '99, 1st in '98
Second Team Offense Name, School Yr. Pos. Hometown Previous PL Honors Carson Book, Bucknell Sr. OL Shermansdale, Pa. Matt Shepard, Colgate Jr. OL Natick, Mass. Maurice Briscoe, Ford Sr. OL Milford, Mass. Jefferson Exil, HC Sr. OL Boca Raton, Fla. Kevin Moss, Lafayette So. OL New York, N.Y. Greg Readinger, Buck Sr. TE Williamstown, Pa. Stewart Kupfer, Laf Sr. TE Plymouth Meeting, Pa. Jim Horan, Bucknell Jr. WR Pittsburgh, Pa. David Thompson, HC Sr. WR Tarrytown, N.Y. 2nd in '00 Jabu Powell, Bucknell Sr. RB Orlando, Fla. 2nd in '00, 2nd in '99 Noah Read, Towson Sr. RB Cumberland, Md. 1st in '00 Mark Carney, Fordham Sr. QB Lakewood, Ohio Brian Kelley, Lehigh Jr. PK Kenneth City, Fla.
Second Team Defense Name, School Yr. Pos. Hometown Previous PL Honors Mike Latek, Colgate So. DL Rochester, N.Y. Charlie Mull, Fordham Sr. DL Cumbola, Pa. Sammy Siaki, Holy Cross Sr. DL Mesa, Ariz. Juston Yelverton, Tow Jr. DL Dover, Del. Tony Downs, Fordham Sr. LB Philadelphia, Pa. Rusty McKinney, Towson Sr. LB Dover, Del. 2nd in '00 Sean Hendricks, Towson Sr. LB Wenonah, N.J. Max Wynn, Colgate Jr. DB Atlanta, Ga. Vernell Shaw, HC Sr. DB Stockton, Calif. Matt Salvaterra, Lehigh Jr. DB Macungie, Pa. Steve Balcavage, Towson So. P Accokeek, Md.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josh Snyder, Lehigh, Sr., WR DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Abdul Byron, Lehigh, Sr., DB ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Joe McCourt, Lafayette, Fr., RB CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR: Dave Clawson, Fordham and Pete Lembo, Lehigh
