Five football Broncos earn All-MAC honors
Dec. 2, 2003
KALAMAZOO--Five members of the Western Michigan University football team have been named to the 2003 All-Mid-American Conference teams.
Defensive end Jason Babin and punter Adam Anderson were named to the All-MAC First Team, wide receiver Greg Jennings and defensive end Jack Gitler earned second team honors, and wide receiver Kendrick Mosley received honorable mention.
"We had several guys perform at a high level this season and their contributions weren't just limited to the field," said head coach Gary Darnell. "We had our senior, junior and sophomore classes represented on the all-league team which I think is indicative of the strong leadership in our program."
Babin, from Paw Paw, Mich., becomes a three-time all-league selection, having earned first team honors in 2002 and second team accolades in 2001. Babin leads the nation in tackles for loss (33) and ranks second in pass sacks (15). The 6-4, 276-pound lineman led the team in tackles (115), while producing 23 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. Babin is expected to appear in three post-season all-star bowl games.
Anderson. from Chesaning, Mich., became the team's most improved player, setting a school season record for punt average (43.9). Anderson averaged 44.5 yards in league action, placed 20 kicks inside the 20-yard line and had two punts over 70 yards. The junior stands second in MAC punting and earned back-to-back MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors in November. Anderson's first team selection comes a year after he averaged 35.5 yards in 2002.
Kalamazoo native Jennings displayed a knack for splitting defenses, establishing a WMU season record for touchdown receptions (14). The sophomore also paced the team in receiving yards (1,050), recording six 100-yard games. He currently ranks fourth in MAC receiving yards (87.5).
Working on the opposite end of Babin, Gitler, from Berkley,
Mich., turned in a solid junior season,
finishing second in team pass sacks (7) and third in total tackles
(88). Gitler ranks fourth in fumble recoveries (3) and sixth
in sacks among MAC leaders. The 6-2, 260-pound Gitler recorded
12 tackles against Toledo and made 10 stops at Michigan State.
Mosley, from Pahokee, Fla., made 77 receptions to establish a new school season record, while also finishing with 1,019 receiving yards. The versatile Mosley ranks second all-time in WMU receptions (163) and third in yards (2,042). His 42-game reception streak is sixth-longest in the nation. Mosley also set the career punt return yards record (869) in just two seasons, aided by a single-game record of 160 yards versus Central Michigan.
Western Michigan finished the 2003 season with a 5-7 overall record, and fourth in the MAC West Division at 4-4. The team will hold its annual awards banquet this Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel. For ticket information, call (269) 387-3062.
Media contact: Daniel Jankowski, 269 387-4138, daniel.jankowski@wmich.edu