University News

Cast Your Vote for Western Football Greats

September 22, 2009

Share Printer friendly version

Courtesy of Western Illinois Athletics

MACOMB, IL -- As a part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Silver Anniversary Celebration, the league is composing a Silver Anniversary All-Time Football Team based largely off of your votes. You can vote as many times as you'd like through the Saturday, Oct. 17 deadline.

Western Illinois University is one of only three teams in the league to have players represented in every category. Western Illinois Leathernecks in the running are listed below.

Cast your vote today at http://www.valley-football25.org/?KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=12000&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=

Quarterback:
1. Michna, Russ (Western Illinois, 2000-03)
2-time all-conference (1st-2002, 1st-2003); 2-time Offensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003)

Running back:
1. Donaldson, Herb (Western Illinois, 2005-08) 3-time all-conference (2nd-2006, 1st-2007, 1st-2008); 2-time All-American (3rd-2007, 1st-2008); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (2008); No. 1 all-time rushing (4,746); No. 7 all-time scoring (308); No. 3 all-time rushing TDs (50)

2. Stecker, Aaron (Western Illinois, 1997-98) 2-time all-conference (1st-1997, 1st-1998); 2-time All-American (1st-1997, HM-1998); 1-time Offensive Player of the Year (1997)

Wide Receiver:
1. Twyner, Gunnard (Western Illinois, 1993-95) 3-time all-conference (HM-1993, 1st-1994, 1st-1995); 1-time All-American (HM-1994)

Tight end:
1. Niklos, J.R. (Western Illinois, 1998-01) 3-time all-conference (HM-1999, 1st-2000, 1st-2001); 2-time All-American (HM-2000, HM-2001)

Offensive Lineman:
1. Blue, Keith (Western Illinois, 1985-87) 2-time all-conference (1st-1986, 1st-1987); 2-time All-American (HM-1986, 1st-1987)

2. Layne, Fred (Western Illinois, 2001-04) 3-time all-conference (1st-2002, 1st-2003, 1st-2004); 1-time All-American (2nd-2003)

3. Seubert, Rich (Western Illinois, 1997-00) 2-time all-conference (HM-1999, 1st-2000); 1-time All-American (2nd-2000)

4. Winters, Frank (Western Illinois, 1985-86) 1-time all-conference (1st-1986); 1-time All-American (1st-1986)

Placekicker:
1. Rowan, Taylor (Western Illinois, 2005-08) 2-time all-conference (1st-2007, 1st-2008); 1-time All-American (1st-2008); No. 1 all-time consecutive PATs (129); No. 3 all-time PATs (160); No. 8 all-time scoring (283)

Defensive Lineman:
1. O'Brien, Mike (Western Illinois, 2000-03) 3-time all-conference (1st-2001, 1st-2002, 1st-2003); 2-time All-American (HM-2001, 1st-2003)

Linebacker:
1. Hartwell, Edgerton (Western Illinois, 1998-00) 3-time all-conference (2nd-1998, 1st-1999, 1st-2000); 2-time All-American (1st-1999, 1st-2000); 2-time Defensive Player of the Year (1999, 2000); No. 7 all-time tackles (472); Buck Buchanan Award Winner (2000)

2. Milton, James (Western Illinois, 1995-98) 2-time all-conference (2nd-1997, 1st-1998); 1-time All-American (1st-1998); 1-time Defensive Player of the Year (1998); Buck Buchanan Award Winner (1998)

3. Russell, Lee (Western Illinois, 2000-03) 4-time all-conference (2nd-2000, 2nd-2001, 1st-2002, 1st-2003); 2-time All-American (HM-2001, 1st-2003); No. 6 all-time tackles (475)

4. Williams, Jason (Western Illinois, 2005-08) 3-time all-conference (HM-2006, 1st-2007, 1st-2008); 2-time All-American (1st-2007, 1st-2008); No. 1 all-time forced fumbles (14)

Defensive Back:
1. Cox, Bryan (Western Illinois, 1987-90) 3-time all-conference (2nd-1987, 1st-1989, 1st-1990); 1-time All-American (1990); Gateway "Defensive Player of the Decade (1985-94)"; No. 1 all-time blocked kicks (10)

2. Harrison, Rodney (Western Illinois, 1991-93) 2-time all-conference (1st-1992, 1st-1993); 2-time All-American (2nd-1992, 1st-1993)

3. Spraggins, Frank (Western Illinois, 1994-97) 4-time all-conference (2nd-1994, 2nd-1995, 1st-1996, 1st-1997); 2-time All-American (HM-1994, 1st-1997); No. 5 all-time interceptions (17)

Punter:
1. Scifres, Mike (Western Illinois, 1999-02) 3-time all-conference (1st-2000, 1st-2001, 1st-2002); 3-time All-American (1st-2000, HM-2001, 1st-2002); No. 1 all-time punting average (43.35); No. 1 all-time longest punt (89)

Return Specialist:
1. Phillips, Buck (Western Illinois, 1994-95) 2-time all-conference (1st-1994, 1st-1995); 2-time All-American (2nd-1994, 2nd-1995)

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing