The Chamberlin Trophy is presented to
the senior player who has shown by the play and contributions to the betterment
of the University of Nebraska football squad that he has the qualities and
dedication of Guy Chamberlin to the great Cornhusker tradition.
Ruud led Nebraska in tackles this season
with 143 stops, a total that led the Big 12 Conference. He finished his career
with a school-record 432 total tackles, including 50 tackles for
loss.
Senior offensive guard
Jake Andersen
was selected as the winner of the 2004 Tom Novak Trophy, also by a vote of the
media. Andersen was a two-year starter on the Husker offensive line. The Novak
Trophy is presented to the senior who "best exemplifies courage and
determination despite all odds in the manner of Nebraska All-America center Tom
Novak."
The Huskers' third senior award, the
Cletus Fischer Native Son Award, was presented to fullback
Steve Kriewald,
a native of Scotia, Neb. The award is presented annually to the senior player
selected by the Husker coaches, who best exemplifies the following qualities:
good work ethic, competitiveness, leadership, forthrightness, sense of humor,
pride, loyalty and love of Nebraska. Kriewald was NU's starting fullback in
2004, and had three touchdown receptions on the season.
In addition to Ruud being named the
Defensive MVP, four other Husker most valuable players were announced at
Saturday night's banquet. The most valuable players were selected by a vote of
the Nebraska players.
Junior I-back
Cory Ross was
named Nebraska's Offensive MVP. Ross led the Huskers in rushing with 1,102
yards, the first 1,000-yard season by a Husker running back since 2001. The
Denver native also caught 21 passes out of the backfield and scored eight
touchdowns, including six by run and two on receptons.
Lincoln Southeast graduate
Brandon Rigoni
was chosen as the 2004 Nebraska Special Teams MVP. Rigoni made seven tackles as
a key performer on Nebraska's punt and kickoff coverage units. The offensive
scout team MVP was freshman quarterback Joe Ganz, a native of Palos Heights, Ill.
On the defensive side, the scout team MVP was junior linebacker
Andy Kadavy, a
native of Seward, Neb. Kadavy also saw playing time on the Huskers' special
teams units.
Nebraska's academic award winners,
including first-team Academic All-American Chad Sievers and second-team Academic
All-American Kellen Huston were also recognized at the banquet.
More than 350 people attended the Saturday
night banquet, the Huskers' first team banquet in several years. The winners of
the Chamberlin and Novak Trophies and the Cletus Fischer Native Son Award will
also be honored as part of the Outland Trophy Banquet in Omaha on Jan. 13.