The Fordham football Gridiron Club held its second Fordham Football Dinner at the New York Athletic Club on Friday, April 25th. Former Fordham football players and friends joined the 2003 senior class at the NYAC to salute the 2002 Patriot League champions as well as honor and recognize the teams that had come before them that made it possible. As part of the festivities, head coach Dave Clawson presented the Senior Awards, the Gridiron Club presented retiring University President, Father Joseph O??Hare, S.J., with special gifts and New York Giants Co-Owner Wellington Mara presented Fr. O??Hare with the Mara Family Award. The Senior Awards presented were the Macken Award, presented to the Special Teams Player of the Year; the Lansing Trophy, presented to the Outstanding Lineman of the Year; the Bill Tierney Award, presented to the player who in the estimates of his teammates, represents the spirit that Bill so unselfishly exemplified; and the Danowski Award, presented to the senior who through his leadership, sacrifice and commitment to the University community exemplifies the character of Ed Danowski, a former player and head coach. Senior kicker Matt Fordyce, who was the first player in league history to be named First Team All-Patriot League as a punter and a placekicker, was the recipient of the Macken Award. This award was established in memory of Rams?? special assistant coach Bob Macken, who passed away suddenly in June of 1992. Coach Macken was a key part of the Fordham staff for seven seasons, always handling the ??little things?? that are so vital to keeping a program going. Fordyce connected on 18 of his 26 field goals on the year, including an NCAA and Fordham record five field goals in the playoff win at Northeastern. The 18 field goals on the year is also a Fordham record, breaking Brain Colsant??s 2000 record of 15, as are the 44 PATs kicked by Fordyce, breaking Colsant??s record of 32 set in 2001. Fordyce also punted 57 times for 2,183 yards, an average of 38.3 yards/punt, second best in the league. He placed 21 of his 57 punts inside the opponents 20. He was the first kicker in Patriot League history to be named first team All-League as both the placekicker and punter. Senior defensive lineman Aymen Aboushi, a Second Team All-Patriot League pick in 2002, was named the recipient of the Lansing Trophy. The Lansing trophy is named for Jim Lansing, a former player and coach who was the Rams?? last consensus All-American, in 1941. Aboushi, a right defensive tackle, appeared in all 13 games for the Rams last year, recording 61 total tackles, the most of any defensive lineman. Of his 61 total tackles, 38 were solo, and four of those were sacks. He also recorded an interception in the NCAA I-AA playoff game at Northeastern, helping the Rams to their first ever NCAA I-AA playoff win in their first playoff appearance. Senior offensive lineman John San Marco, a 2002 tri-captain, received the Tierney Award. The Tierney Award is named in honor of Bill Tierney, who passed away while warming up prior to the Lafayette game in 1996. San Marco led the offensive line from his right guard position, helping the Fordham offense to a record-setting season. He opened holes for running back Kirwin Watson to set the school record for rushing yards in a season with 1,467 yards as well as protecting quarterback Kevin Eakin who threw for a Fordham record 3,040 yards last year. San Marco was named Second Team All-Patriot League in 2002. Senior linebacker Rhamel Brown, a 2002 tri-captain, was the recipient of the Danowski Award. The linebacker was a team leader, not only to the defense, but also to the entire team. Brown finished with 37 total tackles, 20 solo, including 7.5 tackles for a loss and one sack. He also intercepted two passes on the year while deflecting two others. Fr. O??Hare, who is retiring in June, received the Mara Family Award for his dedication and support of the Fordham football program. The Mara Family Award is presented each year at the Fordham Football Dinner to a person who has contributed to the success of the Fordham football program. Fr. O??Hare has been an undying enthusiast of Fordham football, and all of Fordham Athletics, since taking over as President of the University in 1984.