PHOTO GALLERY
May 4, 2009
New York, NY -
Jim Murray, a 1967 Fordham College graduate, and Sister Anne Walsh, RSHM, GRE '78 and a member of the Fordham Athletic Advising Office, were honored with the Walsh Award and the Mara Family Award, respectively, at the annual Fordham Gridiron Club Dinner held at the Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus on April 24th.
The Mara Family and Walsh Awards honor members of the Fordham football family for their dedication and contributions to the program. The Mara Family Award is named in honor of the family of the late Wellington Mara, a 1937 graduate of Fordham, while the Walsh Award in named in honor of William D. Walsh, Fordham College class of 1951 and namesake of the Walsh Athletic Training Center as well as the Walsh Family Library on the Rose Hill campus.
Murray, a 1967 graduate of Fordham College, was a member of the Fordham Univeristy club football teams of the 1960's, squads that were responsible for bringing football back to Rose Hill. Football was discontinued at Fordham following the 1954 season, but a group of dedicated students, including Murray, petitioned to have the sport reinstated on the club level and was successful in 1964. Football was elevated to NCAA Division III status in 1970 and then to NCAA I-AA standing (now NCAA FCS) in 1989.
Sister Anne Walsh was presented with the Mara Family Award for her work with the football team as an academic advisor. She joined the academic advising office when she decided to look for new challenges in addition her duties at campus ministry, asking to work with Fordham student-athletes. Over the past ten years, Walsh has become a valued member of Fordham's athletic academic advising staff, helping nurture young student-athlete's minds. This year, 20 football student-athletes were named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, the most for the Rams since joining in the conference in 1989.
A few days after the football dinner, Walsh was also honored by the Athletics Department, receiving the 2009 Jack Coffey Award which is presented to a Fordham administrator, alumnus or coach for outstanding contributions and dedication to the athletic program. It is named for the late Jack Coffey, long-time baseball coach and graduate manager of Athletics.
The Fordham Football Awards were also announced at the dinner with Adam Danko winning the Macken Award, Fonzie Culver receiving the Danowski Award, Greg DeMarco being named recipient of the Lansing Trophy, Craig Stevens earning the Bill Tierney Award and Matt Loucks receiving the Rich Marrin, FCRH '65, LAW '68, Most Valuable Player Award.
The Macken 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. He took special pride in working with the special teams, and his "Macken Pizza Party" for the top special teams plays of the year were a source of great pride for the team.
Danko, the 2009 Macken Award recipient, handled the placekicking chores for the Rams in 2008, closing out his senior campaign by connecting on nine of his 13 field goal attempts and 27 of his 29 PATs. He ranked third in the Patriot League in field goals per game (0.82) and fourth in scoring by a kicker (4.9 points/game).
Over his career, Danko converted 16 of his 23 field goal attempts and 70 of his 75 PATs. His 70 PATs made is the fourth best career total at Fordham while the 16 field goals ranks sixth all-time. Danko's 43 PATs in 2007 was the third most for a Ram in a single season while his nine field goals last fall ties him for sixth on the single season list.
For his work in the classroom, Danko was named to the 2009 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society as well as the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
Culver, a 2008 team captain, was the recipient of the 2009 Danowski Award, given annually to the senior football player who through his leadership, sacrifice, and commitment to excellence upon the field of play and within the University community exemplifies the character of Danowski, a former Fordham player and head coach.
The defensive lineman started ten games for the Rams last year, recording eleven total tackles, seven solo, including two for loss while also recording one pass deflection.
During his Fordham career, Culver amassed 60 total tackles, 44 solo, including eleven for loss and two sacks.
DeMarco was named the 2009 recipient of the Lansing Trophy, named for Jim Lansing, a former player and coach who was a consensus All-American, in 1941. That was the same season that Fordham downed Missouri 2-0 to capture the 1942 Sugar Bowl. As a coach, Lansing won national club championships in 1965 and 1968, and became the school's first varsity coach since 1954 when the program was elevated to Division III in 1970. In five club seasons and two varsity campaigns, Lansing posted a 29-20-3 record.
DeMarco, who was named First Team All-Patriot League this fall, started all eleven games for the Rams, finishing the season with 43 total tackles, 28 solo, including a team-high 12.5 for loss (52 yards) and four sacks, which was second best on the squad. He ranked third in the Patriot League in tackles for loss (tied for 43rd in the NCAA FCS) and ninth in sacks. DeMarco also recorded two quarterback hurries and broke up one pass while also forcing a fumble.
DeMarco closes out his career with 87 total tackles, 49 solo, including 19 for loss and five sacks.
Stevens, a valuable linebacker and special teams player for the Rams in 2008, received the Bill Tierney Spirit Award, presented annually to the Fordham varsity player who in the estimate of his teammates, represents the spirit that Bill so unselfishly exemplified. A special Ram award was commissioned by Ernest H. Hammer, FCO '55, and created by David Hacker (a New York artist and a former formidable football player at California). The award is presented annually to the winner of the Bill Tierney Award. Tierney suffered a cardiac arrest brought on by viral myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, on October 12, 1996 while warming up for the Homecoming football game.
Stevens recorded 32 total tackles last fall, 24 solo, including three for loss and one sack.
Loucks, who was named First Team All-Patriot League in 2008, was named the team Most Valuable Player. A two-year starter at free safety who missed two games this year due to injury, he notched 56 totals tackles in 2008, third best on the team, including 37 solo stops. Loucks also registered five pass breakups.
Loucks completes his Fordham career with 156 tackles, 104 of those solo, including a team-best 84 total tackles in 2007. He also intercepted four passes over his tenure in the defensive backfield.
For his work in the classroom, Loucks was named to the 2009 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society as well as the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
The Rams open the 2009 season on Saturday, September 5th, as they travel to Kingston, R.I., to face the University of Rhode Island.
