Tennessee sportswriters honor Fulmer, Summitt, Parker

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association honored the top college football and basketball players as well as the top college basketball coaches in the state on Wednesday night.

The annual awards presentation took place in Hermitage at the TSSAA headquarters during the TSWA convention.

Wide receiver Earl Bennett of Vanderbilt was named College Football Player of the Year and Phillip Fulmer of Tennessee was selected College Football Coach of the Year in a vote after the season by TSWA members.

It was a clean sweep for Memphis in men's basketball and Tennessee in women's basketball for the top coaches and players.

Memphis coach John Calipari was named men's Coach of The Year and Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis was named men's Player of the Year.

Pat Summitt of the Lady Vols was named women's Coach of the Year and Candace Parker was named women's Player of the Year.

Bennett, a junior, became the Southeastern Conference's all-time leading receiver with 236 career receptions. He finished the season with 75 receptions for 830 yards and five touchdowns despite facing double team and special coverage packages by opposing teams. He was named First Team All-SEC by both the coaches and the Associated Press.

Bennett decided to skip his senior and enter the NFL draft. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round and has already signed a contract.

Bennett, who was unable to attend the ceremonies along with the other winners, was delighted upon receiving word that he was receiving the award.

"That's a tremendous honor, especially considering all the great college players in Tennessee," Bennett said. "I greatly appreciate all the writers across Tennessee that voted. I also want to take time to thank all of my teammates and coaches at Vanderbilt for making me the best I could be. All I can say is hopefully next year, the writers will be presenting this award to another Commodore."

Fulmer guided the Vols to a 10-4 record and the SEC Championship Game for the fifth time in 11 years. The Eastern Division champions found the road to the title game a challenging journey as three of their last four conference wins either were achieved in overtime (South Carolina and Kentucky) or boiled down to a final field goal try deciding the outcome (Vanderbilt).

The Vols lost to LSU 21-14 in the SEC title game. UT defeated Wisconsin 21-17 in the Outback Bowl.

"Thank you very much to the sportswriters of Tennessee for this honor," said Fulmer. "Those of you who cover our football team on a regular basis do a great job, and we appreciate the publicity generated for our university by your interest.

"I especially appreciate your efforts in this time of great change in your industry, and I look forward to working with you to help both of us continue to do our jobs in the most professional manner.

"Enjoy your convention and we will see many of you at our annual golf outing next week, at SEC Media Days in Birmingham, or on our practice field in just a few short weeks."

Calipari guided the Tigers to a 38-2 record and the national championship game. Memphis lost 75-68 in overtime to Kansas.

Douglas-Roberts, a junior guard, was an Associated Press first-team All-American, scored a team-leading 18.1 points per game, and was Conference USA's Player of the Year.

"First, I wish Chris and I both could be in attendance to accept these honors, but the professions of coaching and playing basketball doesn’t seem to end," Calipari said. "I am in Philadelphia this week recruiting and will be recruiting the entire month, while Chris has started his professional playing career with the New Jersey Nets in the NBA summer league.

"We both are honored to be selected for these awards. I realize that these awards are tough choices each year, but I would not have liked to be a member of the panel that made the decisions for this past season. I know we had a phenomenal year, and with that, came honors like these, but what a year for basketball in the state of Tennessee.

"We won an NCAA record 38 games and made it to the NCAA title game. Tennessee and Vanderbilt both had outstanding years and carried the SEC banner into NCAA Tournament. And what about Belmont and the job Coach Byrd is doing there, and coming within a basket of upsetting Duke in the NCAA Tournament. How about Tennessee-Martin’s Lester Hudson? He came into FedExForum for the season opener and poured in over 30 points against us. I could go on and on about the high quality of basketball in this state, but we would be here all night.

"The bottom line – and I have said this all year long – is this: some tremendous basketball is being played in the state of Tennessee. And, that is something all basketball fans – no matter what college or high school you cheer for – can and should be proud of.

"Again, Chris and I thank you for these awards, and I look forward to another outstanding season of hoops in the state of Tennessee in 2008-09."

Summitt guided the Lady Vols to a 36-2 record and their second consecutive national championship and eighth overall.

"You don't get an award like that unless you have a successful team," said Summitt, "The players are responsible for bringing this type of recognition to the coach. It also reflects on all the other coaches in the staff. We're a team just like they're a team. Not only the players, but the assistant coaches deserve a lot of credit."

Parker averaged 21.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. She won numerous awards including Associated Press player of the year and was the No. 1 in the WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.

"It's a well-deserved recognition for what Candace brought to our basketball team," Summitt said. "Improvement in her game set her apart. It's been pretty amazing watching her through the 2007-08 season until now as a WNBA player having a major impact."

More information about TSWA available at myspace.com/thetswa

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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