Penn State Owns The Bednarik Award

by BSD on Dec 7, 2007 8:55 AM EST in Football

Last night Penn State linebacker Dan Connor was awarded the 2007 Chuck Bednarik Award for being the nation's most outstanding linebacker. It's the third consecutive year a Penn State linebacker will bring home the trophy after Paul Posluszny won the award in 2005 and 2006. Connor is the third Penn State linebacker to win the Bednarik with the other going to Lavar Arrington in 1999.

Dan had an outstanding season leading the Big Ten with 136 tackles. Connor was also tenth in the league in sacks and TFL with 6.5 and 14 respectively. And he did it all with a swollen knee that required a small amount of water the size of Lake Erie to be drained from the joint after each game and practice. Dan beat out Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey who took home the Outland Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Award, and the prestigious Lombardi Award.

Congratulations to Dan who will try to bring home the Butkus award tonight. Connor is a finalist for the Butkus along with James Laurinaitis and Colorado linebacker Jordan Dizon.

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Not a knock on Connor

Who I honestly think is the best linebacker in the country, but the Bednarik Award is given out by the Maxwell Club, which is about as impartial as taking a fan ballot at Beaver Stadium.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Dec 7, 2007 9:22 AM EST reply actions

yep

I'd bet everything I own that Sean Lee will win the award next year.

by Ben @ Black Shoe Diaries on Dec 7, 2007 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

Please

justify Dan Connor not winning this award?

He was definitely the best defender between himself, Laurenitis and Dorsey. Dorsey may be the best talent but he did not play all his games and therefore shouldn't be the winner. Laurenitis...I don't even need to comment why he was not deserving.

Dan Connor was the best defensive football player in America this year. Well deserved!

by Nick7 on Dec 10, 2007 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't say

he didn't deserve it. He was certainly a deserving candidate. I said that that Maxwell Club is heavily biased towards Penn State. It is.

The Maxwell Club is a Philadelphia based sports club that anybody can join for $35. You know what that $35 fee buys you? If you guessed votes for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards, you're right.

Penn State has only one Heisman Trophy winner, but four Maxwell Award Winners (Mike Reid, John Capaletti, Chuck Fusina & Kerry Collins). Penn State has two Butkus Award winners, but four Bednarik Award winners (Arrington, Pozlusny twice, Dan Connor), and they have only been giving out that award since the early 1990's. This seem to be a pretty clear indication of bias, at least to me.

You are on pretty solid footing in saying that Connor is the best linebacker in the country. You can even make an argument that he is the best defensive player in the country. Although the vast majority of fans, pundits, writers, bloggers, NFL draft scouts and coaches would disagree with you. But there is no doubting the clear bias of the Maxwell Club in favor of eastern football generally, and specifically Penn State. Look it up yourself if you don't believe me.

Finally, to say Connor is a more deserving candidate is quite different than saying Lauranitis is undeserving. Lauranitis is a good football player; Connor is certainly not a lot better than him. The kid from Colorado has better stats than both Connor and Lauranitis, yet I don't hear the board clamoring for Connor to turn the award over to him for the sake of justice, and he wasn't even a finalist for the Bednarik Award. I would hypothesize that the reason for that is that he played for Colorado.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Dec 10, 2007 9:33 PM EST up reply actions

LJ won the Maxwell in 2002 as well

and oh yea, Dan Connor is from outside of Philadelphia

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Dec 10, 2007 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

OK

I misunderstood the point you were making. Thanks for the clarification.

Based on your facts, I would agree that there is a tint of bias, however, all the names you mentioned were deserving of their awards.

by Nick7 on Dec 11, 2007 7:21 AM EST up reply actions

Not to Nitt Pick...

but wasn't Larry Johnson a Maxwell winner as well? I seem to think he was, but I am not sure.

by carolinaeasy on Dec 11, 2007 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

Yea

It was late last night and I was working without notes. I noted it above. Sorry for the confusion; the post should read that Penn State has one Heisman winner and five Maxwell winners.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on Dec 11, 2007 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

Don't mean to nit-pick

but the award is actually for the best "Defensive Player", not just linebacker.

Regardless, I'm happy for Connor, and here's to hoping Lee keeps the streak alive at 4 next year!

So the big one is tonight, it always feels good to beat out the media-loving buckeyes. I just hope the voters didn't go all Heisman on us and simply pick the best player on the best team.

http://thebigeleventh.blogspot.com/

by Big 11th on Dec 7, 2007 10:55 AM EST reply actions

Honestly, I was surprised when they announced

Danny's name. Surprised but thrilled - he was quite gracious - his family looked very happy and proud. It was a nice moment.

by PSUgirl on Dec 7, 2007 11:22 AM EST reply actions

I agree....

He was very thankful and humble in talking to Chris. It's nice to know that at least 1 player "Gets It"!
Congratualtions to Dan. We will miss him next year.

by SHKNBKE60 on Dec 7, 2007 4:14 PM EST reply actions