Dec. 1, 2003

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri football team celebrated its 2003 regular season with its annual team banquet, held yesterday at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Mo. As is customary with the banquet, many awards were handed out to various individuals on the team.

Here is a listing of the awards given out yesterday, and those that claimed those awards:

Award	 Tiger


Most Valuable Player	 Brad Smith (QB, Soph.)


Scholar-Athlete of the Year	 Rob Droege (OL, Sr.)


Tiger Performance Athlete of the Year	 Michael Harden (DB, Sr.)
(Given to top strength and conditioning performer)


Curtis Jones Champion of the Year	 Marcus James (WR/KR, Sr.)
(For demonstrated leadership both on and off the field)


Rigman Outstanding Underclassman Leadership Award	Santino Riccio (QB, Soph.)


Don Faurot Most Inspirational Player	 Terrence Curry (DB, Sr.)


St. Louis Metro Player of the Year	 Atiyyah Ellison (DL, Jr.)


Walk-On Player of the Year	 Beau Viehmann (TB, Jr.)


Freshman of the Year	 Xzavie Jackson (DL, Fr.) &
 Brian Smith (DL, Fr.)


J. Ed "Brick" Travis Interior Lineman Award	 Phil Pitts (DL, Jr.)


Missouri MO Award	 Brandon Barnes (LB, Sr.) &
(Sportsmanship/Enthusiasm/Team Spirit) Darius Outlaw (WR, Sr.)


Breakthrough Construction Hammer Award	 Brandon Barnes (LB, Sr.) &
(Most Big Hits) Beau Viehmann (TB, Jr.)


Outside Safety of the Year	 Quincy Wade (DB, So.)


Defensive Back of the Year	 Nino Williams II (DB, Jr.)


Inside Linebacker of the Year	 James Kinney (LB, Jr.)


Defensive Lineman of the Year	 C.J. Mosley (DL, So.)


Offensive Lineman of the Year	 A.J. Ricker (OL, Sr.)


Offensive Back of the Year	 Zack Abron (TB, Sr.) &
 Brad Smith (QB, Soph.)


Receiver of the Year	 J.D. McCoy (TE, Sr.)


Special Teams Player of the Year	 Marcus James (KR/WR, Sr.)