ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010042
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Virginia Tech's Cornell Brown has sacked another postseason award.
Brown, who has been named to two All-America teams, added Big East defensive player of the year to his honors bag Thursday.
Meanwhile, Hokies coach Frank Beamer was selected Big East coach of the year. Beamer was a unanimous choice in the balloting among the eight league head coaches.
Brown, a unanimous pick, was one of four players off Tech's defense named first-team all-conference. Joining Brown on the squad were senior tackle J.C. Price, senior linebacker George DelRicco and senior safety William Yarborough.
Senior guard Chris Malone was Tech's only first-team offensive selection.
Six Tech players were given second-team honors. That list included junior quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, senior tailback Dwayne Thomas, junior offensive tackle Jay Hagood, junior center Billy Conaty, junior linebacker Brandon Semones and junior safety Torrian Gray.
Brown, a 6-foot-2, 246-pound defensive end from Lynchburg, was the leader of a Tech defense that is ranked No.1 in the country against the run, fifth in points allowed and 10th overall. Brown, who led the Big East in quarterback sacks (14) and tackles for loss (25), was named the league player of the week a record four times.
Beamer, in his ninth season at Tech, rallied the Hokies from an 0-2 start to a school-record nine consecutive victories to close the regular season. Tech, which shared the Big East title with Miami, is ranked 13th in The Associated Press' poll.
``It's a special honor, especially coming from the rest of the league's head coaches,'' Beamer said. ``It's testimony to my players and my assistant coaches. We couldn't have done any of this without everybody contributing.''
Rutgers tight end Marco Battaglia, who caught a league-record 69 passes for 10 touchdowns, was selected as the league's offensive player of the year.
Syracuse's Marvin Harrison was named special teams player of the year, while the Orangemen's freshman sensation quarterback Donovan McNabb was chosen rookie of the year.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. Virginia Tech defensive end Cornellby CNBBrown, a four-time Big East defensive player of the week this
season, was selected the defensive player of the year in the Big
East on Thursday. Brown, a 6-foot-2, 246-pound junior from
Lynchburg, has been named to two All-America teams. 2. Virginia
Tech's Frank Beamer, the Big East coach of the year, led the Hokies
to a 6-1 league record. color. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL