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Minnesota
Golden Gophers Football News
12-08-06
Gopher Tight End Matt Spaeth Wins 2006 John Mackey Award
The Nassau County Sports Commission (NCSC) and the ESPN Home Depot
College Football Awards Show have announced that Gopher senior Matt
Spaeth is the recipient of the 2006 John Mackey Award, given to the
nation’s top tight end. Spaeth becomes the third Big Ten player to earn
the award and the first Gopher since the award’s inception in 2000.
“I am honored to be named the recipient of the John Mackey Award. This
is truly unbelievable and a moment that I will never forget,” said
Spaeth. “For me, this has been the most memorable season of my career
because of the way we hung together as a team and being recognized as
the top tight end in the nation only adds to that. I would like to
thank my family, coaches and teammates for all their support, and I
couldn’t be happier to accept this award on behalf of the University of
Minnesota. ”
The St. Michael, Minn., native is the sixth player at Minnesota to win
a major national award. This is also the second consecutive season in
which a Gopher football player has won a national award. Former Gopher
center Greg Eslinger won both the 2005 Outland Trophy and Rimington
Trophy last season. Spaeth also joins Bruce Smith (Heisman Trophy,
1941), Tom Brown (Outland Trophy, 1960), Bobby Bell (Outland Trophy,
1962) and Tyrone Carter (Thorpe Award, 1999) as Gopher national award
winners.
Spaeth was named first-team All-Big Ten by both the media and the
coaches for the second consecutive season in 2006. Spaeth was also
selected as one of the honorees for this year’s Big Ten Sportsmanship
Award. Spaeth received honorable-mention recognition by both the
coaches and media in 2004, his sophomore season.
In 2006 Spaeth became the school’s all-time leader in career receptions
(109) and receiving yards (1,293) by a tight end, surpassing current
Indianapolis Colt Ben Utecht in both categories. He also ranks ninth
all-time in career receiving touchdowns with 12. Spaeth was second on
the team in receptions and receiving yards in 2006, catching 47 passes
for 564 yards with four touchdowns.
Spaeth earned the Mackey Award over Notre Dame junior John Carlson and
Arizona State junior Zach Miller.
The three finalists were determined by confidential balloting of the
John Mackey Selection Committee. Spaeth will be presented with the
award at the Nassau County Sports Commission Annual Awards Dinner on
April 30, 2007.
The John Mackey Award is given to the collegiate tight end that best
exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of
NFL Hall of Fame Tight End John Mackey.
Source: University of Minnesota Sports Information Department
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