Player of the Year
Wayne Gilmore
Teamkong

The 2003 season was a memorable one.  Think back to the second game of the season.  The atmosphere was about as good as we have seen at Carnie Smith Stadium.  The last couple of years Pitt State has not played a quality non-conference schedule (to say the least) but to me the St. Cloud game made up for it.

This year’s team had high expectations.  Deservedly so.  On paper this team was as talented as we have seen at Pitt State.  They had power, they had speed, they had size.

Leading the list of players possessing these traits was senior, Aaron McConnell.  He is the best defensive lineman ever to play at Pitt State, period, and his performance this year has earned him the first annual Teamkong Player of the Year award.

There was little doubt in every game this season he was the best player on the field.  Against St. Cloud, with Harlon Hill finalist QB Keith Heckendorf playing against Pitt, McConnell was fabulous.  Versus Central Missouri, with Mel Kipper top 25 prospect Roderick Green playing against us, there was no question who was the top player that day.  Then in his final game as a Gorilla, against second best team in the country, Aaron McConnell again was the best player on the field.

Aaron would be the first to give credit to the others on the defensive line.  First would be fellow senior defensive tackle Mark Stephen.  Mark’s performance this year earned him all conference honors and a honorable mention All-American award.  The defensive ends Josh Lawson, Calvin Mitchell, Chauncey Jones, and Ryan Meredith all did their part to help take the heat off of McConnell, and Lawson and Meredith were recognized with MIAA post-season honors.

Obviously to receive the type of recognition McConnell has, there has to be talent around him, and great coaches guiding him.  But make no mistake, Aaron’s talent, size, strength, and speed allowed him to dominate his opponent this year.

Take a look at his stats.  56 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, including 7.5 sacks.  All of this despite being double and triple teams on nearly every play.

Now, don’t forget his performance on the other side of the ball. We all know his ability to block in the “rhino” set. But this year McConnell’s athletic ability was displayed on offense has a running back . . . carrying the ball.  His 6 carries were all memorable, but the best carry had to be his seven yard carry against Missouri Western when the 300 pound McConnell hurdled the “all-attitude” player Pierre Thomas.  Aaron scored 4 touchdowns, and was rarely even tackled.  And when he didn’t carry the ball, the threat that he would neutralized the opponents defense on the goal line.

It is a pretty safe prediction we will never see a 300 pound All-American defensive lineman who dominated his position for four seasons, earning All-American honors all four season. (Only NFL player, Brian Moorman has accomplished this feat at Pitt State)  And who contributed as a running back in goal line situations, and was a member of the Gorillas national-caliber Cheer Squad.  And lastly, we will never see a 300 pound athlete with all of these accomplishments, who by-the-way can do a standing back flip!

For this honor, Aaron will receive a plaque commemorating this award.

To read each week's Player of the Week honorees and columns click here.