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Shortstop Is Only Baseball Player Among 14 Semifinalists

Clint Moore (Army Photo)

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army’s shortstop Clint Moore has been named one of 14 nominees for the AAU Sullivan Award, which honors the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete. Presented annually since 1930, the Sullivan Award is also based on leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism.

The only college baseball player to be named a semifinalist, Moore is joined on the list by Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, who set the Alabama single season rushing record with 1,658 yards in leading the Crimson Tide to the national championship this past season, and Tina Charles, who was nominated for her contributions to the Connecticut women’s basketball teams’s perfect season and national title in 2009, among others.

Known as the “Oscar” of sports awards, and older than The Heisman Trophy, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.

The AAU Sullivan Award was established in 1930 to honor Sullivan, a founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). Recognized as a pioneer in the amateur sports movement, Sullivan is credited with developing the current concept of the playground and organized recreation of the present day. Accordingly, he and others opened the first public playground and gymnasium in New York City in 1906.

A member of West Point’s Class of 2011, Moore was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division I All-America Third Team as a sophomore last spring. He was also chosen to the First Team All-Patriot League squad while finishing second in the conference’s player of the year voting. Additionally, Moore was one of 15 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, presented to the nation’s top shortstop by the College Baseball Foundation.

The third Black Knight to earn Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors last season en route to a Freshman All-America citing, Moore didn’t miss a beat this spring. The Greensboro, N.C. (Grimsley H.S.), native batted .395 with 18 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs, 58 runs scored and 65 runs batted in. He posted a slugging percentage of .724 and an on-base mark of .494, while piling up 134 total bases, just one behind the single season school record set by Henshaw this season. A slick-fielding defensive standout, Moore registered a remarkable fielding percentage of .971 and helped Army set a new team record for double-plays (66), participating in 38 twin-killings from his shortstop position. He established new single season school records for both multi-hit (25) and multi-RBI (20) games this spring, batted safely in 43 of 53 outings and hit .378 with runners in scoring position.

Moore led the Patriot League in doubles, triples, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, while finishing second in batting average, runs scored (one short of the league lead), runs batted in, total bases (one shy of league lead) and walks. He hit .433 with seven doubles, three triples, three home runs, 23 runs scored and 28 RBI in 20 Patriot League tilts, recording a .761 slugging percentage in those outings. Moore authored an amazing nine game late-season stretch, batting .581 with three doubles, three triples, six home runs, 21 runs scored and 26 RBI. He fashioned a 1.452 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base mark during that span. Though just a sophomore, Moore already owns Army’s career record for multiple-RBI affairs (32) and has garnered 47career  multiple-hit contests. For Moore’s full bio click here.

Recent winners of the AAU Sullivan Award include Rulan Gardner (wrestling) in 2000, Michelle Kwan (figure skating) in 2001, Sarah Hughes (figure skating) in 2002, Michael Phelps (swimming) in 2003, Paul Hamm (gymnastics) in 2004, J.J. Redick (men’s basketball) in 2005, Jessica Long (paralympic women’s swimming) in 2006, Tim Tebow (football) in 2007 and Shawn Johnson (gymnastics) in 2008.

Former Army football greats Felix “Doc” Blanchard and Young Arnold Tucker garnered the award in consecutive years, claiming the honor in 1945 and 1946, respectively. They rank as the only two West Pointers to capture the honor.

Fans can cast a vote for their choice for the 2009 AAU Sullivan Award winner by clicking here.

The Sullivan Award Reception and Presentation will take place April 14 at The New York Athletic Club in New York City. The night’s activities begin with an athlete autograph session at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6:15 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:15 p.m.

A complete listing of nominees for the 80th annual AAU Sullivan Award is listed below:

Angela Bizzarri, Cross Country
Zak Boggs, soccer
Duran Caferro Jr., boxing
Tina Charles, basketball
Troy Dumais, diving
Armanti Edwards, football
Erin Hamlin, luge
Megan Hodge, volleyball
Mark Ingram, football
CLINT MOORE, BASEBALL
Amy Palmiero-Winters, paralympic ultra marathon
Sanya Richards, track and field
Jennifer Song, golf
Rebecca Soni, swimming

(Release)

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Stanford Two Sport Star Officially Declares His Intention

Gerhart hit 12 home runs and scored 44 touchdowns in his two sport career at Stanford.

Gerhart, who played in 38 career football games from 2006-09, had the option to return to Stanford as a fifth-year senior since he played in just one game as a sophomore in 2007 due to injury.

He started in 105 games in his three-year baseball career at Stanford in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons.  He hit 16 career home runs with 69 RBIs as an outfielder, helping the Cardinal to the 2008 College World Series.

Gerhart has withdrawn from Stanford for the winter quarter in order to devote his time to prepare for NFL Combine in February.

“After careful thought and deliberation, I have decided to withdraw from Stanford University for the winter quarter in order to fully devote my energies towards the pursuit of my dream of playing in the NFL,” said Gerhart. “While I certainly will miss patrolling left field on the Sunken Diamond or running through the gaping holes created by my O-linemen on the gridiron at Stanford Stadium, I will forever cherish the camaraderie, friendships, and memories that I forged here at Stanford with all my friends, teammates, and coaches.

“I want to give special thanks to Coach (Jim) Harbaugh for resurrecting the program, running backs coach Willie Taggart for making me the player I am today, and the Tunnel Workers Union (O-Line) for doing the dirty work which made my life easier.  We’ve been through a lot of adversity during my time here, but I’m extremely proud to have been part of the class that brought Stanford football back to national prominence.

“Most of all, I wish to thank the entire student body, and Stanford fans everywhere, for the tremendous support and boundless enthusiasm they have shown us over the past four years.

“I have been blessed to have spent time at this special place and have seen first-hand how the Stanford family takes care of not just its own members, but the disadvantaged and underprivileged within our community as well.  Because of that, I urge Stanford fans everywhere to join me in extending a helping hand to the devastated citizens of Haiti. They need our help now. Whether it’s a small donation of food, bottled water or medical supplies, a monetary gift to the United Nations or the Red Cross, or volunteering whatever aid you can provide, please do so. Keep all those affected and providing rescue in our thoughts and prayers.”

Gerhart is the third college two sport star to declare or this year’s NFL Draft.  LSU’s Chad Jones‘ dad announced his intentions earlier this week, while Notre Dame Biletnikoff Award winner Golden Tate declared for the draft last month.

Gerhart, Jones and Tate have all been included in the Collegebaseball360.com Two Sport Reports throughout the fall.

Gerhart, who was the recipient of the 2009 Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back, rushed for a school-record 1,871 yards and a nation-leading 28 touchdowns this past season, helping the Cardinal to an 8-5 overall record and an appearance in the Brut Sun Bowl. He led the Pac-10 Conference and finished second nationally in rushing average with a 143.9 per game mark. Gerhart also led the all Football Bowl Subdivision players in scoring with 172 points (13.23 per game).

A consensus first team All-America selection by Associated Press, the Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America, to name a few, Gerhart finished second to Alabama’s Mark Ingram in the Heisman Trophy balloting by just 28 points in the closest balloting in the 75 year history of the award. He was named the Pac-10 Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Stanford player to win the award since Troy Walters in 1999.

Gerhart ran for 100 or more yards in 11 of Stanford’s 13 games this season, including each of the last seven contests. He rushed for 200 yards on more on three occasions, against No. 24 Washington (200), No. 7 Oregon (career-high 223) and Notre Dame (205), becoming the first Stanford back to collect multiple 200-yard games in one season.

Gerhart ran for 100 yards or more in 20 of his final 26 career games, averaging 121.0 yards during that stretch.

His 28 rushing touchdowns led the nation and set new Stanford and Pac-10 single-season records. Gerhart finished the 2009 season with 172 total points, which was the seventh highest single-season mark among NCAA FBS scoring leaders.

The Norco, Calif., native finished his career with school-record 44 touchdowns (all rushing) and his 264 career points rank second on Stanford’s all-time career list. Gerhart rushed for two or more touchdowns 13 times in his career, including five games with three TDs or more.

Gerhart will participate in the NFL Combine, scheduled for Feb. 24-March 2 in Indianapolis. The 2010 NFL Draft is slated for Apr. 22-24 in New York City.

(Release & staff contributions)

Both Longhorn Teams Are National Runners-Up

Baseball Players Won Major Awards & A National Title On The Gridirion In 2009

Toby Gerhart

loss to Florida.  Collaros hit .204 in 49 at-bats for the UC baseball team in 2009.

Toby Gerhart-Running Back-Stanford

Gerhart had a monster year on the gridiron in 2009.  He won the Doak Walker Award and finished 28 points behind Alabama’s Mark Ingram in the closest Heisman Trophy race ever.  Gerhart led the NCAA with 1,871 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns during his senior season.  The 6’1-235 lb. back rushed for 3,522 yards and a Pac-10 record 43 TDs in his career.  Gerhart totaled 135 yards and 2 touchdowns in Stanford’s 31-27 Sun Bowl loss to Oklahoma.

He played for three seasons on the Stanford baseball team, and he started each of the Cardinal’s 2008 College World Series games.

Gerhart could exercise a fifth year of football eligibility (he missed most of 2007 with a knee injury) and he still has a final season of baseball eligibility remaining.  However,  he  is expected to forego those options to prepare for February’s NFL combine and, ultimately, April’s NFL draft.

Chad Jones (LSU photo)

Chad Jones-Safety-LSU

After helping the LSU baseball team win the 2009 College World Series, Jones started all 13 games at safety for the Tiger football team.  Jones’ 74 tackles were the fifth-most by an LSU player this season.  He also returned punts in five differeent games in 2009, including an 87-yarder for a touchdown in a win over Mississippi State.  He had 6 tackles in LSU’s Capitol One Bowl loss to Penn State.

Jones, an outfielder converted to pitcher in ’09,  had a 2.70 ERA in 9 relief appearances last season.

Kyle Parker-Quarterback-Clemson

Parker passed for 2,526 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his first season as Clemson’s starting quarterback this season.  He threw for 141 yards and a TD in the Tiger’s 21-13 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.

Parker is entering his third season with the Clemson baseball team in 2010 (he graduated high school a semester early to enroll at Clemson in January 2008).  He batted .255 with 12 HR and 52 RBIs last season.

Dave Shinskie-Quarterback-Boston College

Shinskie is not a college baseball player, but he is an interesting two sport athlete.  Shinskie is a 25-year-old freshman who is starting at quarterback for the BC football team.  He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins, and he finished his minor league baseball career in 2009 in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Shinskie passed or 2,049 yards with 15 touchdowns and 14 int. in 2009.  He threw for 218 yards with a TD and an int. in BC’s 24-13 Emerald Bowl loss to USC.  He is not eligible to play for the Boston College baseball team.

Matt Szczur-Wide Receiver-Villanova

Szczur helped lead Villanova to the 2009 FCS National Championship.  He

Matt Szczur (4) and Chris Whitney hoist Villanova's championship trophy.

totaled 227 yards from scrimmage in VU’s 23-21 win over Montana in the title game in December.  Szczur ran for 159 yards and had 4 catches for 68 more yards.  He was named both the CAA’s Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Year this season.  He ran for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns, passed for 22 yards and 2 TDs, averaged 27.2 yards on 30 kickoff returns, and had 51 catches for 610 yards and 4 more TDs in 2009.

Szczur led the Wildcat baseball team with a .346 average last spring after missing his freshman baseball season due to injury.

Golden Tate-Wide Receiver-Notre Dame

Tate was the 2009 Biletnikoff Award winner after finishing fourth in the nation with 1,496 receiving yards and 15 TD grabs.  He also ran for two touchdowns and returned a punt for another score.  In December he declared himself for April’s NFL Draft.  The Irish finished the season with a 6-6 record this season, but opted not to play in a bowl game.

Tate had a .318 career batting average in 63 starts in his two-year baseball career with the Irish.  He still has two years of baseball eligibility remaining, but he does not plan to play for the Notre Dame baseball team in 2010.

Stanford Two Sport Star Continues Impressive Haul

Doak Walker Award winner Toby Gerhart

the first award winner for the Doak Walker Award from Stanford.

Gerhart is also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which will be announced Saturday night in New York.

“It’s been remarkable, going from being 1-11 and football not being fun to now,” said Gerhart to ESPN’s Chris Fowler after receiving the award. “I give credit to Coach Harbaugh and the Stanford football players for turning it around.”

Gerhart enters the New Year’s Eve Brut Sun Bowl against Oklahoma as the nation’s leader in touchdowns (26) and total net rushing yards (1,736). His 144.7 yards per game average ranks second in the nation. Gerhart has broken the school record for rushing yards in back-to-back years, and has set a new standard for rushing touchdowns both at Stanford and in the Pac-10, with 26. His 41 career touchdowns are also a school record, while his 3,387 yards are second all-time.

Gerhart was also recently named a Walter Camp Foundation First Team All-American and the 2009 Pac 10 conference Player of the Year.

The Doak Walker Award was created in 1989 to recognize the nation’s premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community. It is the only major collegiate football award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

The award is named after Doak Walker, a versatile three-time All-American, who also punted, returned punts and kickoffs, and kicked extra points at Southern Methodist. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1949 and went onto a six-year career with the Detroit Lions. He is also a member of the College and NFL Halls of Fame.

Gerhart has also been a member of the Stanford baseball team for the past three seasons.  He helped the Cardinal earn a berth in the 2008 College World Series.  Collegebaseball360.com has followed Gerhart and other two sport athletes throughout the fall in the Two Sport Reports.

(Release)

Gerhart Makes His Case For Heisman Consideration

Toby Gerhart

Gerhart and Tate combined for 424 yards of offense and seven touchdowns in a contest that was decided on the game’s final possession when a Jimmy Clausen pass fell incomplete in the end zone as the clock hit zero.

Gerhart rumbled his was to 205 yards and touchdown runs of 4, 10 and 4 yards, and he also threw an 18 yard touchdown pass for his first career strike.  His last TD with :59 seconds to play gave the Cardinal the final margin of victory.

Tate used his speed and Clausen’s strong arm to reel-in 10 catches for 201 yards including toucdowns of 5, 78 and 28 yards.

Gerhart and Tate each scored his team’s first and final touchdowns of the evening.

Gerhart came into the game as a Doak Walker finalist with an outside chance to win the Heisman Trophy, while Tate entered as a Biletnikoff finalist, but their performances Saturday have to make them the frontrunners for each of the awards.

The Doak Walker award goes to the nation’s top running back, the Biletnikoff goes to the country’s best receiver and the Heisman goes to….um?  Well, the Heisman is supposed to go to the nation’s “most outstanding” player, but in recent year’s it has gone to the best player on a team in contention for a national championship.  Alabama running back Mark

Golden Tate

Ingram has been at the top of most Heisman polls in recent weeks, but he managed just 30 yards in the Tide’s 26-21 win over Auburn on Friday.  Gerhart’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, says his 235 pound back is worthy of the Heisman.

“He’s made that statement the entire year,” Harbaugh said after the game. “He was incredible to watch. He said it all by the way he’s played. He’s been about it and not talked about it. He just kept going at it week after week.”

Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck agrees “How can you not at least invite him to the ceremony,” Luck said. “He took the team on his back.”

Gerhart now leads the nation with 1,736 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.  He has scored a Pac 10 record 42 touchdowns in his career.   Tate is fourth nationally with his 1,496 yards.  His 15 touchdown grabs are second nationally.  Tate has also rushed for two TDs and returned a punt 87 yards for another score two weeks ago vs. Pittsburgh.

Gerhart has now topped the 200 yard mark three times this season.  Coming into 2009 no Stanford back had surpassed 200 rushing yards in a game since 1988.  Tate now has gone over 200 receiving yards twice this season.  He had a career high 244 yards vs. Washington last month.

Here’s a look at how Gerhart and Tate each compare to others at their respective positions:

Running backs…School/Yards/TDs

1.  Toby Gerhart-Stanford*   1,736/26

2.  Donald Buckram-UTEP     1,594/18

3.  Ryan Williams-Va. Tech   1,538/19

4.  Ryan Matthews-Fres. St.  1,491/14

5.  Dion Lewis-Pitt.                    1,446/13

6.  Mark Ingram-Ala.*             1,429/12

*Denotes Doak Walker Award finalist

Wide Receivers…School/Yds./TDs

1.  Danario Alexander-Miss.  1,644/13

2.  Greg Sales-Haw.                    1,559/8

3.  Freddie Barnes-BGSU*      1,551/16

4.  Golden Tate-ND *                 1,496/15

5.  Dezmon Brisco-KU              1,337/9

6.  Jordan Shipley-TX*            1,292/11

*Denotes Biletnikoff Award finalist

Gerhart and Tate have been featured in the Collegebaseball360.com Two Sport Reports throughout the fall.  Gerhart has played for three years on the Stanford baseball team.  He could exercise a fifth year of football eligibility and he still has a final season of baseball eligibility remaining.  However,  he  is expected to forego those options to prepare for February’s NFL combine and, ultimately, April’s NFL draft.

Tate has played for two seasons on both the Fighting Irish football and baseball teams.  He still has one season of football and two seasons of baseball eligibility remaining.  He could play baseball this spring and return for a final season of football next fall, or he could opt for the April’s NFL draft.  The Irish baseball coaching staff says he has not indicated what his plan are.

Look for a new Two Sport Report this week as well as By The Numbers looks at the baseball/football careers of Toby Gerhart and Golden Tate this week on Collegebaseball360.com

Gerhart

The winner of the award will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 10 as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, which will originate from the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s Boardwalk at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. and televised live nationally on ESPN beginning at 4:00 p.m. PT.

Gerhart continues to lead the Pac-10 and is ranked third nationally in rushing, averaging 139.2 yards per game. He has gone over the 100-yard mark in nine of Stanford’s 11 games this season, including each of the last five contests.

He has rushed for 200 yards twice this season, including a 200-yard effort vs. No. 24 Washington and a school-record 223-yard game vs. No. 7 Oregon.

Gerhart has hit 16 home runs with 69 RBIs in his three year career with the Cardinal baseball team.  He hit .310 with two home runs in the 2008 NCAA Tournament while helping Stanford reach the College World Series.  Gerhart has been featured in the Collegebaseball360.com Two Sport Reports this fall.

Gerhart On The Diamond

The senior from Norco, Calif. has rushed for a single-season record 23 touchdowns this season and his 39 career touchdowns rank second on Stanford’s all-time career list, one behind leader Darrin Nelson, who tallied 40 TDs during his illustrious career. Last Saturday against Cal, Gerhart tied a single-game school record by rushing for four touchdowns.

He currently ranks second in the nation this week in scoring, averaging 12.91 points a game.

The Doak Walker Award, in its 20th year, is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

(Release & Staff Report)

STANFORD, Calif. – Toby Gerhart has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2009 Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate running back.

Gerhart

He has gone over the 100-yard mark in seven of nine games this season, including a pair of 200-yard games. Last Saturday, the senior from Norco, Calif. rushed for 223 yards in Stanford’s 52-41 win over previously seventh-ranked Oregon, breaking the school’s single game rushing record.

Gerhart joins (in alphabetical order) Donald Buckram of UTEP, Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech, Mark Ingram of Alabama, Dion Lewis of Pitt, Ryan Mathews of Fresno State, Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State, C.J. Spiller of Clemson, Ben Tate of Auburn and Ryan Williams of Virginia Tech among the semifinalists for this prestigious award.

The three finalists for the award will be named on Nov. 23 and a second vote by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will determine the recipient. The 2009 Doak Walker Award recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday, December 10.

The Award is named after three-time SMU All-American running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker.

Gerhart has also started 105 games in his first three seasons for the Cardinal baseball team.  His efforts during the 2009 football season have been chronicaled in the Collegebaseball360.com “Two Sport Reports“.  We will have a new Report with updated stats for Gerhart and other two sport athletes this week.

(Press Release & Staff Reports)