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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Weber Honored by TD Club of Columbus
2/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber was in Columbus, Ohio a few weeks ago. It was the second of three trips to Columbus that Weber will make in the course of a little more than one year, as he and his Gopher teammates will play at Ohio State for the second consecutive season in 2009.
This most recent trip, however, was without his teammates. Weber was honored by the Touchdown Club of Columbus as a 2009 Player to Watch on Feb. 7 at the club’s 54th Annual Sports Award Banquet. Weber said the reception was much warmer than what an opposing Big Ten quarterback usually finds in Columbus.
“It was definitely different,” Weber said of being received so well by a group that was made up largely of Buckeye fans. “It was a little weird being there by myself. Ohio State fans are something. They are very proud of their program. But they were very kind and gracious to me and all the other guys. They are actually really good fans.”
The other guys Weber referenced included quarterbacks Kellen Moore (Boise State) and Case Keenum (Houston), running back MiQuale Lewis (Ball State) and defensive standouts Kurt Coleman and Ross Homan of Ohio State. Weber joined those five players as those who were chosen as 2009 Players to Watch by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.
In addition to the six Players to Watch, the TD Club of Columbus also honored Texas quarterback Colt McCoy with its Archie Griffin Award, naming him their Most Valuable Player for the 2008 season. The Archie Griffin Award is the only player of the year award to be presented following the bowl season and therefore taking every game into account.
“The whole banquet was very nice, top notch,” Weber said. “The coolest thing about it was getting to meet a lot of great guys. It was a lot of fun. Each of the Players to Watch said a few words. We spoke after Colt McCoy and Beanie Wells. It was just neat to be a part of something like that.”
Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells and Terelle Pryor were honored with Big Ten awards from the TDC of Columbus. Wells earned his second straight Big Ten Player of the Year award, while Pryor was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the club. Other honors handed out during the banquet included Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford bringing home two of the club’s honors. He was named winner of the Chic Harley Award (as player of the year) and the Sammy Baugh Award (as the passer of the year). Texas Tech coach Mike Leach was presented with the Woody Hayes Award as coach of the year.
More information on the Touchdown Club of Columbus and its 54th Annual Awards Banquet is available by clicking here. To see photos of the event, click here.
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