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University of Minnesota Athletics
Stoudermire Honored by Big Ten
11/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Big Ten Conference announced its weekly Players of the Week Monday morning. University of Minnesota kick returner Troy Stoudermire has been named the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week.
Stoudermire returned a pair of kickoffs for 112 yards at Illinois, including a 90-yard return in the fourth quarter to help the Gophers rally from a 10-point deficit and pick up their first conference victory. After Illinois took a 34-24 lead with roughly eight minutes left in the game, the junior cornerback returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards to give the Gophers a first-and-goal at the four-yard line. Minnesota scored a touchdown two plays later and added another score with 16 seconds left to claim a 38-34 lead.
Stoudermire sealed the victory with an interception as time expired. The Texas native currently holds the Big Ten record with 2,920 career kickoff return yards and ranks second with 114 returns. Stoudermire picks up his first career weekly award. The last Minnesota player to earn Big Ten Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors was Eric Ellestad on Sept. 6, 2009 after he lifted the Gophers to a 23-20 overtime victory at Syracuse.
In addition to Stoudermire, Ellestad also earned some recognition from last week's game at Illinois. The Gopher kicker was named Kickoff Specialist Performer of the Week for his performance at Illinois, where he kicked off five times with four touchbacks and an average of 69.0 yards per kickoff.
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