Washington State University Athletics
Cougar Football Hands Out 2014 Team Awards
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State football recently handed out its team awards for the 2014 season.
Redshirt-junior offensive lineman Joe Dahl was named the team’s Mike Utley Offensive Lineman of the Year. Dahl earned All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention after starting all 12 games at left tackle, allowing just one sack for nation’s top passing offense. Dahl also earned a team-high six WSU “Bone” Awards, given to the offensive lineman who performed the best after each game.
Redshirt-junior defensive lineman Xavier Cooper was named the team’s Leon Bender Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss. Cooper started all 12 games and tallied 37 tackles including five sacks.
Senior linebacker Cyrus Coen was presented the Tim Petek Strongest Man. Coen started the final 12 games at SAM linebacker and posted 62 tackles, 6.5 for loss including one sack and also picked off one pass.
Redshirt-senior quarterback Connor Halliday was presented the Randall Simmons Award, recognized as the WSU Coaches Award, named in honor of the former Cougar and Los Angeles SWAT team member who was killed in the line of duty in 2008. Halliday closed his record-setting career earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention after leading the country in passing yards per game (430.3), total offense per game (415.8) and throwing for the second-most yards in the Pac-12 (3,873) and fourth-most touchdowns (32) in just nine games before suffering a season-ending injury. The Spokane, Wash. native threw for 300+ yards seven times including three 500-yard games highlighted by an NCAA record 734 yards against California.
Defensive lineman Lyman Faoliu and wideout Isiah Myers shared the Frank Butler Award, given each year to the senior who exemplifies the Cougar spirit that Spokane booster Frank Butler was famous for. Faoliu appeared in all 12 games, mainly on special teams, and finished his WSU career a two-year letterwinner after arriving in 2013 as a junior college transfer. Myers finished his final campaign in Pullman second on the team and fifth in the Pac-12 with 78 receptions, third-most in single-season history. The Orlando, Fla. native recorded 972 receiving yards and caught 12 touchdown passes, tied for the most in the Pac-12 and tied for second-most in WSU single-season history.
Linebacker Mitchell Peterson earned the J. Fred Bohler Award, given to a member of the team by vote of the team who best exemplifies the inspiration of former WSU athletic direction and basketball coach J. Fred Bohler. Peterson appeared in 10 games, was named a team captain twice and tallied 21 tackles, including a career-high 16 tackles against Rutgers.
Wide receiver Vince Mayle was presented the Laurie Niemi Award, given to the senior who best shows courage, spirit and attitude of former Cougar assistant coach Laurie Niemi. Mayle, an All-America honorable mention selection by Sports Illustrated and Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, finished the regular season tied for the national lead with 106 receptions and posted a Pac-12-best 1,483 yards, both WSU single-season records. The Natomas, Calif. native caught nine touchdowns, led the Pac-12 with six 100-yard games and was the only player in the country with two 250-yard games (263-Cal, 252-Arizona State).
