 | Monnier led UD and was eighth in the PFL in tackles in 2012. |
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The University of Dayton honored the 2012 Flyer football team today at its annual Football Awards Banquet. The banquet, presented by the UD Flyers Club, was at the Kennedy Union Ballroom on campus.
Dayton finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the Pioneer Football League this season. After a slow start, the Flyers won five of their last six to secure their 35th winning season in the last 36 years.
Senior linebacker Colin Monnier (Chicago, IL) was named the recipient of the White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy. The only member of the defense to start every game, Monnier led the team in tackles (92), solo hits (46) and tackles in the backfield (12.0). He was also tied for second in interceptions (2) and batted away another pass and had a quarterback hurry.
The White Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy is sponsored by Tim White and White Allen Auto Group, Inc. The award is selected by members of the team. The White Allen Trophy has been awarded annually since 1953. White Allen now sponsors the MVP award for UD's men's and women's basketball, football and volleyball teams.
Monnier was also the winner of the recipient of the Chief Toscani Hitter Award. A 2012 Dayton co-captain, Monnier was eighth in the Pioneer Football League in tackles per game (8.4). He is a graduate of Marist High School.
Redshirt senior center Bill Petraiuolo (Highland Heights, OH) was presented the Stan Kurdziel Memorial Trophy. The Kurdziel Trophy goes to the team's top lineman. A three-year starter, Petraiuolo was the anchor of the offensive line that was the biggest reason the Flyers led the PFL in rushing. Despite starting three different running backs during the season, UD averaged 198.7 yards a game. Dayton also averaged 5.0 yards a carry as a team and had six different ball carriers gain at least 100 yards in 2012.
Off the field, the pre-med major was a national semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s Campbell Trophy, which is sometimes known as the Academic Heisman. He was the fifth Flyer named a semifinalist in the last six years.
Senior wide receiver Sal Salvato (Chicago, IL) was this season’s winner of the A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year Award. It is presented in memory of Cohen, a former Flyer wide receiver who left his mark on the program with his everyday positive attitude and team-first approach. Salvato played in one game and made the travel squad for the season finale at Marist, but his contributions and examples on the practice field and in the locker room earned him the award.
Redshirt senior safety Ben Welsh (Goodland, IN) is this year’s winner of the Emil Karas Memorial Award. The Karas Award is for the most inspirational leadership as chosen by his teammates. A starter in every game he played a defensive position while at UD, injuries limited Welsh’s career to 27 out of a possible 45 games played in his four seasons. Even though he battled back four times from major injuries, he remained one of the most respected players on the team. This season, he was second on the team in tackles (59), with four in the backfield, a sack and interception.
The Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award, which goes to the senior for the most outstanding contribution to the program over his college career, went to cornerback Kyle Sebetic (Pleasant Prairie, WI). A three-year starter, Sebetic led NCAA FCS football in passes defensed in 2012. The Tremper High School product had 15 passes broken up and three interceptions in nine games, for a 2.0 per game average. He also had 52 total tackles and was second on the team with 39 solos.
This season's Most Improved Player Award went to senior running back Robert Washington. After gaining just 18 yards in 2011, Washington was the Flyers’ second-leading rusher (459 yards, 5.5 per-carry average) and team leader in touchdowns (7). The Birmingham (MI) Seaholm High School grad gained all but seven of his yards and scored all of his touchdowns in PFL play.
Backup kicker Pat Dyer (Toledo, OH) earned the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award. A Pre-Med major at UD, the redshirt sophomore carries a 3.97 cumulative GPA. The Macbeth Award goes annual to the UD football player who has the highest cumulative grade point average over at least four semesters.
Freshman offensive lineman Robert Delaney (Chicago, IL) earned the job of the Flyer long snapper in pre-season camp, and earned the ROTC Cannonball Award, which goes to the team's top newcomer, at the post-season banquet. Delaney played in all 11 games and was credited with two tackles in punt coverage.
Senior slot receiver Robert Strong (Detroit, MI) had already been named the 2012 recipient of the Lt. Andy Zulli Award at halftime of UD's final home game against Drake. The award, one of the most prestigious in the program, is for sportsmanship, character, and leadership.
Freshman running back Owen Williams (Lake Forest, IL) was named the Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year. Freshman linebacker Chris Hagan (Lansing, MI) was awarded the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year award.
2012 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS
White-Allen Most Valuable Player Colin Monnier
Chief Toscani Hitter Colin Monnier
Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award Kyle Sebetic
Emil Karas Inspirational Leadership Ben Welsh
Stan Kurdziel Outstanding Lineman Bill Petraiuolo
A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year Sal Salvato
John L. Macbeth Scholar-Athlete Pat Dyer
Most Improved Player Robert Washington
Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy Robert Strong
ROTC Cannonball Award Robert Delaney
Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year Owen Williams
Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year Chris Hagan
