University of Massachusets Athletics
Football Player Kole Ayi Receives Bulger Lowe Award
December 06, 2000 | Football
Dec. 6, 2000
RANDOLPH, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts senior linebacker Kole Ayi (Nashua, N.H.) has been named the recipient of the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's 62nd annual George H. "Bulger" Lowe Award, it was announced on Wednesday evening at the 2000 "Bob" Whelan College Awards Dinner. The award is presented annually to the top offensive and defensive players from the 55 schools in New England which play intercollegiate football.
Ayi finished fifth in the voting for the 2000 Buck Buchanan Award, and has been selected first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference and All-New England. He led the team and ranked fourth in the Atlantic 10 with 123 total tackles on the season, including 76 solo stops (good for second in the conference). Ayi also totaled six sacks, 14 tackles for loss and one interception. He ended his UMass career as the school's all-time leader in career solo tackles with 330, while ranking third in total tackles with 478.
Ayi is the seventh player in school history to receive the Bulger Lowe Award. Previous winners from UMass are Jerry Whelchel (1964), Greg Landry (1967), Garry Pearson (1982, offense), Dave Palazzi (1988, offense), Rene Ingoglia (1995, offense) and Khari Samuel (1998, defense).
UMass finished the 2000 season with a 7-4 overall record, and placed third in the Atlantic 10 with a 5-3 mark in conference games.
