University of Massachusets Athletics
Three Football Players Earn All-Atlantic 10 Conference Honors
November 28, 2001 | Football
Nov. 28, 2001
AMHERST, Mass. - Three members of the University of Massachusetts football team have been selected to the 2001 All-Atlantic 10 Conference teams, it was announced this afternoon by the Atlantic 10 office. Sophomore defensive end Valdamar Brower (Florence, Mass.), senior free safety Jeremy Robinson (Syracuse, N.Y.) and junior punter David Sanger (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) were all named to the all-conference first team.
Brower led the team in both tackles for loss (24 for 97 yards) and quarterback sacks (10 for 70 yards) on the year, with his total for sacks ranking as the sixth-best mark in the school history. He also finished the year and the Atlantic 10's leader in both sacks and tackles for loss. In addition, Brower totaled 57 tackles, seven quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two blocked field goals and an interception this season. His top game of the year came against 15th-ranked Rhode Island on Nov. 17, when he recorded 10 total tackles with three sacks and six tackles for loss. During his two-year UMass career, Brower now has 114 total tackles, including 15 sacks and 35 tackles for loss.
Robinson, who has been named first team All-Atlantic 10 for the third-straight season, led the team with 97 total tackles on the year, including a team-high 76 solo stops. He also paced the Minutemen with three interceptions, five pass breakups and three fumble recoveries. Robinson finished the season ranked seventh in the conference in total tackles, while placing second in fumble recoveries. He concludes his UMass career with 336 total tackles (including 244 solo stops), 15 interceptions for 171 yards and 25 pass breakups. He ranks fourth all-time at UMass in career interceptions, fifth in career solo tackles, and sixth in career interception return yards, pass breakups and total tackles.
Sanger punted 68 times on the season for 2,812 yards, with his average of 41.4 yards per punt ranking as the second-best single-season mark in school history. He also placed 20 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard for line, and helped UMass to a net punting average of 37.3 yards per kick. Sanger finished the season ranked second in the Atlantic 10 and 13th nationally in punting average, while the Minutemen ranked second in the conference and seventh in the nation in net punting. In addition, Sanger recorded a career-best 71 yard punt against James Madison on Oct. 20, the eighth longest punt in school history. For his career, Sanger has now punted 168 times for 6,824 yards and a school-record 40.6 yard average, with 53 kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
UMass finished the 2001 season with an overall record of 3-8 and a 3-6 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
For a complete list of the 2001 All-Atlantic 10 Conference teams, click here.
