University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Honors Continue to Roll in for Bryant
9/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Honors Continue to Roll in for Bryant
9/18/2000
PITTSBURGH - Already the most decorated Pittsburgh football player in almost two decades, sophomore receiver Antonio Bryant earned yet another postseason honor today as he was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference's (ECAC) Division I-A Player of the Year.
Bryant (Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern) headlined a group of three Pittsburgh players who were named to the 2000 ECAC Division I-A Football All-Star Team. The Panthers' additional honorees included senior center Jeff McCurley (Enon Valley Pa./Mohawk) and junior defensive end Bryan Knight (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's).
The ECAC Player of the Year Award is the latest honor for Bryant, who led the nation in receiving with 130.2 yards per game. He additionally won the Biletnikoff Award, annually presented to the nation's top receiver, was named an All-American by The Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and shared the Big East's Offensive Player of the Year award.
On the year Bryant had 68 receptions for a Big East-record 1,302 yards and had 11 touchdowns. He will receive the 2000 ECAC Division I-A Player of the Year Award at the Eastern College Athletic Football Awards Banquet to be held in February at the Giants Stadium Club in East Rutherford, N.J.
Knight paced the Big East in tackles for losses (26 for minus 141 yards) and was second with 11.5 sacks. A Football News All-American and first-team All-Big East selection, Knight's 26 tackles for losses set a conference record. He finished the season with 74 total stops.
McCurley, also a first-team All-Big East pick, was an instrumental figure in the Panthers' high-powered offense this season. A four-year starter, he has played in every game (45) since arriving at Pittsburgh in 1997 and has a streak of 41 consecutive starts.
The trio helped Pittsburgh achieve its most successful season since 1989 and earn a berth in the 2000 Insight.com Bowl, where the Panthers (7-4, 4-3 Big East) will face Iowa State (8-3, 5-3 Big 12).
Tickets for this year's Insight.com Bowl, which will be held at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Ariz., cost $48 and may be purchased by calling the Panthers' ticket office at (800) 643-PITT or (412) 648-PITT. Fans interested in travel packages can contact Navigant International/Forbes Travel by calling (412) 521-7300 or 521-7800.
