University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Gain More Big East Accolades
9/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Panthers Gain More Big East Accolades
9/25/2000
PITTSBURGH - For the fourth consecutive week, the Big East Conference has honored a member of the Pittsburgh Panthers as its Player of the Week.
Linebacker Gerald Hayes has been named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week, while versatile quarterback Rod Rutherford has been named the conference's Special Teams honoree for their roles in the Panthers' 29-17 victory over Rutgers this past Saturday.
Hayes (Paterson, N.J./Passaic County Technical Institute) was honored after spearheading Pittsburgh's dominating defensive effort versus the Scarlet Knights. The sophomore matched his career high with 11 tackles (six solo) and had two tackles for losses, including a quarterback sack. His performance helped Pittsburgh hold Rutgers to minus 13 yards rushing, the fewest allowed by the Panthers since they limited Brigham Young to a school-record minus 76 yards during the 1987 season.
Despite missing the season opener, Hayes leads the Panthers with 29 tackles (15 solo) and is second (tied) with five tackles for losses (minus 27). Pittsburgh ranks third in the nation in rushing defense (yielding just 42.3 yards per game), ninth in total defense (239.3 avg.) and ninth in scoring defense (10 ppg.). The Panthers are also tops in the Big East in each of those categories.
In his first game as Pittsburgh's starting kickoff returner, Rutherford (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional Academy) earned Special Teams Player of the Week after he had four returns for 124 yards, an impressive 31.0 average.
On the very first kickoff return of his career, Rutherford had an electrifying return of 65 yards. (Earlier in the game he returned a free kick 32 yards following a Pittsburgh safety.) His performance helped propel Pittsburgh to second in the nation and first in the Big East in kick returns (30.1 avg.). (The Panthers were 111th nationally in kick returns just one week prior.) Rutherford also played quarterback and wide receiver versus the Scarlet Knights.
Pittsburgh now has six Big East Player of the Week awards this season. In addition to Hayes and Rutherford, the Panthers' other honorees include receiver Antonio Bryant (Sept. 11), defensive end Bryan Knight (Sept. 11 and Sept. 18) and placekicker Nick Lotz (Sept. 4).
The Panthers, who are 4-0 for the first time since 1991, are off this week. Pittsburgh returns to action Oct. 7 when it travels to Syracuse. The game, which will kick off at 4:30 p.m., will be nationally televised by ESPN2.
