Syracuse football team awards: Eric Dungey is MVP; Rex Culpepper gets courage honor
Updated: Jan. 29, 2019, 6:23 p.m. | Published: Dec. 03, 2018, 1:30 p.m.
Syracuse football brought back its end-of-season team awards, where 14 players were honored Sunday night at Drumlins. (Dennis Nett)
By Nate Mink | nmink@syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y. -- After a brief hiatus, Syracuse football brought back its end-of-season team banquet and awards ceremony, where 14 players were honored Sunday night at Drumlins.
Senior quarterback Eric Dungey took home the Bill Horr Award, given to the team's most valuable player.
But it was another quarterback's award that brought the room to its feet.
Rex Culpepper was honored with the first-ever Jim DaRin Award for Courage.
Culpepper returned to the field this year after undergoing chemotherapy treatment this spring for testicular cancer.
DaRin, honored with the Zunic Award in 2003, was severely injured in an accident at the Miller Brewing plant before his junior season in 1977 when a keg exploded sending shards of metal all throughout his body. A metal rod went through his neck, severing one of his vocal cords. He endured 12 surgeries on his spinal cord and a ruptured artery near his heart.
DaRin appeared on stage while Culpepper addressed the room of coaches, teammates, former lettermen and administrators.
"It hits home because life is a fragile thing, and every day really is a blessing," Culpepper said, according to a release from Cuse.com.
Here are the complete list of award winners from Sunday night:
2018 Syracuse Team Award Winners
Joe Szombathy Award (Outstanding Special Teams Player) -
Ray Martino Award (Loyalty, Enthusiasm, and Perseverance) -
Pat Miller Award (Outstanding Athlete, Student, and Citizen) -
Thomas S. Pirro Award (Character and Coachability) -
Joe Alexander Award (Excellence in Football, Scholarship, and Citizenship) -
Tim Green Award (Outstanding Defensive Lineman) -
Coach "Mac" Award (Intensity, Focus, Effort, and Attitude) -
Duffy Daugherty Award (Player's Player, Coaches' Player) -
Ben Schwartzwalder Award (Exemplary Football Player) -
Mark Hoffman Award (Outstanding Back) -
Bill Maxwell Award (Most Improved Offensive Player) -
Ted Dailey Award (Most Improved Defensive Player) -
Bill Horr Award (Most Valuable Player) -
Jim DaRin Award for Courage -
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