Fe'esago Repeats as 1st-team All-WAC Football Choice

Offensive lineman Chris Fe’esago was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference football team for the third year in a row and became the first San Jose State University player to be a two-time All-WAC football selection in balloting conducted among the conference coaches.

The senior from Pomona, Calif., was the only Spartan named to the first-team. Fe’esago was a first-team pick in 2000 and a second-team choice in 1999.
Wide receiver Edell Shepherd, who set numerous school pass rceiving records in 2001, running back Jarmar Julien, the team’s leading rusher, were second-team choices.

Fresno State, which is competing in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic against Michigan State, had nine first-team picks including quarterback David Carr as the "Offensive Player of the Year" and his teammate, defensive tackle Alan Harper, as the "Defensive Player of the Year." Nevada running back Chance Kretschmer was named the "Freshman of the Year" while Louisiana Tech head coach Jack Bicknell received "Coach of the Year" honors.

Carr, a senior from Bakersfield, Calif., became just the sixth player in Division I-A history to throw for more than 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in a season. Carr was 309-of-477 for 4,308 yards and 42 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. The 42 touchdowns are the fifth most in Division I-A history. He led the nation in passing yards, touchdown passes and points responsible for (22.0) as he also rushed for five touchdowns. Carr threw for more than 300 yards in 10 of 13 games.

Harper, a senior from Fontana, Calif., led the WAC in tackles for loss with 21 for 104 yards and was tied for the WAC lead in sacks with 12 for 79 yards. He had 36 solo tackles and 18 assists in 13 games

Kretschmer, a freshman from Tonopah, Nev., rushed for 1,732 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. He leads the nation in rushing with 157.5 yards per game. Kretschmer rushed for a school-record 327 yards and six touchdowns in one game. The 1,732 yards are the fourth most in conference history and the most ever by a WAC freshman breaking the record of 1,429 set by San Diego State’s Marshall Faulk in 1991.

Bicknell earned his coach of the year award after first-year member Louisiana Tech won the WAC Championship with a 7-1 conference record (7-4 overall) and was awarded a berth in the Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl. It is Louisiana Tech’s first bowl game in 11 years.

Fe’esago, Harper of Fresno State and Fresno State defensive back Vernon Fox were repeat first-team choices from 2000. Harper made the all-WAC first team for the third year in a row.

Boise State placed four players on the first-team, while Hawaii and SMU had
three each, Louisiana Tech and Rice had two and Nevada and San Jose State
had one.

First Team

Offense
WR-Bernard Berrian, Fresno State, 6-2, 190, Jr.
WR-Ashley Lelie, Hawaii, 6-3, 178, Jr.
TE-Jeb Putzier, Boise State, 6-5, 234, Sr.
OL-Matt Hill, Boise State, 6-6, 298, Sr.
OL-Mike Stovall, Fresno State, 6-2, 290, Sr.
OL-Manly Kanoa, Hawaii, 6-5, 314, Sr.
OL-Damian Lavergne, Louisiana Tech, 6-6, 344, Sr.
OL-*Chris Feesago, San Jose State, 6-3, 328, Sr.
QB-David Carr, Fresno State, 6-3, 225, Sr.
RB-Brock Forsey, Boise State, 5-11, 198, Jr.
RB-Chance Kretschmer, Nevada, 6-2, 220, Fr.

Defense
DL-*#Alan Harper, Fresno State, 6-2, 285, Sr.
DL-Nick Burley, Fresno State, 6-4, 250, Jr.
DL-Brandon Green, Rice, 6-3, 251, Jr.
DL-Kevin Aldridge, SMU, 6-1, 271, Sr.
LB-Chris Brown, Hawaii, 6-1, 256, Jr.
LB-Dan Dawson, Rice, 6-2, 200, Sr.
LB-Vic Viloria, SMU, 5-10, 237, Jr.
DB-Quintin Mikell, Boise State, 5-10, 197, Jr.
DB-*Vernon Fox, Fresno State, 5-10, 200, Sr.
DB-Bobby Gray, Louisiana Tech, 6-1, 210, Sr.
DB-Jonas Rutledge, SMU, 5-10, 174, So.

Specialists
PK-Asen Asparuhov, Fresno State, 6-5, 215, Jr.
P-Jason Simpson, Fresno State, 6-1, 185, Jr.
ST-Bernard Berrian, Fresno State, 6-2, 190, Jr.

*2000 First Team All-WAC Selection
#1999 First Team All-WAC Selection

Top Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year - David Carr, Sr., QB, Fresno State
Defensive Player of the Year - Alan Harper, Sr., DT, Fresno State
Freshman of the Year - Chance Kretschmer, RB, Nevada
Coach of the Year - Jack Bicknell, Louisiana Tech

Second Team

Offense
WR-Rodney Wright, Sr., Fresno State
WR-Edell Shepherd, Sr., San Jose State
WR-*Lee Mays, Sr., UTEP
OL-Fitu Tu’ua, So., Fresno State
OL-Vincent Manuwai, Jr., Hawaii
OL-Kika Kaululaau, Sr., Nevada
OL-Heath Fowler, Sr., Rice
OL-Billy Harvin, Sr., Rice
QB-Luke McCown, So., Louisiana Tech
RB-Paris Gaines, Sr., Fresno State
RB-Joe Smith, Jr., Louisiana Tech
RB-Jarmar Julien, Jr., San Jose State

Defense
DL-Travis Laboy, Fr., Hawaii
DL-Jamie Nichols, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DL-Horacio Leyva, Sr., Nevada
DL-Drew McLaughlin, Sr., Tulsa
LB-Greg Sasser, Sr., Boise State
LB-Maurice Rodriguez, Sr., Fresno State
LB-Pisa Tinoisamoa, Jr., Hawaii
LB-Curtis Randall, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DB-Devon Banks, Sr., Fresno State
DB-Nate Jackson, Sr., Hawaii
DB-Jason Hebert, Sr., Rice
DB-D.J. Walker, Jr., UTEP

Specialists
PK-Josh Scobee, So., Louisiana Tech
P-Mat McBriar, So., Hawaii
ST-Chad Owens, Fr., Hawaii