Texas Tech University Athletics
Symons, Leach Among Candidates for National Awards
October 28, 2003 | Football
Oct. 28, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons and head coach Mike Leach have been named to the Maxwell Award and George Munger Award watch lists, respectively, by the Maxwell Football Club in King of Prussia, Pa.
The Maxwell Award is given annually to the nation's top collegiate player, while the George Munger Award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate head coach. Winners of the awards will be announced December 11 followed by the Maxwell Football Club Awards dinner in February 2004.
Symons currently leads the country in several passing and total offense categories, including passing yards (3,914), touchdown passes (36) and points responsible for per game (30.8). Earlier this season against Mississippi, Symons threw for 661 yards, the third-highest single-game total in NCAA history.
Leach is in his fourth season as head coach of the Red Raiders and has guided the team to three-straight bowl appearances, the first Tech coach to do so in his first three seasons. Under Leach, Texas Tech has established over 120 individual and team records. Leach's 2002 team won the NCAA passing title and produced NCAA record-setting quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, who set 17 NCAA records during his three seasons under Leach.
Past winners of the Maxwell Award include Larry Johnson (Penn State) in 2002, Ken Dorsey (Miami) in 2001 and Drew Brees (Purdue in 2000). Notre Dame's Tyrone Willingham was the George Munger recipient last season, following Ralph Friedgen (Maryland) in 2001 and Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) in 2000.
