FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 10, 2001

MONMOUTH’S ROACH EARNS ESPN/USA TODAY FOOTBALL HONOR
 

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.  – Monmouth University standout Jay Roach (Toms River, N.J./Manchester) was recognized for his excellence as he was tabbed the ESPN/USA Today Division I-AA Special Teams Player of the Week.

Roach got Monmouth’s 2001 campaign started in grand fashion as he opened the contest with a 93-yard kickoff return to stake the Hawks to a 6-0 lead vs. Northeast Conference rival Wagner. Monmouth would eventually prevail 23-15 in the contest.

The kickoff was notable on three fronts. The distance equaled the school record set by Kevin Francis when he returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown vs. Mercyhurst on October 5, 1996. With the return, Roach also became the first Monmouth player to ever return two kickoffs for touchdowns in their career. Finally, it marked the second consecutive game, dating back to Monouth’s 32-28 victory over Jacksonville on November 18, 2000, that Roach returned the game’s opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Georgia Southern’s Adrian Peterson, who set an NCAA record for his 33rd consecutive regular-season 100-yard rushing game in a victory over Delaware, earned Offensive Player of the Week honors. Florida Atlantic’s Tavarian Osborne, who picked up a fumble and ran 99 yards to give the Owls their first-ever victory, a 32-28 win over Bethune-Cookman, in just their second game, earned Defensive Player of the Week recognition.

Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, September 15 as the Hawks host Robert Morris in a 1 p.m. contest at Kessler Field.