Jan. 21, 2008

Press release courtesy of Victory Sports Network
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GRAND ISLAND, Neb - The Victory Sports Network has released the 2007 NAIA VSN Football All-America Teams. This marks the sixth season for the awards. The biggest honors on this year's team were split among three different schools as VSN selected offensive, defensive and coach of the year awards. Chad Cavender of the University Sioux Falls (S.D.) was named VSN's Offensive NAIA Player of the Year while Owen Koeppen of Carroll (Mont.) College garnered VSN's Defensive NAIA Player of the Year. This year's team is presented by Engravers Edge of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

With help of coaches from across the NAIA, VSN has now completed their second year of incorporating NAIA Coaches into the selection process. Previously, teams were selected by VSN only. Now a committee of NAIA Coaches votes on the teams compiled by VSN.

"With the NAIA and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) joining to create a smaller team of All-Americans, we decided it would be best if the coaches and VSN came together to collaborate on an All-America team," said Jason Dannelly, Owner/CEO of the Victory Sports Network.

This marks the second year that Chad Cavender has won the offensive player of the year award from VSN. The senior quarterback from Redding California led his squad to their second consecutive national title game in Savannah, Tennessee. Cavender threw 22 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions this season. He also completed 250 passes for 3409 yards. He also rushed for 206 yards and ran for an additional 8 touchdowns. In his career as a starter Cavender lost just one game; the 2007 National Title.

"Cavender did exactly what great quarterbacks are supposed to do," said Dannelly. "He won all but one game as a starter and was a great leader for Sioux Falls. He may not have had the best numbers in the country but his intangibles are what make him so great."

Owen Koeppen had a dominating season at linebacker for the Carroll College Saints. He was named the defensive MVP of the National Championship game and was also the Frontier Conference MVP. Koeppen totaled 119 tackles and with 13 tackles for a loss. Koeppan also had eight sacks, forced four fumbles and intercepted one pass. One of the forced fumbles came in the National Championship game. Koeppen helped to lead the Saints defense to the NAIA lead in scoring defense at just 5.4 points per game. The Saints gave up just nine touchdowns all season with only two rushing touchdowns.

"Koeppen is the linebacker that every coach in the NAIA wants to lead their defense," said Dannelly. "He's smart, athletic and understands how to manage a game. He is constantly around the ball or enabling his teammates to make great plays."

VSN's NAIA Coach of the Year is Paul Troth of Missouri Valley. Troth has made it to the NAIA semifinals two years in a row and nearly defeated the University of Sioux Falls to advance the National Title. Troth's Vikings started the season slow with a 2-2 record and one of the wins coming in overtime. But as the season progressed the Vikings continued to improve week after week before upsetting previously undefeated Lindenwood in the final week of the season to secure a spot in the NAIA Championship Series. Both of Missouri Valley's wins in the postseason came on the road spoiling the seasons for Friends University and Ohio Dominican University. The win against Ohio Dominican also spoiled a perfect season for the Panthers. Troth is 85-39 as a head coach at the collegiate level.

"Troth earned this award because of how his team dug down when the going got tough this season," said Dannelly. "The Vikings were preseason #3 but started 2-2 and dropped out of the Top 25. A lot of programs would have quit. Troth's team kept fighting until the very end and it enabled them to get to the postseason. That comes from players believing in what you are saying and doing as a coach. That's the ultimate compliment any coach can receive."

This season marks the first year the Victory Sports Network names a Media Person of the Year. This award is giving to a media person that has helped spread the word of NAIA football and the Victory Sports Network across their region or nationally. The award is giving only to member of the working media as VSN will name a Sports Information Director of the Year later this spring.

Tom Frederick, the voice of the Sioux Falls Cougars, is this year's VSN Football Media Person of the Year. Frederick is the long time play-by-play voice of the Cougars on 1230 AM KWSN and has been instrumental in bringing a high standard of broadcasting to the airwaves of NAIA college football.

"Tom's play-by-play is one of the best calls in all of small college football," said Dannelly. "His research is up to the minute and he is always looking to add more to his broadcast. He works very well with his color commentator Tim Hiatt and brings a high level of professionalism to the booth."

This season's VSN All American team saw a vast number of schools from across the country gaining honors. Carroll College lead all NAIA teams with six players landing on the first and second teams, Sioux Falls followed with four; Ohio Dominican, Saint Francis (IN), Jamestown College had three All Americans.