Temple senior defensive tackle Dan Klecko (Colts Neck, N.J./Marlboro High School) was today named the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year in voting conducted by the league's coaches. In the process, Klecko also became only the eighth player in the history of the conference to earn unanimous, first team honors for a second time. Senior placekicker Cap Poklemba (Westminster, Md./McDonogh High School) was named to the All-Big East Conference second team.
Klecko (6-1, 280) led the Big East in both sacks (10, 0.91 per game) and tackles-for-loss (22.5, 2.05 per game) and placed 11th and fourth, respectively, in those categories nationally. In 11 games, he made 68 tackles (46 solo), 21 quarterback hurries and forced four fumbles. Klecko, a team captain who entered the season as the only unanimous All-Big East selection in Temple history, now becomes the first Owl to win a major Big East award.
Previous Big East Defensive Players of the Year include Edward Reed (Miami, 2001), Dan Morgan (Miami, 2000), Corey Moore (Virginia Tech, 1998-99), Donovin Darius (Syracuse, 1997), Warren Sapp (Miami, 1994), Michael Barrow (Miami, 1992) and Darrin Smith (Miami, 1991).
Players to earn unanimous, All-Big East First Team honors multiple times are Klecko (2001-02), Ken Dorsey (QB, Miami, 2001-02), Dwight Freeney (DE, Syracuse, 2000-01), Corey Moore (DE, Virginia Tech, 1998-99), Donovin Darius (DB, Syracuse, 1996-97), Donovan McNabb (QB, Syracuse, 1995 and 1998), Pete Mitchell (TE, Boston College, 1993-94) and Stephen Boyd (LB, Boston College, 1993-94).
Poklemba (5-11, 180) led the Big East Conference in field goal percentage (14-20, 70.0 pct.) while placing second in overall field goals with an average of 1.17 per game. He set the conference record and tied the Temple mark by connecting on five field goal attempts at Pittsburgh on November 9. Poklemba led the team in scoring with 64 points (14 FGs, 22 PATs) and concluded his career ranked fourth on Temple's all-time scoring chart with 190 points.
