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Ivy Champions Kurt Holuba, John Lovett Named Bushnell Cup Finalists As League Players of the Year
November 29, 2016 | Football
Nine days after sharing the Poe-Kazmaier Award, the top program honor given at the annual postseason team banquet, Ivy League champions and Princeton football standouts John Lovett and Kurt Holuba shared another honor Tuesday. Both have been named finalists for the 2016 Bushnell Cup, which honors the Ivy League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
Lovett, who led the FCS with 20 rushing touchdowns this season, and Penn wideout Justin Watson were named finalists for the Offensive Player of the Year, while Holuba, who led the Ivy League with seven sacks in conference play, and Dartmouth linebacker Folarin Orimolade were named finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year.
The winners will be announced the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 5, in the Vanderbilt Room (Lobby Level) of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. You can watch the announcement, which will be made Monday at 12:30 pm, live and free of charge here.
"I am thrilled that both John and Kurt were respected enough around the Ivy League to be voted as finalists for the Bushnell Cup," said Ivy League Head Coach of the Year Bob Surace, who was named a finalist for the FCS Coach of the Year award for the third time in the last five seasons. "They both had incredible years, and they played major roles in leading us to the Ivy League championship. Their performances on the field speak for themselves, but they are also invaluable leaders both in the locker room, and on the practice field. I'm very happy that they are up for the Bushnell Cup, and I'm also excited to know they will be back in Orange and Black next year."
Lovett did more than just lead the FCS in rushing touchdowns this season. He also threw 10 touchdowns and caught one, meaning he accounted for 31 touchdowns this season. Five other Ivy League teams scored 30 touchdowns or fewer. Lovett accounted for a Princeton-record seven touchdowns in the win at Cornell, and he accounted for at least two touchdowns in every Ivy League game this season.
Holuba started on the defensive line and led the Ivy League with 7.0 sacks in conference play. Holuba, the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after a three-sack performance against Harvard, recorded at least a half sack in five of the last six games, and he recorded 34 tackles on the defensive line.
Lovett, who led the FCS with 20 rushing touchdowns this season, and Penn wideout Justin Watson were named finalists for the Offensive Player of the Year, while Holuba, who led the Ivy League with seven sacks in conference play, and Dartmouth linebacker Folarin Orimolade were named finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year.
The winners will be announced the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 5, in the Vanderbilt Room (Lobby Level) of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. You can watch the announcement, which will be made Monday at 12:30 pm, live and free of charge here.
"I am thrilled that both John and Kurt were respected enough around the Ivy League to be voted as finalists for the Bushnell Cup," said Ivy League Head Coach of the Year Bob Surace, who was named a finalist for the FCS Coach of the Year award for the third time in the last five seasons. "They both had incredible years, and they played major roles in leading us to the Ivy League championship. Their performances on the field speak for themselves, but they are also invaluable leaders both in the locker room, and on the practice field. I'm very happy that they are up for the Bushnell Cup, and I'm also excited to know they will be back in Orange and Black next year."
Lovett did more than just lead the FCS in rushing touchdowns this season. He also threw 10 touchdowns and caught one, meaning he accounted for 31 touchdowns this season. Five other Ivy League teams scored 30 touchdowns or fewer. Lovett accounted for a Princeton-record seven touchdowns in the win at Cornell, and he accounted for at least two touchdowns in every Ivy League game this season.
Holuba started on the defensive line and led the Ivy League with 7.0 sacks in conference play. Holuba, the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after a three-sack performance against Harvard, recorded at least a half sack in five of the last six games, and he recorded 34 tackles on the defensive line.
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