The University of the Cumberlands (UC) football program ended its season when they defeated Cumberland University on the final week of the 2011 regular season. The Patriots finished the year with a 7-3 record and a 4-2 record in the MSC West Division, earning 2ndplace in the conference. A group of Patriots were honored on Thursday November 17thas the Mid-South Conference (MSC) handed out its yearly awards.
Five Patriots earned All Mid-South Conference honors for the 2011 season. On the offense, offensive lineman Colby Hitchcock (Loganville, GA) and wide receiver Willie Gibson (Abbeville, GA) received All-Conference honors.
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive lineman Jared Stippert (Clearwater, FL), linebacker Jonathan Yeary (Williamsburg, KY), and free safety Brendan Kelly (Lexington, KY) also received All-Conference honors. Kelly earned his 2ndstraight All-Conference honor this season while Stippert earned his first All-Conference honor this year. Both Hitchcock and Yeary were Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2010. Gibson was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection in 2009.
Five other Patriots also were also honored as Honorable Mention All-Conference selections. On the offense, tight end Zach Stroub (Mt. Sterling, KY) and running back Terrance Cobb (Knoxville, TN) were selected this season.
On defense, defensive lineman Corey Maddox (St. Petersburg, FL), linebacker Weston Hazelhurst (Clinton, TN), and defensive back Daniel Cotter (Sevierville, TN) also earned this honor.
Cobb was the Offensive Freshman of the Year in the MSC West in 2010 while Hazelhurst was the Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2010. Stroub was an Honorable Mention selection in 2009 while Cotter was Honorable Mention in 2010. Maddox was a two-time Honorable Mention in 2008 and 2009.
Eight Patriots were honored with Academic All-Conference honors in 2011. This award is reserved for student-athletes that are sophomores or higher academically with at least a 3.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Jay Bright (Fayetteville, GA) Justin Dyer (Woodburn, KY), Brendan Kelly, Jacob Lowe (Williamsburg, KY), William Marshall (Lynch, KY), Mitchell Mascaro (Knoxville, TN) Al Merrick (Pineville, KY) and Donte Paul (Cave City, KY) all earned Academic All-Conference honors. This was the 3rdtime Bright earned this award while it was a 2ndtime for Dyer, Marshall, and Paul. For Kelly, Lowe, Mascaro, and Merrick, it was their first time receiving Academic All-Conference honors.
The Patriots are already looking forward to the 2012 season and making the move back to the East Division of the Mid-South Conference.
To follow the Patriots during the off-season as well as following other Patriot athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com.
