Sports Shorts
Published Sept. 7, 2007
Brown wins Big 12, national awards
Senior strong safety Pig Brown picked up both conference and national awards for his two interceptions and fumble return for a touchdown Saturday against Illinois in St. Louis.
Brown was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday and won the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week award on Wednesday, as announced by the Football Writers Association of America and the Touchdown Club of Charlotte, N.C., respectively.
Brown's three turnovers Saturday included an interception in the final minute of the game, which preserved the victory for the Tigers. In the first half, Brown recovered a fumble in the Missouri end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown.
Overall, Brown recorded five tackles in Saturday's game and became the 11th Tiger honored as a Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week recipient.
Soccer gaining national recognition
On Tuesday, the Big 12 Conference announced MU sophomore forward Michelle Collins as the Offensive Player of the Week for soccer. To begin the season, Collins helped the Tigers to a 2-0 start by scoring three goals last weekend.
Two important goals came during the 3-1 victory against No. 20 Illinois on Aug. 31 in Champaign, Ill. Another came in MU's home opener against Western Michigan on Sep. 2.
Collins has three goals on four shots this season and is in the right direction to significantly improve her record as a freshman.
Last year, two MU players, Ashley Hamblin and Kristin Andrighetto, received the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week award. This honor marks the first career Player of the Week award for Collins.
After opening the season with wins against Illinois and Western Michigan, the MU women's soccer team debuted in the Soccer America Women's Top 25 poll at No. 25. The Tigers ranked No. 26 in the Soccer Buzz National Top-30 Rankings.
The team is on the road against Iowa tonight and plays host to Eastern Illinois on Sunday.