Virginia's Matt Schaub Named ACC Offensive & Player of the Year

Story Links

Nov. 27, 2002

RALEIGH, N.C. – Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub was selected as Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and (overall) Player of the Year in voting by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association for the Associated Press.

The junior from West Chester, Pa., has turned in a remarkable season and is only UVa’s second player to capture both the offensive and player of the year honors. The first recipient of both awards was tailback Tiki Barber in 1996.

The first-team all-ACC quarterback is the ACC’s leading passer and has set eight single-season school records. Schaub leads the ACC with 26 touchdown passes and a 69.7 completion percentage. His 2,751 yards passing and 2,813 yards of total offense are school records.

“It’s a great honor for me personally,” Schaub said. “It’s good to be recognized with such great players in the ACC. It says a lot about our team and what we’ve been able to do this year.”

Schaub went 23 of 27 for 249 yards and three touchdowns in Virginia’s upset of No. 18 Maryland last weekend en route to his second ACC Player of the Week honor.

Schaub beat out NC State quarterback Philip Rivers as the league’s top offensive player. For the ACC Player of the Year accolade, Schaub received more votes than Maryland’s E.J. Henderson, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

“I think with Matt’s being honored by the Atlantic Coast Conference, and very justifiably and deservedly so, who’s meant more to his team this year than Matt Schaub has?” said head coach Al Groh. “Certainly this team that has had a remarkable season could not have achieved what it has were it not for his play. That certainly goes with the quarterback position; that’s part of the responsibility that goes the opportunity to have the ball in his hands every play.

“But he also epitomizes our team. His only agenda is winning. There are no personal issues with him; he’s not interested in his numbers. That really has become the personality of the team. And when that personality is reflected by your quarterback, then you’re usually in pretty good business.”

Picked eighth in the conference in the preseason, Schaub has guided UVa to a second-place ACC finish with a 6-2 record and an 8-4 overall record with one game remaining.

Virginia (8-4, 6-2 ACC) travels to intra-state rival Virginia Tech (8-3, 3-3 Big East) on Nov. 30. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.