Jan. 15, 2005

DURHAM, N.C. - Senior Giuseppe Aguanno was named the recipient of the Carmen Falcone Most Valuable Player Award at Duke University's annual football banquet held on Saturday evening in Durham, N.C.

Aguanno, who also earned a Captain's Award and co-Outstanding Linebacker honors, led the Blue Devils with 94 tackles during the 2004 season. The Staten Island, N.Y., product added seven tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and a team-leading two fumble recoveries on the year.

Other award winners included Phillip Alexander (Captain's Award), Matt Brooks (Co-Most Improved Special Teams Player), Chris Dapolito (Captain's Award & Co-Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award), Brendan Dewan (Co-Outstanding Linebacker), Ronnie Elliott (Most Improved Offensive Player & Outstanding Wide Receiver), Alex Feinberg (Mike Suglia Award), Brian Greene (Co-Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award), Senterrio Landrum (Co-Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award), David Martin (Co-Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award), Trey McDonald (Co-Outstanding Special Teams Player), Christian Mitchell (Outstanding Offensive Lineman), Eli Nichols (Most Improved Defensive Player), Ben Patrick (Captain's Award & Outstanding Tight End), Andy Roland (Outstanding Offensive Back), Kenneth Stanford (Captain's Award & Ace Parker Award), John Talley (Iron Devil Award & Outstanding Defensive Back), Orrin Thompson (Outstanding Defensive Lineman), DeAndre White (Co-Outstanding Special Teams Player) and Chancellor Young (Co-Most Improved Special Teams Player).

Alexander, a senior defensive end from Bronx, N.Y., played in just two games before suffering a season-ending leg injury against Connecticut. In two contests, he recorded nine total tackles with one sack and one fumble recovery.

Brooks, a senior kicker from Miami, Fla., led Duke in scoring with 57 total points on the year, making 13-of-19 field goals and 18-of-19 PAT conversions. In Duke's 16-13 win over Clemson on November 13, Brooks booted a game-winning, career-long 53-yard field goal as time expired and was named the ACC Player of the Week for his efforts.

Dapolito, Greene, Landrum and Martin were co-honorees of the Micah Harris Trinity Teammate Award which is presented annually to the member of the Duke football program who displays the highest teammate qualities such as inspiration, unselfishness and commitment to the team. Harris was tragically killed in an automobile accident in June of 2004, just prior to his senior year at Duke.

Dewan, a junior linebacker from Austin, Texas, finished second on the team in total tackles with 84 while adding five tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He was named the ACC's Player of the Week after a 15-tackle outing in Duke's win over Clemson.

Elliott, a junior wide receiver from Huntsville, Ala., was second on the squad in both pass receptions (28) and receiving yards (318). His top games of the year came against The Citadel (6 rec., 80 yards) and Wake Forest (6 rec., 45 yards, 1 TD).

Feinberg, a redshirt freshman placekicker from Thomasville, Ga., received the Mike Suglia Award which is presented annually to the second-year member of the Duke football program who best exemplifies the qualities of the late Mike Suglia. Mike Suglia was an offensive lineman at Duke in 1976-77 who died suddenly during the spring of his sophomore year. He was an excellent student, an outstanding football player, and, most importantly, a young man of the highest integrity.

McDonald, a senior punter from Oak Ridge, Tenn., started on Duke's special teams units for the past four years. In 2004, he punted 64 times for a 39.7 average and had 12 punts downed inside the 20 yardline compared to just two touchbacks.

Mitchell, a senior offensive tackle from Amherst, N.Y., has been a mainstay on the Blue Devil offensive line for the past four years, earning 37 starting assignments in his career.

Nichols, a sophomore defensive end from Crawfordville, Fla., contributed 47 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in his first year as a starter. In addition, he earned Academic All-District honors.

Patrick, a sophomore tight end from Savannah, Ga., paced Duke in receptions with 32 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown. Over the last five games of the year, he hauled in 21 passes for 243 yards including a career-best 97-yard outing at Wake Forest.

Roland, a junior fullback from West Lawn, Pa., caught 20 passes for 257 yards and team-leading three touchdowns on the year.

Stanford, a senior cornerback from Detroit, Mich., earned the Ace Parker Award which is presented annually to an individual who displays unparalleled commitment to the team and overcomes adversity to contribute. Parker, one of 11 former Duke players and coaches to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame, was a two-time All-America pick in 1935 and 1936. Following his successful NFL career, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. Parker later served as an assistant coach at Duke from 1947-65. Stanford battled through injuries in 2004 to record 51 tackles and two interceptions while starting in the Duke secondary for the fourth straight season.

Talley, a sophomore from Duncan, S.C., enjoyed his first season as a starter on the Blue Devil defense by registering 59 tackles while leading the ACC in both interceptions (4) and total passes defended (18). The Second Team All-ACC selection also matched the school single-season record with two interception returns for touchdowns.

Thompson, a senior defensive tackle from Charlotte, N.C., racked up 57 tackles in his final season and was chosen to participate in the 80th annual East-West Shrine Game, which was played on Saturday afternoon in San Francisco, Calif.

White, a junior linebacker from Suffolk, Va., and Young, a freshman from Woodinville, Wash., both were instrumental in Duke's success on special teams and finished the season with 20 and eight tackles, respectively.