LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - To celebrate 55 years of College Athletic Conference/Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference football, the league office is releasing the top moments and/or players for each current conference member, culminating with the release of the all-time CAC/SCAC football team.
This week, the SCAC office looks back on the top players and top moments from Trinity University.
Trinty, which joined the SCAC prior to the 1989 season, has produced 200 First Team All-CAC/SCAC selections.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY - TOP PLAYERS (in alphabetical order)
Jeremy Boyce, Running Back (1999-2002)
3-time 1st Team All-SCAC...D3football.com All-American in 2001...All-American in 2002 (D3football.com, Hewlett-Packard)...Trinity's all-time leading rusher with more than 4,000 career yards
Mike Burton, Quarterback (1996-1999)
4-time 1st Team All-SCAC...1998 and 1999 SCAC Offensive Player of the Year...Football Gazette All-American in 1998...Melberger Award winner (Division III National Player of the Year) in 1998...All-American in 1999 (AFCA, D3football.com, Hewlett-Packard)...Trinity's all-time leader in passing
David Coney, Offensive Lineman (1996-1999)
2-time 1st Team All-SCAC...Football Gazette All-American in 1998...All-American in 1999 (Football Gazette, Associated Press, D3football.com, Hewlett-Packard)...Football Gazette National Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1999
Alex Doran, Defensive Back (1994-98)
4-time 1st Team All-SCAC...1998 SCAC Defensive Player of the Year...Football Gazette All-American in 1998...only defensive back in SCAC history to earn 1st Team honors in all four seasons
Roy Hampton, Quarterback (1998-2002)
2-time 1st Team All-SCAC...2001 and 2002 SCAC Offensive Player of the Year...All-American in 2001 and 2002 (D3football.com, Football Gazette, Hewlett-Packard, Associated Press (2002 only))...led Trinity to Stagg Bowl in 2002, setting the D-III record for total offensive yards
Jason Hunt, Wide Receiver/Punt Returner (1999-2002)
3-time 1st Team All-SCAC...SCAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2002...Trinity's career record-holder in receiving yards and total receptions...SCAC record-holder in punt return yards
Bill Smith, Offensive Lineman (1998-2001)
3-time 1st Team All-SCAC...All-American in 2001 (AFCA, D3football.com, Hewlett-Packard, Associated Press, Football Gazette)...4-year starter at Trinity...broke school record for most games started
Jarrod Smith, Defensive Lineman (2000-03)
1st Team All-SCAC in 2003...2003 SCAC Defensive Player of the Year...All-American in 2003 (AFCA, Associated Press, Sports Information Directors, D3football.com, Football Gazette)...Trinity's all-time leader in career sacks, as well as setting the single season sacks record in 2003
John Tobola, Defensive Lineman (1990-93)
3-time 1st Team All-SCAC...1993 SCAC Defensive Player of the Year...Football Gazette All-American in 1993...Trinity's first Division III All-American
Jerheme Urban, Wide Receiver (1999-2002)
1st Team All-SCAC in 2002...All-American in 2002 (D3football.com, Football Gazette)...9-year NFL veteran...still holds Trinity records for receiving touchdowns (tied) and total touchdowns scored
Jim Vallerie, Linebacker (1992-94)
2-time 1st Team All-SCAC...1994 SCAC Defensive Player of the Year...All-American in 1994 (Associated Press, Football Gazette)...broke the Trinity record for career tackles (currently second all-time)...led the team to its first-ever SCAC Championship in 1993, as well as its first NCAA D-III Playoff appearance in 1994
J.P. Visosky, Linebacker (1997-00)
2-time 1st Team All-SCAC...2000 SCAC Defensive Player of the Year...All-American in 2000 (Associated Press, D3football.com, Football Gazette, Hewlett-Packard)...all-time leader in tackles at Trinity, and also still holds the single season tackles record
TRINITY UNIVERSITY – TOP MOMENTS (in chronological order)
October 23, 1993 - First SCAC Victory
Trinity defeats Centre College, 44-10, in San Antonio to earn its first-ever SCAC victory.
November 13, 1993 - First SCAC Championship
With a 21-19 win over Millsaps College, Trinity clinches a 4-0 record in conference play and its first-ever outright SCAC Championship.
November 19, 1994 - First NCAA Playoff Game
After a 10-0 record during the regular season, Trinity qualifies for the NCAA D-III Playoffs for the first time in school history. The Tigers faced off against Washington & Jefferson in the First Round, falling 28-0.
November 22, 1997 - First NCAA Playoff Victory
Trinity qualifies for the NCAA D-III Playoffs for the second time in school history, and promptly wins a 44-33 game against Catholic University.
December 5, 1998 - NCAA Semifinals Against Mount Union
Trinity reaches the NCAA D-III Semifinals for the first time in school history, facing off against perennial power Mount Union. The Tigers stage a fourth-quarter comeback, but fall short in a 34-29 loss to the eventual national champion.
December 14, 1998 - Burton Wins Melberger Award
After leading Trinity to its best season in school history, junior quarterback Mike Burton is named the Melberger Award winner - the Division III National Player of the Year. It is the first such award in school history.
December 11, 1999 - NCAA Semifinals vs. Pacific Lutheran
Trinity reaches the NCAA Semifinals for the second consecutive season, taking on Pacific Lutheran. Trinity loses 49-28 in a home game, and falls to the eventual champion for the second straight year.
December 14, 2002 - NCAA Semifinals vs. St. John's (Minn.)
Trinity wins in the NCAA Semifinals for the first time in school history, defeating St. John's 41-34. Quarterback Roy Hampton scores a four-yard rushing touchdown to win the game with 2:18 to play.
December 21, 2002 - Stagg Bowl
Trinity reaches the Stagg Bowl - the NCAA D-III Championship - for the first time in school history. The Tigers lose 48-7 in a rematch with Mount Union.
October 27, 2007 - Mississippi Miracle
With two seconds remaining, and 60 yards away from the end zone, Trinity executes the "Miracle Play" to pull off an incredible 28-24 win over Millsaps. The 15-lateral play has been called the most incredible ending to any football game. Among the notable honors, the "Mississippi Miracle" was named the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the 2007 NCAA Football season, the Time Magazine's #1 Sports Moment of 2007, and was nominated for an ESPY award.
*Top players and top moments were selected in a collaborative effort between Trinity and the conference office.
