FB Banquet Includes Two Awards

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma's football team enjoyed its 2006 banquet Friday night at the Postal Training Center Hotel and Conference Center in Norman. Two team awards that were not previously announced were presented during the 90-minute ceremony.

Chris Messner received the Bob Kalsu Award for selfless dedication to the team. Kalsu, an All-American at Oklahoma in 1967, was the only professional football player killed in the Vietnam War. Several members of the Kalsu family were present for the banquet.

Messner, a senior from Frederick, Okla., has been the season-long starter at left tackle for the Sooners. He was a consensus All-Big 12 selection.

The Derrick Shepard Most Inspirational Walk-on Award went to Michael Cohen and Derek Shaw. Cohen is in his first year as the punter and Shaw his first as long snapper.

Shepard was a walk-on at Oklahoma in 1983. He died unexpectedly from a heart attack after serving one year as a graduate assistant coach under current Sooner coach Bob Stoops. Members of his family also were at the ceremony.

The Scout Team Players of the Year were quarterback Sam Bradford and linebacker Jeremy Beal.

The 11-2 Sooners, champions of the Big 12 Conference, will depart Christmas Day for their Fiesta Bowl appearance. OU meets Boise State on Jan. 1.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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