Football: Nine Rockets Named to All-MAC Team
11/27/2000 12:00:00 PM | Football
Nov. 27, 2000
Toledo, OH - Nine Toledo Rockets were named to the 2000 All-Mid-American Conference team, the MAC Office announced today. Four of those players--DeJuan Goulde, Chester Taylor, Kevin Rollins and Todd France--were repeat choices to the All-MAC team.
In all, six UT players made first-team All-MAC, two made second-team and one made honorable mention. The teams were selected in a vote by the league's 13 coaches.
Goulde, a senior defensive end from Euclid, OH, made first-team All-MAC for the second consecutive season. He was a second-team All-MAC choice in 1998. He led Toledo and was second in the MAC with 17 tackles for loss, including nine sacks. He is a 2000 candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's top defender.
Taylor, a senior tailback from River Rouge, MI, also made first-team All-MAC for the second consecutive season. He finished with 1,470 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. He is a candidate for the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. Taylor could return for one more season with the Rockets if he graduates by next summer.
France, a junior place kicker from Maumee, OH, made first-team All-MAC after making second-team All-MAC in 1999 and honorable mention All-MAC as a freshman. He hit 15-of-19 field goals and was a perfect 49-of-49 on extra points. He is a candidate for the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best placekicker.
Other first-team selections included junior quarterback Tavares Bolden (Cleveland, OH), senior offensive tackle Jim Harding (Maumee, OH), and senior rover Ira Singleton (Benton Harbor, MI).
Rollins, a senior linebacker from Twinsburg, OH, was a second-team selection for the second consecutive season. A Butkus Award candidate as the nation's top linebacker, Rollins led Toledo with 95 tackles and was second in the MAC with 10 sacks.
Joining Rollins on the second team was senior offensive guard Michael Schaefer (Yorkville, IL). Junior center Nick Otterbacher (Mansfield, OH) was named honorable mention All-MAC.
Toledo finished its regular season with a 10-1 record, its seventh consecutive winning season. The Rockets are still waiting to hear if they will receive an at-large berth into a bowl game.
