December17, 2000
Denman, Theismann share stage
By AL LESAR
 Linebacker Anthony Denman (left) earned MVP honors for N.D. in 2000 (ISR Photo/BARBARA ALLISON) |
The concept of "team.''
That concept and the reward of a 9-2 record were celebrated on the night of Dec. 1 at the team's 81st annual awards banquet.
The highlight of the night was the selection of senior inside linebacker Anthony Denman as the team's most valuable player. Following the announcement, former Irish and NFL standout and present ESPN NFL announcer Joe Theismann was the banquet's featured speaker.
The 1971 graduate and All-American focused his speech to the crowd that filled the Joyce ACC Fieldhouse on what made Notre Dame special to him.
"When you look at these young men that are honored here today, you have to look past them and look at the coaches, in particular, (head coach) Bob Davie,'' Theismann said.
"I would venture to say many of us -- maybe of 'them,' not necessarily us -- maybe would not even have thought coach Davie would be sitting here today with a 9-2 football team that I believe is one of the proudest achievements this university has accomplished in the last 20 years.
"Unranked (at the start of the season), nobody gave a darn about the young men seated in front of us -- except their coaches. From there, they built a bond, a togetherness, a union that said, 'You know what? We can do it. We can do it. Together we can do it.' ''
Theismann, who came to Notre Dame from South River, N.J., was thrilled to see another New Jersey quarterback, Matt LoVecchio, step into the role and lead the Irish to seven straight victories -- the third-longest active winning streak in Division I-A football.
An MVP in the NFL, Theismann called on his days with the Washington Redskins under coach Joe Gibbs to find a parallel with this year's Notre Dame team.
"I listened to coach Davie talk about the elements of his football team,'' Theismann said. "He mentioned the word 'team.' You take that word and break those four letters down: TEAM -- Together Everyone Achieves More.
"This was not a one-man show, where you had Heisman Trophy candidates, or great receivers that were supposed to make spectacular catches. Instead, we had young quarterbacks, young receivers making spectacular catches, unselfish contributions on the special teams that separated these men from everyone else.''
Theismann issued a challenge to the players sitting before him.
"Congratulations on being 9-2,'' Theismann said. "You still have unfinished business. No matter who you play, no matter where you go, I believe that the nation will know who the best team in the country is -- the University of Notre Dame.''
While Theismann may have gotten top billing, it was Denman who came away with the top award. The senior from Rusk, Tex., generally regarded as the heart and soul of the Irish defense all season, led the team with 84 tackles and 14 tackles for loss.
Other major award winners included: