SEVEN COLONEL FOOTBALL PLAYERS RECEIVE ALL-OVC NOTICE
RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University had seven players listed on either the first-team, second-team or honorable mention 1998 All-Ohio Valley Conference squads earlier this week.
Named first-team All-OVC were senior record-breaking wide receiver Rondel Menendez (5-9 ½, 178, Louisville, KY) and senior offensive tackle Tyrone Hopson (6-3, 309, Owensboro, KY), both All-American candidates.
Menendez, who also earned first-team All-OVC laurels in 1997, finished his four years at Eastern as its all-time leader in pass receiving yards (2,990) and touchdown catches (27), while finishing just four catches away (150) from EKU's career leader in pass receptions, Bobby Washington (1994-97, 154). He also set a school record his junior season for most yards pass receiving in one season (1,137) and tied the school's single season mark this year for TD catches with 11. He finished the 1998 season with 52 catches for 1,032 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Hopson, a two-time All-OVC player, graded out at 85 percent this season, while playing at less than full strength with an injured shoulder. He has been invited to play in the Hula Bowl on the Hawaiian island of Maui in January.
"Both these guys were key members of our team for four years and will be missed next season. They certainly deserve this type of recognition," said EKU head football coach Roy Kidd.
Second-team All-OVC choices for the Colonels were 6-2, 280-pound junior offensive guard Josh Hunter, Bradenton, FL; 5-10 ½, 210-pound senior punter Stephen Brown; 6-0, 303-pound junior defensive tackle Jason Muchow of Merritt Island, FL; and 6-0 ½, 200-pound junior free safety Shawn Gallant of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Making honorable mention all-conference this season was 6-0, 213-pound senior linebacker Charles Tinsley of Cumberland.
Eastern, in a miraculous comeback that culminated with a 26-yard touchdown pass play from quarterback Waylon Chapman to Menendez with just 34 seconds left on the clock, defeated Eastern Illinois, 28-24, in the season's finale and closed with a 6-5 overall record, marking the 26th straight season that EKU has finished with a non-losing record and the 21st consecutive year Eastern has had a winning record in football.
The Colonels finished in a tie for fourth place in the final OVC standings with a 4-3 mark in conference play.
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