June 18, 2008
CHICAGO -- The Big Ten Network will honor the conference's top plays, games, performers and performances of 2007-08 during the Big Ten Awards Show. The hour-long program debuts at 9 p.m. Friday. Fans can cast their ballots online at www.BigTenNetwork.com for the Play of the Year, the Big Ten Male Athletic Coach of the Year and the Big Ten Female Athletic Coach of the Year.
The winners of the conference's highest awards, the Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year and the Suzy Favor Female Athlete of the Year, will also be revealed. Member institutions nominated one candidate for each award. A panel of conference media selected previous winners such as Steve Alford, Desmond Howard, Eddie George and current Big Ten Network broadcaster Stephanie White.
"It has been an unforgettable year of competition in the Big Ten and the Big Ten Awards Show celebrates the very best from the past season," said Leon Schweir, Big Ten Network Executive Producer and Vice President, Production.
The network will also present an additional series of awards to the most deserving individuals and teams. The categories include Breakout Performer of the Year, Most Dominating Individual Performance, Most Courageous Performance, Best Finish, Best Game, Women's Athletic Team of the Year and Men's Athletic Team of the Year.
Categories With Northwestern Nominees
Breakout Performer of the Year: Dustin Fox (Northwestern wrestling), Danielle Spencer (Northwestern lacrosse), Lauren Delaney (Northwestern softball)
Most Dominating Performance: C.J. Bacher (Northwestern football) for his 520-yard, five-touchdown effort against Michigan State, Kevin Coble (Northwestern basketball) for his 37-point game against Indiana, Lauren Delaney (Northwestern softball pitcher) for her scoreless streak of 17 innings during the Big Ten Tournament
Most Courageous Performance: Meredith Frank (Northwestern lacrosse) for tallying two goals and three assists just four games after suffering a torn Achilles' tendon.
Best Finish: Northwestern football's rally from a 21-point deficit to beat Minnesota, 49-48, in double overtime.
Women's Athletic Team of the Year (each Big Ten regular season and tournament champion is on the ballot): Northwestern tennis, Northwestern softball
For the full release and complete list of nominees, visit www.BigTenNetwork.com
About the Big Ten Network: The Big Ten Network is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its 11 member institutions. The Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original programs in academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities; and associated personalities. Sports programming includes live coverage of more major men's and women's events than ever before, along with news, highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of university-produced campus programming. The network is available to all cable and satellite carriers and television distributors nationwide, with most programs offered in stunning high-definition television (HDTV). The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. For more information regarding the Big Ten Network, visit www.BigTenNetwork.com.