NFL 2000

1. Ray Lewis: Was the Super Bowl MVP.

He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, consensus All-Pro and a Pro Bowler.

In the “Big Game”, Lewis had five tackles and four pass break ups.

During the postseason, in four games he had 31 tackles, two Interceptions, and nine pass break ups.

In the regular season Lewis posted 137 stops along with 3 sacks, 2 Ints, and recovered 3 fumbles.

Lewis helped clinch the Ravens’ divisional round upset on the road in Tennessee. It was his 4^th quarter pick six that put Baltimore in the AFC title game.

Behind the play of the their star middle linebacker, the Ravens set league records for the least amount points and rushing yards allowed in a 16 game schedule.

They had four shutouts and allowed just 16 offensive points in four playoff games.

Baltimore went 12-4, earned a wild card, and won their first ever Super Bowl.

2. Marshall Faulk: Was the NFL MVP.

He was named Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. He was a consensus All-Pro and Pro Bowler.

Despite missing two games to injury, he set the single season record with 26 total TDs.

Marshall ran for 1359 yards and league high 5.4 yards per carry.

Faulk added 81 catches and 830 yards and 8 TDs.

He finished 2^nd with 2,189 yards from scrimmage. He led the NFL in total points with 160, a rarity for position players.

He had two 200+ rushing games and scored at least four TDs in three other games.

In the playoffs, Faulk helped the Rams rally from down 31-7 in the second half with 99 yards receiving, a TD and two point conversion.

Their comeback would come up short, and the Saints would win 31-28.

The Rams went 10-6, won a wild card spot, while setting an NFL record with 540 points in a season (33.8 per game).

3. Edgerrin James: Led in the NFL in rushing for the second straight year with 1,709 yards.

James also led the league with 2303 yards from scrimmage.

He added 63 receptions and 5 TDs

James was 1^st team All-NFL by Pro Football Weekly and Sporting News and 2^nd team by the AP

He was a Pro Bowler.

Edge was second in the NFL with 18 total TDs. and carries with 387.

He had three straight 100 yard games (all Colts wins) to finish the season and propel the Colts to the playoffs. He had nine games over 100 on the season.

In the Wild Card round vs. Miami, James ran for 107 and had 33 yards thru the air.

Indy was 10-6 and 4^th in the NFL with 26.8 PPG.

College Football 2000

1. Drew Brees: Won Maxwell Award as top player in the NCAA.

            He was 3^rd in Heisman voting and was a finalist for the second straight season. He won the Big Ten Player of the Year.

Brees led the nation in total offense with 358.1 yards per game.

The Purdue quarterback led the Big Ten yards, TDs, comp. % (60.5) and completions.

He threw for 3393 yards and 24 TDs. Brees also ran for 546 yards (6.0 YPC) and 5 TDs.

Against #11 Michigan he threw for 286 yards and 2 scores and ran for 80 more. The next week he threw for five TDs vs. Northwestern.

He helped Purdue upset then #3 Ohio St. on this touchdown pass.

In the Rose Bowl vs. #3 Washington he threw for 275 yards. His two TD passes helped the Boilermakers tie the game at 17 in the 3^rd quarter. 

Washington would go on to win 34-24.

Purdue won the Big 10 and was 8-3 in the regular season. They finished #13 in the final 

polls.

2. Dan Morgan: Was national defensive player of the year. He won the Nagurski, and Bednarik awards. He was named top linebacker and won the Butkus award.

 Morgan was also a consensus 1^st team All American, and Big East defensive POY.

He compiled 138 total tackles in including 90 solo tackles, 4 sacks and 2 Ints.

The Canes captain tallied 20 tackles vs. #3 Washington, Miami’s only loss.

Morgan controlled then #1 FSU with 13 tackles, an Int and forced fumble.

In the Sugar Bowl vs. #10 Florida, he made 12 stops and had a goal line pick to seal a 37-20 victory.

Miami finished #2 in the final polls and 11-1. They missed out at a chance for the national title by 

finishing #3 in the BCS standings, despite beating #2 Florida St. in regular season.

3. Marques Tuiasosopo: Was the Rose Bowl MVP and led Washington past Purdue.

In the granddaddy of them all, he ran for 90 yards and TD on just 15 carries and threw for another TD in 34-24 win.

He was also named Pac-10 offensive POY, a finalist for QB of the year and 8^th in the Heisman voting.

    

                

Tuiasosopo threw for 2146 yards and 14 TDs and ran for 6 TDs.

He threw for 231 yards TD ran for 45 and TD in 34-29 upset of #2 Miami.

The Huskies QB passed for 223 yards, and had a TD running and passing in 33-30 win over #4 Oregon St.

Washington was 11-1, were Pac-10 champs and finished #3, its highest ranking in nine years.

2000 MLB

1.       Derek Jeter: Was the MVP of the World Series. He hit .409 and homered twice and scored six runs.

He was also All-Star game MVP. He singled and later scored game’s first run in the 3^rd; broke a 1-1 tie in the 4^th with a 2R single. Jeter finished the game 3 for 3.

During the regular season Jeter hit .339, good for ^th in the AL. His 201 hits were 4^th and 199 runs were 6^th.

He added 15 HR 78 RBI and 22 SB.

In Game 3 of the division series vs. Oakland, the captain put New York in front with a RBI in the 3^rd and 4^thof 4-2 win.

In the ALCS he hit .318 drove in five runs and scored six, as the Yankees got past the Mariners in six.

Jeter guided New York to their 4^th Series title in five years and third in a row.

2. Alex Rodriguez: Was named the Player of the Year by Baseball America.

He was 3^rd in MVP voting, an All-Star, and a Silver Slugger.

A-Rod topped position players and offensive WAR.

Rodriguez was 5th in slugging, 2^nd in runs (134), 4^th in HR (41), and 6^th in RBI (132).

He hit .316 and walked 100 times, became first SS ever with 100 RBI runs and walks in a season.

His RBI single in Game One vs. Chicago put Seattle up 1-0. They would go on to win 7-4. A-Rod was 3-5 in the game. He hit .308 in the Mariners’ three game sweep of the White Sox.

Rodriguez played a key part in both wins in the ALCS.

His solo HR in Game One of the ALCS helped Seattle to its 4^th straight postseason win, 2-0 over NY.

His two run single provided the Mariners with a 3-2 lead in the 6^th of Game Five. Seattle would go on to force a Game Six.

A-Rod hit .409 in the series, drove in 5 runs, and scored four more.

Seattle won the wild card with 91 wins (tied for the 2^nd most in the AL).

3. Jeff Kent: He was the MVP of the NL, after helping lead the Giants to the NL West title

He was also an All-Star and Silver Slugger.

Kent was named Player of the Month in June.

He hit .334 (6^th in NL) with 125 RBI (4^th), 33 HR and scored 114 runs.

In San Francisco’s only playoff win their second basemen went 1-3 with a RBI and run scored.

Kent hit .375 in the NLDS series loss to the Mets.

The Giants posted the top record in baseball with 97 wins. They were third in the NL in runs and team batting.

2000 NBA

1.       Shaquille O’Neal: He was the near unanimous regular season MVP by one vote.

He also earned the Finals MVP with 40 plus point games 1, 2 and 6 which were all wins. He averaged 38 ppg and 16.7 rpg.

O’Neal  was on the 1^st  team all NBA and 2^nd team all-Defense.

Shaq was the Player of the Month in November, February, and March.

He led the league in fgs fta fg % (57.4) total points 2^nd in rebounds 3^rd in blocks.

O’Neal notched his second scoring title with 29.7 ppg. He added 13.6 rpg 3.0 bpg and 40 minutes per game.

He had 63 double-doubles in 79 games, including a 61-23 beatdown on the Clippers.

He led the playoffs with 30.7 ppg and 15.4 rpg shot 56% in 23 games.

As the playoffs opened, he had 46-17-5 blks in Game One vs. the Kings.

He averaged 37.3 ppg 15.3 rpg 44.7 mpg 58% fgs in 3-0 series lead over Phoenix.

In Game One win over Portland in the WCF, O’Neal had 41-11 7 assists and 5 blocks.

Kobe and Shaq sealed Game 7 with this dunk.

The Lakers won 67 games, tied for 6^th most in history. They beat the Pacers in six games to capture LA’s first title in 12 years.

2. Alonzo Mourning: He was the Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year.

He was second team All-NBA and first team all-Defense.

Mourning averaged 21.7 ppg 9.5 rpg  and lead the league with 3.7 bpg and shot 55%fg (3^rd in the league)

He was an All-Star and had 15 and 7.

He was third in the MVP voting and Player of the month in December.

Zo pounded Detroit with 20-9-9 blks in Game 1 win.

He had 26 and 23 in Games 1 and 3 wins vs. NY. Miami lost in seven to the Knicks.

The Heat won 50 games and the Atlantic Division.

He helped the USA win gold in the Olympics. He had 16 pts in the semis vs. Lithuania. 

3.       Gary Payton: Was first team All-NBA and All-Defense.

He was an All-Star, April Player of the Month, and 6^th in the MVP voting.

GP won his second gold medal in Sydney.

He led the NBA in three pointers made, total assists and games played.

He was second in minutes (41.8) 7^th in scoring (24.2), and 8^th in steals (1.9). Payton also added 6.5 rebounds per contest.

Seattle won 45 games and was the 7^th seed in the West.

He had 23 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds. in 48 minutes in Game Three to beat Utah while down 2-0 in the series.

Payton put up 35-10-11 triple double with six steals in a Game Four win 104-93.

The Sonics would fall in the decisive fifth game but Payton still managed 26-7-7 for the series.

2000 College Basketball

1.       Morris Peterson: Was a John Wooden All-America, Sporting News first-team All-American, USBWA, NABC and Associated Press second-team All-American.

He was the Midwest Regional MVP, averaging 16.0 points, and Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, averaging 18.0 points and 5.7 rebounds.

Peterson was the Big Ten Player of the Year as selected by the league’s coaches and First-Team All-Big Ten.

MoPete was the only Big Ten player to rank among the top 10 in scoring (5th, 17.2 ppg), rebounding (4th, 7.4), field-goal percentage (5th, .457) and three-point field-goal percentage (8th, .373) in conference games.

He was first in the Big Ten in overall three-point shooting (.435). He added 16.8 pgg and six rebounds per contest in all games.

Peterson turned it on in the NCAA tourney. In the Sweet 16 vs. #16 Syracuse had 21 points on 6-10 fgs in 75-58 win. His three second half threes sparked MSU’s comeback from down 14 in 2^nd half.

He added 18-7 in regional final win over #6 Iowa State.

He scored 20 of the Spartans 53 points in Final Four vs. Wisconsin.

In the title game, he had 21 pts. and 5 ast.  vs. #13 Florida. 15 of those points came in the final 12 minutes to propel Michigan St. to the championship.

It was the Spartans first title since 1979. They were #2 in the final poll after winning the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles.

2.       Mateen Cleaves: Was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He a consensus 2^nd team All-American.

He was also named All-Big Ten, All-Big Ten Tournament team, All-Midwest Regional

 team.

           

          Cleaves led the Big Ten with 7.8 assists per game, and set a conference record of 20 in

          game vs. Michigan. He added 12 points per game.

During the tournament, he averaged 14.2 ppg 4.5 ast  and 44% on 3s, including 21-5 in round two vs. Utah.

In the final game vs. #13 Florida, Cleaves scored18 pts. on 3-4 on 3s and contributed 4 asts. despite a severe ankle injury.

MSU went 23-3 with Cleaves (he was hurt for first 13 games) they finished 32-7.

The Spartans became the 1^st team since the 64 team expansion in 1985 (5^th overall) to win all six games by 10 or more points.

3.Marcus Fizer:  Big 12 Player of the Year and Consensus All American.

           

           He was also the Big 12 tourney MVP all-MW region in NCAAs.

During the regular year he averaged 22.8 ppg 7.7 rpg and shot 58% fgs.

Fizer led NCAA in fgs (327), and was #1 in Big 12 in fts and ppg.

He scored 26.3 ppg in big 12 tourney, including 22-9 in Big 12 title game vs #12Oklahoma.

He averaged 19 ppg and 10.5 rpg vs. #24 Auburn and UCLA as the Cyclones  advanced in the NCAAs. Iowa St. prevailed by an average of 22.5 points in those two wins.

Iowa State reached the final eight where they lost to the eventual champions Michigan St.

ISU won the Big 12, finished #6 in polls and was 32-5.

1999 NFL

1.  Kurt Warner: Was the MVP of the regular season and Super Bowl.

He set the Super Bowl record with 414 yards and also threw 2 TDs.

He started the season with 3 TDs in the first three career starts, an NFL record.

Warner finished the season with the 3^rd most TDs ever with 41 and a 109.3 rating, the 4^th best ever in a season.

He also led the league in completions % at 65.1, and yards per attempt. He was 2^nd in the NFL yards with 4,325 and 4^th in completions.   

During the regular season Warner finished with nine 300 yard games and nine 3 TD games.

In his first playoff start, he torched Minnesota for five scores on a 27-33 effort and 391 yards. (143 rating).

He threw the go ahead TD to Ricky Proehl in the NFC title game, an 11-6 over Tampa Bay.

He led the Rams to a 16-0 led in the Super Bowl. Then with the game tied, Warner gave the Rams the lead with less than two minutes to play on a 73 yard bomb to Issac Bruce.

St. Louis went 13-3 and were NFC West champs. The “Greatest Show on Turf” lead the NFL in scoring at nearly 33 PPG and won games by an average of 17.8 points per game to complete worst to champions run.

2. Marshall Faulk: Was the Offensive Player of the Year.

He was a consensus All-Pro and a Pro Bowler.

On his way to a record 2,429 yards from scrimmage in a season, Marshall became the second player ever (Roger Craig), to have over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a season.

He lead the league averaging 5.5 yards per carry, score 12 TDs and had 87 receptions.

Faulk compiled seven 100 yard games rushing and 200 yard effort in air vs. Chicago.

He hit the end zone twice, including a 41 yard catch and run, in the Rams 49-37 rout of the Vikings in the divisional round.

He had five catches for 90 yards in Super Bowl.

1999 was the first year Faulk joined the Rams.

3. Eddie George : Ran for 1,304 yards 9 TDs and added 47 rec. 454 yards and 4 TDs.

He was in the top 6 in the league in carries, rushing yards, total TDs, and yards from scrimmage.

George went to the Pro Bowl, was 2^nd team All-Pro and all-AFC.

In the classic now known as the Music City Miracle George ran for 106 yards.

His breakout performance came against the 13-3 Colts in the divisional round. His 68 yard burst put the Titans up 13-9 in the 3^rd quarter. They would never give up the lead and go on to upset Indy 19-16.

George finished with 168 yards in the game.

 In the Super Bowl his 2 TD runs pulled Tennessee within 16-13 after trailing 16-0 in the 4^th quarter.

He had 130 total yards in the game.

The Titans went 13-3 and beat all three division champions in the AFC before falling to the Rams in their first Super Bowl appearance.

1999 College Football

1. Ron Dayne: Was the Heisman Trophy winner. He finished the season as the NCAA’s all time career leader in rushing yards.

 

He was the Rose Bowl MVP for the second straight season, becoming the 3^rd player to be Rose Bowl MVP twice.

He won the Maxwell, Doak Walker awards (top rb).

Dayne was the AP national and Big Ten Offensive POY. He was a consensus All American.

He ran for 1,834 yards (2^nd in the NCAA), 19 TDs and 6.1 yards per carry.

The Great Dayne had five 200 yard games including vs. top 20 teams Michigan St. and Purdue.

He was the Rose Bowl MVP with 200 yards and a TD in a  17-9 win over #22 Stanford.

Wisconsin was 10-2 and finished #4 in polls after winning the Big Ten and Rose Bowl for the second straight season.

2. Peter Warrick: Was the MVP of the National Championship (Sugar Bowl). He scored 3 TDs in the title game, including the clincher in the 4^th quarter.

He had 71 rec. for 973 yds. and 9 TDs receiving, 3 rushing and a PR TD.

He was a consensus All American and 6^th in the Heisman.

Warrick was suspended two games.

Against #20 Georgia Tech he had 168 total yards and 2 TDs.

He had  9 rec 90 yards and a rush TD vs #12 Florida.

He had 165 yards 2 TD in air and 59 yard PR TD in the title game.

Florida St. were the wire to wire #1 team and pounded #2 Virginia Tech 46-29 for the championship.

The Seminoles were 12-0.

3. LaVar Arrington: Was a consensus All American for the second straight year.

He was given the Bednairck award for National  Defensive Player of the Year. Arrington also earned the Butkus Award for top linebacker.

He was 9^th in the Heisman voting.

During the regular season he had 72 tackles, including 20 for loss. He had 9 sacks and 2 blocked kicks.

His most memorable highlight came against Illinois.

In the Alamo Bowl against #14 Texas A&M he had14 tackles and one devastating sack.

Penn St. blanked the Aggies 24-0 and Arrington was named MVP.

The Nittany Lions finished the season 10-3 and #11 in the final poll.