BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo football team handed out its season-ending awards at the annual UB Athletic Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 28 at Samuel's Grande Manor in Clarence.

Receiving awards from head coach Jim Hofher and his staff were freshman

J.J. Gibson

J.J. Gibson (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home), junior Chad Bartoszek (Salamanca/Salamanca) and seniors Joe Freedy (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park), Chris Shelly (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) and Tim Hedges (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East).

Gibson received the Top Newcomer award after becoming the first freshman in UB history to record over 100 tackles. The strong safety started all 11 games in 2001 and recorded 108 tackles (second on the team), including a team-best 65 solo stops, and forced a pair of fumbles.

Bartoszek earned the Most Improved award after leading the Bulls with 42 receptions for 441 yards and four touchdowns. Bartoszek had just eight career receptions entering the season last year.

Freedy earned the Coaches Award after starting 11 games in 2001 - running his starting streak to 33 straight games - while throwing for 2,077 yards and 10 touchdowns. A captain last season, the senior finished his UB career in the top three in passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.

Shelly, meanwhile, earned Most Valuable Player honors with a non-stop work ethic that saw him start all 11 games while leading UB defensive linemen in both tackles (56) and solo stops (24).

Chris Shelly

Shelly led all Bulls defenders in tackles for loss (14 for -47 yards) and quarterback sacks (3.5) and also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. He was UB's candidate for the Mid-American Conference Most Valuable Player (the Vern Smith Award) as well.

Hedges - a senior offensive guard who started his last two seasons - earned the Dominic Grossi Award for combined athletic prowess, sportsmanship and academic excellence. The honor is named after former UB football player Dominic Grossi ('43) who was killed during action in the United States Naval Academy during the attack on Iwo Jima in World War II. He was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously and is recognized each year by the UB football program. Hedges started all 11 games in 2001 and is a UB Scholar-Athlete as a Pre-Law student.

Buffalo finished the season 3-8, winning two of its final three outings.