Cason Wins the Thorpe Award!!!!

[CatPhanatic]

Stoops in the audience!!! HELL YESS!!

[bhanson]

:tup:

Congrats Antoine!

[Jason Scheer]

Am I the only wimp that got choked up?

[ASUHATER!]

i did a little too haha

[ZonaDefender1]

Yeah!!!!!!!

[Cubix]

Awesome! Put that kid in the Ring of Honor. Now.

[azpatnca]

YES!!!!! I think he deserves it, but I'm surprised he was awarded it! AWESOME!!!!

[scumdevils86]

of course some scummie follows up antoine :rolleyes:

but i'm so glad he won!!!

[BibbysTowelDude]

Antoine's name will be on the ring sometime before the next football season.

[ZonaCats8]

Awesome! Put that kid in the Ring of Honor. Now.

How long do they wait until they put players up there? Because if there is no specific time lets hope there is a home game on his bye week next year.

[BlueMikey]

Very cool!

Not only one of the best players we've ever had, but also one of the highest character players Arizona has ever had. He certainly deserved it.

[catfan66]

My wife got choked up. not me.... damn allergies.
ok maybe a little

[tstein7240]

Awesome, awesome, awesome...

not only an amazing player but a great kid. The fact that he started a non-profit foundation as a college student is a big step beyond the typical college kid

[Daryl Zero]

Congrats Mr. Cason and good luck in the league.

[Irish27]

Bear Down Cason! This just helped his stock a little. Also, this was good for the program.

[EastCoastCat]

Way to go AC! The kid deserves it...excellence both on and off the field.

[Cubix]

Man, I just hope he tests well so he can go first round. He's got some work to do.

[catgrad97]

Wow. I honestly thought he'd get screwed on this award.

This has to wash some of the bad taste of last Saturday out of his mouth.

WAY TO GO 'TOINE! :cheers: :hyper:

[pc in NM]

Great honor - KUDOS!!!!

[cactuscat62]

Not only is he a great football player...but he's one of the nicest, and most congial players you will ever meet.

I'm sure his parents are so proud of this fine young man they raised.

[uastacy]

Set the DVR for the 2am CST rerun - about what time did he win so I can ffwd?

Thanks!!

[ZonaDefender1]

i cheered like we scored a TD

[AZfootball18]

Damn I missed it!

[HiCat]

Cason wins Thorpe award
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.06.2007
advertisement

Arizona defensive back Antoine Cason was named winner of the Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive back.
Cason received the award tonight on the ESPN College Football Awards show. After winning, he conducted a brief interview with host Chris Fowler and showed off his “Cason Cares” wristband, which he sold this fall to raise money for cancer research.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/215124.php


See front page:
http://arizona.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=748506

[Catatonic]

Alright #5

A truly great wildcat.

I hope we get the chance to pay our respect next year at a home game.

[CatPhanatic]

Set the DVR for the 2am CST rerun - about what time did he win so I can ffwd?

Thanks!!

The announcement for the all american team came shortly after the Outland trophy i think... around a quarter after it started. Then the Thorpe award is about a half hour after it started following a long story on the kid from Army who wants to be an astronaut. I think...

[SemperFi]

Congratulations! A well deserved reward after an exceptional college career. Look forward to watching you play on Sundays, especially if you're playing for a team I don't dislike :)

And kudos to our lil freshman Weber for bringing the Groza home!

[biz cat]

I can't say I didn't call this oh, about 2 years ago:

http://forum.goazcats.com/showpost.php?p=413306&postcount=3

OK well technically I didn't predict him to win the Thorpe, but still I've been waiting to be able to bump my own post in honor of Mr. Cason. Congrats!!!!!

EDIT: And about my old post; I'm now convinced that the "talent" on the DL didn't have as much to do with this as I once thought lol

[AZfootball18]

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s207/Azwildcatfootball07/casonthrope.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[stewbacka]

Good for him, always nice to see PAC guys get their due.

It would not bother me if he was the guy the Pats take with the SF pick

[michcat]

Awesome and well deserved. It's just a shame he never got a chance to play in a bowl game.

[Mal]

I was pumped when he won it! A great 4 year career here at 'Zona, a shame he didn't get a chance to play in a bowl game. I look forward to him playing on Sundays hopefully for the Cowboys or Cardinals.

[phenom5]

Congrats to Antoine. He really was a great Wildcat on & off the field.

I'd have to say that one of my favorite moments of the year was during the Oregon game when the ESPN guys were just piling on the praise of Antoine as a person off the field...obviously, his play on the field spoke for itself that night.

[Luuuuuuuuuuuute]

I too got kind of choked up when he came on stage while the fight song was playing, especially when he talked about his grandfather. There's me sitting alone in my living room, cheering and applauding as he walked onto the stage and again when he was done talking!

It's always great to see the Cats get some national publicity for something other than losing and/or Stoops being on the hot seat. From that first game against NAU in 2004 to his senior season, Antoine has been a TRUE WILDCAT! Who among us won't remember his INT for TD against Cal in '05 and his monster game against Oregon this year, in addition to many other great moments. Couldn't ask for a better representative in the NFL, I see him carrying the torch when Bruschi retires!

BEAR DOWN ANTOINE AND CONGRATS ON A GREAT CAREER! Thanks for the great memories and best of luck in the NFL! :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:

[Bluto Blukowski]

Just made my day!:) This is huge news.......First class guy all the way, i'm really happy for him.

Bear Down Cason and thank you for the memories..........You will be missed!

[catgrad97]

...and yet somehow he gets left off the ESPN/AT&T All-America Team.

The four defensive backs selected were Talib (KU), Steitz (LSU), and two guys I had never heard of before last night's show.

Yet more East Coast Bias (TM) from the Total Hype Network. :rolleyes:

[Cubix]

The ESPN all-film first team CBs':
CB: Mike Jenkins, South Florida (Sr.)
Jenkins has always possessed outstanding natural ability, including ideal speed and athleticism for a bigger cover corner. His recognition skills and technique finally caught up as a senior, which is why he has shot up most NFL teams' draft boards. Jenkins proved this season that he can take top receivers when working on an island one-on-one, and he's also given a better effort in run support.
Signature play: Jenkins' interception return to the Auburn 2-yard line is a special play. Not only does it display his instincts, closing burst and ball skill, it also illustrates big-play ability in the clutch. This pick came in the fourth quarter of the Bulls' upset victory at Auburn.

CB: Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech (Jr.)

Teammate Victor "Macho" Harris is one of a few very good corners (Kansas' Aqib Talib and Arizona's Antoine Cason) that Flowers edged out for this award. Flowers plays a vital role as a shutdown cover corner on the nation's fourth-ranked pass efficiency defense. He is a proven playmaker when quarterbacks dare throw his way, notching eight passes defended and five interceptions this season. Flowers is also physical for his size and doesn't shy away from run support, as seen in his 79 total tackles.
Signature play: Flowers' interception of Boston College QB Matt Ryan was a big league play. The junior corner stayed under control in his backpedal, got a quick jump on the receiver's break (10-yard out route), turned his head in time to see Ryan's delivery and then made a diving pick while keeping his feet in bounds.

[bhanson]

Ceremony video (nice hat Antoine!)

http://www.newsok.tv/?bctid=1415680426&bclid=1111621425



http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/889/spf13jimthorpebanq02132gn9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://newsok.com/article/3203961/1202876191

By John Rohde
Staff Writer


In order to win this year's Jim Thorpe Award, Antoine Cason had to clear three significant hurdles.
But it appeared the Arizona cornerback would be too small, too crippled and — oddly enough — too talented to be tabbed as the nation's top collegiate defensive back.





Cason formally received his award Tuesday night during an awards ceremony at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, beating out fellow finalists James Silva of Boston College and LSU's Craig Steltz for the honor.

"The race, frankly, was very tight,” Jim Thorpe Association president Lynne Draper said.

Cason nearly didn't enter the race at all.

When Cason arrived as a freshman at Los Alamitos High School in Long Beach, Calif., he stood 5-foot-5.

"I'd like to say I was 5-6, but it was 5-5,” Cason said. "During Pop Warner football, pee-wee football, I was always told I was too small, wasn't good enough, wasn't big enough, wasn't strong enough. It did kind of wear on me.”

Thankfully, a growth spurt came at age 16. But it left Cason crippled with Osgood-Schlatter Disease, which causes swelling, pain and tenderness just below the knee.

"It hindered me. I couldn't work out for eight months,” said Cason, who grew five inches that year. "I couldn't even get out of a chair without help. It was bad. My coaches were pressing me, told me I was babying it, things like that. I told them I just couldn't do it. It just hurt too much.”

Doctors told Cason the affliction would eventually go away with time. A determined Cason didn't even miss a season, and there have been no lingering effects of the disease.

Cason's third hurdle came with a decision after his junior season with the Wildcats.

He already had established himself as one of the nation's premier cornerbacks and had been a Thorpe semifinalist.

The first-team All-Pacific 10 Conference pick and former freshman All-American gave serious consideration to entering the NFL Draft rather than returning for his senior season.

Cason is the only Thorpe winner never to have played in a bowl or had a winning season, a shortcoming that understandably could have led to an early departure to the pros.

In the end, Antoine Cason stayed true to his school.

"It was tough, and that was definitely when I needed my family the most,” Cason said.

Cason didn't have to look far for advice.

His father, Wendell, played collegiately at Oregon and later with the Atlanta Falcons (1985-87). Cousins Kenyon Rambo played with the New York Jets and Avieon Cason with the Dallas Cowboys.

The affable Cason has long been a popular interview request for media in Arizona. But an overall record of 17-29 at the UA took its toll.

"It was difficult. I'm a competitive guy, and I really hate losing,” Cason said. "I tried my hardest to try to lead the team to a winning season. I tried to do all I can do. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. But I kept my spirits high, kept my team first and played hard. I was tired of losing. I didn't want to be known as a loser.”

Cason said he would not have regretted returning to school had he not won the Thorpe.

"Antoine's been through a lot in his life,” Wendell Cason said. "Everybody overlooked him. He was getting discouraged. It was a hard struggle. He had to prove a lot of people wrong.”