Walter Payton Award Goes to William & Mary QB

[MrMustang1965]

Williamsburg - William and Mary’s Lang Campbell (Winchester, VA) put a fitting end to what has been a near magical football season by being named as the recipient of the 2004 Payton Award at the 18th annual I-AA College Football Awards Ceremony held this evening in Chattanooga. Campbell earned the award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the I-AA ranks, by virtue of a national vote of college sports information directors and selected media.

Campbell is the first Tribe player to earn the prestigious award.

Campbell established school single-season records for passing yards (3,988), total offense (4,305) and touchdowns (30), as well as touchdowns responsible for (38, as he also had eight rushing TDs). The Winchester, VA native led William & Mary to a share of the Atlantic 10 title and its first appearance in the NCAA I-AA semifinals, along with the first 11-win season in the 111-year history of the Tribe’s program. At the con-clusion of the regular season, Campbell was honored as the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in the Tribe’s 12-year association with the league to earn the award.

[EastStang]

This is a great story. This kid sat on the bench for three years behind W&M's prior All-American QB, struggled a bit last year, and then blew the doors off this year. They have become one of the elite 1-AA programs, but have yet to go to the final game.

[MrMustang1965]

Campbell received 40 first-place votes and 315 points from a panel of Division I-AA sports information directors and media.

Sam Houston State quarterback Dustin Long finished second with 17 first-place votes and 185 points.

James Madison plays Montana for the Division I-AA championship tonight in Chattanooga.

[bubba pony]

William and Mary second oldest school in USA behind Harvard. Princeton is 3rd. all good schools. who knoew W & M had a football team?

[MrMustang1965]

James Madison defeated Montana, 31-21 tonight for the Div. 1-AA National Championship.